Furthermore, the decorations in the mansion were all set up in the most festive and noble way, without incorporating Li Youlan's preferences at all. No matter how grand the ceremony, it was all for show. Details best reveal people's hearts, and Dongfang Zhan clearly did not put his heart into arranging the details.
“How could he possibly be devoted to someone he doesn’t love?” Dongfang Heng liked Shen Lixue, so the Fengsong Courtyard, which was to be their new home, was almost completely renovated. The decorations and furnishings were all consistent with Shen Lixue’s preferences. Dongfang Zhan didn’t like Li Youlan, so of course he wouldn’t bother to cater to her tastes.
"Enter the bridal chamber!" With the master of ceremonies' announcement, Dongfang Zhan and Li Youlan completed their wedding ceremony and walked out surrounded by the crowd.
Stepping out of the living room, Dongfang Zhan saw Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue. During the wedding ceremony, the guests surrounded them in layers, but the two of them stood outside the door and saw him through the gaps in the crowd. He did not see them.
"Prince An, it is an honor that the Princess Consort has come to attend my wedding." Dongfang Zhan smiled politely, but his tone was indifferent and distant.
"Your Highness, you are too kind. Congratulations on your marriage." Dongfang Heng gently embraced Shen Lixue and offered his congratulations politely. His white brocade robe and her light blue Xiang skirt were a perfect match. The warm sunlight cast a soft halo around them, creating a hazy and indescribable beauty. At first glance, they were a match made in heaven.
Dongfang Zhan's eyes were deeply stung, and a surge of anger welled up in his chest for no reason. He had always preferred blue brocade robes, which matched Shen Lixue's light-colored clothes well. Today, on his wedding day, he had to wear red, which clashed with Shen Lixue's light blue Xiang dress.
"Your Highness, the auspicious hour is almost over. Please take your bride to the bridal chamber." Shen Lixue's clear and melodious voice was like the song of a nightingale. She looked at Li Youlan's hand, which was gripping the red silk tightly, and the veins on the back of her hand stood out.
The wedding is a joyous occasion, and it is considered very unlucky to enter the bridal chamber after the auspicious time. No wonder Li Youlan was anxious.
"Okay." Dongfang Zhan smiled and secretly looked at Shen Lixue. Her dark eyes were clear as water, and her cherry-red lips were slightly pursed. They were not red or swollen, but they were overly delicate, as if they had been loved and sucked.
It was cold, and her Xiang dress had a high collar. You could vaguely see a red mark on her slender neck, a mark left by Dongfang Heng during their lovemaking.
Dongfang Zhan was also a man, born into the royal family. He had only consummated his marriage with a woman once when Dongfang Heng plotted against him. This did not mean that he was completely ignorant of the matter. The anger in his chest inexplicably intensified.
"Congratulations, Prince Zhan... Congratulations, Prince Zhan..."
The guests poured out, all smiles as they congratulated Dongfang Zhan. Dongfang Zhan smiled and returned the greeting, casually pulling the red silk ribbon as he walked towards the bridal chamber. His sharp gaze pierced through the crowd and saw Shen Lixue holding her forehead, her steps slightly unsteady, her dark eyes looking tired, as if she were listless and dispirited.
His gaze sharpened, and he quietly whispered a few words to the busy butler. Watching the butler slowly walk towards Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, he smiled slightly, pulled the red silk ribbon, and strode towards the bridal chamber. The sooner he could send the bride back to her room, the sooner he could come out and deal with things.
"Li Xue, what's wrong?" Dongfang Heng held his wife in his arms, his jade-like fingers gently stroking her full forehead. Her body temperature was normal, and she had not caught a cold.
"I'm a little tired and want to rest." Shen Lixue rested her head on Dongfang Heng's chest, her eyes half-closed, looking very tired. Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she was about to fall asleep.
"Besides feeling sleepy, is there any other discomfort?" Dongfang Heng gently caressed her delicate, porcelain-like skin with his white jade fingertips, the warm and soft touch making him linger.
Shen Lixue shook her head and muttered softly, "No, I just want to sleep."
The steward of the Prince's residence came over and, seeing Shen Lixue with her eyes closed and brows furrowed, asked with concern, "Is the Princess Consort feeling unwell?"
“It’s nothing serious that the pregnant woman is sleepy.” Dongfang Heng gently embraced Shen Lixue and said helplessly, “We’ve been out for quite a while, and your narcolepsy has flared up again.”
"It's all because of you." Shen Lixue punched Dongfang Heng's chest hard with her small fist and frowned, "Pregnant women are all sleepy, there's nothing I can do about it."
Dongfang Heng smoothed the slight frown on her brow with his jade-like fingers and said softly, "Can we still go to the Crown Prince's residence to offer our congratulations?"
"I'm so sleepy right now, I have no energy at all, I'm afraid I can't go into the Crown Prince's residence." It's not right for Shen Lixue to be watching the wedding ceremony with her eyes closed while others are happily getting married. "I'll rest in the carriage, you can go into the residence to offer your congratulations yourself."
The steward of the Prince's mansion pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness's Consort, even the smoothest carriage will have some bumps along the road. Pregnant women need to rest and recuperate and cannot withstand the slightest vibration. Why don't you let Princess An stay in the guest room of the mansion for the time being? Your Highness can come and pick up Your Highness's Consort after you have finished offering your congratulations."
"It's not lunchtime yet. Li Xue is pregnant and has a lot to do, so I won't trouble Prince Zhan," Dongfang Heng coldly rejected the steward's suggestion.
