Sheng Li had lit the oil lamps inside the lanterns. The porch was illuminated with red lanterns. Ying Lili was still on the stool, waiting for Sheng Li to sit. As soon as he was done, he came to Ying Lili and sat opposite her, facing her. "Aren't we going to play a board game?" Sheng Li queried.

Ying Lili shook her head. "I have changed my mind. We will have our dinner first and then we will drink," Ying Lili pronounced. She called Xing-Fu and told him to send the dinner for them.

Sheng Li opened the lid of the jar and smelled the wine. "It is a strong one," Sheng Li lifted his eyes and looked at Ying Lili, "Are you planning to get drunk?"

"No. Brother Wanxi told me that you like this wine. Last time I had wine with you, which was stronger than this. I will not get drunk this time," Ying Lili confidently replied. The maidservants came there and served them dinner. Tasting the food, they told the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess to start.

"Leave us," Sheng Li told the maidservants. He picked the chopstick and placed a few slices of cooked meat on Ying Lili's plate. "Eat," He said and also put the rice bowl and soup bowl in front of her. She started eating, followed by Sheng Li.

"I found the same painting of mine in your chamber. Did you ask the Royal Painter to make two paintings?" Ying Lili questioned him.

"Yes. I also needed one," Sheng Li answered and picked the boiled beans. He ate them and looked at Ying Lili. "You shall eat beans too. It will increase your immunity," Sheng Li affirmed.

"I do not like them. The taste of my mouth vanishes after eating them," Ying Lili's answer made Sheng Li laugh. She used to sometimes act like a child. He used to think he was picky about the food, but then he found Ying Lili who was more than him.

Soon they finished their meals, and the maidservants cleaned the table, taking away the utensils. Sheng Li grabbed the wine jar and poured the drinks for them. Handing one cup to Ying Lili, he picked the other and touched it with hers.

Holding the cup with both hands, Ying Lili lifted it. She brought her palm closer to her mouth and drank the wine.

"You do not need to be graceful while drinking in front of your husband," Sheng Li proclaimed and filled the cups again.

"Your birthday month is approaching," Sheng Li stated. "Rainy Season will start probably in the next two weeks," he asserted.

"Hmm." She recalled Sheng Li would leave the Palace in a few days. She could not even stop him as it was important to kill the main conspirator before he would get stronger. "You promised that you would return before my birthday. I will wait for you," Ying Lili said in a low voice.

"I will. Just look after the Empire. Xiao Zhan will be here along with the other commanders. Wang Hao and I will go secretly on this mission," Sheng Li asserted.

"You shall take Hu Jingguo with you. Do not refuse. Your wife will be worried here," Ying Lili affirmed and sipped the wine.

"Taking him with us will lessen your worries?" Sheng Li raised his eyebrow and amusingly peered at her.

"Yes. I know he is not as strong as you and General Wang, but he might be helpful if you or General Wang get injured," Ying Lili suggested to him. Sheng Li gulped the wine and filled the cup again. "I will tell him to accompany us then," Sheng Li asserted.

There was complete silence between them. Sheng Li should not have talked about this as it only worried Ying Lili. But he could not help it. Other than him, no one could put an end to this. He knew Ying Lili's worries as a wife, but as the Crown Prince, it was his duty to prevent the Han Family and the Empire from such evils.

"Sheng Li, first you shall confirm everything. Do not take decisions in a hassle," Ying Lili advised him. This time she picked the jar and poured the wines into their respective cups. "Don't worry about the Palace. My ears and eyes will always be open. You are right that someone is needed in the Capital and other than me no one is better. Though I know Capital will be safe, however, if anything happens, I will be ready to fight with it," Ying Lili supported Sheng Li's decision and encouraged him.

Sheng Li smiled and sipped the wine. "I will miss you. You have become my habit," Sheng Li stated. His left hand grasped Ying Lili's left hand which was resting on the table. "I will leave as early as possible, probably in one or two days," Sheng Li stated.

Ying Lili stared into his eyes. "It means it is probably our last night together before your departure." Sheng Li told Ying Lili to come towards him. Ying Lili stood up and went near him. He pulled her down and made her sit on his thigh. Ying Lili's left hand was on his shoulder while with the right she was holding the cup.

"Your husband is not a commoner. That's why, unlike them, he cannot enjoy his life every time. He has to take care of everyone around him. Since Tan Gengxin is raising an army against the Han Empire, without any delay I need to go and kill him before he creates any kind of plunder in the villages or cities or the provinces of the Empire," Sheng Li proclaimed.

"I know. What can I do? Even if I am physically present here, my heart will always be with you. Until you return safely, I will only be worried. I cannot help it," Ying Lili whispered and kissed the middle of his forehead. She put down the cup on the table and encircled her both arms around him.

"Now, I can understand the feelings of every warrior's wife on the battlefield. They all pray for the safety of their husbands. But with a brave heart, they send them away," Ying Lili asserted, keeping a tiny smile on her lips.

"Even I realized all this after you came into my life. Many of my soldiers had lost their lives during the battles. It must be difficult for their families, surviving without them. As the Crown Prince, I failed to understand all this earlier," Sheng Li affirmed and heaved a sigh. "This is the last enemy in the Empire. After this, I will probably never go into such missions," Sheng Li stated.

He brought the cup closer to his mouth and drank the remaining wine from it. Placing it on the table, he wrapped his arms around Ying Lili's waist. "Leave it aside. This evening is not to worry about all this. Such things come and go in life," Sheng Li stroked her hair and took a few hair strands in his fingers.

The two look intently into each other's eyes. "Let's go in. It's getting cold outside," Ying Lili stood up when she was pulled back, landing on Sheng Li's lap. She curled her fingers on his robes and felt Sheng Li's lips on hers. The taste of wine they just had, seemed sweeter to Sheng Li while exploring Ying Lili's mouth. They parted only to gasp for air when their lips again crashed against each other.

Sheng Li left her lips swollen. He trailed the kisses on Ying Lili's jawline and removed her upper jacket. He kissed her neck, sometimes would nibble the skin only to leave red marks behind. Ying Lili was moaning while her hands were roaming in the hair of Sheng Li.

He stood up, carrying her in his arms, and dashed inside the chamber. The golden lights of the flickering oil lamps had illuminated the chamber. He placed her gently on the bed. Ying Lili removed the overcoat, followed by the head accessories. "You are not drunk, right?" Sheng Li asked her while helping her remove the crown.

"No," Ying Lili replied, and pulled him into a kiss. Sheng Li felt the tears on his cheeks and he pushed her back, gently. "What happened? Why are you crying?" Sheng Li questioned him, wiping the tears.

He cupped her face between his palms and told her to look into his eyes. She shook her head and buried her head in his chest. "I am worried. I do not know, why?" He heard her.