Sheng Li was talking with General Wang and Xiao regarding the Lǎohǔ group. "I had thought that I would learn the game in a night but it seemed impossible for me. I concluded that we shall find more information about this group," Sheng Li stated.

  "Yes, your highness. We cannot do things in a rush. We need to first find out about our opponent. Apart from that in the market, that seller told us that climate is also responsible for worsening economic conditions in this province," Xiao Zhan forwarded his points.

  Sheng Li turned his gaze to Tzu-Yang. "Why did you not report about this earlier? Do you have a death wish?" Sheng Li asked Governor Tzu who apologized for his mistake.

  "I don't need apologies. I need results. Do you not know the origins of this rebellious group?" Sheng Li demanded answers from Tzu-Yang.

  "It came into existence last year but was not that prominent in the region, your highness. The Leader of the Group usually comes in the night, which makes it difficult for us to find anything about him. He kills the innocents in the night and we are unable to do anything," Tzu-Yang worriedly explained to Sheng Li.

  "Leave," Sheng Li ordered the Governor who stood up from his seat, bowed his head, and left the room.

  Once Governor Tzu had gone, Wang Hao said, "Your highness, shall I sneak into that group? I will bring the information about that man to you."

  Sheng Li shook his head in refusal. "No, you will not go there. I will go there alone but before that, I need to find out everything about this leader," Sheng Li proclaimed. Wang Hao nodded. "Don't tell Jingguo about this and any other conversation among us," Sheng Li told Wang Hao and Xiao Zhan.

  "What happened, your highness? It seemed he had again made some mistake," Xiao Zhan stated.

  "He did something heinous which has only one punishment, but I cannot even punish him. I should not have listened to the Fourth Brother." Sheng Li had an exasperated expression on his face.

  Wang Hao and Xiao Zhan looked at each other. "What did he do, your highness?" Xiao Zhan asked. Sheng Li recalled his kiss with Ying Lili, but then it was ruined by Hu Jingguo. Just because he was Ying Lili's friend, Sheng Li was bearing his sight.

  "Nothing," Sheng Li replied. "I will see you two tomorrow morning. Don't do anything without my permission." He then stood up from his seat. Seeing the Crown Prince standing, General Wang and General Xiao also stood up from their respective seats.

  "Wang Hao, don't let Hu Jingguo come near my private chamber. You will be punished if he comes in front of my sight tonight," Sheng Li commanded and left from there.

  "What did Jingguo do that made the Crown Prince so furious?" Xiao muttered and peered at General Wang who shrugged off his shoulder.

  "We need to ask him," Wang Hao stated, and told Xiao that they should go to their room.

  Sheng Li reached his chamber and saw Ying Lili was pacing in the room. Seeing Sheng Li, Ying Lili halted at her place. "Where were you? You left the room in anger," Ying Lili complained.

  Sheng Li sat up around the floor table and gestured to Ying Lili to come and sit beside him. Ying Lili went towards Sheng Li and sat down. "Do you drink wine?" Sheng Li asked her.

  "I do not have a habit of drinking wine. I only take a few sips during special occasions," Ying Lili replied. "You also should not drink," Ying Lili stated, and glared at him.

  "I like to drink wine. It has been many days since I last touched wine. I think the last time I drank was the day when you came to my chamber for the first time and slapped me," Sheng Li recalled the day when Ying Lili suddenly came to his room. That was the first time when someone actually stopped him from drinking. But apart from Ying Lili, no one had enough guts to stop him.

  Ying Lili felt sad upon hearing the words of Sheng Li. "You are the first woman who not only dared to come to my chamber at the late-night without thinking about the consequences but also slapped me." A chuckle escaped from Sheng Li's mouth.

  Ying Lili then opened her mouth to speak but before she could speak, she heard Sheng Li, "But that was past. We had a lot of differences between us. Then I learned about you and I found a perfect woman for me in you," Sheng Li asserted.

  Ying Lili widened her eyes slightly. "Have a drink with your husband," Sheng Li said, looking into the eyes of Ying Lili who was hesitating, but then she nodded.

  "But then you need to answer a few questions of mine. Will you? Ahh, why don't we ask some questions regarding each other so that we can learn about each other more," Ying Lili suggested to Sheng Li who agreed to her.

  Ying Lili smiled when something clicked in her mind. "Don't you want to have dinner? If we will drink before dinner then…"

  Sheng Li cut Ying Lili's words in the middle. "Then let's have dinner first," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili nodded and smiled.

  "Sheng Li, you need to learn that game, so would you like to see me?" Ying Lili asked Sheng Li, which startled him. He wanted to see the Crown Princess playing that game, but he was worried too. What if she would injure her hand while playing?

  "I am proficient in this game so do not worry about me," Ying Lili assured Sheng Li who huffed, "Who's worried about you?"

  "I know you are!" Sheng Li answered. Ying Lili stood up from her seat. She took the knife from the other table and came back towards the floor table.

  "Don't do this now," Sheng Li stopped Ying Lili and took the knife from her hand.

  "Why?" with an inquisitive expression, Ying Lili questioned Sheng Li who shook his head and replied, "Because I do not want you to see you get hurt." Ying Lili looked into the eyes of Sheng Li and forwarded her hand to take the knife, but then Sheng Li moved his hand further back.

  "I will not get hurt. I told you that……" Sheng Li did not let her complete her words as he pulled her towards him and she landed on his lap. "When I say No then it is a No. Understood?" Sheng Li with a raised brow stated.

  "Why are you holding me like this?" Ying Lili asked.

  "Can't I? I know you like it when I get close to you. Your little heart rhythms seeing me. It beats strangely as if it has……" Sheng Li leaned further closer to Ying Lili's lips and continued, "……as if it has fallen for me!"

  ~~~~

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