By the afternoon, the offering gifts event was ended. The crown prince and the crown princess went to the Royal Dining Hall to attend the feast. As they were walking to the Northern block of the palace, Ying Lili started feeling pain in her head. It was because of the lack of sleep last night. She had to prepare the perfume for the crown prince as a gift and then had to practice the dance performances as well. She touched her forehead when Sheng Li glanced at her and asked her if she was fine.

"Yes, I am fine," Ying Lili replied and gave him a tiny smile.

"It is tiring to be the nation's crown princess. The feast will take time to start. Till then come with me," Sheng Li asserted and halted at his place. Hearing him, Ying Lili stopped as well. "Where are you taking me to?" Ying Lili exuberantly asked.

"Umm... I will tell you later when we will be there. Just tell me if you want to go there or not?" Sheng Li demanded an answer.

Ying Lili gave a nod. "I want to go. You are not killing me, right?" Ying Lili was skeptical. Sheng Li grimaced. "You always gave me contradictory answers. I know we are great enemies of each other but, I will not kill you that easily," Sheng Li pronounced, keeping the smile on his lips.

"Okay, let's go. But, is the place far away from here? We have to attend the feast as well," Ying Lili stated.

"We will arrive on time," Sheng Li assured Ying Lili who shook her head in agreement and told him that they should leave then. Sheng Li nodded. He turned back and looked at Xing-Fu. "I am going out with the crown princess out for some time. Make sure to delay the feast for three hours else you will be punished," Sheng Li commanded.

"Your highness, how can I do that?" Xing-Fu was bewildered hearing the order of the crown prince.

"Why are you delaying the feast? You said that we will return soon. Is the place that far?" Ying Lili queried the crown prince.

"I have changed my mind, now. Do not raise a question on my order," Sheng Li proclaimed and kept his gaze intact at Xing-Fu.

"Yes, your highness. Shall I prepare…"

Sheng Li cut his words in the middle. "No. You do not need to prepare anything. Just handle this matter. We will return in the three hours," asserted Sheng Li. Xing-Fu bowed his head and accepted the order of the crown prince.

"Follow me," Sheng Li told Ying Lili who nodded and walked behind Sheng Li. They reached the stable. "We are taking the horses? Is the place that far?" Ying Lili was inquisitive.

"But we are taking only one horse," Sheng Li pronounced.

"I am not going to sit with you," Ying Lili protested. Sheng Li chuckled. "Who said you will sit with me?" Sheng Li muttered. Ying Lili did not hear him and asked him what he was saying.

"Nothing," Sheng Li replied and told the Stableman to bring his horse to him. The Stableman bowed his head and walked inside. The Stableman brought a black-colored horse which was gifted by Han Wenji to Sheng Li three years ago when he was in a military campaign. Sheng Li moved his hand over the face of the horse.

"This is Kōngqì," Sheng Li introduced his horse to Ying Lili, who smiled.

"You named it on 'air'!" Ying Lili was astonished. "May I ask why?" Ying Lili questioned.

"Because he runs extremely fast. He was with me in every war and is my best friend," Sheng Li pronounced. Ying Lili shook her head and twitched her lips. Taking a step towards Kōngqì, Ying Lili patted it lovingly. "How come you befriended this mighty man?" Ying Lili with a touch of sarcasm said. Sheng Li noticed that Kōngqì was calm to the touch of Ying Lili.

"Kōngqì, you never let other people touch you except me. Then, how come you are so calm?" Sheng Li turned his eyes to Ying Lili who looked at him. Sheng Li then wrapped one hand around her waist.

Ying Lili placed her hand over Sheng Li when he moved closer to her. "Would you like to sit on my horse or would you prefer to walk?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili who blinked her eyes.

"I can take the other horse. I am good at horse riding," Ying Lili replied, gazing into the icy cold eyes of Sheng Li.

"Only one horse we can take. So, choose one of the options. Do you want to sit with me or do you want to walk… no, not walk but run as Kōngqì is going to run fast," Sheng Li's smug expression gave chills to Ying Lili.

"Then go by yourself if you do not want me to take the other horse," Ying Lili snapped at Sheng Li who ended up laughing. Controlling his laugh, the crown prince said, "I understand that my wild cat wants to sit with me on the horse." Before Ying Lili's reflex act, she was dragged to the left of Kōngqì and was carried up.

"Do not stare at me, wild cat. Put your foot on the stirrup else I'll throw you," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili put her foot in the stirrup and sat on the horseback. After that, Sheng Li sat behind her on the horse and stretched the reigns on it lightly. The horse started moving. Ying Lili felt the breath of Sheng Li on her ear and it made her nervous.

"Isn't it uncomfortable like this?" Ying Lili asked Sheng Li and glanced at him. She found Sheng Li was intensely looking at her. "No, it is completely fine. You are the first one whom I let sit on Kōngqì," Sheng Li pronounced. Ying Lili turned to look at him. "Because Kōngqì knows that I am a good person," Ying Lili stated.

Sheng Li grimaced and spoke, "Or is it because you are my crown princess?" Ying Lili widened her eyes and gulped.

~~~~

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