The War King sighed softly, his eyes dimming. He had rushed back from the border and had not witnessed the events firsthand. Lei Taiwei and the others insisted that Duke Wu had killed the King of Liang and then committed suicide. Despite his best efforts, he could not exonerate Duke Wu.
Shen Lixue smiled mockingly. Yes, Shen Minghui was one of the witnesses at the time. He was the son-in-law of the Duke of Wu. He said that he witnessed the Duke of Wu committing suicide out of fear of punishment. Coupled with the unanimous testimony of many court officials, who would still doubt it? Hehe, what a clever plan.
Outside the door, Steward Wang reported: "Princess, news has come from the Prime Minister's residence that Lin Qingzhu's dowry has been collected. Please take the Shen family jade pendant to exchange it after breakfast!"
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened as she suddenly remembered that the two-month deadline she had agreed upon with Shen Minghui had arrived. She looked up at the window; it was already bright daylight, and a bright red sun was slowly rising above the horizon in the eastern sky. "Tell the messenger that I will be going to the Prime Minister's residence soon!"
Butler Wang agreed, and the footsteps gradually faded away. Zhan Wang looked at Shen Lixue and asked, "You're carrying the Shen family's heirloom jade pendant?"
“Yes, Shen Minghui treats it like a treasure, he keeps asking me for it every day!” Shen Lixue took out the Shen family heirloom jade pendant, the emerald green jade pendant shimmering with a lustrous light green glow in the morning light: “I have examined this jade pendant many times, and I have not found anything wrong with it!”
"Perhaps it really is a family heirloom jade pendant that cannot be circulated outside the family, which is why Shen Minghui went to great lengths to get it back!" The War King examined the jade pendant carefully but found nothing special about it.
Shen Lixue nodded. In ancient times, especially among noble families, people valued their family heirlooms more than their own lives. It was not surprising that Shen Minghui was so concerned about his family heirloom jade pendant.
"Godfather, could you lend me twenty guards?" Shen Lixue lowered her voice, a cold glint flashing in her beautiful eyes.
"What are you doing?" The War King wouldn't interfere in Shen Lixue's affairs, but he was puzzled by her need for so many guards.
Shen Lixue smiled mysteriously: "My mother's dowry is quite large, and it needs to be carried back!" She also prepared a large gift for Shen Minghui, which also needed the help of the guards to deliver.
The War King sighed softly, patted Shen Lixue's shoulder, and solemnly instructed her, "Be careful in everything!"
"I know!" Shen Lixue walked out of the study with heavy steps. A white robe flashed in the corner of her eye. Upon closer inspection, she saw Dongfang Heng standing in the center of the courtyard, his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky. His white robe was covered with frost and dew, and his long eyelashes were also covered with moisture. He had obviously been standing there for a long time.
Shen Lixue was taken aback and hurried over: "Dongfang Heng, have you been standing here since last night?" Dongfang Heng had to rest after each dose of medicine, otherwise his heart would ache more and more. She thought he had already gone back to his room to rest, but she didn't expect him to be waiting outside all this time.
"You don't look right, I'm worried!" Dongfang Heng turned to look at Shen Lixue. Seeing that she wasn't sad or upset, he felt relieved. His lips curled up slightly, but his brows were furrowed with exhaustion, and his sharp eyes looked tired.
"I'm a little tired, let's go rest!" Shen Lixue blinked, hiding the emotion in her eyes, stepped forward, took Dongfang Heng's arm, and walked quickly towards her Lixue Pavilion. He had been waiting for her, and if she didn't rest, he wouldn't rest either.
"I'm a little tired too." Dongfang Heng rested his head on Shen Lixue's shoulder, closed his eyes slightly, and pressed almost all of his weight onto her.
Shen Lixue staggered a few times, barely managing to steady herself. Her right side felt like it was being crushed by a mountain, making it impossible for her to move. She knew he had reached his limit and was simply too weak to move, so she didn't blame him: "Do you want me to carry you back to your room?"
Dongfang Heng opened his eyes, raised an eyebrow at Shen Lixue: "Your Lixue Pavilion is a two-story building. You can't carry me up the stairs!" In the hot summer, Shen Lixue liked to live in the study on the second floor. When she went to sleep, she would open the window for ventilation, which was cooler than living on the first floor with ice.
"Then carry me!" Shen Lixue suddenly turned around and cleverly climbed onto Dongfang Heng's back, her hands tightly gripping his neck. Her cold eyes were full of smirk. It wasn't that she wanted to bully the patient, but Dongfang Heng was too heavy for her to carry, so she had to come up with this idea to wake him up and get to the room quickly.
For Dongfang Heng, the body on his back was very light, not very heavy. The soft, boneless little hands hung down in front of his chest, and the fragrant breath kept spraying on his neck. A strand of smooth, black hair fell lightly to his cheek, and the elegant fragrance wafted out. Dongfang Heng raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly: "Okay, I'll carry you!"
"Hurry up...go that way...that way is closer..." Shen Lixue lay on Dongfang Heng's back, giving him instructions. Dongfang Heng carried this soft and light beauty on his back without much effort or annoyance. Wherever she pointed, he went.
The War King stood by the window, watching Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue walking intimately together on the bluestone path, their smiles radiant. A trace of sadness flashed deep in his dark eyes. These two were the true lovers.
