Shen Lixue stared at the wide-open door, gritting her teeth. She had clearly closed the door when she took a bath, thinking that it was late at night and no one would come, so she hadn't locked it. Besides, even if she accidentally knocked on the door and saw someone inside, she should have asked the owner's permission first. But Prince An didn't say anything and just pushed the door open and came in, treating this bamboo garden of the Prime Minister's residence as his own home.
"Prince An, I'm taking a bath!" Shen Lixue said irritably. If she weren't naked and unable to leave the bath, she would have already used her fists and feet to drive Prince An out.
"I know!" Prince An replied softly, his deep gaze fixed on Shen Lixue, showing no intention of leaving.
Shen Lixue: "..."
You know that, why aren't you leaving? Let alone in ancient times, even in modern times, it's not right for an 18-year-old man to stand in a 15-year-old girl's bathroom and watch her bathe. Or is he just too old to understand the difference between men and women?
"Prince An, I need to get dressed. Please move to the outside!" Prince An didn't understand her hint, so Shen Lixue had no choice but to directly tell him to leave.
“Alright!” Prince An replied softly, then slowly turned and left.
"Shhh!" Just as Shen Lixue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a faint, almost imperceptible sound suddenly rang out. Prince An, who had walked to the door, abruptly stopped, his sharp gaze like a blade fixed on the bathtub: "There's a snake!"
Shen Lixue also sensed something was wrong. Before she could react, a white shadow flashed before her eyes, and her waist was tightly embraced. She was instantly pulled out of the water, and a garment was draped over her naked body. The faint scent of pine resin lingered in the air. Shen Lixue looked up and saw the handsome profile of Prince An. His perfect lines, with a gentleness amidst his strength, captivated people without them even realizing it.
With a muffled thud, a half-meter-long snake was pierced through its vital spot and pinned to the wall.
Shen Lixue narrowed her eyes. Strange, how come there are snakes in this room?
The cool body temperature of Prince An seeped into her skin through her thin clothes. Shen Lixue suddenly came to her senses. She was still wrapped in a bathrobe and being held tightly in Prince An's arms.
Prince An held her too tightly, and Shen Lixue struggled a few times but couldn't break free. She said calmly, "Thank you for saving me, Prince. The snake is dead, and there's no danger anymore. Please let go!" Shen Lixue was very uncomfortable with their bodies so close.
Seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with her indifferent expression, Prince An remained unmoved, his arms still firmly around her small waist, his sharp gaze fixed on her slender neck.
On her fair and slender neck, the faint dark brown marks from the binding marred her overall beauty. He hadn't seen them earlier due to the distance and the heat, but now that he was closer, he could see them clearly. His dark eyes narrowed further: "Are you sure you want me to let go?"
"Confirmed!" Shen Lixue replied irritably. It was just a snake; even without Prince An, she wouldn't have been bitten.
“Alright!” Prince An agreed readily, and with a loosening of his arm, Shen Lixue lost her strength and fell into the water with a splash.
The pool was over a meter deep. Shen Lixue fell into the water without getting hurt and quickly struggled to the surface. Through her blurry vision, she saw Prince An float lightly to the edge of the pool, turn around and leave. Filled with anger, she knew he had deliberately thrown her into the pool. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Prince An!"
"Dongfang Heng!" Prince An continued walking, his back to Shen Lixue, and uttered three words calmly. Under her puzzled gaze, he added the second half of the sentence: "My name!"
Shen Lixue: "..."
Is Prince An upset that she didn't call his name?
"Dongfang Heng, stop right there!" Shen Lixue took off her soaked robe, tore off a gauze dress hanging on the screen and put it on haphazardly, then hurried after Prince An.
Prince An walked at a leisurely pace, but as soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, Shen Lixue caught up with him and blocked his way, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger: "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
Dongfang Heng's handsome face was calm and cold: "You're the one who told me to let go!"
"I..." Shen Lixue was so angry that she choked. She had told him to let go, but he let go too quickly, without giving her any time to adjust.
"...Shen Lixue, you come out here..." In the dim light, Shen Yingxue, accompanied by two maids, stormed into the bamboo garden, her beautiful face slightly red and swollen, contorted with anger: "Although my mother is a second wife, she is still your mother. You despicable person, you actually made her sick..."
What's even more infuriating is that Prince An ignored him and his mother, but came to the bamboo garden to offer incense to Lin Qingzhu, causing him and his mother to lose face in front of the noble families.
