The 'Silk Dance' performers had stepped back and went out of the hall, leaving the crown princess at the center of the hall. Ying Lili took a deep breath and started playing the Flute.

Ying Lili blew the air on the flute, and a melodious sound was echoed in the hall. The sound was neither too sharp neither too plain but was so enchanting and soothing to everyone's ears which tamed them. Sheng Li stopped blinking as he recalled how his mother used to play the flute for him.

The faint memories of his childhood revive and the happy moments with his mother flashed in front of his eyes.

Ying Lili's eyes were fixated on the flute, and the eyelids were moving as the notes producing from it were changing. The mellifluous notes were produced because of the rapid and gracious finger movements by Ying Lili.

The resonating notes were synchronizing perfectly, clearly showing how skilled she was in playing the Flute. Sheng Li was recalled that memory with his mother when she played the flute for him for the first time. The memory was vivid, which Sheng Li had remembered this till now.

"Mother, what is this?" Sheng Li asked, picking the Flute in his hand from the table in his tiny hands.

"This is a Flute. Do you want me to play it for you?" Sheng Li's mother asked. Sheng Li nodded and smiled. Sheng Li's mother went to the garden and made Sheng Li sit on the swing there. Sheng Li was attentive and focused to listen to his mother when she brought the Flute closer to her lips.

"Sheng Li, the song that I will play using this flute is based on Love," Sheng Li's mother told him.

"Love? What is that, mother?" Sheng Li asked.

"The most beautiful feeling in this world. Take the example of us- you love your mother a lot and the same goes for me. You feel happy when you are around me. That is love," replied Sheng Li's mother, and she started playing the Flute. Sheng Li was swinging his head, closing his eyes while listening to those enchanting tunes.

Ying Lili lowered the amount of air blown from her mouth to control the next tune from the flute. She closed her eyes and felt the tune before catching the next high note. The rhythmic movements between the air blown and her fingers' movements over the holes of the flute caught the high note.

Xue Yu-Yan observed that the crown prince not even blinking and his gaze was intense on Ying Lili, which infuriated her. "This wench!" she murmured, looking at Ying Lili who was still playing the flute.

Sheng Li found that Ying Lili was playing the same song using the flute, which his mother used to play. His mind was calm, and he was feeling light. He always wanted to listen to this song but he could not because no one knew this except his mother. Tears formed in his eyes, not because he was sad but because he recalled the most memorable days with his mother.

Ying Lili had stopped playing the flute and put her hands down. Gradually opening her eyes, she looked at Sheng Li and gave him a tiny smile. Lei Wanxi started clapping for Ying Lili followed by Han Nianzu and then other people in the court except for Sheng Li. He was only staring at Ying Lili who was panting and peering at him.

"What a marvelous performance is given by the crown princess!!" Han Wenji applauded Ying Lili. He also recalled his time with his beloved. The flute playing today revived his memories as well, and it brought a smile to his lips. "I am so happy seeing this performance so, I would like to grant a wish of yours," Han Wenji declared. "Anything you will ask and I will fulfill that wish of yours, crown princess," Han Wenji delightedly pronounced.

"Even I am out of words after seeing this charming performance of the crown princess. She is indeed talented in classical music as well. I would like to give these gold bangles to the crown princess, which was given by the late queen to me," proclaimed the Weng Wei with a broad smile.

Ying Lili bowed her head. "Thank you, your majesty. I am happy that you liked my performance," saying this Ying Lili lifted her head and picked the long-waist skirt a little, to walk ahead.

She stepped the stairs and again bowed her head. Weng Wei had removed the gold bangles from her hand. Empress Wei reached out her hand towards Ying Lili and grabbed her left hand. "You have beautiful hands," Weng Wei said as she put in the bracelet around Ying Lili's wrists. Ying Lili thanked the Empress.

"Crown princess, you did not tell about your wish till now," Han Wenji proclaimed who was standing beside Weng Wei.

"Your majesty…" before Ying Lili could ask, Sheng Li intervened between them. "Father, the crown princess is happy with everything she is given. But she asked me to fulfill this wish of hers. I do not know if I am in the state to fulfill this or not but because you want to grant a wish of the crown princess, then why do you not give her permission?" Sheng Li asserted, looking at Han Wenji, and then lowered his eyes.

"What permission does the crown princess need?" Han Wenji questioned and shifted her gaze towards Ying Lili. Ying Lili skeptically looked at Sheng Li.

"Father, the crown princess wants to go to the far Southern Province with me. I know I am going there for the kingdom's work but since we are newlyweds so she wants to be with me. We need your permission in this," Sheng Li stated.

"What is he trying to do? What South Province is he talking about?!" Ying Lili wondered.

Jian Guozhi understood Sheng Li's plan and quickly stood up from his seat. "Please pardon me for my intrusion, but I do not think the crown princess should go there. The situation is not good there and I am afraid crown princess might get hurt," Jian Guozhi suggested.

"The first brother is right but crown princess and I believe if we will go there together, it will be represented as a magnificent gesture towards the people of Han. Crown princess is also skilled in military-related stuff so it will not be a problem. Moreover, I, Han Sheng Li will not let her get harm," Sheng Li declared.

Han Wenji looked at Ying Lili who was frowning at the crown prince. "Does the Crown princess want to go with the crown prince there?" Han Wenji queried her.

Ying Lili looked into Sheng Li's eyes and then turned to the Emperor. "I would love to go there. The crown prince had told me about the rebellions going on in the southern province. I believe I as the crown princess should go with the crown prince there," Ying Lili asserted in her soft voice.

"I grant the crown princess permission to go to the Southern province with the crown prince. Crown princess knows how to work for the people's betterment. I love knowing that the crown princess is serving her duties most righteously." Han Wenji announced his decision.

"Thank you, Imperial father," Sheng Li bowed his head while Ying Lili came towards him. "So, this is the present he was asking me," Ying Lili thought in her mind.

~~~~

Hello Dear Readers!

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