Ying Lili arrived at the manor where the crown prince was residing. She grabbed the tray from Su Binxi and ascended the stairs. “Your highness, you might stumble. Please give me the tray,” Su Binxi requested from the crown princess who refused to say that she should do that.

As they went inside the Inn, Eunuch Xing-Fu bowed before the crown princess. “Your highness, the crown prince has gone to the Royal Court,” Xing-Fu proclaimed. Ying Lili flinched her brows and said, “I almost forgot that he…his highness has to attend the court at this hour.”

Xing-Fu then politely spoke, “Your highness, when his highness will return then this Eunuch will inform him about your visit.”

“Head Eunuch, there is no need to tell the crown prince. Just tell his highness to take his meals else it can affect his health,” Ying Lili pronounced softly.

“If the Royal highness worries so much about his highness then, she should not have put spices in the morning meals for the crown prince.” A voice echoed there. An-Ying Lili turned to look and saw a noble family woman holding a wooden basket in her hand.

“This is the daughter of the prime minister,” Su Binxi whispered in Ying Lili’s ear. An Ying Lili looked at Xue Yu Yan who came towards the crown princess and halted a meter away from her.

Wu Shan grabbed the basket from her lady Xue Yu Yan who then kowtowed before the crown princess. “It is my pleasure to meet her royal highness. This is Xue Yu Yan, the daughter of the Prime Minister,” Xue Yu Yan introduced herself. Both hands were raised till the shoulder and her forehead was touching the back of the palm as she had joined the two hands together.

Xue Yu Yan then gradually lifted her head and put her hands down. Ying Lili gave her a tiny smile and spoke, “How come the daughter of the prime minister found out what was happening in the breakfast hall? Your spies are really quick to give you this kind of information,” Ying Lili asserted. Her tone was slightly sarcastic which Xue Yu Yan understood.

“Her royal highness is taking Xue wrong. I happened to hear about this when I was coming towards the crown prince’s Inn. Even one tiny incident in the Palace spread like a forest fire,” stated Xue Yu Yan.

“Miss Xue is absolutely right. I must take my leave then,” stated Ying Lili and lowered her eyes a bit, and then looked at Su Binxi. They then left from there. Xing-Fu lifted his head and asked Xue Yu Yan about her sudden visit.

“I want to meet the crown prince,” Xue Yu Yan answered.

“The crown prince is not present here at this moment. Furthermore, upon the orders of the Empress now Miss Xue is not allowed to go to his imperial highness’ room as he is married,” Eunuch Xing-Fu politely replied to Xue Yu Yan.

Xue Yu Yan clenched her fist but kept her cool. “Can I wait for his highness in the waiting room? I have something to converse with his highness,” Xue Yu Yan asked Xing-Fu who shook his head.

“Please this way, Miss Xue,” Xing-Fu politely said and headed the way towards the waiting room. Xue Yu Yan and her assistant followed Eunuch Xing-Fu to the waiting room.

~~~~~

An-Ying Lili reached the Empress’ manor. Weng Wei was delighted seeing An-Ying Lili there. “Crown princess please make yourself comfortable,” Weng Wei told Ying Lili who bowed her head and sat on the ground stool. Weng Wei told her assistant, Bei Jing to send maidservants out.

“Your imperial majesty, it seems you are busy with work. Can I help you?” Ying Lili asked. Weng Wei gave a tiny smile to Ying Lili and spoke, “Crown princess, this overcoat for his imperial majesty must be completed by me only. Thank you for asking.”

Weng Wei put the needled on the cloth which had a golden thread over it and a beautiful pattern was being designed on the back of the overcoat. “It seems the crown princess does not understand my words,” Weng Wei proclaimed. The empress put the overcoat on the table and then looked at Ying Lili. “Your husband’s things must not be shared by anyone. That’s why this overcoat I shall make for his imperial majesty,” asserted Weng Wei.

“The morning incident was not good. I did not expect such kind of behavior from the crown princess. Whatever problems you are undergoing with the crown prince must be solved in private between you two inside the manor. Once it comes out then it creates problems. The crown prince is in love with the daughter of the prime minister which can affect the crown princess in the future,” the empress proclaimed.

Ying Lili lowered her eyes. “I am guilty of my morning act which I did recklessly. Your majesty, it does not matter to me whether the crown prince loves someone or not. I am fulfilling my duties because of the promise my father had made with his imperial majesty. You are like my mother so, I will not hide anything from you. I hate the crown prince because he killed my father,” Ying Lili stated and lifted her head.

Weng Wei flinched her brows and spoke, “I am in the palace for more than forty years and have seen many ups and downs. For the crown princess, everything is new here that’s why she is thinking like this. As his imperial mother, I do not think the crown prince has killed your father. The crown prince never defies his father’s orders. If he had to stop this marriage then, he would have poisoned you while you were coming to the capital.”

Ying Lili widened her eyes. Indeed, it was not difficult for the crown prince to poison her and kill her. But he did not use this evil method. Did she really take the crown prince as the wrong person? But, her uncle also told her that the crown prince was lying to her. Ying Lili was in deep thought when Weng Wei called out her name.

“It seems the crown princess is thinking something,” Weng Wei stated. Ying Lili shook her head in refusal.

“I have prohibited the entry of the prime minister’s daughter to the crown prince’s manor. He is married and now the manor is also shared by you. I hope the crown princess has understood what I meant.” Weng Wei looked into Ying Lili’s eyes for an answer.

“The crown prince loves Miss Xue. I have no problem with that,” Ying Lili pronounced.

Weng Wei gave a slight smile to Ying Lili and spoke, “Crown princess, you are really naive. Everyone does not get the opportunity to be the official wife. Please give a thought to it. There are some inner court rules which you must abide by. Do not play with the royal princes as the people here can take it the other way. Crown princess is a married woman and if she will play like this then that can create suspicions in many eyes.”

Ying Lili felt dejected upon hearing that. “Your imperial majesty, I see them as elder brothers,” Ying Lili cleared herself.

“But others do not. Moreover, the crown princess is married so, you shall be extra careful,” Weng Wei stated. Ying Lili nodded and apologized for the mistake she did.

“From tomorrow onwards, you have to come here after the morning meals. I will teach you to design the pattern using silk threads. Then, the crown princess can present a handwoven robe to the crown prince,” Weng Wei pronounced. Ying Lili agreed with the empress. She stayed there till noon and then left as the empress had to meet the emperor as the court session was ended.

Ying Lili was silent as she could no longer practice which was like someone had snatched her freedom to do things at her will. She was happy in her home but this marriage had turned her life upside-down.