His reminder brought everyone back to their senses. The concubines were all in their respective courtyards, or rather, gathered in the north wing. The east wing was where guests were received, and Dongfang Zhan had come here to be intimate with a female guest…
The noblemen's excitement was ignited, and their curious gazes frequently turned to the inner room. Prince Zhan was polite and courteous to every woman, or one could say indifferent and aloof, treating them all equally, but none of them could capture his heart.
Now, this woman has managed to win over Prince Zhan's heart, making him abandon his beautiful concubines and come to the guest room to be intimate with her. Tsk tsk, which woman is so charming that she can win the favor of Prince Zhan?
Dongfang Zhan's gaze sharpened, and he grabbed Shen Yingxue and brought her in front of everyone: "I was passing by the east wing when I heard a noise coming from here, so I came in to check, and I didn't expect it to be her."
Zi Mo and the guards of the Holy King's Mansion who were guarding the courtyard all disappeared. Nangong Xiao, the Fifth Prince, barged in. As clever as he was, how could he not see that he had been tricked? If he hid Shen Yingxue, it would only make things worse and make people more suspicious that he was being intimate with a woman in the guest room. It would be better to openly expose her to the public, then arbitrarily accuse her of a crime and execute her.
"Shen Yingxue." When Shen Yingxue was the most beautiful woman in Qingyan, she was admired by many noble young men. There were quite a few famous young men who knew her. When they heard the news of her adultery with Lei Cong, they felt very sorry. Later, the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Grand Commandant's Mansion were destroyed one after another, and Shen Yingxue disappeared from their sight. They gradually forgot about her. They never expected that she would appear in front of everyone in such a surprising way at the wedding banquet of the Prince of Zhan.
"Prince Zhan, if you don't like me, just say so. Why frame me?" Shen Yingxue slumped to the ground, crying her heart out. Several buttons on her inner garment were undone, revealing a light yellow bodice and a large expanse of snow-white skin, which made the noble young men's hearts flutter.
"I'm framing you?" Dongfang Zhan looked coldly at Shen Yingxue: "If I remember correctly, you've been demoted to a commoner. How did you get into the Zhan Prince's residence?"
"I...I..." Shen Yingxue stammered, her eyes darting around as she thought of a way to escape.
"What? Can't answer? Did you sneak into the Zhan Prince's mansion to steal something?" Dongfang Zhan's deep tone carried a hint of sharpness.
Looking around, everyone saw that the guest room was not furnished, but everything in it was exquisite. Any one of the items was priceless, which was a considerable fortune for the commoner Shen Yingxue.
She is currently in dire straits and desperately needs money. It's quite possible that she might sneak into the Prince Zhan's mansion to steal things while there are many guests. If that's the case, she's utterly despicable and deserves to be torn to pieces.
The crowd was furious, and all the accusing eyes fell on Shen Yingxue. Shen Yingxue was speechless and could not defend herself. If she did not explain herself, she would lose her life.
"Your Highness Zhan has misunderstood. I brought her in." With a clear and melodious female voice, Shen Lixue pushed through the crowd and walked in. Her beautiful face was filled with a warm smile, and her clear and cold eyes revealed indifference and detachment. She was natural and refreshing, without the slightest sign of fatigue or drowsiness.
She was definitely plotting against him!
Dongfang Zhan's gaze turned slightly cold: "Does the Princess Consort know the meaning of 'commoner'?" Shen Lixue has been unkind to him, so don't blame him for being unjust.
"Of course I know." Shen Lixue smiled slightly: "Yingxue fell seriously ill a few days ago and was on the verge of death. I asked the Holy King's Mansion to treat her. She is a patient by my side and will leave once she recovers. She has no status as my master. Today, when she learned that Prince Zhan was getting married, she begged me to come and watch the wedding. I softened and agreed."
When everyone looked at Shen Yingxue more closely, her face was delicate but pale and bloodless, and her slender body was very thin, as if a gust of wind could blow her over. She was a typical sick person, and their reproachful gazes couldn't help but carry a bit of pity.
"The east wing of the Zhan Prince's mansion is for distinguished guests to rest in; commoners are not qualified to set foot there." Shen Yingxue daring to sleep in the bed in the east wing is equivalent to a servant of the mansion stealing the master's bed, which is a serious offense and should be severely punished or executed.
Shen Lixue smiled apologetically: "I was feeling unwell just now and lay down for a little while. Yingxue is still recovering from her serious illness and is also very weak. After I rested, I let her lie down for a while as well. Please don't be offended, Your Highness. If Your Highness is upset that she has soiled the brocade quilt on the bed, I will have someone take it away immediately and send Your Highness a new set."
Everyone looked at Shen Yingxue, who was frail and pitiful. They couldn't help but feel sorry for her. It was just a short nap, nothing serious.
"No need." Dongfang Zhan interrupted Shen Lixue coldly, his voice as cold as ice: "I have no shortage of money to change the bed and the quilt."
"Since Prince Zhan likes Yingxue, why nitpick at her at every turn?" Shen Lixue stared at Dongfang Zhan for a long time, then suddenly sighed softly.
Dongfang Zhan's sharp gaze suddenly shot towards Shen Lixue, his eyes blazing with anger: "Who said I like her?" He likes her, when has he ever liked Shen Yingxue?
