Shen Lixue was so focused on asking the guards about Ye Qianlong that she didn't see the overwhelming anger and sharp, cold light flashing in Dongfang Heng's deep eyes.
"Dongfang Heng, let's split up and look for him..." The guards lost track of Ye Qianlong, and Shen Lixue was preparing to go and search for him together. Qingya's suggestion stopped abruptly when she saw Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes filled with anger, and a chill inexplicably rose down her back: "You... what's wrong with you?" He was fine just a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye he wanted to lose his temper again. His temperament is really unpredictable.
"It's nothing!" Dongfang Heng replied coldly, his voice low, as if he was suppressing his anger. When she was talking about Ye Qianlong with the guards, she didn't even glance at him. Now that she needed to find someone, she only thought of him...
"Then I'll go find Ye Qianlong first. Once I find him, we'll exchange signals!" Dongfang Heng's eyes were filled with anger, yet his body was as cold as ice. The contrast between fire and ice didn't seem contradictory; rather, they complemented each other perfectly.
Seeing this in Shen Lixue's eyes, she realized it was a prelude to Dongfang Heng's anger. When the Azure Flame War God lost his temper, it would definitely be a sudden and violent storm. To avoid being implicated, it was best to stay away as soon as possible.
Shen Lixue quickly opened the door and hurried out, so eager that she didn't even listen to Dongfang Heng's reply. Her slender, light green figure gradually disappeared into the sunlight, blending into the vibrant flowers, plants, and trees, forming a beautiful picture.
Dongfang Heng stood with his hands behind his back at the doorway, his angry eyes fixed on the direction where Shen Lixue had disappeared. Ai Qu didn't look away; Ye Qianlong had gone missing, and she had rushed off to find him, not even having time to listen to a single word from him...
“Prince…Prince…” Dongfang Heng did not speak, and the guards dared not say more. The atmosphere was extremely quiet, and the invisible pressure made it hard to breathe. Helpless, the guards had no choice but to speak up and remind him, as they were waiting for Dongfang Heng’s orders.
Dongfang Heng withdrew his gaze, and deep within his obsidian-like pupils, two flames burned fiercely: "Dispatch all the secret guards of the Holy King's Mansion and search for Ye Qianlong with all their might!"
"Yes!" The guard acknowledged the order and quickly disappeared into the shadows.
Dongfang Heng's dark eyes grew increasingly intense. He had assigned six top-notch bodyguards to guard Ye Qianlong in shifts for twelve hours a day, making it impossible for him to get lost. His sudden disappearance must have been a deliberate act of shaking off the bodyguards he had arranged.
He didn't want anyone to know where he went or what he did; more precisely, he didn't want to know himself.
Ye Qianlong is indeed extraordinary!
After leaving the palace, Shen Lixue walked along the street, searching for Ye Qianlong. Before she knew it, she had arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.
Two guards stood outside the Prime Minister's residence, their gazes solemn and their demeanor cold. Through the wide-open gate, one could vaguely see that the residence was in complete chaos.
Shen Lixue sneered. Shen Yingxue was seriously injured and crippled, losing all face in front of the nobles. Shen Minghui was also belittled by Dongfang Heng. The mansion must be in a terrible state now. Shen Minghui and Lei Shi were both filled with anger, so she didn't want to go in and cause trouble for herself.
"Miss Shen!" Accompanied by the clatter of hooves, a clear voice called out. Shen Lixue turned around and saw that the handsome Dongfang Zhan was already close at hand. He dismounted and landed neatly beside her, a gentle smile flashing in his dark eyes.
"Is Prince Zhan here to see Yingxue?" Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Zhan with a half-smile. It was rumored that Dongfang Zhan was in love with Shen Yingxue, and that he would bring a large amount of precious medicinal herbs to visit her whenever she was slightly ill.
Shen Lixue had seen it many times and knew that what everyone said was true. In Chang Le Palace, the emperor ordered the execution of Shen Yingxue, and he pleaded for her. Was it also out of the rumored love?
"I have already sent the precious medicinal herbs to the Prime Minister's residence. However, I have important matters to attend to and do not have time to visit the Prime Minister's residence today." Dongfang Zhan glanced at the residence, his gaze gentle and refined. "Besides, Miss Shen is currently receiving treatment. Even if I went, I might not be able to see her!"
"Could it be that Prince Zhan has truly fallen for Yingxue?" Shen Lixue's gaze was playful, and her deliberately lowered voice could only be heard by her and Dongfang Zhan.
"Does Miss Shen think it's possible?" Dongfang Zhan asked with a smile, his gentle gaze suddenly becoming somewhat unfathomable.
Of course not. Dongfang Zhan looked at Shen Yingxue just like he would at an ordinary person, without a trace of affection. He could never possibly be interested in her. What puzzled Shen Lixue was, what was Dongfang Zhan's purpose in pretending to like Shen Yingxue? He was the Prince of Qingyan, what couldn't he have? Why would he wrong himself and deliberately try to please a woman he didn't like?
