Chapter 212 - To Love You
Sheng Li brought Ying Lili to the Pavilion of Flowers, which was the main garden of the Courtyard. Earlier in the day, he had ordered the servants to put a swing in the garden.
The swing ropes were decorated with flower vines which were hung from an oak tree. Sheng Li made Ying Lili sit on the swing whose eyes glistened upon seeing the picturesque view of the garden.
The courtyard had a small pond in the center with lotuses. A wooden zig-zag path was also constructed above the pond so that one can view the crystal clear water and the tiny fishes moving. On the other side, different kinds of flowers were planted which could soothe out the soul of a person. Since the residence was on a height higher than the Imperial Palace, the gigantic mountain peak could be seen from every part of the Residence.
A smile carved on Ying Lili's lips, analyzing every part of the garden. She lifted her head and found Sheng Li was gazing at her. "You said you do not like the garden then what is it," Ying Lili waited for Sheng Li's response.
"It has been here since its construction. Last time I did not bring you here as I did not know you liked it," Sheng Li pronounced. He sat beside Ying Lili on the swing and moved it forward. "The day you danced and then played the flute, my heart fluttered. You were beautiful that day. It was an indescribable feeling," Sheng Li said.
Ying Lili smiled upon hearing that. "I can dance again and play the flute for you if you like, but I do not think that there will be a flute here," Ying Lili asserted.
"Next time I will bring that too," Sheng Li stated and pushed his feet on the ground to move the swing forward. Ying Lili rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. "Then, dance with me the next time if I will play the flute," Ying Lili said. Sheng Li was hesitant, but then for Ying Lili, he agreed.
"There is a memory I have with my mother. I want to share it with you." Ying Lili lifted her head and peered into his eyes. "The music that you played that day was played by my mother daily for me before her death. She told me to remember her through that music. I remember her saying – 'Love is the most powerful weapon which can defeat everyone.' But I stopped believing that because she ended up dying most miserably. She saved the life of Zhang Yong, but he fed her poison; she was kind to everyone around her but in the end, people turned cruel to her."
Sheng Li's voice broke at the last few words. Ying Lili could feel his pain. She held his hand in hers and caressed it.
"People around the late mother were power-hungry and they still are! Some people lose their conscience before power, money, and status. She was too good for such a selfish place," Ying Lili proclaimed.
Sheng Li nodded his head. "If she would be alive then, she would be happy to see that her son married a woman who had the same traits as hers," Sheng Li stated, keeping a tiny smile on his lips. His hand went near her right ear to tuck the curl behind her ear.
Gradually, it came under her chin as he lifted it slightly. Closing the distance between them, he kissed her again. Pulling back, he kept his gaze intact on her as if he was peering through her soul. Ying Lili's heart thumped in her chest, seeing that intimidating gaze on her.
The night was falling as the sky had turned dark. "We need to go back. The night is falling," Ying Lili whispered and stood up when Sheng Li caught her wrist, pulling her back. She fell back on Sheng Li's lap.
"We are not going to the Palace today. We will spend our night here," Sheng Li whispered in Ying Lili's ear and he kissed her earlobe. Ying Lili closed her eyes and curled her fingers as they soon intertwined with Sheng Li's.
He nuzzled her hair and bit her earlobe followed by a kiss which resulted in a moan from Ying Lili's mouth. She immediately placed her palm over her mouth and tilted her head to look at Sheng Li who chuckled upon seeing her reaction.
He placed his index finger in between her brows. The frowns that had formed on her forehead disappeared. "Do you want me to love you a little more?" Sheng Li asked as he removed the palm from Ying Lili's mouth.
Words were not coming out of her throat. Her heart was thumping more with each passing second. "W-what do you mean?" after a few seconds she asked with a stutter.
"I mean what I said," Sheng Li replied as he leaned closer to her ear, "Let me repeat my words. Do you want me to love you a little more tonight?" Gradually he leaned back and saw how nervous had Ying Lili turned. He forgot that in the Palace she was not given such lessons after her wedding as Sheng Li had told the Empress not to involve Ying Lili in the Inner Palace.
The sides of his lips moved up to give a smile to Ying Lili, to make her relax. "It is fine. Let's go back." His grip around her waist loosened when he heard Ying Lili.
"Yes." She lowered her eyes as the blush on her cheeks had spread till her cheeks thus, making her face turn red. "It's fine. We will take it slow," Sheng Li stated.
Ying Lili recalled the words of Court Lady Xu. It was her duty as the wife of the Crown Prince and now, when they love each other, it should not be a problem. "But we love each other. Court Lady Xu told me that…" She stopped as she saw a mischievous smirk on his lips. "I-I mean…" Ying Lili's words stuck in her throat as her fingers curled again, clutching the skirt.
Sheng Li grazed Ying Lili's lips with his thumb. "You look cute when you stutter, Wildcat. It tempts me more," Sheng Li said before pulling his hand back. With Ying Lili, he wanted to give time to everything steadily and slowly.
"Umm… I recalled something. There is no cook in the residence. The dinner time is near, so we need to go back," Sheng Li affirmed. He stood up along with her from the swing. "It was a pleasant day," Sheng Li said before holding Ying Lili's hand and taking her out from there.