The guard frowned, raised his knife, and chopped off Shen Minghui's head, which rolled to the side with a gurgling sound.
Inside the carriage, Shen Lixue nestled in Dongfang Heng's arms, her small face pressed against his chest, her eyes open but unfocused.
"Li Xue!" Dongfang Heng gently shook her arm. She was too quiet and lacked her usual vitality, which worried him.
"My birth, my existence, are all mistakes!" Shen Lixue suddenly spoke. Although she was not the Shen Lixue of the past, the body she occupied belonged to Shen Lixue.
"This is not your fault!" Dongfang Heng looked down at Shen Lixue, his eyes filled with affection, his jade-like fingers gently stroking her pale face: "If Shen Minghui hadn't done that despicable thing, you might be the Imperial Uncle's daughter now!"
Shen Lixue forced a bitter smile and said, "Dongfang Heng, after we get back to the manor, help me move!"
Dongfang Heng was taken aback, then nodded: "Okay!" His jade-like fingers gently stroked her smooth black hair. The truth was out: she was Lin Qingzhu's victim, and the Imperial Uncle would harbor resentment. Li Xue was indeed no longer suitable to live in the War Prince's Mansion.
"Thank you!" Shen Lixue buried her head in Dongfang Heng's arms, tears streaming down her face, not for herself, but for Lin Qingzhu.
"Don't cry!" Dongfang Heng gently wiped away Shen Lixue's tears, his sharp eyes flashing with tenderness and determination: "No matter how you were born, or who your parents are, I don't care. I only know that you are the person I love, and I will always be by your side!"
"Thank you!" Shen Lixue hugged Dongfang Heng tightly around the waist, her face pressed against his chest, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears. When she was sad and disappointed, having someone by her side made life beautiful, and that was enough.
A luxurious carriage sped along the quiet street. Behind it, more than a dozen ragged beggars surrounded a woman in white. She had been abandoned there by two men and was neither moving nor speaking. It was unclear whether she was unconscious or dead.
"You're still alive, aren't you?" A beggar cautiously nudged the woman's leg.
"Get out!" The woman suddenly raised her head and roared at the group of beggars. Her beautiful eyes burned with anger, and she gritted her teeth and secretly vowed, "Chen Lixue, I will never let you go."
"It's alive!" The beggars breathed a sigh of relief, their lecherous eyes lingering on Su Yuting. She really had a great figure. "Hey guys, we haven't had any meat in days. We can't let this opportunity slip by!"
"Of course we can't let her go. How about we do it the old way?" A beggar rubbed his hands together, his small eyes gleaming with lust as he stared intently at Su Yuting, practically drooling.
"Alright!" The beggars nodded in agreement, stepped forward, grabbed Su Yuting's beautiful dress, and began to undress her or pull down her pants.
"What are you doing? Get out of here, get out of here..." Su Yuting roared and struggled, but her martial arts were crippled, her tendons in her hands and feet were severed, she could not run or jump, how could she resist the combined efforts of the beggars? In no time, all her clothes were torn to shreds and scattered all over the ground.
Gazing at her beautiful body, the beggars' eyes gleamed with lust. They couldn't wait to press themselves against her, their dirty hands vigorously kneading her delicate skin, exclaiming incessantly, "Her skin is so white... so smooth... it tastes wonderful!"
Su Yuting struggled desperately, trying to escape the beggars' filthy hands. Her fair skin was covered in a layer of dust, and the stench emanating from them made her want to vomit. "Get out, get away..."
"This chick's really hot, we guys like spicy food. You guys stand in line at the back, I'll go first!" The lead beggar chuckled and suddenly exerted force.
"Ah..." Su Yuting's shrill scream pierced through the clouds and echoed throughout the sky.
In the pitch-black night sky, the beggar man's lewd laughter echoed: "Didn't expect her to be a virgin, what a steal..."
