Shen Lixue is Dongfang Heng's fiancée. Dongfang Che admires the Azure Flame War God Dongfang Heng and respects Shen Lixue as well.
Shen Lixue pointed to the corpses on the ground: "These assassins tried to kill me; they even destroyed the carriage!"
Dongfang Che frowned as he looked at the vast ruins of the carriages. Although he hadn't experienced it firsthand, he could imagine how fierce the battle had been. His childish eyes blazed with anger. In broad daylight, how dare they kill people in his territory? It was outrageous! "Does the princess know their identities?"
Shen Lixue shook her head: "I don't know, but one of the men in black escaped, and I injured her arm with a whip!"
Looking at the cyan whip in Shen Lixue's hand, Dongfang Che's lips twitched slightly. Just a few days ago, he beat Su Yuting, who had disfigured her, so badly that her face was covered in whip marks. And just now, she injured the black-clad assassin. This Princess Consort of Anjun is truly formidable.
"Princess Lixue, leave this to the guards. I'll take you back to your residence!" The nearby streets are under Dongfang Che's jurisdiction. Shen Lixue is the adopted daughter of the War King and Dongfang Heng's fiancée. If something happens to her, he will be held responsible.
"Thank you for your kindness, Fifth Prince. The most urgent task is to find out the identities of these men in black. Fifth Prince, your business is important. The War Prince's Mansion is just ahead, so there's no need for you to see me off!" Shen Lixue slowly put away her long whip, smiled gently, and declined Dongfang Che's offer to see her off.
"Princess Lixue, be careful!" Dongfang Che didn't insist and sent several guards to escort her back to the manor.
Dongfang Che stood at the alley entrance, watching Shen Lixue leave. His childish gaze fell on the corpses, and he coldly gave the order: "Take the bodies back and examine them carefully!"
His brothers always said he was too young to understand national affairs, so he wanted to show them what he could do. As long as the man in black left a clue, he could follow the trail and find the mastermind behind it all.
The carriage was scattered, so Shen Lixue had to walk back to the War Prince's Mansion. Fortunately, the alley was not far from the mansion, and she entered the mansion a quarter of an hour later.
Steward Wang hurried forward: "Princess, His Highness has something to discuss with you and requests your presence in his study!"
“Alright!” Shen Lixue nodded. The War King was not fond of talking, so he must have something important to discuss with her. The servants might not know, so she didn’t ask and went straight to the study.
A golden incense burner sits on a carved nanmu wood table, wisps of smoke drifting out, filling the room with the fragrance of bamboo leaves. Rows of mahogany bookshelves occupy the entire wall, crammed with all kinds of books. In front of the bookshelves is a high table, on which are placed precious writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
The War King, dressed in plain clothes with a wild and untamed pattern, sat at the table reading letters, his sharp eyes flashing with coldness.
"Godfather!" Shen Lixue knocked on the door and entered the study, immediately seeing the imposing War King: "You were looking for me?"
The War King put down the letter, looked up at Shen Lixue, and a hint of kindness flashed in his deep eyes: "Lin Yan risked his own safety to save the Emperor, and His Majesty has granted him permission to restore his title of Duke of Wu, which will be hereditary!"
The matter had just been settled and had not yet been announced to the other party when the War King, knowing that Shen Lixue cared about Lin Yan, told her the good news in advance.
"Really?" Shen Lixue smiled knowingly; her cousin Yan had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
"His Majesty has already drafted the imperial edict, which will be read tomorrow." A flicker of something crossed the Zhan Wang's sharp eyes. He paused, then added, "The Wu Guogong Mansion has been abandoned for many years and needs renovation. Lin Yan's celebration banquet will likely be postponed by a few days..."
"It doesn't matter. With the imperial decree issued, Lin Yan has become the Duke of Wu. It doesn't matter when he moves into the mansion!"
Shen Lixue had long anticipated that Lin Yan would be promoted to Duke of Wu, but hearing the War King say it himself, she still couldn't hide her joy. Just as she was about to send someone to tell Lin Yan the news, the War King suddenly spoke up: "Lixue, what are you carrying?"
"A painting, painted by my godfather!" Shen Lixue walked slowly to the table, placed the scroll on it, and untied the silk threads on it.
"I painted these?" The War King frowned. He hadn't painted in many years. The paintings he had done fifteen years ago were kept in a special place, and no one but him could find them...
The scroll slowly unfolds, revealing green mountains, emerald waters, white butterflies, rippling lake waters, a picturesque boat, a stunningly beautiful woman, verdant bamboo groves on the hillside, and a beautiful rainbow in the sky, all combining to create a beautiful picture after the rain.
