What happened? Did I just see things wrong?
"Li Xue, are you feeling unwell?" Seeing that Shen Li Xue was somewhat absent-minded, Dongfang Heng gently stroked her forehead with his jade-like fingers. The temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold.
"I'm fine!" Shen Lixue blinked. "I was wondering, what kind of person is the King of Yunnan?"
"The King of Yunnan?" Dongfang Heng put down his chopsticks, his gaze deepening. "He is a righteous and brave warrior. He is the only non-royal king of Qingyan. He conquered a quarter of Qingyan's territory. He does not take credit for his achievements, nor is he arrogant. He has always stayed in his fiefdom of Yunnan and rarely goes to the capital, but he holds a pivotal position in the court!"
Shen Lixue nodded knowingly: "He's a formidable figure!"
“He is a rare hero in this world.” Dongfang Heng poured two glasses of fruit wine and handed one to Shen Lixue: “Back then, he had a very good relationship with my father and my sixth uncle…”
As night deepened, Chen Lixue and Dongfang Heng finished their banquet and returned to the Holy King's Mansion by carriage. As soon as they entered the second gate, they saw Nangong Xiao sitting in the pavilion by the pond, leisurely drinking tea.
Upon seeing Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, his eyes lit up. He put down his teacup, opened his fan with a whoosh, and slowly walked towards the two of them, complaining as he went, "Your meal has taken far too long! It's been almost two hours, and you've only just finished eating..."
Dongfang Heng frowned at Nangong Xiao: "What are you doing at the Holy King's Mansion in the middle of the night?"
Nangong Xiao pointed behind him with his fan: "I have come to deliver gifts to you on my father's orders!"
Sending gifts? Shen Lixue looked in the direction Nangong Xiao pointed and saw boxes of all sizes piled up on the ground by the pavilion: "Why are you sending gifts in the middle of the night?"
"I arrived long ago; it's because you returned late that the gift is delivered so late!" Nangong Xiao complained, taking an exquisite wooden box from a guard and handing it to Shen Lixue, his gaze filled with sorrow.
"I knew you would come to the Holy King's Mansion. All the other gifts from the War King's Mansion have been sent there. This is the one I specially picked out for you!"
"What is this?" Shen Lixue took the wooden box with a puzzled look, and gently opened it. A piece of white fabric lay quietly inside, its texture delicate and light, like silk and water. "What kind of fabric is this?"
As the Princess of Qingyan, Shen Lixue had worn all sorts of exquisite cloud-patterned brocades, but this was the first time she had ever seen the fabric in the box.
Nangong Xiao smiled smugly and lowered his voice, saying, "This is the Peerless Snowfall. Silkworms that produce this kind of silk are rare in the world. They also need to be fed lotus stamens from a young age, making them very difficult to raise. Naturally, the Peerless Snowfall is also rare. There is only one in the entire Qingyan. My father specifically requested it to be given to you!"
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "Why?" The King of Yunnan was far away in Yunnan, and she had never even met him. Why would he send her such an expensive gift?
Nangong Xiao shook his folding fan: "My father and the War King have a good relationship. In a letter to my father, the War King mentioned that he has a daughter and cherishes her very much. Of course, my father should send a presentable gift to express his congratulations!"
"Please thank the King of Yunnan for me!" Shen Lixue blinked, dispelling the condensation that was about to rise in her eyes. The King of War had already left the capital, but he had left her with many unexpected connections and relationships.
"Dongfang Heng, it's late. The gifts have been delivered, so I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell!" Nangong Xiao waved his folding fan, gave a wicked smile, and with a light tap of his feet, his slender figure instantly soared into the air and rode away on the wind. Beside the pavilion, a huge pile of gifts was almost forming a mountain.
Dongfang Heng glanced at the pile of gifts and said coldly, "Make a register and send them to the warehouse!"
"Yes!" the guards replied respectfully and went over to carry the gifts.
Shen Lixue smiled. Dongfang Heng was a brilliant strategist, managing Fengsong Courtyard like a military camp, and he managed it very well. Nangong Xiao wanted to make things difficult for him, but he couldn't do anything about it.
Outside the second gate, a figure flashed by. Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened, and she looked up to see Dongfang Yi with a solemn expression, holding a ginseng-shaped object in his hand, hurrying forward.
Why do I see him everywhere I go? Is he trying to save the dying Dongfang Han?
Back at Maple Pine Courtyard, Shen Lixue placed the box containing the "Peerless Snowfall" on the table.
