Ying Lili awakened from the deep sleep, blinked her eyes once and then twice when the realization hit her. She was in the bed-chamber of the Crown Prince. She felt Sheng Li's hand, which was securely wrapped around her belly. Her body was aching from the trip and even after sleeping for many hours, she was feeling exhausted.
"When did Sheng Li take me here?" Ying Lili murmured. She was feeling relaxed that they arrived at the Palace unharmed. She took a turn towards Sheng Li and found that he was still sleeping. There were frowns on Sheng Li's forehead. Ying Lili extended her pointer finger towards Sheng Li's forehead and put it on his forehead. The frowns disappeared and his facial expressions turned calm.
Pulling her finger back, she placed her hand above her chest, waiting for Sheng Li to wake up. She recalled the first time when she came to his bed-chamber and was trying to run away from there but failed to do so. A tiny smile formed on her lips when she felt Sheng Li's hand on hers. She tilted her head. "You are awake?"
"Hmm." Sheng Li gradually opened his eyelids and gazed into the eyes of Ying Lili. "You were in a deep sleep so I took you here instead of sending you to the Zhenzhu Inn," Sheng Li said. He lifted his body, putting his weight on his left elbow while his left hand on Ying Lili's hair, stroking them.
"We safely reached the Palace," Sheng Li whispered. "It was a tiring journey so, rest here for some time more," Sheng Li stated.
"I am hungry," Ying Lili in a low voice said. Sheng Li sat up and called out Xing-Fu's name who immediately came inside and stopped near the second door.
"Prepare for a bath for us and prepare for the meals," Sheng Li ordered Xing-Fu.
"Your highness, the bathhouses are already prepared," Xing-Fu humbly replied.
"Is Court Lady Xu here?" Sheng Li asked.
"Yes, your highness."
Sheng Li turned his gaze towards Ying Lili and told her to freshen up first. "Go with Court Lady Xu. After you will be ready, then we can have our breakfast. Even I have not taken any meals," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili nodded and got down from the bed. "I will see you in your chamber," Sheng Li further added as he also got down the bed.
He helped Ying Lili in wearing the overcoat and caressed her hair. "Go," he said. Ying Lili walked out from there, followed by Xing-Fu. Outside the chamber, she met Court Lady Xu and hugged her. "I missed you," Ying Lili said.
"Your highness, the Palace got quiet after you both went on this journey. We all missed your presence," Court Lady Xu replied. "Please come this way." Court Lady Xu motioned her hand to the left, and they left the Manor of the Crown Prince.
The news of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess's safe return was given to everyone the previous night. Everyone was waiting for them in the greeting hall.
"I think both the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess after the tiresome journey are still sleeping," Yongzheng stated and looked at his father, Han Wenji.
"They are taking so much time. The Court Hours will be delayed at this rate, your majesty. I think we shall meet them later," Weng Wei pronounced.
"Meeting them is also important," Han Wenji proclaimed. Weng Wei was already infuriated from the previous night after she got the news of the arrival of Sheng Li and Ying Lili at the Palace. Not only that, she got a threatening message from Sheng Li which had ruined her mood since last night.
"The situation is completely controlled in the Southern Province. General Wang had informed me last night how the Crown Prince decisively caught the group which was behind the fake rebellions in the Province," Prince Nianzu told Han Wenji who smiled upon hearing that.
They heard the sound of shoes and anklets, so everyone turned their gazes towards the door. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess entered the hall. A different kind of charm could be seen on their faces, which delighted Han Wenji. Halting in the middle of the hall, in front of the Emperor and the Empress, both the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess kowtowed before them.
"Accept the greetings of us, your majesties," Sheng Li voiced. Their heads were bowed when the Emperor told them to lift their heads.
"Welcome to the Palace, Crown Prince, Crown Princess," Han Wenji delightedly said.
"You two unexpectedly arrived. There was no news of your return," Weng Wei said and waited for the answer from Sheng Li.
"Your majesty, we have been attacked by some assassins during our return journey so, we decided not to disclose about our return," Sheng Li pronounced. Han Wenji and others got worried upon hearing that.
"Assassins attacked you in the Southern Province?" Jian Guozhi skeptically asked.
Sheng Li turned his gaze towards him and nodded. "Yes, first brother." He then looked back at his father and said, "I could have died but my Crown Princess had saved me there." Ying Lili smiled and lowered her eyes.
"Crown Princess saved you, how?" Han Wenji asked.
"A poisonous arrow was shot towards me when I was fighting assassins with General Wang but then the Crown Princess at the right time arrived there and saved me," Sheng Li stated. "Alas, we could not find the shooter," Sheng Li lied.
"No wonder it was the right decision to send the Crown Princess with you. I will take the report regarding the Southern Province later from the Crown Prince," Han Wenji stated and looked at Ying Lili.
"Crown Princess, you always surprise this emperor. I am happy to have such a courageous woman in my family. This is the second time you saved the life of the Crown Prince. I can see that your hand is wounded. Is it because you were fighting those assassins?" Han Wenji asked.
"Thank you for your praiseworthy words, your highness. The Crown Prince's life is associated with me as well after I got married to him. Yes, I got a little injured while fighting them. The Crown Prince took good care of me," Ying Lili replied, keeping the smile on her lips.
Jian Guozhi looked at his mother and wondered if she had sent the assassins to the Southern Province to assassinate them.
"I do not know who wanted to assassinate me and the Crown Princess but it seems it was someone from the Palace, father," Sheng Li stated and then looked at Weng Wei.
"Someone from the Palace? I think it's one of those enemies which the Crown Prince has made during the military campaign. Son, that's why you shall not use your cruel ways to rule over the people. What if something would have happened to you?" Weng Wei showed her fake concern towards Sheng Li.
"Your majesty, I think you are mistaken about your son," Suddenly Ying Lili spoke up. Sheng Li peered at her and so were the others in the hall. "The Crown Prince is Cruel to those who are cruel to him," Ying Lili pronounced as she lifted her head and looked into the eyes of Weng Wei. "I have seen how the Crown Prince was considered as a God to the people who were suffering in the Southern Province. I have seen how kind and generous he was towards an old lady there who lost her son because of a man who claimed himself as the Ruler of the Province. I have seen…" Ying Lili turned her gaze towards Sheng Li and continued, "… the most righteous ways that the Crown Prince could use to save the people of Han. He is not a cruel person, but he is the kindest person who is perceived wrongly."
Nianzu and Lei Wanxi smiled seeing how the Crown Princess answered the Empress.
Ying Lili then looked straight into the eyes of Weng Wei and said, "Your majesty, I wonder how could a mother use such a defaming word for her child." For the first time, Weng Wei had no words left. She felt humiliated in front of everyone.
Sheng Li's heart fluttered the moment he saw Ying Lili stand up for him. No one ever had the courage to say anything to the Empress whenever she made such remarks for him. Since the atmosphere of the Hall turned tense, Sheng Li thought to leave the hall with Ying Lili.
"We shall take leave as the Crown Princess is still tired from the journey. Father, I will come to meet you later," Sheng Li stated and bowed his head. Ying Lili did the same. The other princes also took leave from the hall.
Jian Guozhi wanted to talk to Sheng Li and Ying Lili; wanted to ask them if they were fine, but he was also wrong in their eyes. "There is something a mother wants to talk about," Xue Yu-Yan whispered in Jian Guozhi's ear, who hummed and left with her to the Empress's Manor.