"Li Xue... I don't have time to study these things!" Shen Li Xue grew up in the countryside. Her mother was frail and sickly, and the two of them had little savings. They almost had trouble eating every day, so how could they have time to learn chess?
Bai Ling'er glanced at Dongfang Heng's tall and slender figure, then looked at the chessboard: "As Princess Qingyan, with such a noble status, one should be proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Princess Lixue's chess skills are truly..."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Dongfang Heng suddenly turned around, his sharp gaze like two swords, shooting towards Bai Ling'er.
Bai Ling'er felt a sudden thud, and her slender body trembled slightly. Looking into his eyes, which were as cold as ice, she felt a chill quickly penetrate her body from her back, instantly reaching her limbs and extremities, making her feel cold to the bone.
“I…I mean…Princess Lixue doesn’t know chess…I can teach her…” Dongfang Heng seemed to emanate an invisible pressure that made her breathless. Bai Ling’er stammered out the few words, which felt like an eternity. Cold sweat seeped from her forehead and froze instantly.
"I will teach Li Xue her chess skills!" Dongfang Heng's cold voice rang out in the pavilion, chilling everyone to the bone.
"Yes!" Bai Ling'er lowered her eyelids, her slender body trembling slightly, not daring to look him in the eye.
"Second Brother!" Dongfang Xun walked into the pavilion, his clothes fluttering, looking calm and composed.
"Big Brother!" Dongfang Heng glanced at Dongfang Xun, his imposing aura quickly subsiding.
The invisible pressure dissipated instantly, and Bai Ling'er secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did she realize that she was covered in a layer of cold sweat. The Azure Flame War God truly lived up to his name.
"What happened?" Dongfang Xun asked, puzzled. He could sense a subtle tension between Dongfang Heng and Bai Ling'er.
"It's alright!" Dongfang Heng's deep gaze fell upon the black and white chessboard.
"The medicine has been delivered. Remember to drink it, Prince An. I have other things to do, so I'll take my leave first!" Bai Ling'er was afraid that Dongfang Heng would cause her more trouble. After saying this, she turned around and strode out of the pavilion without looking back.
Dongfang Xun glanced at the dark, murky medicine on the table: "The medicine is ready, why aren't you drinking it?"
"It's too hot, let it cool down before drinking!" Dongfang Heng glanced at the medicine and looked at Dongfang Xun: "Brother, is there something you need?"
"It's nothing serious, I just came to check on your injuries." Dongfang Xun smiled, walked to the railing, and stood side by side with Dongfang Heng. A gentle breeze blew by, bringing cool, refreshing moisture, just like the two of them when they were children, standing here together to enjoy the scenery.
"Why don't you ask about my heart condition?" Dongfang Xun stood quietly, while Dongfang Heng was even quieter, showing no intention of speaking. He sighed inwardly and spoke first.
"If there's any news, my brother will tell me. If there's no news, asking is pointless, so why bother?" As clever as Dongfang Heng is, he can guess the progress of things just by looking at other people's words, actions, and expressions, without needing to ask any further.
Dongfang Xun paused for a moment, then smiled. Yes, his brother was a smart man. No matter how well they hid it, he would know how things were progressing. "Aren't you worried about losing your life?"
"Life and death are predestined, and cannot be forced!" Dongfang Heng looked up at the sky, a faint smile playing on his lips. Born into a royal family, well-versed in literature and martial arts, and having fought on the battlefield, he had experienced many things that others had not. His life had come to a fulfillment, and even if he were to die now, he would have no reason to complain. His only regret was that he could not take care of Shen Lixue...
Dongfang Xun looked at Dongfang Heng. When a person is about to die, they will have attachment to the world. If Dongfang Heng is sad and desperate, he will comfort him and do everything he can to help him. But his younger brother is so indifferent, as if he has seen through everything and does not care about his own life or death. Such a younger brother makes him even sadder and more heartbroken.
"Don't worry, I will definitely find a suitable heart for you!" Patting Dongfang Heng's shoulder, Dongfang Xun's clear eyes seemed to carry a certain depth and determination.
Dongfang Heng smiled: "Just do your best, don't be too hard on yourself!"
"Your Highness!" The steward of the Prince's mansion arrived outside the pavilion, looked at the two outstanding brothers inside, and hesitated to speak.
"Is there any news about the heart condition?" Dongfang Heng showed no sadness or distress in the face of his serious illness, and Dongfang Xun no longer hesitated to ask him directly in front of him.
