Chapter 617 - Tease Brother Sheng
"Sheng Li, earlier I saw the Empress Dowager. She does not look good and it feels like she is under some kind of stress," She told him. "What did the Empress Dowager talk to you about?" She inquisitively gazed at him.
"She was telling me to help her," Sheng Li replied and started to walk. Their servants followed them.
"About what?"
"Brother Nianzu is not conversing with her. He has found out about her truth. Huo Jin told him," Sheng Li stated.
"Oh. Brother Nianzu does not seem to get angry easily," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"But he got angry this time. He does not want to see her face," Sheng Li replied.
"The Empress Dowager is still in the shock of her husband's death. Brother Nianzu shall not do that," Ying Lili said. She felt bad for Deng Hui for getting such kind of treatment from her son.
Sheng Li turned to look at the servants. "Get ten steps back from us," he ordered them. They acted swiftly on his command. Sheng Li then turned to look at Ying Lili.
"The Empress Dowager wanted to kill the father. Do you think she is mourning his death? At least, Weng Wei did not try to take the father's life. That's why Brother Nianzu has stopped talking to her. Though I have told him to not neglect his mother. I cannot force him to do more," Sheng Li explained to Ying Lili, who found annoyance in his voice.
"So, you think that Brother Nianzu is doing good by ignoring his mother," Ying Lili wanted to know his opinion.
"I don't know," Sheng Li simply answered and started to walk, holding the hands of Ying Lili.
"The Empress Dowager did that because of the influence of Gu Zhenya. Humans make mistakes. It's in their nature. But when a human rectifies it, we shall support him or her," Ying Lili opined.
"Lili, why are you so kind?" Sheng Li asked her with a menacing expression on his face.
"It's not kindness," Ying Lili replied and pouted. Sheng Li halted and so did Ying Lili. The servants who were ten steps behind them also stopped.
Sheng Li and Ying Lili turned towards each other.
"Then, what is it?" Sheng Li questioned her.
"It is humanity and compassion," Ying Lili asserted.
Sheng Li chuckled. "It is foolishness," he stated. Ying Lili got sad to hear that. "Brother Nianzu never turned his face away from his mother. Do you think she has repented enough? I observed for two days. She has no remorse for the loss of her husband. She married him so that she could get power," Sheng Li made Ying Lili face the truth of Deng Hui.
"When a child makes a mistake, the mother always forgives him or her. Then why can't a child do the same for his or her mother?" Ying Lili argued with him.
"Child makes a mistake because of his or her innocence, not because of greed," Sheng Li countered.
"Sheng Li, when the late Emperor can forgive her, then why can't the Fourth Brother? Also, your talks make me feel that you still have not forgiven her," Ying Lili affirmed while searching for the answers in his eyes.
"Indeed, I have not forgiven her," Sheng Li said. "Let's not talk about this," he said and cupped her cheeks. He leaned towards her lips and pecked them.
Ying Lili put her fingers on her lips as Sheng Li leaned back.
"Can't you see the servants are here?" Ying Lili said in a low voice.
Sheng Li tilted his head to glance at them. "They do not dare to look at us. I will punish them if they do so," Sheng Li stated and shifted his gaze back to her.
"Come let's meet with Kongqi. I haven't seen him for a long time," Sheng Li said and put his left hand behind his back while grasping Ying Lili's left hand with his right hand.
"Don't follow us from here," Sheng Li commanded the servants and left with Ying Lili.
In the stable, the horse keeper greeted them and quickly brought Kongqi there. He neighed seeing Sheng Li, who went to him and patted his face lovingly. "How is my friend?" Sheng Li asked him, who only neighed. Ying Lili went towards them and rested her hand on Kongqi's face.
"Kongqi, soon my children will ride you. Let them hop on you," Sheng Li shared the good news with him. He tilted his head towards Ying Lili.
"Let's ride on Kongqi," he said and brought Ying Lili towards Kongqi's left. He hopped on Kongqi first. Lending her his hand, he bent a little down. He then securely wrapped his arm around Ying Lili and pulled her up. Both of her legs rested on the left of Kongqi while she rested her hands on the shoulders of Sheng Li.
He pulled the reins tied on Kongqi and he started to walk, slowly. Sheng Li directed Kongqi towards the wide-open field.
"Why are you smiling while looking at me?" Sheng Li asked her and gazed at her.
"Can't I even smile while looking at my husband?"
Her question made Sheng Li smile.
"Let's not blink. One who will lose has to fulfill the wish of the other," Ying Lili told him.
Commander Yang saw them and smiled. "The Emperor and the Empress are spending their quality time together," he murmured and turned to go when Lei Wanxi put his arm around his shoulder and turned him back such that he was again facing them.
"Commander Yang, let's disturb them," Lei Wanxi.
"I do not dare to, Prince Wanxi. Also, they are seated on Kongqi. What if Kongqi gets surprised to see us. The Empress might get harmed," Commander Yang refused to do that.
"You are right, Commander Yang. I am going to get married soon. I thought about teasing Brother Sheng a little before that.. Let them get down from Kongqi and then I will tease Brother Sheng," Lei Wanxi stated and winked at Commander Yang while smiling.