Shen Lixue coldly looked at Lei Shi: "Why won't Madam let Xia Jin reveal the mastermind? Is Madam afraid of something?"
"Didn't you see that Xia Jin has gone mad? Can you still believe what she says?" Lei Shi's expression was slightly arrogant as she coldly ordered, "Guards, drag Xia Jin away and beat her to death!" The consequence of betraying one's master is certain death!
"Bring in a few more, drag Ding Mama and Xia Rou out and beat them to death!" Shen Lixue said casually, pretending not to know when she met Lei Shi's sharp gaze: "Ding Mama, Xia Rou, and Xia Jin made the same mistake, shouldn't they be punished the same way?"
Lei's face remained calm, but her heart was in turmoil. Her slender hands clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into her flesh. Shen Lixue had long known that she would not let Xia Jin tell the truth. Xia Jin had betrayed her, and she would definitely kill her. Shen Lixue took the opportunity to kick her while she was down, forcing her to use the same method to kill Ding Mama and Xia Rou!
What a clever scoundrel!
The order had been given and there was no possibility of changing it. The guards stepped forward and dragged Ding Mama, Xia Rou, and Xia Jin away. Ding Mama and Xia Rou were both smart women and didn't say much. They looked at Madam Lei with teary eyes and said, "Madam, we made a mistake, which has nothing to do with our families. Please don't blame our families!"
"I know what I'm doing!" Lei said coldly, her eyes dark. Several more of her capable nannies and maids were about to die. If this continued, her trusted confidants would definitely be wiped out by Shen Lixue!
Xia Jin was very straightforward. Unlike Ding Mama and Xia Rou, who were good at reading people, she only thought about her own survival. She nodded frantically to Shen Lixue, with large tears streaming down her cheeks, as if she had a lot to say to Shen Lixue.
Shen Lixue glanced to the side, pretending not to see. Ding Mama and Xia Rou were there to testify. With only Xia Jin's testimony, it was impossible to bring down Lei Shi. She might even be falsely accused of framing her. In that case, Ding Mama and Xia Rou would become heroes, spared the death penalty and continue to work as servants. This was not the result Shen Lixue wanted.
"What are you standing there for? Take him away and beat him to death!" Lei gave the order in a cold voice, her icy gaze falling on Xia Jin, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. To sell herself out to save her own life, how utterly foolish!
Ding Mama and the other two were dragged away. A moment later, the sounds of boards being struck and the three men's painful wails could be heard outside. Shen Minghui remained silent with a gloomy face.
Lei's expression was also very ugly. Her gaze towards Shen Lixue was like that of a thousand-year-old ice, cold and bone-chilling. A woman, seeing a ghost in that gloomy and terrifying atmosphere, was neither scared to death nor dumbfounded. Instead, she fearlessly ordered the guards to arrest the 'ghost'. The plan that she and Granny Ding had devised not only failed to avenge Yingxue, but also turned the tables on her, forcing her to personally order Granny Ding and the others to be beaten to death.
It's truly a case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead; losing both wife and army!
Shen Lixue picked up the teacup and calmly touched the tea leaves on the surface of the water with the lid. As the steam rose, Shen Lixue lowered her eyelids. With Ding Mama, Xia Rou, and Xia Jin dead, and Shen Yingxue's arm seriously injured, the Lei family would definitely have something to consider and wouldn't bother her again for a while.
I need to find a way to get out of this passive situation as soon as possible. Although I'm not afraid of them plotting against me, being schemed against every day is really annoying.
The cries of pain outside completely ceased. A guard entered the room and respectfully reported, "Your Excellency, Madam, Eldest Miss, Ding Mama, Xia Rou, and Xia Jin, who were executed, have been beaten to death!"
"Throw the body into the mass grave!" Shen Minghui said weakly, his eyes full of exhaustion: servants who have been executed for their mistakes have no right to be buried.
"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and left.
"It's late, so I won't disturb Father and Madam's rest any longer. I'll take my leave!" Shen Lixue stood up and slowly walked out. Ding Mama and the other two were Lei's confidantes. If she returned to Bamboo Garden in advance, Lei might secretly let them go and spare their lives. She sat in Snow Garden to watch the executions to ensure that the three of them were really beaten to death!
Losing three trusted confidants at once, Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue must be furious, yet they dare not easily cause trouble for him, and must be very frustrated...
"Madam!" A cry of alarm came from behind. Shen Lixue turned around and saw Lei Shi lying on the ground, her eyes closed, her face pale and bloodless, and her lips pressed tightly together. It was unclear whether she had fainted from exhaustion or anger.