Dongfang Heng opened it and looked at it. The fabric was as smooth as silk and as delicate as water, a rare find in the world. "I'll have the embroiderer come and take your measurements tomorrow!" A small piece of "Peerless Snowfall" fabric, not too much, not too little, enough to make two sets of clothes for each of spring, summer, autumn and winter. It's a pity it's not red, otherwise, it could be used as a wedding dress.
“I have plenty of clothes, there’s no need to rush to make new ones.” Shen Lixue sat on the soft couch, looking at the night sky outside the window: “Dongfang Heng, tomorrow you will accompany me to visit the King of Yunnan at Nangong Xiao’s villa!”
The King of Yunnan is an elder, a good friend of the King of War, and he even gave her such a precious gift, so she must pay him a visit.
Dongfang Heng sat down beside Shen Lixue, hugged her tightly, rested his chin on her shoulder, and looked up at the night sky: "When the King of Yunnan comes to the capital, he will go to the palace to meet the emperor and also visit some old friends. If we go to visit him tomorrow, he may not be there!"
Shen Lixue nodded; what he said was true: "Then when would be the best time to go?"
"He should be done with his work by the day after tomorrow or the day after that!" A slightly chilly night breeze blew into the room through the window. Feeling Shen Lixue tremble in his arms, Dongfang Heng waved to close the window, and unconsciously tightened his grip on her arm.
"Li Xue, your royal uncle loves you very much!"
“Yes!” Shen Lixue looked at the snow-covered table and sighed inwardly. “He treated me like his own daughter. Sometimes I think, if it weren’t for Shen Minghui and Ruan Chuqing, how happy my mother and godfather would have been!”
Dongfang Heng's handsome profile was pressed close to Shen Lixue's beautiful face: "Sixth Imperial Uncle and Mother-in-law were framed and separated forever, which is heartbreaking. However, I am secretly glad that they were not together!"
"Why?" Shen Lixue turned and glared at Dongfang Heng.
"If they are a match made in heaven, and you are my cousin, how could we possibly get married!" Dongfang Heng said softly, his thin lips lightly kissing Shen Lixue's sweet and alluring cherry lips.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes. The War King, Lin Qingzhu, and she, Dongfang Heng—two couples, only one could ever be together.
"Li Xue, do you want to see your royal uncle again?" Dongfang Heng's sexy thin lips completely covered Shen Li Xue's fragrant lips.
A faint scent of pine resin wafted through her lips and teeth into her mouth. Shen Lixue blinked and answered indistinctly, "Of course I want to... but... my godfather is in Qingzhou with my mother... he won't be returning to the capital easily!"
Dongfang Heng smiled, a glint of triumph flashing in his eyes: "Sixth Imperial Uncle dotes on you so much, he certainly won't miss your big day. If we get married, he'll definitely come..."
Shen Lixue stared wide-eyed at Dongfang Heng. In the end, all she wanted was to get married as soon as possible. They were in love and both of them were of marriageable age, so there was nothing wrong with getting married.
"It's late, let's rest!" Dongfang Heng carried Shen Lixue to the bedside, took off her outer clothes, carefully placed her on the bed, and lay down himself. His strong arms tightly hugged her small waist, his chin lightly touched her soft hair, and he closed his eyes.
"Go!" Shen Lixue buried her face in his arms, inhaling his unique scent, and gradually drifted off to sleep.
The sound of even breathing filled the air. Dongfang Heng opened his eyes and looked down. Shen Lixue was fast asleep with her eyes slightly closed. Her beautiful face was fair and rosy, and her peaceful and serene sleeping face was so lovely that one couldn't bear to defile it.
He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, his sharp eyes full of smiles. He had recovered from his serious illness and could spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted to save the most beautiful moments for their wedding night.
Under the scorching sun, three days passed in the blink of an eye. The arrival of the King of Yunnan in the capital caused quite a stir. Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng did not leave their homes, yet news about the King of Yunnan kept pouring in.
"The King of Yunnan is a good person. He actually has so many friends in the capital!" Shen Lixue sat by the carriage window, watching the setting sun and thinking about the reports from the guards. She secretly admired him. In just three days, more than half of the senior civil and military officials in the court had gone to visit him at his villa. His character and conduct were truly amazing.
"Qingyan's achievements today are largely due to his contributions, and the officials in the court naturally respect him!" Dongfang Heng sat next to Shen Lixue, took a sip of tea, and lowered his eyelids.
When the King of Yunnan returned to the capital, all the officials of the court went to visit and offer their greetings. The threshold of Nangong Xiao's villa was almost broken down by the crowds. The commotion was comparable to that of the emperor, which was outrageous and unexpected. Something was not right.