"Really?" Shen Caixuan's eyes lit up, and a smile spread from the corners of her eyes, instantly covering her entire face: "Big sister, eat more if you like it!" Her gaze casually swept over Dongfang Zhan.
"Prince Zhan, Sister Yingxue, you should try them too. Third Sister's pastries are very good!" Shen Lixue followed Shen Caixuan's suggestion and smiled modestly, offering them to Dongfang Zhan and Shen Yingxue: Shen Caixuan's pastries were made for Dongfang Zhan, so of course he should try them.
"It's rare to see Miss Shen praise someone, it seems the Third Miss's pastries are exceptionally delicious!" Dongfang Zhan was persuaded, smiling as he picked up a piece of pastry, put it in his mouth and chewed it gently. He nodded, his gaze towards Shen Caixuan full of praise: "The taste is really good!"
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness!" Shen Caixuan curtsied gracefully, her expression shy and timid. Prince Zhan finally looked at her directly.
"Both my elder sister and the prince praised it, so it seems that my third sister's pastries taste very good. I'd like to try them too!"
Shen Yingxue's dazzling smile carried a hidden chill and sharpness. Shen Caixuan's smug smile froze abruptly as she felt a cold draft seep into her back, instantly reaching her limbs, chilling her to the bone. She lowered her head, hesitant, not daring to step forward.
Sister Yingxue is angry. If I go up to her, I'll definitely be in trouble. But if I don't go up to her, she'll definitely find a reason to punish me. What should I do?
Shen Caixuan was like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously pacing around in circles.
Dongfang Zhan smiled gently and remained silent, it was unclear whether he truly did not understand Shen Yingxue's intentions or was pretending not to.
Seeing that Dongfang Zhan had no intention of helping, Shen Lixue smiled and said, "Sister Ying has injured her lungs and internal organs, so she needs to drink more porridge and soup to nourish herself. The pastries are a bit coarse, so it would be best if Sister Ying ate less or none at all..."
If Shen Caixuan walks over, Shen Yingxue will definitely find a reason to knock over her pastries. Shen Caixuan will be frustrated and leave in a sorry state, and then the play will lose its appeal. To continue watching the exciting part, Shen Caixuan must stay and continue to provoke Shen Yingxue.
"Yes, Sister Yingxue, I'll learn to make porridge with the cook another day and make it for you!" Shen Caixuan was adept at changing her tune and flattering people to the extreme. Even though it was just an ordinary sentence, it sounded very pleasant coming from her mouth.
Normally, Shen Yingxue would have been pleased and cheerful by her flattery, but this was a special time. Shen Yingxue was seriously injured and eager to show off her charm. Shen Caixuan's pastries drew Dongfang Zhan's attention to her. Shen Yingxue was very angry, but she couldn't go too far in front of others, so she said irritably, "Thank you for your kindness, little sister!" That bitch, she'd deal with her when they got back to Xueyuan.
Looking at Dongfang Zhan, Shen Yingxue's cold eyes instantly softened to the point of being watery: "Yingxue hasn't thanked Prince Zhan for the epiphyllum yet!" Her charming yet slightly hoarse voice was filled with pride and smugness. Dongfang Zhan admired her and gave her many things. In this respect, neither Shen Caixuan nor Shen Lixue could compare.
"I'm glad you like it, Miss!" Dongfang Zhan smiled gently, his smile as warm and refined as jade.
"Caixuan also thanks Your Highness for the imperial edict and lotus flowers!" Shen Caixuan bowed shyly in thanks.
When the pot of Epiphyllum was delivered to Xuan Pavilion, Aunt Li (Shen Caixuan's mother) told her that the lotus flower represents purity and admiration. She said that Prince Zhan might be interested in her, so she dressed her in the most beautiful clothes, wore the most beautiful jewelry, and made the sweetest pastries to test him. Prince Zhan ate her pastries and praised them repeatedly. Does this mean he is interested in her?
She was an illegitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, and was not a good match for the noble Prince Zhan. However, if Prince Zhan favored her, she could still become a concubine.
Shen Yingxue's angry gaze suddenly shot towards Shen Caixuan. When did this bitch hook up with Prince Zhan? With her looks, she dares to compare herself to her. She's overestimating herself. However, she did manage to get Prince Zhan to give her the Arrow Lotus Flower. Her methods are quite good. I've underestimated her all these years.
Shen Lixue stood aside with a slight smile, leisurely watching the show. Shen Caixuan was simple-minded and only wanted to get Dongfang Zhan's attention, forgetting to consider Shen Yingxue's feelings. She had the upper hand now, but after Dongfang Zhan left, she would suffer greatly...
"I'm glad you like it, Miss!" Dongfang Zhan said politely, his gentle gaze turning to Shen Lixue, a smile playing on his lips, unfathomable: "Does Miss like that pot of thousand-petaled begonia?"
"Thank you, Prince Zhan!" Shen Lixue smiled gently, thinking to herself, "Is Dongfang Zhan trying to drag me into this because he's not satisfied with the fight between Shen Yingxue and Shen Caixuan?"
Shen Caixuan was taken aback. The Prince Zhan had also given her eldest sister a thousand-petaled begonia. Could it be that he had designs on all three of them? Her eldest and second sisters were both legitimate daughters; they couldn't possibly share a husband. Besides, her eldest sister was already engaged…
Shen Yingxue's face darkened further. Zhan Wang gave Shen Lixue a thousand-petaled begonia, herself a night-blooming cereus, and Shen Caixuan an epiphyllum. Although her own flower was the most precious among the three, Zhan Wang loved her. Even if he gave them gifts out of politeness, he could have just given them something small as a token. There was no need to give them expensive flowers.
