Shen Minghui didn't speak, but gently pointed at Shen Caiyun. The crime had already been pinned on her; if he were to say she was innocent, wouldn't that be contradicting himself?
Shen Caiyun's hope, which she had been holding onto, sank to the bottom in an instant. A deep sarcasm flashed in her eyes. What a good father he was! He never saw her and never cared about her, but when it came to taking the blame, he found her!
"You still have hope for this kind of father? I've been utterly disappointed in him for a long time!" Looking at Shen Caiyun's puzzled gaze, Shen Lixue said softly, "You saw what happened to me in the Prime Minister's residence, didn't you? We were all just stepping stones for Shen Yingxue, meant to be sacrificed. If Mu Zhengnan hadn't accused me, Shen Minghui would definitely have made me take the blame!"
Shen Caiyun clenched her fists and remained silent. The cold glint in her eyes told Shen Lixue that she would not give up easily.
Shen Caiyun is cunning and adept at disguise, having fooled almost everyone. When she was in the Prime Minister's residence, she was happy to play the coward and remain invisible as long as no one touched her interests. Now, she has been forced to take the blame by Shen Minghui and Shen Yingxue, ruining the bright future she had imagined. She must hate the two of them to death. Once she gets out of prison, Shen Minghui and Shen Yingxue will be in trouble!
"Shen Caiyun, daughter of the Prime Minister, shall be imprisoned for three months!" The Shuntian Prefect slammed his gavel and coldly issued the order.
Mu Zhengnan and Shen Caiyun were taken away, and the crowd dispersed in twos and threes. Shen Yingxue slumped down, her forehead covered in a layer of cold sweat, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had finally escaped a disaster!
The Third Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the nobles left the courtroom one after another without even glancing at Shen Minghui. Ignored by everyone, Shen Minghui was extremely frustrated and vented his anger on Shen Lixue: "Lixue, why do you always act so recklessly? You've completely disgraced the Prime Minister's residence, do you know that?"
Shen Lixue sneered. Shen Minghui and Shen Yingxue were shameless, and they even dragged her into it. They really knew how to distort the truth. "Your daughter will follow your teachings. If Yingxue tries to scheme against me again, I will not fight back or talk back. If she kills someone, I will take the initiative to step forward and take the blame for her, so that you can rest assured!"
"Shen Lixue!" Shen Minghui pointed at Shen Lixue, too angry to speak. His daughter dared to disobey him like this. Was it because of the half-Lin family blood flowing in her veins?
"If you want others to respect you, first do a few things that deserve their respect!" How can someone be so harsh and biased towards their own daughter? They deserve no respect from others.
Nangong Xiao ignored Shen Minghui and walked directly to Shen Lixue: "It's almost lunchtime. How about I treat you to Drunken Chicken at Zuixianlou to celebrate your revenge?"
"That sounds really good!" Shen Lixue had heard Qiu He mention that the most famous dish at Zuixianlou was drunken chicken!
"The Drunken Chicken of Zuixianlou is famous far and wide, of course it's good!" Nangong Xiao squinted his eyes, looking like he was enjoying the aroma of the Drunken Chicken.
Outside the courtroom, the noble ladies and young women boarded their carriages one after another. Upon seeing Shen Yingxue approaching, they hurried along as if avoiding a plague, saying, "We must never associate with this kind of person..."
“I know, she likes to have her sisters and friends take the blame…”
"Who knows, one day they might make a mistake and frame you for it..."
"To be born as her sister, what bad luck..."
"Damn it, damn it!" The noble carriage sped away like an arrow, and Shen Yingxue, enraged, smashed the carriage: A bunch of despicable women, all jealous that I'm prettier than them...
Shen Lixue pretended not to hear and continued walking, her eyes narrowing slightly. Shen Minghui wouldn't allow her reputation to gradually tarnish; he would definitely take action...
As he turned the corner, Nangong Xiao casually glanced at Shen Minghui, Lei Shi, and Shen Yingxue, whose faces were ashen, and said indifferently, "Shen Lixue, you should go back to a home without any human touch!"
Shen Minghui already loathed her, and Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue considered her an enemy. If she continued to stay in the Prime Minister's residence, these schemes and plots would never end...
"I have no intention of staying in the Prime Minister's residence for long!" She had only been back at the residence for a month, and Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue were constantly scheming against her, both openly and secretly. Her own father was even adding fuel to the fire. This kind of home was just a temporary foothold. Once she was strong enough, she would leave without hesitation.
Nangong Xiao closed his folding fan, clapped his hands lightly, and said casually, "Chen Lixue, would you be interested in staying at my villa for a few days?"
"A separate courtyard?" Shen Lixue didn't react for a moment.
