“We are good friends!” Shen Lixue said, each word distinct and her gaze serious.
Dongfang Heng remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement with Shen Lixue's statement.
"Good friends!" The emperor smiled, his playful gaze fixed on Shen Lixue: "How good are you?"
"We can live and die together!" Shen Lixue, Dongfang Heng, and Ye Qianlong had just experienced a thrilling assassination attempt, so saying they could live and die together was no exaggeration.
The emperor raised an eyebrow, his gaze towards Shen Lixue unfathomable: "Do you know why I sent him back to Xiliang?"
“Qingyan and Xiliang have always kept to themselves. Qingyan’s assassination of the Xiliang crown prince is very likely an attempt to provoke a war between the two countries. Mobei has always been eyeing Qingyan covetously. If Qingyan were to start a war with Xiliang at this time, they would be attacked from both sides, and the situation would not be optimistic!” Shen Lixue analyzed softly.
"The analysis makes a lot of sense. However, while I, Qingyan, am not afraid of Xiliang, I absolutely cannot be used as a pawn by others!" The emperor emphasized the last sentence, his gaze as cold as ice. He was not afraid of offending any country or anyone, but his people could die on the battlefield and sacrifice themselves for their country, but they could never be used by shameless villains and die innocently!
This was also the real reason why he let Ye Qianlong stay at the post station. That person dared to secretly raise assassins in Qingyan Capital to plot against him. That person was truly audacious!
The crystal swallow on Shen Lixue's chest swayed gently, reflecting glimmers of light. The emperor's sharp gaze suddenly narrowed, and the words he was about to say changed: "It's late, you may all leave!"
The emperor gently rubbed his forehead, his voice faint but tinged with weariness, as if he were unwilling to speak further.
Shen Lixue frowned. The emperor clearly still had many questions he wanted to ask, so why did he suddenly stop talking?
With doubts in her heart, Shen Lixue did not say much. She and Dongfang Heng left the imperial study and slowly walked out of the palace.
Night had fallen, and the palace was quiet. Looking around, it was deserted, without a single person in sight. After confirming several times that no one was nearby, Shen Lixue asked in a low voice, "Dongfang Heng, can the post station protect Ye Qianlong?"
"Don't worry, the post station is a royal residence, heavily guarded. Even if those black-clad assassins wanted to kill us, they would have to think twice and wouldn't dare to act rashly!" Dongfang Heng's eyes were sharp and his tone was solemn.
Shen Lixue nodded in agreement. The Eastern royal family were the rulers of Qingyan. It was indeed foolish to cause trouble in their residence. When Ye Qianlong lived in the Holy King's Mansion, the black-clad assassins did not dare to assassinate him. This time, when they came out to dine, the black-clad men found an opportunity and almost fell into their trap.
Shen Lixue's gaze deepened. Ye Qianlong was visiting Qingyan for the first time and had no enemies. Those black-clad assassins must be acting under orders to assassinate him from time to time. Was the mastermind behind this simply trying to incite war between Qingyan and Xiliang?
"I wonder who the Emperor of Xiliang will send to fetch Ye Qianlong?" Shen Lixue murmured to herself, when suddenly her waist was tightly embraced. Her body jolted, and she instinctively looked up to see Dongfang Heng's handsome face so close to hers...
Witty Remarks 081: The Prince Moves into Li Xue's Boudoir
"Dongfang Heng, what are you doing?" Shen Li leaned back slightly, trying to distance herself from Dongfang Heng, but his arms were too tight and she couldn't break free. She pressed her fair little hands against his chest to stop him from getting closer.
"We are engaged, what do you think I want to do?" Dongfang Heng looked at Shen Lixue, his sharp eyes slightly misty, his indifferent tone revealing an indescribable ambiguity.
Shen Lixue raised the corners of her mouth and glared at Dongfang Heng: "Ye Qianlong isn't here, so stop throwing a tantrum!"
Dongfang Heng frowned deeply. She actually thought that he was only getting close to her to spite Ye Qianlong. It seemed that he needed to do something to let her know his true intentions.
He tightened his grip on Shen Lixue's small waist, and Dongfang Heng's sexy thin lips gently approached Shen Lixue's sweet and alluring cherry-red lips.
"Dongfang Heng!" His handsome face was so close, and the faint scent of pine resin enveloped Shen Lixue. Dongfang Heng's dark eyes were tinged with an inexplicable color, yet they could still clearly reflect her figure. Shen Lixue was momentarily stunned and stopped struggling.
The unique, refreshing scent of Shen Lixue lingered in his nostrils, its fragrance wafting towards him. Just as he was about to kiss the sacred place he longed for, a series of almost inaudible footsteps suddenly approached. Dongfang Heng abruptly stopped in his bent-over motion, his hazy eyes instantly clearing, a sharp light flashing in their depths: "Someone's coming!"
"Prince An, Miss Shen!" Just as Dongfang Heng gently helped Shen Lixue to her feet, a tall, sapphire-blue figure slowly entered their line of sight, smiling with dimples, gentle and refined as jade.
“Prince Zhan!” Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. After a prince is made a queen and given a royal residence, he rests in the royal residence unless there is a special imperial edict. Why is Dongfang Zhan still in the palace so late?
"The War King sent a secret letter to the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang, asking him to send someone to help investigate the Gu worm matter. I assisted from the side and just finished dealing with the matter!" Dongfang Zhan explained softly, his smiling gaze seemingly unintentionally lingering on the crystal swallow on Shen Lixue's chest.
