"Brain!" Shen Lixue replied calmly, then plunged a silver needle into Dongfang Heng's wrist.
"My cousin's heart meridian is injured..." Before she could finish speaking, Dongfang Yu'er suddenly realized that Dongfang Heng's cough was fake, and Shen Lixue was not saving him, but lecturing him!
She glanced at Dongfang Heng; a fine layer of sweat glistened on his full forehead, and a strange, dark glint flickered in his obsidian-like eyes.
Another thin, long silver needle pierced his skin. Dongfang Heng's lips twitched slightly in pain, while Dongfang Yu'er, as if feeling the same pain, twitched her eyelids, her whole body jolted, and she quietly took a step back.
Her cousin has always been cunning and scheming, often plotting against people without them even realizing it, leaving them feeling cheated and unable to find any evidence to refute his claims. But today, she was the one who was subtly outmaneuvered. This is what they call giving someone a taste of their own medicine...
However, Dongfang Heng was aloof and no one dared to provoke him. Shen Lixue was really bold to openly scheme against him!
Shen Lixue moved with lightning speed. In a short while, both of Dongfang Heng's arms were covered in silver needles. From a distance, they shimmered with silver light, a truly beautiful sight. A slight smile appeared on her lips.
Dongfang Heng's illness was getting worse, so she wouldn't joke around. The places where these silver needles were inserted were meant to improve blood circulation throughout his body, but she had subtly manipulated the needles to make him feel pain, just to see if he would dare to switch her tea again!
Dongfang Yu'er wandered around the manor for a while, but didn't see many familiar faces, so she returned here: "Cousin Heng, I heard that Brother Xun has returned, but I don't see him?"
"My elder brother left the palace half an hour ago!" Dongfang Heng replied softly, his eyes like a deep, unfathomable pool.
"What? He's gone again!" Dongfang Yu'er's expectant eyes instantly dimmed. He had clearly promised to bring her a gift when he returned, and she had rushed to the Holy King's Mansion as soon as she heard he was coming back, but she still hadn't run into him...
"Before leaving, my elder brother ordered someone to send a cartload of gifts to the Prince of Huai's residence!" Dongfang Heng said casually.
"Really?" Dongfang Yu'er's eyes lit up, and she turned and ran outside: "I'm going back to the manor first, I'll come see you another day!"
Shen Lixue raised the corners of her mouth. This Prince of the Holy King must be treating the Holy King's mansion like an inn. He only stayed for a few hours after returning and then left. This is someone else's family matter. Although Shen Lixue found it strange, she did not ask any further questions: "Your elder brother rushed back to the mansion because of something important, right?"
"Hmm!" Dongfang Heng closed his eyes slightly, a hint of fatigue showing between his brows: "I'm returning to the manor for important matters, and also to bring back a few messages!"
Shen Lixue didn't ask any more questions. After a pause, Dongfang Heng said calmly, "The Crown Prince of Xiliang Kingdom has gone missing. According to the news, he has come to Qingyan!"
"Is that so?" Crown Prince, Prince Shen Lixue showed no interest and answered indifferently. She quickly pulled a silver needle from Dongfang Heng's shoulder. The long, thin needle was shiny and showed no signs of poisoning.
Shen Lixue frowned: She clearly smelled an unusual odor from the blood yesterday, so why is he completely normal today?
"How is Mu Zhengnan's situation?" Dongfang Heng removed the silver needles from his hand and handed them to Shen Lixue one by one.
"Execution in three months!" Shen Lixue answered softly, a serious look flashing in her eyes. Mu Zhengnan was ambitious and not one to sit idly by and wait for death. Even if he was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, he would definitely make a move...
Three months! Thinking of this time, Shen Lixue's gaze unconsciously turned to Dongfang Heng, and she sighed inwardly. He could only live for three more months at most: "I know a little about the Prince's injury. If you trust me, I will use acupuncture to help you when you have an attack, so that you can suffer less..." Dongfang Heng had helped her a lot, and he was about to die soon. She did not intend to hold it against him too much.
"Thank you." Dongfang Heng said lightly, holding the teapot to pour tea. The unique light fragrance of Shen Lixue wafted out with the aroma of tea, lingering around his nose in waves, making him feel a little uneasy.
Shen Lixue frowned as her eyelid twitched. She had been the one who suggested giving Dongfang Heng acupuncture to alleviate his condition, but why did she feel like she had fallen into a trap at this moment?
"Your Highness!" Zi Mo rushed over, glancing at Shen Lixue, hesitant to speak.
"It's getting late, I'll head back to the manor first, you should get some rest!" Dongfang Heng didn't want Shen Lixue to know what Zi Mo had been talking about, and she wasn't interested in listening either. She quickly put away the silver needles and left the courtyard.
"Dongfang Heng, where is Shen Lixue?" Nangong Xiao descended from the sky, his voice weak and feeble. Shen Lixue had been watching over Dongfang Heng the whole time. He was in severe abdominal pain and couldn't bear it any longer, so he went to the shop to see a doctor. But unexpectedly, the combination of fruit and wine had a very strong effect. He drank the medicine and had acupuncture, but it didn't help at all.
