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"Why do you not lean back rather than hovering over me? That would be more comfortable than this,

" Ying Lili suggested as she applied pressure on her pointer finger to push him away.

nSheng Li grasped her finger and said,

"This is the most comfortable position for me.

" Ying Lili knew he would not listen to her, so she should better tell him everything.

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"Eunuch Cai caught me, but before he could see my face, I hit him on the head. The Inspector would not have chased me if I had hidden Eunuch Cai. That was my mistake. When I ran from there, I thought not to take the route which General Wang had told me about as they would have searched up the Southwestern side of the residence so I took a different route. Then, you came, and...

" she stopped as Sheng Li was boring his gaze on her.

n

"Speak, I am listening,

" Sheng Li commanded.

n

"... and rescued me

" Ying Lili completed her words.

"Now, I have told you then you should get away from me,

" she stressed, knitting her brows.

nSheng Li did so and blew off the candle, which was placed on the table.

"You shall change your clothes else in the morning it will be a problem,

" Sheng Li suggested to Ying Lili, who sat on the bed. Sheng Li brought her clothes, which she had placed earlier on the chaise. Pulling the curtains down, he told Ying Lili to change, who quickly changed her clothes.

n

"I am done,

" Ying Lili replied. Sheng Li sat on the bed and asked for the dress. Ying Lili handed him, which he put back on the chaise there.

n

"How is he able to see things in the dark?

" Ying Lili wondered.

nSheng Li laid on the bed beside Ying Lili, who moved away when Sheng Li pulled her closer. The darkness was making it difficult to see what Sheng Li was up to, making her nervous. She felt Sheng Li's breath hitting her lips, which worried her.

n

"Y-You told me that you wouldn't do anything. Please stay away,

" Ying Lili found she was stuttering, which was truly showing how nervous she was.

n

"When did I do anything to you? When a woman lies beside her man, a man cannot control himself, but I do not come into that category. Scaring you is fun for me,

" Sheng Li whispered against her lips and then leaned back. He had pulled the blanket up and covered them with it while Ying Lili swiftly moved as far as she could on the bed.

n

"Do you want to fall from the bed?

" Sheng Li asked Ying Lili.

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"What? How can he see me?

" Ying Lili wondered and tilted her head to look but could not clearly see where Sheng Li was. She turned her head back and clutched the sheets tightly.

"I am fine here,

" Ying Lili replied in a low voice.

n

"What if you fall off the bed while you are asleep? I am not a beast from whom you are running away.

" Ying Lili's behavior had irked Sheng Li.

n

"You are getting the wrong idea. It is comfortable here. May I ask how you found me?

" Ying Lili questioned.

"I am not sleepy, so let's talk for a while,

" she continued.

n

"But I am not in the mood to talk. I am sleepy,

" Sheng Li replied and moved closer to Ying Lili. There was still a safe distance between the two. His face was towards Ying Lili's back because he could not sleep to his left side. His bare arm was outside the blanket, and he soon fell asleep. Even Ying Lili dozed off to sleep after some time.

nIn the morning, Sheng Li felt someone's soft hand on his bare arm. He gradually opened his eyes and saw Ying Lili's face. But he closed them again as he thought he was seeing a dream. Wait! Why would he dream about her? Right away, he opened his eyes and found that Ying Lili had come closer to him in his sleep. Not only that, her hand rested on Sheng Li's arm.

n

"If she sees us like this, then she will blame me only,

" Sheng Li mumbled and put away Ying Lili's hand from his arm. He sat up on the bed and got down. He changed into the Royal robes first and called the Court Lady inside.

nCourt Lady Xu stood near the door, which had a curtain hanging from it.

"Clean the mess here and do not let anyone know about last night. I will not forgive you if any rumor comes out,

" Sheng Li commanded her.

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"Yes, your highness,

" Court Lady Xu bowed her head when Sheng Li towards the door, covered with the curtain.

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"The Crown Princess's foot is injured so do not let her roam in the Palace. Call the Royal Physician and if someone asks, just tell them that she fell in the bathhouse,

" Sheng Li explained to the Court Lady who stepped back, head still lowered, and walked out from there.

nSheng Li came back to the bed and removed the blanket from Ying Lili. He then patted her cheek thus, waking her up.

