Chapter 122 - A Promise
"When did this happen?" Sheng Li asked.
"Your highness, two days ago in the early morning. Her highness's mother felt a severe chest pain as informed by Juyan's Royal Physician," replied Xing-Fu.
"Where is the Crown Princess? Does the Crown Princess know about this?" Sheng Li queried. Xing-Fu refused.
"I am going to Zhenzhu Inn. Postpone my later evening schedule and also inform General Wang that I will not come to the prison today," Sheng Li commanded Xing-Fu who bowed his head. Sheng Li quickly left to meet Ying Lili.
Sheng Li soon reached the Zhenzhu Inn and asked about Ying Lili from Court Lady Xu. "Your highness, the Crown Princess is resting," Court Lady Xu replied.
"Did she take her meals?" Sheng Li questioned.
"Yes, your highness," replied Court Lady Xu. Sheng Li was relieved to hear that.
"Don't disturb us and if anyone asks about me, then tell him to wait till tomorrow as I will be unavailable till tomorrow morning," Sheng Li commanded and walked in. Court Lady Xu closed the doors.
Sheng Li put away the curtains which were hanging around the bed. He saw Ying Lili was sleeping peacefully. "How will I tell her that her mother has passed away?" wondered Sheng Li and sat on the mattress beside her. Removing his shoes, Sheng Li stretched his legs out on the bed and rested his weight on his left elbow.
He kept staring at Ying Lili, waiting for her to wake up. By the evening, Ying Lili woke up and found Sheng Li sitting beside her. She rubbed her eyes and sat up on the bed. "What are you doing here? You told me that you will not see me today," Ying Lili complained and yawned.
"Sheng Li, I think I am getting lazy. I fell asleep during the day instead of getting myself involved in the work. The household chores I do not like. It bores me. Can't you take me with you? I won't trouble you at all during work. I promise," Ying Lili stated, raising her hand and joining three fingers together to make a promise.
"You want me to take you to the court; to the prison; to the barracks?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili.
Ying Lili nodded her head and smiled. She had put her hand down and moved closer to Sheng Li. "I will help you with the work. It is like an assistant working for you. You shall not decline such a kind offer from my side," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"We are leaving for the Southern Province the day after tomorrow so, I do not think that you will get bored," Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili was delighted to hear about that.
Contrarily, Sheng Li was in confusion about how he should tell Ying Lili about her mother's demise. Why was he even thinking how she would feel? He was not like that before.
Ying Lili noticed that Sheng Li was lost somewhere, so she tapped on his shoulder, thus bringing him out of those thoughts. "What happened? What are you thinking?" Ying Lili curiously asked.
"Lili, I have got news from Juyan," Sheng Li finally said.
"What kind of news? Did my mother send something for me?" Ying Lili was excited to know.
"Your mother has passed away," Sheng Li replied when he saw Ying Lili's eyes filled with tears. "The messenger has reported that… that she could not bear the death of her husband and," Sheng Li paused, "… she was worried about your safety. You are married to me, which is another reason for her demise," he completed his words.
She turned her back towards Sheng Li as tears rolled down Ying Lili's eyes to her cheeks. She placed her hand on her chest and tightly closed her eyes. "M-mother," she whimpered in pain. Sheng Li back hugged Ying Lili and caressed her one arm. "Why did this happen? I accepted this marriage alliance to save my father and mother, but I ended up losing them," Ying Lili voiced mournfully.
"That's why you shall stay away from me because the more you get closer to me, the more you will lose your loved ones," Sheng Li whispered. Ying Lili started weeping while Sheng Li's grip was tightened around her. He wanted to soothe her, but he did not know how! Ying Lili's cries were piercing through his heart as he recalled the time when he lost his mother.
After a while, Ying Lili stopped weeping, but her snivels could be heard. Her eyes were swollen because of excessive crying, and her head was aching. Her backhead rested on Sheng Li's chest. Sheng Li had one hand on hers and he was caressing it.
Ying Lili lifted her hand and wiped the tears off her eyes. "When did she pass away?" Ying Lili questioned.
"Xing-Fu informed me that it happened two days ago. Your late mother felt a severe chest pain in the early morning," Sheng Li replied.
"Are you sure that my mother died because of my father's demise? I-I mean there could be someone who could have killed her. Uncle is no more. What if my aunt killed her or the Empress could be behind her death." Ying Lili told the possibilities behind her mother's death.
Sheng Li made Ying Lili look at him. He cupped her face in his hands. Ying Lili's eyes had again turned watery when a tear rolled down her cheek. Sheng Li, using his thumb, wiped that tear from Ying Lili's cheek. "I will investigate. I am also responsible for your mother's death. If I had not been harsh on her and assured her that I would not harm you then she would have been alive. Forgive me," Sheng Li apologized to Ying Lili who lifted her both hands and hit on Sheng Li's chest.
The Crown Princess again broke into tears. "You should have been considerate to her at that time. My mother won't come back now. I could not even see her for the last time," Ying Lili in a broken voice said as she kept hitting Sheng Li while crying. Sheng Li did not stop her this time because he knew the pain of losing his mother. No one could understand that pain better than him. Ying Lili rested her head on Sheng Li's chest after she stopped hitting him.
"Lili, I promise you to find the real culprits behind your mother's death. I will punish them so brutally that their entire generation and generation after generation will remember it."
Sheng Li gave his words to Ying Lili and put his hand behind Ying Lili's back to caress it.