"Are you all mute? Why aren't you saying anything?" When the servants didn't respond, Prime Minister Li frowned deeply. Were the servants in his own household disobeying him and trying to side with outsiders?
"This...this..." The servants' eyes darted around, not wanting to offend either side, and after stammering for a long time, they still couldn't give an answer.
Shen Lixue looked up at the sun high in the sky: "Prime Minister Li, why don't you ask the servants what happened to the injuries on their faces?"
"Uh!" Prime Minister Li was taken aback. He looked closely at the servants and saw that each of them had a whip mark on their cheek, some more severe than others, some longer than others. He had been so focused on Li Fan that he hadn't noticed it. "What happened?"
"I did it!" Shen Lixue raised the blue whip in her hand and said in a 'sad' voice, "I am a weak woman, and the servants are all strong men. If they hadn't bullied me, why would I have beaten them so badly?"
Prime Minister Li's face instantly turned as black as ink. Shen Lixue was the adopted daughter of the War King. He had never met her, but he had heard about her. She was the one who had severely injured the vicious and disfigured Su Yuting with a long whip. Could she be a weak woman?
How could a seemingly weak woman escape Li Fan's harassment and even beat his servants until they were covered in bruises?
However, on the other hand, if Shen Lixue had actively seduced Li Fan, she certainly wouldn't have severely beaten his servants. The fact that the servants had injuries on their faces could only mean that Li Fan had indeed harassed her, and she had hit them in a fit of anger.
Seeing the unpredictable look in Prime Minister Li's eyes, Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow and looked at the woman in red: "Yu'er!" Prime Minister Li is biased towards Li Fan even with conclusive evidence, so she will present even stronger evidence to leave him speechless.
Dongfang Yu'er, munching on a fresh fruit, said leisurely, "I just witnessed Li Fan harassing my cousin's wife. If she hadn't dodged quickly, she would have been killed. Prime Minister Li, the matter is clear now, so please stop protecting Li Fan..."
Prime Minister Li's gaze sharpened, and he suddenly noticed that Li Fan's screams had subsided. He lay weakly on the stool, the blood on his buttocks reflecting off his body, looking utterly miserable. His eyes were glazed over, as if he were half-conscious, and his breathing was much weaker.
Looking up at the sky, he realized he had been there for quite some time. It seemed Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue had already prepared enough...
Chapter 165: A Terrible Pairing
The braised fish, with its sharp bones, was stuffed whole into Ye Qianmei's mouth. The delicate skin inside her mouth was pierced, and the mouthwatering aroma mixed with a faint smell of blood quickly spread. Her captivating eyes flashed with a chilling light.
Shen Lixue ignored her and smiled, "Princess Qianmei, how does it taste?"
"Very good!" Ye Qianmei looked at Shen Lixue, curled the corners of her mouth, and revealed the braised fish. Its dark red color looked like it contained blood clots, eerie and strange.
The crowd exchanged glances, looking at each other in bewilderment. Princess Anjun and Princess Ye Qianmei were both members of the royal family, and their fierce rivalry was something these ministers had no right to interfere with. Their gazes then drifted furtively toward the middle-aged man on the dragon throne.
The emperor, as the ruler of the country and an elder, was the most qualified to resolve the conflict between the two women.
The emperor lowered his head slightly, gently touching the tea leaves on the surface of the water with the lid of his cup, and slowly sipped the tea. Ye Qianmei was the princess of Xiliang Kingdom, and Shen Lixue was the princess consort of Qingyan County. Their rivalry was a contest between Xiliang Kingdom and Qingyan Kingdom. Shen Lixue had the upper hand, which meant that Qingyan Kingdom was stronger. He would not stop them, much less reprimand them.
For a moment, no one spoke, and the banquet hall was eerily quiet.
"I've heard that Qingyan is full of talented people. Princess Qianmei has come here to arrange a marriage!" Among the Xiliang envoys, a middle-aged man of about forty years old stood up. He had a handsome face and was neither humble nor arrogant, breaking the icy silence.
"And who are you?" The emperor raised his eyes to look at the middle-aged man.
The man bowed politely and said, "I am Huang Huailin, General of Xiliang. I have been ordered to escort Princess Qianmei to Qingyan. The princess is the emperor's darling and is deeply loved. She has never suffered any grievances. I hope that the emperor will find a good home for the princess and make a happy marriage!"
Ye Qianlong was nearly assassinated in Qingyan. Although he returned, the ruler will inevitably harbor resentment. A marriage alliance between the two countries to eliminate misunderstandings and deepen relations is a good way to defend the territory and crack down on villains.
The emperor looked at Ye Qianmei with a kind and amiable smile: "Princess Qianmei is only sixteen years old, in the prime of her youth. Several of my princes are also of marriageable age..."
The emperor's sharp gaze fell on the younger generation of the Eastern royal family. He felt that Ye Qianmei was a princess with a respectable status, and the person she was to marry into Qingyan for political reasons should be a prince of the royal family, or the heir of a royal family, or a prince!