"The Prince of Yunnan's palace is thousands of miles away, so His Majesty bestowed upon me a villa." Nangong Xiao's eyes lit up, and he began to praise the advantages of his villa: "It's located in the suburbs, surrounded by lush trees, fragrant grasses, and fallen petals—the scenery is truly enchanting. More importantly, it's very quiet there, free from all intrigue and treachery..."
"That's where you keep your mistress hidden away, isn't it?" Shen Lixue said with a half-smile. Far from the Yunnan Prince's Mansion, living alone in a separate courtyard, he must be living a very carefree life.
"No, that's not it." Nangong Xiao quickened his pace and caught up with Shen Lixue: "Besides this young master and the servants, there are no other masters there..."
"Li Xue!" A gentle call rang out, and Shen Li Xue looked up to see Lin Yan, dressed in a green robe, walking steadily in the sunlight. His young face was handsome and extraordinary, and his refined temperament and the cold aura unique to those who had fought on the battlefield were both reflected in him, complementing each other perfectly.
"Cousin Yan!" Shen Lixue greeted him politely. After returning to the capital, Lin Yan had been busy with something, and she hadn't seen him for a while.
"Li Xue, have you seen Prince An today?" Lin Yan asked calmly, but his tone was somewhat urgent.
"He went back to the Holy King's Mansion early this morning. What happened?" Shen Lixue asked. Dongfang Heng has been back for several hours. Haven't they seen him yet?
Hearing Shen Lixue say this, Lin Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you're back at the manor. There are urgent matters waiting for me to handle!"
"Cousin Yan, does Prince An's illness flare up once a month?" Thinking about what happened yesterday, Shen Lixue was very uncertain.
"Of course!" Lin Yan answered without hesitation. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, his illness would recur precisely once a month.
“He fell ill on the way back from the palace yesterday…” Shen Lixue said calmly, quietly observing Lin Yan’s reaction. It had only been half a month since his last illness.
Lin Yan was taken aback, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes: "This can't be! My old illness has relapsed in just fifteen days?"
"How could I joke about something like this!" Illness and injury are matters of life and death, and there is no room for jokes. Recalling the large bowl of blood that Dongfang Heng vomited, Shen Lixue said solemnly, "I gave him acupuncture, and a guard named Zimo brewed medicine for him..."
"How could it be so fast..." Lin Yan exclaimed, then realized he had said too much, so he shut his mouth tightly, his face darkened, and the light in his eyes was uncertain.
"Cousin Yan, what do you mean?" Shen Lixue's eyes deepened. Lin Yan seemed to know quite a few secrets.
Lin Yan frowned, hesitating to speak, gazing at Shen Lixue's beautiful face with puzzled eyes. After weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, he sighed heavily: "Back at the border, a renowned physician treated Prince An. His condition was considered normal if it flared up once a month. If it suddenly appeared earlier, it meant... his condition was worsening and he didn't have long to live..."
Shen Lixue felt a sudden boom, and the world instantly fell silent. A single sentence echoed in her ears: "Prince An's days are numbered..."
"Then... how much longer can he live?" Quickly calming herself down, Shen Lixue felt a strange bitterness rising in her heart. Dongfang Heng wouldn't live much longer!
"At most three months, at least... one month!" Lin Yan sighed heavily. The doctor had clearly said that Prince An could live for ten years, and he was perfectly fine at the border. He had only been back in the capital for a few days when his condition suddenly worsened...
"Li Xue, where are you going?" A slender figure flashed past his eyes. Lin Yan looked up and saw Shen Li Xue walking briskly along the main road.
"Go to the Holy King's Mansion and find Dongfang Heng!" Shen Lixue answered without turning her head, her gaze cold. Dongfang Heng's condition had just begun to worsen, but there should still be hope!
059 Prince An teaches Nangong Xiao a lesson
The Holy King's Mansion is situated on the scenic shore of Clear Water Lake. It is magnificent, solemn, and dignified. The guards at the gate have stern faces and stand silently like statues, holding their swords, without moving.
Shen Lixue introduced herself and briefly explained her purpose. The guard informed Dongfang Heng and, with permission, led her into the palace. The palace was magnificent with its carved railings and galleries, rockery, pavilions, and towers. Every scene displayed the unique nobility and extraordinary nature of the royal family, completely different from the elegance and refinement of the Prime Minister's residence.
The further in you go, the more beautiful the scenery becomes. A cool breeze blows in your face, making you feel refreshed. A pink petal gently lands on your shoulder. Shen Lixue looks up and sees Dongfang Heng, dressed in white, standing with his hands behind his back under the magnolia tree. His deep gaze shines through the dense branches and leaves, looking towards the distant horizon, lost in thought.