Ying Lili did not answer Sheng Li. "You are blocking my way. I can either look at you or the front," Sheng Li spoke as he saw Ying Lili was staring at him. Ying Lili immediately turned her head to the front. They had come out of the 'Fu Imperial Gates'. Kōngqì was running at its normal speed. "Why are you sticking close to me? Move aside," Ying Lili complained and lightly hit Sheng Li on his belly using her elbow.
"You want to run then? It is not like I want to sit closer to you," Sheng Li snapped at her. Ying Lili felt Sheng Li's hand on her belly and she struggled. "Leave me," Ying Lili protested. Sheng Li smiled and pulled the reins tied on Kōngqì. He gained speed and started running fast.
Her long hair was swinging with the air and some tiny strands were hitting on Sheng Li's face. Sheng Li got irritated with that and pulled the reins on the horse. "Why did you stop?" Ying Lili asked as she turned her head slightly when she felt Sheng Li's hands on her hairs. "What are you doing?" Ying Lili asked.
"Your hairs are irritating me," Sheng Li pronounced as he gently grabbed the long, silky hairs in his hands.
"I will do," Ying Lili stated.
"I am doing. Sit straight," Ying Lili felt Sheng Li's breath near her ear and she gulped. Sheng Li made a bun and kept it intact using a hairpin. "It is done," Sheng Li stated and again started the ride.
"Where are we going? It seems an isolated path," Ying Lili concernedly spoke, but Sheng Li did not answer to her. Kōngqì had turned to the forested route. After a while, Sheng Li pulled the reins, thus stopping Kōngqì from going further. He got down from the horse and forwarded his hand to Ying Lili. Ying Lili slapped off his hand, and she got down from Kōngqì.
"You wanted to come here?" Ying Lili questioned.
"No, we have to go ahead as Kōngqì cannot go there," Sheng Li stated, patting Kōngqì. He tied Kōngqì to a tree there and told Ying Lili to follow him. "Here, hold my hand," Sheng Li stated.
"I am not a kid. I can walk," Ying Lili asserted. Sheng Li grabbed Ying Lili's hand and started walking briskly. "You shall tell me that where we are heading to?" Ying Lili queried, but Sheng Li did not reply to him. Ying Lili gave up asking and kept following Sheng Li. Sometime later, they turned to a narrow pathway.
After walking it for ten minutes, they heard the sound of falling water. Sheng Li turned left and, negotiating the bushes along with Ying Lili, reached near the waterfall. Ying Lili's eyes glistened as she looked around. The green forest had a waterfall at its center. There was a residence as well a few meters away from the waterfall.
Sheng Li left Ying Lili's hand and turned to her. He found Ying Lili was delighted to see the place. "Sheng Li, I never knew that you have also secret places," Ying Lili stated.
"Do you have your flute?" Sheng Li inquired from Ying Lili. Ying Lili looked at her waistband. "I left it in the Palace, why?" Ying Lili questioned. Sheng Li started walking towards the Lotus residence. Ying Lili was inquisitive regarding that so, she also followed the crown prince.
Ying Lili found that the residence was not used by anyone for long. Sheng Li removed the climbers using the dagger that had reached the door. He pushed the door in and stepped inside. Ying Lili too stepped in and they were now on the residence's porch. "Stay here," Sheng Li told Ying Lili who nodded.
Sheng Li came out in 5 minutes with a bamboo flute in his hand. The flute was decorated with beads and precious stones at some places. He turned to the backyard, gesturing to Ying Lili to follow him who did so. The backyard had a swing hanging from a giant tree there. There was a water pond as well, but it had dried out thus, depicting that the place was not any longer in use.
"Can you play the same music for me?" Sheng Li humbly requested Ying Lili who was astonished to hear the request. Ying Lili blinked her eyes and wanted to ask the reason first, but then she peered into Sheng Li's eyes. "Is he longing for someone? Why are those ice eyes are different today? Wait, it is because of his mother who used to play the flute?" Ying Lili wondered.
"Please, play the same song for me," Sheng Li requested again as he forwarded the flute towards Ying Lili. Ying Lili nodded and took the flute from Sheng Li. Sheng Li sat on the swing. "You may start." Ying Lili blew the air on the flute and a melodious sound was produced. She closed her eyes and started playing the song.
Sheng Li closed his eyes as he recalled those precious memories with his late mother. The enchanting tones coming out of the flute were similar to what his mother used to play. He recalled how his mother used to sit on the same rock and play the flute for him. "Sheng Li, if you will miss me then remember this music. It will show you that I am always with you," Sheng Li's mother spoke.
"Mother, why are you saying this? You will be there for me to play this music," Sheng Li asserted.
In the present moment, Sheng Li recalled his mother's pale face. She was so sick despite that, she daily played the same music on the flute. Tears poured down his eyes on his cheeks and by then music had also ended. Sheng Li's hands were on the ropes hanging from the tree and he was sniveling.
Ying Lili gradually opened her eyes and looked at Sheng Li. She knitted her brows and was befuddled. "Why is he crying?" Ying Lili thought and took steps towards Sheng Li.
Halting right in front of Sheng Li, Ying Lili placed her hand on Sheng Li's right shoulder. "Do not cry," Ying Lili softly spoke.