Chapter 251 - I Promise
Sheng Li arrived at Zhenzhu Inn with a tray in his hand. Court Lady Xu quickly went to him and bowed. "Your highness, why are you carrying this tray?" She worriedly asked. She saw the bruises on the fingers of the Crown Prince which clearly showed that he had prepared something special for lunch for the Crown Princess.
"Open the door for me," Sheng Li commanded.
Court Lady Xu looked at the maidservants who opened the door for the Crown Prince. He walked in and the door was closed behind him. As he pushed the curtain away, he saw Ying Lili around the floor table, drawing something on the paper.
Sheng Li for a few seconds looked at her and analyzed her face fully. There were tear marks on her cheeks, showing how much she had cried. Seeing that his grip on the tray tightened. He stepped ahead and walked towards her.
Ying Lili noticed him but did not look at him. She continued painting on the paper. Sheng Li placed the tray on a table there. "I have brought your favorite meal. I have prepared it myself. You always wanted to eat the food made by my hands. It was my first time in the kitchen and I did my best," Sheng Li explained. But Ying Lili did not give any response to him.
Sheng Li sat beside her and grabbed her hand, thus stopping her from painting further. "You can paint later. Have your meals first. I know that you are hungry," asserted Sheng Li.
"I am not hungry." Ying Lili extended her hand to take the paintbrush, but Sheng Li put his hand back. "Have your lunch first," he repeated his words.
Ying Lili stood up and went towards the bed. She sat on the bed, pulled the blanket up when Sheng Li grabbed her hand. He put away the blanket and sat beside her. "Wherever you will go, I will follow you," stated Sheng Li.
Grabbing both hands of Ying Lili, he continued, "Lili, no one ever gets angry at me and that's why I turned like this. I speak many things recklessly without giving any second thought. That's why I do not know what to do to make you happy again. I know you are hungry. Please have your meals first. Then, you can get angry at me."
Ying Lili saw the bruises on Sheng Li's finger.
Getting no response from Ying Lili, Sheng Li further said, "I know it is my fault to think like that. If someone looks at you differently, I end up like this."
"And I enjoy whenever they flirt with me," asserted Ying Lili.
"No. That's not true," Sheng Li proclaimed and cupped her face between his palms.
"I found the answer. You are not bothered by all that, because for you they are nothing. You only love me that's why my words are indispensable to you rather than anyone else. Lili, I am wrong to restrict you from talking with the First Brother. Forgive me. It will never happen. I understand it fully," Sheng Li stated and almost pecked her lips, but felt Ying Lili's palm on her lips.
Sheng Li leaned back and peered into her eyes. The two kept looking at each other for a long time, without blinking. Slowly, Sheng Li closed the distance between them and laid his lips on hers. His hand was on hers, caressing it. He felt the tears of Ying Lili's on his face, showing him the love of Ying Lili for him.
This time even he could not stop himself from crying. Indeed, he was holding back his tears because he was not supposed to cry. But feeling how Ying Lili felt after he said such harsh words to her made him cry.
He angled her face and kissed her, feeding all the emotions he had that time. Ying Lili had accepted his apologies, kissing him back with the same intensity as him. Parting away, they gasped for air. Sheng Li's thumbs reached Ying Lili's cheeks to wipe off the tears.
Ying Lili placed her hands on his and brought them down. She traced her fingers over the bruises which formed because he cooked himself. "You should not have gone to the kitchen," Ying Lili stated and lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. "I got hurt when you said that. I forgive you," she said, placing her hand on his cheek. She caressed it for some time.
"Why? You always want to taste the food made by my hands," asserted Sheng Li. He caught her hand. "Come down. Let's have lunch. I do not want you to stay hungry." He got down from the bed and took her with him.
Making her sit around the table, he cleaned it quickly and put the food tray there. He served the food to her and told her to eat. "You shall eat too," Ying Lili opined.
Sheng Li shook his head and replied, "After you." He handed a spoon to her to taste the chicken soup. Ying Lili brought the spoon filled with soup closer to her mouth and cooled it down by blowing air. When it cooled down, she brought the spoon near Sheng Li's mouth.
"Have it," she sternly said.
"No, you shall have first," asserted Sheng Li and took the spoon from her hand. He fed her the soup and waited for her response.
"Is it really your first time cooking or did someone help you?" Ying Lili was astonished to taste the soup.
"I cooked all this myself. I only told the royal chef to guide me while cooking," Sheng Li affirmed.
"You have exceptional cooking skills. Let's start eating then," Ying Lili put the spoon on the plate and served the food to Sheng Li. The two started eating while talking to each other.
"Sheng Li, forgive me too," Ying Lili suddenly said. "I should not have reacted that way. But-"
"I understand. You do not need to apologize. You did well by getting angry at me. At least I realized that even I could be wrong and people who love me, care for me, can get affected. I am apologetic towards you," stated Sheng Li and placed a dumpling on Ying Lili's plate. "Have this," he said, keeping a tiny smile on his lips.
'I will never let you get angry and never let you cry. I promise,' Sheng Li internally thought as he saw Ying Lili, who was enjoying the meal.