Holy King's Mansion, Lixue Pavilion
"Qiuhe, Yanyue, pack these clothes!" Shen Lixue took out three long dresses belonging to Ruan Yanluo from the wardrobe and handed them to Yanyue.
Everything in Li Xue Pavilion was provided by the War King, so Shen Li Xue didn't have much to pack. She took off her princess dress, changed into the clothes Dongfang Heng had given her, and removed all the hairpins, pearl flowers, and earrings from her hair, putting them into the jewelry box on the table.
Shen Lixue would not take a single thing from the Zhanwang Mansion. As for Lin Qingzhu's dowry, she would leave it to the Zhanwang, as she did not need it. She would just take the few sets of clothes that Dongfang Heng had given her and leave.
"Finished packing?" Dongfang Heng glanced at the small package in Yan Yue's hand and remained calm. He knew that Shen Lixue didn't care about the things from the Zhan Wang Mansion. He would give her the best life and she didn't need to take anything from the Zhan Wang Mansion.
Shen Lixue nodded: "Let's go!"
"Okay!" Dongfang Heng put his arm around Shen Lixue's shoulder and led her outside.
As dawn broke in the eastern sky, the servants were getting up but had not yet come out. The mansion was quiet. Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng walked out of Lixue Pavilion, through the second gate, and headed outside the mansion.
At the gate, a figure in light blue stood with his back to the two, his tall frame blocking their path. Overnight, a few strands of silver had appeared in his jet-black hair.
"Godfather!" Shen Lixue stopped and called out.
The War King slowly turned around, his handsome face showing signs of weariness and exhaustion, his sharp eyes filled with sorrow and sadness: "Are you leaving?"
Shen Lixue nodded: "I am no longer suitable to live in the War King's Mansion!"
This body is Lin Qingzhu's humiliation. When the War King sees her, he will be reminded of Lin Qingzhu's misfortune and how they were tricked into passing each other by. They will both be heartbroken.
The War King looked at Shen Lixue and strode over, his dark eyes unfathomable.
Dongfang Heng stepped forward, blocking Shen Lixue's path: "Royal Uncle, Lixue is innocent. She had no choice in her birth!"
This was the first time in over a decade that Dongfang Heng had seen the War King so enraged. His overwhelming anger was beyond anyone's control. The more he loved Lin Qingzhu, the more he hated Shen Minghui. Shen Lixue was Shen Minghui's daughter, so it was possible that his anger had not subsided and that he was extending his hatred to her.
The War King stopped and sighed softly, "I don't want to hurt Li Xue, I just want her to stay and help me take care of the War King's Mansion!"
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "What do you mean, Godfather?"
"I'm going to Qingzhou to be with Qingzhu!" The War King looked at the sky, a slight smile playing on his lips. She was most afraid of the dark, and lanterns had to be lit as soon as it got light. The nine hundred and ninety-nine lanterns he hung outside the bamboo forest were not only blessings, but also lights to illuminate the darkness for her.
Now that she has passed away and is buried deep in the earth, how can he let her face that boundless darkness alone?
"Godfather..."
"Royal Uncle..."
"No need for further persuasion, my mind is made up!" The War King waved his hand to interrupt the two, his deep gaze fixed on Shen Lixue:
"Li Xue, you are a good child. During your time living in the Prince's mansion, you have shown me that being a father is a wonderful thing. I have long regarded you as my own daughter. I hope you stay, not only because of Qing Zhu, but also because I stand from a father's point of view and wish you happiness!"
“Godfather!” Shen Lixue’s cold eyes glistened with tears.
"Your Highness!" Steward Wang led over a fast horse, carrying a package in his hand.
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "Godfather, are you leaving now!"
The War King nodded: "I have already resigned from my post and the Emperor has agreed to let me leave the capital. Qingyan Capital is very peaceful and nothing major is expected in the short term. Even if something major happens, Dongfang Heng is still here. I believe that with his abilities, he can handle it completely!"