The guard remained expressionless and said coldly, "Princess Lixue is resting and will not receive guests at this time!"
Shen Minghui looked at the sun high in the sky. It was already 9 a.m. (9 to 11 a.m.), and she still hadn't woken up. Was she really resting, or was she deliberately avoiding him?
His heart was burning with anger, but his expression remained gentle and polite: "I wonder when Li Xue will wake up?"
The guard shook his head: "This humble servant does not know!"
Shen Minghui's face instantly darkened. She was just trying to fool him by saying she wouldn't wake up for a day and a night. If she slept for a whole day and night, wouldn't he have to wait here for a whole day and a night?
Lei Hong patted Shen Minghui on the shoulder, signaling him not to act rashly: "Minghui, Lixue is resting, we shouldn't disturb her. Let's just stand here and wait, she should wake up soon!"
Two court officials stood waiting at the entrance of the Holy King's Mansion. Shen Lixue, out of consideration for face, would certainly not let them stand there for long.
Shen Minghui's face was gloomy, and he snorted lightly to express his strong dissatisfaction. Rebellious daughter, truly a rebellious daughter.
In the pavilion of the Holy King's Mansion, Shen Lixue leaned lightly on a chair, elegant and noble. She wore a purple Ruan Yanluo dress, the long hem of which trailed on the ground, her sleeves flowing like a dream. The butterfly on her emerald hairpin was lifelike and trembled gently. Her teardrop earrings swayed slowly, her beauty beyond compare. In her hand, she held a fresh fruit that had just been pulled from a deep well, her expression serene and composed.
Zi Mo stood to one side and reported what happened at the door: "Prime Minister Shen and Vice Minister Lei are both very anxious; they must have come to plead with the Princess!"
Shen Lixue curled her lips into a mocking smile: "You're so arrogant even when you're asking for help. Let them stand outside for an hour to cool off."
Zi Mo's lips twitched. Standing under the scorching sun for an hour would make even a good person scorched: "Prime Minister Shen and Vice Minister Lei are both high-ranking officials in the court. I wonder if they can withstand the blazing sun?"
Shen Lixue smiled gently, took out a white hourglass and placed it on the table. Fine white sand flowed slowly through the small gap: "Then we'll see if they're sincere enough!"
Time passed second by second, the sun rose higher and higher, and the light became more and more intense. Shen Minghui and Lei Hong were covered in fine beads of sweat, which soaked through their official robes and made them stick to their bodies, making them very uncomfortable.
Shen Minghui looked up at the Holy King's Mansion. The smooth ground was empty and quiet, without a single person in sight. She gritted her teeth in anger. That disobedient woman was deliberately trying to embarrass her.
Lei Hong wiped away his sweat, his gaze towards the Holy King's Mansion dark and cold. Shen Lixue's arrogance had exceeded his expectations; she was truly a detestable woman. He would endure it for now, and once he had her caught in his net and sent her to hell, he would see how arrogant she would still be.
As noon approached, Shen Minghui's head grew heavy from the sun, his vision blurred, and he swayed precariously, about to collapse. Physician Wang quickly reached out to support him, letting out a soft sigh:
"Minister Lei, Prime Minister Shen is in poor health. He has been in the sun for so long and has suffered from heatstroke. He cannot stand here any longer!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Lei Hong's gloomy eyes. He clenched his fist tightly. Had he failed to force Shen Lixue out of him? No, he was unwilling to accept it.
Not far away, people were coming and going. Lei Hong's eyes lit up, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips. If he dragged the unconscious Shen Minghui into the crowd and let everyone know that this was Shen Lixue's masterpiece, she would definitely not be able to bear the scorn of everyone and would come out to greet them.
"Physician Wang, we..."
"Prime Minister Shen, Vice Minister Lei, Imperial Physician Wang, Princess Lixue requests your presence!" A guard appeared at the door, interrupting Lei Hong.
Lei Hong frowned and looked at the sky. It was noon, and Shen Lixue woke up at just the right time.
A gentle breeze stirs the pavilion, carrying wisps of fresh, misty air.
Shen Lixue leaned lightly against the railing, her long skirt flowing. Seeing Shen Minghui, Lei Hong, and Physician Wang approaching, her dark eyes remained calm. Her slender fingers held the teapot and poured tea, the rising steam concealing the expression in her eyes: "The finest Biluochun tea, please, all three of you!"
