Chapter 115 - Duty Towards The People
Ying Lili pushed Sheng Li away and placed her palm on her lips. "What were you doing?" Ying Lili, asked with a shocked expression.
Sheng Li smirked and put Ying Lili's hand down. "It was your fault. I told you not to speak about him, then why did you do that?" Ying Lili knitted her brows together as she glared at the Crown Prince.
"How was it my fault? You cannot do this any time you please," asserted Ying Lili.
"Only if you will never talk about that guy in front of me. I told you to not say that but you did not listen to me, that's why I need to shut your mouth," Sheng Li whispered, grinning.
"Are you jealous of him?" Ying Lili looked at him with inquisitiveness.
"No," Sheng Li plainly said.
"It seems otherwise to me," Ying Lili stated. "I know you are jealous. Do you have feelings for me?" Ying Lili raised her brows.
Sheng Li laughed upon hearing Ying Lili's words. "Stop talking to me and go to sleep," Sheng Li said as he turned his back to Ying Lili.
Ying Lili put her hand down. She knew Sheng Li was jealous, which she took as a chance. "Sheng Li, why don't we take Jingguo on the journey to the Southern Province as he is good in medicine?" Ying Lili suggested.
Sheng Li again turned towards Ying Lili. "You again started. We are not going there for fun. And, I do not want to burden myself. He is not physically strong," Sheng Li deduced. Ying Lili pouted upon hearing the Crown Prince.
"Why are you saying that he is not physically strong? I told you that we are known as the best swordsmen of Juyan," Ying Lili repeated her words.
"Do you want to sleep on the floor?" Sheng Li asked her. Ying Lili knitted her brows, hearing the question of the Crown Prince.
"Don't talk about him else I will throw you on the floor and don't play with my patience," asserted Sheng Li.
Ying Lili found that Sheng Li was not responding the way she wanted him to, so she stopped speaking. "I am sleepy. Thank you for conversing with me," Ying Lili said softly and closed her eyes while Sheng Li was still awake, gazing at her.
"In the morning you act as if I did something to you but then you sleep peacefully beside me. If I had not been your husband and if by chance Jian had married you, would you look this happy? Would I be able to enjoy the time in the Palace?" Sheng Li murmured. Soon, he also drifted to sleep.
~~~~~
Han Nianzu and Lei Wanxi were returning to the Palace after attending the Lantern Festival in the Capital Market. Only at this festival, Nianzu could fully enjoy it. "Fourth Prince, everyone was enchanted by your flute playing," asserted Lei Wanxi. "Umm… these dumplings are tasty. Why don't you try, brother?" Lei Wanxi suggested.
Nianzu smiled when his eyes fell on a woman who was being taken away by a man. "Wanxi, it seems something wrong is going on," Nianzu told Wanxi who had finished eating the dumplings.
"What is going wrong, brother?" Lei Wanxi asked confusedly.
"Look there." Nianzu pointed his finger towards a man who was taking a young woman with him. "Brother, the young lady is crying. Let's help her," Wanxi said as he took out his fan from the waistband.
They both walked towards them and stopped in front of the man who was in his forties. Seeing the princes there, the man bowed his head. "It is my good deeds that I saw the Princes today," proclaimed the man.
"You are the assistant in the House of Landlord Ma Bojing?" Lei Wanxi queried.
"Yes, I am Lo Chongan," the man introduced himself.
Nianzu looked at the young woman who was wiping the tears and had lowered her head. "Is this young lady with you?" Nianzu asked.
"Her family could not pay the debts so, she would serve as a washer in my Master's house," Lo Chongan replied.
Nianzu looked at the young lady who was trembling in fear. "How much debt does her family owe to your master?" Nianzu questioned Lo Chongan.
"Your highness, even if she would work a lifetime, she will not be able to repay the debt," Lo Chongan replied while his head was still lowered.
"Tell your master to meet me in the morning. This young lady is not going with you," Nianzu pronounced. Lei Wanxi looked at his elder brother but kept quiet.
"Forgive me, your highness but my master will get angry at me," Lo Chongan expressed his concern.
"Why would a landlord get angry for not getting a washer? Convey him my message that I will repay the debts for this young woman's family. This is the token which your master must show in the morning when he will come to the Palace." Nianzu handed Lo Chongan a rectangular wooden token seal. "You can leave," Nianzu ordered. Lo Chongan could not speak further and left from there.
Nianzu walked towards the young woman who had lowered her eyes. "Miss, you do not need to worry. You are debt-free now. Where is your house? We will drop you there," Nianzu stated.
"Why did his highness pay the debt on my behalf? I am supposed to work there. Your highness, please take back your order," the young woman stated.
"But, Miss, you do not seem to be comfortable with that washer job. I do not think you were taken as a washer there, but something else," Nianzu proclaimed. Lei Wanxi came forward and told the young woman to not refuse the help of Prince Nianzu otherwise.
"The Fourth Prince is the advisor to the Emperor, so you shall not question his decision. It is late night so, we shall be quick," Lei Wanxi stated while moving the fan in front of his face.
"I am grateful for the kindness which his highness showed me today. This lowly person does not deserve to go with the Princes of the Empire," the young woman politely said.
"Who said you are lowly, Miss? You shall not title yourself with this word. Think of it as my duty towards the people of Han," Nianzu proclaimed.