"Be continuous," Ying Lili lightly slapped Sheng Li's hand and then told him to see her. She applied a stroke without break on the hair part and colored the head that she had outlined on the kite. "Did you see? Hold it like this, not so firmly, not so loosely, and move the brush," Ying Lili again told me. Sheng Li nodded and took another brush to paint the eyes. He did as Ying Lili had instructed him.
"It feels like I am in art class. The teacher used to scold me a lot those days," Sheng Li asserted as he made two red dots on the cheeks. "He used to shout at me every time. Now, I think that I should have listened to him," Sheng Li muttered. He was done painting and put the brush down.
"Let it dry. You did a great job," Ying Lili stated, looking at the kite.
"But it's not looking that great. Lei Wanxi will definitely laugh seeing it. I mixed up colors," Sheng Li pronounced.
"But it's beautiful in my eyes so, do not worry about the others," Ying Lili affirmed. Sheng Li smiled because it was what he wanted to hear. Why would he care about the others' opinions? Moreover, he had no energy left to paint another kite. It used to happen with him whenever he used to sit to paint.
Ying Lili was cleaning the brushes when Sheng Li stopped her. "Call a maid. She will do it. You do not need to do this," Sheng Li stated.
"I enjoy doing it. Let me do it," Ying Lili replied, and lowered her eyes. She dipped the brushes in the water bowls and then cleaned them with a clean cloth. The stains of paints were imprinted on her fingers while cleaning the brushes. Sheng Li called a maid in despite Ying Lili stopping him.
"Why did you call the maid? I was doing it," Ying Lili pulled up a face as she complained. The maid started cleaning the table, keeping the kite untouched. Sheng Li took Ying Lili's right hand and cleaned the paint by sprinkling a powder on it. "I don't want you to do such works in my presence." He wiped her fingers with a clean cloth, cleaning the paint stains from her fingers. The maidservant had left the chamber after she was done cleaning the table and the brushes.
Sheng Li pulled Ying Lili up and took her to the bed. "Why do you not rest for some time?" Sheng Li asked her while stroking her hair.
"I do not want to. I have thought about what I should ask from you. So, will you be able to give me that?" Ying Lili asked him again. "I do not want you to step back from your words, that's why I want to confirm," Ying Lili asserted. Sheng Li raised a brow and then chuckled.
"Have I ever stepped back from my words? Just ask me," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili passed him a tiny smile.
"I want you to bring me a flower," Ying Lili told him.
"What?" Sheng Li snickered. "Your wishes are strange. Which kind of flower do you want? I will bring it from the garden," Sheng Li waited for her answer.
"It's tough to bring. It's a rare flower that grows in a higher place," Ying Lili proclaimed. "Bring me Middlemist red by this evening," Ying Lili stated.
Sheng Li's turned big. He did not know where the flower used to bloom. Was that far away? Ying Lili snapped her fingers in front of him. "What happened? You cannot bring that," She asked.
"I will bring it. But, where does it grow? I do not know," Sheng Li stated and furrowed his brows.
"The mountains which are at the backside of this Palace where you took me once. General Wang told me that the region is filled with Middlemist Red Camellia flowers," Ying Lili told him.
"Oh!" Sheng Li smiled and was happy. "I will bring it then," he confidently said. Ying Lili nodded and hugged him.
"You need to find its meaning too. Don't ask anyone this time. I will take the flower only when you tell me the meaning behind the flower," Ying Lili pulled back and looked into his eyes.
"I will do it. I will not ask anyone this time," Sheng Li affirmed. He stood up and went towards a table where a water clock was placed. "I have four hours. By then, you can take a rest. I will be back soon," Sheng Li proclaimed. Ying Lili nodded when she felt Sheng Li's lips on the top of her forehead. Leaning back he said, "Take rest." He stood straight and called Xing-Fu inside.
"You called me, your highness," Xing-Fu stood near the second door behind the curtain.
"I am going out. Take care of the Crown Princess," Sheng Li commanded him. Xing-Fu bowed his head, acknowledging the command of the Crown Prince. "Yes, your highness."
Sheng Li turned and dashed out of the chamber. Once he walked out, Ying Lili stood up from the bed and went towards Xing-Fu. "Eunuch Xing-Fu, please check if he is gone," Ying Lili requested him. Xing-Fu nodded and walked out of the chamber. After a minute, he came inside and informed the Crown Princess that the Crown Prince had left the Zhenzhu Inn.
Ying Lili nodded and told him that they should go to the manor of the Crown Prince. Xing-Fu nodded, and the two walked out of the chamber. Court Lady Xu bowed, seeing the Crown Princess. "Lady Xu, if anyone asks about me then tell him/her that I am sleeping."
Court Lady Xu, without questioning the Crown Princess agreed to that.
Ying Lili and Xing-Fu arrived at the manor of the Crown Prince. "His highness has not come to the bedchamber for a long time," Xing-Fu asserted. Ying Lili agreed with him and went towards the left side. Sliding through the door, she stepped out while Eunuch Xing-Fu followed her.
"It's a good thing that the Crown Prince did not find anything about this place. Your highness, the place is looking marvelous. His highness never let me decorate it, but now it's looking like a place in heaven," Xing-Fu proclaimed. Ying Lili brightly smiled, looking around.