"Why are you sullen? Where were you?" Ying Lili questioned him, ignoring his words.

  "I was outside. I only want you to promise to listen to me. You know that I worry about you. I have a fear for you inside me," Sheng Li stated.

  "You have a fear that I will get hurt if you involve me in your work," Ying Lili asked. Sheng Li hummed. "I am not that easy to be hurt, Sheng Li. I have faith in my love. I know that you will protect me." She passed a smile to him.

  Ying Lili's words soothed Sheng Li…… "Come, let's have our dinner first. Then, we will converse." She grabbed his hand and brought him to the dining table. They both got seated. Ying Lili served him the food and the two started eating.

  "I killed Gu Zhenya," suddenly Sheng Li said in the middle of the dinner. Ying Lili was shocked to hear that. "It was necessary to kill him. I am hurt," he said and put the chopsticks on the plate. Ying Lili drew her brows together, confused about what was going on in Sheng Li's head.

  She left the spoon in the soup bowl. "Finish your food first," Ying Lili told Sheng Li, who shook his head. "I am not in a mood to eat more," Sheng Li replied. Ying Lili picked the silver glass and handed it to Sheng Li, who drank the water.

  Ying Lili called the maidservant inside and told her to clean the table. She did so and took away the food. Ying Lili grasped his hand and took him out to the porch. "Have some fresh air with me. We can have a good conversation then," asserted Ying Lili. Sheng Li followed her without speaking anything.

  A few lanterns had illuminated the small garden. They both came towards the swing and sat on it. "Tell me now. What has happened?" Ying Lili asked Sheng Li, who gazed into her eyes for a few minutes, before narrating everything to her.

  "I thought that Brother Nianzu's mother loved me. However, I was wrong," Sheng Li said and smiled. "Even she wants to kill me. Am I that hateful? Along with me, she planned to kill you as well. How could she? I always respected her, Lili," Sheng Li sighed and looked up at the sky.

  "That's why I wanted you to promise me not to involve yourself in my works, not to stand for me," Sheng Li's words made Ying Lili cry. "Now, did you find out why I said to you months ago that I am meant to be alone? No matter how hard I try to be good, they will never treat me as a good person." Sheng Li tilted his head and looked at the Crown Princess.

  The tears on her cheeks ached his heart. "Do you mean that I shall stay away from you? I shall ignore everything and……and-" she paused as her voice broke.

  Sheng Li lowered his eyes. "I cannot see you getting hurt. I love you more than my life," he stated.

  "Sheng Li, you are not meant to be alone. You cannot even if you want to. Because, your personality ended up attracting people to you. I have observed this. And if you love me more than your life, you shall not push me away. Your enemies want this only. They know until we are together, nothing will happen to us," Ying Lili cheered up Sheng Li's mood. He gazed at her and moved his hand up.

  Putting his palm on her cheek, he stroked it with his thumb. "I had many negative thoughts in my mind. Talking to you made me feel good. Do not take my words to your heart. These days I am ending up saying those things which I don't want to," Sheng Li explained to her.

  Ying Lili placed her hand on the back of his hand. "I never took your words to my heart. I know my husband gets disheartened at the thought of me getting hurt." She caressed his hand when Sheng Li leaned closer to her.

  His eyes focused on her lips and then at her eyes. Ying Lili moved her face closer to him. Sheng Li captured her soft lips as the two closed their eyes. He moved his lips gently over hers and drew her closer. They parted their lips, giving more access to each other. Sheng Li withdrew first and touched his forehead against hers. Both of them could feel their breaths and their warmth for each other.

  Sheng Li kissed Ying Lili's cheek, who was amused. "You are indeed my strength. You know how to hold me in my toughest times," Sheng Li stated.

  "You say this every time and then you change your statement," Ying Lili asserted.

  "I will not anymore," Sheng Li replied and locked his little finger with hers. "I promise," he joined their thumbs. Ying Lili was delighted to hear that.

  "Sheng Li, let's bring back Brother Nianzu and Sister Chuntao to the Palace. Father sent them away so they would not become a part of this politics. But we will make this place free from those evils," asserted Ying Lili.

  "Brother Nianzu will not come, Lili. He even left the town where I told him to live. Let's first end these internal politics. Every second minister is corrupted. Also, I will now keep my eyes on the other three Consorts. If a woman like Empress Hui can fool me, then those three too. I still cannot believe that Empress Hui wanted to put blame on me after assassinating Brother Nianzu's wife," Sheng Li affirmed and gave suggestions to Ying Lili, who acknowledged them.

  Sheng Li took out a folded paper from his pocket and unfolded it. "Read this," he handed it to Ying Lili, who was confused.

  "What does this mean?" Ying Lili queried.

  "It's for the Empress so that she will stop," stated Sheng Li.

  "Hmm." "But will she change?" Ying Lili raised a suspicion.

  "Let's see. We will observe the movements of the Empress," Sheng Li replied to her. Ying Lili nodded her head.