Chapter 58 - Else I Will Kiss You
Ying Lili came back to her seat and got seated beside Sheng Li. "So, this was the present you were asking from me?" Ying Lili asked in a low voice. Sheng Li turned his head to Ying Lili. "Yes. Well, there is something I want to ask from you," Sheng Li stated.
"Ask," Ying Lili permitted him.
Sheng Li did not speak when Ying Lili looked at him with inquisitiveness. "Did you like the surprise?" Ying Lili asked.
"What surprise?"
"The Silk Dance performance and the Flute Performance," answered Ying Lili and looked for an answer. Sheng Li gawked at her and then averted his gaze. "No, I did not like," Sheng Li, lied to Ying Lili who knitted her brows. "I expected this only from you," Ying Lili stated and twitched her lips.
"Your majesty, I request you to end the event here. Crown princess and I need to offer the gifts to capital people as well which will take a lot of time," Sheng Li suggested. Han Wenji agreed with the crown prince and stood up from the throne. "Again, I wish you a very happy birthday. Make sure to end the offering ceremony by noon. The grand feast is organized for you and neighboring state Kings will also be there," Han Wenji pronounced.
Ying Lili's eyes glistened upon hearing that but the next second she became sad, realizing her father is no more and she did not want to see her uncle who killed her father.
"Yes, your majesty," Sheng Li replied and bowed his head. The Emperor left the hall along with Empress and his consorts & concubine. Everyone had stood up from their respective seats. Sheng Li gestured to Ying Lili to follow him when Jian Guozhi stopped them.
"The crown prince is rushing things so much. Crown princess has performed really well today. Now, we princes found two more qualities in the crown princess- her highness is skilled in classical music and dance," Jian Guozhi appreciated Ying Lili who had kept a tiny smile on her lips.
Sheng Li snickered and spoke, "I think the first brother loves to ruin my mood every time I met him." Zhilao Mi came to Ying Lili and introduced herself. Ying Lili gave her a formal greeting. "It is my pleasure to meet sister Mi," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"We are getting late so, we will take our leave. Thank you first brother for the lovely gift," Sheng Li stated and walked away. Ying Lili lowered her eyes gracefully and then followed Sheng Li. As they came out of the hall, they were followed by their respective maidservants.
"Who gave you this flute?" Sheng Li inquired from Ying Lili.
"Brother Nianzu," replied Ying Lili. "I know you like my surprise, but you are not confessing. It is that hard for you to appreciate me!" Ying Lili huffed.
"Why do you need my appreciation? Appreciation from the enemies is not a good thing," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili blinked her eyes and then shot a glare at Sheng Li. "Are we enemies?" Ying Lili questioned.
Sheng Li halted at his place so was Ying Lili. He put his hands at the back and took a step closer to Ying Lili. Xing-Fu and Court lady Xu had lowered their eyes seeing that. Ying Lili took a step back and bent on her waist while Sheng Li kept leaning towards her. Ying Lili placed her pointer finger at Sheng Li's chest thus, stopping him from getting closer.
The other princes who were coming from behind saw them. "Palace Romance is in the air," Lei Wanxi spoke and looked at prince Jian Guozhi to observe his reaction.
"Then what are we?" Sheng Li asked. "Lovers?" Sheng Li looked for an answer in Ying Lili's pearly eyes. Ying Lili widened her eyes and gulped. Sheng Li brought his one hand at the front and wrapped it around Ying Lili's waist who tried getting away but Sheng Li caught her by then, pulling her closer to him.
"Do you know how many young men's hearts you pounded by giving those performances?" Sheng Li queried Ying Lili and placed his hand's fingers under her chin.
"Weng Yu, shut your eyes. I think something big is going to happen which a kid must not see," Lei Wanxi stated and covered Prince Yu's eyes using his palm.
"Brother, I want to see," Weng Yu complained and pushed away Lei Wanxi's palm. "They seem so much in love. It seems they both are made for each other. Am I right, respected first brother?" Lei Wanxi peered at Jian Guozhi who was not liking that sight of the crown prince and crown princess at all. "Indeed, they seem lovely but I wonder when will the fifth brother lose his temper and harm the crown princess," Jian Guozhi stated.
Zhilao Mi looked at her husband and then at Ying Lili.
"Leave me. Others are watching us," Ying Lili whispered.
"So? Tell them to shut their eyes and answer my question. Do not try to escape that question else I will kiss you here in front of those who are looking at us," Sheng Li smirked and found a red faint blush had appeared over the cheeks of Ying Lili.
Ying Lili chuckled. "What can I do when those young men are perverts?" Ying Lili muttered.
"What? Perverts?" Sheng Li mumbled and placed his hand on Ying Lili's nape, bringing her closer. Ying Lili tightly shut her eyes and puckered her lips together. "Wild cat, you shall not perform publicly. Next time you will dance like that openly and you will get a punishment," Sheng Li whispered against Ying Lili's lips and gently released his grip from Ying Lili's waist.
"You are blushing so much," Sheng Li stated and flicked Ying Lili's forehead.
"Ahh," Ying Lili rubbed her forehead while Sheng Li started walking briskly. Ying Lili ran after him, followed by their servants.
Jian Guozhi tightened his fist when Lei Wanxi thought to make him more jealous. "I just wish that some cunning people's terrible sight don't fall on the crown prince and the crown prince and the crown princess," Lei Wanxi joined his both hands and looked up.
"Why are you saying such a thing, brother? Why will a bad sight fall on them?" Weng Yu, in his innocent childish tone, asked.
"Yu, you do not know. There are many who do not want the crown prince to be happy. You are a kid, Yu. Grow up to know this world," Lei Wanxi stated and opened his fan which was on his left hand. He brought it near the first Prince and fanned him. "Brother, you seem in a grim mood. Let me help you calm your nerves down," Lei Wanxi asserted as he lightly moved the fan on the left of Jian Guozhi's face.
Jian Guozhi gave a deadly glare to Lei Wanxi and walked ahead. Zhilao Mi and Xue Yu-Yan followed him, with several servants behind them. Lei Wanxi smiled and fanned himself.