The Lei and Chen families were discussing matters and wouldn't let him get close, so he stood by the garden waiting. As the sun was about to set, he still hadn't seen Shen Yingxue. Just then, Shen Minghui walked over, and he couldn't wait to come over and ask.
Shen Minghui raised his head and carefully examined Mu Zhengnan. His sandalwood-colored robes were made of coarse cloth, quite incongruous with his refined, scholarly air. His handsome face was slightly tanned, his eager eyes flickered slightly, and his tall, upright figure was somewhat thin—a typical poor scholar trying to climb the social ladder.
"Madam Lei has suffered a shock, and Yingxue will be staying at the Grand Commandant's residence temporarily to comfort her. She will not be returning to the Prime Minister's residence for a while, so your wedding will have to be postponed for some time!"
The excuses Lei Taiwei had come up with to appease Qingyan and his men were used by Shen Minghui on Mu Zhengnan.
Mu Zhengnan helped Shen Yingxue simply because he wanted wealth and status. He was a commoner who had been imprisoned and could no longer serve as an official in the court. Shen Minghui disliked him very much. However, it was unknown whether any noble young men would be willing to marry Shen Yingxue after she gave birth. Shen Minghui did not speak too bluntly, but gave him vague answers to give him some hope and keep him hanging on. The specifics would be discussed a year later.
Mu Zhengnan smiled, but his smile was a little stiff: "May I meet Yingxue?" He didn't want to give up the golden phoenix he had worked so hard to climb up to so easily.
Shen Minghui frowned, as if pondering: "Old Madam Lei is very sad. Yingxue has been by her side and comforting her. You probably won't be able to see Yingxue for the next few days. Why don't you leave your address? Yingxue will send someone to call you when she has time!"
"Okay!" Mu Zhengnan realized that Shen Minghui was just giving him a perfunctory answer. He forced a smile and gave Shen Minghui his address. A shadow fell over his shrewd eyes.
He didn't marry Shen Yingxue, so Shen Minghui wouldn't value him. He didn't even react when he heard about his terrible living conditions.
He helped Shen Yingxue a lot, ruined his own reputation, but didn't get any benefit in return. It was truly despicable. What was even more infuriating was that he didn't get to enjoy wealth and honor, and his life didn't improve at all. After leaving the Grand Commandant's mansion, he still had to continue working as a vegetable farmer, toiling in the fields and selling vegetables from a broken cart, just like before!
His large hand quietly clenched into a fist, trembling slightly. Things shouldn't be like this. He was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept it!
As the sun set, painting most of the sky red, Shen Lixue walked out of the Grand Commandant's mansion and headed towards the War King's carriage.
Not far away, around the corner, stood a tall, slender figure in blue. Upon seeing Shen Lixue, he smiled slightly and was about to walk over when Shen Lixue lifted the carriage curtain. Dressed in white, the handsome and incomparably dashing Dongfang Heng appeared in the carriage. The blue figure was startled and paused for a moment. Shen Lixue had already stepped onto the carriage by stepping onto a stool.
The carriage curtain slowly fell, quickly concealing the scene inside the carriage. The moment it was completely lowered, Dongfang Heng glanced at the blue figure, his sharp eyes as cold as blades, a silent warning that resonated deeply.
The carriage set off, speeding forward. Dongfang Zhan stood quietly at the corner, watching the rising dust, a slight smile playing on his lips, his gentle eyes like a deep, unfathomable pool.
Inside the carriage, four small ice buckets emitted a faint chill, as cool as spring. Shen Lixue poured herself a cup of tea, the rising steam quickly disappearing upon contact with the cold: "Shen Caixuan fell to her death, Lei Cong became a eunuch, and Shen Yingxue will temporarily stay at the Grand Commandant's mansion, give birth to her child, and then return to the Prime Minister's mansion to get married!" In just a few hours, the fates of the three people were fixed.
Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow: "Grand Commandant Lei's method kills two birds with one stone!" It can ensure that the Lei family has an heir, and it won't delay Shen Yingxue's marriage. He truly is a cunning old fox in the officialdom.
“That child is the product of Lei Cong’s atrocities and a disgrace to Shen Yingxue. When she sees the child, she will think of the suffering and pain she has endured. As proud as Shen Yingxue is, she may not be willing to give birth to him.” Shen Lixue smiled. Shen Yingxue was living in the Grand Commandant’s mansion, which meant she was under strict surveillance, almost like being in prison.
"Will the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Grand Commandant's Mansion break apart because of this child?" Dongfang Heng smiled ambiguously. The Grand Commandant's only great-grandson died at the hands of Shen Yingxue. Prime Minister Shen and Grand Commandant Lei can forget about having a peaceful day again.
