Su Yuting snorted coldly. As a mere concubine's daughter of the Prime Minister's family, with a lowly status, even a few thousand taels of gold as a dowry was overestimating Shen Caiyun. As for her, she was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Wen's family, with a noble status. Let alone the Ice String Guqin and ten thousand taels of gold, even if Qin Junhao offered the entire Southern Frontier as a dowry to marry her, she would have no interest in marrying him.
Seeing Shen Lixue standing leisurely to the side watching the show, Su Yuting's eyes narrowed: "Shen Caiyun, it was Shen Lixue who set up this scheme. Your mutual killing with me is because you fell into her trap."
This bitch stole the man she loved most. Now that she's in trouble, how can she let this bitch get away with it? She's very interested to see the sisters kill each other. Once they're both badly injured, she'll come out and clean up the mess.
Shen Caiyun was furious at being schemed against. She would not let anyone involved get away with it. Upon hearing Su Yuting's words, her icy gaze instantly shot towards Shen Lixue.
She knew that her elder sister from the countryside was very clever and often killed people without leaving a trace. She and Su Yuting were tricked, and Shen Lixue appeared at the inn. She really didn't believe it was a coincidence. What method should she use to punish this 'good elder sister' who brought her endless pain?
“Sister Su, if you want to frame someone, please take a look at the incident. You say I set the trap, then let me ask you, did I ask you to invite Caiyun to the post station to see Prince Qin? Did I ask you to put aphrodisiac in the incense burner?” Unable to refute Shen Caiyun, Su Yuting cleverly shifted the suspicion to her.
Su Yuting gave a cold laugh, and a hint of ferocity appeared on her beautiful face: "Shen Lixue, I know you are eloquent, but in front of me and Caiyun, you'd better put away that hypocritical and ugly face. No one will believe what you say!"
“I arrived at the inn earlier than you and have been watching Ye Qianlong from another courtyard. Did you think I had some kind of premonition that you would come and set a trap for you here?”
Shen Lixue spoke with conviction and reason, while Shen Caiyun remained silent. Could it really be just a coincidence, and that the matter had nothing to do with Shen Lixue?
Seeing that Shen Caiyun's attitude was beginning to soften, Su Yuting said urgently, "Caiyun, don't fall for her tricks. Shen Lixue has always been very cunning and is best at sowing discord!"
"Su Yuting, you're the one who's sowing discord, aren't you?" Shen Lixue stared directly at Su Yuting, her gaze cold and sharp, enunciating each word clearly: "You caused Caiyun to lose her innocence, and when she was ashamed to face her accusations, you framed me, making us sisters kill each other while you sat back and reaped the benefits. Do you think everyone in the world is a fool, deceived by you, unable to see the truth?"
Shen Lixue saw through Su Yuting's plan in one sentence. She was stunned for a moment. When she came to her senses, she saw Shen Caiyun glaring at her hatefully and hurried into the room: "Crown Prince Qin should be waking up soon. I'll go and ask Sister Su about my betrothal gifts!"
Shen Caiyun didn't know whether Shen Lixue had plotted against her, but Su Yuting had definitely schemed against her. She was forced to become the Crown Prince Qin's person, all because of Su Yuting's evil deeds. She suffered losses and misfortunes, so how could she let the culprit who harmed her go unpunished?
"Shen Caiyun!" Su Yuting exclaimed in surprise. Her slender body moved with lightning speed as she rushed towards Shen Caiyun. Shen Caiyun's desire to go to hell was her vanity and self-inflicted suffering. She wanted to be a superior person, but Su Yuting, as the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Wen's mansion, was pampered and had everything she wanted. She had no interest in going to hell with her.
Shen Caiyun was experiencing her first sexual encounter, and her body was in pain. She walked awkwardly and slowly. Su Yuting appeared in front of her in an instant. Just as her slender fingers were about to grab her arm, a small, fair hand reached out out of thin air, pushed her hand away, and blocked her way.
Shen Caiyun made it back to her room without incident. Su Yuting glared at the woman in front of her, gritting her teeth, "Shen Lixue, you're such an eyesore!"
"Likewise, I don't find you very pleasing to the eye, Miss Su either. Since we dislike each other, it's best not to meet. Miss Su, please leave!" Shen Lixue's tone was icy, and she gave him a rude order to leave.
"Shen Lixue, this is Qingyan's post station, not the Prime Minister's residence!" Su Yuting looked coldly at Shen Lixue, speaking slowly and deliberately, secretly mocking her for overestimating herself and failing to recognize her own status.
Shen Lixue smiled coldly: "Caiyun and Prince Qin have consummated their marriage. This is my brother-in-law's courtyard. Miss Su has not yet accepted the betrothal gifts and has no relation to Prince Qin. What is wrong with me issuing an order to leave?"
"Good, good, good!" Su Yuting was taken aback, her slender hands clenched tightly, and she said "good" three times in a row. Her beautiful eyes flashed with a cold light: "Chen Lixue, don't be too smug. This matter is not over yet!"
After uttering these harsh words, Su Yuting turned around and strode out without looking back.
Watching her figure disappear quickly into the distance, Shen Lixue said leisurely, "These are also the words I wanted to say to Miss Su. After Miss Su returns, she can start preparing her wedding dress. I presume that soon, the betrothal gifts from Crown Prince Qin will be delivered to the Duke of Wen's mansion!"
Su Yuting paused, her body stiffened, but she didn't turn around. Her small hands clenched tightly, trembling slightly, as she strode out of the courtyard.
