Chapter 109 - A Ceramic Bangle
Sheng Li was looking out of the tiny window while Ying Lili was looking at him. "Stop staring at me," Sheng Li asserted, and looked at Ying Lili.
"I want to know," Ying Lili stated.
"What?" Sheng Li exclaimed, raising a brow.
"Why did you not tell me that you have come up with a plan against the Prime Minister?" Ying Lili questioned Sheng Li. "I was shocked in the morning when the former Minister of Accounts came there and accused the Prime Minister," she added.
"He is no longer the Prime Minister. For betraying the Emperor and his people, he is removed from this position. So, do not call him 'the Prime Minister'. I did not find any solid reason to tell you," Sheng Li proclaimed.
"But we are partners. You should have told me," Ying Lili complained.
"Since when did you become my partner? We had a bet in which you lost against me and in return, fulfilled my wish," Sheng Li explained. Ying Lili was out of words, so she looked out of the window.
"Why don't you remove this hat?" Sheng Li asked Ying Lili who refused. "No one is looking at you. So, just remove it. Wait, I will remove it," Sheng Li stated and extended his hands. He reached for the knot which was under Ying Lili's chin and opened it up. He pulled the hat off Ying Lili's head and placed it aside.
"I have taken you out still you have pulled up your face. Don't make me feel low," Sheng Li annoyingly said when he found Ying Lili was avoiding him.
Ying Lili did not respond to him when they heard a tap on the palanquin's door. "Your highness, we will be soon in the market," Wang Hao stated. Ying Lili glared at Sheng Li and put her hat back.
Soon they reached the market's entrance. They could hear the voices of the people who were excited about the festival. Sheng Li came out of the palanquin and then helped Ying Lili out. "You can walk, right? You refused to bring Kongqi so, now you have to walk with me," Sheng Li said to Ying Lili.
"I can walk as the pain is no longer there and swelling has gone too," Ying Lili replied. Sheng Li nodded and told Wang Hao to stay there.
"Your highness, I cannot leave you two. I will be at a safe distance from you two," Wang Hao asserted. Sheng Li nodded and then turned to Ying Lili who was looking at the people there.
"Let's go," Sheng Li told Ying Lili. They started walking like a turtle, which was enough to irk Sheng Li. But he could not even scold her because the entire market would have been looking at them.
A roof of lanterns was made in the entire market. There were letters carved on the lanterns which were basically riddles. Children could be seen solving those riddles. Various shops were open on the festival day. "I want to eat something," Ying Lili told Sheng Li.
"Why? You were not hungry in the Palace," Sheng Li yanked at her, but then he asked her what she wanted to eat.
"Dumplings," Ying Lili replied. Sheng Li held Ying Lili's hand and took her to the stall. Many young kids were surrounding the dumplings stall which was making it difficult for Sheng Li to ask the seller for dumplings.
"It's my turn. Why are you going ahead of me?" Sheng Li argued with a young girl.
"What are you talking about?" The young girl gave Sheng Li a weird look, which angered him. Ying Lili could not believe that Sheng Li was fighting with a young girl.
"Hushu, how can you fight with a young girl?" Ying Lili scolded Sheng Li. Wang Hao smiled upon hearing such a nickname for the Crown Prince.
"Forgive my husband, young girl. It is his first time seeing such a festival," Ying Lili told the young girl and took her towards the stall. "Brother, please give us dumplings," Ying Lili told the seller. Sheng Li could not believe that Ying Lili scolded him in front of a young girl.
"Hushu, give us ten cents," Ying Lili asked for money from Sheng Li, who took out a pouch from his pocket and handed the money to Ying Lili, who paid the seller.
Ying Lili bought three sticks of dumplings in her hands and handed two to Sheng Li. "Give one to brother Wang," Ying Lili told him. Sheng Li looked at Wang Hao who came towards them and thanked the Crown Princess.
"Mmm… it's tasty." Ying Lili chewed the dumplings. Wang Hao agreed with the Crown Princess while Sheng Li was looking at the two. He found Ying Lili was indeed hungry, so he thought to give that stick to her. Ying Lili was done eating and asked Sheng Li why he was not eating.
"I don't like street food. You can eat this," Sheng Li replied and forwarded the dumpling stick to Ying Lili who took it and thanked him. She was eating it and at the same time noticing Sheng Li's expression. She moved a bit closer to him and said, "Hushu, have a bite. Trust me it's good. I guarantee your health." She brought the stick closer to Sheng Li's mouth.
"Have it! I won't feel good eating it all by myself," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li grabbed her hand gently and took a dumpling in his mouth. He left Ying Lili's hand and ate the dumpling. Ying Lili smiled and wiped Sheng Li's mouth using her thumb.
"The sauce was on your lips. It's clean now," Ying Lili said and pulled her hand back. Taking out the handkerchief, she wiped her thumb on it.
"Don't touch me like that," Sheng Li said in a low voice that was audible to Ying Lili. "Do you want to eat more? There were only 3 dumplings on a stick," Sheng Li stated as he looked at the stall.
"No, I would like to eat something else. It's just the beginning and Hushu, do not start arguments with people here, especially kids," Ying Lili said, keeping a tiny smile on her lips.
Wang Hao smiled seeing how the Crown Princess was handling the Crown Prince.
They again started walking when an old woman came in front of Sheng Li. "Son, buy something for your beautiful wife at this lantern festival. You can buy the bangles for the lady or you can buy the hairpins for her." The old woman gave choices to Sheng Li and showed him the basket.
"She does not like these things," Sheng Li replied. Wang Hao chuckled upon hearing the response of the Crown Prince so he tapped on the Crown Prince's shoulder.
Sheng Li looked at Wang Hao, confusedly. "Brother, what are you saying?" Wang Hao muttered and got closer to Sheng Li's ear. "Your highness, you cannot say such a thing openly. Just buy something for her highness," whispered Wang Hao.
"Okay, I would like to buy this bangle," Sheng Li told the old woman, pointing towards a light green-colored ceramic bangle. It was only for one hand and had a shiny surface. The old woman happily picked it up and handed it to Sheng Li. "It is twenty cents," the old woman said.
Sheng Li was taking the money out from his pouch when he heard the old woman, "Son, your wife looks beautiful. Is it the reason she has covered her face with the veil?" the old woman asked as she peeked at Ying Lili.
Sheng Li hummed at her and handed her the coins. The old lady thanked him and walked away. Sheng Li turned to Ying Lili and took her left wrist in his hand. "It is for you," Sheng Li said as he put the ceramic bangle on Ying Lili's wrist.
They looked at each other when Ying Lili pulled her hand back. "Let's go ahead," Ying Lili said.