Sheng Li and Ying Lili were in their private chamber, having lunch. "Food was delicious," Ying Lili praised the maidservant, who was standing a meter away from them. She picked the water glass and took a few sips. Sheng Li ordered the maidservant to clean the table, who did so.
"Come with me," Sheng Li stood up from the mattress on the floor and forwarded his hand to Ying Lili. Ying Lili placed her hand on his, who pulled her up gently. Ying Lili followed her husband's steps that had taken her to the room attached to the chamber.
The room was completely dark. "Why is it so dark?" Ying Lili asked when a dim source of light was visible to her. The maidservant there brought a candle and she placed it on the candle stand. Ying Lili glanced at Sheng Li with astonishment. He had again planned a surprise for her. Her eyes fell on the white curtain, which was illuminated by the lights of the lanterns. Ying Lili had understood what could be the possible surprise for her.
"'A Shadow Puppetry Show'" Sheng Li stated and peered into the eyes of Ying Lili. He took her further in and made her sit on the floor mattress in front of which a circular table was placed. Some sweet dishes were placed on the table that they could eat while watching the show.
The maidservant, who had lit the candle earlier, blew it off as the show was going to start. She walked out of the darkroom quietly.
Ying Lili looked at the white curtain with glistening eyes. "Greetings to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. We were overwhelmed when the Crown Prince invited our group to perform this show. Now, the show will begin," a voice echoed from behind the stage. Ying Lili was excited to watch the puppetry show.
The show started with the zither playing in the background. A colorful silhouette of a man appeared on the illuminated screen. The figure was made from paper and was moving with the help of the rods, which the puppeteer had held behind the translucent cloth screen. The shadow figure looked like Sheng Li to Ying Lili. She looked at Sheng Li, whose gaze was focused on the cloth screen.
From the musical instruments, the clashing of swords was produced. The shadows of other puppets were seen which were killed by the man. This continued for a few minutes until a silhouette of a woman appeared on the screen. The music was changed into a calming one, depicting that there was something unique in the woman, which had calmed the man down.
Ying Lili realized it was their love story being played on the screen. She recalled the time when she, for the first time, looked at Sheng Li and who was gazing at her, amusingly.
Suddenly, a moon shadow appeared on the screen. On the screen, a boat appeared on which two people were seated. She heard the same poem that Sheng Li had told her to show his feelings. Ying Lili broadly smiled, recalling the day when Sheng Li planned the first surprise for her, a night boat ride. It was a wonderful outing until she fell into the water. Soon the shadow puppetry ended, followed by the sound of the zither.
Ying Lili clapped for them for giving such a marvelous performance. "It was phenomenal," Ying Lili said as the five artists came forward. Their heads were lowered in the respect of both the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
"Here's your reward. It was indeed a good performance," Sheng Li stated and looked at the maidservant, who had come inside with a polished wooden basket. Sheng Li gestured to her to give that to the head of the puppeteer group. Among them, an old man came forward and accepted the reward. "Thank you, your highness, for this gracious reward." They all bowed again, this time a ninety-degree bow.
They all left the chamber, leaving the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess behind.
"That was astounding for me. I liked it," Ying Lili said and picked a sweet from the plate. She took a tiny bite of it and forwarded it to Sheng Li, who shook his head. The smile on his lips did not fade away. He brought his right hand on the table and rested his head over it while his left knee was folded and his other hand rested on that.
"Lei Wanxi once told me about this. We were mere teenagers then. He told me that when I get married, then I must arrange this show for my wife." Ying Lili was patiently listening to him. She could see the eternal, blissful love for her in Sheng Li's eyes.
"I joked, asking him why I should watch this with my wife. His reply was, "You will find out about this when you would be sitting with her, watching this shadow puppetry show," Sheng Li proclaimed.
Ying Lili put her hand down while holding the sweet. "So, did you find out?" Ying Lili raised a brow.
Sheng Li nodded. "I was different earlier. As I have told you, I never enjoyed things. Seeing others happy, I used to question why they are happy when it is not even permanent. Lei Wanxi believed only a woman would change me. He was right. I became gentle, calmer, and also became patient. This shadow puppetry show will tell about our love for the other people in the Han Empire. My love for you all live even if I leave this..," Ying Lili swiftly moved towards him and placed her palm on his lips. Her knees were hitting the mattress on the floor.
"Do not say that. We have a long way to go," Ying Lili proclaimed and gradually slipped her hand down. Sheng Li smiled and noticed every expression that had appeared on her face in that short time. The hand that rested on his knee moved to her nape, and he pulled her towards him.
"I know that we have a long way to go," Sheng Li whispered against her lips and shifted his gaze on her plump red lips. He was going to kiss them when Ying Lili pushed the half-eaten sweet inside his mouth, bewildering him.
