Chapter 800: Embraced warmly
Chapter 800: Embraced warmly
Seven Years Later:
A young girl could be seen braiding the hair of a person, who was seated on the mattress. The person was none other than Sheng Li. He had his eyes closed and let her daughter braid his hair.
"Young Princess, don't play with the hair of your father," Eunuch Xing-Fu said politely to Yīnghuā, who had a silk ribbon in her hand.
"But Father said that he likes it," Yīnghuā said and put her tiny hands down. "Does Father hate what Yīnghuā does?" She asked and peered into his eyes.
"Of course, Young Princess. He is the Emperor of the Han Kingdom. What if someone sees His Majesty this way? The Young Princess can ask any palace maid to play with her. His Majesty has to delay the court session," Xing-Fu made Yīnghuā understand.
Sheng Li opened his eyes and glanced at Xing-Fu. "Do not listen to Eunuch Xing-Fu. He has turned old, so he likes to nag. I can dedicate my time entirely to Princess Yīnghuā." Sheng Li lightly pinched her cheeks and it made her smile. Eunuch Xing-Fu got tongue-tied upon hearing the words of the Emperor.
"Father is the best," Yīnghuā said and wrapped her tiny arms around Sheng Li's neck. Sheng Li gently put his hand on his daughter's back and caressed it while smiling.
Yīnghuā pulled away and looked at the braid which had opened. "Aish! My Father's hair is so smooth that the braid loosened," she said and folded her arms.
"Start again," Sheng Li encouraged her.
"Your Majesty, the ministers are waiting for you. They might get upset," Eunuch Xing-Fu again intervened between the father & daughter.
Yīnghuā glanced in Eunuch Xing-Fu's direction, who had lowered his head. "I will brush Father's hair. He shall go to the court. I will play with Uncle Yu," Yīnghuā said and bent down to pick the comb to brush Sheng Li's hair.
She moved behind Sheng Li, who glared at Eunuch Xing-Fu, who brought his hands on his ears to apologize.
"Father, I told my younger sister Li Jing that I play with Father every evening. She asked if she could play with Father too," Yīnghuā asked for Sheng Li's permission.
"Of course. My both daughters can play with me," Sheng Li agreed to Yīnghuā, who thanked him. "I will ask Brother Zemin to join me," he murmured.
Yīnghuā wondered how to make a hair bun and recalled how her mother used to do it every day.
"Father, since mother has gone out, then I will make the hair bun. I will try my best," Yīnghuā stated. Xing-Fu again tried to stop her. However, this time Sheng Li gestured to him to keep quiet. He tightly pressed his lips together and let the young princess do her work.
Yīnghuā somehow made the hair bun at the top of Sheng Li's head and put the hairpin inside it before the knot holder that the maidservant had handed her earlier. She then handed the mirror to Sheng Li and asked him if it was good.
"My daughter has made the same hair bun as her mother makes. I loved it," Sheng Li complimented her, who came to his front and saw the tiny fringes on Sheng Li's forehead.
Eunuch Xing-Fu and the other servants present in the chamber knew that the hair bun was not made perfect. "Everyone will definitely ask His Majesty in the court what has happened to his hair," he murmured and shook his head.
"But it seems Senior Eunuch Xing-Fu didn't like it," Yīnghuā said and he immediately looked in her direction. More than the Emperor, Xing-Fu feared this young princess. That sharp beam of Yīnghuā always intimidated Xing-Fu.
"Of course, I like it, Young Princess," Xing-Fu was forced to lie as he saw Sheng Li's glare falling at him. Yīnghuā had all the traits of his father. He forced a smile on his lips and asked the Emperor to put on the crown. He was scared that the Crown would fall since the hair bun wasn't made that well.
"Senior Eunuch Xing-Fu likes it means I made it well," Yīnghuā stated and asked Sheng Li to quickly go to the Court. Sheng Li hummed and put the crown over his head and asked the personal attendant to take Yīnghuā to her chamber.
The young maid came forward and asked Yīnghuā to come with her. Sheng Li stopped her and kissed the cheek of his daughter and caressed her hair. "Father will complete his works as soon as possible," asserted Sheng Li.