In the sunlight, the crystal swallow from Shen Lixue's clothes slipped out and hung gently on her chest, reflecting golden light. Dongfang Zhan's gaze sharpened, and he smiled and said, "It's getting late. I'll take my leave now and visit the Second Miss at the Prime Minister's residence another day!"
Grasping the reins, Dongfang Zhan mounted the horse and spurred it forward like an arrow, raising clouds of dust in its wake.
Watching Dongfang Zhan's dashing figure disappear into the distance, Shen Lixue frowned. Dongfang Zhan's way of doing things was becoming more and more unpredictable!
Looking at the plaque above the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, Shen Lixue smiled coldly, turned around and left to continue searching for Ye Qianlong. Countless pedestrians came and went around her, but Ye Qianlong was nowhere to be seen. Looking up at the sky, she saw that the sun was already setting in the west and would soon be setting.
Shen Lixue frowned. This was Qingyan Capital, and Ye Qianlong was unfamiliar with the place. Where would he go if he left the Holy King's Mansion? He was like a child, with very poor self-care abilities. If they couldn't find him tonight, he might end up sleeping on the streets...
Sleeping on the street for the night! Shen Lixue suddenly thought of this keyword, her eyes lit up, and she quickly ran in one direction. If nothing unexpected happened, Ye Qianlong must be in that place.
Buzhou Street is a bustling street, with beggars sitting or standing at the corners, as well as rows of shops and a lively crowd!
As Shen Lixue walked along Buzhou Street, she quickly scanned the passersby. Her cool gaze pierced through the crowd and spotted a familiar face: a fresh, pure smile and eyes as clear as a spring. It was Ye Qianlong.
As the sun set, Ye Qianlong, dressed in black, stood amidst the bustling crowd, carefully observing the faces of every woman in green and blue. His focused gaze shifted between hope and despair, relentlessly searching for the person he longed to see.
"Li Xue!" Shen Li Xue stood in the center of the crowd, and Ye Qianlong recognized her at a glance. He rushed towards her quickly, his bright eyes and pure smile untouched by the world, like a celestial child, completely out of place in this noisy world.
"Li Xue, you really are here!" Upon arriving in front of Shen Li Xue, Ye Qianlong habitually grabbed her sleeve, his beautiful face radiating a pure smile.
"You left the Holy King's Mansion to find me?" Shen Lixue smiled gently as she looked at Ye Qianlong.
"Mm!" Ye Qianlong nodded shyly.
Shen Lixue smiled: "Isn't the Holy King's Mansion good?" Ye Qianlong didn't care about his living environment. If everything went smoothly, he wouldn't have run away. But Dongfang Heng is a gentleman and wouldn't make things difficult for him. Why would he want to leave the Holy King's Mansion?
"It's so boring in the Holy King's Mansion, there's no one to talk to!" Ye Qianlong muttered softly, his head down.
Shen Lixue raised her lips: "Nangong Xiao said he talked to you for half the night, and you ignored him?"
"Nangong Xiao?" Ye Qianlong was taken aback, his eyes full of doubt, clearly not knowing who Shen Lixue was talking about.
“It’s the one who carries a fan all the time!” Shen Lixue explained softly. Nangong Xiao’s most distinctive feature is that he carries a fan and waves it all year round.
"He talks a lot of nonsense, which is annoying. Also, he has a strong, pungent odor..." Ye Qianlong lowered his head and spoke in detail, his eyes pure and earnest.
Shen Lixue was speechless. In just a few words, Ye Qianlong had summarized Nangong Xiao's two main characteristics: first, he talked a lot; second, he was surrounded by many women, and the pungent smell was the perfume of women.
"Qianlong, why don't you go to the Prime Minister's residence to find me?" Ye Qianlong knew that Shen Lixue lived in the Prime Minister's residence. If he wanted to see her, he could go to the Prime Minister's residence to find her. Why did he come to this porridge street?
"I don't remember the way to the Prime Minister's residence!" Ye Qianlong lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment, her voice barely audible.
Shen Lixue: "..." From the Holy King's Mansion to the Prime Minister's Mansion, it's mostly a flat road, just a few turns away. He didn't remember that from the Holy King's Mansion to here, it's a winding road with many twists and turns. How did he manage to find it? Was it because he had a deep impression of this place, or...?
"Li Xue, I'm hungry!" Ye Qianlong said softly, his pure eyes filled with dependence.
Shen Lixue looked up and saw that the sun had already set below the horizon, and the sky had completely darkened. There were far fewer pedestrians coming and going, and smoke was rising from every household. It was dinnertime.
"If we get hungry, we'll go buy something." Shen Lixue smiled slightly and walked forward slowly, with Ye Qianlong holding her sleeve and following closely behind.
"Qianlong, what would you like to eat?" Upon arriving at the stall, Shen Lixue pointed to the various foods on display and asked Ye Qianlong.