I am a man, Lili

"I do not want anyone to get punished, your majesty. I should have informed you regarding this. Forgive me for that," Ying Lili proclaimed and bowed her head. Sheng Li grimaced and put his hand down. "She is too kind to see what kind of danger she was going to fall," Sheng Li thought as he glanced at her.

"Is the crown prince agreeing with the crown princess's decision?" Empress Wei asked. Sheng Li smiled and gave a nod.

"The crown princess has shown her kindness on Consort Xue," pronounced Sheng Li. "We both shall take our leave then. Please send away this worker," Sheng Li told the empress. Empress Wei permitted them.

"Let's go," Sheng Li told Ying Lili and left the meeting room. Ying Lili bowed her head and left behind the crown prince. Sheng Li started walking towards Zhenzhu Inn, which confused Ying Lili. Xing-Fu and court lady Xu, with a few maidservants, kept following them.

The night had fallen, and it was almost dinnertime. Sheng Li and Ying Lili arrived at Zhenzhu Inn and went to the resting chamber. As soon as they reached there, Sheng Li ordered Xing-Fu to send the dinner there.

Inside the resting chamber, Sheng Li sat on the bed while Ying Lili stood a few meters away from the bed. "Why did you not let her get punished?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili.

"Because punishing is not the answer every time. She might get angry and then plan more traps for me in the future," Ying Lili opined.

"Come here," Sheng Li spoke. Ying Lili observed Sheng Li was outraged still she refused to go near him, which made him chuckle. "I saved you there. And, you are not even listening to me," Sheng Li exasperated.

"I am listening. You can talk from there only," Ying Lili stated.

"Come here else I will come there," Sheng Li ordered Ying Lili who twitched her lips and walked to him. Sheng Li reached out his hand and pulled Ying Lili down. "Sit comfortably." Ying Lili adjusted her clothes and asked him what he wanted to talk about.

"Use your brains before doing anything here. I will not save you every time," Sheng Li advised her. Ying Lili peered at Sheng Li and thanked him.

"I know I was in big trouble this time. I did not know that coming to your place at the night could be taken in the other way. I am new to this world and am getting adjusted to the Palace environment. Thank you for handling things there and taking the blame for me," Ying Lili humbly says and lowered her eyes.

"But you were too kind there. Punishment is made because of a reason. You cannot show kindness in the war and the same goes for the Palace," Sheng Li asserted.

"War and Palace are two different places," Ying Lili opined.

"How are they different? If you think that it's family then forget about that. Take your family as an example. Your brother killed your father to get the throne. One shall say that Palace is a more dangerous place than a war ground. Why? Because you cannot find who is your enemy. The most innocent person can be an enemy here," Sheng Li pronounced.

"What about me? I am also…" she stopped speaking. Sheng Li smiled and spoke. "I do not think you are an innocent woman, but yes, you are kind. There are a few people whom you can trust in my absence. General Wang, General Xiao, Lei Wanxi, brother Nianzu, Xing-Fu, and Court Lady Xu. There is one more person, but she is not here at this moment. She is my elder half-sister- Sister Qi Jing. If anything happens and I am not here only trust these people."

Sheng Li wanted to prepare Ying Lili for the upcoming danger, so he thought to tell her about his loyal people.

"What about the second, third, and youngest brother?" Ying Lili asked.

"Weng Yu is young, but still I do not trust him. The second and third princes are more evil, treacherous, and cunning. They look innocent but they are not," Sheng Li pronounced.

"Even we two are hostile towards each other. Still, you are telling me all this. Why?" Ying Lili was skeptical.

Sheng Li moved closer to Ying Lili. "We have a strange and amusing relationship. You are my wife so, your indecisiveness can affect my position as well so, I am telling you a few things," Sheng Li proclaimed.

"Your highness, dinner is here," Xing-Fu from the door spoke.

"Put it on the table," Sheng Li asserted. Xing-Fu instructed the maidservants, and then they left.

"You said there is something I need to do for you. Since you do not do things for free so, what shall I do to repay you?" Ying Lili queried Sheng Li. Sheng Li saw that Ying Lili was nervous, so he thought to tease her a bit.

Sheng Li took Ying Lili's one hand when she pulled it back, but Sheng Li gripped it hard and again pulled it towards him. "If you think that I will serve you, then you are wrong. I will not do that ever. I will take punishment but I will never make your desires fulfill," Ying Lili blurted out everything while struggling to release her hand from Sheng Li's tight grip.

Sheng Li pulled her towards him such that their faces came closer to each other. Ying Lili wanted to get away, but Sheng Li wrapped his other hand around Ying Lili's waist, moving here and there. "Leave me. We do not love each other so, do not even think of doing anything. I will surely kill you if you touch me or did anything to me," Ying Lili in nervousness shouted at Sheng Li who was enjoying all this.

"I do not think love is important here. We are officially wedded, so even if you deny it, I have to do it with you. I am a man, Lili," Sheng Li asserted and grinned.

"So? I told you already that if you want to do anything like this, you shall find someone else. Pervert!" Ying Lili pronounced. The grin on Sheng Li's face disappeared.

"Lili, if I would be a man filled with sexual desires do you think you could be able to say these things to me? I do not want to ruin my mood so, let's pretend I never heard that word," Sheng Li stated and pushed away Ying Lili.