Ying Lili with a sneer peered at Sheng Li. “I do not want to do sins by killing innocent people,” Ying Lili snapped at Sheng Li who gave her a smirk. “The one whom you are going to kill is not an innocent person. The person is someone…” the crown prince paused and got closer to Ying Lili. “The person is someone who admires you a lot,” Sheng Li whispered. Ying Lili with an inquisitiveness looked at Sheng Li.

“Why are you even punishing Su Binxi? She is a young girl who already has suffered a lot,” stated Ying Lili.

“I am not talking about that petty servant. She is already killed by me,” Sheng Li pronounced and waited for Ying Lili’s response who was infuriated at him.

“How dare you kill her?” Ying Lili asked Sheng Li and raised her hand to slap him when Sheng Li caught her hand. “Do not even try, Lili,” Sheng Li said as he tightened his grip on her wrist. Ying Lili flinched but she did not let it show on her face.

“You did not tell me that you have a lover as well,” Sheng Li strenuously spoke. “I thought you are an innocent, kind woman but you are not,” Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili clutched her dress when Sheng Li released her hand and then grabbed her chin. Lei Wanxi got confused seeing the sudden change in Sheng Li’s expressions.

“He followed his lover to the Han Palace and now he is in the jail. Because you got defeated in this match then, you have to kill him with your hands,” Sheng Li with a stern expression stated. Ying Lili’s eyes fluttered and she spoke, “I do not have any lover,” Ying Lili declared proudly. Sheng Li snickered and released his grip from the chin of the crown princess.

“Let’s go to the dungeon and verify it there,” Sheng Li stated and grabbed Ying Lili’s arm.

“Why is the crown prince angry?” Weng Yu asked in his innocent voice and looked at Lei Wanxi who was also befuddled by the crown prince’s behavior. “Let’s go, Prince Yu,” Lei Wanxi stated and took away Weng Yu from there. General Xiao went towards the crown prince. Stopping a meter away from the crown prince, General Xiao said, “Your highness, the court time is near.” Sheng Li then dragged Ying Lili with him to the underground dungeon.

Ying Lili was struggling and telling him to release her but, Sheng Li did not listen to her. As they entered the underground dungeon where the fire torches were hanging on a few meters distance from each other. The soldiers who were guarding there, lowered their heads seeing the crown prince, the crown princess, and General Xiao there.

They were now in front of the gate of the dungeon where Sheng Li had captured that person. He released Ying Lili’s arm who held her arm and caressed it. She turned to go away from there. “Try going out from here and you will be punished severely by me.” Sheng Li threatened Ying Lili who did not listen which made Sheng Li furious. He turned and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. General Xiao immediately lowered his eyes.

Sheng Li glared into the pearly eyes of Ying Lili. His hand was on Ying Lili’s hand and the other was on her neck. Pulling her closer, the crown prince said, “Every time your stubbornness cannot stop me.” The crown princess could not understand the sudden change in his behavior. She was then pushed by Sheng Li such that she hit against the nearby wall.

“Take her inside,” Sheng Li ordered General Xiao who nodded at the order. “Your highness, please this way,” stated General Xiao politely. Ying Lili realized that there was no way she could escape this so, she decided to go inside the dungeon. As she stepped inside, she saw a man covered in blood, and both his hands were tied with shackles, same with his feet. She went closer and stopped right behind Sheng Li.

Ying Lili saw how brutally the man was tortured. His wounds were open from everywhere her gaze was falling on the man. Tears formed in her eyes as her eyes recognized the face which was visible in the dim yellow light of the fire torch.

The man was none other than her childhood friend from Juyan, Hu Jingguo. “Jingguo,” Ying Lili in a trembling voice said and ran to him. She patted on his cheeks and saw the wound on his right forehead which was bleeding profusely. “Ying’er,” Hu Jingguo in a meek voice said. “F-forgive m-me for not coming at the right time in Juyan,” Hu Jingguo further spoke with stutters.

Ying Lili turned to Sheng Li with tears on her cheeks. “Why did you do that?” The crown princess shouted at the crown prince. “Release him right away,” Ying Lili ordered, looking at General Xiao who lowered his eyes.

“What are you trying to do? Ordering my general just because you are the crown princess,” the crown prince in a fit of rage said as he stepped the three stairs to reach the platform where the Ying Lili was standing. “Why did you lie that you do not have any lover?” Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili. “How dare you try toppling my position by having an affair with him?” Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili.

“Sheng Li, you have lost your mind. He is my childhood friend, Hu Jingguo,” Ying Lili announced and looked at the chains from which Hu Jingguo was tied. “Release him this instant. If you will not then, I will go to his majesty,” Ying Lili menaced.

“Go then. I want to see how will you protect your lover?” Sheng Li proclaimed when he received a slap on his right cheek. Sheng Li loosened his temper and grabbed Ying Lili’s neck. “L-leave her,” Hu Jingguo said in a loud enough voice, gathering the entire strength. “Xiao, bring the sword,” Sheng Li ordered in an infuriated tone.

~~~~~

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