Qin Ruoyan and Bai Ling'er are both from the Southern Frontier. One is a master of poisons, and the other is a master of healing. One is ugly as a ghost, and the other is beautiful as a fairy. When the two of them meet, they will definitely have a lot to talk about. Why not let Qin Ruoyan give Bai Ling'er a try?
Qin Ruoyan and Bai Ling'er are both from the Southern Frontier. One is a master of poisons, and the other is a master of healing. One is ugly as a ghost, and the other is beautiful as a fairy. When the two of them meet, they will definitely have a lot to talk about. Why not let Qin Ruoyan give Bai Ling'er a try?
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... This chapter is just a temporary interlude. The real excitement starts tomorrow. Thank you all for the flowers, diamonds, rewards, and votes, mwah...
Chapter 138: Reencountering an Old Friend
Dongfang Heng's heart transplant was no small matter, and the matching heart had to be of the highest quality. No carelessness was allowed. Dongfang Xun secretly told Lin Yan, the Fifth Prince, and several other trustworthy friends about it.
The group, along with their guards, expanded their patrol area from the capital to fifty miles outside the city, especially in areas with mountains and rivers, where they increased their patrols and kept a close watch on the whereabouts of the heart.
Under the azure sky and bright sunshine, in the elegant and simple octagonal pavilion, sat a young couple. The man, dressed in white, was exceptionally handsome, with a hint of weariness in his eyes and a righteous air between his brows. In his jade-like hands, he held a translucent blue jade flute, which he gently played. The melodious flute music flowed slowly with the flowing sleeves of his robes, as beautiful as a poem or a song.
Shen Lixue wore a snow-blue cloud-patterned brocade dress, reflecting the crystal-clear pool behind her. Her sleeves seemed to be covered with a layer of water vapor, creating a hazy and indescribable beauty. A gentle breeze blew by, and she leaned against a pillar, closing her eyes slightly as she listened to the beautiful sound of the flute.
"Cough cough cough!" Suddenly, Dongfang Heng couldn't reach a certain pitch and started coughing violently.
Shen Lixue quickly opened her eyes, poured a cup of tea and handed it to Dongfang Heng: "Quickly moisten your lungs!" With her other small hand, she gently patted his back to help him stop coughing.
After drinking the tea, Dongfang Heng's cough gradually subsided. His pale face regained a rosy hue due to the violent coughing, making him even more handsome and charming.
"Dongfang Heng, when did you learn to play the flute?" Shen Lixue had known Dongfang Heng for three months, and this was the first time she had heard him play the flute.
Dongfang Heng smiled, his obsidian-like eyes deepening slightly: "I learned it when I was a child. After joining the army, I was so busy that I completely forgot about the flute. These past few days, I've been quite relaxed, and I happened to see this flute again, so I thought I'd try to see if I could still play it. Is the sound still good?"
"It's like heavenly music, the lingering sound echoes for three days!" Shen Lixue praised without reservation, Dongfang Heng's flute playing truly deserved this evaluation.
"Thank you for the compliment!" Dongfang Heng coughed lightly a few times: "Li Xue, do you know how to play chess?" He coughed, so he could no longer play the flute and had to do something else.
Shen Lixue nodded: "I know a little!" It has been five days since the Ghost Doctor diagnosed him. Dongfang Heng is weak and it is inconvenient for him to go out. She has also stayed at Fengsong Courtyard to take care of him. She is bored with nothing to do, so playing chess to pass the time is not bad.
"Let's play chess!" Dongfang Heng waved his hand, and a guard quickly went around the corner and soon brought back a chess set.
Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng, one holding white pieces and the other holding black pieces, began their contest on a black and white chessboard.
"What day of the month is it today?" Dongfang Heng asked abruptly as he placed a white jade chess piece.
"I'm so confused, I can't remember what day of the month it is!" A bitter smile crept onto Shen Lixue's faint smile. Telling Dongfang Heng the date was, in effect, telling him how many days he had left before his death. She had been living in Fengsong Courtyard, yet news kept pouring in:
Lin Yan, the Fifth Prince, found three people who had died unexpectedly outside the city. One had been dead for too long and his heart was no longer usable. Another was found to be unsuitable after a thorough examination. The third had problems with all his internal organs and was therefore unusable.
"Li Xue, what are you thinking about? It's your turn to play chess!" Dongfang Heng said softly, his voice magnetic and pleasant.