"She's gone back to the Prime Minister's residence!" Dongfang Heng glanced at Nangong Xiao indifferently: "Your diarrhea is caused by cold air entering your body. Simply taking medicine or acupuncture won't be very effective. Go back to the residence, soak in hot ginger water all night, and then take the medicine, and you'll be fine!"
"You should have said so earlier!" Nangong Xiao glared at Dongfang Heng. This tiny difference had caused him a stomachache for most of the day. In his opinion, the Azure Flame War God was nothing more than the Azure Flame Cunning God, a ruthless and cunning man!
Dongfang Heng stood with his hands behind his back under the magnolia tree, coldly ordering, "Zimo, see the guest out!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Zi Mo replied and was about to step forward.
"No need to see me off, I'll go myself!" Dongfang Heng was being polite to me, he definitely had ulterior motives. It was best to avoid contact with his people. I could deal with him again after I recovered!
Nangong Xiao lightly touched the ground with both feet, his slender figure quickly soaring into the air and disappearing into the distant horizon...
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince disappeared without a trace, just like before. I am incompetent and have failed to track him down!” Zi Mo lowered his head, not daring to look Dongfang Heng in the eye.
He grew up in the Holy King's Mansion. The Holy King's heir, Dongfang Xun, seemed to dislike the Holy King's Mansion very much. Whenever he had free time, he would run away and not return for half a year or even a year. When he did return, he would only stay for a few hours before leaving again...
A dark glint seemed to flicker deep within Dongfang Heng's obsidian-like eyes: "He hasn't been gone long, so he couldn't have gone far. Send everyone from the Holy King's Mansion to search for him, even if you have to tie him up, bring him back!"
"This..." Zi Mo was somewhat embarrassed. The guards had gone too far by kidnapping the young master and taking him back to the manor!
"How can I leave in peace if he doesn't come back!" With these words, Dongfang Heng strode out.
Dongfang Heng, filled with rage, sped away, his white robes fluttering gently, tracing graceful arcs in the air. Zi Mo was taken aback, a silent sigh escaping his lips. The Crown Prince and the Prince of the County were brothers, born of the same mother, and neither of them disliked the Holy Prince's Mansion, especially the Prince of the County… Time was running out…
Taking them to court would ruin Dongfang Heng and Shen Yingxue's reputations. Given their arrogant personalities, it would definitely cause a huge uproar. Shen Lixue had considered all the possible scenarios and made corresponding countermeasures. However, when she stepped into the Prime Minister's residence, the entire mansion was quiet. Looking around, she couldn't see a single person. The servants and masters were nowhere to be found.
As Shen Lixue walked into the bamboo garden, she didn't see anyone come to make things difficult for her. She was secretly puzzled. Strange, Shen Yingxue was proud and arrogant. She wasn't the kind of person who would swallow her anger.
"Miss, you're back!" Qiuhe ran out of the kitchen, her face slightly dark, her hair disheveled, but her eyes sparkling.
Shen Lixue looked at the kitchen billowing with black smoke and asked in confusion, "Qiuhe, what are you doing?"
"I'm starting the fire to prepare porridge for tomorrow morning!" Qiuhe's eyes sparkled, her little face beaming with excitement. She quickly moved a chair for Shen Lixue. "Half an hour ago, Madam gave the order to distribute porridge in the streets tomorrow. Each courtyard must cook a pot, and the main kitchen has sent over the ingredients..."
"Why did you suddenly decide to distribute porridge, Madam?" Shen Lixue raised her lips and sneered: Did you want to use this act of kindness to beautify your already tarnished reputation?
"When the Prime Minister returned to the mansion, he found many beggars on the street, so he ordered his wife, concubines, and young ladies to cook and serve porridge!" Qiuhe replied, carrying a large bucket marked with a label to the edge of the pool to clean it.
Shen Lixue sneered. So it was Shen Minghui's plan. She knew he would definitely try to clean up his tarnished reputation, but she didn't expect him to take action so quickly.
Years of war have led to widespread suffering in the border regions, with many people displaced and reduced to beggars, flocking to the capital. Shen Minghui, however, is adept at seizing opportunities.
"Qiuhe, you are a second-class maid. Let the third-class maids do the rough work of washing buckets!" Shen Lixue walked back and forth in the bamboo garden, and each time she only saw Qiuhe working. She didn't know where the others had gone.
"This bucket is for porridge. It has the mark of Zhuyuan on it. We must not make any mistakes. I don't trust them..." Qiuhe scrubbed the bucket vigorously with a brush.
Shen Lixue's cold eyes narrowed slightly. He always marked the porridge the family cooked, making sure everyone's share was accounted for. Something was wrong. Could it be that the Lei family or Shen Minghui were plotting against him again? If that were the case, he would never let them off easily...