As the Prince of Yan watched Shen Lixue's slender figure, a faint smile appeared on his lips. He had been worried for her when her identity was exposed, but he hadn't expected her to get through so easily with her intelligence.
Lin Qingzhu is the most beautiful woman in Qingyan, with extraordinary talent and beauty. Naturally, her daughter is no less stunning.
The emperor also looked at Shen Lixue, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Ye Qianlong walking beside her. His gaze suddenly sharpened. His smile was so real and so warm, something that no one had ever seen before. Even he, as her father, was seeing his smile for the first time. Was it because of Shen Lixue walking beside him?
"Prince Yan, what do you think of the Princess Consort of Anjun?"
"It seems there is no malice." As the King of Yan, this was the first time he had learned that Shen Lixue was a woman. If he spoke too definitively, it would arouse suspicion. It would be most truthful to speak ambiguously.
"I saw that her gaze and actions were very sincere, and she was also very friendly to Qianlong. She didn't seem like someone with malicious intent." The emperor paused, then said, "I hope it's true, as she said, that she came to Xiliang with Dongfang Heng for sightseeing."
"If Your Majesty is still worried, I will order someone to investigate where Prince An and his wife are staying, and how many people they have brought!" A ruler is suspicious, and although he said he didn't care, he was still thinking about Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue's true purpose in coming to Xiliang.
The emperor frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Investigating the matter thoroughly will better dispel any doubts!"
As he spoke, the emperor looked at Ye Qianlong and asked, "What does the Prince of Yan think of Qianlong?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince is a piece of fine jade, pure and flawless, innocent and transparent, unaware of the wickedness of human nature. With more loyal ministers, careful guidance, and slow shaping, he will surely become a wise and enlightened ruler in the future."
Dongfang Yan had known Ye Qianlong for a short time, but not too long either. He understood Ye Qianlong fairly well. Ye Qianlong was kind-hearted, highly skilled in martial arts, and had extremely keen insight, able to distinguish between good and evil. If he had a little more cunning, he would have been a great wise ruler.
"The Prince of Yan also thinks highly of Qianlong?" The Emperor looked at the Prince of Yan with a hint of surprise in his eyes. He had thought that he was the only one who thought highly of Ye Qianlong.
Dongfang Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but among your many princes, His Highness the Crown Prince is the most suitable to be a wise ruler."
The Third Prince has become more naive and relies heavily on the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. If he becomes the ruler, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will surely enjoy wealth and power, and the Ye family's rule may not be able to continue.
The sixth prince is still young, and Consort Shu and Duke Mu are both shrewd. When he ascends the throne, the Duke Mu family will rise to prominence overnight. It is also because the maternal relatives hold the reins of the court. Only Ye Qianlong has no powerful noble forces behind him. If he becomes emperor, Xiliang can only belong to the Ye family.
"I think so too, but Qianlong is too simple-minded. No matter how I teach him, he just won't get it!" The emperor sighed helplessly. To become the ruler of a country, one cannot be weak or simple-minded. Otherwise, one will surely fail to protect the great land of Xiliang.
“Your Majesty, if you want someone to grow up quickly, you can’t just teach them grand principles. You also need to temper them from time to time, let them meet more people, and let them experience more things. This is much better than reading books. Doesn’t Your Majesty think that he has matured a lot since he returned from Qingyan?” Prince Yan was very persuasive. Ye Qianlong now understood some of the ways of the world and was no longer as naive as before.
The Emperor carefully recalled Ye Qianlong's return from Qingyan. His gaze had deepened, and he had indeed matured considerably, becoming much more composed in his dealings with others. He was many times stronger than the childlike Ye Qianlong of the past: "It seems I cannot protect him blindly; he needs more opportunities to grow and mature..."
"Your Majesty is wise!" Dongfang Yan's current identity is the Prince of Yan of Xiliang, so he should do things that are beneficial to Xiliang. Ye Qianlong, Dongfang Heng, and Shen Lixue are good friends and do not like war. If he becomes emperor, Xiliang and Qingyan will surely be able to maintain peace for several more decades.
"How old is Prince An of Qingyan this year?" Among the younger generation of Qingyan Kingdom, the most famous is Dongfang Heng. The emperor has already met the princess he chose. She is very smart and capable, and is a rare and virtuous helpmate.
Dongfang Yan was taken aback, not understanding why the emperor would ask such a question, and deliberately replied vaguely, "It seems he is eighteen years old, just coming of age!"
The Emperor frowned: "Qianlong is nineteen years old, a year older than Dongfang Heng. It's time for him to take a concubine. In a while, I will choose an auspicious day and personally select a Crown Princess for Qianlong!"
A marriage alliance would not only solidify the relationship between the emperor and his subjects, but also help Ye Qianlong win over court officials. The crown princess must be the daughter of a high-ranking official who is intelligent, virtuous, talented, and worthy of Ye Qianlong.
Consort Shu walked slowly, listening intently to everything the Emperor and Prince Yan said. She was shocked and unable to calm down.
The emperor's intention was clear: to make Ye Qianlong the next emperor of Xiliang and to select a concubine for him was actually to choose a suitable loyal minister to assist Ye Qianlong in managing the Ye family's empire.
Neither the Zhenguo Mansion nor the Muguo Duke's Mansion has a daughter, so they cannot become Ye Qianlong's in-laws. However, both mansions support the Third Prince and the Sixth Prince respectively, and their power is enormous. They are very likely to become stumbling blocks for Ye Qianlong to ascend the throne.
