General Xiao bowed his head as he saw the crown prince and the crown princess had reached the Palace grounds. The other soldiers standing there too bowed their heads. Sheng Li saw on a platform there was a throne placed on which he had to take a seat with the crown princess.
"General Xiao wishes a happy and prosperous birthday on behalf of the military to the crown prince," Xiao Zhan stated. Sheng Li smiled and thanked him. "Your highness, please take your seat," Xiao Zhan told the crown prince. Sheng Li peered at Ying Lili and gestured to her to follow him. As they were seated on the throne, General Xiao told the crown prince that the ceremony would start soon.
Ying Lili saw that on the tables there were bamboo baskets which were filled with fruits and tiny bags of grain. The clothes were also prepared for the people in the capital. A tiny smile carved on her lips. "It is good that Sheng Li is going to give all this to the people. I wish he could give this to the entire Han," Ying Lili thought.
"What is the wild cat thinking?" Sheng Li whispered in Ying Lili's ear. Ying Lili blinked her eyes and shook her head, "Nothing."
"People are going to see their crown princess. You are going to enchant people of the capital by your beauty," Sheng Li stated, looking into the eyes of Ying Lili who twitched her lips. "Can you move a little aside from me? It is uncomfortable to be too close," Ying Lili requested Sheng Li who smirked. He moved towards Ying Lili, which bewildered her.
"I told you to move aside. Why do you always ready to pick a fight with me?" Ying Lili queried him. Sheng Li was going to answer when Lei Wanxi came there with Han Nianzu and Weng Yu.
"We are here to see the event. Sister Lili, the performance was marvelous. We all enjoyed it but I think that brother Sheng enjoyed it more," Lei Wanxi smirked and looked at Sheng Li whose facial expressions suddenly changed.
"What are you saying? I do not even like music and dance. Did you ever see me in any of those events where such performances were performed?" Sheng Li defended himself. He did not want to show Ying Lili that he did like her both performances.
"The crown prince must not lie. I have seen with these two eyes how you were smiling and focussing on sister Lili when she was performing. You are also mesmerized by Sister Lili, right? Admit it, brother Sheng. There is nothing to get shy," Lei Wanxi stated and looked at Nianzu, gesturing to him to support him.
Ying Lili turned her head and peered at the crown prince who was blinking his eyes. "You were smiling??" Ying Lili, with an inquisitiveness, asked.
"What? Why would I smile? He is just playing. Go away. The event is going to start." Sheng Li huffed and was annoyed by Lei Wanxi.
Weng Yu came towards Ying Lili and bowed his head. He lifted it and spoke, "Your highness, thank you for saving me there. I could not decide what shall I give the crown prince." Sheng Li looked at Weng Yu and then at Ying Lili.
"Prince Yu, can I ask something from you?" Sheng Li asked. Weng Yu nervously moved his fingers over each other and shook his head in agreement.
"Why are you so scared of me?" Sheng Li questioned. "Do you not know I hate the people who cannot even stand for themselves and live in fear?" Sheng Li with exasperation said. Frowns had appeared on Sheng Li's forehead.
Weng Yu lowered his eyes in fear. "Why are you speaking like this with brother Yu?" Ying Lili scolded Sheng Li and shot a glare at him. "At least talk him with politely," Ying Lili added and shifted her gaze towards Prince Yu. She took his hands in hers and caressed them. "Brother Yu, you shall speak with confidence. I will daily come to meet you from now on and we will play too," Ying Lili stated.
"Why are you holding his hands?" Sheng Li annoyingly spoke. "Many eyes are on you," Sheng Li affirmed. Nianzu and Lei Wanxi smiled seeing the reactions of Sheng Li.
"Brother Yu, do not listen to him. He has got no brains, and he thinks of himself as a prominent person. I am your elder sister, right? So, you shall listen to me. You are the Prince who shall not be scared easily. In the future, you will carry an important position like your other brothers then, you cannot be scared. Are you getting my point?" Ying Lili humbly asked. Sheng Li chuckled when Ying Lili said some unbearable things about him, while Nianzu and Lei Wanxi giggled.
"Yes, your highness," replied Weng Yu.
"Call me, sister Lili," Ying Lili asserted. Weng Yu looked at the crown prince when Ying Lili spoke, "What did I tell a moment ago that you shall not get scared easily. You can call me sister Lili. No one will scold you. If anyone will then you can tell me. I will give punishment to that person. Understood?" Ying Lili looked for an answer.
"I understood, sister Lili. Thank you," Weng Yu with a smile spoke. Ying Lili smiled and released Weng Yu's hands. Lei Wanxi stepped forward and put an arm around Weng Yu. "Let's sit on our respective seats, then. The offering gift event is going to start," Lei Wanxi told Weng Yu who nodded and walked away with Lei Wanxi. Nianzu bowed his head and then followed the other two brothers.
"What were you telling him? That you will punish me?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili.
"I did not take your name," Ying Lili replied.
"You indeed are bold to make such defamatory comments against the crown prince in front of his brothers," Sheng Li deduced. Ying Lili knitted her brows upon hearing the statement.
"I did not make any defamatory comments. Aren't you like that?" Ying Lili raised her brow and was grinning. Sheng Li smiled and spoke, "Thanks to this brainless man you were saved yesterday else you would have been in the prison." Ying Lili giggled, which befuddled Sheng Li.
"What? Why are you giggling?" Sheng Li asked.
"I was teasing you. You do not have control over your emotions. Now, do not start an argument. It's your birthday so, just smile instead of getting angry and fighting with people," Ying Lili enunciated. Sheng Li tittered hearing Ying Lili, but he said nothing.