"Eat more if you like!" Shen Lixue put some food from each plate into Dongfang Heng's bowl. She remembered that he ate very little, so she was determined to make him eat more this time.
"Who taught you to cook?" With the aroma of food wafting around, Dongfang Heng looked at Shen Lixue. Lin Qingzhu, a woman who was untouched by worldly affairs, would never cook such delicious food.
“Neighbor!” Shen Lixue’s eyes flashed, and she picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks and stuffed it into Dongfang Heng’s mouth: “My neighbor is a grandma who is about fifty years old. She can cook all kinds of dishes. I learned from her!”
"Really?" Dongfang Heng asked, still somewhat skeptical.
"Why would I lie to you!" Shen Lixue picked up some food and buried her head in her food. "The food is getting cold, eat quickly!" Time travel is too unbelievable, and most people wouldn't believe it. She'd better not tell Dongfang Heng to avoid misunderstandings.
Looking at the table full of delicious food, Dongfang Heng didn't ask any more questions and lowered his head to enjoy the meal.
Fifteen minutes later, Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue finished their meal, washed their hands, and prepared for their afternoon nap. A faint aroma of food wafted through the air. Dongfang Heng said softly, "Lixue, try not to cook in the kitchen anymore in the future!"
"Didn't it taste good?" Shen Lixue frowned as she looked at Dongfang Heng. His appetite was much larger than usual, so he should like the food.
"The food is very good, I don't want you to work too hard!" After finishing cooking, Shen Lixue came out of the kitchen, her clothes smelling of soot, and her face covered with a barely visible layer of soot.
Girls all love to be pretty, smell nice, and have beautiful faces. No woman would want to have a sallow face and smell of oil and food. Although Dongfang Heng liked Shen Lixue's cooking, he didn't want her to suffer.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!"
Stepping into the inner room, a faint scent of pine wafted towards her, while a strong smell of oil lingered in the air. Shen Lixue lowered her head and sniffed her clothes and hair, which were filled with the smell of oil and food. She frowned tightly and said, "I'm going to take a bath!"
The water behind the screen was hot. Shen Lixue sprinkled a layer of petals, took off her clothes, and carefully washed her body and hair.
Cooking a meal leaves you covered in the smell of cooking oil, which is really unpleasant.
Inside the room, Dongfang Heng was preparing to go to bed when he noticed a wooden box on the dressing table that looked very familiar. He picked it up and opened it, and a small wooden figure lay quietly inside.
The wooden figure was carved so lifelike, every stroke of which showed great care. The bright face, delicate features, and smooth black hair were very familiar to Dongfang Heng. The beautiful Xiang dress was elegant and ethereal, and the flowing sleeves exuded a fresh, natural, elegant, and noble air.
Jade-like fingers gently stroked the wooden figure's face; it was so smooth, without even a splinter. The sculptor must have cherished the statue and touched it frequently.
Dongfang Heng's gaze darkened. He put the wooden figure into the box and threw it onto the dressing table. In the instant he turned around, his sleeve 'inadvertently' pulled the box off. The box fell to the ground, but Dongfang Heng pretended not to see it. He took a big step and kicked the box hard under the bed. It crashed against the wall with a thud and then fell silent.
As noon approached, Shen Lixue prepared for her afternoon nap. Given the hot weather, she didn't wear her elaborate dress after her bath, but instead opted for a strapless dress that felt fresh and cool.
Stepping out from behind the screen, one immediately sees Dongfang Heng resting on the soft couch, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing even, and his expression languid, as if he were asleep.
She walked silently to the dressing table, picked up a wooden comb to comb her half-dry hair, and inadvertently saw an empty corner. She was slightly taken aback. Where did the box go?
She put down the comb and searched back and forth in front of the dressing table, but there was no trace of the box. It wasn't in the drawers, on the bedside table, or on the round table.
She frowned deeply. Strange, she was sure she had put the box containing the little wooden figure on the dressing table, so how could it be missing?
Walking slowly to the carved bed, Shen Lixue was about to lift the bed sheet hanging on the ground to look under the bed.
She felt a sudden lightness as she was lifted up in someone's arms. She gasped in surprise, looking up at the handsome face above her. She frowned slightly, "Dongfang Heng, what are you doing?"
