Qi Jing came to the chamber with a tray in her hand. Putting the tray on the bedside table, she put away the curtains. "Brother, I have prepared the soup. Let it cool down. Shall I help Sister Lili, or will you help her later in taking this soup?" Qi Jing queried.

"I will do it. Thank you, Sister Jing. You shall leave for your chamber. It is late night," Sheng Li told Qi Jing.

"Brother Sheng, you did not have your dinner. You shall do the dinner," Qi Jing anxiously stated. Sheng Li refused and replied he was not hungry. Qi Jing found that Sheng Li had become closer to Ying Lili, which brought a smile to her lips. Qi Jing sat on the mattress near Ying Lili's feet.

"Brother Sheng, today Sister Lili and I conversed a lot. Sister Lili has feelings for you but she is not aware of them." This sudden revelation bewildered Sheng Li. "The feelings are very little and I know they will grow sooner. Sister Lili told me that she wants to get closer to you, wants to embrace you, wants to fight for you, and wants to love you, but the brother is pushing her away. He does not speak with her about him and his inner thoughts." Qi Jing looked into the eyes of Sheng Li, searching for an answer.

"Did Sister Jing tell anything related to my past to Lili?" Sheng Li queried.

"I did tell a little to Sister Lili. Forgive me for not keeping my promise, but it is for you. Brother, you have the right to be happy. Right now, I can see how much you are worried about her! I know Mother Mei's demise made you stone-hearted but then you finally found someone who will cherish you and has the same thoughts as of late mother Mei. So, accept Sister Lili's love." Qi Jing tried making Sheng Li understand.

"Sister Jing, I do not want her to be my weakness. She is naïve. Loving me is not a simple task," Sheng Li affirmed.

"How can you think like that, Brother Sheng? I also love you as a brother and you also love me as a sister. Did I ever turn into your weakness? Take Brother Wanxi and Nianzu. There is love among us, and it has only strengthened our relationship. Loving someone is not a weakness," Qi Jing scolded Sheng Li for his childish behavior and for holding onto the past.

"I know the demise of your mother was tragic, but it does not mean that everything will be tragic for you. Please open your heart for Sister Lili and move forward from your past," Qi Jing advised Sheng Li.

"Sister Jing, you cannot understand. Let's leave this topic here. You shall go back," Sheng Li stated and called Court Lady Xu who came inside. "Send the Princess to her chamber safely. Make sure she will take her dinner," Sheng Li ordered.

Qi Jing found there was no use talking with Sheng Li at that moment, so she did not insist to stay there and left the chamber.

Sheng Li noticed how sweat was forming on Ying Lili's forehead. He took the towel and wiped the sweat. He then picked Ying Lili such that her head rested on his chest. Picking the bowl from the tray, he first tasted the soup to make sure there was no poison. "Ahh, it's bitter," Sheng Li murmured.

After a while, he spoon-fed the soup to Ying Lili. Ying Lili flinched as she took the first sip. "Don't throw it out," Sheng Li muttered while caressing her head with the other hand. Fifteen minutes later, when the bowl got empty, he put it back on the tray and made Ying Lili lay down on the bed.

"Why is she wearing such a heavy overcoat!?" Sheng Li murmured and removed it from Ying Lili's body. He covered her with the blanket and laid beside her. "I do not know why I am worried about you? I should not let my heart turn soft towards you." He was tired from the entire day's event, so soon drifted off to sleep.

In the early morning, Sheng Li's sleep broke as he felt hot. He was surprised to see that he had taken the entire blanket from Ying Lili while she was without the blanket. Wait!! He did not take the blanket, but Ying Lili had thrown it at him in her sleep.

Sheng Li took the blanket from him and covered Ying Lili with it. He sat up and checked her temperature by placing his palm over her head. Her fever was gone and the body temperature was normal which made him glad.

He waited for her to wake up, when after two hours, Ying Lili finally opened her eyes. "How are you feeling?" Sheng Li asked her as he helped her in sitting.

"I am not feeling good," Ying Lili replied and asked for water. Sheng Li turned to the table and filled the glass from the water. Handing it to Ying Lili, he told her to drink. Ying Lili drank the water and then handed the glass to Sheng Li who put it on the table.

"Take rest," Sheng Li replied.

"It is not the time to take a rest. I want to find the real culprit and kill him," Ying Lili said with an exasperated expression.

"You do not need to look into that. Your aunt has nothing to do with it. Lei Wanxi had sent someone there to find out if your aunt was planning something evil like your uncle but she did not. Your mother was happy after receiving your letter. So, it was the Empress who planned this. There is something which your mother has sent for you." Sheng Li got down from the bed and went to the end table.

He came back to Ying Lili and handed her the scroll, which her mother had written a night before her death. Ying Lili took the scroll and opened it.

"Dear An-Lili,

Your mother is glad to know that you have adjusted yourself in the Palace and the Crown Prince is good to you. Your father was right then that they will take care of you. There is this young woman who is sent by Prince Lei Wanxi, Wu Qinyang. She handed me another message from Prince Lei Wanxi about you and the Crown Prince. After reading the message I am fully relaxed.

An-Lili, that day things happened so fast that your mother could not tell you what marriage means to a woman! I could not even give my blessings to you both. But they are always with you two.

Now, you are married, which means you have a responsibility towards your husband and in-laws. My daughter is smart but still as a mother it is my duty to tell her about the pious meaning of marriage.

'Two bodies and one soul' - just keep these words in mind. It tells the entire meaning of the marriage. The rest my daughter knows. I am thinking of coming to Luoyang to shower my blessings on you two.

Do not worry about me as I am doing well here. Your father's memories are with me which have kept me strong and alive. There are many things I want to write in this letter but cannot.

At last, I would only say that your father, mother, and entire Juyan are proud of you. I wish you two all the happiness in this world.

Your mother."

Tears poured down Ying Lili's eyes then she swiftly wiped them off. Sheng Li patted on Ying Lili's head. "Here, this is another thing your mother has sent." Sheng Li showed the ring box to Ying Lili, which she took. 

"She made this design with the best goldsmith of Juyan especially for me and my future husband," Ying Lili said in a low voice.

"Then we must wear them," Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili's misty eyes met Sheng Li's gaze and nodded. She opened the ring box and handed one ring to Sheng Li.

The two exchanged rings with each other. "It looks good." Sheng Li looked at his ring finger and then at Ying Lili. "Weng Wei made you cry and I will make her shed tears of blood. It will take time, but I will surely do it," Sheng Li affirmed.

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