"Your Highness!" Just as Su Yuting's slender figure disappeared outside the courtyard, Shen Caiyun's panicked cry pierced through the clouds and echoed through the sky: "Your Highness's wound has reopened! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
The maids waiting outside quickly ran to find the guards and the imperial physician, and the whole courtyard was in chaos.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. The strenuous exercise had indeed reopened Qin Junhao's wound. No wonder he hadn't uttered a sound during the tense scene in the courtyard earlier. After resting for so many days, his wound, which was just beginning to heal, had reopened, causing him to suffer the pain of heartbreak once again. Once he woke up, he would never let the culprit, Su Yuting, get away with it.
As the sun began to set, the imperial physician carefully took Qin Junhao's pulse in the inner room. Shen Caiyun stood at the door of the inner room, her anxious gaze frequently turning to the unconscious Qin Junhao. He absolutely could not die, otherwise, her future would be ruined.
Several maids stood in the outer room, ready to serve at any time, requiring no further assistance.
Shen Lixue glanced at Qin Junhao, who was lying unconscious on the bed, and slowly left the courtyard. Although his wound had reopened, with the imperial physician present, he would suffer some pain but would not die.
"Qianlong, I'm going back to the manor now!" Shen Lixue said goodbye to Ye Qianlong at the second gate.
A hint of sadness flashed in Ye Qianlong's downcast eyes. He knew he couldn't keep her, so he placed the little white rabbit into Shen Lixue's arms: "This is for you. Remember to come visit me when you have time!"
Shen Lixue looked down, and the little white rabbit in her hand was also staring at her with its bright, round eyes. It had white fur, red eye circles, long ears, and a chubby, soft little body, and was extremely cute: "Don't worry, I will come to see you often!"
Ye Qianlong stood at the door, watching Shen Lixue walk away with the little white rabbit. A trace of sadness flashed in his clear eyes. A leaf fell from the branch and gently landed on his shoulder. Ye Qianlong reached out and brushed it off. He looked up at the lush tree, a faint sadness flashing in his pure eyes.
He reached into his sleeve, took out a small knife and a half-finished piece of wood, and carefully and gently carved it, one stroke at a time, very carefully and seriously. Looking at the clothes the wooden statue was wearing and the half-carved face, it looked a lot like Shen Lixue.
Shen Lixue, carrying the little white rabbit, walked out of the second gate and onto the bluestone path. After taking only a few steps, she saw a man standing with his back to her under the lush trees. He was dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, and his tall figure stood against the wind, almost blending into the natural scenery. It was clear that he had been waiting here for a long time.
Shen Lixue paused slightly, but did not stop, and walked towards the man: "Why is it only Prince Zhan? Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Your Majesty has urgent business and must return to the palace first!" Dongfang Zhan turned to look at Shen Lixue, smiling gently, a dark glint appearing in his gentle eyes, making him unfathomable: "Did you deliberately lure the Crown Prince and me here to catch them in the act?"
When Shen Lixue came to the inn to see Ye Qianlong, Qin Junhao, Shen Caiyun, and Su Yuting, something happened. Any smart person would suspect that something was amiss.
"No!" Shen Lixue shook her head. She had originally planned to take the guards and maids to catch the adulterers in the act, but meeting Dongfang Hong and Dongfang Zhan was purely accidental. Since the two of them were of noble status, witnessing Su Yuting's disheveled state firsthand was more convincing, so she went with the flow and led the two to the courtyard.
"Really not?" Dongfang Zhan's gaze sharpened, and the corners of his mouth slightly lifted, showing skepticism about Shen Lixue's words.
"Prince Zhan, are you waiting here just to ask about this matter?" Shen Lixue raised the corner of her mouth slightly, a half-smile on her face. Dongfang Zhan felt that he had been used and was waiting here to interrogate her.
"I am standing here to enjoy the scenery. Meeting Miss Shen is purely by chance!" Dongfang Zhan looked at Shen Lixue with a dimpled smile, his gentle and warm gaze so profound that it was impossible to see through him.
"I apologize for disturbing Your Highness's enjoyment. I have other matters to attend to and will take my leave now. Please excuse me, Your Highness!" Shen Lixue smiled slightly, walked straight past Dongfang Zhan, and gracefully headed towards the gate of the post station.
A fresh and delicate fragrance drifted on the breeze, neither too strong nor too weak, carrying a unique virginal scent that intoxicated the mind. Dongfang Zhan's smile froze slightly as he looked closely at the slender figure, only to find that she had already walked away. A gentle breeze lifted a corner of her dress, which fluttered lightly in the bright sunlight, making her look like a fairy.
Dongfang Zhan's lips curled slightly, and his deep eyes narrowed again. He thought she would repeatedly explain that the matter had nothing to do with her, but he didn't expect her to leave after only saying a few words to clarify the matter. She wasn't afraid of others suspecting her. How carefree.
He could see through Shen Lixue less and less.
Shen Lixue left the post station, turned a small corner, and entered the alley. A carriage was parked in the alley, bearing the insignia of the Holy King's Mansion. Zi Mo stood quietly in front of the carriage. Upon seeing Shen Lixue arrive, he hurriedly lifted the curtain and said, "Miss Shen, please!"
As Shen Lixue stepped onto the small stool and entered the carriage, a cool breeze wafted towards her, making her feel as if she were in a spring morning, a world apart from the heat outside. Looking to the side, she saw several buckets of ice placed in the corner of the carriage, slowly emitting a chill.
Dongfang Heng sat at the small table in the center of the carriage, sipping tea. When he saw Shen Lixue enter, he asked, "Is the matter settled?"
"Most of the work is done. Qin Junhao's heart meridian wound has reopened. He has only enjoyed one of the two beauties, leaving a long tail to be emptied!" If Qin Junhao had also slept with Su Yuting, her marriage to the Southern Frontier would have been a foregone conclusion, and no one could change it. Unfortunately, he is physically weak and unable to enjoy the beauty, leaving Su Yuting time to catch her breath.