The next day in the early morning, Sheng Li along with the others left for the nearest town of the Capital of Southern Province. They arrived there by noon. Ying Lili's appearance was slightly changed so that people there would not get skeptical about her identity.
Entering the rest-house, Wang Hao went towards the counter and asked for the two-room keys. A young boy at the counter handed the keys to the rooms which Wang Hao had booked there earlier. Handing one key to the Crown Prince, Wang Hao told the young boy to show them the rooms.
A man came with them and showed them their respective rooms, which were on the second floor. Sheng Li closed the door behind and looked around the room. Ying Lili removed the veiled hat from her face and sat down on a chair there.
"It was so hot," Ying Lili murmured.
Sheng Li went to her. By taking out a fan from inside his sash, Sheng Li moved it near Ying Lili's face. "You can open your dress. Since it's a man's clothing, first remove the sash, and then this upper jacket will be loosened," Sheng Li told Ying Lili who nodded. She did what Sheng Li had told her, and now she was feeling good.
Putting the fan down at the table, Sheng Li went towards the door. On the left side of the door, an earthen pot was placed. Sheng Li took out the water in a porcelain cup and tasted that first. When he was assured that water was okay, he brought the water for Ying Lili.
"Here, drink this!"
Ying Lili thanked him and took the cup from him. She drank the water when she heard Sheng Li. "Have some sleep." Ying Lili put the cup at the table and stood up. She went towards the bed when a knock on the door grabbed their attention. Sheng Li went to the door, opened it, and saw Wang Hao there.
Ying Lili saw Wang Hao whisper something in Sheng Li's ear before leaving. When Sheng Li closed the door, she curiously asked him what General Wang told him.
"We need to leave in the evening. The Merchants changed their plans. They want to reach the capital in two days," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili nodded and laid down on the bed. Her arms and legs were stretched out, and she was looking at the ceiling.
Sheng Li came near her, sat on the mattress, and started moving the fan above her face. "Close your eyes," Sheng Li told her.
The Crown Princess turned to bed left to look at the Crown Prince. "Aren't you tired?" Ying Lili curiously questioned him.
"No." Sheng Li moved his free hand above Ying Lili's eyes thus, closing them. "Sleep," he repeated his words. Soon the Crown Princess drifted off to sleep while Sheng Li continued fanning her. All the time, he did not move his eyes from Ying Lili's face.
Ying Lili moved her hands in her sleep on her dress. She opened the knot of the satin which she was wearing below the upper clothing. After a while, Sheng Li moved his eyes from Ying Lili's face. A shocking expression appeared on his face as he saw the innerwear 'Xinyi' was visible. Her belly was slightly visible where the Xinyi ended.
Sheng Li looked back at Ying Lili who was in a deep sleep. "She does not even stop in her sleep," Sheng Li thought and carefully, without disturbing her sleep, tied the knot on the satin inner clothing above the Xinyi.
He stood up and went towards the table. Sitting on a chair there, he took out the map from the pocket and spread it on the table. Checking the route, Sheng Li saw a river stream there near which they had to stay for a night. Sheng Li checked the other remaining checkpoints and then closed his eyes.
"Since the Empress had already deployed her spies there, they could be in any getup. I need to be extremely careful." Again, someone knocked at the door. Sheng Li opened the door and saw Jingguo there.
"Your highness, come downstairs for lunch," Jingguo said.
"Lili is resting. I will have my lunch later with her. You three shall eat," Sheng Li stated. Jingguo bowed his head and left from there while Sheng Li closed the door.
Two hours later, Ying Lili's sleep abruptly broke. "You are awake," Sheng Li voiced as he brought the chair near the bed. Ying Lili sat up on the bed and yawned. "I am still tired. I didn't even do much work, but I am feeling tired," Ying Lili whispered. She was itching near her neck and at the back.
"That's because it's your first time traveling so far," Sheng Li opined. He noticed Ying Lili was itching too much when he saw something red there. "I saw something there" he moved his fingers and slightly pulled down the satin inner clothing. Ying Lili lowered her eyes but could not see what was there.
"You got rashes from heat," Sheng Li murmured and frowned.
"What?"
"You need to take a cold water bath," Sheng Li said.
"I cannot take a bath here. Men have surrounded this place. Taking a bath in the common bathhouse of the rest house could be risky," Ying Lili worriedly said.
Sheng Li came up with an idea and told her to wait there as he walked out of the room. In a few minutes, he came back with a water bowl in his hand and a small cotton towel. Closing the doors behind him, Sheng Li came towards the bed and put them on the table there.
"Let me wipe those parts with water. It will relieve you," Sheng Li said. He found Ying Lili was hesitant. "There is no maidservant here. I am your husband so you should not be so hesitant," Sheng Li whispered. He had dipped the water in the water bowl and squeezed extra water from it.
Sheng Li lifted his eyes and peered at her. Ying Lili pulled down the upper clothing first and then opened the knot of the inner clothing. Sheng Li moved it slightly down to her chest. He gently placed the wet towel on her neck where rashes had appeared. Ying Lili was looking at him while her fingers were playing with each other.
Sheng Li's fingers touched her collarbone, which passed a tingled sensation throughout her body. "Is it alright?" Sheng Li asked Ying Lili who hummed at him. She noticed their faces' proximity, which raced her heart. Sheng Li met her gaze and told her to turn back.
"Why?" Ying Lili queried.
"Let me check if there is any rash on your back," Sheng Li stated. "What's this look on your face? I am not going to eat you. Why are you terrified?" Sheng Li questioned her.
"I am not. I-I..." Ying Lili felt the words were stuck inside her mouth.
"You have seen me half naked so many times. I never felt uncomfortable then why are you acting like this? Turn around," Sheng Li sternly said.
"I am not terrified. Why would I be? It is just nervousness," Ying Lili whispered and turned her back towards Sheng Li.
"You think something will happen if I look..." Sheng Li had not even completed his words when he heard Ying Lili snapping at him. "Do not assume things. Why would I think that?"
He smiled, slid down her dress, and saw her bareback. Rashes had appeared there as well. Sheng Li dipped the towel again in the water, squeezed it, and moved it over Ying Lili's smooth milky white back.
"You are so sensitive like a flower, Lili. I have decided that I will not take you with me anymore anywhere," Sheng Li stated.
"This is wrong. You want me to stay alone in the Palace!" Ying Lili yanked, which made Sheng Li laugh. Stopping his laughs, Sheng Li asked her if she was feeling good.
"Hmm."
"Don't itch there, else it will worsen," Sheng Li said as he put the towel inside the bowl. He then moved the inner clothing up on Ying Lili's body. "Stay like this until the evening. Wearing more clothes will be uncomfortable," he whispered in her ear.
"Thank you for taking care of me," Ying Lili said.
Sheng Li picked the bowl and put it on the table there. He then walked out of the room to tell Wang Hao to send meals to their room. When he was returning to his room, he got accidentally hit by a man.
"Forgive me," Sheng Li said without looking at him and went to his room. The man turned to look at Sheng Li and drew his brows together. "You made a nice plan to return to the capital but you won't be able to reach there," the man told himself and smirked.