Looking at the unconscious Lei Shi on the ground, Shen Minghui's face was gloomy. He said coldly, "Madam is overworked. Quickly, summon the family physician!" He looked up at the starry sky and sighed heavily. The misfortunes of the Prime Minister's mansion were only increasing!
Dongfang Heng and Ye Qianlong returned to the Holy King's Mansion. Standing in front of a large number of houses, Dongfang Heng stood with his hands behind his back and said, "These houses are all empty. You can choose any one to live in!" His voice was soft and indifferent, as if it were business, without any emotion.
"I'll stay in that one!" Ye Qianlong scanned all the courtyards and strode towards a small courtyard.
Dongfang Heng glanced at the small courtyard, then turned his gaze to Ye Qianlong. That courtyard was the closest to his own. He had to pass through that small courtyard to enter and leave the Holy King's Mansion. If Li Xue came to the Holy King's Mansion, she would also have to pass through that small courtyard. It was no coincidence that Ye Qianlong chose to live there.
"Ye Qianlong?" Dongfang Heng called out coldly.
"What is it?" Ye Qianlong stopped but did not turn around.
"Your jade pendant!" Dongfang Heng flicked his finger, and a green jade pendant flew towards Ye Qianlong.
Ye Qianlong reached out and took it. The warm touch came from his palm, and his slender body trembled slightly. Then, he gripped the jade pendant tightly and strode towards the courtyard without saying a word.
Dongfang Heng's dark eyes were as deep as pools. When he saw Li Xue, Ye Qianlong chattered on and on, but on the way back to the Holy King's Mansion, he didn't say a word. It was clear that he didn't like to talk to anyone except Li Xue.
He returned the jade pendant he gave to Li Xue without arguing or making a scene. He simply took the pendant and left. He had great self-control and patience. Even if he was simple-minded, he was definitely not a fool. Ye Qianlong was becoming more and more unfathomable.
Zi Mo appeared out of nowhere and said respectfully, "Your Highness, tonight..."
"Stay at the Holy King's Mansion!" Dongfang Heng said calmly, striding towards the direction where Ye Qianlong had disappeared.
Watching Dongfang Heng's disappearing figure, Zi Mo opened his mouth, but said nothing. A thousand words turned into a soft sigh, and his black figure instantly disappeared into the dark night.
The next day, when Dongfang Heng walked out of the room, Ye Qianlong was already sitting at the entrance of the courtyard, holding Shen Lixue's silk handkerchief and his jade pendant in his hand, his gaze frequently looking in the direction of the gate.
The guards offered him breakfast, but he refused. They offered him tea, but he refused to drink it. He just sat there, looking at the gate of the Holy King's Mansion, his clear eyes filled with anticipation.
Time passed second by second, and the sun rose higher and higher, but the figure he was looking forward to never appeared, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his clear eyes.
"Dongfang Heng, are you there? I have urgent business with you!" Accompanied by a clear laugh, the handsome and devilish Nangong Xiao appeared at the second gate of the Holy King's Mansion.
"What's the urgent matter?" Dongfang Heng asked casually, sitting in the pavilion and taking a sip of tea.
"It's about... wait, who is he?" Nangong Xiao saw Ye Qianlong sitting at the door. His stunning face, clear eyes, and pure aura like a lotus made him extremely jealous. Dongfang Heng alone was already making him feel ashamed, and now there was someone who was just as handsome as him. How come there are so many geniuses in this world?
"What's your name?" Nangong Xiao appeared in front of Ye Qianlong in an instant and asked with a grin.
Ye Qianlong glanced at Nangong Xiao without saying a word. His clear gaze passed through Nangong Xiao and looked towards the entrance of the Prince's Mansion. Why hadn't Li Xue arrived yet?
"Are you mute?" Nangong Xiao blinked and concluded, his devilishly handsome face was so striking that it was impossible to look away.
Ye Qianlong didn't even glance at Nangong Xiao, his gaze still fixed on the doorway, remaining silent.
Silence means consent. Nangong Xiao raised an eyebrow, feeling extremely pleased. He smugly waved his folding fan. So what if he's handsome? He's mute, which is a bit worse than a normal person like himself.
Dongfang Heng glanced at Ye Qianlong: "He's not mute!" He was waiting for Li Xue and couldn't be bothered with anyone else.
"Ah!" Nangong Xiao re-examined Ye Qianlong. He wasn't mute, but he didn't speak. Even when Nangong Xiao spoke to him, Ye Qianlong didn't refute him...
Nangong Xiao's eyes suddenly lit up: "Could he be an idiot?"
The guards standing nearby listened with twitching lips. He must be either mute or an idiot. This Prince of Yunnan just doesn't want anyone to have a good life.
"You're half right!" Dongfang Heng sipped his tea, his emotions hidden in the rising steam.