Ying Lili came back to the manor of the Crown Prince. She found Sheng Li pacing in the chamber. Seeing Ying Lili, Sheng Li asked her why she took so much time. 

"She was sad, so I consoled her," Ying Lili replied. 

"I told you not to get involved with her. Why don't you listen to me? Don't come crying to me later," Sheng Li remarked.

Ying Lili twitched her lips. "I think her surroundings turned her into that," Ying Lili opined. "She had puffy eyes and…" Sheng Li placed his index finger on Ying Lili's lips.

"I told you not to show your kindness to the wrong people. Mother saved her father, but in the end, she lost her life. I urge you not to get closer to her," Sheng Li proclaimed as he put his finger down.

"She is alone, Sheng Li. I know she did wrong, but she wants to change herself," Ying Lili stated. 

Sheng Li pinched Ying Lili's cheek, who passed a low scream. She touched her cheek and glared at him. "Stay away from her. She is from the Wei Family. I cannot see you getting hurt. I will burn this palace if anything happens to you, ," Sheng Li repeated his words. 

"Hmm. I understand." "Is the bathhouse ready?" She asked. 

"Yes. Let's go," Sheng Li held Ying Lili's wrist, and the two went towards the bathhouse. 

"Sheng Li, do you think it is good for me to enter your bathhouse? People will be gossiping about us," Ying Lili stated. 

"Let them gossip. Why do you care so much about the people? Your prime focus should be your husband," Sheng Li proclaimed. Ying Lili agreed and went inside the bathhouse with him. 

Ying Lili checked the water's hotness and turned to look at Sheng Li. "Come here," She said and helped him in taking off the upper robes. 

Ying Lili went towards the shelf and took a tiny jar filled with the rice water. She put it on the marble support made around the bathtub. 

Turning to Sheng Li, she stood on her tiptoe to open the knot on the cotton cloth which was hung around his neck to support his wrist. Sheng Li bent down a little. "Now, you can do it comfortably," he said. Ying Lili opened the knot and put the cloth and bandage aside. She gestured to him to get into the bathtub.

Later, Ying Lili sat on the marble platform while Sheng Li got into the water. The white curtains were hanging around the bathtub which was filled with rose petals and a small quantity of sandalwood fragrance in the water. 

Removing the overcoat, Ying Lili folded the sleeves of her Hanfu dress. She dipped the wooden hemispherical jug into the water and took it out. Ying Lili poured the water over Sheng Li's head. She did the same until Sheng Li's hair got completely wet. Pouring the rice water over Sheng Li's head, she massaged his scalp for a few minutes. The rice water got evenly distributed throughout the scalp. 

Sheng Li had closed his eyes as it was relaxing for him. Once she was done with his hair, she said, "You can do the remaining work. I am going." 

Immediately Sheng Li opened his eyes and tilted his head to look at her. "No. How would I reach my back?" Sheng Li questioned her. 

Drawing her brows together, Ying Lili glared at Sheng Li. But because Sheng Li injured his wrist because of her, she agreed to do that. Filling the hemispherical wooden jug with the water, she poured it above Sheng Li's head and washed his hair. Once she was done, she told Sheng Li to move forward as she had to scrub his back. 

Every time she saw Sheng Li's back, her heart ached. She moved her fingers over the scars which were imprinted on Sheng Li's back. "Will they ever go?" Ying Lili asked, grazing her fingers over them. 

"Huh?" Tilting his head, Sheng Li noticed Ying Lili's reactions, who looked at him. "I forgot to put the medicine which Hu Jingguo had told me to apply over these scars. I will do it in the evening," Ying Lili said. Her lips moved up, thus giving a smile to Sheng Li, who nodded. 

Ying Lili scrubbed Sheng Li's back gently, keeping in mind that he had injured his back as well. After she was done she washed his back and told him to turn to her. Sheng Li did so, and now his naked chest was in front of Ying Lili's eyes. 

"I will sit on this marble platform. Then you can do your work." Sheng Li sat up on the platform as the water moved down his body in the bathtub. Ying Lili looked at him before scrubbing his chest.

"This is the last time I am doing this. Next time be careful and do not injure your hand," Ying Lili said.

"But I want to get injured daily," Sheng Li murmured. 

Looking into the eyes of Sheng Li, she asked, "What did you murmur?" 

"Nothing," Sheng Li lied. Ying Lili's hand rested near the region of the chest, where she could feel Sheng Li's heartbeats. She lifted her gaze to meet the eyes of Sheng Li, who was lovingly looking at her. 

"Why did you stop?" He asked. 

She blinked, lowered her eyes, and shook her head. A strange atmosphere was building up around them. Ying Lili finished scrubbing Sheng Li's front body and told him to do the remaining work himself. 

"Hmm. Thanks," Sheng Li said as he got back into the bathtub. 

Sheng Li took a dip in the water and came out of it. Wiping his face, he said, "Lili, why don't you take a bath with me? Now, you have come here," he paused and turned towards her, who was still on the counter. 

"I am leaving," Ying Lili said when Sheng Li grasped her hand using his left hand. 

"I do not allow it," Sheng Li whispered near Ying Lili's ear before kissing her ear. Butterflies danced in her stomach the moment Sheng Li kissed her earlobe. He nuzzled his nose in the crook of Ying Lili's neck and kissed her there. 

Her chest was rising up and down as Sheng Li kept sweetly torturing her neck. That's why she did not want to come there. But in front of Sheng Li, she could not even refuse. 

She ended up moaning when Sheng Li found the sweet spot right below her ear from where her neck started. Her eyes shuddered closed, and she brought her palm closer to her mouth, not wanting to moan out again because the intensity of those wet kisses kept increasing. 

She heard the sound of water as if Sheng Li had come out of it. She gradually opened her eyes and saw him sitting on the platform. His face was dangerously close to her. "Let's not do anything here. They are outside and, if-" Sheng Li placed his forefinger on Ying Lili's lips, stopping her from speaking further. 

"When you are with me, just think about me. These past few days were hectic, and we could not spend time together," Sheng Li stated. 

Ying Lili nodded and lowered her eyes. Sheng Li placed his thumb and index finger under her chin to lift it. 

"Don't put the pressure on your right hand," Ying Lili said. 

"I am not. It is on my lap," Sheng Li replied. 

For a long time, they kept staring into each other's eyes as the distance between them gradually closed, and those soft, pillowy lips of Ying Lili met the rough lips of Sheng Li. 

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