"Yes!" The steward glanced at Dongfang Heng with concern. They had kept the news from Dongfang Heng for his own good. Just imagine, hearts were sent to the Holy King's Mansion, but none of them were suitable for him. He was repeatedly given hope, only to be disappointed time and time again. How heartbroken he must have been.
"Let's go take a look!" Dongfang Xun said, quickly walking out of the pavilion.
The butler glanced at Dongfang Heng with concern and hurried after him.
Dongfang Heng watched the two walk away, then slowly walked to the table. Looking at the dark-colored medicine, he frowned deeply, picked up the bowl, and threw it into the pool, splashing countless water droplets.
Butler Wang invited Shen Lixue back to the manor to handle some minor matters, such as distributing monthly salaries, making new clothes, and repairing the scenery. Butler Wang categorized all the matters, requiring only Shen Lixue to review and confirm them.
After finishing her business, it was past noon. After a quick lunch, Shen Lixue took a carriage to the Holy King's Mansion.
The luxurious carriage moved slowly along the road. Shen Lixue lifted the curtain and looked at the sparse pedestrians on both sides of the road and the scorching sun high in the sky. At this time, Dongfang Heng should be resting. Why don't she go to the post station to find Qin Ruoyan and ask about Bai Ling'er? "Driver, to the post station!"
"Yes!" the coachman replied, cracking his whip and changing the direction of the carriage, heading towards the post station.
Inside the inn, Qin Ruoyan was taking a midday nap when she heard that Shen Lixue had come to visit. She yawned and groggily sat up. The thin blanket slipped down, revealing her dark skin. Looking at Shen Lixue who entered the inner room, she muttered with dissatisfaction, "Shen Lixue, why did you think of coming to the inn to see me?"
"I want to ask you about someone!" Shen Lixue sat down on the chair in the center of the room, looking at Qin Ruoyan, whose breasts were half exposed and whose exquisite figure was faintly visible under the thin silk quilt. She smiled slightly. Qin Ruoyan was actually sleeping naked during her afternoon nap.
"I knew you wouldn't come here unless you had something to say!" Qin Ruoyan didn't hesitate to throw off the covers, revealing her small, dark body.
Shen Lixue raised the corners of her mouth. Qin Ruoyan's skin was even darker than that of an African. Ancient men probably wouldn't like this color. Mu Zhengnan always liked cleanliness and tidiness, so seeing her like this would definitely disgust him...
Giving him to Qin Ruoyan as a male concubine would both torment and disgust him; she really made the right choice.
"This person is from southern Xinjiang; you should be very familiar with him!"
"Who is it?" Qin Ruoyan squinted, picked up the clothes beside her, and slowly put them on.
"The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang!" Shen Lixue smiled slightly and clearly uttered the name, secretly observing Qin Ruoyan's reaction.
The words "Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang" struck Qin Ruoyan like thunder, instantly waking her from her daze. She widened her eyes and looked at Shen Lixue: "Why are you asking about him?"
"I've heard that he has superb medical skills and can even bring the dead back to life. I want to find out if it's true!" Shen Lixue casually gave a reason. The fact that the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang treated Dongfang Heng in the Holy King's Mansion was a little secret. Some people knew about it, but many others didn't. She didn't want to make it public knowledge.
"It's true!" Qin Ruoyan regained her previous dazed state and said casually, "That old bastard, the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang, entered the palace two years ago and broke my father's Gu poison. I used a lot of poison, but he cured them all without leaving a trace. His medical skills are so superb that no one in Southern Xinjiang can match him!"
Shen Lixue nodded thoughtfully: "He is indeed a remarkable person!"
"You have a friend who is seriously injured or seriously ill, and you want to ask him for help?" Qin Ruoyan asked, buttoning her clothes and glancing at Shen Lixue.
"I guess so!" Shen Lixue replied dismissively.
Qin Ruoyan sighed softly: "I'm not trying to discourage you, but that old man has a very strange temper. He loves to watch people die without lifting a finger. If you can't produce what he wants, he'll just watch you die in front of him without lifting a finger!"
"Such a bad temper!" Shen Lixue was surprised, following Qin Ruoyan's words. The ghost doctor from the Holy King's Mansion wasn't as bad as she described. "What does the ghost doctor from the Southern Frontier look like?"
"An old man, he must be covered in wrinkles and have a full head of white hair, what else could he look like!" Qin Ruoyan waved her hand dismissively. "We people of Southern Xinjiang like to wear white clothes, but he wears black every day. He's clearly going against our royal family. It makes me angry just thinking about it..."