"Yes!" Shen Lixue answered truthfully. Her birth date and time were there for all to see, and her coming-of-age ceremony was undeniable.
Dongfang Zhan paused slightly: "You'll get married after you come of age?"
"Almost!" Dongfang Heng was already preparing for their wedding. She would get married no more than half a month after her coming-of-age ceremony.
"Marry Dongfang Heng?" Dongfang Zhan gripped the cup tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.
"Nonsense!" Shen Lixue glared at him. Her fiancé was Dongfang Heng; who else would she marry if not him? "Prince Zhan, did you come to the Zhan Prince's residence just to ask these questions?"
“Not entirely!” Dongfang Zhan smiled and put down his teacup. “Half an hour ago, I met the old prince outside the Holy Prince’s Mansion. He said he was preparing for your wedding with Dongfang Heng. I remember that Lady Qingzhu had just passed away not long ago, and your three-year mourning period is not yet over. If you get married now, I’m afraid it will cause gossip…”
“I will handle this matter; there’s no need for Prince Zhan to trouble himself!” Shen Lixue stood up, her gaze as cold and clear as the snow that never melts on the northern plateau: “It’s late, and I’m a little tired. Prince Zhan, the door is over there. Goodbye, and don’t see me out!”
Dongfang Zhan frowned, looking at Shen Lixue's slightly flushed face due to anger, a hint of mockery flickering in his gentle eyes: "Lixue, actually, this king..."
"Steward Wang, see the guest out!" Shen Lixue coldly interrupted Dongfang Zhan's words. With her sleeves flowing, she took light steps and quickly walked towards the door. If she had known he would talk nonsense to her, she would never have let him into the Zhanwang Mansion.
"Li Xue!" Dongfang Zhan chuckled and chased after her outside. She was furious and somewhat embarrassed.
Butler Wang stood in the middle of the corridor, his long arm outstretched, cleverly blocking his hasty pursuit. He pointed politely towards the door and said, "Please, Your Highness!"
Under the bright candlelight, Shen Lixue walked along the carved railings and gallery towards Lixue Pavilion. Her graceful figure was as beautiful as a dream, gradually blending into the night.
Dongfang Zhan's deep gaze passed over the layers of houses and landed on the best-located two-story building of Lixue Pavilion, a graceful smile curving his lips.
"Qiuhe, tell the kitchen to make two kinds of snacks!" Shen Lixue returned to Lixue Pavilion, starving and weak, and collapsed onto the bed.
"Miss, did you not eat enough?" Qiuhe blinked. Miss never eats anything after dinner, so why is she asking for snacks today?
Two flames of anger ignited in Shen Lixue's cold eyes. It wasn't that she wasn't full; she hadn't eaten at all: "Stop nagging and have the kitchen make some snacks!"
"Yes!" Qiu He was puzzled, but she didn't ask any more questions and went to the kitchen.
A gentle breeze blew into the room through the half-open window, carrying the dry heat of the earth. Shen Lixue frowned; summers in ancient times were truly hot.
Yan Yue stepped forward: "Miss, the hot water is ready. Would you like to take a bath?"
"Take a bath!" Shen Lixue had been out all day, and her body was covered in sweat and dust. Making desserts in the kitchen would also take time, so she took a bath first. After the bath, she would feel refreshed and ready to enjoy her desserts.
Inside the bathhouse, the luminous pearls shone warmly, the blue stone bathtub and white jade steps were luxuriously decorated, and light gauze floated around the bathtub, creating a beautiful scene.
Shen Lixue took off her clothes and stepped into the steaming pool. She scooped up the hot water sprinkled with flower petals and washed away her fatigue. Her beautiful face was flushed red from the hot water, her long eyelashes were slightly moist, and her fair and delicate skin was covered with water droplets, making her very alluring.
A wave of hunger washed over her. Shen Lixue clutched the flower petals and frowned. Damn Dongfang Zhan!
Suddenly, a series of footsteps approached from afar, so light they were almost inaudible. Shen Lixue was startled, her snow-white eyes narrowing instantly as she focused her energy and listened intently!
Li Xue Pavilion has designated people in charge, and she is very familiar with the footsteps of those people, but this sound is not Qiu He's, not Yan Yue's, not Steward Wang's, nor the guards', but a completely unfamiliar sound of footsteps that she has never heard before.
