Hu Jingguo had fallen asleep on the chair. His sleep broke abruptly due to a sleep jerk. Rubbing his eyes, he looked at the Crown Princess first who was still unconscious and then at the Crown Prince, who did not even move from his place. Judging by his eyes, it seemed he did not sleep the entire night.

  Hu Jingguo stretched his arms out and stood up from the chair. "Your highness, l am examining her highness," Hu Jingguo stated. He moved the blanket down a little and checked the wound on Ying Lili's back. The purplish color had vanished, meaning the medicine suited her.

  ??

  Hu Jingguo then checked her eyes and pulse. The pulse had turned stable. Sheng Li was keenly observing Hu Jingguo's examination. "Is she fine?" Sheng Li anxiously asked.

  "Yes, her highness pulse has turned stable. She will wake up in a while," Hu Jingguo declared. Sheng Li took a breath of relief. "I need to clean her highness's wound else it can lead to infection," Hu Jingguo asked for the permission, which Sheng Li gave him.

  Hu Jingguo went towards the table and picked a clean cotton cloth. He called in Court Lady Xu and told her to send a bowl full of lukewarm water. Court Lady Xu bowed and walked out of the chamber. A few minutes later, Court Lady Xu came inside with a water bowl in her hand. Hu Jingguo thanked her, who asked about the Crown Princess.

  "She is stable now. She will soon wake up," Hu Jingguo replied. Court Lady Xu joined her both hands and thanked the Jade Emperor. Hu Jingguo soaked the cotton cloth in the lukewarm water, wrung it and then went towards the bed. He cleaned the wound gently while conversing with the Crown Prince.

  "Did his highness not sleep? Your eyes are puffy. Please take some rest," Hu Jingguo advised Sheng Li, who refused plainly.

  "The Crown Prince is stubborn!" Hu Jingguo remarked. "Look at yourself in the mirror. Freshen up and then come back here," Hu Jingguo asserted.

  "I will freshen up once she will open her eyes and talk to me," Sheng Li stated.

  "She will feel melancholy seeing his highness like this. Court Lady Xu and I are here to look after her highness," Hu Jingguo stressed upon his words.

  "But if she will wake up right after I leave, then-"

  "Nothing will happen. I will tell her that her dear husband is taking a bath," Hu Jingguo with a smile said. He wanted to lighten up the mood but when the Crown Prince did not respond to him, he said, "The Crown Prince is infecting her highness. You did not even clean your hands, which still have clotted blood. So, freshen up, take a bath and then you can stay with her highness."

  Sheng Li kept staring into Hu Jingguo's eyes, who chuckled. "If you would be my friend then, I would have beaten you up for not listening to me. Poor me! I can't even raise my hand at you," Hu Jingguo stated.

  "I am going. Don't let your guard down. I will be back soon," Sheng Li ordered him.

  Hu Jingguo bowed his head. "Yes, your highness. Now, you shall leave," he lifted his head and passed a broad smile to Sheng Li. He got down the bed and walked out of the chamber.

  Hu Jingguo took a deep sigh. "It's so difficult to make your husband agree," Hu Jingguo murmured, looking at Ying Lili.

  As the Crown Prince came out of the chamber, the two Generals came to him, so did the Princes. "How is Sister Lili?" Lei Wanxi questioned.

  "She is fine now. She is still unconscious but Hu Jingguo said that she will wake up in a while," Sheng Li answered. Everyone was delighted to hear that when Sheng Li asked about his father's health.

  "Father is resting. The Royal Physician is in his chamber, so there is nothing to worry about," Nianzu informed Sheng Li, who nodded. "You all shall return to your respective chambers," Sheng Li requested them and looked at Weng Yu whose eyes were puffy.

  "Your mother will get angry at me for keeping you awake. Go to your chamber," Sheng Li told Weng Yu with a stern expression. Before Weng Yu could speak, Sheng Li walked away followed by Eunuch Xing-Fu.

