"Both of the crown prince and the crown princess shall come to my Manor," Empress Wei pronounced and walked away from there followed by her servants.
"Get out," Sheng Li shouted at Xing-Fu who bowed his head and walked out of the study room. Sheng Li turned to Ying Lili. "Now, listen to me. Since it is an inner court matter so, you might get punished. So, do as what I say," Sheng Li told Ying Lili.
"Why are you helping me? Why did you tell a lie to her majesty that you destroyed the overcoat?" Ying Lili was confused, thinking about why the crown prince was protecting her. "You shall be happy that I am getting punished. Isn't that what you want?" Ying Lili further spoke.
Sheng Li amusingly looked at Ying Lili. "Only I can punish you. There is no one made to punish my wild cat," Sheng Li replied. Ying Lili was flustered by that, and right away lowered her eyes. "And, you do not have to do that every time her majesty comes to us. It is not good," Ying Lili stated, blinking her eyes.
"That is a part of a plan. Why would I kiss an inexperienced woman?" Sheng Li asserted and smirked.
"What do you mean by that? You are speaking as if you have done it many women," Ying Lili snapped at him and puckered her lips in embarrassment. Sheng Li lifted Ying Lili's chin. "I am not a womanizer. If I had been then, there would have been a harem already. But, yes, I am more experienced than you. Do not worry, I will teach you someday how to be a good kisser," Sheng Li playfully said.
Ying Lili's eyes flickered, and a red blush appeared over her cheeks. "Why are you blushing? Getting excited thinking about the fact that your husband will teach you…" Ying Lili placed her hand over Sheng Li's lips. "I do not love you so, do not get any wrong idea," Ying Lili softly said. She pulled her hand back and lowered her eyes.
"Since I have helped my wild cat, then she has to do something for me. I do not do things for free. I took the blame for you for a reason. Sometimes protecting an enemy becomes important because then that enemy can be used.
Just say there that you came to me past midnight to show the work on the overcoat," asserted Sheng Li.
"Why?" Ying Lili queried him.
"Let's go," Sheng Li spoke and walked ahead without replying to Ying Lili's question. Ying Lili followed Sheng Li to the Empress' Manor.
In Empress Manor, Empress Wei could be seen on a phoenix throne in the meeting room of the Manor. Xue Yu-Yan was also there, standing a meter away from the Empress. Bao Ling was on her knees, crying. The chief guard of Western Palace was also standing there.
Sheng Li and Ying Lili reached there. Ying Lili's heart disheartened seeing Bao Ling on the knees. "The crown princess has to give a few answers to me. According to Consort Xue, the crown princess forgave the embroidery worker who was assigned to you. Is it true?" Empress Wei asked.
"Yes, your majesty," replied Ying Lili, lowering her eyes.
"Why was the crown princess roaming in the western Palace past midnight?" Empress Wei asked another question. Ying Lili flickered her eyes in nervousness.
"The crown princess was not roaming. She came to my chamber that night with the overcoat as she wanted to show me the embroidery she had designed," Sheng Li intervened and answered the questions of the Empress.
Xue Yu-Yan glared at Ying Lili. "The crown prince never allows the people in his chamber at late night. I think the crown princess was meeting someone from her birthplace- Juyan City. His highness told me how he caught a sneaker who was claimed as the crown princess's lover," Xue Yu-Yan proclaimed and grinned.
Ying Lili lifted her eyes to look at Xue Yu-Yan. "Is it true, crown princess?" Empress Wei asked. "What is going on in the Palace? What about you, crown prince? Did you not check this?" Empress Wei questioned Sheng Li.
"I thoroughly investigated that. Consort Xue must not accuse the crown princess, neither she shall intervene in the matters which are handled by me," Sheng Li sternly said. "The crown princess does not fall into the category of 'people'. She is my wife and she can come to my chamber any time she wants. Since I expressed the desire to see the overcoat so, that night the crown princess came to me," Sheng Li declared. Ying Lili observed that how tense the situation was!
"Crown prince shall not lie in front of his mother. The chief guard of the western Palace informed me that the crown princess was not carrying any kind of overcoat," proclaimed Empress Wei. "It is good to protect your wife, but not when she has done wrong," Empress Wei asserted.
"How can I lie to you, mother? The chief guard is lying," Sheng Li announced and peered at the chief guard who was terrified. "The night was dark and I think the chief guard could not see what was the crown princess carrying in her hands or was it because he was sleepy?" Sheng Li deduced.
The chief guard was worried, thinking the crown prince could punish him later, so he was going to agree with the crown prince when the crown prince spoke. "I have more witnesses who have seen the crown princess carrying the overcoat with her. Shall I call them, mother?"
"Sheng Li, I trust you," Empress Wei asserted and shifted her gaze to the chief guard who bent on his knees. "Forgive me, your majesty. The crown prince is saying right. I was indeed sleepy, and I did wrong by accusing the crown princess. Please forgive me," the chief guard in a loud voice spoke as he bowed his head too.
Ying Lili wanted to speak, but Sheng Li grabbed her hand and tightened his grip on her. Ying Lili looked at him, who gestured to her not to speak.
"So, why did you destroy the overcoat? Giving a robe to the husband is the most auspicious thing and the crown prince destroyed it. It can affect your relationship later, son," Empress Wei worriedly said.
"Mother, thank you for thinking about my relationship, but I did not like the idea of getting an overcoat as a gift. You know my choices well. I have plenty of overcoats with me with the same pattern so, what's the use of having another one?" Sheng Li raised a brow and waited for the answer of Empress Wei.
"It seems the crown prince does not like the things prepared by the crown princess," Xue Yu-Yan mocked, which was scornful to Sheng Li.
"Why is consort Xue so interested in my married life? Isn't the respected first brother giving you enough attention? Ahh, I forgot! Consort Xue is not the official wife of the first brother but sister Mi is! Is she jealous of the crown princess?" Sheng Li insulted Xue Yu-Yan in front of everyone. "Forgive me for my tone but I speak like this," Sheng Li further added and smiled.
Sheng Li looked back at the Empress and lifted his both hands ahead to his shoulders. Joining them and bowing his head, Sheng Li spoke, "Your majesty shall punish Consort Xue for accusing the crown princess wrongly and for pointing the finger at her character. If her majesty will not do this then, I have to punish consort Xue."
"Consort Xue, you did wrong by not knowing the things beforehand. Please apologize to the crown princess," Empress Wei proclaimed.
"Apologies won't do anything, your majesty. Are you partial in your judgment? Just give the Punishment of flogging to the consort Xue so that she won't run here and there for spreading wrong information. This is the easiest punishment I can demand her because I also respect my first brother a lot so, do not want him to get hurt knowing this," Sheng Li asserted.
"It is fine. There is no need to punish consort Xue. I should have told her earlier," Ying Lili intervened and defended Xue Yu-Yan. Sheng Li turned his head slightly and smiled. "She is too kind," Sheng Li thought.
~~~~~
Hello Dear Readers!
Since I have crossed 100 votes in a week so, I will do a mass release of 3 chapters this Sunday. Thank you to all those who daily vote on the story.
HAPPY READING