"Doesn't it look like him?" The old prince smiled kindly, took the cotton handkerchief handed to him by the guard, and wiped his face. The dark color was wiped away, revealing a slightly pale face with straight eyebrows, sharp eyes, and resolute facial features that bore a resemblance to Dongfang Heng and Dongfang Xun.
"No!" Shen Lixue smiled. "You are injured, why don't you rest properly in your room?" The old prince was seriously ill yesterday and coughed up blood. Who would have thought that a few hours later, he would be standing here in high spirits, chatting and laughing with her.
"I sit and lie down all day in the Holy King's Mansion. Now that I've finally gone out, I naturally want to walk around and explore!" The old prince smiled broadly, speaking lightly and in a good mood. Looking at the rows of small tents in the distance, he lowered his voice and said to Shen Lixue, "Xun'er and Heng'er don't know I've come out. Let's go back quickly, lest they find out and start nagging endlessly!"
Zi Mo looked at the old prince and said solemnly, "Your Highness, Prince Xun, Prince An has discovered that you are missing and is leading people to search for you..."
Behind her, Li Youlan's face was extremely ugly. The dignified old prince of the Holy King's Mansion actually lowered himself to pretend to be a lowly woodcutter. It was truly absurd. He had degraded his status, so it was no wonder she didn't recognize him.
The old prince is getting on in years and has lost his bearings. It's a big deal that he got lost without explanation. We can't let Shen Lixue take all the credit for finding him.
Straightening her clothes, Li Youlan's beautiful face lit up with a radiant smile. She took light steps and walked towards the old prince, calling out, "Grandpa!" Her voice was sweet and charming, like the song of a nightingale, beautiful and melodious.
"Who are you?" The old prince glanced at Li Youlan, his tone indifferent and his attitude distant.
"I am Youlan," Li Youlan explained with a smile.
"Youlan? Which Youlan?" The old prince frowned slightly, clearly having no recollection of the name.
Li Youlan was the legitimate daughter of the Li family. She was highly learned and exceptionally talented, especially skilled in poisons, which she wielded with unparalleled skill. She was a renowned and extraordinary woman, known to everyone in the capital. The old prince was getting old and his memory was failing, so she didn't bother arguing with him.
"I am Li Youlan from the Li family of the Left Prime Minister!" She reported her name and identity to the old prince.
The old prince nodded knowingly, then coldly said amidst Li Youlan's bright smile, "No recollection!"
Li Youlan's radiant smile suddenly froze: "I even visited the Holy King's Mansion a few years ago!"
The old prince raised an eyebrow: "I've been ill for several years, and I don't remember many things clearly!"
"Your Highness, Miss Li visited you just last night, don't you remember?" Shen Lixue blinked, her smile carrying a deeper meaning.
"She came to see me last night?"
The old prince frowned at Li Youlan: "I clearly ordered that no guests be seen, and there were guards at the door. How did you get in?"
Li Youlan's face flushed red and then turned pale, changing more than a dozen colors in an instant. Her slender hands clenched into fists, her long nails digging deep into her flesh. She gritted her teeth, thinking how despicable Shen Lixue was for deliberately humiliating her.
"Miss Li, did you go to see the old prince last night?" Shen Lixue frowned, knowing the answer but asking anyway. Li Youlan had no reaction when she saw the old prince, clearly not recognizing him. The words she spoke by the water were lies to show off to her.
"I...I..." Li Youlan lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment. How could she tell them that she had indeed taken the medicine bowl to see the old prince, but she was turned away at the door and did not see the old prince at all?
"Let's go back!" The old prince glanced coldly at Li Youlan, then, with Shen Lixue's help, turned and left. He had seen countless people, and he could tell the truth from her eyes and expression. He didn't like this junior.
"Grandpa!" Dongfang Heng walked towards him, his face cold and stern, his noble and refined appearance radiating an aura of arrogance. His white robes billowed in the wind, making him appear like a mighty war god. His gaze towards the old prince was respectful yet reproachful: "You're still not well, why are you running around like this?"
"You've been cooped up inside for too long, come out for a walk!" The old prince chuckled, looking at Shen Lixue and saying, "This is your future granddaughter-in-law, isn't she? You have good taste!"
