In the Zhan Prince's residence, Dongfang Zhan slammed his fist on the table, punching a large hole in the precious sandalwood table. A fierce glint flashed deep in his eyes.
In the imperial court, Dongfang Heng praised Dongfang Hong for his strict military discipline and exceptional talent. Under his command, the Imperial Guards displayed their prowess and gained the support of many ministers. He successfully returned the Imperial Guards to Dongfang Hong and even obtained an imperial decree for marriage. He was both clever and despicable!
There's no rush with the Imperial Guards; we can proceed slowly. Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue are getting married soon, and he doesn't have much time left, so he must plan carefully.
They had their horoscopes checked when they got engaged, so the rumors of them being incompatible as a couple can no longer be used against them. Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue are almost inseparable, so it won't be easy to ruin their relationship. What method can be used to stop this wedding?
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the hot summer has passed and the cool autumn has arrived.
Shen Lixue stood in the living room, looking at the bolts of red silk laid out in front of her, and frowned: "So much fabric?" Although she also hoped that her wedding dress would be beautiful and unique, she didn't think it would be necessary to make so much silk.
Dongfang Heng carefully picked up the bolts of red silk: "Wedding attire is a grand affair, we can't be careless. Pick your favorite and have them made as soon as possible!"
In most families, parents worry about their children's marriages. However, the old prince of the Holy Prince's Mansion is in poor health, the Holy Prince's wife has passed away, and the War Prince is not in the capital. Therefore, they have to worry about the marriages of Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng themselves. However, they also like this feeling very much. Every item they choose is their favorite.
The betrothal gifts and dowry have all been inventoried, and the War King's Mansion and the Holy King's Mansion are decorated with festive cheer; only the wedding dress is missing.
Shen Lixue's slender fingers traced the silk fabrics one by one, then she picked up the softest piece: "Let's use this as our wedding dress..."
The royal palace had bolts of fabric, each one of the finest quality. She spent ages picking through them, her back aching from standing so long.
"Li Xue, you'll be turning 18 in a few days. Have you finished your clothes?" Turning 18 is a major life event, no less important than a wedding. Shen Li Xue is the adopted daughter of the War King, so the ceremony will be grand and the etiquette must be solemn.
"I've already tried it on, and it fits perfectly!" Shen Lixue sat in the chair, holding a teacup and drinking tea, too tired to move.
We've been preparing for the wedding for over a month now. I've been doing everything myself, and I'm busy every day. Getting married is truly a tiring thing.
A guard walked to the door: "Your Highness, a guest has arrived!"
Dongfang Heng put down his teacup: "I'll go take a look!"
"Mm!" Shen Lixue nodded, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes slightly. She was very tired and desperately needed to rest. She didn't want to see any more guests.
A figure quickly left, then slowly walked back. She frowned, puzzled, and asked, "Weren't you going to see guests? Why are you back so soon?"
"Someone's looking for my second brother?" The magnetic voice was gentle and polite; it wasn't Dongfang Heng's.
Shen Lixue was startled and suddenly opened her eyes. Dongfang Xun, dressed in a light blue robe, stood quietly two meters away from her, elegant and graceful, like an immortal. A faint smile appeared on his lips: "Young Master Xun!"
"Did I scare you?" A hint of apology flashed in Dongfang Xun's smiling eyes.
"It's nothing." Shen Lixue smiled and shook her head. "Did the young master need something from me?"
Dongfang Xun hesitated for a moment, then handed over a box. The box was light red and wrapped with light red silk thread, making it an exquisitely packaged item: "This should be yours."
Shen Lixue blinked, then suspiciously untied the silk thread, opened the lid, and a light purple Xiang dress by Ruan Yanluo appeared before her eyes, embroidered with beautiful orchids, one by one, extremely pretty.
"What is this?" Shen Lixue's gaze suddenly sharpened as she looked at Dongfang Xun.
