Chapter 225 - Moon Of My Life
"When I see this moon, my mind gets calm;
Never once I felt happy the way I feel now, seeing it daily."
Sheng Li recited a poem that grabbed Ying Lili's attention. "I never heard this poem. Did Brother Nianzu tell you?" Ying Lili curiously asked him.
Sheng Li chuckled. "I created this on my own. I am not that dumb in art and philosophy." Sheng Li was irked. He recited such a lovely poem for Ying Lili, and she did not even respond to him.
"Let's go back," he said annoyingly and again gripped the oars.
"What? Why?" Ying Lili astonishingly asked.
"Because it is cold here," Sheng Li replied. Annoyance was clearly visible on his face. Ying Lili stood up from her place when the boat wavered in the water. "What are you doing? Sit there," Sheng Li sternly said.
Ying Lili did not listen to him and came to him. She sat in front of him, her hand was under her chin. She stared into his eyes for a few seconds.
"Why are you staring at me?" Sheng Li asked when Ying Lili pinched his nose.
"Anger lives at the tip of your nose," Ying Lili remarked and pulled her hand back. "You never listen to the whole thing and conclude things so quickly. I was asking, 'Did you ask for a poem from Brother Nianzu?' Because I do not think such kind of poem Brother has told you. Instead, it came from the heart of my Hushu" She placed her index finger near his heart. "You are comparing me with this moon, aren't you?" Ying Lili asked Sheng Li, keeping a tiny smile on her lips.
Sheng Li smiled. "Yes," he replied. "You are the moon of my life. In a night, there are many stars which illuminate your way to some extent but not the way this Moon does," Sheng Li stated. He left his grip on the oars and grabbed the hands of Ying Lili.
He pulled her towards him, bringing her face closer to him. He brought his one hand behind Ying Lili's nape to bring her face further closer to him. In that entire moment, their eyes were fixed at each other.
Sheng Li was going to kiss her when Ying Lili placed her index finger in between their lips. Sheng Li leaned back and put Ying Lili's finger down. "Why did you not kiss me?" Sheng Li queried.
Ying Lili stood up on the boat again. "You kiss me too much," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li chuckled upon hearing the excuse of Ying Lili who spun at her place because of which the boat wobbled in the water.
Sheng Li held the edges of the boat. "Lili, sit down. We might fall into the water," Sheng Li asserted.
"Don't tell me you are scared," Ying Lili enjoyed this and again spun around, balancing herself while Sheng Li was screaming a little because of the wobbling.
Ying Lili giggled seeing that. "The Mighty Crown Prince is scared of this. It's enjoyable," Ying Lili muttered. Sheng Li glared at her.
"I am not scared. What if we fall in the water? The water is cold so, I am careful," Sheng Li opined. "Now, sit down, Lili," Sheng Li repeated his words, but Ying Lili did not listen to him when she felt a pull.
Sheng Li had grabbed her hand, drawing her towards him, but she pulled herself back. The boat jiggled this time, and the two fell into the water as the boat had overturned.
It was dark under the water, which scared Ying Lili. She moved her legs and hands when she was pulled up by Sheng Li.
"Ahhh," she took a deep breath. Sheng Li quickly took her to the shore without wasting a second. In a few minutes, they were on the land. Kōngqì came towards them and neighed seeing them.
Sheng Li wiped Ying Lili's face and saw she was trembling because of the cold. He decided to go to the Residence, so they hopped on Kōngqì. Kōngqì, just like his name, moved at a very high speed. In just five minutes, they reached the Private Residence.
Ying Lili was doddering due to the cold. The gatekeepers, seeing the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, quickly opened the door for them. Sheng Li, before entering, ordered them to prepare the hot bath for them. He walked in and took Ying Lili straight to their private chamber.
The maidservant who was waiting for them saw them and walked behind them in the chamber. She took out two towels from the cupboard there and went to the Crown Prince.
Sheng Li, on the other hand, placed Ying Lili gently on the bed when the maidservant handed a towel to the Crown Prince. He first removed the overcoat she was wearing and then wrapped a towel around her.
"I told you not to do that. Look, what happened!" Sheng Li scolded Ying Lili.
"Inform us when the bath will be ready," Sheng Li ordered the maidservant who went to the bathhouse to check.
"A-aren't you cold?" Ying Lili asked with a stutter.
"No, I am not," Sheng Li replied. He saw how pale Ying Lili had turned. He cursed himself internally for taking her to the lake in the night.
"Liar!" Ying Lili voiced, which brought Sheng Li out of his thoughts. "I-I can see h-how you are trembling," Ying Lili stammered while speaking due to the coldness. Sheng Li pulled the towel down thus, covering her eyes.
"Just keep quiet. Don't say a word," Sheng Li said with exasperation. He picked the other towel as well which was beside him and wrapped that too around Ying Lili who rested her head against his chest.
"Why isn't she here? I will punish her for not working properly," Sheng Li murmured. "Lili, I am coming. Just stay here," Sheng Li stood up from the bed and turned to go when the maidservant came there.
"Your highness, the hot water is ready," the maidservant informed. Sheng Li nodded and told her to send their clothes there. Sheng Li carried Ying Lili again in his arms and took her to the bathhouse.
Sheng Li found that hot water was available in one bathtub only. He put Ying Lili down on the ground and removed the towel. "You shall go into the bathtub. I will wait outside," Sheng Li replied.
"You are also cold. Let's sit together in the hot water bathtub," Ying Lili suggested.