n

n

nFinally, the day had come which was celebrated as the biggest event in the capital of Han- the birthday of the crown prince. The entire city was decorated with various colors of lanterns and people were getting ready to go to the Imperial Palace as the crown prince after 6 years had returned to the capital and would celebrate his birthday.

nThe people would be given the gifts by the crown prince himself along with the crown princess so special arrangements were made in the Imperial Palace grounds for that.

nYing Lili was getting ready for the morning greetings while court lady Xu was telling her how the precious gifts would be given to the crown prince after the greetings hour by the family members and the court ministers. Ying Lili was wearing a yellow-colored Hanfu dress. She looked at the wooden box which was placed on the dressing table.

nOnce she was ready, the helpers stepped back and on the instruction of court lady Xu. Those helpers left the dressing room. Ying Lili turned to the court lady Xu and told her they should leave.

nAs Ying Lili came out of Zhenzhu Inn, the crown prince joined her. Ying Lili saw the sadness which was filled in the eyes of Sheng Li.

"Sheng Li, happy birthday,

" Ying Lili softly said but the crown prince did not reply to her and started walking.

nThey reached the greeting hall soon and found regal members and Court ministers were already present there. Sheng Li first greeted the Emperor and Empress followed by the three consorts and a concubine. Ying Lili did the same and two were told to take their respective seats.

nSheng Li sat on the seat with Ying Lili. They were facing the first Prince and his wife.

"Who is she?

" Ying Lili murmured and shifted her gaze slightly and found Xue Yu-Yan on the other seat, separate from the first Prince. She understood this is the rank according to which one had to sit beside her husband. Since Xue Yu-Yan was a consort so, she could not sit beside the first Prince.

n

"Crown prince,

" the Emperor called out his name. Sheng Li immediately looked at his father and stood up from the seat.

"Happy birthday, my child. I wish you happiness in your life,

" Han Wenji wished and stood up from his throne. Seeing that, the Empress too stood up, followed by the others in the hall.

n

"Come here and take your gift from us, crown prince,

" Han Wenji pronounced. Sheng Li went turned towards the staircase. After ascending five stairs, Sheng Li reached the Emperor and empress. Han Wenji gestured to Eunuch Dao to bring the gifts who told the servants to bring the portrait there.

nEveryone turned towards the door as a giant portrait was brought to the hall. The satin cloth was removed from the giant portrait, and everyone looked at the portrait. Everyone was flabbergasted to see the portrait of the crown prince.

"Thank you, Imperial father. I loved it. Did father paint it himself?

" Sheng Li asked.

n

"Yes. I am happy that you liked this. This portrait is special because it makes me see the future Emperor of Han,

" Han Wenji stated and patted Sheng Li's shoulder.

n

"Your father spent almost three months to complete this,

" Weng Wei asserted. Everyone applauded the Emperor there.

"Father, why did you take so much trouble? You could have commissioned it from an artist,

" Sheng Li suggested.

n

"I wanted to make it myself. It is not a trouble,

" Han Wenji stated with a broad smile.

n

"Son, I could not believe that you turned 23 so quick. After 6 years of the campaign, you have returned so, I have prepared something for you and I believe you will surely like it,

" Weng Wei pronounced.

n

"A child always likes the present given by his mother,

" Sheng Li stated. The next present was taken by the maidservant there. It was an arrow and bow set that was made from special wood.

"The wood used to make the arrows and bows are brought from the far Southeastern kingdom (present-day Indonesia) which is the most precious wood known,

" Weng Wei asserted.

n

"Thank you, Imperial mother,

" Sheng Li bowed his head slightly and then went back to his seat. Now, the consorts of the Emperor gave the gifts to the crown prince followed by concubine Lu.

nThe first Prince stood up along with his official wife, Zhilao Mi, and consort Xue.

"My lovely fifth brother came after 6 years so, I have prepared something special for him. I hope the fifth brother will like it,

" Jian Guozhi proclaimed.

n

"I wonder what has elder first brother prepared for me?

