Qin Ruoyan was completely confused, but seeing Shen Lixue's little gesture, she smiled knowingly and cooperated perfectly in her act: "I really am a little tired, let's go have a meal first!"
Shen Lixue turned around and walked slowly forward. Qin Ruoyan walked beside her, and a rich fragrance wafted to her nose. Mu Zhengnan frowned, but his gaze did not leave the two of them. Princess Qingyan and Princess of Southern Xinjiang were both of noble status.
"Shen Lixue, what exactly do you want to do?" After leaving the courtyard, Qin Ruoyan lowered her voice and couldn't help but ask.
Shen Lixue slowed her pace and looked back at Mu Zhengnan: "Did you see that young man carrying vegetables?"
Qin Ruoyan stopped and turned around, glancing casually at the young man dressed in plain clothes and covered in sweat: "What's wrong with him?"
Shen Lixue smiled mysteriously: "You took him in!"
She wants to investigate the truth of what happened 15 years ago, which will inevitably lead to clashes with officials. Mu Zhengnan will have many opportunities to come into contact with officials. She doesn't want him to take advantage of this to get promoted and make a fortune, so she plans to set a trap to ensnare him.
Qin Ruoyan was stunned, then turned around abruptly to look at Shen Lixue, her beautiful eyes burning with anger: "Shen Lixue, I am, after all, a princess of the Southern Frontier. How could you ask me to choose this lowly commoner as my consort?" He's a vegetable seller, covered in sweat and stench. Is Shen Lixue trying to humiliate her by marrying her to this kind of person, or does she have some other ulterior motive?
Shen Lixue blinked: "Did I say I wanted him to be your consort?"
"Uh..." Qin Ruoyan paused in her noisy actions. Shen Lixue only told her to take in someone, but didn't say he had to be a prince consort: "If you don't want him to be a prince consort, then what do you want him to be?"
"Don't you like men? Why not take him as your male concubine? Take a closer look, he's not bad-looking!" Shen Lixue smiled sweetly, like a hundred flowers blooming. The Southern Border Prince Consort is a person of noble status, she is not here to fulfill Mu Zhengnan's wishes.
"Really?" Qin Ruoyan looked at Mu Zhengnan carefully with some doubt. He was dressed in plain clothes, which could not hide his tall figure. His messy hair revealed a resolute and handsome face. The front of his clothes was slightly open, revealing his bronze chest, which was very strong and would feel very comfortable to touch.
"Not bad, not bad!" Qin Ruoyan exclaimed, nodding repeatedly. He was exactly her type. As a male concubine, he was truly excellent. The thing Shen Lixue asked her to do was to give her this generous gift. She hadn't lost out; she had actually gained.
"If Princess Qin likes it, that's good!" Qin Ruoyan likes to torture men with all kinds of instruments of torture. Mu Zhengnan will definitely have a 'good life' if he follows her!
"If I accidentally cripple or kill him, you won't blame me, will you?" The handsome man was a gift from Shen Lixue in disguise. She needed to clarify Shen Lixue's requirements. If Shen Lixue only wanted him to suffer, but she killed him, it would be like messing up her promise, and she wouldn't be able to explain it.
"No." Shen Lixue shook her head, her answer firm and resolute: "He has become the princess's man. She can kill or torture him as she pleases. However, the princess must keep him by her side and never let him bewitch other women again!"
"Don't worry, once he becomes my person, he must serve me wholeheartedly. He can forget about flirting with other women again!" Qin Ruoyan's small eyes gleamed with lust. "Shen Lixue, is there anything else?"
"No more!" Shen Lixue shook her head. Even through the long white veil, she could feel Qin Ruoyan's burning gaze. She was truly impatient.
"Then I'll go collect handsome men, you can do as you please!" Qin Ruoyan turned around and gracefully walked towards Mu Zhengnan.
Born into the royal family of Southern Xinjiang, she possessed an elegant demeanor. With the same swaying gait, her walk exuded an indescribable allure and charm, captivating hearts.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow: "Qin Ruoyan, Mu Zhengnan is a smart man. If you go there looking like this, he will definitely suspect that you have ulterior motives and will never become your lover!"
Qin Ruoyan was taken aback and turned to look at Shen Lixue: "Then what should I do?" It's so agonizing to have a handsome man so close yet be unable to get close.
Shen Lixue smiled mysteriously: "You don't need to do anything. At the fork in the road ahead, you go left and I'll go right. After we separate, he will come looking for you!"
"Really?" Qin Ruoyan asked with some doubt, slowly stepping onto the path on the left.
After turning the corner, Shen Lixue did not leave, but stood at the corner looking at the courtyard. About fifteen minutes later, Mu Zhengnan pushed the empty cart out, looked around to make sure no one was there, placed the cart in a hidden spot, and quickly ran towards Qin Ruoyan.