In Shen Yingxue's mind, Dongfang Zhan was a gentleman who was gentle and polite to all the women he knew, but that was only in terms of his gentle gaze and polite tone. Dongfang Zhan revolved around her and could only be nice to her. He could only give her gifts. Even if Shen Lixue and Shen Caixuan benefited from her and received a small gift, she would still feel uncomfortable.
Shen Lixue is really something. First she seduced Prince An, and now she's set her sights on Prince Zhan. What a slut! If we don't teach her a lesson, she'll never know her place!
“Sister is already taken, it would be inappropriate for her to take Prince Zhan’s Thousand-Petaled Begonia as well!” Shen Yingxue smiled slightly, subtly mocking Shen Lixue for being promiscuous and unfaithful.
Shen Lixue smiled slightly, neither anxious nor annoyed: "What you say is very true, sister. I really shouldn't have accepted the Thousand-Petal Begonia. Sister Yingxue already has the Epiphyllum, and Sister Caixuan already has the Epiphyllum. How about I give this pot of Thousand-Petal Begonia to Sister Caiyun?"
Shen Yingxue's smug little face instantly darkened. Everyone in the Prime Minister's mansion knew that Shen Caiyun had taken the blame for her and that she owed her. Shen Lixue had given her the Thousand-Petal Begonia to make up for her mistake. She was her benefactor, and she hadn't even thought to thank her, needing an outsider like Shen Lixue to remind her. It was like she had been slapped hard in the face in front of everyone.
You jerk, you jerk, you jerk! You seize every opportunity to mock yourself!
"Waaaaah... My poor fourth young lady..." Aunt Jin (Shen Caiyun's mother) stood by the rockery, her hands covering her silk handkerchief, tears streaming down her face. Her sorrowful cries echoed throughout most of the Prime Minister's residence.
Hearing that the three young ladies in the manor had received precious flowers, she thought of her poor daughter and felt depressed, so she went out for a walk.
Seeing the three daughters of the Prime Minister's family standing under the shady tree, enjoying the cool breeze, chatting with the handsome Prince Zhan, she felt a pang of sadness. If her own daughter hadn't been imprisoned, she would surely be standing in this pavilion, laughing and chatting. With her beauty and intelligence, she would definitely have married into a good family and enjoyed a lifetime of wealth and honor.
But now, her daughter is in jail, her innocent reputation is ruined, and even if she's released, she won't be able to find a good husband...
Shen Yingxue's face was so black it looked like ink was dripping from it. Was Aunt Jin blaming her for making Shen Caixuan take the blame? She was just a lowly concubine's daughter. It was a blessing for her to take the blame. You lowly Aunt Jin, Shen Caiyun isn't dead yet, what are you crying about?
Shen Lixue shook her head, her clear, cold eyes slightly narrowing. Shen Caiyun's crime was already established. Even if Aunt Jin was worried about her daughter, she shouldn't cry in front of Shen Yingxue. Her crying was an accusation and expression of dissatisfaction towards Shen Yingxue. As the mistress of the Prime Minister's mansion, how could Madam Lei let her off easily? She would soon be in trouble!
"Don't be sad, Aunt Jin. Caiyun will be back soon!" Shen Caixuan walked over quickly, gently helped Aunt Jin up, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, as if she felt very sorry for Shen Caiyun's plight.
"Waaah... My poor fourth young lady, why is she so miserable..." Aunt Jin covered her face with a silk handkerchief and cried pitifully.
Shen Yingxue's face was gloomy, and her anger was surging. If it weren't for Dongfang Zhan being there, she would have ordered someone to slap Aunt Jin long ago.
Shen Lixue helplessly rubbed her forehead. From Aunt Jin's words and actions, she could sense that Aunt Jin had come to criticize Shen Yingxue. But how could Aunt Jin be so foolish, just repeating the same old story about Shen Caiyun's misfortune over and over again, without saying anything else...
Dongfang Zhan smiled slightly, remaining silent. He neither felt it was appropriate for him to interfere in other people's family affairs nor was he interested in asking about them.
"Young Miss." Qiu He walked over quickly. Perhaps because she had been running all the way, her face was flushed and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.
"What's wrong?" Shen Lixue turned around and frowned slightly. She rarely saw Qiuhe so flustered. Could something have happened at the bamboo garden?
"Prince An asked me to ask you if you still remember your promise last night to have breakfast together?" Qiuhe asked cautiously, while stealing glances at Shen Lixue's expression. Her mistress had promised to have breakfast with Prince An, but she hadn't even eaten a few bites before coming out to see Prince Zhan. No wonder Prince An was unhappy.
Shen Lixue was startled. Ye Qianlong! She had promised to go to the post station this morning to have breakfast with Ye Qianlong. Last night there was an assassination attempt, Dongfang Heng fell ill, and this morning Dongfang Zhan brought over the Thousand-Petal Begonia. One thing after another had happened, and she had forgotten about having breakfast...
That silly Ye Qianlong must still be waiting for her at the inn to have breakfast together, without having eaten a single bite yet...
With a look of guilt in her eyes, Shen Lixue turned around and strode towards the bamboo garden. Her clear, cold voice drifted through the air as she said goodbye: "Prince Zhan, Sister Yingxue, Sister Caixuan, Aunt Jin, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first!"
Watching Shen Lixue's retreating figure, Shen Yingxue gritted her teeth in anger. She had agreed to have breakfast with Prince An, yet she still tried to seduce Prince Zhan. She was truly shameless and utterly shameless. Prince An really doted on her; even at this hour, he was still waiting for her to have breakfast.
Shen Caixuan glared at Shen Lixue with envy and jealousy. How lucky she was to be able to have breakfast with Prince An!
Dongfang Zhan looked in the direction where Shen Lixue had disappeared, his gentle eyes slightly narrowing. Was she having breakfast with Dongfang Heng? It was almost noon.