" Sheng Li stated with a smile.

n

"A rest house for the crown prince in the uphills of Changbai mountains. The rest house looks like this,

" Jian Guozhi asserted and four servants came there, carrying a model. The white satin cloth which was covering the model was removed, and everyone turned their gazes to the model.

n

"The rest house is near the Changbai waterfalls, surrounded by the hills. The rest house has four rooms and a kitchen. The garden has every flower and even medicinal herbs. It is a perfect place for the crown prince to take rest for a month with the crown princess,

" Jian Guozhi declared, and smiled.

n

"I liked the rest house. Brother did so much hard work to select a place far away from the capital where I do not think I would go with my crown princess for spending some time as I have the duties of the crown prince as well. Still, I will try going there,

" Sheng Li asserted. Jian Guozhi gave a fake smile to Sheng Li.

nThe model was taken away from there. Zhilao Mi greeted the crown prince.

"You have grown into a handsome man, the crown prince. It is an overwhelming feeling to see you after 6 years. Have a great and prosperous birthday, crown prince,

" Zhilao Mi wished with a tiny smile on her lips.

n

"May I ask when did sister Mi return?

" Sheng Li questioned.

n

"In the midnight,

" replied Zhilao Mi. Sheng Li nodded when Zhilao Mi presented her gift.

"I am gifting the crown prince an armor which is made by the famous armorer of Han Kingdom. Sheng Li thanked her and looked at Xue Yu-Yan who bowed her head to greet the crown prince.

n

"I have prepared an overcoat for the crown prince,

" Xue Yu-Yan stated. Ying Lili knitted her brows upon hearing that. Sheng Li thanked consort Xue who delightedly sat on her seat. The other princes' turn came.

nPrince Yongzheng presented a horse to the crown prince, which was brought from the great Western Kingdom to the west of the great silk route.

"This horse is rarest of its kind. I will later take to the crown prince to the stable,

" Yongzheng stated.

nPrince Rong Zemin gifted a golden belt which had some of the precious diamonds on the golden belt. Sheng Li thanked him and looked at Prince Nianzu.

nPrince Nianzu's offering to the crown prince was a porcelain dinner set which he had made himself after working on it for 3 months. Sheng Li appreciated the present from Prince Nianzu. The crown prince's eyes were now on Prince Lei Wanxi who presented a beautiful poem to the crown prince first followed by a precious gift.

n

"I would like to present a wine for the crown prince. It is specially made for the crown prince by me, as the crown prince loves to have wine after dinner,

" Lei Wanxi stated.

n

"Thank you, brother Wanxi. You know my choices well,

" Sheng Li expressed his gratitude. Lei Wanxi seated and now every eye turned to the youngest Prince, Prince Weng Yu.

n

"Happy 23rd birthday, crown prince. I-I could not prepare anything. Forgive me,

" Weng Yu with a stutter spoke and lowered his eyes. Sheng Li noticed his much the youngest Prince feared him.

"Why are you scared? It is not like I will kill you. Can you not talk normally without being scared?

" Sheng Li, in a fit of rage, asked.

nYing Lili who was standing beside the crown prince tried calming the situation.

"Brother Yu, how could you forget you told me to prepare a gift for his highness along with you?

" Ying Lili intervened. Sheng Li looked at her, tried to understand what Ying Lili was doing at that instant.

nWeng Yu gazed at the crown princess who gestured to him to calm down.

"What did the crown princess and the youngest prince have prepared? We all would like to know,

" Prince Guozhi asserted.

n

"A perfume prepared from the exotic flowers. I know it is a tiny gift but brother Yu and I could prepare only this in a brief interval of time,

" Ying Lili asserted and took out a tiny bottle of perfume from her pocket. She looked at Sheng Li and handed him the perfume bottle which was inside the wooden box, using both hands.

nSheng Li opened the box and took out the perfume bottle from it. A smile carved on his lips upon getting the sweet fragrance of the perfume.

"Thank you, my crown princess and youngest brother Yu, for this special perfume. I liked its fragrance,

" Sheng Li stated while looking at the perfume bottle.

n