Shen Lixue walked out of the corner, looked in the direction he disappeared, and sneered. Mu Zhengnan was eager to rise above others and attain a high position. Her bringing Qin Ruoyan to the courtyard was like building a ladder for him to climb up. He, who knew best how to seize opportunities, would not let it go.
Turning around, Shen Lixue's cold eyes reflected a figure in light blue. The figure was handsome, with a gentle smile, and an ethereal air. A faint minty fragrance wafted through the air, just like the person himself, elusive and intangible.
"Young Master Xun!" Shen Lixue was taken aback. When did he arrive? She hadn't noticed at all.
"The banquet is about to begin in the front hall, Miss Shen, please!" Dongfang Xun smiled slightly, nonchalantly. He didn't ask why Shen Lixue was here, nor did he explain why she was there.
"Please, Young Master Xun!" Shen Lixue smiled, turned and walked towards the front hall. Dongfang Xun didn't mention the matter from earlier, so there was no need for her to bring it up herself and walk right into a trap.
Dongfang Xun and Shen Lixue walked on either side of the road, two or three meters apart. Neither of them spoke. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the faint scent of mint and a cool, elegant fragrance.
Dongfang Xun's gentle smile froze for a moment, but he continued walking slowly without stopping.
As soon as Shen Lixue stepped into the front yard, a group of people walked towards her. More precisely, a group of maids surrounded a woman. The woman was wearing a long dress with light gold trim, a red-gold hairpin with rubies in her hair, and gold earrings with diamonds. From a distance, she looked dazzling with gold.
"Princess Lixue!" The woman in gold spotted Shen Lixue and waved to her from afar.
Shen Lixue rubbed her forehead. Noble banquets are usually attended by officials with their wives and children. Aunt Jin is just a concubine, what is she doing here?
"Princess, the Prime Minister is unwell and unable to attend the banquet. He specially sent me to present this congratulatory gift!" Aunt Jin came to Shen Lixue's side, her hand stroking her slightly protruding belly. Her smile was radiant, and her beautiful eyes sparkled as she occasionally glanced around the scene in the mansion.
The banquet held at the Duke of Wu's mansion was truly extraordinary. The scale was so grand, and so many guests were invited. It must have been officials of all ranks from the court who came. Being the principal wife, she was truly blessed to be able to meet all sorts of important people.
Tsk tsk, luckily I was smart enough to listen to the man in black. After presenting the gift, I didn't leave immediately but took the opportunity to enter the mansion and broaden my horizons.
Shen Lixue smiled politely: "Aunt Jin is pregnant and should not stand for long. Please come into the front hall to rest!"
"Thank you, Princess!" Aunt Jin smiled brightly, opened her arms, and was gently supported by four or five maids as she entered the front hall. Her procession was like that of an empress, causing a sensation wherever she went. Guests whispered among themselves, "Whose wife is she? We've never seen her before."
"I don't know, but the scale is certainly impressive!" one person said dismissively, his eyes full of disdain.
"It looks like Concubine Jin from the Prime Minister's residence." Someone recognized Concubine Jin.
"She's a concubine, pregnant, attending this banquet?" The noblewomen were astonished. Concubines and mistresses were of low status and not qualified to attend such banquets. Not only did Concubine Jin come in, but she also showed off in various ways. Her behavior was truly vulgar and unbearable to look at.
"Look at her smugness, so petty and narrow-minded, she's never seen the world..." one person scoffed.
"A concubine from the Prime Minister's mansion, she's just a poor girl with limited knowledge!" another person mocked indirectly.
Lost in her own thoughts, Aunt Jin didn't hear the whispers of the noblewomen. Sitting in her chair, she was happily indulging in self-admiration, thinking that once she became the official wife of the Prime Minister, she could attend such banquets frequently and sit on equal footing with the nobles.
Shen Lixue frowned. The Prime Minister's residence has three concubines: Concubine Jin, Concubine Zhao, and Concubine Li. Why send the most brainless Concubine Jin to deliver the gift? After today, there will be another topic of discussion among the noble families.
Dongfang Xun looked at Shen Lixue, who was frowning, his robes fluttering lightly, his gentle smile deepening: "You have a way to deal with annoying vegetable farmers, but you can't deal with this concubine?"
Shen Lixue suddenly looked up at Dongfang Xun, only to see him still smiling gently, his gaze fixed on the banquet hall, as if he hadn't said those words. Looking around at the other guests, they were chatting in twos and threes, seemingly oblivious to what had just been said.
Shen Lixue frowned. Could it be that she had used a secret telepathic communication that only she could hear? Dongfang Xun had indeed seen her scheme against Mu Zhengnan. This prince of the Holy King witnessed the entire process, yet remained silent and quietly watched the show. His patience alone was beyond what ordinary people could match. He was definitely not a simple character.