The footsteps stopped at the door, and just as they were about to push the door open, Shen Lixue grabbed a piece of clothing from the side and wrapped it around herself. Her slender figure instantly emerged from the bathtub, darted to the door, reached out and pulled it open, shouting angrily, "Who goes there?"
"Miss... what's wrong?" Qiu He stood at the door with two plates of pastries, her face slightly pale, blinking as she looked at Shen Lixue.
"Have you seen any strangers?" Shen Lixue's cold gaze quickly scanned the room. There was a table, chairs, a large bed, and a dressing table, but no one was in sight.
“After nightfall, the guards patrol the courtyard. Apart from me and Yan Yue, no one else will come to Li Xue Pavilion!” Qiu He frowned: “Did Miss see any strangers?”
"No, not at all!" She only heard unfamiliar footsteps!
Shen Lixue wrapped her clothes tighter and sat on the soft couch. Qiu He also followed with some snacks. Her footsteps were light and slightly heavy, unlike the graceful and light footsteps she had just taken.
Was it just her imagination? But the footsteps sounded so real, walking across the ground, step by step, clearly approaching her room.
"Miss, are you missing Prince An?" Qiu He covered her mouth and teased with a smile. Shen Lixue had stayed at the Holy Prince's Mansion for many days and was inseparable from Dongfang Heng. She also stayed in his room at night and took a bath behind the screen. She could hear his footsteps.
Shen Lixue frowned. Although Dongfang Heng's footsteps were also very light, they were still different from the ones just now!
"Miss, this is your favorite plum blossom cake!" Qiuhe placed the cake on the small table next to Shen Lixue and thoughtfully brought over a bowl of rice porridge.
A fragrant aroma wafted through the air, making one's mouth water. Shen Lixue's hunger intensified. She gently picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. The sweet fragrance instantly filled her entire mouth. "It's late. Go back to your room and rest. Tell the guards to increase the patrols!"
"Yes!" Qiu He bowed and left the room with the tray.
As Shen Lixue ate plum blossom cakes and millet porridge, she looked out at the dark night with a hint of doubt in her eyes. The Zhanwang Mansion was heavily guarded, and ordinary people would not dare to break in. Even if someone did break in, they would be discovered. So what was that footstep sound?
As night deepened, Shen Lixue still couldn't come up with any clues. Standing by the window, she watched the rows of guards patrolling back and forth on the bluestone road, their shadows stretched long by the dim candlelight.
With so many guards patrolling and the security so tight, that footstep should not be heard again.
Shen Lixue gazed intently, rinsed her mouth, lay down on the bed, and, lost in thought, quickly drifted off to sleep.
In her hazy state, she felt the bed beside her sag considerably, warm breath brushed against her ear, and fingers lovingly stroked her face. The cold touch sent a jolt through her, instantly clearing her mind. She abruptly opened her eyes and sat up abruptly: "Who is it?"
The room was empty; there wasn't a soul in sight except for her. The bed was perfectly intact, without a single dent, but the icy coldness on her face still lingered, impossible to shake off.
Someone must have been here just now, lying down next to her and stroking her face.
"Princess!" An anxious call rang out from outside the door. Shen Lixue's exclamation startled the guards, but since they were men, they dared not barge into her room.
"It's nothing, I just had a nightmare!" Shen Lixue wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. The person who was able to bypass the guards and break into her room was definitely not an ordinary person. Catching him would be harder than climbing to heaven!
The luminous pearl on the wall cast a gentle light throughout the room, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Shen Lixue slowly lay back down on the bed, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, closed her eyes, and gradually evened out her breathing. Her mind was still very clear. It was still early, so that person should not have left yet. She pretended to be asleep to lure him out and see who he really was.
The room was quiet and peaceful. Under the warm glow of the luminous pearl, Shen Lixue lay fast asleep on the carved bed. Her bright face, long eyelashes, and cherry-red lips were slightly pursed. Her serene and peaceful sleeping face was so beautiful that one would not dare to defile it.
"Da!" The almost inaudible footsteps rang out like an alarm bell. The long, drawn-out sound clearly penetrated the ground and entered Shen Lixue's ears. Her eyelashes trembled, but she did not open her eyes. Her mind jolted. They really came!
"Da da da!" The person approached her room step by step, but the guards outside did not make a sound.