"Okay!" Shen Lixue snapped back to her senses, picked up a black chess piece, glanced at the board, quickly placed it on the board, and secretly looked at Dongfang Heng.
Dongfang Heng played chess intently, his obsidian-like eyes clear and unwavering, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
With only two-thirds of the month remaining, Lin Yan and his men expanded their patrol area once again. The Holy King's Mansion also dispatched many guards and secret agents to investigate openly and secretly, but they still couldn't find a suitable match for Dongfang Heng.
She knew all these things, and Dongfang Heng certainly knew even more. He wasn't anxious, sad, or burning with impatience. Instead, he sat there calmly playing chess with her. His composure, calmness, and ability to see through everything were truly admirable.
"Li Xue, you lost!" Dongfang Heng suddenly raised his eyes, a faint smile flickering in his deep eyes.
Shen Lixue looked down at the chessboard. Her black pieces were now completely surrounded by white pieces. The game was over, and there was no way to turn the tide: "We've only been playing for a quarter of an hour!"
In modern times, Shen Lixue was also very knowledgeable about chess. Although she had just lost her focus for a moment, the fact that Dongfang Heng was able to defeat her in such a short time showed just how superb his chess skills were.
"Your chess skills are not good enough!" Dongfang Heng smiled slightly as he picked up the black and white chess pieces and put them into the two chess bowls respectively.
“Then teach me how to play chess!” Shen Lixue stood up and sat down next to Dongfang Heng. Unwilling to admit defeat, she looked down at the black and white chessboard. Her dark eyes narrowed. How could she beat him?
"Alright!" Dongfang Heng, unaware of her thoughts, smiled and pointed to the black and white chess pieces in the chess cup: "Do you want the black pieces or the white pieces?"
“Hei Zi,” Shen Lixue answered softly.
A guard hurried over: "Princess, Steward Wang of the War Prince's Mansion requests that you return to the manor when you have time to handle some matters!"
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened: "Did he say what it was about?" She was busy taking care of Dongfang Heng and had entrusted all the affairs of the Zhanwang Mansion to Steward Wang. He sent someone to invite her back. Could it be that he encountered something very difficult?
The guard shook his head: "Steward Wang didn't say what the specifics were, only that they were all minor matters, and that the princess could simply go back and visit when she had time!"
Shen Lixue frowned. What trivial matter required her to return to the manor to handle?
Dongfang Heng noticed Shen Lixue's slightly furrowed brows and stood up gracefully: "I'll accompany you back to the War Prince's Mansion!"
“You’re injured and shouldn’t move around too much. You should rest well at home.” Shen Lixue grabbed Dongfang Heng’s shoulder and pressed him back into his chair. “Butler Wang said it’s all minor matters that I can handle. I’ll come see you as soon as I’m done!”
"Be careful on the road!" Shen Lixue was stubborn, so Dongfang Heng didn't insist. He held her small hand tightly and gently reminded her.
"I know!" Shen Lixue lightly kissed Dongfang Heng's thin lips, then solemnly instructed, "Remember to take your medicine on time and get some rest!"
"Okay!" Dongfang Heng nodded with a smile.
Shen Lixue turned around and quickly walked out of the pavilion. Her slender figure emerged from the second gate amidst the fluttering of her clothes, disappearing into the sunlight.
Dongfang Heng put down the black and white chess pieces in his hand, stood up and walked to the railing, standing against the wind. His black hair fluttered in the wind. He looked at the shimmering water, his handsome face cold and his eyes deep.
"Prince An, it's time to take your medicine!" Accompanied by a sweet female voice, Bai Ling'er gracefully walked into the pavilion, carrying a steaming bowl of medicine. Her light blue brocade skirt was embroidered with large crabapple blossoms, and her delicate updo was adorned with a white jade hairpin with a crabapple blossom design. She also wore crabapple blossom earrings on her small earlobes, exuding a noble and beautiful yet fresh and natural charm.
"Leave it for now!" Dongfang Heng stood still without turning around, his sharp gaze still fixed on the clear water.
"Alright!" Bai Ling'er gently put down the medicine bowl, her smiling gaze falling on the two black and white chess pieces scattered casually on the chessboard: "Are the Prince and the Princess playing chess?"
"Hmm!" Dongfang Heng coldly replied.
Bai Ling'er continued to look at the chessboard and commented, "Princess Li Xue's chess skills seem to be lacking!"