"Thank you!" A faint minty scent wafted around her. Shen Lixue frowned slightly. She didn't like having too close contact with other men. She quickly straightened up, preparing to distance herself from him, when a familiar voice called out from behind: "Lixue!"
Shen Lixue froze, then turned her head sharply. A figure stood on the white marble steps, dressed in a white brocade robe, with an elegant and handsome appearance. He stood at the doorway, like a touch of poetic beauty added to a solemn ink painting, like the finishing touch that brightened up the whole picture. That figure stared directly at her, with a hint of anger lingering in his eyes.
"Dongfang Heng!" Shen Lixue quickly pried the man's arms off her waist, met Dongfang Heng's sharp gaze, and said, word by word, "We met by chance, and things are not what you think."
The man smiled faintly, showing no embarrassment or unease at being caught doing something wrong.
Dongfang Heng's sharp gaze left Shen Lixue and fell on the man, and he was slightly taken aback: "Big Brother!"
"Big brother!" Shen Lixue was also taken aback. She felt that the man's appearance was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him before. It turned out that he was the Crown Prince of the Holy King, and his appearance was somewhat similar to that of Dongfang Heng.
Dongfang Xun looked at Dongfang Heng, smiled faintly, raised his hand, and waved his sleeve, his movements as graceful as an immortal: "Second brother, it's been a long time. How is your injury?"
"It's alright!" Dongfang Heng's voice was very calm, making it impossible to discern any emotion in his words.
"I brought some medicinal herbs that will help with your injury!" Dongfang Xun smiled and waved the box in his hand.
"Thank you!" Dongfang Heng glanced at the boxes, his deep gaze calm and unwavering. He walked down the steps and tightly grasped Shen Lixue's small hand: "The outside is not the place to talk. Come inside and we'll discuss what's on your mind!"
"Alright!" Dongfang Xun smiled slightly, looked up at the plaque above the gate, the three characters "Holy King's Mansion" shining brightly in the morning light. His eyes darkened slightly, and a barely audible sigh escaped from the corner of his mouth. He had returned to the Holy King's Mansion.
As they entered the Holy King's Mansion, Dongfang Heng's hand tightened unconsciously. Shen Lixue's small hand ached from his grip. She tried to shake him off a few times, but he only held her tighter: "Dongfang Heng, you're going to crush my hand!"
"Is that so?" Dongfang Heng loosened his grip slightly, but did not let go of the soft, boneless hand: "The Holy King's Mansion has many medicinal herbs!"
Shen Lixue's bright face instantly darkened: "Are you planning to crush my hand and then use medicinal herbs to heal it?"
"Good idea!" Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow, a graceful smile curving his lips.
"Dongfang Heng!" Shen Lixue shouted angrily, and with a flick of her wrist, two silver needles pierced towards Dongfang Heng's hand.
"Too slow!" Dongfang Heng reached out and grabbed Shen Lixue's wrist. Looking at the glint of cold light flashing on the needle tip, a faint smile appeared on his lips, and a hint of amusement also appeared in his cold eyes.
Dongfang Xun's gentle smile faltered slightly. When did his cold-hearted and ruthless second brother, who hated contact with people the most, start getting close to women? Skin to skin, intimately close, even the icy coldness in his eyes softened. Was his complete change due to this woman?
Dongfang Xun's gaze fell on Shen Lixue. Her long dress trailed on the ground, exuding elegance and nobility in a fresh and natural way. Her bright face and dazzling smile were captivating. The crystal swallows turned gently with her movements, as if they were alive.
She was indeed very beautiful, but there were many women as beautiful as her in Qingyan. Shen Yingxue, the most beautiful woman in the capital, and Su Yuting, the most talented woman, were both infatuated with him, but he had never been interested in them. This woman must have something special to win his favor.
"Your Highness!" The steward hurried over, quickly taking the boxes of various sizes from Dongfang Xun's hands, his eyes glistening with tears: "You're back!"
Dongfang Xun smiled and nodded gently, his warm gaze still fixed on Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue: "Second brother, I'll put these medicinal herbs in the pharmacy first. Remember to come and see which ones are suitable for your injuries!"
"Okay!" Dongfang Heng paused slightly, gently took that soft, boneless hand, and headed towards Maple Pine Garden.
Behind the two, Dongfang Xun smiled slightly, gazing at their departing figures for a long time. His sharp eyes were filled with thought. Only after they could no longer be seen did he turn around and slowly walk towards the pharmacy.
Feeling the gaze that had been following her closely, Shen Lixue lowered her voice and asked Dongfang Heng, "Why does your elder brother travel around all year round?"
