Ying Lili, after completing her work and addressing the Princesses regarding their next day routine, returned to her chamber. "Court Lady Xu, there is nothing more to do, right?" Ying Lili asked. 

"Everything is completed, your highness," Court Lady Xu replied. Ying Lili nodded and turned towards the chamber. She walked in and turned to the second entrance. Pushing the curtains away, she saw Sheng Li there, who was seated around the ground table. "You're here?" 

"Hmm. I was waiting for you for an hour," Sheng Li asserted. "Come here," he then said. Ying Lili gulped and walked near him. Sheng Li pulled her down and made him sit beside him. 

"I became a laughing stock thanks to you," Sheng Li affirmed. 

Ying Lili acted as if she did not know anything. "What did I do?" She asked. Sheng Li brought his forefinger and thumb under Ying Lili's chin thus, bringing her face closer to him. 

"You don't remember?" Sheng Li questioned. 

"Even you painted on my face the other day. I only put a little makeup on your face. I did nothing wrong," Ying Lili said in a low voice. 

"But only I saw your face that day, but the opposite happened to me. I do not know how many people watched me in that state. Wildcat, that was not a good way to play with your husband," Sheng Li proclaimed and left the grip from her chin.

Ying Lili laughed slightly. "Isn't it good that the Crown Prince made another smile in the morning?" Ying Lili waited for Sheng Li's response. 

"I am not a joker whose work is to make them smile. Though I can be one for you." The smile from Ying Lili's lips disappeared and her eyes grew slightly big. "Next time don't do that. You will be punished," Sheng Li stated. 

"Really?" Ying Lili chuckled. "How will you punish me?" Ying Lili queried when Sheng Li kissed her lips. 

"Like this or even more," Sheng Li replied as he pulled away. He placed his hand on her nape and then kissed her neck. 

"What kind of punishment is this?" Ying Lili muttered. Sheng Li lifted his eyes to meet the gaze of Ying Lili and answered, "A punishment which only my Wildcat can have."

Ying Lili blushed upon hearing his words when her lips were captured by Sheng Li. She felt Sheng Li's hand on her waist as he pulled her closer to get enough access to her lips. They pulled away from each other. Sheng Li placed his thumb over Ying Lili's lips and grazed them. 

"Are your feet good?" Sheng Li asked. 

"Hmm. Thank you for the massage," Ying Lili replied. 

Sheng Li kept peering into the eyes of Ying Lili. "Lu Qifeng was talking about you." Ying Lili widened her eyes and had a befuddled expression. 

"Is he the one who proposed to you in your teenage days?" Sheng Li questioned. 

"Yes," Ying Lili replied. 

"Ahh, I wanted to beat him but he is going to marry my sister," Sheng Li stated. 

"What was he saying?" Ying Lili asked. 

"Nothing much. Why did Sister Jing choose him as her husband? I do not like him even a bit," Sheng Li proclaimed. 

"He is good as a person. He will keep our Sister Jing happy," Ying Lili asserted. Sheng Li hummed and asked her if they should have their lunch. Ying Lili hummed and turned to call Court Lady Xu inside but to her surprise she herself came there. 

Ying Lili moved away from Sheng Li. "Your highness, the Empress has summoned you. Something big has happened," Court Lady Xu worriedly said. Ying Lili and Sheng Li stood up from the floor mattress. 

"What happened?" Sheng Li asked. 

"Your highness, the Princesses have gotten sick after taking the food," Court Lady Xu replied. 

"Then, why is the Crown Princess summoned for that? Chefs should be summoned," Sheng Li pronounced. "Let's go," he said, looking at Ying Lili who nodded. 

They arrived at the manor of the Empress where the other Consorts of the Emperor, First Wife, and Princess Consort of the First Prince were present. 

They greeted the Empress and the Consorts. "Why did the Crown Prince come here? Today's work is related to the inner palace," Weng Wei pronounced.

"Shouldn't the Empress summon the chef?" Sheng Li questioned Weng Wei. 

"Crown Prince, please calm down. The Crown Princess has been given the responsibility of today's work. The Princesses are sick just because the Crown Princess did not perform her duty well," Consort Ju Fen stated. 

"Then summon the chefs and inquire from them. We two have some work, so we need to leave," Sheng Li affirmed. 

"Crown Prince, even the Emperor does not intervene in the inner palace matters. The Crown Prince should leave," Weng Wei pronounced.

Ying Lili looked at Sheng Li who was furious. "Go. I will handle this," Ying Lili said in a low voice, but he did not pay heed to her. 

"Crown Prince, you shall leave," Weng Wei then softly said. 

"I want to hear your judgment." Weng Wei understood that Sheng Li was challenging her power. She shifted her gaze at Ying Lili and said, "How are you going to take the responsibility of this, Crown Princess? The Princesses are sick and this is the first time such a terrible incident has happened in the Palace. We understand that you are given special powers to look into the matters of the Empire, but it does not mean that you neglect your duties, Crown Princess. I have not expected the mistake from your side. You disappointed us," Weng Wei scolded Ying Lili who lowered her head. 

"Forgive me, your majesty," Ying Lili said. Sheng Li clenched his fist.

"Your majesty, may I know what happened to the Princesses?" Ying Lili then asked. 

"Severe headache, stomachache, and vomiting," Weng Wei replied. 

"Your majesty, will you punish the Crown Princess? If her majesty will not, then it will be an injustice to those Princesses. What if any of them would have died? Thanks to the Royal Physician they all are safe," Xue Yu-Yan intervened. Zhilao Mi glanced at her. 

Sheng Li chuckled and glared at Xue Yu-Yan. "It seems to me that Princess Consort Xue did not learn her lesson from the last time punishment. No one can punish Lili. No one!" Sheng Li declared. 

"Crown Prince, the Crown Princess has made a mistake. If she was unable to take the responsibility, then she should have asked for the help," Xue Yu-Yan asserted and shifted her gaze to the Empress. She continued, "Your majesty, the families to which the Princesses belong, if found out about this then, they might step back from this marriage thanks to the mistake made by the smart Crown Princess. I even saw the Sixth Prince in the royal kitchen, so I think he should be investigated regarding this. The chefs, maidservants, and the food servers must be punished along with the Crown Princess and the Sixth Prince." 

Ying Lili and Sheng Li were bewildered that Xue Yu-Yan even dragged Lei Wanxi in that. 

"What was the Sixth Prince doing there? Eunuch Yun, bring the Sixth Prince here. Call the chefs, the maidservants, and the servers who served the food to the Princesses," Weng Wei ordered. 

Eunuch Yun bowed and walked out from there. Third Consort Yinlong was anxious to hear that. 

"Your majesty, there is no need to involve Brother Wanxi in all this. He was just conversing with me," Ying Lili stated. 

"This is wrong, Crown Princess. I wonder why you can't understand the depth of this incident. The lives of the Princesses were in danger because of your carelessness," proclaimed Xue Yu-Yan. 

"The way you're sounding makes me feel that you planned all this," asserted Sheng Li, looking at Xue Yu-Yan.

"Your majesty, this is not about the inner palace, now. If it is such a big incident, why don't we take it to the Emperor?" Sheng Li suggested. "Last time everyone accused Ying Lili of poisoning me and this time she is again accused. Last time I was on my deathbed, but this time I am not. You and your inner palace rules cannot punish her while I am alive," Sheng then pronounced proudly. 

Weng Wei and the First Consort glared at Sheng Li. 

"She will be punished, Sheng Li. I want to see her in pain and for that, I will do anything," Xue Yu-Yan thought, looking at Ying Lili. 

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