Shen Lixue frowned: "Will the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang send someone to Qingyan?" Everyone knows that Southern Xinjiang raises Gu worms. It is certainly right to ask the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang about Gu worms, but the War King is the God of War of Qingyan and has nothing to do with Southern Xinjiang. As the ruler of a country, would he pay attention to the War King's letter?
Dongfang Zhan smiled gently: "Sixteen years ago, the War King defeated the Southern Frontier's army of 100,000 with only 30,000 elite troops. He also won many battles, large and small, with fewer troops, achieving unexpected victories. The Southern Frontier King admired the War King immensely and considered him a confidant. He would read the War King's letters and grant his requests..."
Shen Lixue frowned. The people of Southern Xinjiang were fond of Gu poison. Their Gu control techniques were unfathomable. They must have used them on enemy soldiers during military campaigns. Their strange methods were hard to guard against.
The War King didn't understand Gu, so to defeat the skilled Gu people of the Southern Frontier, he must have expended a lot of mental and physical strength, and paid a price of hardship and effort that ordinary people couldn't imagine. Even if he won those battles, he won them with extreme danger.
The War King had overcome the Gu poison, routing the Southern Frontier and forcing them into a series of defeats. His exceptional abilities and unwavering resolve made the Southern Frontier King wary, prompting him to immediately declare a truce, establish a border, and agree to peaceful coexistence between the two nations. His capabilities were unmatched throughout the entire Azure Flame Realm. This was the true reason why the Emperor had requested the War King's intervention after the emergence of the Gu worms.
"It's late. I and Li Xue will take our leave first. Please make yourself at home, Prince Zhan!" A gentle breeze blew by, and the faint scent of ambergris emanating from Dongfang Zhan wafted through the air. Dongfang Heng, whose expression was indifferent, suddenly sharpened his gaze, took Chen Li Xue's wrist, and strode quickly out of the palace.
In the dim candlelight, Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue gradually walked away. Dongfang Zhan stood still, watching the direction in which the two disappeared. The faint smile on his lips slowly disappeared, and a cold light flashed in his gentle eyes.
"Dongfang Heng, what's wrong with you?" Shen Lixue was pulled along by Dongfang Heng all the way out of the palace. He didn't slow down at all. Shen Lixue was very puzzled. He was fine just now, so why did his expression change as soon as he saw Dongfang Zhan?
"Don't get close to Dongfang Zhan!" Dongfang Heng suddenly stopped, his gaze towards Shen Lixue filled with an unusual seriousness.
"Why?" Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng in confusion, recalling their previous meetings. Dongfang Heng, Dongfang Zhan, Dongfang Hong, and the others stood seemingly casually, but in reality, they all maintained a certain distance from Dongfang Zhan...
“He… is not simple…” A cold glint flashed in Dongfang Heng’s sharp eyes.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. How could members of the royal family be simple characters? She had known about Dongfang Zhan's extraordinary nature since their first meeting. "I wonder when the people from the Southern Frontier will arrive in the capital?"
Dongfang Heng didn't want to talk about Dongfang Zhan, and Shen Lixue didn't ask any more questions. Instead, she brought up the Gu worms of the Southern Frontier. The Gu worms had appeared in Qingyan's capital, and according to Dongfang Zhan, the emperor of the Southern Frontier would definitely send someone to help. Qingyan was about to get lively again.
Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow slightly: "The Southern Frontier and the Western Liang are about the same distance from Qingyan, and the time they sent their envoys is also close. The envoys from these two countries should arrive in Qingyan's capital in about a month!"
"So, the envoys from both countries will arrive at Qingyan at the same time!" A hint of mockery flashed in Shen Lixue's cold eyes: the envoys from Xiliang and Nanjiang will be guests at the same table, the scene will definitely be lively.
"You could say that!" Dongfang Heng nodded, his obsidian-like eyes as deep and unfathomable as a pool. The simultaneous arrival of envoys from both countries in Qingyan... something was amiss...
"Dongfang Heng, the border you're in charge of is between Qingyan and Mobei?" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow at Dongfang Heng, her cool eyes showing not only mockery but also a hint of respect.
"Why did you suddenly think of asking this?" Dongfang Heng looked at Shen Lixue with puzzlement. Was she also interested in matters of conquest?
"Both the Northern Desert and the Southern Frontier are powerful nations. Although the people of the Northern Desert are not as skilled in Gu magic as those of the people of the Southern Frontier, they are brave and skilled in battle, possess superb martial arts, and are full of cunning. The hardships you will face in your battles with them are no less than those faced by the War King against the Southern Frontier." A rare solemnity flickered in Shen Lixue's cold eyes. The Azure Flame War God is an honorific title for the strong and capable. Those who can obtain this title are all outstanding individuals with superb talent and superb martial arts. Dongfang Heng's abilities are by no means inferior to those of the War King.
"I cannot be compared to the Imperial Uncle!" Dongfang Heng said softly, looking up at the sky. The War King was his elder and the person he respected most...
Shen Lixue glared at Dongfang Heng and pouted: There are no outsiders here, why be so modest?
There are three powerful countries surrounding Qingyan: Mobei, Xiliang, and Nanjiang. Xiliang and Qingyan rarely fight, and they mostly coexist peacefully. The War King quells troubles in Nanjiang. When something happens in Nanjiang, the emperor will ask the War King to take action. Dongfang Heng leads troops to quell provocations in Mobei. If there are any issues related to Mobei, the emperor will definitely entrust them to him.