Standing under the scorching sun in full view of everyone, she waited for Shen Lixue to wake up. If word got out, Shen Lixue would be branded as arrogant and haughty. She refused to believe that Shen Lixue didn't care about her reputation.
"This servant will get you an umbrella!"
"This servant will bring you a chair!"
The two maids reported this and then ran away.
Su Yuting said calmly, "Bring an umbrella over, no need for a chair!" The weather was hot and the sun was scorching. If she stood directly in the sun without an umbrella, her face would be sunburned. She always cherished her appearance the most, and there was no need to sacrifice her beauty when scheming against Chen Lixue.
"Miss, you are physically weak. We don't know when Princess Lixue will wake up. Standing all the time will be too much for your body to handle!" the maid whispered, trying to comfort her.
"It's alright!" Su Yuting raised her lips, her beautiful eyes filled with cold light. If people saw her sitting in a chair, enjoying herself under an umbrella, they would have no sympathy for her, and she wouldn't be able to force Shen Lixue to speak out.
"Yes!" The little maid sighed inwardly, standing beside Su Yuting and holding an umbrella for her. Under the scorching sun, she was sweating profusely, her eyes frequently glancing towards the Zhanwang Mansion, wondering if the guards had reported her mistress's insistence to Shen Lixue.
The main building of the War King's Mansion, Lixue Pavilion, is a two-story building. The first floor has a bedroom, living room, and bathroom, while the second floor is a large study divided into inner and outer rooms. The outer room has bookshelves and books, while the inner room has a bed and brocade quilts and can be used as a living room.
Standing at the window of the study on the second floor, Shen Lixue looked down at the entire Zhanwang Mansion. She could see the rising sun to the east, the garden to the south, the rockery and pond to the west, and the trees and bamboo forest to the north. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Lixue Pavilion is indeed the best location in the Zhanwang Mansion."
Standing on the roof of the Prime Minister's residence's bamboo garden, she could only see rows of houses and walls; there was no scenery to be seen.
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance of bamboo. Shen Lixue's eyes flickered slightly as she leaped from the window and landed lightly on the ground. She walked slowly towards the bamboo forest. Was the two-story bamboo house in the forest still uninhabited, just like before?
The bamboo forest covered a large area and was surrounded by lanterns. It took Shen Lixue about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea to reach the entrance.
It was midday, and the area around the bamboo grove was deserted, without a single person in sight. A gentle breeze blew by, causing the bamboo to sway and its leaves to flutter. Shen Lixue lifted her foot, about to step into the bamboo grove, when a gust of wind blew by, and a white figure appeared in front of her with lightning speed, grabbing her waist and quickly retreating: "Be careful!"
She came to a stop, and a faint scent of pine resin wafted through the air. Shen Lixue struggled a couple of times but couldn't break free. She looked up at the person who had come in with displeasure: "Dongfang Heng, what are you doing?"
Dongfang Heng frowned, his arm around her waist tightening slightly. A flicker of lingering panic flashed in his dark eyes: "Luckily I arrived early, otherwise, you might be beheaded!"
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "Why?"
"This is a forbidden area, full of traps. Anyone who trespasses, except for the Imperial Uncle, will be killed without mercy. Didn't Steward Wang tell you that you can't enter here?" Dongfang Heng said each word slowly and deliberately, his gaze solemn. By the end, his voice was low and roaring, and a cold light lingered in his sharp eyes. If he had arrived any later, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"No way, I've been into the Green Bamboo Forest before and nothing happened!" Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng in confusion. The Green Bamboo Forest was very peaceful; it was just an ordinary bamboo forest. How could it be full of traps?
"When did you enter the bamboo forest?" Dongfang Heng's gaze sharpened.
"It was on the day Prince Zhan returned to the capital to attend court that Princess Yu'er and I came to Prince Zhan's mansion together." Shen Lixue was pulled by Dongfang Yu'er and ran all the way in without encountering any danger.
"You and Dongfang Yu'er both entered the Green Bamboo Forest, and nothing happened?" Dongfang Heng raised his two sword-like eyebrows slightly, not quite believing it.
“Yes!” Shen Lixue nodded: “We also went into the Green Bamboo Pavilion deep in the bamboo forest, but we didn’t find any traps!”
