“He is also your brother. If we cooperate, he can also become your support. After you get married, having someone from your maternal family will give you more authority in your husband’s family…” Aunt Jin argued stubbornly, trying to gain more benefits for herself.
Shen Lixue sneered, "He's not even my own brother, how deep can our feelings be!" Having only known Aunt Jin for a short time, Shen Lixue had already figured out her personality perfectly. Aunt Jin only cared about herself and never considered others' feelings. No matter how good her promises were now, she could change her mind at any time after her son was born. Perhaps one day, to protect her and her child, Aunt Jin would push Shen Lixue out as a shield. Shen Lixue dared not trust or rely on such a person.
Aunt Jin's face flushed red, then paled, changing color more than ten times in an instant: "Miss, can you give me a few days to consider?" If Shen Lixue didn't cooperate with Aunt Jin, her chances of survival would increase. She didn't want to let someone else have this incredible opportunity, yet she dared not easily agree.
"I'll give you fifteen minutes. If you can't figure it out, then pretend I never said anything today!" Aunt Jin's weak and hesitant manner was irritating to watch. Shen Lixue had no intention of saying anything more to her and coldly issued her final ultimatum.
Aunt Jin was startled. If the other concubines were also pregnant and gave birth to sons, then the Prime Minister's estate would be divided equally, and her son would receive less. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Madam about this?" Her calm tone carried a hidden threat. If Madam found out about this, Shen Lixue would no longer be able to cause trouble for Madam or divert her attention.
"Go ahead and say whatever you want. You can test whether Madam's methods are more powerful or my prescription is stronger..." Shen Lixue smiled coldly. Aunt Jin really couldn't be trusted. She was already thinking of threatening her before she even left the room.
Shen Lixue spoke with unwavering conviction and without fear. Aunt Jin couldn't think of a better reason to threaten her, so she lowered her eyelids slightly. For the sake of her future support, for the future of the Prime Minister's estate, for wealth and glory, she would take this chance.
Aunt Jin gritted her teeth, hardened her heart, looked at Shen Lixue with a firm gaze: "I will obey the eldest young lady's orders!"
"Aunt Jin is a smart woman!" She knew Aunt Jin would make this choice. Shen Lixue smiled and handed over a prescription: "Take this medicine for ten days, and your body will be almost fully recovered!"
"Thank you so much, Miss!" Aunt Jin held the prescription, looked at it with delight, and left the bamboo garden with a smile. She was going to have a son soon, which was wonderful.
Concubine Jin was so overjoyed at the birth of her son that she completely forgot about Shen Caiyun in prison and Shen Lixue in the house.
Watching Aunt Jin's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Shen Lixue curled her lips into a cold smile. Lei Shi, the person Shen Yingxue sent to deal with her, had been tricked into turning against her and secretly targeting Lei Shi. When Lei Shi realized she had been schemed against, would she be furious...?
"It's already noon!" Dongfang Heng, dressed in white, walked out of the inner room. Whether it was Shen Lixue's imagination or not, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and he seemed to be in a very good mood.
Shen Lixue rubbed her forehead, sighed helplessly, and went to the post station for lunch!
"You really hate your concubine and half-sister?" Dongfang Heng had been sitting on the soft couch in the inner room, and he had overheard every word of the conversation between Shen Lixue and Concubine Jin. She refused to bring other women with her when she married him...
"Aunt Jin only cares about her daughter and never considers other people's feelings!" What does it mean that Shen Lixue brought Shen Caiyun with her when she got married? Wives and concubines entering the house on the same day, how could Aunt Jin even think of that? As for what Shen Yingxue said about marrying Zhan Wang and bringing Shen Caixuan with her, it was clearly a lie, but she actually believed it. She is hopelessly stupid.
"My husband, you must not take a concubine, you must not take a mistress, you must not take a maidservant, you must marry only me for the rest of your life, and love only me!" Shen Lixue looked at the bright sunlight outside the house and said her requirements in a low voice.
"One life, one love, one partner!" Dongfang Heng looked at Shen Lixue, his eyes deepening.
“That’s right!” Shen Lixue nodded. To be with one person for life is a dream and an aspiration.
“There aren’t many people in Qingyan who can do this!” Dongfang Heng’s gaze was deep. Not to mention noble families, even wealthy commoners would take concubines.
"If no one can do it, I will remain a single noblewoman and never marry!" Finding a husband must be done carefully. Shen Lixue believes in the principle of "better to have none than a bad one." If there is no suitable one, she would rather not marry than wrong herself by sharing a husband with someone else.
Dongfang Heng's handsome face instantly darkened: "Are you still going to the post station or not?" His calm voice carried an inexplicable anger that sent chills down everyone's spines. The maids all kept their distance, not daring to approach.
"Let's go!" Shen Lixue straightened her clothes and hair, walked out of the room, and Dongfang Heng glared at her with a gloomy face before following her.
Shen Lixue didn't want others to know that Dongfang Heng was in the Bamboo Garden, so she didn't go through the main gate. Instead, she climbed over the high wall and walked along the bustling street. Seeing that Dongfang Heng's complexion wasn't good, Shen Lixue asked, "Dongfang Heng, how often does your illness flare up now?" Her cousin Yan had once said that the more frequently his illness flared up, the closer he was to his death...
