With tears in her eyes, Aunt Li knelt down in front of Madam Lei and pleaded, "Madam, please spare Caixuan! I promise she will obediently marry into the Grand Commandant's household!" It was already very hot, and if she was not allowed to drink water after a day of scorching sun, she would be half-dead from the heat.
Lei snorted coldly, not even glancing at Aunt Li, turned around, and strode out, supported by her maid. Her cold words drifted through the air: "Shen Caixuan has disobeyed her mistress, expose her to the scorching sun for three days!"
Aunt Li's body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
Shen Caiyun lowered her eyelids, a hint of relief flashing in her beautiful eyes. Fortunately, she had lost her virginity to the Crown Prince Qin, and the Emperor had bestowed upon her the title of Noble Lady. Otherwise, she would have had to bear the blame for adultery.
Shen Minghui and Lei Yarong are not good people. She had long since given up on them and was on guard against them day and night. Yet Aunt Li and Shen Caixuan followed their lead. They were extremely foolish. Their tragic end was their own doing.
Two carriages were parked outside the Prime Minister's residence. Eunuch Zhao got into one of them, and Shen Lixue lifted the curtain of the other carriage. She looked at the person sitting inside, leisurely reading a book, paused for a moment, raised the corners of her mouth, and stepped forward.
The carriage set off for the Prince of War's residence. Shen Lixue looked at the person across the small table: "Dongfang Heng, did you invite the imperial decree?"
While in the bamboo garden, he said he had arranged accommodations for her and left to make some arrangements. Unexpectedly, he returned with an imperial edict from the emperor, arranging for her to stay at the War King's residence. The War King truly loved him and actually agreed to his request.
"To be precise, it was my uncle and I who invited them together!" Dongfang Heng put down his book, his ice silk sleeves flowing smoothly like water.
"Your Highness requests an imperial decree?" Shen Lixue frowned, not quite believing Dongfang Heng's words. Wasn't it his idea to take her as his goddaughter and strike at Shen Minghui?
"My royal uncle is unmarried and has no children. He has long wanted to adopt you as his goddaughter, but he was afraid you would not agree, so he never mentioned it. Just now, I went to the Prince of Zhan's residence and told my royal uncle about your situation. My royal uncle immediately went to the palace to request an imperial decree!"
Shen Lixue refused to go to the Holy King's Mansion. Dongfang Heng was worried about her living outside, so he planned to discuss with the War King that she could stay at the War King's Mansion for a few months. When she came of age, he would take her back to the Holy King's Mansion to get married. Unexpectedly, the War King not only agreed to his request, but also went to the palace to ask for an imperial decree to adopt her as his goddaughter. She could stay at the War King's Mansion for as long as she wanted.
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "Really?" She and Prince Zhan had only met a few times and hadn't even exchanged many words. How could he agree to take her in?
"Would I lie to you about something like this?" Dongfang Heng stepped over the small table, reached out and pulled Shen Lixue into his arms, resting his smooth chin gently on her soft hair, and whispered, "The War Prince's Mansion only has the Imperial Uncle, no wives or concubines, no brothers or sisters, so no one will scheme against you anymore!" It was precisely because he had thought of this that he wanted Shen Lixue to live in the War Prince's Mansion.
Shen Lixue nodded. She was tired of living a life of constant vigilance and infighting.
The delicate body in his arms was fragrant and soft, as if boneless, with a beautiful little face pressed against Dongfang Heng's strong chest. He felt a surge of excitement, and his strong arms tightened unconsciously: "I just heard a rumor about the Prime Minister's residence."
"What rumors?" Shen Lixue raised her head, her clear eyes like an ancient well, each drop as black as lacquer.
Dongfang Heng couldn't help but lower his head and gently kiss her eyelids. Shen Lixue hadn't slept all night and was a little tired. Dongfang Heng was also quick, and she was too lazy to dodge.
"Rumor has it that the second young lady who committed adultery with Lei Cong is not the current second young lady Shen Yingxue, but the original second young lady Shen Caixuan. A servant who returned to his hometown last night happened to witness this incident and spread the false rumor!"
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow: "Shen Minghui and Lei Yarong are planning to make Shen Caixuan a scapegoat!"
Shen Caixuan has always been an accomplice of Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue. She was also involved in scheming against Shen Lixue. Shen Lixue had considered many solutions, but she never expected that Lei Shi would make her a scapegoat for the sake of her daughter.
She made the right decision to leave that chaotic and corrupt mansion of the Prime Minister!
"Do you want to get involved in this matter?" Dongfang Heng asked in a low voice.
Shen Lixue shook her head: "Shen Caixuan is proud and arrogant. She attaches herself to the Lei family in order to find a good marriage. The Lei family is making her marry Lei Cong with a criminal charge. She will definitely be very resentful and will definitely have a fierce backlash!" Even without her intervention, the Prime Minister's Mansion will collapse. All these bad consequences are what they brought upon themselves.