"What? Why are you disturbing me?

" Ying Lili, with half-closed eyes, asked.

n

"Get your foot checked by the Royal Physician. He will be here in a while. Do not speak anything and let me handle everything,

" Sheng Li told Ying Lili.

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"You are scolding me in the early morning. Is this the way you treat a person who has given you a piece of top-notch information?

" Ying Lili yanked at Sheng Li, who sat on the stool beside the bed.

nShe sat up on the bed and realized something.

"I was at the left edge of the bed. How come I came to the right?

" Ying Lili muttered and turned to look at Sheng Li, who was carrying a neutral expression on his face.

n

"You did something, right?

" Ying Lili asked, looking at Sheng Li, who chuckled.

"Why are you so judgmental about me?

" Sheng Li questioned.

n

"Because of the way you sometimes converse with me,

" Ying Lili replied.

n

"I do not do things at the back. If I have to do something with you, then I would prefer to do

" Sheng Li stopped in the middle and averted his gaze from her. Ying Lili did the same, and the two waited for the Royal Physician to come there. A maid came inside who was sent by Court Lady to take away the clothes and clean the chamber before Royal Physician's arrival. She bowed her head and did her work quickly.

n

"Do not let anyone notice them. Take them to General Wang,

" Sheng Li instructed the maid, who nodded and left the chamber.

nThe Royal Physician arrived there and came running inside. He greeted the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.

n

"The Crown Princess has injured herself in the bathhouse. Her left foot is swollen, and the knee is also injured,

" Sheng Li told the Physician.

n

"Your highness, may I check you?

" The Royal Physician politely asked, lowering his eyes.

n

"Yes, you may,

" Ying Lili permitted him.

nRoyal Physician touched the foot and said,

"Your highness, a lukewarm water massage will reduce the swelling and do not walk unnecessarily as it can increase it.

" Ying Lili nodded when the Royal Physician told Court Lady Xu to lift the skirt of the Crown Princess.

nShe came forward and did so.

"The blood is clotted so there is nothing to worry about. The wound shall not leave any scar on the body of the Royal Highness so, for that I will send herbal medicine in my assistants' hands,

" the Royal Physician told the Crown Princess. Court Lady Xu pulled the skirt down gently and sent off the Royal Physician.

nAs the Royal Physician and Court lady Xu went out, Sheng Li turned his gaze to Ying Lili.

"Don't jump here and there like a rabbit. If I see you defying my orders, then I will not fulfill your wish,

" Sheng Li threatened Ying Lili.

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"I will not. But what about the Lantern Festival? I was so excited about that!! I thought we would go to the market to enjoy it,

" Ying Lili murmured.

n

"Is that your wish?!

" Sheng Li asked.

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"No. I am saying in general. Every year I used to go out with my friend to the Lantern Festival in the market. But this year it is different,

" Ying Lili took a deep sigh.

n

"You used to go with Hu Jingguo?

" Sheng Li questioned.

nYing Lili refused.

"Ruyi, my assistant. I miss her every day,

" Ying Lili said in a low voice.

"It is said that during the Lantern Festival, you can find your love. Ruyi and I used to go out in those market streets of Juyan during the Lantern Festival. Those were some memorable days,

" Ying Lili pronounced and lowered her eyes.

n

"So, did you find your love?

" Sheng Li questioned.

nYing Lili lifted her eyes and peered at Sheng Li.

"It is in legends. I do not know. I-I just said what people say,

" Ying Lili cleared herself out.

n

"Why are you stuttering? Don't tell me you indeed found a lover in that Lantern Festival. Are you missing him?

" Sheng Li started teasing her.

nYing Lili got angry.

"Go away,

" she said in a fit of rage.

"You never celebrated such festivals so you cannot understand. Just go away from my sight.

" Sheng Li's statements irked Ying Lili.

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"How could I celebrate when I was in the wars for six years? But now I am interested in celebrating this. I would love to see how people find love in a festival,

" Sheng Li expressed his desire. He stood up from the stool and left from there. Ying Lili saw him walking away.

"Did I go too far in my words?

" she murmured as Sheng Li left her sight.

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