Ying Lili was waiting for Sheng Li for lunch when Court Lady Xu said, "Your highness, there is a Committee meeting after lunch hours. I think the Crown Prince had already taken his meals and left for the meeting. You shall also take your meals."
The morning incident had surprised Ying Lili. She did not think that the Crown Prince had planned such a thing last night. "But he was sleeping beside me then when did he plan all this?" Ying Lili murmured. She felt dejected that Sheng Li did not tell her about that.
"I do not want to eat," Ying Lili told Court Lady Xu who did not force the Crown Princess. She called the maidservant who took out the food from there. Ying Lili laid down on the bed. "If the Crown Prince comes, then do not let him enter," Ying Lili pulled the blanket up. Court Lady Xu pulled the curtains down around the bed and walked out from there.
Soon, Ying Lili drifted off to sleep. In the late evening, Ying Lili's sleep broke. Gradually opening her eyes and yawning, Ying Lili turned to look for Court Lady Xu, when she found Sheng Li on the bed beside her.
He had put the weight on his left elbow and was looking at Ying Lili. "W-what are you doing here?" The Crown Princess queried the Crown Prince.
"This is my Palace. I can go anywhere I want to go," Sheng Li replied. "You specifically ordered Court Lady Xu not to let me enter," Sheng Li stated. His lips quirked up to give a smile to Ying Lili.
"Why? Can't I order?" Ying Lili muttered and averted her gaze from Sheng Li.
"Yes, you cannot order such a thing to Court Lady Xu. You also know that your orders do not affect me," Sheng Li proclaimed and extended his right hand out, with which he started playing with Ying Lili's hair strands.
"Don't."
"What?"
Ying Lili beamed at Sheng Li when he lowered himself. "Why are taking anger on the food?" Sheng Li asked Ying Lili.
"I did not. I was not feeling like eating," Ying Lili replied.
Sheng Li stopped playing with Ying Lili's hair strands and brought his finger near her nose. He bent it slightly and moved it above Ying Lili's nose. "Just tell the truth. You were missing my presence," Sheng Li stated.
Ying Lili huffed. "You think too much. Why would I miss your presence?" Sheng Li amusingly looked at her.
"Don't you know?" Sheng Li whispered in her ear. As he was leaning back, his lips touched Ying Lili's earlobe, and she jolted up.
"What are you doing?" Ying Lili covered her ear with her palm which baffled Sheng Li.
"What did I do? These days you are acting strange," Sheng Li muttered. "Don't you want to go to the market to celebrate the Lantern Festival?" Sheng Li queried her.
"You are taking me to the festival?" Ying Lili asked to confirm. "But my foot is injured. I do not want you to carry me all around," she continued.
"Why would I carry you? I have my ways to take you there. We can hop on Kofeng and celebrate the festival," Sheng Li suggested a way to Ying Lili.
"What kind of solution is this? People will stare at us and laugh at us. I will celebrate Winter Lantern Festival. Go away," Ying Lili asserted and turned her back to Sheng Li.
"I have another way as well. There is no pain in your foot, right?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili.
"Hmm."
Sheng Li grabbed Ying Lili's arm and made her sit on the bed. "Look at me while I am talking to you," Sheng Li asserted as he peered at her. "You are making me feel as if I did some crime," stated Sheng Li.
"How will we go there?" Ying Lili asked.
"In the palanquin," Sheng Li answered. "Now, because we are going among the commoners so, we have to again become like them," Sheng Li stated.
He then got down from the bed and looked at the table on which dresses for them were already placed. "Change into this dress," Sheng Li said as he came with the dress in his hand. "I have taken the permission from his majesty so, we do not need to worry about being caught by anyone. The veiled hat is also on the table, so put it on after you will be ready. I will wait for you outside the chamber."
Sheng Li went towards the table, picked his dress, and walked out from there. In a minute, Court Lady Xu came there with two maidservants who helped Ying Lili in getting changed.
Ying Lili took half an hour to get ready. Her foot was not in pain and the swelling was also reduced so, she was less wary about that. She had worn the veiled hat, which had a light pink semi-transparent veil around it.
As she came out of the chamber, she saw Sheng Li was waiting for her, who came forward and looked at Ying Lili from head to toe.
Sheng Li stood on the left of Ying Lili, grabbed her arm gently, and then lifted her in his arms. The maids there right away lowered their eyes.
"You cannot descend the stairs and this is the best way." Sheng Li gave her the reason and walked out from there. Soon, they reached the Fu Imperial Gates, where a palanquin could be seen.
"It might get unwanted attention," Ying Lili worriedly said, looking at the palanquin.
"It is the palanquin used by the women out there. No one will find out. Everyone will be busy in searching for soul mates for themselves," Sheng Li opined. General Wang pulled the curtain up, which was semi-transparent while Sheng Li bent down and gently put Ying Lili inside the palanquin.
Ying Lili saw that General Wang had also changed his looks. Sheng Li too entered the palanquin and sat facing Ying Lili. The bearers carried the palanquin up, and they left for the market.
~~~~
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