MARRIED TO A CRUEL CROWN PRINCE

Strong or Weak

Chapter 12: Strong or Weak

After giving morning greetings to the Emperor, the Empress, and the other three empresses, they all went to have breakfast. "The Crown Princess will serve food to everyone with her hands," the empress expressed her wish which was immediately approved by An-Ying Lili.

Starting with the emperor, the crown princess served food to all the great family members. He went to the crown prince to serve food to him who was already upset with him. An-Ying Lili thought of something and put the seasoning into the fish soup. The crown princess placed the silver bowl on the table and the rice on the other bowl. Placing the chopsticks beside it, the crown princess placed the other side dishes also on the table.

"The meal looked very delicious after His Majesty presented it to us," Jian Guozhi confirmed with a smile.

"The first prince was right. Even I found the food delicious today," Han Wenji proclaimed and then looked at the empress who agreed with the emperor. "Crown Princess, please sit down and start eating," Weng Wei told An-Ying Lili who stood up and lowered her head.

The crown prince took a spoon to taste the soup. Taking a spoonful, he took a sip of it and started coughing due to the seasoning in it. An-Ying Lili smiled faintly as everyone stared at the crown prince. Ying Lili came to him and knelt down. He gave the water to Sheng Li and stroked his back. Sheng Li drank the water and looked at Ying Lili. "How dare you put spice into my food?" Sheng Li shouted and went back to drinking the water.

"What are you saying, fifth brother? There is no seasoning at all" said Rong Zemin.

"The crown prince must not accuse the crown princess. I think his noble tastes have gotten some kind of distraction during the military campaign," joked Jian Guozhi and they all laughed. Sheng Li removed Ying Lili's hand from her and stood up. "Did you put spices in my food?" Sheng Li asked ferociously from the waiter holding the wooden tray.

Everyone looked at Sheng Li whose anger was now visible on his face. An-Ying Lili stood up and approached the crown prince. "I did this, don't get mad at him," Ying Lili accepted her mistake when Sheng Li threw away the tray that was in the servant's hand. The servant knelt down, begging for his life. "Take him away," Sheng Li ordered as Ying Lili intervened.

Sheng Li raised his hands shoulder-high and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Dad. I don't want to eat. I'll go," Sheng Li said and raised his head. Staring at Ying Lili, Sheng Li left the hall.

"Fifth Brother is angry in the little things. I think His Majesty has only shown his love to the crown prince. But, it seems that the cruel crown prince dislikes this kind of love move," Jian Guozhi said as she looked at Ying Lili. .

"Fifth boy is scary. When she threw the tray, I thought big brother would kill the maid," Ying Lili heard the youngest prince, Weng Yu. Lei Wanxi gestured for Weng Yu to not speak anything.

Ying Lili turned towards the Emperor and Empress. "I'm sorry for ruining breakfast like this. You all have to keep eating." Ying Lili apologized to them. The maid cleaned the floor there and left the hall along with the crown princess.

Ying Lili was walking through the corridor, wondering where Sheng Li would disappear to. He stopped at his place. "Why am I looking for him? I did not put a lot of seasoning into her food so she became very angry," Ying Lili murmured. Su Binxi, who was standing behind the crown princess said, "Your Majesty, you should not do such a joke with His Majesty. His Majesty could have killed that servant at that moment."

Ying Lili turned around and looked at Su Binxi. "I knew. I'm guilty of this too. But she acted too much," Ying Lili said. "I think I should apologize to him but where did he disappear to?" Ying Lili anxiously said, looking around.

"The Royal Court will begin shortly. So, Your Majesty must have gone to court. Your Majesty can meet with His Majesty later. Court Lady Xu has informed me that His Majesty will inform His Majesty of some of the rules of the inner court," Su Binxi stated.

"Do you know what the court rules in that?" Ying Lili asked Su Binxi.

"How to serve your husband and choose a concubine. Housework should be checked daily by His Majesty - those are some of the things I know about the inner court," Su Binxi replied and lowered her eyes.

"So, do I need to choose a concubine for her?" Ying Lili asked Su Binxi as the two continued walking through the corridors of the palace.

"Yes, Your Majesty. In the future it would be necessary to choose some concubines for His Majesty. They will not be official wives but they will share your husband" Su Binxi proclaimed. Ying Lili furrowed her brows and spoke, "Is she a woman?"

Su Binxi raised her eyes and once again lowered them. "It seems His Majesty wants the crown prince to just look at it," Su Binxi said teasingly.

Su Binxi giggled. "Your Majesty, you looked like a jealous wife just a moment ago," Su Binxi proclaimed and once again smiled. Ying Lily frowned but did not speak anything. They were now in the training grounds of the Palace where all the princes practiced war and military matters.

The smile engraved on Ying Lili's lips looked at all kinds of ammunition there. Swords; bows and arrows and many other weapons. Ying Lili went down the stairs when Su Binxi stopped her. "Where are you going, Your Majesty? Women cannot be in such a place. We will go to His Majesty's Inn," Su Binxi said.

"Binxi, women don't stop using it. It is up to us women to consider ourselves strong or weak. Stay right here. I come in a moment," Ying Lili ordered Su Binxi who could not refute the crown princess' order.

Seeing the crown princess coming there, the servants standing beside the table lowered their heads. Ying Lili took out a sword and examined it. He smiled brightly as if he had come to a place that was the realm of his dreams. "I miss grabbing the sword" muttered Ying Lili.

"You must be a trained sword fighter," Ying Lili heard a familiar voice, she turned to look and found the first Prince, Jian Guozhi there. He lowered his head and gracefully lowered his eyes to greet her. "How did your first brother know about this?" Ying Lili asked as she raised her head and looked at Jian Guozhi.

"The way His Majesty grabbed the sword," Jian Guozhi replied.

"Please don't use that title. I am younger than you so you must not use the title, first brother," Ying Lili said.

"Your Majesty tell me, then what should I call you?" Jian Guozhi asked as he grabbed the other sword from the big table. Ying Lili after thinking for a while spoke, "Older brother can call me sister Lili."

"What about An Yinger, Your Majesty?" Jian Guozhi asked Ying Lili.

"My father used to call me that," Ying Lili replied and her eyes glazed over. Jian Guozhi realized that she made the crown princess remember about her father who was no longer among them.

"Please forgive this prince, An Ying'er. Forgive also my brother who despite being ordered could not save your father," Jian Guozhi asked for forgiveness.

Ying Lili smiled and spoke, "Big brother first, you don't need to apologize." Jian Guozhi smiled slightly at him.

"Ying'er, do you want to have a friendly sword fight with this prince?" Jian Guozhi asked. Ying Lili's eyes twinkled after hearing that. He shook his head in agreement.

"I won't be too hard on the crown princess," Jian Guozhi assured Ying Lili.

..."Please don't think of me as a gentle woman. Use your full strength because then it will be more pleasant and friendly" Ying Lili said. Jian Guozhi was amused by Ying Lili's seemingly kind request for him....