An-Ying Lili gradually opened her eyes and found herself in an unknown place. "Ahh," Ying Lili passed a low scream because of the wound on her neck when she recollected what the crown prince was doing earlier. She turned her head to look but, to her surprise there was no one. She was feeling thirsty so she with the support of her elbows sat on the bed. On the tiny table beside the table, there was a water jar and a silver glass. She picked the jar and poured the water for herself in the silver glass. The water was enough in the jar to quench her thirst. Drinking the water, she placed the glass on the table and then put her feet down on the floor.
"Jingguo," the crown princess murmured the name and stood up when she felt weak. The crown princess wavered but she was supported by the crown prince. Seeing Sheng Li, Ying Lili struggled to let go from his grip but Sheng Li did not let her go. Instead, the crown prince helped the crown princess sit on the bed. "You are not allowed to go," Sheng Li stated.
"I d-do not n-need your permission. I want to meet Jingguo," stated Ying Lili.
"Meet him when you will die," Sheng Li proclaimed.
"What? W-what are you saying?" Ying Lili lifted her head to look at Sheng Li who had a grave expression on his face.
Ying Lili blinked her eyes and tears again rolled down her cheeks. "Y-you killed him? You are really inhuman. Why did you not kill me? I should have died by now," Ying Lili shouted at him as she clutched the sheet on the mattress. Sheng Li clenched his fist which was behind his back and then grabbed Ying Lili's chin.
"For another man you are willing to die?" Sheng Li questioned her, boring his cold gaze into her eyes.
"For any men of Juyan, I am willing to die. You should have killed me as well," Ying Lili told him and slapped off his hand. She then stood up and walked ahead when Sheng Li grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. "That was earlier. Before the marriage, you were allowed to die for the men of Juyan but not after marriage," Sheng Li announced with a frown.
Ying Lili grabbed the water jar which was placed on the table and with full force hit Sheng Li with it on his arm but he did not budge. There was no effect of the hit on Sheng Li when he grabbed the jar from Ying Lili's hand and spoke, "This jar is not enough to kill me. Use something big next time." He threw the jar at the floor and the falling sound echoed in the chamber.
He reached his thumb on Ying Lili's cheek but she turned her face away. Sheng Li wiped the tears from her face using the thumb and whispered, "I do not like when a fierce woman like you cry." Ying Lili flinched her brows and more tears started pouring down her eyes. "At least let me see my friend," Ying Lili in a cracked voice pleaded Sheng Li.
"I cannot," replied Sheng Li.
Ying Lili turned to look at him and kept gazing into his eyes for a while. "That's why you deserve only hate. One who never lost anyone cannot understand the pain of the other. You are a cruel-hearted person who deserves to die in aloofness. Sheng Li, stay away from me as far as you can because now even if I will die I will make sure to kill you first," pronounced Ying Lili.
"Thank you for saying those praiseworthy words towards me. I wish I can stop myself from coming near you. I want to see how you will kill me," Sheng Li stated with a grin and released Ying Lili's arm. "Xing-Fu," Sheng Li called out the eunuch's name who instantly came inside.
"Get the palanquin ready and send the crown princess to her inn," ordered Sheng Li. Xing-Fu bowed his head. "Your highness, please this way," Xing-Fu softly said. The crown princess followed Xing-Fu, leaving the chamber. General Xiao just arrived there and bowed his head in front of the crown prince. "Your highness, everything is done perfectly," stated General Xiao. Sheng Li gave a nod and told him that he would be going to the court so, in the meantime, General Xiao had to do the remaining work.
"Yes, your highness," stated General Xiao. Sheng Li strode out of there.
Sheng Li reached the court and kowtowed before the emperor and took his seat. "Is the crown princess fine?" Han Wenji asked his son.
"Yes, your majesty," Sheng Li replied.
"Okay. We will talk about this after the court will end," Han Wenji told Sheng Li who shook his head in agreement. The court started in a while as every minister took their respective seats.
"The problem of food distribution has risen again in the South Province of Han Kingdom. The unwanted storm in the last month destroyed the crops there which is the main reason for this tragedy. According to the report, the people thrashed the government officials there and looted the grains from the public distribution house," stated the prime minister, Zhang Yong Wei.
"What about the military? Is it not taking control over them?" The emperor questioned the Prime minister.
"The attack happened in the late night by the aggrieved villagers," replied Zhang Yong Wei.
"How can the military be so lazy about this incident? Is this the entire truth?" The crown prince speculated.
"Your highness, the report is true as far as I know," stated Yong Wei.
"The villagers are in dismay and anger because of the sudden loss of the crops. But, the internal committee will look into this matter more before taking any decision further," the emperor announced.
"Forgive me his majesty for the sudden interruption but I think I shall raise this point. Corruption will rise during the distribution of the crop. South province is prone to bad weather conditions so, I think proper management of food crops should be done and for that, we have to educate the peasants there about that.
Apart from that, I think Crown Prince should go there. From my spies, I have heard that some people are trying to raise their voices against the kingdom. Those rebels must be suppressed in the meantime," asserted the first prince, Jian Guozhi.
"Prince Jian is saying right," the prime minister supported the first prince, followed by the other court ministers.
"The Crown Prince has other duties too to perform as well in the capital," opined the Emperor.
"But, your majesty, the southern province is an important part of the kingdom. The great Yangtze River flows mostly from that part making the soil rich in minerals. Such rebellions are not good and if the crown Prince will go there, it will strengthen those subjects' trust in us. Small rebellions lead to large ones. Apart from crown Prince, I do not think others can work on this matter in a better way," asserted Jian Guozhi and looked at Sheng Li.
"The first brother is saying right. I will go there and control the situation. It is my duty as crown Prince to consolidate the entire kingdom in any situation," declared Sheng Li.
Every minister started praising Sheng Li and supported his decision. The Emperor agreed with the decision and passed a Royal decree in which the crown prince was given the right to look into the situation in the Southern Province.
The other petty matters were also solved within the duration of the court hours. Sheng Li followed his father to the Mingde Inn where they had a matter to talk about.