Dongfang Heng put down his book and glanced at the almost cold black medicine: "I was so engrossed in reading that I forgot!"
Shen Lixue stared at him with wide eyes. When her heart aches during an attack, does she forget to take her medicine?
She reached out and took the bowl of medicine, holding it to Dongfang Heng's lips: "Drink it quickly, the medicine won't work if it gets cold!"
The strong aroma of medicine wafted into his nose, and Dongfang Heng frowned deeply: "The medicine is too bitter; I can't drink such a big bowl in one go!"
"Will you be able to drink it down by taking sips?" Shen Lixue smiled mysteriously and ordered towards the door, "Someone, bring a small spoon!"
A moment later, Shen Lixue scooped up some medicine with a small spoon and brought it to Dongfang Heng's lips. He frowned deeply, staring at the black medicine in the spoon without saying a word.
"It'll get cold if you don't drink it now!" Shen Lixue pried open Dongfang Heng's lips and stuffed the spoonful of Chinese medicine into his mouth.
Dongfang Heng frowned as he drank it down, his mouth filled with the strong taste of medicine. His expression was unpredictable. Before he could get rid of the bitter taste, Shen Lixue shoved the second spoonful of medicine into his mouth.
After repeating this process dozens of times, the thick, black medicine was finally finished. Seeing Dongfang Heng's furrowed brows and the bitter taste of the medicine in his breath, Shen Lixue sighed inwardly. Dongfang Heng didn't like bitter things, and that medicine was extremely bitter. Not to mention him, even people who weren't afraid of bitterness would complain about the bitterness after drinking it: "I'll go get some candied fruit to help you get rid of the bitterness!"
"No need for candied fruit, I have a better way to remove the bitterness?" Dongfang Heng's lips curled into a graceful arc, and the smile in his eyes revealed a faint eeriness.
"What method?"
Before Shen Lixue could finish speaking, Dongfang Heng tightly gripped her waist, and his warm, thin lips pressed against hers, heavy and firm, leaving no room for retreat. A bitter medicinal taste permeated her mouth, and she frowned deeply. If the lingering taste was this bitter, what must the medicine taste like? It was a wonder that Dongfang Heng could drink it; if it were her, she would have closed her mouth tightly after just one sip.
However, is the method Dongfang Heng mentioned simply kissing her to remove the bitterness? That's quite a unique method.
The faint fragrance emanating from the woman's mouth gradually neutralized the bitter taste of the medicine. Dongfang Heng's mouth was no longer so bitter. Gradually, the bitterness faded, and the fragrance overwhelmed the bitterness, growing stronger and stronger. In the end, the bitterness completely disappeared, and the woman's fragrance filled his mouth. Dongfang Heng could no longer taste even a trace of bitterness, and only then did he reluctantly release Chen Lixue.
The woman in his arms had a soft, fragrant body, flushed cheeks, and slightly swollen, alluring lips. Her gaze towards him, filled with a charming and dreamy quality, held no power whatsoever in his anger.
Dongfang Heng lightly kissed her cherry lips, like a dragonfly skimming the water: "Would you like to have dinner?"
"I'm not hungry!" Shen Lixue's eyes were unfocused, but her mind was clear. After dinner, it must be very late, and he would definitely let her stay here overnight.
"Let's rest first, and have a midnight snack when we're hungry!" Dongfang Heng's deep voice carried an ambiguous seductive tone as he picked up Shen Lixue and was about to place her on the inside of the soft bed.
"I'm hungry, let's eat first!" Shen Lixue grabbed Dongfang Heng's collar and quickly changed her mind. She had been busy scheming against Ruan Chuqing at lunchtime and hadn't eaten much. She had been practicing her lightness skill for half the afternoon and had used up a lot of energy, so she was already hungry.
"Alright!" Dongfang Heng replied with a smile, then instructed the person outside the door, "Set the table!"
"Yes!" The servant outside the door replied and quickly left. A moment later, the door opened, and the guards came in carrying several trays. Each tray contained two dishes, and the rich aroma made one's mouth water.
"Your Highness!" The steward of the Prince's mansion hurried into the room, saw the servants setting out the meal, and hesitated to speak.
"What is it?" Dongfang Heng lowered his eyelids, stood in front of the bed, and lightly buttoned his outer coat.
The steward bowed and said, "Your Highness, your new prescription includes an extra ten-year-old well moss. We've already run out of this herb, and the Holy Prince's Mansion doesn't have any right now. We've searched all the pharmacies in the capital, but none of them sell it. I've already ordered someone to look for it elsewhere, and it will be delivered in a few days!"
Dongfang Heng paused for a moment, then continued buttoning his shirt, saying casually, "I know!"
"This humble servant takes his leave!" Through the gauze curtain, the steward could not see Dongfang Heng's expression, but judging from his tone, there was no hint of reproach. The steward secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly retreated.