"Your Majesty, to be honest, Qianmei already has someone she likes." Ye Qianmei gave a graceful bow, her voice so gentle it could melt water, her face flushed, and she lowered her head shyly.
The ministers exchanged glances and whispered among themselves, "Princess Qianmei has someone she likes. Who is it?"
"I don't know, but judging from Princess Qianmei's shy appearance, that person is in the banquet hall..."
The noble young men's eyes lit up as they carefully examined themselves. After several repetitions, they found nothing amiss. Full of energy, they looked at Ye Qianmei with expectant eyes. Princess Qianmei liked them, didn't she? She liked them!
Looking at Ye Qianmei's shy face, Shen Lixue felt a bad premonition. Did Ye Qianmei have someone she liked?
The emperor paused abruptly, then looked at her with a kind smile: "I wonder who Princess Qianmei likes?" The banquet hall was full of noble families; if she didn't marry a prince, marrying a noble young master was also an option.
"So far away, yet so close at hand!" Ye Qianmei raised her head, her eyes brimming with a shy and timid gaze.
Following her gaze, everyone saw a handsome young man, dressed in flowing white robes like an immortal, yet exuding a faint aura of coldness that inspired awe. With jade-like fingers, he held a wine cup in one hand and a wine pot in the other, leisurely drinking as if no one else was around.
“Prince An…Prince An…” Everyone stared wide-eyed, speechless with shock. Ye Qianmei actually liked Prince An. No wonder she and Princess An fought so fiercely.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Ye Qianmei was actually eyeing Dongfang Heng. No wonder she always addressed her as Princess Lixue and never as Princess Consort.
She and Dongfang Heng had just gotten married yesterday, and before the three-day homecoming ceremony was even over, Dongfang Heng was already bringing Ye Qianmei back to the mansion. She was sure to become the laughing stock of the entire Qingyan. Ye Qianmei really couldn't wait to come and make things difficult for her.
“Prince An has already married his principal wife. No matter how noble Princess Qianmei’s status is, she will only be a concubine after marrying Prince An.” Lin Yan held a wine cup in his hand and immediately lowered Ye Qianmei’s status with his words.
Ordinary people or high-ranking officials can take a concubine after having a principal wife, but the royal family can only have one principal wife and there can never be a concubine. Shen Lixue is the adopted daughter of the War King, and her status is not much lower than that of Ye Qianmei, the princess of Xiliang. She was the first to enter the family and is rightfully the principal wife of Anjun. If Ye Qianmei marries in, she can only be a concubine at most.
In Qingyan Kingdom, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is clear. His reminder to Ye Qianmei was meant to dissuade her from marrying Dongfang Heng.
"Qianmei doesn't mind and is willing to share a husband with Sister Lixue!" Before anything was even settled, Ye Qianmei had already changed her form of address, her beautiful eyes gazing at Dongfang Heng with sparkling eyes.
The noble young men's hearts sank instantly. The charming and alluring Princess Qianmei would rather be a concubine of Prince An than marry them as his principal wife. The God of War Qingyan was indeed irresistibly charming.
"Congratulations to Prince An on finding such a beautiful woman!" Dongfang Zhan raised his wine cup and toasted Dongfang Heng from afar, a hint of mockery flashing in his gentle eyes: "Prince An is handsome and dashing, and Princess Qianmei is stunningly beautiful. They are truly a match made in heaven!"
On the second day of their marriage, Dongfang Heng betrothed Ye Qianmei to Shen Lixue, who will surely be heartbroken. Their relationship will definitely break down. What good is it if he wins Shen Lixue's heart? Once he hurts her, he can forget about keeping her.
Dongfang Heng put down his wine cup, glanced coldly at Dongfang Zhan, and strode up to Shen Lixue under the watchful eyes of the crowd. He grasped her fair hand and said, "I promised Lixue that I would not marry a concubine, would not elevate a mistress, and would not take any maids. For all my life, I will only love her!"
His voice was light and airy, yet it struck like a thunderclap, leaving everyone stunned: "Prince An, the God of War of Azure Flame, only marries his principal wife?"
Ye Qianmei is stunningly beautiful and is also the princess of Xiliang, representing the entire Xiliang Kingdom. Marrying her would be equivalent to gaining the support of the entire Xiliang Kingdom. Others would love to have her, but she offered herself up willingly, disregarding her status and willingly becoming a concubine. Yet Dongfang Heng still didn't want her.
Shen Lixue's eyes were bright, and a beautiful smile curved her lips. She grasped Dongfang Heng's jade-like fingers in return. She knew he would say that!
Dongfang Zhan looked at their clasped hands, his handsome face instantly darkening. He picked up his wine cup, took a big gulp, and his gaze was terrifyingly gloomy. He wouldn't take a concubine, wouldn't elevate a mistress, and wouldn't take a maidservant. Dongfang Heng really knew how to use sweet words to deceive innocent women.
"Does Prince An truly not wish to marry Princess Qianmei?" The Emperor frowned as he looked at Dongfang Heng, his tone authoritative.