  "Princes, you all shall leave," General Wang humbly said, who agreed with him and left the Zhenzhu Inn.

  ~~~~

  Sheng Li after undressing got into the bathtub. Xing-Fu was standing a few meters away from Sheng Li, lowering his head.

  "Forgive me for yesterday. I shouted at you," suddenly Sheng Li apologized to Xing-Fu, who lifted his head.

  "His highness is not supposed to apologize. I indeed made a mistake," Xing-Fu stated and again bowed.

  "You did not. I have no control over my anger. Just accept that I made a mistake," Sheng Li said in a hoarse voice. He took a few dips in the water and flipped his hair back.

  "Shall I call the servants to help his highness in washing?" Xing-Fu humbly asked.

  "No."

  Sheng Li, after bathing for half an hour, got dressed in clean clothes. His hair was still wet which would have taken half an hour to dry them. "Let them open," Sheng Li ordered the maidservant. A blue strip with a blue diamond at its front was tied around his forehead. The other maidservants helped him wearing the overcoat.

  "I will not do work for a few days so, tell the ministers to go to the First Prince in my absence," Sheng Li informed Xing-Fu. The maidservants left his chamber, while he left for the Zhenzhu Inn.

  Reaching there, he was informed by the Court Lady Xu that Ying Lili had still not gained consciousness. He walked in and sat on the chair beside the bed. Hu Jingguo was crushing some seeds in the mortar, while glancing at Sheng Li.

  "Don't stare at me. I know I need to wait," Sheng Li affirmed.

  "Your highness, after Ying Lili… " he paused and bit his tongue and continued, "After her highness will recover fully then we will go on a trip. Don't give me that look," he pouted.

  "Okay," Sheng Li replied.

  Hu Jingguo was bewildered upon seeing how easily the Crown Prince agreed to him. "Her highness's birthday is approaching. It will be good if we visit her favorite place," Hu Jingguo added.

  Sheng Li turned his gaze towards Hu Jingguo, who was smiling. "When is her birthday?" Sheng Li questioned.

  Hu Jingguo widened his eyes. "His highness does not know!" He was shocked to learn about that.

  "She did not tell me. I asked her many times," Sheng Li replied. "You, tell me, when is her birthday?"

  "Umm… if her highness has not told then even I should not. Find out for yourself," Hu Jingguo stated, passing a broad smile to Sheng Li, who had not expected something less than this.

  Sheng Li had turned calm by now. Unlike the previous times, he did not get angry at Hu Jingguo. "You are a great friend, Jingguo. I admire your pure, selfless friendship with Lili. I think since the day Lili entered my life, I met with some amazing people. Thanks to her nature, I did not kill you the first time I learned about you. You indeed proved your loyalty towards me. I am thankful to you." Sheng Li for the first time praised Hu Jingguo, who was still astonished by this side of the Crown Prince.

  "I can be a great friend to you if you want me to! But, if I become your friend then, I will call you by your name. I will use informal language with you and also with the Crown Princess," Hu Jingguo asserted.

  Sheng Li again met his gaze and smiled a little. "You are allowed to do that but there is one condition," Sheng Li sternly said.

  "Condition?" Hu Jingguo exclaimed.

  "Hmm."

  "Tell me the condition," Hu Jingguo said.

  "Don't risk your life for me," Sheng Li pronounced.

  "Why would I?" Hu Jingguo laughed a little. "I love my life," he stated.

  "Good. You are my friend from today onwards, Hu Jingguo," Sheng Li announced and forwarded his hand for a hand shake. Hu Jingguo could not believe his ears, but he was happy. He put the mortar on the table and went to Sheng Li.

  Forwarding his hand, he shook his hand with the Crown Prince. "So, the nation's Crown Prince is my friend now. It is the greatest achievement that Hu Jingguo has achieved. My friendship to you will always be selfless and true-hearted, Sheng Li." The two smiled while shaking hands with each other.