Dressed in military uniform, Dongfang Heng was imposing and full of vigor. He took the luggage from Shen Lixue, held her small hand tightly, and said with a solemn look, "Lixue, wait for me to come back."
"When we get to the border, the food will definitely not be as good as it is in the manor. You must eat more, otherwise you won't have the strength to fight the enemy during the day. Also, don't drink on an empty stomach, it's bad for your health..." Shen Lixue kept giving her earnest advice.
Dongfang Heng smiled slightly, noting everything down, his jade-like fingers gently caressing her pregnant body: "Wait for me, I will definitely come back alive to see you and your child."
With separation imminent and facing such a formidable foe, no amount of comforting words would make a difference. Dongfang Heng's words were simple yet heartwarming. What could be happier than her husband returning alive to see her and their child?
Shen Lixue's smile was fresh and natural, warm as spring: "I believe in you. It's getting late, let's set off quickly. On the battlefield, no matter what happens, you must remember to live well. The child and I are waiting for you to come back home!"
Dongfang Heng nodded heavily. He had a wife and children who had high hopes for him. He had to come back alive.
"The child doesn't have a name yet. We'll name him when you come back." Shen Lixue smiled at Dongfang Heng, but a layer of mist filled the depths of her eyes. The child's name was a concern in her heart; she was certain he would return to the capital alive.
"Don't worry, I will definitely come back to name the child." Dongfang Heng solemnly promised, tightly holding Shen Lixue's soft, boneless hand. The guard had already led the horse over, and he could not delay any longer. He gave Shen Lixue a firm look, took the reins from the guard, and mounted the horse.
Bathed in sunlight, he was dressed in military uniform, riding a swift horse, looking exceptionally handsome. He glanced deeply at Shen Lixue, turned around, and suddenly flicked the reins. The horse galloped away, kicking up clouds of smoke that blurred the view. Behind him, soldiers with spears and swords followed closely, their imposing presence awe-inspiring.
Shen Lixue stood there, watching Dongfang Heng's figure walk further and further away. The mist in her watery eyes thickened. She was just an ordinary woman who hoped that her husband could return safely and stay by her side. The three of them could live happily together, a perfect family with a father, a mother, and a child. She couldn't lose her husband, and her child couldn't be without a father.
"Li Xue." With a familiar call, a light purple cloak was draped over Shen Li Xue. She turned around and saw Dongfang Xun standing behind her, dressed in a snow-blue robe, handsome and extraordinary, with a warm smile shining in his gentle eyes.
"Big brother." Shen Lixue smiled gently, politely and courteously. As the heir of the Holy King, Dongfang Xun's smile was as warm as a spring breeze. Although he was quite capable, he was not competitive. Dongfang Heng respected him, and Shen Lixue always regarded him as her older brother.
"It's getting windy, head back to the manor early," Dongfang Xun instructed, reminding Shen Lixue that she was pregnant and should not catch a chill.
“I’ll go back once Heng has gone far.” Shen Lixue turned to look in the direction the soldiers were heading. The soldiers were specially trained and moved extremely fast. In just a short while, they had already walked dozens of meters away. Dongfang Heng’s figure was swallowed up by the surging crowd. Wherever the soldiers passed, plumes of smoke rose up.
Dongfang Xun stepped forward and stood side by side with Shen Lixue. Looking at the endless southern expeditionary force, he recalled his conversation with Dongfang Heng. Just an hour earlier, Dongfang Heng had returned to his residence after discussing matters at the palace and went directly to his study to see him.
"Brother, I have something I'd like to ask you." Dongfang Heng entered the study and, without any pleasantries, went straight to the point.
"What is it? Speak freely." Dongfang Heng was exceptionally capable, and even the most difficult problems could be solved with his help. He rarely asked for help from others, so Dongfang Xun was somewhat surprised that he had something to ask of him this time. He was more curious: what could be so important to him?
"I volunteered to go to the border to fight. Li Xue is pregnant and will be giving birth soon. After I leave, please take good care of her for me." Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes flashed with an unusual seriousness.
"It's nothing, I'll take good care of my brother and sister-in-law." His younger brother is fighting against the southern border, so as the older brother, he will naturally take good care of his younger brother and sister-in-law so that his brother can fight the enemy without any worries.
Dongfang Heng sighed softly and said helplessly, "Brother, you don't understand what I mean. What I mean by taking care of you is that you move to the vicinity of Fengsong Courtyard and keep a close eye on Lixue."
"Why?" Dongfang Xun was somewhat taken aback. He knew Li Xue's character very well. Dongfang Heng might be gone for several months, so there was no need to keep Shen Li Xue under guard like a prisoner.
“Dongfang Zhan has always coveted Li Xue, but he dared not trespass recklessly because my martial arts skills are comparable to his. Now that I have gone to the border, only Li Xue remains in Fengsong Courtyard. Although the guards are skilled in martial arts, they are no match for Dongfang Zhan. If he takes Li Xue hostage, the guards will not be able to stop him…”
When Dongfang Heng went to the border, his biggest worry was Shen Lixue. With him gone and Dongfang Zhan still in the capital, things could change at any time in Fengsong Courtyard. Even with his immense abilities, he couldn't reach her from the border.
It's not about keeping watch over Shen Lixue, it's about protecting her!
Dongfang Xun nodded knowingly: "Okay, I'll move to the place next to Fengsong Courtyard this afternoon."
The Holy King's Mansion has many small courtyards, most of which are in sunny locations. The mansion's owner can choose a courtyard according to his own preferences. Dongfang Heng and Dongfang Xun have different personalities and hobbies, so they choose different courtyards.