Dongfang Xun's smile was natural: "I found this by the lake. I didn't know whose clothes it was at first, but later, I noticed that you liked wearing Xiang skirts, especially Ruan Yanluo fabric, so I guessed that this dress might be yours!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Shen Lixue smiled. This dress was indeed the one that had been blown away by the wind when she and Dongfang Heng were practicing their lightness skills by the lake. She thought it had fallen into the water, but she didn't expect that Dongfang Xun had picked it up.
"No need to be so polite. From now on, we're family!" Dongfang Xun smiled gently, but his smile froze when his gaze fell on the handsome man standing at the door: "Second brother is back!"
Dongfang Heng gave a casual reply, walked to the table under Shen Lixue's slightly embarrassed gaze, picked up the lid, and slammed the box shut: "Brother, you've reached the age to get married. Do you have a girl you like?"
Dongfang Xun smiled slightly: "I am not as fortunate as my second brother, who has yet to meet the woman he loves!"
"There are so many women in the capital, there must be one suitable for you, brother. After Li Xue and I get married, we will hold a small banquet at the Holy King's Mansion and invite unmarried women from noble families to attend. Brother, take your time to choose, and you will surely find someone you like..." Dongfang Heng's voice was calm, but his tone was heavy.
"Second brother, you've gone to so much trouble!" Dongfang Xun's gentle smile carried a hint of bitterness.
"Of course!" Dongfang Xun replied coldly. As Dongfang Xun walked away, his gaze darkened, and he reached out and grabbed the box containing the clothes.
"Dongfang Heng, what are you doing?" Shen Lixue was startled and reached out to grab his sleeve.
"Are you still planning to wear this outfit?" Just thinking about the clothes that other men had kept hidden for so long being worn by Shen Lixue made Dongfang Heng feel very uncomfortable. The man in question was his older brother, and he felt even more uncomfortable.
He couldn't quite remember what happened when he was three years old. He had a vague impression that he visited the Duke of Wu's mansion and saw a baby girl who had just turned one month old. She was sleeping sweetly and was very cute. He reached out and hugged her. That hug led to their marriage and a lifelong bond.
If he hadn't rushed to Shen Lixue's bedside, the person marrying Shen Lixue now would be Dongfang Xun. He could give everything he had to Dongfang Xun, but he would never give up on Shen Lixue.
“I will not wear this dress again. Your older brother brought it over to show that he has no designs on our marriage. He is a good brother and treats you very well. If you throw the dress away, you will be damaging your family relationship.” Dongfang Heng’s parents have passed away, and Shen Lixue does not want him to lose his brother as well.
Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow: "Don't worry, I'll dispose of this garment quietly, without letting my brother know!"
Unbeknownst to Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, a figure overheard their conversation from a dark corner. With a chilling glint in his eyes, the figure quickly ran out of the Holy King's Mansion.
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... I'm finally getting married! Ahhh...
Chapter 157 The Coming-of-Age Ceremony: A Shocking Turn of Events
September 6th was Shen Lixue's fifteenth birthday, and also her coming-of-age ceremony. As the adopted daughter of the War King, the ceremony was held at the War King's mansion.
In ancient times, a woman's coming-of-age ceremony, known as the "hairpin ceremony," signified that she had grown up and was ready to marry. It was a major event in a woman's life and was always highly valued.
As dawn broke, the maids gathered at Lixue Pavilion, bustling about inside and out, their movements urgent yet orderly.
After taking a bath, Shen Lixue sat upright in front of the dressing mirror. Granny Li held a wooden comb and gently combed Shen Lixue's hair into a bun with trembling hands.
The woman in the mirror had a beautiful face that was absolutely stunning, and her eyes were clear and bright like an ancient well. She looked almost exactly like the beautiful woman in Li Mama's memory. Her eyes were slightly moist: "If Miss Qingzhu were here, she would definitely do the hairpin haircut for the young lady herself!"
A mother combing her daughter's hair into a bun is the most sincere blessing she can give her.
“My mother must be watching me from heaven now, silently blessing me!” Through the original owner’s memories, Shen Lixue knew that Lin Qingzhu, like all mothers, truly loved her daughter. She must be happy for her when she came of age.