"Father shall take his time. I will study hard and then help him as soon as I grow up," Yīnghuā stated and kissed the right cheek of his father. Sheng Li smiled and instructed the attendant to keep looking at the Princess.
After they left, Sheng Li asked Xing-Fu to help him.
"Why did His Majesty lie to the Young Princess? The work has increased," Eunuch Xing-Fu complained and started to make the hair bun.
"In this world, there are a few things that I can never do: hurting my daughter's heart. Yīnghuā put in so much effort, so I decided to lie," Sheng Li replied. "But where is the Prince? Is the Prince again planning to do pranks!?" he queried.
"I do not know, Your Majesty," he replied and placed the crown on Sheng Li's head.
"Hmm. Since Lili has gone to the shrine, keep a check on Lóng Jingguo. He is more rebellious than me. I never troubled anyone so much," Sheng Li muttered and sighed. Xing-Fu stepped back and asked the servant to bring the Golden Dragon robe. Sheng Li put it on and they left for the Imperial Court.
"However, His Majesty used to do the opposite of what he was told. Both his son and daughter got his traits," Xing-Fu remarked.
"Yīnghuā is like Lili. Such a smart daughter I have," Sheng Li said and smiled. They reached outside the court and walked in.
~~~~~~
"What are you scared of? Just throw it towards Eunuch Zhen. Last time he threw our football far away. This mud water is the best for him," Lóng Jingguo affirmed and looked at Zhao Shi, the son of Nianzu and Chuntao.
"Father will scold me. He told me not to disturb anyone and be kind. Always forgive since it's the greatest treasure," Zhao Shi said with slight fear.
"You are the brother of Lóng Jingguo, who never gets scared. How will you survive this tough world if you cannot accomplish this task?" Lóng Jingguo tried to give him encouragement.
"Brother Jingguo, I shall help Brother Zhao Shi," Jingren, the son of Jian Guozhi and Xue Yu-Yan said.
"If Brother Jingren will help Brother Zhao Shi, then he will never become as strong as us," Lóng Jingguo affirmed. "Where is Wang Shubao? He promised that he would come early in the morning," he complained and looked towards the palace ground while resting his hands on his waist.
"His father is the General in the army. He mus
t be getting trained. Poor Shubao!" Jingren stated when his eyes fell on Ying Lili.
"Aunt is here!" Jingren informed them and widened his eyes.
"It's your mother, Brother Jingguo," Xi Feng, the son of Lei Wanxi and Zhu Lin, informed Jingguo.
Lóng Jingguo and the other young princes looked in the direction where Jingren had his focus.
"Why did Mother return so early?" Lóng Jingguo muttered and turned to look at Jingren. To his surprise, all his brothers had vanished. He shut his eyes tightly and decided to run away when saw Court Lady Xu on the other side.
"I am stuck," he murmured and the next moment he cried in pain since Ying Lili caught his ear. "Ahhh, Mother! Mother! It is hurting," Lóng Jingguo said and tapped on Ying Lili's hand, pleading with her to leave him.
"Senior Court Lady, tell my mother to stop. I wasn't planning anything," Lóng Jingguo asked Court Lady Xu to intervene, who told Ying Lili to let the Young Prince go.
Ying Lili loosened her hand from his ear. Jingguo rubbed his ear. "Why does Prince Jingguo do that? Luckily, Yīnghuā was aware of all this." Ying Lili scolded her son a lot. Lóng Jingguo was shocked to learn that his sister complained about it to their mother.
"Sister Lili, this much anger isn't good on this lovely morning," Lei Wanxi came from the other side. "The Prince is young. Let the young kid play around," he tried to prevent Jingguo from getting more scolding.
Lóng Jingguo greeted Lei Wanxi, who ruffled his hair. He quickly hid behind Lei Wanxi and peeked out to look at his mother. "Sister Lili shall take rest. I will make my nephew understand," Lei Wanxi suggested to Ying Lili.
"Your Majesty, please come with me. Prince Jingguo will not do anything in the presence of Prince Wanxi," Court Lady Xu told Ying Lili. She also didn't want Ying Lili to scold the Young Prince too much. Ying Lili agreed and warned Jingguo to not trouble the people anymore.
