Sheng Li came to Ying Lili's chamber and found her reading some scrolls. She was on the stairs covered with a blue carpet, and above the five stairs lay a chaise. "What are you reading?" Sheng Li asked as he sat beside her on the stairs. "Why did you not sit on the chaise?" He then asked.
Ying Lili lifted her eyes from the scroll and peered at him. "I wanted to sit here. I am reading this beautiful anthology by Scholar Qu," she said. Her weight rested on her left elbow.
"You did not come for dinner. Are you preparing something big for me? Brother Wanxi told me that you have planned a surprise for me for my birthday," asserted Ying Lili as she scrolled up the scroll and put it aside.
"Do not listen to Wanxi. He loves to ruin my plans for you," stated Sheng Li and leaned closer to her.. "After four days, your birthday is coming. Just as you gave me a nice surprise, I will do the same. You shall wait," he proclaimed.
"I danced for you and played the flute for you. Will you dance for me? People might laugh at you," Ying Lili queried.
"I can dance for you when we are alone. I am not good at music so you need to protect your ears if I play the flute," Sheng Li answered and touched the nose from the back of his finger. Ying Lili giggled, amusing Sheng Li.
"Today the Royal Astrologer has come. Do you know what he said?" Ying Lili asked. "Eunuch Xing-Fu might have told you," Ying Lili curiously said.
"Umm… I told him not to tell me. I wanted to hear it from you," Sheng Li replied. "Tell me," he asked.
"The Royal Astrologer has given the date of my birthday which is after four days," Ying Lili replied and lowered her eyes. A hue of red formed on her cheeks that spread till her ears. Sheng Li curled his fingers under her chin and lifted her face.
"You are shy, Lili. It is so strange of you," Sheng Li teased her a little.
"I do get shy sometimes," Ying Lili answered.
"I can see that," Sheng Li whispered and let go of her chin. He moved his hand down her arm and wrapped it around her waist. This entire time, their gazes were focused on each other. He pulled her closer and moved his gaze towards her lips.
Ying Lili put her finger on his lips, astonishing him. "I heard that the Empress called you. What did she ask?" She asked.
Sheng Li put her finger down and replied, "She asked me to bring Brother Nianzu back. Consort Ju was also present there. I do not know what is going on in their minds. They think that the Father will listen to me and revoke his decision for Brother Nianzu."
"She is a mother. I think that the Emperor was harsher on Brother Nianzu. He should have allowed him to meet his mother," Ying Lili put forward her view.
"Lili, Brother Nianzu did not want to meet his mother. And if he was allowed then it was easier for Empress Hui to harm Chuntao. Do not think that Empress Hui is good just because she is the mother of Brother Nianzu." Sheng Li explained to her. He was disheartened after knowing the truth about Deng Hui.
"I said in the perspective of a mother," Ying Lili stated.
"A mother wants the good for her child. However, Empress Hui does not care for her son. Why? Because she only wants to see him with power. She does not care about Brother Nianzu's other half that gives him happiness. Brother Nianzu left this Palace because of that too. I think he did not want to tell me about his mother. Brother Nianzu might have seen his mother's truth after she became the Empress, but he did not want to tell anyone about this." Frowns appeared on Sheng Li's forehead.
"Lili, I forgot to compliment you for this," suddenly, his mood changed to a delighted one. "You told me that you will fight with my enemies and will change the hearts of my brothers. Today I felt happy. I have never gotten this feeling. You indeed turned my life beautiful," Sheng Li stated.
"And you also turned my life beautiful. You taught me many things throughout this period," Ying Lili affirmed.
Sheng Li brought his head closer to his and touched their foreheads with each other. "You complete me, Lili. This Sheng Li is incomplete without his Lili," he closed his eyes so did Ying Lili. They heard each other's breath hitting against each other's lips. Their noses touched, and the two felt the essence of this moment. Sheng Li without wasting any more time carried Ying Lili up and took her to the bed.
He put her on the mattress and hovered over her. Ying Lili wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down. Sheng Li captured her lips and nibbled them. Ying Lili moaned a little and parted her lips. They both kissed each other passionately before pulling away.
Both of them smiled before again kissing each other. Sheng Li gave them enough time to breathe while kissing. His hands opened the knot of her dress. He trailed the kisses down to her bare neck, and shoulders, leaving no point unattended.
"Sheng Li," Ying Lili called his name when he nipped his skin on the collarbone. Her soft voice was like music to his ears that encouraged him more. The wet, open-mouthed, sloppy kisses build something strange in the pit of her stomach. Her hands were now in his hair. She pulled him up and kissed him on his lips. She flipped him, and now she was over him.
"Lili," Sheng Li called her name and smirked. He moved her hair away from her face and then pulled her down. With the other hand, he pulled down the curtains that hung around the four-poster bedpost.