Dongfang Xun preferred quiet and loved poetry and painting. His courtyard was located by the pond and was one of the best-located courtyards in the Holy King's Mansion. Dongfang Heng was cold-hearted, and Fengsong Courtyard was far away from the bustling crowds, separated from Dongfang Xun's courtyard by a small part of the mansion.
The courtyard next to Fengsong Courtyard was also quite nice, but it wasn't Dongfang Xun's small courtyard, and it wasn't as comfortable as his inner room. However, he didn't mind suffering for a few months to protect Shen Lixue.
Dongfang Xun had never seen Dongfang Zhan display his martial arts skills and did not know how skilled he was, but he knew that Dongfang Heng was highly skilled. Dongfang Zhan and Dongfang Heng were roughly equal in skill, and their skills were similar to his own. If he dared to come to the Holy King's Mansion and act improperly towards Li Xue, Dongfang Xun would definitely not be polite to him.
A blue robe flashed past the corner of his eye. Dongfang Xun looked up and saw Dongfang Zhan standing on a high platform not far away. He glanced at Dongfang Xun and Shen Lixue indifferently before turning his gaze to some unknown distance.
When Dongfang Zhan looked at them, his gaze was pure, without any improper thoughts. Dongfang Xun had heard many stories about him and dared not let his guard down, remaining on guard in secret. However, Dongfang Zhan did not turn around to look at them again, but simply stood quietly, looking in one direction.
Dongfang Xun wondered what Dongfang Zhan was looking at so intently.
Dongfang Xun was positioned low and couldn't see the scene in the distance, while Dongfang Zhan, standing on a high platform, could see everything clearly. Dozens of meters away, Nangong Xiao was quietly leading a fast horse, tiptoeing forward.
Suddenly, a woman in red stepped out and arrogantly blocked his way: "Nangong Xiao, what are you doing, acting like a thief?"
Nangong Xiao glared at her and said in a low voice, "You shrew, I'm going to the border and I don't have time to argue with you. Get out of my way and don't block my way."
"The Emperor did not agree to let you leave the city." Dongfang Yu'er had heard a little about Nangong Xiao's special status. As a hostage, he could not leave the capital without the Emperor's permission; otherwise, it would be considered disobeying the imperial decree.
Nangong Xiao frowned deeply and said dismissively, "My father is seriously injured and his life is in danger. How can I care whether the emperor agrees or not?"
Dongfang Yu'er snorted lightly: "Since you're not afraid of the Emperor, why did you sneak away from the capital?"
"If His Majesty finds out that I am leaving the capital, he will definitely send people to stop me. At that time, whether we reason with him or take action, it will delay my time. I am in a hurry to get to the border. Time is precious and cannot be wasted..." The implication was that Nangong Xiao was afraid of being delayed, so he left the capital quietly, not because he was afraid of the Emperor.
"Dongfang Heng has already gone to the border. With his abilities as the God of War of Azure Flames, he will definitely be able to save the King of Yunnan. You don't need to worry." Dongfang Yu'er knew Nangong Xiao as a womanizer who didn't care about worldly affairs. It was rare to see him so concerned about her father. Dongfang Yu'er softened her voice and her attitude became much better.
"Dongfang Heng is indeed very capable, but how can I be at ease without seeing my father rescued with my own eyes?" It takes ten days for a message to travel from the border to the capital, even by carrier pigeon. He will know ten days later that the King of Yunnan has been rescued, ten days later that the King of Yunnan has taken medicine, and ten days later that the King of Yunnan's injuries have improved. He will be worried while the pigeon is flying, and he does not want to be in a state of constant worry.
"Are you really going to the border?" Dongfang Yu'er asked abruptly, noticing Nangong Xiao's furrowed brows.
Nangong Xiao glanced at her: "Nonsense, if we're not going to the border, what would I, the young master, be doing leading a horse and carrying a bundle?" The horse was a rare Huangji horse, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, and the bundle contained enough gold and silver for his travel expenses.
"I'll go to the border with you." Dongfang Yu'er, dressed in red, was as passionate as fire. Her sincere face was bright and radiant. Golden bells jingled in circles on her jet-black hair. Her casual words startled Nangong Xiao so much that he almost fell to the ground. He raised an eyebrow at her and said, "I'm going to the border to save my father. What are you going to the border for?"
"Of course I'll go with you to save your father." Dongfang Yu'er's eyes sparkled.
"No, no, no..." Nangong Xiao hurriedly refused, "You are the precious daughter of the Prince of Huai's mansion. The border is not a place for you to stay. If anything happens to you, the Prince of Huai will definitely not forgive me..."
"I will take good care of myself. Those people at the border want to hurt me, but it won't be so easy." Dongfang Yu'er raised her chin slightly, full of confidence. She had stayed at the Subei border of Qingyan for a long time. When there was no war, she would talk freely with her friends about all kinds of stories and local customs, and she lived a very comfortable life.
After returning to the capital, she was cooped up in the Prince of Huai's residence every day, and she was about to get sick from boredom. She might as well take the opportunity to go to the southern border to have a look.
"I only have one horse, and my travel expenses are only enough for myself." Nangong Xiao's implication was that he only carried one set of things on his horse. If Dongfang Yu'er wanted to go to the border, she would have to prepare another set of things herself. She was empty-handed, and if she wanted to prepare things, she would have to go back to the Huai Prince's mansion. The round trip would take half an hour. He had already ridden his fast horse and disappeared from sight.
"Hehe, this princess has been prepared for a long time." Dongfang Yu'er blinked her eyes, walked behind a big tree, led out a tall chestnut horse, and had a small pink bundle slung over her shoulder, looking like she was about to embark on a long journey.