However, this matter cannot be blamed on Prince An. The blame lies with that wretched woman, Shen Lixue. If it weren't for her, Lin Yan wouldn't have come to the Prime Minister's residence, and Prince An wouldn't have made such a fool of himself for the sake of brotherhood.
Now that night has fallen and the guests have departed, Lin Yan has also left. No one is there to support Shen Lixue anymore. I must teach her a lesson so she'll know her place and stop daring to try and steal Prince An from me!
“…Shen Lixue…Shen…” Shen Yingxue’s angry accusations stopped abruptly when she saw Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue standing side by side.
Shen Lixue had been taking a bath, and her face was flushed a rose color by the steam. At first glance, it looked like the flush after passion.
Prince An, Dongfang Heng, embraced Shen Lixue. As she struggled, she disheveled his clothes, and one could say that he was now somewhat in disarray.
Shen Yingxue scrutinized the two of them again and again. The anger surging in her eyes instantly turned into deep shock and fury. Shen Lixue actually seduced Prince An into doing such a shameful thing after ruining her reputation and making her mother faint. What a slut!
---Aside---
The name of Prince An is Dongfang Heng.
028 Stepmother's Poisonous Scheme
Under the moonlight, Shen Lixue's scarlet gauze dress draped loosely over her body, revealing her delicate collarbones and fair arms. A pretty knot was tied at the chest, and her two smooth legs were exposed below. Like a modern evening gown, it outlined her shapely figure, making her even more fresh and charming.
"Why did you come out dressed like that?" Prince An frowned. He had left in a hurry and hadn't seen Shen Lixue's clothes clearly. But Shen Yingxue's interference had drawn his attention to Shen Lixue. Although she looked beautiful in the dress, there was too little fabric and too much exposed skin. Fortunately, it was late at night and there were no other men around except him!
"You're walking too fast!" A gentle breeze blew by, and Shen Lixue crossed her arms and replied irritably. If it weren't for chasing after Prince An, she wouldn't have just thrown on some clothes and run out.
A coat was draped over Shen Lixue's body, its warm body temperature soothing her skin, and a faint scent of pine resin wafting through the air. Shen Lixue stared at Prince An in surprise; he had actually taken off his coat for her.
Prince An coughed lightly, sounding a bit awkward: "It's windy at night!" His elegant voice carried no hint of ambiguity, yet it stirred the imagination and left much to the imagination.
"Get some rest!" With that, Prince An's tall and slender figure floated out of the bamboo garden in the moonlight, his movements graceful and elegant. Although he was only wearing a white undergarment, he was still incredibly handsome.
"Shen Lixue!" Shen Yingxue roared through gritted teeth, her beautiful eyes blazing with fury. At noon, Lei Shi was so angered by Shen Lixue that she vomited blood. She had been busy calling doctors, preparing medicine, and taking care of her until now. She had come to the Bamboo Garden intending to slap Shen Lixue a couple of times to vent her anger, but she never expected to see this scene.
Shen Lixue is neither as gentle nor as beautiful as herself. Any man would choose her over Shen Lixue. But just now, Prince An was actually concerned about Shen Lixue the whole time and didn't even glance at her. She must have bewitched Prince An with some kind of spell to make him treat her so coldly.
"I wonder what brings you to the Bamboo Garden, sister?" Shen Lixue asked knowingly. Prince An's actions earlier had not only angered Shen Yingxue but also left her with this trouble. However, she was not afraid of Shen Yingxue, so she was not worried about this little problem.
Shen Yingxue heard Shen Lixue's voice and tone, which were full of smugness and provocation. Her anger intensified: "Shen Lixue, don't be so smug. Do you think that just because you have that kind of relationship with Prince An, he will definitely marry you as his concubine?"
Shen Lixue blinked. She and Prince An were indeed somewhat disheveled just now, and Shen Yingxue actually misunderstood that they were having an affair because of it. Her thoughts were truly filthy.
Shen Yingxue is proud and arrogant. Once she has made up her mind, there is no possibility of changing it. Even if you try to explain, it will only make things worse. She might even smugly scold you for trying to cover up the truth.
"If Prince An won't marry me, would he marry you?" Shen Yingxue was so angry because she had slept with her beloved Prince An. If she made things more ambiguous, would she make her so angry that she vomited blood?
Prince An's robes were draped over Shen Lixue, large and baggy, fluttering gently in the night breeze. They possessed a unique charm that stirred the imagination. Shen Yingxue was consumed by jealousy: "Shen Lixue, you can't wait to cling to any man you see. You have no shame, but the Prime Minister's residence still has its dignity!"