"It's almost noon, so stop working and take a nap!" With that, Dongfang Heng carried Shen Lixue toward the soft couch.
"Wait, I'm looking for something!" Shen Lixue tugged tightly at Dongfang Heng's clothes.
"Looking for what?" Dongfang Heng asked, feigning ignorance.
"Did you see the little wooden figure that Ye Qianlong gave me?" Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng with her eyes wide open. She only had friendship with Ye Qianlong. Keeping that little wooden figure was just to commemorate their friendship, nothing more.
"I didn't see it!" Dongfang Heng shook his head. He had already placed the wooden box and the wooden figure on the dressing table. The box falling to the ground and being kicked under the bed were none of his business.
“No one usually comes to this room, and the little wooden figure isn’t anything valuable, so it shouldn’t be missing. It’s probably still in the room. Let me look for it again!” As she spoke, Shen Lixue grabbed Dongfang Heng’s arm, trying to break free from him and get down to look for the little wooden figure.
Dongfang Heng flashed and instantly appeared in front of the soft couch, picked up Shen Lixue and lay down on the bed: "You've been busy all day, aren't you tired? The little wooden figure won't be lost, it's not too late to look for it after you wake up!"
"But I think..."
"No buts, rest!" Dongfang Heng stretched out his long arm and locked Shen Lixue in his arms, half-pressing her down so she couldn't move.
A faint scent of pine resin lingered in the air, warm breath sprayed continuously onto her hair, the strong heartbeat of Dongfang Heng echoed in her ears, and a gentle breeze blew into the room through the half-open window, making her drowsy.
Shen Lixue stirred, and Dongfang Heng tightened his grip on her arm. She glared at him fiercely, then closed her eyes to rest. She would look for the small wooden box again once she was refreshed after a good night's sleep.
Even breathing came from his arms. Dongfang Heng, who was fast asleep, opened his eyes. Looking at Shen Lixue's peaceful sleeping face, a gentle smile flashed in his sharp eyes. He gently lowered his head and pressed his sexy thin lips to her soft cherry lips.
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying an unusual scent. Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes narrowed, and he sat up with Shen Lixue in his arms. With a flick of his wrist, his outer garment instantly covered Shen Lixue, concealing the cleavage revealed by her strapless dress.
"Stop dodging, come out!" The voice was as cold as ice in the dead of winter.
A tall, slender figure suddenly appeared in the room. He wore a blue brocade robe embroidered with an exquisite cloud and sea pattern, exuding nobility and elegance, like a dream. With his handsome face and gentle gaze, it was none other than Dongfang Zhan.
"Your insight is as sharp as ever!" Dongfang Zhan's voice was calm and even, making it impossible to tell whether it was praise or sarcasm.
Dongfang Heng looked coldly at Dongfang Zhan: "What are you doing here?"
Dongfang Zhan's gentle gaze swept over Dongfang Heng's handsome, rosy face: "Are you cured?"
Dongfang Heng curled his lips into a cold smile: "What's it to you?"
"I underestimated you!" Dongfang Zhan's gentle gaze instantly turned sharp. Even though he knew that Dongfang Zhan would not rebel, he was still deceived by the illusion Dongfang Zhan had created, exposing himself and Duke Wen. Dongfang Zhan knew his weaknesses and knew how to use them to create a false impression. Dongfang Zhan was indeed a formidable opponent.
"I am too!" Dongfang Heng initially suspected Dongfang Hong, because Dongfang Zhan was poisoned and his life was hanging by a thread. No one would have thought or believed that Dongfang Zhan would use himself as bait and risk his life to frame Dongfang Heng.
How can someone who is so ruthless to himself possibly show mercy to his enemies?
"If you recover, I congratulate you on finally having the time and leisure to compete with me. If you don't recover..."
Dongfang Zhan's sharp gaze swept over Shen Lixue, who was sleeping soundly in his arms. Her eyelashes were long and curled, her eyelids slightly closed. She had lost her usual aloofness and gained a sense of peace and tranquility. Her small face was half-buried in Dongfang Heng's arms. Under her semi-transparent white outer robe, her delicate collarbone and rounded shoulders were faintly visible, stirring up all sorts of fantasies: "I advise you, don't delay others..."
"I will take care of my fiancée; there's no need for you, Prince Zhan, to worry about it!" A faint, cold smile appeared on Dongfang Zhan's lips.