Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Sheng Li came out of the chamber. "How is the Princess?" Shi Zhihao asked her.

"Prince Shi, please follow me to my private chamber. I need to talk to you about something important," Sheng Li asserted and walked ahead. Shi Zhihao followed the Emperor while Wang Hao and Xiao Zhan followed them.

The maidservant had already cleaned the table, and seeing the Emperor, she bowed.

"Leave," Sheng Li commanded her.

Shi Zhihao and the two Generals stopped behind Sheng Li, who sat on the chaise.

"What happened, Your Majesty?" Shi Zhihao asked Sheng Li.

"I will not hide anything from Prince Shi. Princess Bai Yaling is pregnant with the child of my late second brother," Sheng Li informed him.

Shi Zhihao was shocked to hear it. He did not know what to say at this time. Seeing him silent, Sheng Li understood that he was bewildered to hear this news.

"Xiao, escort the Prince to his chamber," Sheng Li commanded him. He came forward and took Shi Zhihao with him. Wang Hao stepped up and asked Sheng Li what he was thinking.

"Princess Bai is pregnant with the child of her late husband. Do you know what it means? Consort Ju Fen will never let her marry now. Even earlier, she was claiming her right over the child of Princess Bai," Sheng Li pronounced.

"Prince Shi will marry her, I feel, Your Majesty. Also, Consort Ju Fen cannot defy the order of the former Emperor," Wang Hao argued.

"Now, it's up to Princess Bai Yaling whether she wants to marry or not. I cannot force her in any way," Sheng Li asserted. "You shall go home. Meet the daughter of the Prime Minister tomorrow and get married soon. Your father will be happy," he advised him.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It was fun today. Thank you for taking out the time for this," Wang Hao stated. Sheng Li hummed. Wang Hao left the chamber while Sheng Li left for his chamber.

He reached his chamber. "Your Majesty, the Empress is still sleeping," Xing-Fu informed him, who was outside the chamber.

"What about the Court Ladies?" Sheng Li queried him.

"They are inside, Your Majesty," replied Xing-Fu.

Sheng Li stepped in and told the Court Ladies to leave them alone. Both the Court ladies and a few maidservants walked out of the chamber. Sheng Li gently pushed away the curtains which were hanging around the bedpost and sat down on the mattress. He stroked the hair of Ying Lili and kissed her on the middle of her forehead.

He leaned back and sat straight. His eyes fell on her hands which rested on her belly. He put his hands on them and caressed them. He admired her internally. His heartbeats started to rise, and his lips moved up into a smile. "The Mid-Autumn Festival is near. I have planned something for you. I know that you will like it," Sheng Li told her and brought her one hand closer to his mouth. He kissed her knuckles and rested her hand back on her belly.

He moved away and got down from the bed. Looking at the table, he saw a painting of them. He picked the sheet and moved his hand over it. "How could she picture so beautifully? She is perfect in everything," he murmured and smiled upon looking at the painting. Ying Lili had diverted her attention to painting and music at this time.

He put the sheet down. He saw that the sheets, the paintbrush, and colors were still on the bed. He looked back and found that Ying Lili was still sleeping. Pulling a chair out, he picked the brush and started to paint on the other sheet.

Sheng Li thought to copy the exact same painting that Ying Lili had drawn. He dipped the brush a little in the black paint and applied a few strokes on the sheet. After fifteen minutes, he checked it and found that he ended up ruining Ying Lili's face. He put his hand on his nape and let out a sigh. Crumbling the sheet, he threw it on the floor. "I will try one more time," he murmured and got focused on it.

Ying Lili awoke from sleep and found Sheng Li on the chair. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. Moving the blanket away, she put her feet down on the floor and walked to him. She stood behind Sheng Li and smiled upon seeing the way he was drawing.

"Ahh, it's so tough. It is tougher than going to war," Sheng Li murmured as he put the brush down. "I cannot slack off. What if my kids ask me to paint? I cannot tell them that I do not know how to paint. When I can master archery in six months, then I can master in art too," Sheng Li told himself and again picked the brush. He was going to make eyes when Ying Lili grabbed his hand.

"Lili," he whispered her name.

"Then I will tell our kids that their father is good at other things. It is not necessary to be perfect in everything," Ying Lili told him. She took the brush from him and kept it on the brush stand.

"But I want to learn, Lili. I feel that art is the best way to express your love, your feelings for particular things. Look at the painting made by you. I can feel the energy in it. It makes my heart race. The way you are looking at me and the way I am looking at you. This bright moonlight, this dark sky where you first asked me to let you love me. A painting makes you remember those moments which we forget as time passes. Even the smallest moment with your loved ones gets revived upon seeing such a painting," Sheng Li explained to her and gently pulled her down so that she would sit on his lap.

"You shall not tire yourself," he said worriedly and ran the back of his pointer finger down her nose.

"But I am not tired," she said.

"You need to be careful," Sheng Li stated.

"You are more caring towards me than I am towards me," Ying Lili said and moved her hands behind his neck. She locked them and tilted her head.

"I have to be. Nine months is very crucial for you and our twins," Sheng Li proclaimed.

"I know. I have started to be careful," Ying Lili told him and kissed his cheek. She touched her nose with his and smiled.

"I am eagerly waiting for them," Ying Lili said and hugged him tightly. "Sheng Li, I am so excited to see them. It is such a sweet feeling," she murmured. Sheng Li rested his hand on her back and drew her close.

They stayed in that position, for a while before Ying Lili gradually pulled away. She stood up, and so did Sheng Li.

"Lili, Princess Bai Yaling is pregnant. Earlier she fainted while conversing with Prince Shi Zhihao," Sheng Li informed her.

"Then?"

"I do not know whether Prince Shi will agree to marry her or not," Sheng Li expressed his concern over that matter.

"Consort Ju will not let her marry. She will claim the rights to the child of Princess Bai Yaling," Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili knitted her brows.

"She is no one to decide on the life of Princess Bai. Also, why will she claim her right over the child of Sister Bai? I will not let this happen. Sheng Li, I want to meet the Princess.. Take me there," Ying Lili requested him.