Amidst the confusion, Dongfang Heng stepped out from behind the screen, dressed in white, exuding elegance and nobility. His jet-black hair was still slightly damp, and a faint scent of pine mixed with the lingering warmth of the hot water wafted towards him, indicating that he had just finished bathing.
"Finished writing?" Dongfang Heng walked slowly to Shen Lixue and took the paper from her hand.
“Yes!” Shen Lixue nodded: “These are very detailed steps, and even doctors can understand them.”
Dongfang Heng glanced at the list of potential hires on the paper, casually put it aside, and stared intently at Shen Lixue: "Do you know who sent the black-clad assassins who attacked you last night?"
"It's either Consort Shu or Mu Tao. I only offended those two in Xiliang!" Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows. One of them was imprisoned, and the other had his tendons severed, rendering him a cripple. Yet they were still so arrogant and domineering, sending people to plot against her. They were truly despicable.
“Last night, the guards captured a black-clad assassin and used all sorts of torture to finally get him to confess that Consort Shu sent them to kill you!” Dongfang Heng picked up the teapot and poured tea, the rising steam obscuring the expression in his eyes.
Shen Lixue sneered: "Consort Shu is indeed more ruthless and smarter than Mu Tao!" After winning a victory, people like to be complacent, and their defense and vigilance will decrease. Consort Shu sent so many black-clad assassins to ambush her on the way because she hates her to the extreme and wants to get rid of her as soon as possible.
"The palace is heavily guarded, and Consort Shu has been confined to her quarters. She won't be able to leave the palace anytime soon. It won't be easy to touch her!" Dongfang Heng held the white jade teacup lightly with his jade-like fingers, his deep eyes unfathomable.
He would never let Consort Shu get away with murdering his wife. This was Xiliang, and the number of guards he brought was limited. It wouldn't be easy for them to break into the palace and kill someone. Besides, killing Consort Shu with one blow would be too easy for her.
“We can consider starting with Mu Tao!” Shen Lixue’s clear, beautiful eyes flashed with a cold light: Consort Shu dares to be so arrogant because she has the Duke of Mu’s mansion backing her up. If something happens to the Duke of Mu’s mansion, she will lose her support and see how arrogant and domineering she will still be.
"Have you figured out a way to deal with the Duke of Mu's mansion?" Dongfang Heng looked at Shen Lixue, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Shen Lixue shook her head: "I haven't thought of a specific plan yet!" Mu Tao is simple-minded, but he has fought on the battlefield and won't be easily fooled. If you want to trap him, you have to come up with a thorough and perfect plan so that when he falls into the trap, he will lose everything.
Dongfang Heng's eyelids drooped slightly: "I have thought of a way!"
"Really?" Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened, and she sat down next to Dongfang Heng. "What method? Tell me about it." Dongfang Heng's methods were always unexpected. If Consort Shu wanted to harm her, his method of retaliation would certainly be extraordinary.
Dongfang Heng gently pinched the teacup with his white jade fingers, his deep gaze fixed on the pale tea inside: "This method is a bit complicated, and I can't explain it to you in a short time. Let's go and take a look together, and you'll understand!"
Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng suspiciously: "Don't tell me you're already putting your plan into action?"
"Smart." Dongfang Heng smiled faintly, put down his teacup, and carried Shen Lixue to the bedside. Gently and quickly, he took off her nightgown, picked up a set of Xiangfei Ziruan Yanluo dress, and helped her put it on methodically: "After you change your clothes, let's go watch the fun together!"
The capital of Xiliang was bustling with activity, with people coming and going on the streets. Teahouses, chess clubs, silk shops and other stores were also packed with customers, and business was booming.
Shen Lixue walked down the street, arm in arm with Dongfang Heng. She touched the mask that was stuck to her face. The mask was close to her skin and looked no different from real skin to outsiders, but upon closer inspection, the mask was a bit rough and not as smooth and delicate as real skin.
"Heng, why do you have to wear a mask?" After changing clothes and having breakfast, the moment she stepped out the door, Dongfang Heng suddenly took out two mask skins and made her wear one. The mask was very breathable and felt more comfortable on her face than a face mask in modern times. However, Dongfang Heng never explained why she was wearing a mask, which made her very curious.
"Hide your identity." Dongfang Heng looked down at Shen Lixue's mask. It was an ordinary face that would not attract anyone's attention in a crowd. This was the effect he wanted.
“We’re just here to watch the show. If we stand far away, no one will notice us. Isn’t it a bit redundant to put on masks?” Shen Lixue looked up at Dongfang Heng. His ordinary face now was worlds apart from his true appearance.
"We're not here just to watch a show!" Dongfang Heng smiled faintly, a smile that held an indescribable eeriness.
Shen Lixue blinked: "What do you mean?"
"Look who's there?" Dongfang Heng pointed to the left front, a cold glint flashing in his sharp eyes.
