Ying Lili glared at Sheng Li, who kissed her cheek. He made her turn to look at him. "You indeed have forgotten your shame. Now, let me go," she kept her voice low and grasped his wrist when Sheng Li pulled her closer to him.
"Lili, this is my Palace. I can do anything I want to," Sheng Li stated. He tilted his head and looked at the servants, who had lowered their heads.
"The Empress is shy, so you all shall leave," Sheng Li told them. Court Lady Xu bowed deeply and walked away first, followed by the other servants.
Ying Lili hit Sheng Li's shoulder.
"Ahh," he let out a scream.
"Why did you send them away?" She put a stern expression on her face.
"Lili, you told me that people are watching us. That's why I sent them. Tell me exactly what you want," Sheng Li said and brought his hand up. He curled his finger under her chin and pulled her face closer to him.
"Are you tired? Shall I carry you in your arms?" Sheng Li asked her.
Ying Lili ended up smiling. "I didn't even walk much. Sheng Li, can you feel the change in the Palace air?" Her eyes gleamed to know his answer.
"Yes. It's peaceful and calm," Sheng Li said.
"Even the First Consort views have changed. If Father had been alive, he would be happy to witness all this," Ying Lili asserted.
'We have lost so much, yet we have gained a lot of other things. Lili, without you how would I have stayed strong up till now?' Sheng Li thought to himself.
"What are you thinking?"
"Nothing," Sheng Li said and kissed her nose tip, followed by her lips.
She pulled away instantly. "You are the Emperor. At least, grow up now," she again scolded him, but this time he did not listen to her. He cupped her face between his palms.
"Let the world see. I do not care," he whispered before crashing his lips onto hers. He nibbled her lower lip when Ying Lili bit his lip and smiled.
Sheng Li withdrew back and touched his lip. "You did this after a long time," he said with a grin. "Wildcat!" He called her nickname after many months.
"Don't call me by that name."
"That's the name you have earned to trouble me when we were newly wed," he reminded her.
"You also troubled me," she retorted at him.
"And then we fell for each other," Sheng Li said and pressed the tip of his nose against hers. Ying Lili clutched the fabric of the overcoat that Sheng Li had worn.
He showered the kisses on her face, and she giggled. She told him to stop but hearing her giggles, he could not. After a few seconds, he stopped.
"Are you done?" She asked him.
"No." Carrying the smile on his lips, he leaned towards his lips and kissed her once again. Ying Lili moved her hands up and rested them on his nape. He tenderly moved his lips on hers while she reciprocated his kiss with the same intensity and passion.
He used his right hand to keep his hold on her waist and pinned her close to his body, leaving no room for the air. His left hand now was on her back as he deepened the kiss.
After a while, they both withdrew back. Ying Lili brought her hands down. Sheng Li held her both hands and rested his forehead against her.
Lei Wanxi and Nianzu had hidden behind the pillar. They both had come to deliver the message from the Wang Family when they saw them together.
"Brother Sheng shall stop now. Shall I go to them?" Lei Wanxi asked in a low voice from Nianzu.
"I told you that we should come later. However, you did not agree," Nianzu stated. "Let them enjoy their intimate moments together," he again suggested to Lei Wanxi.
"But I didn't see anything," Lei Wanxi whispered when he started to scream. Sheng Li had caught his ear and was pulling it.
"Were you watching us?" He asked him.
"Ahh, Brother Sheng is hurting me. I didn't see you kissing Sister Lili," he said. Nianzu shook his head as he was revealing the secret on his own.
"Don't do that, Sheng Li," Ying Lili told him. "You are the one who started this. I told you to act mature," she scolded him in front of the Fourth and Sixth Princes.
Sheng Li let go of Lei Wanxi's ear, who immediately hid behind Ying Lili. "Sister Lili, did you see how Brother Sheng troubled his younger brother? See, my ear is so red," he complained to Ying Lili and stuck out his tongue to tease Sheng Li.
Sheng Li chuckled and stepped forward when Ying Lili told him to stop.
"Is this the way you treat the people younger than you?" She turned to look at Lei Wanxi and found that the ear had indeed turned red.
"He made a mistake by looking at us," Sheng Li told Ying Lili in a low voice.
"Why are you ashamed now?" Ying Lili's question embarrassed him. "You wanted the world to see us," she said and turned back to gaze at Sheng Li.
Nianzu and Lei Wanxi glanced at each other. They both smiled when Nianzu pulled him back. "Let's leave. Let them be alone for a while," Nianzu whispered.
Lei Wanxi leaned towards Nianzu's ear. "Brother Nianzu, let me put the oil in the fire. Then, we will leave," he whispered. However, Nianzu did not listen to him.
"Brother Sheng, Sister Lili, please enjoy your time. Forgive us for hiding behind the pillar when Brother Sheng ordered everyone to leave," Nianzu said and dragged Lei Wanxi away with him. He did not let him utter anything.
They reached the middle of the stairs when Nianzu let go of his arm.
"Ah, I am missing my friend, Hu Jingguo. At least, he would pull Brother Sheng's legs with me," Lei Wanxi asserted.
"Grow up, Brother Wanxi. Also, why did you not go to work today?" Nianzu questioned him.
"Because I need to go to General Wang's house. I have found something interesting and without my intervention, that task will not be completed," Lei Wanxi said and winked at Nianzu. He descended the stairs and waved at Nianzu.
"I will see Brother Nianzu later," Lei Wanxi said and soon left Nianzu's sight.