"Dongfang Heng, I'm going to sleep. Remember to wake me up when we get to the room!" Shen Lixue rested her head on Dongfang Heng's back and really closed her eyes.
Hearing soft, shallow breathing on his back, Dongfang Heng frowned slightly, lightly touched the ground with his feet, and his slender figure flew over the buildings, heading straight for the second floor of Lixue Pavilion: "You haven't eaten for almost a day, go back to your room, have breakfast, and then sleep!"
"Okay!" Shen Lixue opened her eyes, her clear, cold gaze sparkling.
Back in their room, Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng each took a bath and changed their clothes. They quickly ate breakfast, and Dongfang Heng carried Shen Lixue to the carved bed in the study on the second floor. A gentle breeze blew into the room through the window, bringing a refreshing coolness. The light-colored curtains fluttered in the wind, inspiring contemplation.
Dongfang Heng's condition was serious and he urgently needed rest. After lying down for a while, his breathing gradually became even. Shen Lixue had also not slept all night, but she had to go to the Prime Minister's residence and dared not sleep too much. Just as she closed her eyes, Qiu He's deliberately lowered voice rang out from outside the door: "Miss, it's Chenshi (7 to 9 in the morning)."
"Okay!" Shen Lixue agreed softly, slowly sat up, and carefully tried to pry open Dongfang Heng's arm around her waist.
Dongfang Heng's strong arms remained motionless. The arm that had been resting on Shen Lixue's neck suddenly stretched out, tightly embracing her shoulders and pulling her back into his arms. He opened his sharp eyes, his dark eyes unfathomable: "You didn't sleep a wink last night, aren't you tired?"
"I'm going to the Prime Minister's residence!" Shen Lixue turned her head to look at Dongfang Heng.
Dongfang Heng's gaze darkened: "Exchange the jade pendant for jewelry!"
“Yes!” Shen Lixue nodded. This matter was not a secret, and she had no need to hide it.
Dongfang Heng sat up abruptly and reached for the clothes beside the bed: "I'll go to the Prime Minister's residence with you!"
"No need, you're injured and need to rest. The Prime Minister's residence isn't a den of dragons or tigers; there are guards and secret agents protecting you. I won't be in any trouble!" Shen Lixue flipped her hand and pressed Dongfang Heng onto the bed, pulled the silk quilt that had slipped down and covered him with it, then hurriedly got off the bed.
"Are you sure you don't need me to accompany you to the Prime Minister's residence?" Dongfang Heng asked, still worried. He sat up and gazed at Shen Lixue. The silk quilt slipped down, revealing his strong, bronze chest, which stirred up all sorts of fantasies.
"Shen Minghui is just a minor character, no need for you to take action!" Shen Lixue put on her coat, combed her black hair, looked herself in the mirror and found nothing amiss. She walked to the bedside and gave Dongfang Heng's thin lips a quick, fleeting kiss: "I'm leaving now, you get some rest!"
A soft touch came from his lips, and a fragrant breath wafted between them. Dongfang Heng felt a strange sensation instantly travel from his lips to his heart. He was stunned for a moment, and when he came to his senses, Shen Lixue had already left the room and considerately closed the door.
Dongfang Heng's jade-like fingers lightly touched his thin lips, where the fragrant scent still lingered. A hint of joy flashed in his deep eyes. She had actually taken the initiative to kiss him. Did that mean that she had also fallen in love with him?
With sharp eyes peering through the window at most of the War King's Mansion, Shen Lixue's light blue figure walked out of the mansion along the bluestone path. Just as she was about to get into her carriage, a carriage drove up in the opposite direction. The curtain opened, revealing the face of a young woman.
"Princess!" Chu Youran called out with a smile, though her face was still somewhat pale.
"Miss Chu." Shen Lixue smiled politely, judging from Chu Youran's appearance, she had come specifically to see her.
Chu Youran alighted from the carriage, took the hand of her maid, and slowly walked to Shen Lixue. She smiled gently, her eyes sincere: "Thank you for helping me out yesterday, Princess!"
Shen Lixue was taken aback, then realized she was referring to Bai Ruyi and Ruan Chuqing: "It was nothing, Miss Chu, you don't need to worry about it!"
"Your Highness's small act of kindness has been a great help to us." Chu Youran's sincere words contained no flattery or fawning, only gratitude towards Shen Lixue: "I didn't know what Your Highness liked, so I made some pastries myself. Please accept them!"
"Granny Li!" Chu Youran turned around and called out.
"Miss!" A nanny of about forty years old came forward carrying a food box. The pastries were meant to be sweet, crisp and soft, so the food box wasn't sealed tightly, and a fragrant aroma wafted out, making one's mouth water.
Shen Lixue nodded approvingly: "It smells wonderful, the pastries must be delicious too. Miss Chu's skills are truly excellent!"
"Princess, please eat as much as you like!" Chu Youran was pleased that her cooking skills had been recognized. She reached out to take the food box, intending to hand it to Shen Lixue herself as a sign of respect.
The moment Granny Li handed over the food box, her gaze fell upon Shen Lixue. Her body trembled violently, the food box slipped from her hand and fell heavily to the ground. Staring at Shen Lixue as if she had seen a ghost, her eyes wide with shock, she staggered back, stammering, "Qing...Qingzhu...Miss..."