The garden which had nothing except a water pool there, now was changed completely. For the past few days, Ying Lili planted every flower there and she kept Sheng Li away from that place with the help of Xing-Fu. Last time when Sheng Li brought Ying Lili there, she decided to renew the place and give a new life to this place. She even planted two lychee plants.
The big water pool was surrounded by a few big boulders and paintings were carved on them. She recalled how tough it was to bring the boulders to this place without coming into Sheng Li's notice. The work is mostly done at night by Eunuch Xing-Fu while in the morning when Sheng Li used to go to the court and the barracks, Ying Lili used to do the remaining work of decoration.
The swing was also replaced with a new one and a shelter was made over it to prevent it from rainy season.
The green grass was grown on the ground, making it no less than a region hidden somewhere in the mountains. The last work remained was of placing the paper lanterns around the garden. Ying Lili had made the lanterns with the help of Palace maids so she asked Eunuch Xing-Fu to bring them.
Xing-Fu brought the paper lanterns there. "Your highness, I shall call the servants to put them at their respective places. Two Palace servants Brought the equal quantity of oil lamps which were to be put inside the red paper lanterns. Every paper lantern had some symbols written over it, with different patterns.
Two servants brought a wooden step ladder and placed it near the part where stairs to the porch ended. Ying Lili folded her sleeves and then tied her hair into a bun. Seeing that the Crown Princess would hang them at a particular distance on the roof, Xing-Fu objected.
"Your highness, you might fall down. Please refrain from stepping on the ladder. The servants will do that. Her highness can instruct them," Xing-Fu suggested to the Crown Princess but she did not listen to him.
"Eunuch Xing-Fu, I want to decorate every part of this place with my own hands. It's a special place for not only Sheng Li but also me. And, I have climbed on ladders numerous times so, do not worry for me," Ying Lili explained to Xing-Fu, who did not say anything to stop the Crown Princess.
Ying Lili stepped on the ladder, holding the string of the lantern and tied it on a protruding wooden end on the roof. The maidservant handed a oil lamp to the Crown Princess which she put inside the paper lantern.
Xing-Fu checked the other things in the porch, not wanted to left anything. "Your highness, the Crown Prince will scold us for letting you work at this, but then those scoldings will not matter in front of his smile." Ying Lili smiled upon hearing those words.
"His highness was picky about everything but not anymore! Because of her highness, the Crown Prince had learned to become patient. Your highness, thank you for accepting the love of his highness and looking that side of his highness which we all failed to see," Xing-Fu was overwhelmed with many emotions.
"Eunuch Xing-Fu, the Crown Prince is tough to please. He was not ready to accept my love. I have never met such a stubborn person like him!" Ying Lili remarked while tying the string of another lantern on the end of the roof.
"Your highness, when you were injured the Crown Prince had lost his temper. We thought we all would be dead for a while. It was a difficult time," the maidservant, who was filling the oil lamp with oil informed Ying Lili.
"Then, how did he hold his anger? You all should not be afraid of him. He is gentle," Ying Lili stated, keeping the smile on her lips. She stepped down the ladder. The two servants moved the stair to the left of porch.
~~~~
Sheng Li was on Kongqi, near the Fu Imperial Gates. He had decided to go on Kongqi till the downhill of the mountains. Pulling the reins, Kongqi gained momentum and started running. "I have heard about the flower but I forgot what that actually means," Sheng Li thought.
He was going to turn to the mountain route when he saw Wang Hao, Xiao Zhan and Hu Jingguo on three horses. Immediately, Sheng Li stopped Kongqi who neighed. Seeing the Crown Prince there, the three also stopped their respective horses.
"Your highness," Wang Hao greeted Sheng Li, followed by Xiao Zhan and Hu Jingguo.
"Where are you heading to?" Hu Jinnguo asked Sheng Li, keeping his tone informal. Xiao Zhan scolded Hu Jingguo for talking that way with the Crown Prince.
"We are friends, General Xiao. I can talk with Sheng Li informally," Hu Jingguo delightedly said and winked at Sheng Li, who chuckled. Xiao Zhan and Wang Hao were shocked to learn that.
"Why did you not tell us earlier?" Xiao Zhan asked.
"I will talk to you later. I have to go uphill," Sheng Li told them.
"May I ask why, your highness?" Wang Hao asked.
"Lili has asked something to bring me from the mountain," Sheng Li replied.
"What did she ask you to bring?" Hu Jingguo was curious to know.
"She asked me to bring Middlemist Red Camellia Flower. She has asked something from me for the first time, so I need to bring it from there," Sheng Li asserted. Hu Jingguo nodded and told him to go.
"Your highness, it's in the Palace Garden. Why are you going to the uphill when it is easily available in the Imperial Garden," Wang Hao pronounced.
"What? But she said that you told her it only grows in the mountain," Sheng Li frowned and his grips on the rein tightened.
"Lili made a fool of yours. Sheng Li, how could you not know that the flower grows in the Imperial Palace?" Hu Jingguo mocked Sheng Li while laughing, who glared at him. Right away, Hu Jingguo suppressed his laugh.
Sheng Li pulled the reins and rode Kongqi back to the Imperial Place. Wang Hao, Xiao Zhan and Hu Jingguo started riding their horses and followed the Crown Prince to the Palace.
"Why did you lie to me?" Sheng Li wondered.