Shen Lixue blinked: "How did the old prince know that I know Dongfang Heng?" She hadn't mentioned anyone from the Holy Prince's Mansion when she was chatting with the old prince.
The old prince looked at the poison-avoiding jade pendant on Shen Lixue's chest and said proudly, "A white jade crystal swallow, the only one of its kind in the Qingyan Kingdom!"
Shen Lixue looked down and saw a white jade crystal swallow gently hanging on her lapel, complementing the Xiangfei blue Ruan Yanluo dress perfectly.
She clearly kept the crystal swallow inside her clothes the whole time, so when did it fall out?
Seeing that the old prince and Shen Lixue got along well, Dongfang Heng frowned slightly, but his tone softened: "Your illness is not yet fully recovered, go back and rest early!"
"I'm getting old, I can't deny it anymore. I've only walked for a short while, and I'm already too tired to move!" The old prince sighed and handed his other arm to Dongfang Heng.
With Shen Lixue on his left arm and Dongfang Heng on his right, two young people, a handsome young man and a stunningly beautiful young woman, carefully supported him. They were a perfect match. The old prince asked leisurely, "When are you getting married?"
"Li Xue will not be of marriageable age for another two months, so we can't get married for at least three months!" Dongfang Heng answered naturally. He also wanted to get married sooner, but Shen Li Xue was not of marriageable age and could not get married.
"So long?" The old prince frowned. If they got married in three months and the child was born in ten months, wouldn't he not be able to hold his great-grandchild for another year?
Shen Lixue rubbed her forehead. The old prince really made no attempt to hide anything, discussing their marriage in public.
The old prince looked at Dongfang Heng: "How are the betrothal gifts being prepared?" Marriage is a major life event and cannot be taken lightly. Three months will pass in the blink of an eye, so the betrothal gifts must be prepared in advance.
"Preparing!" Dongfang Heng had already handed over all the wedding arrangements to the butler. With his experience and ability, he was sure to be able to organize a grand wedding.
The old prince nodded: "It must be perfect. Our Holy Prince's Mansion's wedding must be a grand affair, so that outsiders can't laugh at us..."
Zi Mo and his guards followed closely behind the three to protect them. Li Youlan was left standing there like a stranger, ignored by everyone.
She glared hatefully at the three people in front of her, her teeth clenched, her gaze towards Shen Lixue almost spitting fire with rage. There was no one around in the desolate wilderness, and an old man suddenly appeared out of nowhere; it must be the old prince. How could she not have thought of that?
Shen Lixue must have guessed the old prince's identity long ago, which is why she stepped forward to help him without any hesitation. Heh, what a skill! She acted so convincingly that she didn't see through Shen Lixue's act at all.
"Grandpa!" Dongfang Xun, dressed in a light blue robe and accompanied by a group of guards, hurried over. Looking at his spirited face but dressed in coarse cloth, he frowned almost imperceptibly: "Where have you been?"
"Let's take a stroll around!" The old prince dodged the question, glancing at the couple Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, then at the lone Dongfang Xun, and raised an eyebrow: "Heng'er, when are you getting married?"
Dongfang Xun was taken aback, clearly not expecting the old prince to ask him this question. He coughed a few times awkwardly and said, "I haven't met a woman I like yet, so I'm not considering marriage for the time being!"
The old prince frowned at Dongfang Xun: "There are so many girls in the capital, and you don't like a single one?"
"No!" Dongfang Xun shook his head, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.
The old prince frowned even more: "Your younger brother is about to get married, and you're still single. That's outrageous! Hurry up and find someone. If possible, I hope you two brothers can get married on the same day!"
Dongfang Xun coughed lightly a few more times: "Grandpa, watch your step..."
"Don't interrupt, I'm talking to you about marriage." The old prince, experienced as he was, knew that Dongfang Xun was trying to change the subject, and of course he wouldn't let him have his way: "After we return to the manor, we'll hold a banquet and invite some noble ladies. You can get to know them and see if there are any suitable ones..."
The old prince, Shen Lixue, Dongfang Heng, and Dongfang Xun were talking as they walked toward the tent. Guards were scattered on both sides to protect them. Li Youlan was completely ignored. She stood there, her eyes red and full of anger.
From childhood to adulthood, everyone had always revolved around her. To be completely ignored like this was unprecedented. How infuriating! How infuriating! She was humiliated all because of Shen Lixue!