Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Ying Lili's sleep abruptly broke as she saw something weird in her dream. She saw Sheng Li was crying and had blood in his hands. Her chest rose up and down seeing that weird dream. She placed her hand on her chest as her brows came closer. "What was that?" she murmured. She looked at Sheng Li who was sleeping peacefully.

"There is something strange. I have never seen such a dream," Ying Lili thought. She sat up on the bed and waited for Sheng Li to wake up. Since it was nighttime, the room has turned dark. She got down from the bed to light the candles in the chamber. She walked out of the chamber and after a few minutes came back to the room with a candle in her hand.

She lit the candles in the chamber. Sheng Li had also awakened by then. He found Ying Lili was not beside him, so; he turned and found her near the second door where she was lighting the candles. Ying Lili was so lost in lighting the candles that she did not realize that Sheng Li's sharp gaze was on her. He saw Ying Lili's mind was somewhere else as the candle wax was falling on the ground.

Sheng Li got down from the bed and walked to her. "Lili," he called out her name and straightened her hand by holding it. Ying Lili looked into his eyes. Sheng Li had put the candle in the candle stand and shifted his gaze to her. "What happened? Where are you lost?" Sheng Li asked.

Ying Lili did not answer him and kept staring into his eyes when she felt Sheng Li's hand on her cheeks. "Nothing," she lied. Sheng Li hummed and asked her if she wanted to go somewhere with him. 

"Where would you take me at this hour?" Ying Lili curiously asked. 

"Just answer if you want to go or not," Sheng Li said. Ying Lili hummed and nodded her head. 

"Get ready then. Brush your hair and wear the overcoat," Sheng Li whispered in her ear. Ying Lili went towards the dressing table. Sheng Li wore the overcoat and tied the sash around his waist. He went towards the mirror and stood behind Ying Lili who was brushing her hair. 

"Shall I brush?" Sheng Li asked as he forwarded his hand to take the brush from Ying Lili and took the brush from her hand. Sheng Li brushed her hair gently. "Your hair is long and beautiful," Sheng Li said in a low voice. He was done brushing and put the brush at the dressing table. He picked a hairpin from there and put it inside the little bun, followed by Bu Yao.

"You are ready," Sheng Li said. Ying Lili thanked him and stood up from the chair. Turning to him, she tiptoed and moved her hand above his head. "What are you doing?" Sheng Li asked as Ying Lili put her soles on the ground. 

"There were a few strands which were up. I wanted them to settle to use my hand," Ying Lili said while showing her hand, "It would have taken more time if a maidservant will do your hair." 

Sheng Li looked at his reflection in the mirror and adjusted the hairpin on the bun to keep the Crown intact on it. The two walked out of the chamber where Sheng Li informed Court Lady Xu that they would not be at the Palace. 

Ying Lili looked at him astonishingly. "We will be in our private residence tonight," Sheng Li replied. Court Lady Xu bowed along with the other maidservants as both the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess walked away. 

They reached the horse stable where Sheng Li asked the horseman to bring Kōngqì. "Are we going to the Residence?" Ying Lili queried. 

"You will find out soon," Sheng Li replied. Kōngqì was brought there who was delighted to see his master. Sheng Li caressed his face. "Sit with your legs on one side," Sheng Li told Ying Lili who nodded. After that, Sheng Li hopped on it and pulled the reins to ride the horse. 

The soldiers standing there had lowered their eyes as the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess passed from their sights on Kōngqì. As they came out of the Fu Imperial Gates, Ying Lili noticed that Sheng Li was not taking her to the Residence, instead, he had changed the route. 

"Where are we going?" Ying Lili asked and turned her face to look at Sheng Li. Her hands were tightly wrapped around his neck.

"Can't you stay quiet? You will find out once we will be there," Sheng Li replied to Ying Lili who twitched her lips and huffed. Kōngqì had increased his speed. 

"What if someone attacks us?" Ying Lili asked another question. 

"There are light torches on this route so you can see that it is also a part of the Palace. Moreover, no one knows that we are on this route," Sheng Li replied. Ying Lili nodded and again looked at the main route. After a while, Kōngqì stopped. 

Ying Lili saw a lake a few meters away from there. Lanterns were tied on the ropes above all around the lake, illuminating it and there was a boat as well at the shore. Sheng Li put Ying Lili down on the ground. "You wanted to see the lake at night, so I prepared this for you. You told me that I am not romantic enough with you, so I thought to show you my love for you," Sheng Li asserted. 

Ying Lili lowered her eyes because of the shyness and then lifted them. "Come, I will row the boat," Sheng Li told Ying Lili and held her hand. He helped her get in the boat and made her sit on its one side. Sheng then opened the rope from the tiny ground pole from which it was tied. He quickly got into the boat as it moved ahead in the water. 

Gripping the oars, Sheng rowed, and soon they were in the middle of the lake. The moon was in the waxing gibbous phase and was illuminating the water. Sheng Li had stopped rowing the boat, as they were now in the middle of the lake. He looked at Ying Lili who was looking at the sky.

"The moon is looking beautiful," Ying Lili delightedly said.

"Indeed, it is beautiful!" Sheng Li remarked, looking at the face of Ying Lili.