Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

"Is it necessary? The Temple is far away? Also, your feet will bruise badly." Ying Lili was not ready to go with Sheng Li to the temple.

"I have told the Lord Buddha that if we both get blessed with a baby boy and a girl, then I will carry you in my arms bare feet to the temple. I cannot take back my words," Sheng Li pronounced and looked at Yīnghuā and Lóng Jingguo, who was sleeping peacefully on the swings.

"Father and mother will return soon," Sheng Li told them and turned to look at Court Lady Xu. "Don't let your eyes get away even for a second. Xing-Fu, stay here and assist Court Lady Xu," he commanded them, and the two bowed.

Sheng Li held Ying Lili's hand and brought her out of the chamber.

"Sheng Li, it's early summertime. Your feet will be wounded badly. I don't want it." Ying Lili still wasn't ready to go to the Buddhist temple.

"Sister Lili, don't worry. Brother Zemin and I have made the arrangements for Brother Sheng." Suddenly they heard Lei Wanxi's voice, who came with Rong Zemin towards them.

They both greeted them. "Sister Lili, we are happy to see you after a month. It is said that after a woman becomes a mother, her glow definitely enhances. We can see it on her face," Rong Zemin opined.

"What about a father's face? Do I look more handsome?" Sheng Li asked with excitement.

"Brother Sheng cannot look more handsome than me. Am I right, Sister Lili?" Lei Wanxi asked.

Ying Lili nodded at him. "Indeed, no one can defeat Brother Wanxi in terms of looks," she complimented him. Sheng Li gaped at Ying Lili.

"But for you, I should be more good-looking. I am your husband," Sheng Li stated. Lei Wanxi and Rong Zemin started to laugh seeing Sheng Li who was acting the same way as he used to do before.

"And I am a lovely younger brother of Sister Lili," Lei Wanxi affirmed and winked at Ying Lili, whose lips curled up into a broad smile. Ying Lili asked them about their respective wives.

"It's the eighth for Liao Jun. She will also deliver soon," Rong Zemin informed Ying Lili, who nodded at him and glanced at Lei Wanxi.

"Zhu Lin is also well, Sister Lili. She can meet Zhu Lin after returning from the temple," Lei Wanxi said.

"Let's go. We need to return soon," Sheng Li told Ying Lili, and they left for the palace grounds, where the other two Princes were present. They greeted each other.

Ying Lili found the path through which Sheng Li would carry her to the temple was covered with a mat. She regretted not telling Sheng Li nine months ago, not to make such a pledge.

"How will you—" she could not complete her words as Sheng Li lifted her in his arms in front of all the princes and hundreds of the other servants.

"Then, we shall start. It's the time to fulfill what I have asked from my Lord," Sheng Li said, peering into the eyes of Ying Lili, who had wrapped her hands around him.

"Brother Sheng, General Xiao will follow both of you from here," Jian Guozhi informed them. "The soldiers are deployed at regular intervals," he added.

Sheng Li hummed and removed the shoes. He stepped forward onto the mat and started to walk. A servant had held the royal umbrella, which had prevented both Ying Lili and Sheng Li from the sunrays.

"Finally, you showed everyone how shameless you are!" Ying Lili whispered. Sheng Li smiled slightly. "Everyone will speak about how I made my husband do such acts. He is the Emperor, yet he has become no lesser than a slave," Ying Lili remarked.

"It is my adoration for you, for our babies, Lili. It is a bold act of mine that every man should follow. The woman, who devoted their lives to their men, those men shall not hesitate to shower them with their love," Sheng Li asserted.

Ying Lili tried many ways to stop Sheng Li, but he didn't. After thirty minutes, they had covered almost half of the distance. She asked Sheng Li to rest for some time, and he shook his head.

"Do you want to faint from dehydration?" She scolded him while wiping the sweat from his face. Xiao Zhan came forward with a gourd in his hand which had water in it. Ying Lili helped Sheng Li to drink the water, who resumed the walk again.

"General Xiao, your Emperor has become too stubborn. Why did he not stop him when he planned all this?" Ying Lili complained to him.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I cannot deny the command of the Emperor. The Empress shall not worry since the Emperor is strong enough to walk this small distance," Xiao Zhan tried to calm Ying Lili down.

"It is not a small distance, General Xiao. We have been walking for more than thirty minutes. I mean, you all people," Ying Lili said, keeping her gaze fixed on Sheng Li's serene face.

"Do you remember when you carried me for the first time in your arms? You threw me like a rice sack on the ground?" Ying Lili asked Sheng Li out of the blue. Xiao Zhan glanced at Sheng Li, who lowered his head to gaze at Ying Lili.

"Yes, I remember. You were a rebellious wife back then and you still are!" Sheng Li replied and grinned. "I am not tired. You are like a feather of the white pigeon," Sheng Li stated.

After an hour, they reached the temple. After offering the prayers to Lord Buddha, Ying Lili examined Sheng Li's feet. They had swollen and turned red.

"Look at your feet," Ying Lili concernedly said. Xiao Zhan had brought the cold water from the well of the temple. Ying Lili poured the water over Sheng Li's feet and almost touched them when he held her hand.

"Don't touch my feet. I am good. Don't worry. It was an important prayer for us," Sheng Li stated and handed the vessel to Xiao Zhan, who walked away.

"My life has changed, Lili, thanks to you. This was nothing before what you did for me. You made me believe in love, in compassion and I wanted to thank the Lord for all this," Sheng Li pronounced. "I once desired power. I once thought of making every person kneel before me, fearing me. My heart is so overwhelmed with this feeling of having a warm family." He put his arm around Ying Lili and snuggled her close. His side face rested over her head.

"Sheng Li has been so happy for the past one month. Today, everyone respects me, and cares for me, thanks to you. When people send messages of blessings to our babies, I feel so happy. Everything I do for you is small before what you did for me. You changed the life of this man, who once was called cruel," Sheng Li stated and the two stayed in that position for a while.

*****

Tomorrow, I will publish the last chapter of the story. The side stories will be published in the 'SIDE STORY' section after I will mark it complete.

HAPPY READING