Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

"Leave my robe, first," Sheng Li told the little girl when he recalled Ying Lili's scolding. He had to be gentle around kids. Moreover, he had to learn how to be good around kids as he would soon be the father of two children.

Sheng Li got on his knees and gently grabbed the arms of the young girl. "What do you want?" Sheng Li asked her.

"I got lost in the market. I want to go to my mother," the little girl told Sheng Li, who hummed.

"Can you tell me where exactly you lost sight of your mother?" Sheng Li asked as he wiped her cheeks.

"In the market, near the toy shop," the little girl answered. Sheng Li stood up when the girl held his index finger tightly. Sheng Li smiled for an unknown reason. He was usually angry around kids, but after Ying Lili's pregnancy, he became gentler and calmer towards them.

'My one girl would be like her,' Sheng Li thought and ended up smiling. 'What if I have two girls?' he giggled and the people, who were walking past him, gazed at him weirdly.

"Uncle, let's go," the little girl said and she shook Sheng Li's hand, whose finger she had held.

"Sure," Sheng Li said and they started to walk towards the main market. He asked the little girl how she got separated from her mother.

"I was looking at the sweet shop while my mother was buying some carrots. Wh-when I turned back, my mother was not at that place. I ran around but Mother was not around Uncle," the young girl said as tears again appeared in her eyes.

"No worries. This uncle will find your mother," Sheng Li said and the two soon reached the place from where the little girl got separated from her mother. Sheng Li asked a few but hardly anyone had noticed the girl with her mother.

Sheng Li could not even find the carrot seller and looked at the girl, who was on the verge of crying. He carried her up in his arms. He made her sit on his arm while securely putting his other arm around her.

"What's your name?" Sheng Li asked her.

"Yunxi," the little girl replied as she brought her calloused hands near her eyes. "I need to go to Mother," Yunxi said and started crying.

Sheng Li found himself in a dilemma. People looked at Sheng Li, which made him nervous since he did not want to grab unwanted attention. If it was this tough, then Sheng Li would not have tried to help this girl.

"Yunxi, do not cry," Sheng Li tried to make her quiet. "Do you know what kind of people cry?" He asked her.

Yunxi stopped crying as she slightly put her hands down. She shook her head while sobbing.

"People who get scared easily. Are you scared? Do you think we will not find your mother?" Sheng Li asked her while caressing her arm.

Yunxi was calmed after hearing Sheng Li's words. "I-I am not scared, Uncle," Yunxi said and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her cheeks had turned red because of weeping. Sheng Li wiped the tears using his thumb and praised her for her courage.

"Tell me where do you live?" Sheng Li asked her.

"I do not remember the path, Uncle," Yunxi answered.

"Hmm." Sheng Li contemplated for a few minutes and then asked Yunxi if she could draw the place where she lived with her family.

Yunxi nodded her head.

"That's great," Sheng Li said and brought her to the rest house where he thought to provide help through the Generals and the Commanders.

The little girl looked around and wondered where she had entered. She asked Sheng Li about it.

"I am a traveler. I am here with a few of my friends, who will help you to search for your mother," Sheng Li stated as he ascended the stairs to reach the second floor.

He reached outside the room, where he and Jian Guozhi were staying. He knocked at the door when it opened. Xiao Zhan almost addressed him as His Majesty but stopped seeing a little girl in Sheng Li's arms.

He walked in and found Jian Guozhi and Zhe Yan in the room.

"This is Yunxi. She got separated from her mother in the market," Sheng Li told them.

"I know Yunxi. I have seen her in the locality where we middle section people live," Zhe Yan said and glanced at Yunxi.

Sheng Li was delighted to hear about it and put Yunxi down. He made her stand on the floor and asked her if she knew about Zhe Yan.

Yunxi turned to look at him and shook her head.

Sheng Li and others looked at Zhe Yan in skepticism.

"But I have seen Yunxi many times, Your Maj—" Zhe Yan paused as Sheng Li gestured to him to not say. He pressed his lips tightly and waited for Sheng Li to speak.

"Yunxi, this brother is from the same locality, where you live," Sheng Li told her and placed his palm over her head.

Yunxi turned to look at Sheng Li. "But uncle, I never saw this Brother," she said in her soft tone.

"You are such a young kid. Zhe Yan will take you home to your mother," Jian Guozhi finally intervened. Zhe Yan nodded his head as he was willing to take Yunxi with him.

"I will take Yunxi to her house. Zhe Yan can lead the way," Sheng Li affirmed as he caressed the head of the little girl. "Yunxi trusts me more," he said.

"Uncle, I am thirsty. Can you give me water?" Yunxi asked when Sheng Li gazed at Xiao Zhan, who swiftly moved to the end table. He filled the porcelain cup with water and handed it to Sheng Li, who brought it near Yunxi's mouth.

Yunxi opened her mouth and put her fingers around the cup. She drank the water and her thirst quenched. Sheng Li wiped her lips with his thumb and asked her if she was hungry.

Yunxi nodded her head. "I am hungry. Will uncle give me some sweets? Mother didn't have enough money to buy sweets as they are expensive."

This was the reason, Sheng Li asked her. Earlier, when she told him that she had her gaze on the sweet shop, he realized that Yunxi must be wanting to eat sweets.

"Xiao, did you hear? Yunxi wants to eat sweets. Bring them for her," Sheng Li ordered Xiao Zhan, who bowed and walked out of the room.

~~~~~

After Yunxi ate the entire bowl of sweets, Sheng Li asked her if she wanted to eat something else, but she refused.

"My stomach is full," Yunxi said as she rested her small hand on her belly.

Jian Guozhi and Xiao Zhan found that Sheng Li looked very serene. The reason they knew and it indeed made them happy. Indeed, Fatherhood changed a man as a person and it was visible in Sheng Li.

"Yunxi, uncle will teach you a good thing. Keep this in mind always," Sheng Li said with a smile and then showed her his pinky finger.

"Make a promise with this uncle that you will always implement this in your life," Sheng Li told her.

Yunxi raises her right hand and joined her pinky finger with Sheng Li's finger. They made a promise when she heard him say, "Yunxi, you must not follow any stranger. People are not good. You must not drink the water or food given by anyone. Not everyone is like us. Some are scary people and they might want to harm you."

Yunxi, being a young girl, understood a few things, but she was unable to understand why some would harm her. She was a young kid.

"Uncle, but I have nothing. I do not have money. No one will harm me," Yunxi stated, with her innocent gaze.

"Yunxi, some uncles are scary," Sheng Li said. "They may sell you and then you will turn into a servant. Did you understand my words?" Sheng Li asked her.

Yunxi was terrified to hear it. "I will not trust anyone, Uncle. I promise," she said and they pulled their respective hands back.

"You are a good girl, Yunxi. Let's go to your house. Your mother must be worried for you," Sheng Li said and helped Yunxi from stepping down the chair. He held her hand and told Zhe Yan to show them the way.

"I will prepare the carriage." Xiao Zhan kept his tone formal.

"That is not needed," Sheng Li said. "First Brother, do you want to accompany me?" He asked him, who agreed.

"Xiao, stay here. We will be back soon," Sheng Li told him and left the place with Jian Guozhi.

Zhe Yan asked Sheng Li if he would be able to walk since the route was long.

"What do you take me for?" Sheng Li found that Zhe Yan was challenging him.

"I was only worried about the—" he looked at Yunxi and paused.

"Don't underestimate me. I can walk better than you," Sheng Li affirmed and carried Yunxi in his arms.