"That's impossible!" Dongfang Heng frowned. He clearly remembered that when he was just old enough to remember things, a man, out of curiosity, trespassed into the bamboo forest. He had only taken a dozen steps in the forest when he fell into a trap. When his body was pulled out, it was a gruesome sight.
“You’ll believe me once you’re inside the Green Bamboo Pavilion!” Shen Lixue grabbed Dongfang Heng’s arm and strode into the bamboo grove. If he didn’t believe her words, she would prove it with facts.
Dongfang Heng didn't want to trespass into the forbidden area designated by the War King, but seeing how vividly Shen Lixue described it, he wanted to verify the truth of the matter, so he went in.
The moment he stepped into the bamboo forest, he took a quick step, his strong arms tightly embracing Shen Lixue's small waist, keeping her in his sight and protecting her secretly. His sharp eyes warily watched every move around them.
One step, two steps... five steps... ten steps...
Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng walked a considerable distance, but the bamboo forest remained quiet, without a trace of danger.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow, as if to say, "See? There's no danger in the bamboo forest!"
Dongfang Heng did not feel joyful and relaxed. Instead, he frowned deeply. This shouldn't be the case. Could it be that the mechanism in the bamboo garden has been destroyed?
“Prince An, there’s no need to be surprised. All the mechanisms in the bamboo forest have been deactivated. You and the princess will be fine as you walk in!” Steward Wang’s voice rang out from all directions, his tone light and cheerful.
Shen Lixue was startled and quickly looked up. The surroundings were empty, except for her and Dongfang Heng. There was no one else in sight. "Butler Wang, are you in the bamboo forest?"
Steward Wang chuckled: "Your Highness, the Green Bamboo Grove is a forbidden area. Anyone who trespasses will be killed without mercy. I am in the secret room!"
Shen Lixue was startled: "Then why was I unharmed when I entered the Green Bamboo Forest?"
"The princess is the daughter of the War King and the mistress of the royal mansion. It is only natural for her to enter the bamboo forest. As for Prince An, he entered the bamboo forest with the princess, so he is naturally fine!" The steward's voice echoed from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint his exact location.
"So it turns out I'm benefiting from your influence!" Dongfang Heng's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he looked down at Shen Lixue, his arms around her waist tightening unconsciously.
Shen Lixue smiled, but was puzzled. On the day Prince Zhan first returned to the capital, she was not yet a princess of the Prince's mansion. Why did she not get into trouble when she entered the bamboo forest?
A guard walked to the edge of the bamboo grove, stopped, and said respectfully, "Princess, Su Yuting has been standing outside the palace gate for over an hour. Do you wish to see her?"
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "Su Yuting is still here!" In this sweltering heat, she must be about to faint from standing outside in the blazing sun for an hour.
"This humble servant advised Su Yuting to leave, but she said she would wait until you woke up and had time to see her!" Knowing that others disliked her, she still shamelessly refused to leave, standing in the sun for an hour without moving. This was the first time the guard had ever seen such a determined noble lady.
Shen Lixue smiled. Su Yuting stood outside the palace gates, waiting anxiously. The passing crowds would surely blame her for only caring about resting and not considering her guests at all, and for not knowing how to treat guests.
In order to force himself to see her, Su Yuting actually staged a self-inflicted injury!
"Please invite Su Yuting to the pavilion!" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow.
The guard responded and left.
Dongfang Heng looked at Shen Lixue, a cold glint flashing in his sharp eyes: "Su Yuting is plotting against you again!"
"I know!" Shen Lixue smiled, her gaze strange. Su Yuting came to the Prince's mansion with a purpose. She turned her away, hoping to discourage her. She didn't expect Su Yuting to try so hard to get into the mansion. "Considering that she has been standing for more than an hour, I should help her achieve her goal. I can't let her come for nothing."
Outside the Prime Minister's residence, Su Yuting stood quietly, like a statue, motionless. As time passed, her expression grew increasingly grim. Shen Lixue had actually allowed her to stand in the scorching sun for so long. Did she not care about her reputation at all?
The sun overhead was blazing, making people dizzy and lightheaded; even the gusts of wind carried a hot breath.
More than an hour has passed, and there has been no news from Shen Lixue. Does she not know that her mistress has been standing outside the mansion for a long time? Or does she already know and is trying to intimidate her mistress, but has been pretending not to know?