Shen Lixue met his gaze and said softly, "When we were at the Prime Minister's residence, whenever Yingxue was sick, Prince Zhan would send medicine and visit her, rain or shine. The entire Qingyan knew of Prince Zhan's feelings for Yingxue..."
"Sister, don't say anymore. It was my fault. I failed to protect the pure land in my heart. Prince Zhan hates me, but I don't blame him." Shen Yingxue gently covered her face with her sleeve, sobbing softly. Her slender body trembled slightly, making her look pitiful.
Everyone suddenly realized that Dongfang Zhan still loved Shen Yingxue. Her affair with Lei Cong had deeply hurt him, and he would only mock her whenever he saw her, feeling sad and pained.
Prince Zhan is truly devoted to love.
A rare and devoted lover in this world.
Shen Yingxue and Shen Lixue, singing in perfect harmony, their coordination was truly impeccable!
Dongfang Zhan stared coldly at the two of them, his anger surging within him. He had deliberately pretended to like Shen Yingxue in order to strike at Dongfang Heng, but he never expected that Shen Lixue would use him and make it the perfect excuse to attack him. How despicable!
"Today is the auspicious day for Prince Zhan to take a concubine. Since you like Miss Yingxue, why not marry her as well, making it a double celebration?" Nangong Xiao casually waved his folding fan, his devilish face beaming with an irresistible smile.
"Yes, Prince Zhan, if you like her, just marry her." The young men from noble families all joined in the commotion with smiles.
Shen Yingxue is already Lei Cong's woman and is not worthy of Dongfang Zhan. However, the noble young men are well aware of Dongfang Zhan's feelings for Shen Yingxue in the past. On their wedding day, he even abandoned his high-ranking concubine and came to the east wing to visit Shen Yingxue, which shows how deeply he loves her. They cannot do the bad thing of breaking up the lovers.
Dongfang Zhan's handsome face was terrifyingly gloomy: "Shen Yingxue is a commoner, how can she marry into the Zhan Prince's mansion as a concubine?"
"If Prince Zhan doesn't mind, Yingxue doesn't care whether she's a servant or a maid. She only wishes to stay by the Prince's side and repay the Prince's great kindness to her." Shen Yingxue spoke sadly, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, looking pitiful and touching.
The noble young men supported her even more: "Prince Zhan, marry her! She's the most beautiful woman in the world. Keep her as a concubine in your mansion. It'll be a pleasure to look at her every day."
Shen Yingxue's face had been tanned to a dark yellow color. Shen Lixue used modern makeup techniques to make Shen Yingxue look as bright and beautiful as before, in order to seduce Dongfang Zhan and persuade everyone. Because everyone loves beauty, if a beautiful woman is given to Dongfang Zhan, they will persuade him to accept her. If an ugly woman is given to him, they will find her disgusting and will help Dongfang Zhan resist.
Shen Yingxue will stay at the Zhan Prince's residence tonight and become Dongfang Zhan's concubine. Whether her dark, yellowish face after removing her makeup looks like that of an old woman or a demon is none of her business.
"I have no relation to Shen Yingxue, so don't make wild guesses." Dongfang Zhan was furious, but he couldn't lose his temper in front of so many noble young men, so he suppressed his anger and said coldly.
"Prince Zhan, is it really true that nothing happened between you and Yingxue just now?" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow as she looked at Dongfang Zhan's clothes.
Dongfang Zhan looked down and saw that his clothes had been torn apart by Shen Yingxue's struggle. At first glance, it looked as if the two of them were tearing their clothes haphazardly in a moment of passion, trying to merge together.
Shen Lixue had long anticipated that when he discovered the person in bed was Shen Yingxue, he would fly into a rage and punish Shen Yingxue. Shen Yingxue struggled and tore his clothes, but he wouldn't care or stop her. Heh, she had planned every step of the way. How clever she was.
The gazes of the crowd toward Dongfang Zhan were filled with ambiguity. Then they looked at Shen Yingxue, whose white inner garment had been torn into large pieces, clearly showing her eagerness. If they hadn't barged in, the two of them would definitely have gotten together.
“Sister, I am now a commoner and unworthy of Prince Zhan. I will leave immediately so as not to cause him any trouble…” As she spoke, Shen Yingxue tried to get up, but her legs were weak and she could not muster any strength. She had just gotten up a little when she fell heavily to the ground again. Her beautiful eyes were filled with tears as she looked pitifully at Shen Lixue: “Sister, can you help me? I have no strength left.”
Ruan Ruan's words carried a different meaning to everyone. Had she just been intimate with Prince Zhan? Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone limp all over!
Dongfang Zhan's face was so black it could drip ink. Shen Yingxue was defending him with every word, but she kept emphasizing their close relationship. The noble young men were being led astray and misunderstood their relationship. If Shen Yingxue left the Zhan Prince's Mansion, he would be accused of being heartless and ungrateful.
"Shen Yingxue, you stay." Although Shen Yingxue's presence in the Zhan Prince's mansion would be an eyesore, it would enhance his reputation for deep affection. After a while, as people gradually forgot about her, he would secretly kill her!
Anyone who dares to scheme against him will face certain death!
"Thank you for taking me in, Prince Zhan." Shen Yingxue bowed gracefully, but her heart was filled with joy. With Prince Zhan accepting her, she could now rightfully become his woman.