"Ten-year-old moss by the well!" Shen Lixue repeated softly, the name of this herb sounding so familiar.
“This herb grows in a very special place and requires a very special environment to form. It is extremely rare in the world. It’s not surprising that the Holy King’s Mansion didn’t replenish it in time after it ran out!” Dongfang Heng straightened his clothes, took Shen Lixue’s small hand, and slowly walked towards the outer room: “Let’s have our meal first, and I’ll take you back to the manor afterward!”
"Back to the manor!" Shen Lixue's eyes suddenly lit up: "I remember!"
"What?" Dongfang Heng asked, puzzled.
"I've seen the moss by the well for ten years." Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng, her clear eyes sparkling with joy.
Dongfang Heng was taken aback: "Where have I seen you before?"
"The Prime Minister's residence!" When Shen Lixue and Aunt Zhao were checking the storeroom, they saw a large wooden box on the highest table. The maids carefully opened and closed the lid. She asked curiously what it was. Aunt Zhao told her that it was ten-year-old well moss, the most precious medicinal material in the Prime Minister's residence, which Shen Minghui had always treasured.
"Really?" Dongfang Heng's eyes deepened. Ten-year-old moss by the well is rare and hard to come by, yet the Prime Minister's residence actually has one.
"Why would I lie to you?" Shen Lixue didn't care where the ten-year-old moss by the well in the Prime Minister's mansion came from or how long it had been there. Shen Minghui didn't need that medicinal herb for the time being, and keeping it in the warehouse would be a waste. It would be better to bring it to the Holy King's mansion and use it as medicine for Dongfang Heng.
"Let's have dinner first!" Dongfang Heng lifted the curtain and slowly walked to the table.
"Let's go to the Prime Minister's residence to get the medicine first, then we'll have dinner!" Shen Lixue grabbed Dongfang Heng's arm, pulled him out of Fengsong Courtyard, and quickly ran towards the gate of the Prince's Mansion.
Dongfang Xun stood in the pavilion, watching Shen Lixue walk briskly by the rockery. Dongfang Heng walked beside her, his gaze carrying a subtle smile and doting affection.
Dongfang Xun's gentle gaze deepened slightly, like the mist on a snow-capped mountain, hazy and unfathomable. He watched the two leave the Holy King's Mansion, then took out a neatly folded woman's dress from his sleeve. The dress had dried and emitted a faint fragrance. Several roses were embroidered on the collar, just like Shen Lixue—strong, independent, and inspiring affection and admiration without one even realizing it.
Shen Lixue pulled Dongfang Heng to the outside of the high wall of the Prime Minister's residence. After looking around and seeing that no one was there, she jumped and landed in the courtyard.
The two landed in a very remote location, quiet all around, without a single person in sight. After listening carefully for a moment and confirming that no one was nearby, Shen Lixue quickly ran towards the warehouse along the bluestone path.
"Why are you sneaking around like this when you're going back to your own home?" Dongfang Heng walked beside Shen Lixue, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible. Watching her hurry forward silently, a hint of mockery appeared in his sharp eyes.
Shen Lixue glared at Dongfang Heng: "I have severed my father-daughter relationship with Shen Minghui. This is no longer my home. Besides, we are here to take things. How can we do this openly!"
"Someone's coming!" A flash of light appeared to the left front, and Shen Lixue hurriedly pulled Dongfang Heng to hide behind a large rock.
Dongfang Heng stood close to Shen Lixue behind the large rock, watching her cautiously peek out and observe the scene outside. A smile appeared in his eyes. If people knew that the dignified Prince An and Princess Lixue had secretly come to the Prime Minister's residence to steal things, it would definitely cause a sensation in the capital.
Outside the large rock, a familiar small figure carrying a large lantern ran quickly forward. Shen Lixue frowned. Shen Yelei, wasn't he at the Grand Commandant's mansion? Why is he back at the Prime Minister's mansion? Could it be that Shen Minghui couldn't bear to part with his father-son relationship and was willing to raise someone else's son?
“They’ve gone far away!” Dongfang Heng patted Shen Lixue’s shoulder as he saw her frowning in thought.
Shen Lixue snapped back to reality. Looking at the bluestone path again, Shen Yelei had already turned the corner and disappeared. He stepped out of the large stone, grabbed Dongfang Heng's arm, and walked quickly forward: "Let's go to the warehouse."
Shen Lixue was familiar with the layout of the Prime Minister's residence and knew the guards' patrol times. She easily avoided them and arrived in front of the large warehouse. She inserted a silver needle into the lock, turned it gently, and the sturdy lock opened with a click. She smiled lightly, pushed open the door, and went inside.
The warehouse was neatly arranged, filled with all sorts of rare treasures and precious medicinal herbs. Shen Lixue didn't even glance at them, but went straight to the highest table and, following the same method, used a silver needle to poke the keyhole and opened the box. A patch of green medicinal herbs appeared before the two of them.