"I won't, Mother. I promise," Jingguo said. Ying Lili left the place with her attendants while Lei Wanxi turned to Hu Jingguo.
"Thank you, Sixth Royal Uncle," Jingguo bowed and was ready to leave when Lei Wanxi stopped him. He got on his knees and caressed his head.
"Lóng Jingguo isn't supposed to trouble others. This way people will start to hate him," Lei Wanxi told him.
"But the Sixth Royal Uncle told me once that even my Father was a rebellious child. I have got his traits," Jingguo asserted with a proud smile.
"Hmm. However, Brother Sheng started to train himself when he turned 7. Jingguo will be the next Crown Prince. Isn't he supposed to become strong like his father?" Lei Wanxi asked him.
"I never thought of this, Sixth Royal Uncle. Mother teaches me always and Father does too. I have improved my archery skills too," Lóng Jingguo stated. "Eunuch Zhen threw our football away, so I thought to throw this water at him. I won't do it since the Sixth Royal Uncle told me so," he assured Lei Wanxi.
"Father always remains busy. So, I found this way to entertain myself," Jingguo stated.
"Lóng Jingguo, your name has a deep meaning in it. Both your mother and father got close to each other thanks to this person," Lei Wanxi stated. "Hu Jingguo was a great man and your father was upset for over a month for his loss. Your father loves you a lot. Your father will be happy if you become a righteous, cheerful, and kind person," Lei Wanxi affirmed. Jingguo carefully listened to him and promised him that he would not trouble them anymore.
Lei Wanxi stood up and asked him to come with him. He took Lóng Jingguo to the Imperial Court and decided to be on the back side with him, so that session would not be disturbed.
Lóng Jingguo was influenced to see his father giving the verdicts. He felt thrilled and internally he pledged to become like Sheng Li. After an hour, when the Court Session ended, Lóng Jingguo rushed to his father.
"Father, I will not trouble you and mother anymore. Please forgive my past mistakes, Father," Lóng Jingguo said and bowed. Sheng Li was surprised to hear him and quickly stepped down the stairs. He walked to his son and got on his one knee. His one leg laid flatly against the floor and his hands rested on his son's shoulders.
"What happened to my son suddenly?" Sheng Li was perplexed to hear him. The other Princes were also bewildered to hear the young prince's words.
"I troubled everyone around me. The Sixth Royal Uncle's words made me realize that I must use my energy for something good. I will become like my father," Lóng Jingguo said.
Sheng Li smiled at him. "You don't need to become like me. You have an identity of your own, Lóng Jingguo. Do everything you want to do, but don't forget the path on which you are. That's the most important thing. Sheng Li will be happy to see his son succeed in life. I want his happiness over anything else," Sheng Li pronounced.
Lóng Jingguo was able to understand a few of his father's words. "I know that I must walk on the right path. Be a kind and humble person like my mother. Be strong, full of intellect like my father, and my Royal Uncles," he stated and smiled.
"I think I angered my mother. I shall apologize to my mother," he informed Sheng Li.
Sheng Li nodded and carried him up in his arms. "Let's go," Sheng Li said and left the court.
Upon reaching outside the chamber, Sheng Li put Lóng Jingguo down. "I will handle your mother. Just keep your words simple and genuine," Sheng Li told him. Lóng Jingguo nodded at him and they both walked in.
Ying Lili was with Yīnghuā, who recited to her the new words that she learned the previous day. She stopped upon seeing her father and younger brother.
Ying Lili turned to check and found her husband and son. "Mother," Lóng Jingguo came forward and started to apologize to her. Ying Lili was surprised to see the sudden change in her son's attitude.
"Forgive our son. He has realized his mistakes," Sheng Li told her.
"Is the Prince genuine in his response?" Ying Lili asked Lóng Jingguo, who nodded his head.
"I won't trouble anyone anymore," Lóng Jingguo promised her mother, who walked to him and embraced her son warmly. She caressed his back and told him that she had faith in him.
After a while, she pulled back and stood up. Sheng Li went to her and put his arm around her shoulder. They embraced their kids warmly, who had come closer to them.
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