Shen Lixue's moves were fierce and powerful. Several guards joined forces to attack her, but they were beaten so badly that they could only parry and had no power to fight back. The armored man cursed them as trash in his heart. His eyes turned cold and he suddenly drew the sword from his waist and stabbed it fiercely at Shen Lixue.
A fierce gust of wind attacked from behind at great speed. Shen Lixue had no time to dodge and was about to swing her sword to meet it when a clang was heard. The fierce attack was forced back, and a tall figure stood behind Shen Lixue.
Holding a long sword, he exudes a sharp and imposing aura, but when facing Shen Lixue, his gentle smile and refined demeanor always radiate warmth.
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "Cousin Yan!"
Lin Yan smiled and nodded, looking Shen Lixue up and down: "Lixue, are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" Shen Lixue shook her head. If Lin Yan had arrived a moment later, she would have fought the armored man, and the outcome would have been uncertain.
"What does General Lin mean?" The armored man was forced back three meters away, his gaze as cold as ice. His hand holding the long sword trembled slightly. Lin Yan was indeed powerful. He had knocked him back three meters away with a single move. Looking at the other guards, they were all holding long swords and standing two or three meters away. Their eyes were full of awe when they looked at Lin Yan. They dared not take another step forward.
"This is my cousin, Shen Lixue. Deputy Commander Zhuang should have met her before. Why are you making things difficult for her?" Lin Yan looked at the armored man, a hint of coldness flashing in his gentle eyes.
"Is that so?" The armored man lowered his sword, concealing the wound on his hand, and looked at Shen Lixue again, saying casually, "This commander is busy with many matters and never remembers trivial people or things. Just now, when I asked her a question, she refused to answer and even injured a guard, which is why I ordered her arrest..."
"Li Xue is the future Princess Consort of Anjun. The Emperor, the Prince, and the Crown Prince all know this. How could Deputy Commander Zhuang not know?" Lin Yan coldly stared at the armored man. The Princess Consort of Anjun is a royal daughter-in-law. Even if she is not an important person, she cannot be a boring person. It is understandable that the armored man cannot remember her, but to say that she is boring is to be ignorant of hierarchy and not know what is important.
The armored man's face flushed red and then paled; Lin Yan had actually mocked him for being arrogant and conceited...
“Cousin, Deputy Commander Zhuang is just forgetful. Please don’t blame him anymore. Give him some time to think it over!” Shen Lixue smiled gently, her gaze towards the armored man cold as ice. His surname was Zhuang, and she had already guessed his identity.
The armored man's anger flared up instantly. His sharp gaze turned coldly to Lin Yan and Shen Lixue. These two cousins, working together, were subtly mocking his arrogance and disdain for others. How despicable, how despicable...
"Cousin, it's getting late. Take me back to the manor, or I'll run into some noble people who will cause me trouble. Otherwise, I won't be able to rest tonight!" Shen Lixue's calm voice was full of sarcasm. The armored man's face darkened even more, but he couldn't say anything in rebuttal. The anger in his chest surged even more fiercely.
"Let's go!" Lin Yan agreed softly, sheathed his longsword, and without even glancing at the armored man and the guards, he took Shen Lixue's wrist and walked slowly forward.
The guards dared not stop them and quickly made way!
Shen Lixue and Lin Yan walked out of the alley without any hindrance and onto the main road back to the mansion. Even after walking a long distance, Shen Lixue could still feel the angry gaze of the armored man towards them.
"Cousin, who is that person?" Shen Lixue didn't specify, but Lin Yan understood that she was asking about the armored man.
"His name is Zhuang Weicheng. He is the son of Minister Zhuang and the current deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. With the Crown Prince and Prince Zhan returning to their residences to rest, he has been entrusted with guarding this area!" Lin Yan said softly, his gaze slightly deep. Minister Zhuang has won over many ministers in the court and his influence is quite considerable.
"Will offending him cause you trouble?" Lin Yan returned to the capital from the border and had no relatives or friends. Minister Zhuang had been operating in the capital for more than ten years and his power was deeply rooted. No matter how capable Lin Yan was, he could not defeat such a powerful force.
"No, don't worry!" Lin Yan comforted Shen Lixue with a smile. Her small hand in his large one was soft and boneless, which felt very comfortable. Lin Yan couldn't help but squeeze it tightly.
"Are you really alright?" Shen Lixue asked again uncertainly. She had never met Minister Zhuang, but she knew Zhuang Kexin and Zhuang Weicheng. These two men were known for their vengeful nature. Lin Yan had almost injured Zhuang Weicheng while saving her, and he would definitely not let it go so easily.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen!" Lin Yan smiled and gently patted Shen Lixue's head as if she were his younger sister. If he couldn't stay in the capital for long, he could go back to Subei. He wouldn't let his sister be bullied just to please the officials.
Lin Yan seemed to have thought of something and abruptly asked, "Li Xue, are you free tomorrow?"