“He likes to be carefree and doesn’t like being tied down!” Dongfang Heng replied with a frown.
Shen Lixue nodded: "His smile is as warm as a spring breeze, and his temperament is as ethereal as an immortal. He is indeed a free spirit, like a bird that is suited to fly freely in the world. If he is confined to the Holy King's Mansion for many years, it would be as if his wings were tied!"
"You're quite observant!" Dongfang Heng's clear, spring-like eyes scrutinized her, a hint of anger lurking in their depths.
“He’s your older brother, I was just curious!” Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng, raised her eyebrows. They were brothers, and their appearances were somewhat similar, but their personalities were worlds apart.
"Dongfang Heng, are you aware of what happened at the Prime Minister's residence?" Dongfang Heng had arranged for people to monitor the residence day and night, and he was fully aware of every move it made. He must have known about the sensational event of Lei Yarong being burned to death long ago.
"I have already ordered people to spread the news. Everyone in the capital knows that Lei Yarong committed adultery and was caught red-handed by Shen Minghui and burned to death!" Shen Lixue wanted to deal with the Prime Minister's Mansion, so he helped her and drove the Prime Minister's Mansion to the brink of destruction.
"Thank you!" Shen Lixue reached out and took Dongfang Heng's arm. "Do you know about Gu poison?"
"I know a little. Shen Minghui and Lei Hong have both been poisoned by Gu." Gu poison has always been a taboo for Qingyan. Dongfang Heng had secretly learned about it and knew how evil and powerful Gu poison was.
“The Gu poison was prepared for me by Lei Hong, but I accidentally put it on Shen Minghui and Lei Hong.” Shen Lixue paused, then continued, “After Lei Yarong died, Grand Commandant Lei pinned the blame on her and her lover, Azhi. She was the legitimate daughter of the Grand Commandant’s family. Do you think the Emperor will suspect that the Gu poison is related to the Grand Commandant’s family?”
Dongfang Heng's gaze sharpened: "We will have suspicions, but we won't be entirely certain, because Lei Hong was also affected by the Gu, which is enough to clear them of some suspicion!"
Shen Lixue frowned. Lei Hong dared to use Gu, and he had an antidote, which showed that he understood Gu. There must be Gu in the Grand Commandant's mansion. As long as the right opportunity is found, we can find those Gu and punish Grand Commandant Lei!
Dongfang Heng's room was elegant, dignified, clean, and refreshing, with a faint scent of pine wafting through the air.
Dongfang Heng released Shen Lixue's small hand and looked at the pear wood screen: "The water behind the screen has been freshly changed. You can take a bath and change your clothes!"
"I took a bath last night and didn't sweat, so there's no need for me to bathe and change clothes again, right?" Shen Lixue came to the Holy King's Mansion to ask Dongfang Heng a few questions. She planned to leave after asking them and didn't intend to stay long. Bathing and changing clothes would be unnecessary if possible.
Dongfang Heng frowned as he looked at Shen Lixue's waist: "Your clothes smell bad!"
Shen Lixue was taken aback and sniffed: "Is it the smell of fireworks or the smell of blood?" Many people in the Prime Minister's residence bled last night, and she stood in front of the fireworks for an hour or two, so it was inevitable that she would pick up these smells.
"Both." The smells of smoke and blood had faded to almost imperceptible after being blown away by the breeze. The main thing was that her clothes had been touched by a man, and his scent remained on them.
"I'm going to take a bath!" Shen Lixue was clean, and Dongfang Heng also disliked the smell of blood and smoke. If there was anything important, he would wait until she had bathed before talking to her.
"Hmm!" A barely perceptible smile appeared on Dongfang Heng's lips. Seeing that Shen Lixue had taken the clothes behind the screen, he guessed that she would finish bathing in a while. He turned and left the room, heading towards the pharmacy.
The butler placed the boxes on a high table in the pharmacy. Dongfang Xun stood in front of the table, slowly sorting them one by one, his sleeves flowing gracefully.
Dongfang Heng walked in, casually picked up a box and opened it, revealing a century-old ginseng. Looking at the other boxes, he saw they contained various rare medicinal herbs: "Thank you!"
Dongfang Xun smiled slightly: "Shen Lixue is my second brother's fiancée!"
"Hmm!" Dongfang Heng nodded, his taut facial features softening into a beautiful, poetic expression.
Dongfang Xun smiled faintly: "Second brother is not someone bound by marriage!"
Dongfang Heng frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes: "I like her, not because of that marriage contract!"