"Do you not want to have lunch? We have been sitting like this for two hours," Sheng Li said, tilting his head towards Ying Lili who raised her head and looked at him.

"You don't enjoy spending time with your wife?" Ying Lili asked.

Sheng Li smiled and lifted his hand. He picked the plum blossom flower's petal from her head. "Indeed, I enjoy spending time with you, but I have to balance everything. I cannot let us skip our meals because of this. And, then I am thinking of going to the market with you," asserted Sheng Li.

Hearing the name of the market, Ying Lili's eyes glistened up. She sat up straight and turned to Sheng Li. "But you said that people might get suspicious of us," Ying Lili stated.

"Hmm. I need to check something outside. So, you and I have to go outside. I have found out something about the Lǎohǔ group and its leader. Wang Hao and Xiao Zhan had done their work in the morning but now only we can do the remaining work," Sheng Li pronounced. Ying Lili nodded and asked the Crown Prince to tell her about the Lǎohǔ group.

"Sun Lǎohǔ is the man who has founded this group. Earlier Wang Hao had informed me that the Ju family is involved with these sudden uprisings of the peasants. This is kind of complex to understand. The information given to the Emperor was wrong. The peasants are forced to join him and rebel against the Han Empire. Sun Lǎohǔ wants an

independent province to rule and this for him."

Sheng Li explained to Ying Lili who drew her brows together.

"So, he wants the ruling power over this province. Generally, it happens. Han is such a big Empire and as I told you the functioning of the Empire is not that great. A reformation is needed. Efficient bureaucrats, ministers, and governors are required to handle everything. The fault is of the Governor as well because he did not keep a check on all this," Ying Lili opined. "What do you think we are going to tackle?" Ying Lili, with an inquisitiveness, looked at the Crown Prince.

"I have thought of this plan. I need to learn the Hand Knife Game to enter for the second game," Sheng Li stated.

"There is a second game as well?!" Ying Lili queried with astonishment.

Sheng Li nodded and further said, "A sword fighting game with his best swordsmen to get an entry into Lǎohǔ group. I will pass these two games and then enter there. I will not kill him right away but I need to find first how did he start all this? Earlier I thought to take Hu Jingguo with me but then he can get hurt or in a worse situation can die too. Wang Hao and Xiao Zhan also need some time to learn this game but then I do not have that much time because the Capital also needs me," Sheng Li pronounced.

"We talked about this earlier, and then I told you that you can get hurt as well. If the opponent is that strong, then you shall take me with you. Don't go alone there. Don't take me as a woman in this situation but as a warrior," Ying Lili asserted.

"Taking you is not even an option," Sheng Li affirmed. "You are right, Lili, but I am making the decision as to the Crown Prince, which is favorable and desirable. Now, don't argue with me over this." Sheng Li rested his words and stood up from the grassy ground. He extended his hand towards Ying Lili who placed her hand gently over his.

Sheng Li pulled Ying Lili up. "I am also making the decision as to the Crown Princess. I do not want the Crown Prince to go alone there. Sheng Li, it will worry me out if I let you go there alone," said Ying Lili concernedly.

"I have been to 20 wars till now, but nothing happened to me. Those wars were far more dangerous than this mission. Nothing will happen to me," Sheng Li stated and placed his palm over Ying Lili's right cheek as he caressed it gently.

"I can kill Sun Lǎohǔ without even entering that group." Ying Lili was amused to hear that. "But then I cannot do that because I need to know the root cause of his uprising," he added.

Ying Lili nodded. "I understand, but as a wife, it will only concern me. At least going with you will assure me that you are alright," Ying Lili stated.

Sheng Li looked into Ying Lili's eyes for a while. "Lili, with this face of yours I cannot take you there. If I get caught, then I have a hundred ways to come out safely from there, but if you get caught there, then I have only one way to come out from there. If you truly want to support me, then go with my decision," Sheng Li pronounced.

Ying Lili nodded and passed a tiny smile to Sheng Li who put his hand down and then stepped back. "Let's get out of this garden then," Sheng Li asserted and walked ahead. Ying Lili followed him up, and the two soon reached their chamber.

The lunch table was set for them. The two did their lunch and then got ready to leave for the market.

"What do we need to do in the market?" Ying Lili asked.

"Some general inquiries," Sheng Li replied as he tied the knot of the veiled hat under Ying Lili's chin.

"I will be around you, your highness," Wang Hao said. Sheng Li nodded as he wore the conical hat. They left for the market.

While crossing the forest, Ying Lili asked, "General Wang, where did you go with General Xiao in the morning?"

"Your highness, to search about the Lǎohǔ group," Wang Hao replied. He saw that the Crown Prince was quite ahead of them so he thought to tell the Crown Princess. "Your highness, last night Sun Lǎohǔ was punishing a man and his child in the middle of the market but his highness saved them. He had not even taken us with him and went out all alone. Xiao and I gathered the information about that person and his child. As per the orders of the Crown Prince we sent them safely away from this village," General Wang informed everything to the Crown Princess.

"He did not tell me this. That's why he made me drink that wine because he knew I would also insist on going with him," Ying Lili thought.

"Is Sun Lǎohǔ dangerous? I mean, if he can be a threat to Sheng Li, General Wang?" Ying Lili asked.

"I do not think so. His highness is far more skilled than him," Wang Hao replied.

"Why did you tell me all this? I know Sheng Li might have ordered not to tell me," Ying Lili asserted.

"Because I want you to not let his highness go alone to that place, your highness. Indeed, his highness warfare skills are not a match to anyone but as the General, I am still afraid of his safety," Wang Hao told Ying Lili who agreed with him. Before she could ask further, Sheng Li turned back and called out their names.

"Why are you two walking so slowly?" Sheng Li frowned.

Ying Lili and Wang Hao hastened their steps and reached near Sheng Li who grabbed Ying Lili's hand. "Let's go," he said and then turned to the front. They started walking while General Wang followed them up.