Shen Lixue was taken aback at first, then nodded and said, "You have time? What's up?"
"Then come with me to a banquet tomorrow. It's a family banquet. I don't know much about girls, so could you help me find out more about them?" Lin Yan's voice was calm, without the slightest hesitation or embarrassment.
Shen Lixue instantly understood Lin Yan's meaning; he was going on a blind date. She jokingly asked, "Which family's daughter is it?" There are many outstanding young ladies from prestigious families in the capital, but not many are a good match for her cousin…
"I don't know yet. I'll find out when I get to the Grand Commandant's residence," Lin Yan replied with a smile, seemingly in a good mood.
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "The Grand Commandant's Mansion?"
Lin Yan nodded: "It was Grand Commandant Lei who invited me to the banquet!"
Shen Lixue's cold eyes narrowed instantly. Lei Shi had just delivered a letter to Grand Commandant Lei, and her cousin was about to go to the Grand Commandant's mansion for a family banquet. What a coincidence!
"Li Xue, Li Xue... what's wrong?" Lin Yan's gentle voice rang in her ears, and Shen Li Xue instantly snapped back to reality: "Nothing, I'm about to meet my future cousin-in-law, I'm so happy, I'm just wondering about her health..."
"So, you've agreed to accompany me to the banquet tomorrow!" Lin Yan looked at Shen Lixue with a bright smile. He thought it would take a lot of effort to persuade her, but he didn't expect her to agree so readily.
“Yes, come pick me up at the Prime Minister’s residence tomorrow, and I’ll accompany you to the Grand Commandant’s residence!” Shen Lixue smiled slightly, her gaze sharpening. According to Dongfang Heng’s information, Grand Commandant Lei was a suspect, and Cousin Yan’s blind date was also a bit strange. She would go to the Grand Commandant’s residence to see what tricks Grand Commandant Lei was up to.
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... Things have taken a turn for the better! Something big is about to happen, so please stay tuned...
Chapter 085 Cousin Shoots Scumbag
The next day, the sun shone brightly. Early in the morning, Shen Lixue got up, took a bath, washed and dressed, changed into a fragrant pink Xiang dress, and sat in front of the dressing mirror.
Qiu He stood behind Shen Lixue, holding a wooden comb. Her jet-black hair flew up and down in her hands, occasionally coiling and dotting, and an exquisite bun slowly took shape.
"Miss, you have an appointment, are you going out?" The woman in the mirror had skin as smooth as jade, fair with a rosy glow, and her eyes, as clear as an ancient well, shimmered with a hint of cold darkness. Paired with a pink dress and water-green earrings, she was absolutely stunning and otherworldly. Qiu He couldn't take her eyes off her. She thought to herself, "A woman dresses up for the one she loves. Miss is dressed so solemnly, she must have an appointment with Prince An!"
"Mmm!" Shen Lixue, unaware of Qiu He's thoughts, closed her eyes slightly and nodded gently.
"Miss, Madam needs a carriage to return to her parents' home. Why don't you have Prince An come and fetch you?" Qiu He suggested with a smile. The engaged couple riding in the same carriage would surely strengthen their bond…
"What did you say? Madam wants to go back to the Grand Commandant's mansion?" Shen Lixue's wandering thoughts were instantly pulled back, and she suddenly opened her eyes. As for Qiu He's next sentence, she didn't hear it clearly.
“Yes, when I went to the kitchen to serve you your meal, I heard Granny Mi by Madam’s side instructing the coachman to prepare the carriage…” Qiu He nodded and carefully styled Shen Lixue’s hair.
Shen Lixue frowned. Shen Minghui and Grand Commandant Lei had a falling out, and Lei's wife had been too embarrassed to go back to her parents' home. Today, her cousin was going to the Grand Commandant's mansion for a banquet, and she was actually going back home too. It was too much of a coincidence. And that letter last night was also very strange...
"Qiuhe, go to the kitchen and see if the plum blossom cake is ready!" Shen Lixue instructed softly, a light green glass hairpin adorning her black hair bun, the tassels hanging from the hairpin swaying and shining, complementing her teardrop earrings perfectly.
"Yes!" Shen Lixue had already instructed the kitchen to make plum blossom cakes, intending to take them on the road. The sun was high in the sky, and the plum blossom cakes had not yet arrived, so Qiuhe naturally had to urge them to come.
After Qiuhe left, Shen Lixue looked around to make sure the maids wouldn't come to the inner room. She opened the window and jumped out, carefully avoiding the maids and guards in the mansion, and quickly moved forward along the bluestone path.
After a short while, Shen Lixue arrived at a courtyard and quietly slipped inside. On the large bed in the inner room, Aunt Jin lay there, her clothes half-open, fast asleep. Her breasts were partially exposed, creating a very erotic scene. Her well-maintained face was slightly pale, and her brows were clouded with an unshakeable sorrow.
Shen Lixue quietly approached the bedside, looked at the sleeping Aunt Jin, and a strange smile appeared on her lips!