The emperor has always been a man of absolute power and will not allow anyone to obstruct his decisions. He will definitely try to weaken the power of the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion and the Duke of Mu's mansion.
The fact that Duke Mu embezzled soldiers' pay was a perfect opportunity. The emperor turned a blind eye and let it develop naturally, intending to use this as a pretext to eliminate Duke Mu's family. No wonder the emperor ordered the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice to jointly investigate Duke Mu. Haha, that's what he was planning. When an enemy interrogates an enemy, they will definitely try to kill him. Who would show any mercy?
It's pitiful that the Duke of Mu's family fought for the country and suffered so much, only to end up with their family destroyed and their lives cut short. Haha, the emperor is truly ruthless! He's willing to sacrifice anything for his Ye family's empire.
Consort Shu clenched her slender hands into fists, her long nails digging into her flesh, and a cold light flashed in her beautiful eyes. She was Mu Zixin, the legitimate daughter of the Mu family. The survival of the Mu family was also related to her life and death. She would never allow the Mu family to end up in such a miserable state.
In the suburban villa, as soon as Shen Lixue stepped into the courtyard, Dongfang Heng came to greet her. Looking at Shen Lixue's long, flowing hair and stunningly beautiful face, he frowned slightly: "What happened?"
Shen Lixue blinked helplessly: "The Consort Shu exposed our identities, and the Emperor of Xiliang knows we've come to Xiliang!" The ribbon that tied her hair was cut by a sword, and she didn't bring a spare. In order to look like a man, she didn't even bring a handkerchief, so she had to come back with her hair down.
"It's alright. There are many spies in the capital of Xiliang. My portrait is in various countries, and he will find out sooner or later!" Dongfang Heng gently embraced Shen Lixue and sat her down at the round table, personally pouring her a cup of tea: "When will Father return?"
The Holy King and Shen Lixue entered the palace together. Shen Lixue returned, but Dongfang Yan was still nowhere to be seen, which made Dongfang Heng somewhat worried.
Shen Lixue took a sip of tea, the sweet aroma instantly filling her mouth: "When I came back, my father and the emperor were together. If nothing major happens, he will be back soon. Although my identity was exposed when I entered the palace this time, I still gained quite a lot."
Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes narrowed: "What do you mean by that?"
Shen Lixue pulled out a crystal swallow from her clothes. The crystal swallow reflected dappled sunlight: "Heng, who has ever worn this crystal swallow?"
Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow at the crystal swallow: "The crystal swallow is a unique treasure of the Holy King's Mansion. It was carved thirty years ago. My mother wore it for a few days, but she preferred the set of gold jewelry that my father gave her, so she put the crystal swallow in the jewelry box. Strictly speaking, you are the first mistress of the crystal swallow!"
Shen Lixue narrowed her eyes slightly: "You mean, Crystal Swallow has always been in the Azure Flame Holy King's Mansion and has never been anywhere else?"
“That’s right.” Dongfang Heng nodded, staring intently at Shen Lixue: “Is there something wrong?”
Shen Lixue frowned even more: "Consort Shu knows this Crystal Swallow, she must have been to Qingyan!"
Dongfang Heng's sharp eyes narrowed instantly, and his jade-like hands clenched tightly. When and how Consort Shu went to Qingyan were all suspicious, but he had no time to care. He had only one thought in his mind: "My mother's death is definitely related to the Duke of Mu's mansion!"
"Don't worry, we will definitely avenge our mother!" Shen Lixue held Dongfang Heng's trembling hand tightly, her clear eyes sparkling with concern, silently giving him warmth. As a child, Shen Lixue understood the anger and hatred in her heart when her mother was murdered.
Dongfang Heng nodded, grasped Shen Lixue's soft little hand in return, and said with sharp eyes: "The Duke of Mu has just finished his second trial. The result is the same as the first trial: a serious crime. The third trial will be held in three days." If he cannot be exonerated in the third trial, the Duke of Mu will be beheaded, his mansion will be confiscated, and the once prestigious noble family will be removed from the list of noble families in Xiliang Capital.
The third trial is coming so soon! The final fate of the Duke Mu's mansion will be decided in the third trial!
After hesitating for a moment, Shen Lixue told Dongfang Heng everything that had happened at Wenyuan Pavilion: "Since Consort Shu failed to capture me, she cannot coerce you into helping Duke Mu. However, given her intelligence and ruthlessness, she will not sit idly by and wait for her doom. She will definitely find other ways to protect Duke Mu."
Duke Mu is the pillar of the Duke's Mansion. If he dies, the Duke's Mansion will be finished. As clever as Consort Shu is, she can sacrifice anyone but Duke Mu. The Sixth Prince is young, and Consort Shu is only a concubine. She needs a powerful family to consolidate her position in the harem. The Duke's Mansion must not be allowed to suffer any mishap.
Dongfang Heng's jade-like fingers gently stroked Chen Lixue's silky black hair. His obsidian-like eyes were as deep as a pool. Consort Shu had harmed his mother and now wanted to capture Lixue to blackmail him. She was truly audacious.
"The Consort Shu and the Duke of Mu's mansion are closely linked; they are in the same boat, sharing both prosperity and adversity. During the third trial, she will definitely do something unexpected. As long as we can guess her actions, her plans will all fall apart."
Shen Lixue nodded, her eyes deepening. The key lay in Consort Shu's plan: how did she intend to save Duke Mu?