Chapter 557 - Step Away
Sheng Li and Ying Lili reached the Entrance of the market in the Royal Palanquin. The carriers gently put it on the ground. Commander Yang came to the front and put away the curtains. Sheng Li stepped out of the palanquin and then gave the hand to Ying Lili. She grasped his hand and stepped down the palanquin.
The entire market entrance was decorated with red and yellow lanterns. The soldiers were deployed, keeping them meters away from the reach of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
"We could have taken the palanquin to reach the grand stage," Sheng Li suggested to Ying Lili.
"But if the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess walk till the stage, then that would be considered great. Also, we need to buy a few things from each of the stalls placed at regular distances," asserted Ying Lili. Sheng Li hummed and looked at Commander Yang. He came closer to the Crown Prince, who whispered something in his ear. After whispering, Sheng Li looked at Ying Lili and told her to take the first step.
"The Crown Prince shall take the first step. I will follow in his footsteps," Ying Lili suggested.
"The Crown Princess shall take the first step. Her husband will follow her," Sheng Li told her and gestured to her to step ahead.
"Let's take a step together. That would be great," She suggested to him with gleaming eyes. Sheng Li hummed and grasped her hand. "People are looking at us. The Crown Prince shall keep the values in mind," Ying Lili said in a low voice.
"I am holding the hand of my wife. Is it depicting a bad value?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili. "You told me that we shall take steps together. That's what I am doing," Sheng Li answered.
They heard the footsteps and turned to see. Three more litters stopped. From one, Jian Guozhi and Xue Yu-Yan stepped out, from the other Rong Zemin and Liao Jun stepped out while from the last one Weng Yu stepped out. Sheng Li glanced at Ying Lili and then Commander Yang.
"The Crown Princess wanted the two Princes to attend as well. The Sixth Prince is with Princess Zhu Lin, that is why he is not here," Commander Yang whispered in Sheng Li's ear and stepped back.
Jian Guozhi and Xue Yu-Yan greeted the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess; followed by Rong Zemin, Liao Jun, and at last, Weng Yu greeted them.
"The Crown Princess has planned something special for this evening," Jian Guozhi stated and passed her a smile.
"Yes, Brother Jian. Thank you to the three Princes, and both the Princesses for joining us," Ying Lili said in her soft voice. Sheng Li did not like it. Ying Lili told him that she had a surprise for him, but she called the other Princes in that.
"Sister Lili, we all are excited to see what is special about today's event," Xue Yu-Yan pronounced.
"Address her as the Crown Princess," Sheng Li reminded Xue Yu-Yan. The smile from her lips disappeared, and she lowered her eyes.
"Before it gets late, let's start this event," Sheng Li said and turned towards the gate. He again held the hand of Ying Lili and stepped inside the entrance with Ying Lili. The people were taking peeks at them as most of them saw the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess for the first time.
Liao Jun got close to Rong Zemin and said in a low voice, "My breath almost stopped when the Crown Prince spoke. How does Sister…," she shook her head and continued, "How does the Crown Princess handle the Crown Prince?"
"You should ask the Crown Princess," Rong Zemin replied and kept walking behind the First Prince.
Ying Lili turned her head back and looked at Weng Yu. She gestured to him to come forward, who refused. Ying Lili again gestured to him. Weng Yu looked at the soldiers beside him and walked ahead.
"Look at the front. You might fall," Sheng Li told Ying Lili, who immediately looked forward. Weng Yu reached behind Ying Lili. The first stall came, which was known for its dumplings. Sheng Li and Ying Lili stopped in front of it.
The owner deeply bowed and greeted the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. "It is my pleasure to serve the dumplings to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess," the middle-aged man said.
"You may raise," Sheng Li told him. The middle-aged man quickly stood straight. He had still lowered his eyes. He went towards the stall and prepared the dumplings for them and the other Princes and the Princesses.
"The Sixth Brother once took me to this stall. He makes good dumplings," Weng Yu told Ying Lili. Sheng Li tilted his head and realized Lei Wanxi had never brought him to this stall.
The middle-aged man prepared the dumplings from them. Ying Lili handed the stick to Weng Yu and told him to eat. "How can I, Your Highness?" Weng Yu glanced at Sheng Li, who was glaring at him.
"First younger ones shall eat," Ying Lili said and turned towards the owner of the stall. She took four more dumpling sticks from him and turned back. Jian Guozhi helped her and handed the dumpling sticks to Rong Zemin, Xue Yu-Yan, and Liao Jun.
Sheng Li gazed at Ying Lili, who told the middle-aged man to prepare more dumplings. "For whom? Don't you know I do not like street food?" Sheng Li asked her. The man stopped and lowered his eyes. Rong Zemin chuckled upon hearing the words of Sheng Li. He could not believe that Sheng Li said that openly.
"Forgive the Crown Prince, Uncle. Please prepare for the others as well. We have two commanders and eight soldiers behind us," Ying Lili told the count to the middle-aged man.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Ying Lili looked at Sheng Li, who still had not eaten anything. "Eat it," she told him. Sheng Li hummed and took a bite. He chewed it and found how delicious it was. He quickly finished it and asked the seller to prepare one more for him. Ying Lili smiled, who was slowly eating.
Commander Yang distributed the dumpling sticks to Commander Sun and the foot soldiers.
After everyone ate, Sheng Li took the pouch from Commander Yang and took out a gold coin from it. "Here," he forwarded his hand.
"His Royal Highness does not need to pay. It is the first time the Royal Princes came to my stall and tasted the dumplings," he politely refused.
"Take it. We cannot eat it for free," Sheng Li said sternly. Jian Guozhi also told the middle-aged man to accept that coin. He came forward and brought both of his hands forward. Sheng Li put the gold coin on his palm. "You shall try to apply in the Royal Kitchen," the Crown Prince advised him.
"Yes, Your Highness. Long Live the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess," the man loudly said and bent on his knees. He bowed, and his forehead touched the ground.
Sheng Li and walked ahead, followed by Ying Lili and the others. After crossing and purchasing a few things from five more stalls, they turned to the ground where the stage was prepared.
Suddenly a five years old kid left the hand of his mother and ran towards them. The soldiers came forward who had held the leg of Sheng Li by then. The mother of the little kid came forward and, beg for forgiveness.
Sheng Li snickered and looked down. "Go to your mother," Sheng Li said annoyingly, because of which the kid started to cry.
Ying Lili looked at Sheng with a blank expression.
"Hey, take him away," Sheng Li gestured to the soldier, who grabbed the arms of the kid, but the kid was not ready to leave Sheng Li's leg. Instead, he started to cry loudly, creating a ruckus. His mother tried to come forward, but soldiers stopped him.
"Leave me! Don't you know who I am?" Sheng Li tried to push him away.
Ying Lili then bent down and told Sheng Li to stop. "Little boy, come to me," Ying Lili said softly. The boy stopped crying and looked at Ying Lili.
"Step away," Ying Lili told the soldier.
The boy came towards Ying Lili, who had extended her arms. He came to her while sobbing. Ying Lili hugged him and then patted his back. "You do not need to be scared," she pulled back and wiped the tears from his cheeks.
"He is the Crown Prince… the Fifth Prince of this Empire," asserted Ying Lili, pointing towards Sheng Li, and then she pointed her finger towards Jian Guozhi.
"This is the Eldest Prince, the First Prince of this Empire, and behind him, there is the Third Prince," Ying Lili introduced the kid to everyone. After she was done, she stood up and told him to go to his mother. The woman thanked Ying Lili for her benevolence.. Ying Lili smiled and then peered at Sheng Li.