Shen Lixue glanced to the side and saw that the restaurant hall was empty. It was not mealtime yet, and there were no customers. At a large table in the center, four young men were sitting around. Three of the men were unfamiliar to her, but she recognized the last one very well. It was Mu Tao.
His right hand tendons were severed, medicine was applied, the injury was bandaged, and he was half-hanging in front of his chest. His face was terribly gloomy as he drank bowl after bowl of wine.
As Shen Lixue, arm in arm with Dongfang Heng, entered the restaurant, Mu Tao suddenly turned around and roared angrily, startling the hall: "Get out! I'm in a bad mood. If you dare to bother me again, I'll kill you without mercy!"
No wonder there are so few customers at the restaurant; it turns out Mu Tao scared them all away!
Shen Lixue touched her face. She was wearing a mask, and Mu Tao didn't recognize her. "Young master, this restaurant isn't yours to run. If you can come in to dine, why can't we?"
"I'm in a bad mood. If you don't get out of here, I'll kill you!" Mu Tao glared hatefully at Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng, his eyes spitting fire.
The couple in front of him were very ordinary-looking, a far cry from the beautiful couple who had injured him. But for some reason, he felt a sense of disgust towards these couples. Whenever he saw them, he would think of that beautiful couple and his own humiliation.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow, not leaving, and glanced at Mu Tao's arm in a sling: "Is Young Master in a bad mood because of his arm injury? It's just a minor injury, it will heal eventually. Then, Young Master can wield his sword again, why be so angry..."
Mu Tao's tendons were severed by Shen Lixue, so she was well aware of the extent of his injury. His wrist injury might heal, but his tendons would never be reattached. For the rest of his life, that crippled hand would never be able to wield a sword again.
Her words of comfort, when heard by Mu Tao, not only failed to soothe him, but also further fueled his anger.
As expected, Mu Tao flew into a rage upon hearing the words "wielding swords and knives," his eyes turning bloodshot, and he swung his uninjured left hand fiercely at Shen Lixue.
"Help!" Shen Lixue pretended to be scared and hid behind Dongfang Heng. Mu Tao missed his target and couldn't stop his powerful strike. He hit the wall hard, and with a loud "bang," a large hole was punched in the solid wall. In the blink of an eye, debris flew everywhere and dust filled the air, causing everyone to cough.
The shopkeeper wailed at the wall, "My wall, my wall!"
"What are you yelling about? It's just a wall!" Mu Tao roared, throwing a large gold ingot at the shopkeeper, abruptly silencing his wails.
As the smoke and dust cleared, the shop assistants quickly cleaned up the broken bricks and tiles on the ground.
Mu Tao coldly looked at Shen Lixue: "You dodge very quickly!" This little woman must know martial arts to be able to avoid his attacks.
"Thank you for the compliment, young master. If I hadn't dodged quickly enough, I would have been smashed to pieces by now!" Shen Lixue sneered, her words laced with sarcasm.
"I am the Second General of the Mu State Duke's Mansion. How dare you be so arrogant in front of me? You are incredibly audacious." As the second son of the Mu State Duke's Mansion and a general on the battlefield, Mu Tao is respected by everyone in the capital. Of course, if anyone does not respect him, he will reveal his identity and beat them up.
He felt uncomfortable, very uncomfortable, with the arrogant young couple in front of him. However, his right hand was injured, so he couldn't use his sword to teach them a lesson. He could only use his status to intimidate them and make them apologize.
"Just now, as we were passing through the outskirts, we overheard some mounted officials saying that they were going to the border to invite Duke Mu and his eldest son. General Mu is in the capital, so why do they need to invite them?"
Shen Lixue feigned confusion as her gaze swept back and forth over Mu Tao's injured wrist, a hint of sympathy hidden in her beautiful eyes.
Dongfang Heng's secret guards had been monitoring Consort Shu's every move. After the assassination failed, she sent someone to the border to invite back either Duke Mu or the eldest son of the Mu family. She didn't know, but they went to invite those two people. Judging from Mu Tao's appearance, he was still kept in the dark, so she kindly reminded him.
Mu Tao's expression changed slightly. The Consort Shu and Consort De were fighting fiercely in the harem. The Marquis of Zhenguo had Lu Jiangfeng, and the Duke of Mu's mansion also needed someone with high martial arts skills to support the overall situation.
His hand was injured, making it impossible for him to use a sword. The Mu family had already lost ground. He had guessed that Consort Shu would go to the border to ask the Duke of Mu or his eldest son to return, but hearing it from others still made him feel very uncomfortable. He had only recently returned to the capital, and asking the Duke of Mu or his eldest son to return would silently show that he was useless.
Seeing Mu Tao's increasingly grim expression, Shen Lixue knew that their provocation had worked. She coughed a few times and deliberately raised her voice: "Husband, the main hall of this restaurant is in a mess. Let's go to another restaurant for a meal!"