"I don't know, I haven't calculated it!" Dongfang Heng replied coldly, his face gloomy, as he strode forward.
"Who were those men in black last night?" Shen Lixue was lost in thought and didn't notice the displeasure in Dongfang Heng's voice. She asked again, "First they assassinated Ye Qianlong, then they tried to harm Dongfang Heng. One was skilled in archery, and the other in swordsmanship. Were they the same group?"
"I don't know, just kill them all!" Dongfang Heng replied briefly again, his face expressionless.
"Are you angry?" Shen Lixue was taken aback, stopped in her tracks, and looked at Dongfang Heng. She could feel the coldness emanating from him. What puzzled her was that he had been perfectly fine just a moment ago, so why did he suddenly become angry?
Dongfang Heng continued walking without stopping, his eyes fixed straight ahead: "No!"
"Is it because you're in a bad mood?" Shen Lixue's puzzled voice came from behind. Dongfang Heng frowned and said angrily, "No, it's not!" His mood has always been like this, neither good nor bad.
The footsteps behind him suddenly stopped. Dongfang Heng was startled and quickly turned around. The street was bustling with people, but Shen Lixue was nowhere to be seen. His heart was inexplicably panicked. He looked around and called out urgently, "Shen Lixue, Shen Lixue!"
The assassin dared not make a move during the day. Shen Lixue had been walking beside him the whole time, and he hadn't sensed the assassin's presence or any powerful aura. How could Shen Lixue have disappeared?
"I'm here!" Shen Lixue's light blue figure stepped out from the crowd. Dongfang Heng's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, relaxed. His slightly clenched hand quietly loosened, and something bright red was handed to him: "This is for you!"
"Candied hawthorn!" Dongfang Heng was taken aback, his face instantly darkening. He said coldly, "I don't like this!" It was inconceivable that the dignified Prince An, the God of War of the Azure Flame, would eat candied hawthorn on the street.
"It tastes really good, are you sure you don't want to eat it?" A glint of light flashed in Shen Lixue's clear eyes. She didn't like sweet and sour foods before, but after eating candied hawthorn once, she remembered its sweet and sour taste.
"I won't eat it!" Dongfang Heng refused decisively, his gaze seemingly casually drifting to the candied hawthorn in Shen Lixue's hand: "Why are there three skewers?"
"One skewer is for you, one skewer is for me, and the other one is for Ye Qianlong as an apology!" Dongfang Heng doesn't eat candied hawthorns, so he gave the extra skewer to Ye Qianlong. Shen Lixue's apology was sincere.
"Hold these for me while I go buy some pastries!" A fragrant aroma wafted in the wind, indicating that fresh pastries were being baked. Shen Lixue stuffed three strings of candied hawthorns into Dongfang Heng's hands and quickly walked to the pastry stall on the side.
The three strings of candied hawthorns were bright red and translucent, with the red sugar coating the red hawthorns, making them very attractive. People came and went around them, but no one paid any attention. Dongfang Heng's gaze darkened, and he quickly lowered his head and took a bite of the candied hawthorn.
"Dongfang Heng, I've finished buying the pastries..." Shen Lixue's cool voice sounded from behind. Dongfang Heng quickly hid the candied hawthorn he had bitten behind his back, turned around to look at Shen Lixue, and said with feigned composure, "Then let's go to the post station!"
“Dongfang Heng…” Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng, slightly taken aback. On his sexy thin lips was a small piece of red sugar, the same color as the brown sugar coating on the candied hawthorn, shimmering with a rosy luster under the sunlight…
"What's wrong?" Dongfang Heng asked, puzzled. Shen Lixue looked at him with a strange expression.
"It's nothing!" Shen Lixue shook her head, a beautiful smile curving her lips, as if she wanted to laugh but couldn't, forcibly suppressing it.
"Is there something on my face?" Dongfang Heng was even more puzzled when he saw Shen Lixue trying to suppress her laughter.
"No, no, it's getting late, let's go to the post station!" Shen Lixue took the two strings of candied hawthorns from Dongfang Heng and walked quickly toward the post station. If she didn't leave soon, she would burst out laughing.
"You took one less skewer!" Dongfang Heng glanced at the skewer of bright red candied hawthorns in his hand, which was missing a corner, and quickly followed after her, reminding Shen Lixue in a deep voice.
“That string of pearls is for you!” Shen Lixue answered without turning her head, her voice clear and cheerful.
Dongfang Heng looked at the candied hawthorns, walked quickly without saying a word, his gaze slightly deep.
Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng walked through the bustling main street and into a small alley. Through the alley, Shen Lixue saw the gate of the inn and sighed inwardly. It was already noon. She hoped Qianlong wouldn't be angry...
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Two sharp whooshing sounds came from behind. Shen Lixue was startled. Before she could put down what she was holding, the figure was already close by. A familiar face came into view. It was Nangong Xiao. Behind him was Ye Qianlong with a gloomy expression.