The steward smiled politely: "The Princess Consort of Anjun is pregnant, which is a great joy for the Qingyan royal family. The maids serving in the Zhanwang Mansion have all received special training and would never dare to complain about their masters' many tasks. Prince Anjun can rest assured."
Shen Lixue is the Princess Consort of the Holy Prince's Mansion and a distinguished guest of the Zhan Prince's Mansion. No matter how outrageous she is, the servants dare not disobey her. Dongfang Heng does not want her to stay in the Zhan Prince's Mansion, so he deliberately picks on her.
The stewards of the Prince's mansion are all carefully selected; they are shrewd, adept at reading people, and efficient in their work. They might be able to persuade others, but Dongfang Heng is the God of War of the Azure Flame. No matter how eloquently he speaks, he cannot fool him.
"The maids in the Zhan Prince's mansion are serving Li Xue for the first time and don't know her preferences. If they make a mistake, she might lose her temper due to her pregnancy and hurt the maid or herself, which would be bad..."
The steward of the Prince's mansion narrowed his eyes slightly. He could explain away Dongfang Heng's provocation of the maids in the Prince's mansion. Dongfang Heng said he was afraid that Shen Lixue would get angry, and he really had no other choice. He couldn't very well say that he could persuade Shen Lixue not to be angry.
"The Holy King's residence isn't far away. I'll take her back to her residence to rest first, and then go to the Crown Prince's residence to offer my congratulations." Dongfang Heng embraced Shen Lixue's small waist and gently turned around.
The steward of the Prince's mansion sighed silently. The Prince had assigned him a task, and if he failed to complete it, he would certainly be punished. But Dongfang Heng was the God of War of Azure Flame, determined to bring his wife with him. As a mere steward, he had no reason, nor could he think of a suitable way to stop him...
"Li Xue... Li Xue..." Dongfang Heng's gentle calls rang out repeatedly, his magnetic voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.
The steward of the Prince's mansion looked up and saw that Shen Lixue's eyelids were lightly closed, and she was sleeping in Dongfang Heng's arms. Her long eyelashes were curled and her breathing was soft and shallow. Her peaceful and tranquil sleeping face was so serene that one could not bear to desecrate it.
He was overjoyed; it was truly heaven's help!
However, he wore a concerned expression: "The Princess Consort is asleep."
Dongfang Heng gently stroked Shen Lixue's fair and rosy face with his white jade fingertips. Seeing that her eyelashes trembled but she showed no signs of waking up, he couldn't help but frown and sigh softly: "She can fall asleep standing up, is she really that sleepy?"
The steward of the Prince's residence chuckled: "Your Highness may not know this, but pregnant women tend to be sleepy. The more they sleep, the healthier the baby will be. The Princess Consort must have been tired from standing, which is why she fell asleep so quickly and so soundly. The bumpy carriage is not suitable for pregnant women to rest on."
Dongfang Heng looked at Shen Lixue, who was fast asleep in his arms, and remained silent.
The steward stopped talking. Dongfang Heng was a smart man. He could understand many things by simply touching on them. If he talked too much, even if he didn't reveal any flaws, Dongfang Heng would suspect that he had ulterior motives. Timely silence was a strategic retreat to lure the enemy into a trap.
"Which guest room is Li Xue resting in?" After an unknown amount of time, Dongfang Heng's indifferent question rang out. To the steward of the Prince's Mansion, it was like heavenly music. He was filled with joy, but calmly replied, "In the east wing. This way, Prince An."
Dongfang Heng picked up Shen Lixue and strode towards the east wing with the steward. Some guests went to the bridal chamber to watch the festivities, some went to the Crown Prince's residence to offer their congratulations, and some went to the palace for a banquet. The east wing was quiet, and the steward and Dongfang Heng's light footsteps were particularly clear.
Shen Lixue quietly opened her eyes, winked playfully at Dongfang Heng, and whispered, "The steward didn't suspect anything?"
Dongfang Heng glared at her and transmitted his voice: "You acted so well that even I was almost fooled. How could the steward be suspicious? Where did you learn all this from?" She can fall asleep so easily and so realistically. Even if he were to pretend, he couldn't do it as well as she does.
"I'm self-taught." Shen Lixue smiled faintly. She had been fighting with Shen Yingxue and the Lei family for months, and she could easily conjure up all sorts of expressions. Pretending to be asleep was a piece of cake for her. Women who had experienced the inner court's struggles were all masters of acting...
"Prince An, this is the guest room." The butler opened a door and said with a smile. Shen Lixue quickly closed her eyes. When he turned around, he saw Shen Lixue who was fast asleep.
Dongfang Heng responded lightly, picked up Shen Lixue and walked in. The outer room was furnished with a set of mahogany tables and chairs, which were elegant and refreshing. The inner room had a large bed and a dressing table. The furnishings were simple yet grand. There was no incense burning, and golden sunlight shone into the room through the window, making it warm and comfortable.
Dongfang Heng gently placed Shen Lixue on the large bed, pulled over the brocade quilt beside her, carefully covered her with it, and slowly drew the curtains, instantly darkening the room like evening, perfect for rest. After carefully checking every item in the room and confirming that there were no problems, Dongfang Heng gazed deeply at Shen Lixue for a few moments before reluctantly leaving the room.
The butler, a man, didn't follow into the room. However, he was skilled in martial arts and had keen hearing. As he waited at the door, he listened intently to the sounds inside. Dongfang Heng walked to the bedside... covering the bed with a blanket... checking the room's belongings... footsteps drew closer... he was approaching the door...