“In Qingyan, there are three places that no one dares to enter: the Imperial Palace, the Holy King’s Mansion, and the War King’s Mansion!” Since Shen Lixue was no longer interested in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Dongfang Heng changed the subject to the War King’s Mansion.
Shen Lixue nodded. Dongfang Heng had been very thoughtful. Now that she had moved into the War King's Mansion, Shen Minghui and Lei Shi dared not make any further moves. "I'm a little tired. I'll sleep for a while. Wake me up when we get to the War King's Mansion!"
She hadn't slept all night and looked exhausted. It would be impolite to see her elders looking like that. Taking a nap to recover her energy would be a sign of respect for them.
"Okay!" Dongfang Heng agreed, and lay down on his side with Shen Lixue in his arms.
Shen Lixue looked exhausted, but as she relaxed, her whole body felt lighter. Breathing in the faint scent of pine, she rested her head on Dongfang Heng's arm and quickly fell asleep.
Dongfang Heng's jade-like fingers gently caressed Shen Lixue's beautiful face. His dark eyes were unfathomable, and deep within them flickered a faint smile and doting affection!
The living room of the Duke of Wen's mansion
"What did you say? Shen Lixue has been granted the title of Princess and moved into the Prince of Zhan's residence?" Lady Ruan, the Duchess of Wen, looked at the guard who came to report, her beautiful eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and a cold light flashed deep in her pupils: "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"Reporting to Madam, Eunuch Zhao personally delivered the decree. The guards carried more than ten large wooden boxes, making a grand procession along the main road. This humble servant would never make a mistake!" The guard thought to himself, "Declaring the decree and delivering gifts, so extravagant and blatant, how could I possibly make a mistake?"
Ruan Shi's slender fingers clenched into fists instantly, and anger burned in her beautiful eyes. Anything in the Zhan Wang Mansion was worth a fortune, yet he had given Shen Minghui more than a dozen boxes of things. He was clearly trying to buy someone's daughter.
Thinking of Shen Lixue's face, which was becoming more and more like Lin Qingzhu's, Ruan Shi's well-maintained and beautiful face twisted slightly. The War King took Shen Lixue as his goddaughter because of her, didn't he? You wretch, you can't even be content in death.
Su Yuting glanced at Madam Ruan's gloomy and terrifying face, waved her hand to dismiss the guards, and said softly, "Mother, I'll go to the Prince of Zhan's mansion to investigate the situation!"
"The Prince of War will not see you. Weren't you turned away last time?" Madam Ruan frowned deeply, her anger barely contained. Her own daughter had come to his door, and he didn't even glance at her. Her daughter was staying in the Prime Minister's residence, yet he had the audacity to take her there to live. How despicable! Just because of that similar face?
Su Yuting smiled mysteriously, her beautiful eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Mother, don't worry, I have my own way of entering the Prince of Zhan's mansion legitimately!"
In a hazy state, she felt a warm touch on her lips, and a hand-like object wandered restlessly over her body. The familiar scent of pine gradually filled her mouth, swallowing her breath. Shen Lixue gasped for air, her brows furrowed as she opened her eyes. Dongfang Heng's handsome face, magnified infinitely, was right in front of her.
Seeing her open her eyes, Dongfang Heng reluctantly moved away from her by a fraction of an inch: "You're awake!"
"What are you doing?" Shen Lixue took a few deep breaths and glared fiercely at Dongfang Heng. He actually attacked her while she was asleep.
"We've arrived at the War King's Mansion. I'm waking you up!" Dongfang Heng said matter-of-factly.
Shen Lixue was taken aback, then realized what was happening, her beautiful eyes flashing with anger: "Couldn't you have called out to me a few times?" To wake her up like that, really...
"You only told me to wake you up, you didn't specify which method!" Seeing Shen Lixue's gaze darken even more, Dongfang Heng's lips curled into a graceful smile as he pulled her hand and led her out of the carriage: "Uncle is still waiting in the manor, let's not delay!"
The War King's Mansion was majestic and solemn, with beautiful scenery inside. It was no different from when Shen Lixue last came. The mansion was filled with towering trees that provided shade, and walking on the bluestone path, one did not feel hot at all.
Accompanied by Eunuch Zhao and Dongfang Heng, Shen Lixue went to the War King's study. After knocking on the door and receiving permission, the three of them went inside.
"Your Highness, the Princess has arrived!" Eunuch Zhao spoke first.
The War King, who was writing at the table, stopped writing, raised his head, and his handsome face and sharp aura remained unchanged, only the accumulation of years had made him more composed.
When he saw Shen Lixue, his sharp eyes beneath his handsome, sword-like eyebrows actually shone with kindness and warmth—this was the look a father should have when looking at his daughter.
"Your Highness, the War King!" Shen Lixue bowed politely to the War King.