The War King's puzzled gaze instantly deepened, his dark pupils gradually narrowed, his slender fingers gently caressed every blade of grass and tree in the painting, and his tall body trembled slightly.
This painting was indeed painted by him. He poured his heart and soul into every stroke, every scene, and every detail. It's a pity...
He raised the corners of his mouth, forcing an unnatural smile: "Why did you bring this painting out?"
Shen Lixue frowned: "Godfather, did you really give this painting to the Duchess of Wen?"
The painting after the rain is beautiful, but the most striking element is the poem inscribed on it. At first glance, the four lines seem to praise the scenery, but upon closer examination, one can understand that the painter is subtly expressing his love for a woman. The person to whom the painting was given is the one he admires.
Sixteen years ago, the War King liked Ruan Chuqing? But at the banquet, he didn't even glance at Ruan Chuqing, while Ruan Chuqing secretly showed him resentment.
"Lady Wen, wife of the Duke of Wen?" The War King was taken aback, turned his head and looked at Shen Lixue with a puzzled expression: "Wasn't this painting left to you by your mother?"
"No!" Shen Lixue exclaimed in surprise, shaking her head. "I found this painting in the Duke Wen's wife's secret room on the day of the Duke Wen's birthday. It was left on Dongfang Heng's carriage and probably fell into some crevice. We couldn't find it until just now when a man in black ambushed me, scattering the carriage and causing the scroll to fall out..."
The War King's expression changed drastically, and his calm voice suddenly rose: "The painting was found in the Duke of Wen's mansion?"
“Yes!” Shen Lixue nodded.
An invisible aura of tyranny instantly enveloped the War King, and two dark clouds rapidly gathered in his deep eyes, quickly radiating outwards through his dark pupils. Even Shen Lixue, with her astonishing composure, was shocked by his intense anger: "Godfather, what's wrong with you?"
"Steward Wang, please summon Duke Wen!" The War King spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his intense rage impossible to suppress. His trembling hand grabbed the painting, and he strode out. Wherever he went, the air froze, his anger lingering, leaving the servants bewildered.
Shen Lixue frowned. The War King was cold and indifferent, and very calm in the face of events. In addition, after more than ten years of seclusion, his temperament had become even more composed. Even if he went to war with other countries and lost many cities, he could still command his soldiers to launch a fierce counterattack without changing his expression. But just now, he was furious over just a painting. What secret did that painting contain?
Half an incense stick later, Duke Wen arrived at the War King's residence. The War King was standing in the pavilion by the pool, facing the pool, with his hands behind his back. A gentle breeze blew up his light-colored robes, making him look noble and sharp.
Duke Wen could not see the expression on his face, nor could he sense any emotion from him, but he knew that the Prince of War never summoned people lightly. Whenever he did, it must be for something important. He cautiously walked into the pavilion and said, "Your Highness!"
The War King turned around and slammed a scroll down on him: "Sixteen years ago, on the day I went to war, to whom did you give this painting?"
The angry question, filled with intense tyranny, startled the birds in the tree, causing them to flap their wings and fly away quickly.
The servants were witnessing the King of War's rage for the first time, and none of them had any interest in watching the spectacle. They all kept their distance, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.
A painting? What kind of painting?
The Duke of Wen picked up the scroll, completely bewildered. A beautiful picture of the rain after a storm unfolded before him. He frowned slightly; he couldn't recall ever seeing this painting before.
"Don't you remember? Should I remind you?" The War King looked coldly at the Duke of Wu, his low voice filled with ruthlessness and gritted teeth.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Duke Wen. Sixteen years ago, just before he was about to go to the southern frontier with the War King, the War King was in a hurry to go to the training ground to check the troops and did not have time to do anything else. He painted this picture and asked Duke Wen to send it to Lin Qingzhu of the Wu State Duke's Mansion: "This humble general has delivered the painting to Lin Qingzhu!"
"Did you hand it over to her yourself?" The War King asked with a half-smile, his calm tone revealing an indescribable sharpness. His piercing eyes were like a sword, cutting through all pretense and seeing through everything.
Duke Wen lowered his head, not daring to look the War King in the eye. Although he was now the Duke of Wen, he still felt like the War King's deputy whenever he faced the War King, and dared not be negligent in the face of the War King's interrogation.
"This humble general was in a hurry to meet the prince at the training ground, and I happened to run into Ruan Chuqing on the street, so I gave her the painting and asked her to pass it on to Lin Qingzhu..."