I Believe Her
After blowing the candles, Ying Lili went to the other end of the bed, which was at the center, and pulled the curtains down so that Sheng Li could not see her. She undid her dress and quickly wore the white Hanfu dress. Once she was done, she came towards Sheng Li. "I am done. You shall change too," Ying Lili asserted. Sheng Li turned to look at Ying Lili and looked at her from head to toe.
"What shall I do with my face? Other maids will recognize me," Ying Lili worriedly said.
"First tie your hair to a bun. I will tell you then," Sheng Li stated. He went to the other side of the chamber and changed his clothes. Ying Lili went towards the dressing table and picked up the comb. She was combing her hair when she saw the reflection of Sheng Li in the mirror. Sheng Li was undressing when she turned her gaze away and closed her eyes.
Sheng Li had worn black-colored robes, which were generally worn by spies. He tied a black headband around his forehead and came towards Ying Lili. "You did not tie your hair," Sheng Li said when Ying Lili opened her eyes.
She tilted her head to look at him and saw he was ready. "I-I was doing," Ying Lili replied as she put the comb down at the table. Tying her hair into a bun, she kept it on the place using a hairpin when Sheng Li stopped her.
"Do not use a silver hairpin," Sheng Li told Ying Lili. "I gave you that commoner's hairpin the other day. Use that," he suggested. Ying Lili opened the drawer and took out the hairpin, which was made of metal. She used that and then turned to Sheng Li.
The Crown Prince stepped closer to Ying Lili who had a white silk fabric in his hand. He tied it around Ying Lili's face such that it covered her nose and mouth. "Won't they suspect me more?" Ying Lili asked Sheng Li as she pulled the fabric down.
Sheng Li flicked at Ying Lili's forehead. "Ouch," Ying Lili touched her forehead.
"Just tell them there is a giant mole near your lips which makes you look not so beautiful or tell them that you have got many pimples there," Sheng Li told Ying Lili as he tied the silk fabric again around her face. Ying Lili was staring at him while he was saying
Sheng Li immediately stepped back and looked away. "Grab the dagger that I gifted you earlier and follow me," Sheng Li told Ying Lili. Ying Lili went to the table and picked the dagger from there.
"Let's go," Ying Lili told Sheng Li who nodded, and the two walked out from there. Using the secret route, they soon met Xiao Zhan who was waiting for them, and Wang Hao as well. Wang Hao formally greeted the Crown Princess and asked her how she was doing.
"Of course she is doing fine. The one who was not doing well was me," Sheng Li said in a bit of sarcasm. Wang Hao smiled slightly seeing how the Crown Prince got annoyed. "Leave it. You told me that you will be there then what are you doing here?" Sheng Li queried Wang Hao.
"Your highness, I am here to inform you about something. I think the Prime Minister is cautious after the poisoning incident. He has increased the security in the residence mainly at the entrance and even at the backyard of the residence. The soldiers appointed are specially trained so we need to be extra careful especially the Crown Princess," Wang Hao stated and then looked at the Crown Princess.
"Let's not underestimate the Crown Princess," Sheng Li asserted and looked at Ying Lili. "She saved me the other day so, I believe her," he affirmed.
"I have done nothing like this before, but I will do my best," Ying Lili proclaimed.
Wang Hao nodded. "Your highness, this is your sword," Wang Hao said. Sheng Li grabbed it and they started walking. Ying Lili found that today they were moving to a completely different path than the one they had taken for the forest the other day. Soon they were out of that tunnel. Ying Lili looked around and found that they were near some forest.
"Your highness, this route is opened near the same forest but this time we are not uphill but downhill. All the residences of the court ministers could be seen from here. This region has been restricted for everyone." Xiao Zhan cleared the confusion in Ying Lili's mind.
Sheng Li walked ahead while the three of them followed him. After a few meters, they reached the dead end. Sheng Li extended his hand out. "The biggest residence is of the Prime Minister and is isolated from the others. The entrance you can see from here, right?" Sheng Li asked Ying Lili who nodded.
"I will wait for you outside the chamber of the Prime Minister," Sheng Li told Ying Lili who was startled.
"But you said that men are not allowed there," Ying Lili asserted.
"Indeed, men are not allowed there, but it does not mean that I cannot sneak there. Complete your work in thirty minutes because after every thirty minutes an inspector comes there to check on the maidservants and he is the most loyal person to the Prime Minister," Sheng Li answered to Ying Lili.
"Let's go then," Sheng Li stated and turned to go to the other side. Because no stairs were constructed on a sloppy hill, which they had to negotiate, Ying Lili found it difficult to descend it. Sheng Li noticed and told Ying Lili to grip his arm. Ying Lili did so and in a few minutes, they overcame that slope.
"Why do you not construct some stairs there?" Ying Lili asked Sheng Li.
"Because I do not want anyone to find out that we use this path," Sheng Li replied. "I will not give you a helping hand next time. If you want to get close to me, then you have to learn all these things. That's the only way you can be the woman of my desires!" Sheng Li proclaimed.
Wang Hao and Xiao Zhan, who were following the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, were smiling upon hearing their conversation. "General Wang, the Crown Prince has gotten close to the Crown Princess. The way her highness saved the Crown Prince, has impressed him. Finally, the gentle side of the Crown Prince is coming out," Xiao Zhan whispered and smiled.
"Yes. But I wonder if the Crown Prince will let the Crown Princess know his heart," Wang Hao worriedly said as he looked at the Crown Prince who was smiling while talking to the Crown Princess.