Chapter 280 - In The Feet Of Mother
Sheng Li removed the overcoat and saw Ying Lili was placing the clothes inside the cupboard. He walked to her and stood behind her. "Sheng Li, I need to revive the place you and the late mother used to go to," Ying Lili said as she closed the cupboard. She turned and saw Sheng Li there. Her back hit the cupboard while Sheng Li moved forward.
"I permitted you to do that a long time ago," Sheng Li replied.
Ying Lili hummed. "I told you to blow out the candles. Go to bed. I will do that," Ying Lili said, looking around the room. She walked away and started blowing off the candles. Her heart was thumping and she did not know the reason. Was it because of the conversation she had with Sheng Li during dinner? She tilted her head and saw Sheng Li was pulling the curtains down around the bed.
'Why is he doing that? He never did this early? W-why am I scared and why is my heart racing?' she questioned herself.
Sheng Li sat on the bed and waited for Ying Lili. Ying Lili blew off the candles in the chamber except one. She got on the bed from the other side.
Sheng Li too moved his legs up on the bed and before Ying Lili could sleep, he laid his head on her lap, astonishing her. "Today, I missed my mother," Sheng Li said in a low voice. His eyes were closed, while both his hands were resting on his chest. "Lei Wanxi's mother was feeding him food with her own hands. I do not even remember when was the last time I had food from my mother's hand," Sheng Li completed his words.
Ying Lili placed her hand over his and caressed it. There was complete silence between those two. Ying Lili saw the tears in the corner of Sheng Li's eyes. She was confused thinking what was going on in Sheng Li's mind. She was also regretful for telling about the Emperor's illness to Sheng Li.
"Sheng Li, look at me," Ying Lili said with a firm voice.
Sheng Li opened his eyes which were moist. "Why are you sad? Is it because that father has a terminal illness? Or is it because Sister Jing is leaving the Palace? I have seen you getting low but not this way. What is going on?" Ying Lili furrowed her brows.
"I don't know. I am just sad. I am missing her… " Sheng Li said with a pause.
"Let's go out," suddenly Ying Lili said.
"What?" Sheng Li asked.
"Let's go there where your mother used to take you. Get up," Ying Lili stated.
Sheng Li sat up on the bed. Ying Lili wiped the tears from the edges of Sheng Li's eyes. "How can this Crown Prince cry? I will tell everyone that you cry like a baby. Such a soft heart you have!" Ying Lili said and huffed. "Let's go," Ying Lili said as she got down from the bed. She came near Sheng Li and grasped his hand, pulling him down from the bed.
"It's late and I don't want-"
"Shh'' Ying Lili placed her index finger on Sheng Li's lips, thus stopping him from speaking further. "Does it matter that it's late or if someone will see us?" Ying Lili queried him as she put down her hand.
Sheng Li shook his head.
Ying Lili went to the chaise and picked the overcoat. Coming towards Sheng Li, she told him to stretch his arms out. Sheng Li did so while Ying Lili helped him in putting on the overcoat. She then wore her overcoat and tied her hair up, keeping the bun intact with the hairpin.
"Let's go," she said, holding Sheng Li's hand and the two walked out of the chamber.
"Your highness, where are you two heading to?" Court Lady Xu humbly asked.
"We are going to take a stroll," Ying Lili replied. Court Lady bowed her head, along with the other maidservants as they walked away from there. Reaching the stable, Ying Lili told the stableman to bring Kongqi there.
Kongqi seeing his master neighed. Both Sheng Li and Ying Lili caressed it's face and he liked it. Sheng Li hopped on Kongqi first and then pulled Ying Lili up, making her sit on one side of the saddle. Ying Lili wrapped her hands around Sheng Li's neck. Kongqi started moving. At the Fu Imperial Gates, Sheng Li told a soldier to hand a torchbearer to him which he did.
Xiao Zhan came there as he was informed by a soldier. "Your highness, I will follow you two as well," Xiao Zhan asserted.
"No. Stay here," Sheng Li commanded.
"But, your highness, I cannot let my guard down," Xiao Zhan affirmed.
"Nothing will happen. Stay here," Sheng Li replied and pulled the reins. Kongqi moved forward and soon both the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were out of the Palace. Kongqi was moving at a decent speed. Soon, they arrived at the place near the forest. Sheng Li got down from Kongqi and then put Ying Lili down.
Grabbing the reins, they moved forward. Sheng Li tied Kongqi from the tree stem. "We will be back in a while," Sheng Li said. Grasping Ying Lili's hand, he walked forward, holding the torchbearer in the other hand.
Pushing the door in, Sheng Li and Ying Lili walked in. He placed the torchbearer in the stand, thus illuminating the place. Ying Lili was standing near the swing and looking around. Sheng Li came near her and made her sit on the swing, and then sat beside her.
"Suddenly the unknown fears inside me have disappeared," Sheng Li said while pushing his feet on the ground. The swing moved forward taking the two.
"It happens. In the feet of the mother, the universe exists. This place belongs to your mother, that's why it calmed you down," Ying Lili asserted.
"Hmm." Sheng Li rested his head on Ying Lili's shoulder.