Hu Jingguo came to meet Ying Lili in her chamber before leaving for Mount Jishi. Sheng Li had also reached there and seen them conversing with each other. Hu Jingguo stood up from the chair upon seeing him. "I thought of meeting her before leaving," Hu Jingguo stated.

"Return as soon as possible. You are my only hope," Sheng Li affirmed.

​​

"I know. I will not disappoint you," Hu Jingguo confidently said. Sheng Li passed him a smile and told him to go to the barracks where Wang Hao was waiting for him.

Hu Jingguo turned to go, but then halted at his place. He turned to face Sheng Li and hugged him tightly. "Nothing will happen to the Emperor. I will be back soon." He patted Sheng Li's back. Ying Lili smiled upon seeing how close the two had become. Hu Jingguo pulled himself back and walked away.

"This time is tough for everyone," Ying Lili said. Sheng Li agreed with her and gently pulled her up from the chair. Taking her back to the bed, he lifted her feet and placed them on the bed.

"What did she say to you?"

"Huh?" She raised a brow.

"What did the wife of the First Prince say to you? Sheng Li repeated his question.

Ying Lili shook her head, "nothing." She cursed herself internally for not telling Court Lady Xu not to inform Sheng Li about her conversation with Zhilao Mi.

"Lili, even if you will not tell me, I have people to inform me," Sheng Li asserted.

"It was not a big deal. It was just a normal conversation between two women. Sister Mi was a little sad seeing Brother Jian. So, she-"

"Even if she is sad, she does not have any right to talk to you bluntly." Sheng Li was furious when Court Lady Xu informed him how Zhilao Mi talked with Ying Lili. "I want to tell her to be within her limits before throwing such kind of remarks at my wife," Sheng Li annoyingly said.

"Sheng Li, it's between us. Don't ruin your mood because of this. She did not mean that" Ying Lili calmed down Sheng Li. "Did Weng Wei tell you about that person?" Ying Lili then asked.

"No," Sheng Li refused.

"Then, it is going to be tough for us," Ying Lili muttered, but Sheng Li heard her.

"Hmm." "Leave it aside. Tell me, when is your birthday? This month is almost gone. Is it next month?" Sheng Li changed the topic.

"You shall find yourself," Ying Lili replied, keeping a tiny smile on her lips.

"You want me to go to Juyan and ask your aunt there," he raised a brow, "... Or you want me to make you drink a strong wine." The smirk was not leaving his lips.

Ying Lili scoffed. "Why are you so desperate to know about my birthday?" Ying Lili queried him.

"Lili, you are my wife. So, I shall know everything related to you. And, this is an important thing. Tell me, when is your birthday?" Sheng Li again repeated his question. But Ying Lili did not tell him. She almost laid down on the bed when her leg was pulled by Sheng Li, and she moved towards him, completely shocked.

Ying Lili was now facing Sheng Li closely. Her one leg was slightly exposed and rested on his lap. "Aren't you feeling hot? Remove this," Sheng Li looked at her overcoat.

"Huh?" She exclaimed. Sheng Li gestured to her with his eyes.

"I wasn't," she replied.

"Your wound on your back needs to be exposed to air for a while."

Sheng Li said as he left his hand from her feet and slid down the overcoat from her shoulders. He placed it aside on the bed. "No one can disturb us. Shall we continue where we were left?" He grazed his forefinger just below her neck.

Ying Lili's breath hitched. "B-but it's bright daylight. In a while, we need to have our lunch. Then-" she was stopped from speaking. Sheng Li placed his finger over her lips.

He leaned closer to her, gradually closing the distance between them.

He pulled his forefinger back as he landed his lips on her. He caressed her cheek from his finger while kissing her. Pulling back, he gazed into her eyes. "Tell me, when is your birthday? If you won't tell me then," he leaned closer to Ying Lili's ear and bit her earlobe, resulting in a moan from her mouth. He nibbled it and moved down to kiss on her exposed neck.

Ying Lili's shuddered closed when Sheng Li sucked her skin near her neck and then bit it, leaving it red. She felt his hand on the knot of her dress, but he did not stop the pleasurable torture on her neck.

"You are such a stubborn Wildcat," Sheng Li whispered as he again was closer to her ear. He leaned back in front of her face. He traced her eyebrows with the back of his other hand's pointer finger. "Look into my eyes," he said, urging her to open them. Ying Lili gradually opened her eyes only to meet a pair of black eyes.

"Tell me," he repeated.

"I will tell you when the day comes," Ying Lili finally answered. Sheng Li smirked as he did not accept her answer. He had opened the knot on her dress, exposing her upper body, which was still covered with a red-colored Xinyi (inner garment).

His hand traveled to her shoulder as he slid it down from her left shoulder. The finger traced her entire bare arm and did the same with the other. "I want to know now," Sheng Li demanded and planted a kiss on the skin of her exposed shoulder.

He then peppered the kisses up and reached her cheek. Kissing it, he moved to her lips and captured them once again. Ying Lili reciprocated his kisses fully. He pulled back from the kiss, leaving them gasping for air. The two stared into the eyes of each other for a few seconds before crashing their lips again.

From the back of his hand, Sheng Li soothingly caressed her other arm. He plunged his tongue into her mouth to find her tongue.

Ying Lili gripped her skirt tightly and moaned inside his mouth. By now, she was in a mess and did not want him to stop. Pulling back, he peered into her eyes. Their chests were moving up and down while the two continued staring at each other.