Shen Minghui frowned deeply. He had been standing outside in the sun for an hour, while she was leisurely drinking tea here. What an air of superiority!
"Thank you, Princess!" Seeing that Shen Minghui's expression was off, Lei Hong grabbed his shoulder, pressed him into a seat, and secretly gave him a wink, signaling him to prioritize the bigger picture.
Shen Minghui suppressed his anger, sat down opposite Shen Lixue, picked up his teacup, and took a casual sip. The refreshing aroma filled his mouth; it was indeed a fine tea.
"The tea smells wonderful!" Lei Hong exclaimed after taking a sip.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow: "Drink more if you like!"
"Princess, we have come to ask you for a favor!" After waiting for a long time, Shen Lixue only offered them tea and snacks, without asking them the purpose of their visit. Shen Minghui frowned deeply, but for the sake of his health, he had to speak first.
"Oh!" Shen Lixue responded calmly, continuing to pour tea with her jade-like hands.
Shen Minghui was taken aback. He thought she would ask what he needed to ask, but to his surprise, she only said one word to indicate that she knew, and then fell silent, as if she didn't care about the matter at all. Hmph, she really knows how to keep her composure.
He coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "I have a serious heart ailment and need the princess's blood as a medicinal ingredient!"
Lei Hong looked at Shen Lixue with a half-smile, quite intrigued. Her biological father, who had severed ties with her, was demanding blood from her. How would she react? Anger? Indignation? Rage?
"And then?" Shen Lixue held her teacup, her cool gaze fixed on the shimmering water. She didn't even blink, inwardly scoffing disdainfully.
Shen Minghui had always ignored her and even forced her to sever her father-daughter relationship. Now that he needed blood to save his life, he thought of her and begged for her blood. He was so arrogant and domineering, as if she owed him something and that his blood was rightfully his. He was utterly shameless.
Shen Minghui narrowed his eyes, a hint of displeasure flashing within them. And then? And then, of course, they came here to demand blood from her. Did she genuinely not understand, pretend not to understand, or was she deliberately trying to embarrass him?
Physician Wang coughed lightly, realizing that Princess Lixue was deliberately trying to embarrass Shen Minghui. She had silenced him with just a few words, severing their father-daughter relationship, yet he still came to ask for blood—how shameless!
“Princess Lixue, I have no right to interfere in the affairs of the Prime Minister’s residence. I only want to tell you that Prime Minister Shen’s heart ailment urgently needs your blood to heal it!”
Shen Lixue put down her teacup and looked at Physician Wang with a half-smile: "Do you only need my blood?"
"No." Imperial Physician Wang shook his head: "The princess, Miss Yingxue, Miss Caiyun, Miss Caixuan, and Young Master Yelei all need blood!"
Shen Lixue's eyes darkened: "Sister Caixuan has passed away, and her blood is hard to find!"
Physician Wang chuckled: "It's alright, we can use the blood of the four of you as a substitute!"
Shen Lixue lowered her eyelids, her fingers lightly tapping the white porcelain teacup, the crisp sound like pebbles falling into water, stirring ripples in the hearts of Shen Minghui and Lei Hong.
Shen Minghui looked at the calm and elegant Shen Lixue, his displeasure growing stronger. He only wanted a bowl of blood from her, and she was making such a fuss? If it weren't for him, she wouldn't exist. The debt of giving birth to her is greater than heaven, and she doesn't even understand that?
Lei Hong's lips curled slightly. Shen Lixue did not refute the imperial physician's words. She still had some fatherly affection for Shen Minghui. As long as she agreed to donate blood, he would have a way to kill her.
After a long pause, amidst their thoughtful gazes, Shen Lixue raised her beautiful eyes and calmly uttered, "I have severed my father-daughter relationship with Prime Minister Shen."
Shen Minghui trembled with rage. "Fine, fine, fine! She really is my good daughter. She's severed ties with me and is just watching me die!"
Lei Hong frowned deeply: "Shen Lixue, your surname is Shen, and you have Shen Minghui's blood flowing in your veins. Even if you sever your father-daughter relationship with him, it won't change your blood ties!" Since Shen Minghui was useless, he had no choice but to personally persuade him.