Nianzu narrowly gazed at Fei Jing. "Why is the Young Master too desperate to have my presence in the party? Doesn't he know that the lower class is not invited to such parties?" Nianzu asked him amusingly.
Fei Jing had closed the door behind him and turned to look at Nianzu.
"You are not from a lower-class family, Prince Nianzu," Fei Jing deduced. Nianzu did not let his facial expressions change and wryly laughed.
"Please do not address me as a Prince," Nianzu asserted.
"Hmm. Then, how shall I address you?" Fei Jing queried Nianzu.
"By my name, Young Master," Nianzu answered and took a step forward but Fei Jing stopped him.
"I will address you as Nianzu, but then what about the characteristics that you possess as a Prince? Why did you abandon your Prince title and instead choose a commoner's life? Was it because of your wife?" Fei Jing questioned Nianzu, whose face was as calm as before.
"Thank you, Young Master, for bringing me here. I will surely repay your kindness. The Young Master wants me to attend the evening's party. Then, I will do that," Nianzu asserted and bowed. Fei Jing had not expected this kind of response from Nianzu, who had lifted his eyes.
"I shall take my leave," Nianzu said and walked past him.
"Go in a litter," Fei Jing suggested to him.
"It is not needed," Nianzu replied.
"I have promised your wife that I will take care of you," Fei Jing affirmed and turned to him. "Follow me," he said and walked out of the room.
As they came out of the Residence, Fei Jing told Nianzu to get into the Litter. Nianzu did so and left for his home. 'Nianzu, you are trying to hide this identity. But, why?' Fei Jing wondered.
Nianzu, oppositely, arrived at his home. Chuntao, who had come out of the kitchen, was shocked to see Nianzu. She dashed to him and gave him support.
"Nianzu, why did you come alone?" She murmured.
"Why did you leave me at that Residence?" Nianzu asked her as the two went towards the room.
"Young Master has said that the Physician will examine you again," Chuntao replied and opened the door. They both walked inside the room. Nianzu sat on the mattress while Chuntao handed him a glass of water.
She took out a fan from the table and started to fan Nianzu, who was drinking the water. Nianzu put the glass down and told Chuntao not to trouble herself.
"How is it a problem? Lay down. You need a good rest. You have exhausted yourself," Chuntao told him and tried to push him on the mattress.
"I am hungry, Chun," Nianzu said and rested his hand on his stomach.
"Give me a few minutes. I will prepare something quick," Chuntao said and walked out of the room.
Oppositely, Nianzu thought about how to make Fei Jing believe that he was not Prince. Because if he would not do something quick regarding this then things might get problematic for him.
~~~~~
Ying Lili woke up from sleep in the afternoon and tilted her head. "Sheng Li," she whispered his name and sat upon the mattress.
"Where were you? You left me alone in the Residence," Ying Lili pouted.
"I had some work to complete," Sheng Li replied while stroking Ying Lili's hair. "Why did you not eat your breakfast? Skipping breakfast is not good," Sheng Li said and then looked towards the door.
"Send the meals in," Sheng Li said in a loud enough voice. He turned his gaze back at Ying Lili.
"Is it still hurting? Did I--"
"No. I was sleepy," Ying Lili replied and lowered her gaze. "Last night was wonderful," she stated and a shade of red appeared on her cheeks. Sheng Li rested his palm on her cheek and touched their foreheads.
The maidservants had walked with Court Lady Xu. They set the table. "The lunch is ready, Your Highness," Court Lady Xu told Sheng Li.
"Hmm. You shall leave," Sheng Li said while gazing at Ying Lili. Court Lady Xu left the chamber and closed the doors behind her.
"Come, let's have lunch," Sheng Li pulled back and took Ying Lili towards the table. Pulling out the chair for her, he made her sit on it and then sat beside her. The two started to eat while conversing with each other.
"Sheng Li, we need to comprehend Brother Yongzheng before he ends up doing something which can break the relationship of Brothers," Ying Lili suggested to him.
Sheng Li chewed the food and answered, "Lili, I am looking into that. You also know that men are not punished even if they are abusive to their wives and servants. And he is the Second Prince. Moreover, the wife of the Second Brother will never raise her voice. Because if she does so, her life will be ruined. So, everything has to be done carefully," Sheng Li advised Ying Lili.
"Why can a Prince not be punished? Isn't a Prince the ideal of a society?" Ying Lili questioned Sheng Li.
"He is! But you also know it's patriarchy. The decisions of men are supreme. A woman is considered a man's property once they are married. Servants are also the property of a man. And if a woman raises her voice, then she has to bear the consequences," Sheng Li explained to Ying Lili.
"If Brother Yongzheng's wife raises her voice, he will definitely bring a second one. Also, Father will never give him punishment for this, nor will the Court Ministers ask for it," Sheng Li affirmed.
"So, nothing can be done, right?" Ying Lili asked him with a sad expression.
"I will handle it my way. Give me time," Sheng Li told Ying Lili, who nodded her head. He put the beans and a few vegetables on her plate and told her to eat. Ying Lili did so.
"You are a great man, Sheng Li. You never considered me inferior to you. I am blessed to be your wife," Ying Lili suddenly said, and it made Sheng Li happy.
"You are my treasure. Without you, I am nothing. You have brought the real Sheng Li out of me," Sheng Li complimented her.. The two smiled and continued to eat.