Ying Lili was brushing her hair which just dried out. There was a bright smile on her lips. Court Lady Xu, who was standing beside the chair, noticed the smile on Ying Lili's lips. "Your highness, it is good to see that you have accepted this relationship fully. Though it took a long time to her highness you to get open to the Crown Prince."
"Hmm. I had no hopes for this relationship because the way I had perceived Sheng Li was completely different. I am guilty of that. However, I learned a lesson from this. Never judge a person because of his outer appearance. Sheng Li has always respected me. He always puts me before and makes decisions accordingly. I like it. The first time my heart fluttered for him when he announced that he would never bring a second woman in his life," Ying Lili lowered her eyes and played with her hair strands.
"Court Lady Xu, you were right. The pain was for just-" She lifted her head and saw Sheng Li's reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks flushed red, recalling everything. She averted her gaze from him and kept brushing her hair.
"You did not announce that you are here," Ying Lili muttered which Sheng Li heard.
"I never make announcements," Sheng Li whispered in her ear. Ying Lili's body stiffened when Sheng Li's lips touched her earlobe. "There is something I have brought for you. Come to bed when you are done," Sheng Li pulled back and walked away. Ying Lili stole his glances through the mirror.
"Why did you take so much time? Did something urgent come?" Ying Lili queried him.
"No. I was busy somewhere," Sheng Li replied. "How long are you going to brush them? Come here," Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili put the brush at the table and stood up. She came towards Sheng Li, whose hands were behind his back.
"Why are your hands behind your back? What have you brought?" Ying Lili curiously asked him.
"Sit first," Sheng Li commanded her. Ying Lili sat beside him and tilted her head backward, but Sheng Li had already pushed back his hands. She sat straight and looked at him.
"Close your eyes," Sheng Li said.
"Why?" Ying Lili scoffed when Sheng Li brought his left hand to the front and placed them over her eyes. "You ask so many questions. Just keep them close for a minute," Sheng Li requested.
Ying Lili closed her eyes while Sheng Li pulled his hand back. He brought the tiny wooden basket to the front in which he had the two flower crowns. The Crown Prince picked the flower crown that he had made himself. Though it was not as beautiful as the one the Palace Maid had made, he felt if Lili somehow found out later, then she might be sad.
Ying Lili felt something soft touch her forehead. "What are you doing?" Ying Lili asked as she squeezed her eyes.
Sheng Li did not reply. He leaned back and gazed at Ying Lili's face. "Don't open your eyes yet," Sheng Li stated and went towards the dressing table. He picked a hand mirror and came back to bed. He placed the mirror in front of Ying Lili's face and told her to open her eyes.
Ying Lili gradually opened her eyes and saw the tiny peony flowers around her head. She touched her forehead. "You made this?" She raised a brow.
Sheng Li nodded his head. "Though it is not perfectly made. I tried my best," Sheng Li clarified. "Next time, I will make a good one for you," Sheng Li promised her. Ying Lili nodded and looked down at the bamboo basket.
"A Palace Maid made this, but I wanted you to wear the one I made myself even if it does not look good," Sheng Li pronounced. Ying Lili's heart thumped upon hearing that.
"This one is precious- the one you made," Ying Lili affirmed, taking the mirror from him. She kept looking at herself, while the smile never left her lips. Sheng Li wanted to draw this moment, to keep it as a memory. If he would be good at painting then, he might have painted Ying Lili, wearing that flower crown.
'I need to learn painting. I will ask Brother Nianzu to teach me. I cannot ask Lili because I will not be able to focus on anything except her,' Sheng Li contemplated when he heard the snapping of fingers. Ying Lili was gazing at him intently.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," replied Sheng Li and put the basket on the table. He planted a soft kiss in the middle of Ying Lili's forehead and leaned back.
"You are looking beautiful," Sheng Li complimented her.
"Really?"
"Hmm. You look pretty always, but this enhanced your beauty," Sheng Li admitted.
Ying Lili blushed and thanked him for the compliment. Sheng Li turned his gaze towards the dinner table. "I told Xing-Fu to set the dinner table. You have not eaten since noon," Sheng Li turned furious.
"Ahh, I told Eunuch Chung to set it once the Crown Prince will come," Ying Lili defended Xing-Fu. Sheng Li hummed and called out his name. Xing-Fu quickly came inside and halted near the second entrance.
"Send the meals for us," Sheng Li ordered him. Xing-Fu bowed and walked out. Sheng Li brought Ying Lili to the dinner table and pulled out a chair for her. Making Ying Lili sit on it, he sat next to her.
The maidservants served the meals to them and stood beside Xing-Fu. Sheng Li picked the spoon first and fill it with the soup. "I can eat myself now," Ying Lili stated.
"I have heard that if a husband feeds his wife with his hands, then their love increases manifolds," Sheng Li proclaimed and brought the spoon near her lips.
Ying Lili opened her mouth and sipped the soup from the spoon. "It's not appropriate to let your husband do such things. Let's eat together," Ying Lili took the spoon from him.
"Look, my hand is fine now," she said and picked the rice bowl from the chopstick. She placed it on the plate in front of Sheng Li and put the chopsticks on the plate. "Start eating." Like an obedient child, Sheng Li started eating. Ying Lili also continued eating.
"Hu Jingguo wants to go somewhere with you and me," out of sudden Sheng Li said.
"But, how can we go? You are always busy," Ying Lili stated and picked the dumpling from a bowl.
"I will take out time for you. It has been a long time since we have gone out. But, I wonder if taking Hu Jingguo will be wise!" Sheng Li mumbled.
"Why? Are you jealous of him again?" In a teasing tone, Ying Lili asked.
"No. I do not want him to interrupt us as he did many times. Now, I acknowledge him as a friend, so I cannot even shout at him. Moreover, my wife will not feel good if I scold her best friend," Sheng Li affirmed.
Ying Lili glanced at Xing-Fu and the maidservants, who were suppressing their smiles. "Can't you talk about these things privately?" Ying Lili muttered. "Don't talk and eat your food," she scolded him.
Sheng Li smiled and then looked at Xing-Fu. "I will call you when we finish our dinner. So, stand outside," Sheng Li commanded him. Xing-Fu nodded and left the chamber with the maidservants.
"So, where were we? Yes, Hu Jingguo always interrupts us. Luckily, he was not here today," Sheng Li grinned as he noticed his wife's face, which had turned red like a ripened tomato.
"E-eat your food. Don't talk while eating. Mannerless!" Ying Lili scoffed and hastily consumed the rice in her bowl.
"Slow down. I am not snatching your meal." He was enjoying this as his Wildcat had turned shy, which she hardly used to be! "I was thinking about something, Lili," he grabbed her attention.
She met his gaze and heard him, "I was coming here when I heard a few Palace maids conversing with each other. There is a fair tomorrow in the market. Since you like such things, then we two can go out.."
Ying Lili's eyes gleamed. She had not been to a fair for a long time.
"But both of the Generals are not here. So, it might be risky for us," Ying Lili said.
"No. We will be in disguise and I am there to protect you," Sheng Li proclaimed, passing her his white teeth smile.