Sheng Li was wrapping the sash around his waist when Wang Hao came there. "Your highness, a message has come from Luoyang," Wang Hao affirmed. Sheng Li turned and came towards him. Extending his hand out, he took the tiny rolled paper from Wang Hao and opened it.
"It's from the First Brother," Sheng Li recognized the writing and then read. Frowns appeared on his forehead as he read the entire message. "An unknown attack happened in Luoyang. Brother has told me not to take any step until more forces come from Luoyang," Sheng Li stated. He gave the letter back to Wang Hao and told him to burn it.
"An unknown attack? Is everything alright there?" Wang Hao was worried.
"Lili handled everything. Brother Jian has mentioned that he would be here soon. Let's not do anything until we find out what happened in Luoyang," Sheng Li told Wang Hao.
"But Your Highness, I need to go there. I will collect as much information as I can get," Wang Hao asserted. Sheng Li agreed to him. "Wan Ju must be going with you. He knows that place better. Be around him," Sheng Li ordered him.
"Yes, your highness," Wang Hao bowed.
Hu Jingguo came to the chamber while calling out his name. "Do not start in the morning," Sheng Li warned Hu Jingguo, whose smile disappeared from his lips.
"You are scolding me in the morning. This is not right. With Wan Ju, you talk so nicely. Then why do you turn cold with me?" Hu Jingguo complained and scoffed.
Sheng Li squinted his eyes and then turned his gaze to General Wang. "Return early," Sheng Li told him, patting his arm. Wang Hao nodded and walked out of the chamber.
"You did not answer my questions. This is unfair," Hu Jingguo again complained.
"The answer is simple. He does not irritate me," Sheng Li replied and went towards the floor table. He took his seat and told Hu Jingguo to sit with him.
"Something has happened in Luoyang. I have postponed the plan to attack Tan Gengxin," Sheng Li asserted. Hu Jingguo was stunned to learn about Luoyang.
"Is everything okay there? Did someone try attacking Lili in your absence?" Hu Jingguo waited for Sheng Li's response.
"I do not know exactly what has happened there, but Lili has handled everything," Sheng Li pronounced. "My decision to leave her behind was right. Only her brain can work in such a situation," Sheng Li stated and smiled.
"We shall go out. Maybe we will find out any information which can be useful for us," Hu Jingguo suggested to Sheng Li, who agreed with him. "I need to eat breakfast first. And then I need to meet Commander Sun as he has arrived with the army here," Sheng Li informed Hu Jingguo.
"Okay. After that, we can go," Hu Jingguo stated. "I also have not eaten my breakfast. It is nice. I got a chance to have a meal with you." Sheng Li was amused upon seeing Hu Jingguo's reaction.
"Why do you get so excited when you have meals with me?" Sheng Li called a maidservant and ordered her to bring the meals for them.
"Because I feel secure," Hu Jingguo replied.
"What?" Sheng Li gave a scornful laugh to him.
"I am serious. I have no family unlike you all. For me Lili is my family and when she got married, her husband also became my family… more like an Elder Brother." The smile from Sheng Li's lips vanished as he heard Hu Jingguo. "I missed eating with my parents but it covered up as I grew up with Lili and then the other day when the two of us had a meal together, I felt blessed."
"Why? I am not your parent," Sheng Li thought to add some humor.
"You are the Crown Prince for whom his people are like a child. For me you are not only a friend but a big brother and also a parent as you are the Crown Prince," Hu Jingguo stated. The maidservant served the food to them. She tasted the food. "His highness can start," she softly said. Sheng Li motioned his hand in the air, gesturing her to leave.
"Then, you shall treat me like an elder brother." Sheng Li put a dumpling on his plate. "Eat," he said. "Don't stare at me. Only Lili can stare at me." Hu Jingguo smiled and picked the dumpling from the chopstick.
"I know only Lili can stare at your ugly face," Hu Jingguo thought to tease Sheng Li, who chuckled and snatched the dumpling from Hu Jingguo's chopsticks.
"How can you call me ugly? I am the most handsome-"
"Ahh, you are in illusion. The most handsome man is Prince Lei Wanxi and then the First Prince, Fourth Prince and so on," Hu Jingguo teased Sheng Li, who scowled at him.
"Lili told me that I am handsome," Sheng Li said with a smile.
"Haha. You shall ask people someday," Hu Jingguo stated and snatched back the dumpling. He ate that and said, "When we return to Luoyang, let's go somewhere with Lili. I always want to have a trip with you two," Hu Jingguo requested to Sheng Li.
"Why should I take you with us? You earlier said I am ugly," Sheng Li was a little annoyed at him.
"I joked. You took that to heart. Forgive me for that then. I will also marry someday then it will be impossible for me to go with you two," Hu Jingguo asserted and picked the rice bowl from the table.
"We will go together," Sheng Li assured him.
"We can go to the mountains where you hid me. I like that place. It calms me down," Hu Jingguo replied as he smiled. Sheng Li nodded and told him to focus on eating.
Hu Jingguo smiled and dug into the food. After the two finished eating, they went first to meet Commander Sun.. Later, they went to the market in disguises.