Chapter 46 - Sheng Li's Past
Sheng Li was ready for the morning greetings to the Emperor, the Empress, and the consorts of the emperor. He was joined by Ying Lili. "Why have you pulled up a face?" Sheng Li asked Ying Lili who did not reply to him.
"Court lady Xu, the crown princess, said that she drew a Toughest Pattern on the overcoat in a single day. Is it true?" Sheng Li queried while keeping his gaze on the crown princess. Ying Lili glared at Sheng Li.
"Your highness, her highness has done the halfway. It will be completed soon," Court Lady Xu replied. Sheng Li twitched his lips and raised a brow. "Dear crown princess, you said that you completed in a single night. So, the kind crown princess can lie as well," Sheng Li with a smirk said.
Ying Lili blinked her eyes and spoke, "I did not lie." She looked at the front and saw the first prince was coming from the other side along with Xue Yu-Yan. Xue Yu-Yan saw how the crown prince was peering at the crown princess. Halting near the crown prince, Prince Jian Guozhi bowed his head. "Greetings to the crown prince and the crown princess," Jian Guozhi lifted his head then. Sheng Li turned to look at them. Xue Yu-Yan too bowed her head in front of them.
"The crown prince is looking in a good mood. It is hard to see the crown prince in a cheerful mood a day before his birthday," Jian Guozhi proclaimed and grinned. Upon hearing that, Sheng Li's facial expressions darkened. Ying Lili noticed that.
"Her highness is looking pretty like all the time," Jian Guozhi complimented.
Sheng Li scowled at Jian Guozhi. "It seems the first brother has lost his shame in this morning. You have two wives and still eyeing the woman of your younger brother," Sheng Li in a fit of rage spoke. Xue Yu-Yan saw that Sheng Li had turned overprotective of the crown princess.
"I am afraid that the crown prince has taken my words the other way," Jian Guozhi stated. Sheng Li did not speak further and turned to the right. Ying Lili too followed him, followed by Xing-Fu and court Lady Xu with a few maidservants.
"The crown prince is getting close to the crown princess," Xue asserted and looked at Jian Guozhi who chuckled. "You still love him?" Jian Guozhi asked.
"I used to because he has the power to get the throne," Xue Yu-Yan pronounced.
Jian Guozhi turned to Xue Yu-Yan. "The Prime Minister's daughter has finally got the brains. Do not try harming the crown princess," Jian Guozhi with a stern expression spoke.
"Why? Do you love her?" Xue Yu-Yan asked. Jian Guozhi smiled. "What are you trying to know?" Jian Guozhi asked.
"I will be the future empress, just keep that in mind. Also, I do not want my husband to see the other woman with that gaze especially her," Xue Yu-Yan asserted. Jian Guozhi slightly laughed and walked away from there.
~~~~~
In the embroidery workshop, Ying Lili had outlined the tiger's face using the golden silk thread. "Your highness, the pattern is beautiful. You will soon make it," Court lady Xu encouraged the crown princess. Bao Ling put the white silk thread in the other needle and gave that to the crown princess. "Her highness now shall use this thread to make the strips on the tiger's face," Bao Ling humbly spoke.
Ying Lili nodded and took the needle from Bao Ling. So, after eight more hours, the crown princess was succeeded in making the tiger pattern on the robe. There was a bright smile on Ying Lili's lips as she looked at the pattern.
"Your highness, you are really a quick learner. It is beautifully made," Court Lady Xu praised Ying Lili.
"Thank you for your help, Court lady Xu, Bao Ling." Ying Lili expressed her gratitude.
"Her highness does not need to say thank you to these petty servants," Court lady Xu spoke.
"You are not petty. Just accept my thank you," proclaimed Ying Lili while looking at the overcoat. Bao Ling took the overcoat from the crown princess and told her that she would iron that. Ying Lili gave a nod and gave the overcoat to Bao Ling. The crown princess stood up from the seat and stretched her arms out. "I am feeling so tired," Ying Lili stated.
"Your highness, let's go back to the inn. You have skipped your lunch as well so, you are feeling low," Court Lady Xu opined. Ying Lili agreed to her and they left from there. Ying Lili had reached the eastern pavilion where she saw Prince Nianzu there. Prince Nianzu was seated on a wide wooden balustrade, with a bamboo flute in his hand.
His eye fell on Ying Lili, and he bowed his head. Ying Lili too greeted him. "Can I play that flute, brother Nianzu?" Ying Lili asked.
Nianzu looked at the flute in his hand. "Her highness knows how to play the flute?" He was amazed to know about that.
"Indeed," Ying Lili answered.
"I will give you the other flute," Nianzu asserted and looked at Eunuch Chung there who was standing a meter away from him to his left. "Bring a flute for her highness," Nianzu told him, Eunuch Chung bowed his head and walked away.
Court Lady Xu came forward. "Your highness, you have not taken your lunch meal. It can affect your health," Lady Xu concernedly spoke.
"May I ask why did the crown princess not take the lunch meal?" Nianzu queried.
"I was working in the embroidery workshop. Tomorrow is the birthday of Sheng...the crown prince so, I needed to make a design over the overcoat," Ying Lili replied. Nianzu shook his head. "Please make yourself comfortable, your highness," Nianzu showed the round wooden stool carved there.
Ying Lili seated on that while Nianzu sat on the other stool. Eunuch Chung came there with a bamboo flute in his hand and handed that to Nianzu who gave the flute to the crown princess. "Thank you, brother Nianzu," Ying Lili spoke as she took the flute from him.
Ying Lili brought the flute closer to her lips. Her fingers were rested on the holes. She blew the air and moved her fingers gracefully over the holes, thus produced some soothing- melodious sounds. Nianzu found that the crown princess had an exceptional mastery of the flute.
Five minutes later, Ying Lili stopped. Nianzu clapped for her. "The crown princess played it beautifully," Nianzu applauded Ying Lili.
"The flute is made good. That's why the sounds produced were good. Thank you, brother Nianzu for letting me play it," Ying Lili delightfully spoke.
"His highness has made this flute himself," Eunuch Chung intervened between them. Ying Lili was surprised to know that. "The crown princess can keep it," Nianzu offered. Ying Lili thanked him.
"Your highness, tomorrow is an auspicious day. Why do you not give a flute performance for the crown prince?" Nianzu suggested.
"Does he like this?" Ying Lili asked remarkably.
"The crown prince's mother used to play the flute. His highness will feel good," Nianzu proclaimed.
Ying Lili knitted her brows. "What if he will get angry? I mean he has a lot of mood swings," Ying Lili asserted and twitched her lips. Nianzu smiled after seeing the reaction of the crown princess.
"His highness will like that," Nianzu assured Ying Lili who nodded. He lifted his eyes and looked at Chung. "Give us a private moment," Nianzu told Chung who bowed his head and turned to the court lady. "Please come with me," Chung told her and then looked at the maidservants.
Ying Lili was confused and saw that the court lady had gone away along with the maidservants. "Do not be afraid. There is something I want to tell the crown princess," Nianzu asserted.
Ying Lili nodded. "Tomorrow is the day when the crown prince's mother left him. It might be a grand day for everyone but not for the crown prince," Nianzu stated, and took a deep sigh. Ying Lili's heart sank upon hearing that.
"Court lady Xu did not tell me," Ying Lili said.
"No one is allowed to speak about this," Nianzu asserted.
"Brother, will you tell me about Sheng Li's past?" Ying Lili requested.