Shen Lixue shook her head: "Not necessarily. If the people from the Grand Commandant's mansion are watching closely, Shen Yingxue might not be able to abort the child and will have no choice but to give birth!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness, we've arrived at Zuixianlou!" The coachman's respectful voice rang out as the carriage came to a stop.
Shen Lixue frowned: "Why did you come to Zuixianlou?" She was used to having dinner with Zhan Wang and Dongfang Heng in the Zhan Wang Mansion restaurant before nightfall.
"It's been a while since you last visited Zuixianlou. Don't you miss their drunken chicken?" Dongfang Heng remembered that Shen Lixue loved Zuixianlou's drunken chicken the most. When she was in the Prime Minister's residence, she would come to Zuixianlou for a meal every few days.
Shen Lixue frowned: "Our godfather is still waiting for us to go back to the palace for dinner. It would be impolite to leave him waiting here!"
"The Imperial Uncle has gone to the palace and won't be back until very late!" Dongfang Heng said softly, lifting the curtain and getting off the carriage.
The War King has entered the palace!
Shen Lixue breathed a sigh of relief, then got off the carriage. The Prince of War was going to the palace to discuss confidential matters with the Emperor, so she didn't ask any questions. She walked into Zuixianlou side by side with Dongfang Heng.
It was mealtime, and the Zuixianlou restaurant was packed with guests. The two, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, were a perfect match. As soon as they entered, they attracted the attention of many guests. The waiter greeted them warmly and led them up the stairs to a private room on the second floor.
Walking slowly down the elegant corridor, looking at the hall full of guests, Shen Lixue couldn't help but murmur, "The Drunken Immortal Pavilion is doing booming business. The person behind it must be very shrewd and capable of making money!"
Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow, a graceful smile curving his lips. The mastermind behind Zuixianlou, huh...?
"Squeak!" The door to a private room on one side of the corridor suddenly opened, and the exquisite wooden door crashed straight into Shen Lixue. A cold glint flashed in Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes, and he instantly pulled Shen Lixue into his arms.
The person who opened the door was a girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in a dark green dress, with her hair styled in two buns, dressed as a maid. The cold light in Dongfang Heng's eyes startled her, and she stood there dumbfounded for a long time before she reacted and apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!"
"Xing'er, what happened?" A soft, weak female voice came to the door. Her well-tailored Xiang dress hung loosely on her, its flowing sleeves fluttering in the wind. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes tired yet bright.
"It's you!"
"It's you!"
Shen Lixue and the frail woman exclaimed in unison.
"Thank you so much for saving my life by the lake last time, young lady!" The frail woman smiled slightly, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"It was nothing, Miss, you don't need to take it to heart!" Shen Lixue smiled gently, being polite and courteous.
"My name is Chu Youran. May I ask your name, young lady?" The frail woman, tormented by illness, was quite free-spirited. She skipped the formalities of addressing her as "young lady" and directly asked Shen Lixue's name.
"Shen Lixue!" Many people in the capital knew her, and Shen Lixue no longer hid it.
"A good name!" Chu Youran's home was not in the capital, and she had never heard of Shen Lixue, so she didn't have much of a reaction to her name.
An overwhelming chill spread rapidly. Chu Youran tightened her clothes and, following the chill, saw Dongfang Heng. Her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed softly, "This is your husband! What a perfect couple!"
Dongfang Heng's gaze sharpened, and the coldness in his eyes gradually disappeared, like a sharp sword concealing its piercing glint.
Shen Lixue then noticed that she was still being half-held in Dongfang Heng's arms. A blush rose to her beautiful face. She pried his arms off and created some distance between them.
As the soft, fragrant body receded, a hint of displeasure flashed in Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes. However, the thought that Shen Lixue had not denied their relationship gradually eased his mood.
"Miss Chu, did you come to the capital for medical treatment?" Shen Lixue stopped dwelling on her relationship with Dongfang Heng and instead asked about Chu Youran's condition.
Chu Youran nodded, her eyes dim: "I've heard there's a famous doctor in the capital who can cure all diseases, so I've come to give it a try!"
Shen Lixue's mind raced: "Have you found the divine healer?"
"Not yet." Chu Youran shook her head, a bitter look flashing in her eyes. A divine doctor who is rarely seen is not so easy to find.
Upon seeing Shen Lixue, Dongfang Heng stood outside the door. Chu Youran, realizing her rudeness, exclaimed, "Miss Shen... this young master, please come in and have your meal with us!" She had intended to address Shen Lixue as Madam, but not knowing Dongfang Heng's surname, she could only respectfully call him Miss.