Sheng Li and Ying Lili, after dressing up, went to their private chamber. The dinner table was already set for them. "Have a seat," Sheng Li gestured towards the floor table. Ying Lili sat around the table, followed by Sheng Li. The two started eating silently.
Suddenly Sheng Li broke the ice. "Lili, have you met the mother of Brother Nianzu?"
"No, I never. I found that she does not come to the inner palace. I was going to ask Brother Nianzu about that," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"Do not ask him. She has a concubine status so she cannot attend. She is also ill-treated by Weng Wei," Sheng Li pronounced.
"What? Why did you not tell me earlier?" Ying Lili queried.
Sheng Li chewed the food and a few seconds later said, "Because Weng Wei was not troubling Mother Hui for a year. She started again. Brother Nianzu is a little worried. I assured him that the Crown Princess will handle this. Use the power which the Emperor has provided you," Sheng Li affirmed.
"You want me to change the rules in the inner palace?" Ying Lili asked.
"Yes. Limit the powers of Weng Wei. Make her weak," Sheng Li stated.
"Okay. Before that, the Ju Family will be investigated. Do you think Consort Ju is planning something?" Ying Lili waited for the response of Sheng Li.
"Lili, Consort Ju is someone who seems somewhat innocent but she is not. Even her son, the Second Prince talks nicely but he is cunning," Sheng Li stated. He again started eating.
"What did the Second Brother do to you?" Ying Lili was curious to know.
"That's not important. You might cry if I tell you and I do not want to see tears in your eyes because of me," Sheng Li stated.
"I won't cry. You can tell me," Ying Lili softly said.
"Finish your meal," Sheng Li stated, gesturing towards the rice bowl. Ying Lili pouted and started eating. The two finished the meals soon. "Let's talk for some time," Ying Lili asserted. Sheng Li nodded.
"Lili, when does your birthday come?" Sheng Li queried her.
"You do not know?!"
"How would I know when you never told me?" Sheng Li queried.
"When you love someone, you know everything about them," Ying Lili opined which made Sheng Li laugh.
"I am not a God but a human. How would I know when you never told me?" Sheng Li muttered and told her to tell him.
"Find yourself," Ying Lili replied.
"How? Your friend has left for Juyan. Now, there is no way I can know," Sheng Li asserted.
"You love me then you need to find this out yourself," Ying Lili stressed her words.
"What a stubborn Wildcat!" Sheng Li remarked. "Lili, come here," he said.
"No," she simply refused.
"You like to irritate me, right?" He was not surprised by Ying Lili's behavior. "Come here. I want to hold you in my arms," Sheng Li requested.
Ying Lili smiled and stood up from her seat. She went to Sheng Li who made her sit on his lap. Sheng Li had securely wrapped both his hands around her waist and rested his forehead on her shoulder.
"Did you like what I did to you earlier in the bathhouse?" Sheng Li asked and lifted his head to peer into the pearly eyes of Ying Lili.
"Hmm."
Sheng Li passed a smile upon hearing the response when he heard her, "Let's gaze into each other's eyes without blinking. It is said that if you look long into the eyes of your lover, it shows how strong your love is for each other. The one who will blink, he/she needs to fulfill the wish of the other who wins." Sheng Li agreed with her.
"Don't plead with me to play another game if you lose," Sheng Li said.
"You think I will fail!" Ying Lili hit him lightly on the shoulder.
Sheng Li caught her hand and placed her hand behind his neck. "I am confident that you will lose, looking into my eyes," Sheng Li whispered.
"You are in illusion, Crown Prince," Ying Lili whispered against his lips. "Let's start then. On the count of three, we will begin. 3… 2… 1" The two looked into the eyes of each other.
Ying Lili drew her brows together as she intensely looked into Sheng Li's eyes. Thirty seconds passed and Ying Lili's eyes filled with tears. She curled her fingers, not wanting to lose against Sheng Li but at last, she blinked.
Sheng Li smiled and said, "You lost, Wildcat." He tapped his finger on her nose. "What will you do for me? What wish shall I ask for?" Sheng Li knitted his brows, trying to act as if he was thinking hard.
Ying Lili was sad because she lost against him. "Just say quickly. I will fulfill," Ying Lili said in a low voice.
"Let's do it one more time. I want to look into your eyes a little longer," Sheng Li stated. "No one has looked at me the way you do," he added. Ying Lili's heart fluttered upon hearing those words.
"Let's start on the count of three. 1… 2… 3" The two again gazed into each other's eyes. Their hearts were racing with each passing second. This time Ying Lili did not want to get lost against Sheng Li so she tried hard not to blink when she felt Sheng Li's lips on hers. Sheng Li had closed her eyes as he moved his lips gently over hers.
Ying Lili pushed him lightly when Sheng Li with inquisitiveness looked at her. "I-I… we are supposed to look at each other. Why did you suddenly start kissing?" Ying Lili questioned him.
"Because I want to. Your eyes invited me," Sheng Li said and pulled her into a kiss. He kissed her passionately while Ying Lili equally reciprocated to him. They pulled away, gasping for the air. Sheng Li brought Ying Lili's forehead closer to his and touched it with his forehead. "I love you, Lili. Always be with me," he said.
