Over the years, she was the first person to be able to sit next to the Empress Dowager; she was truly extraordinary!
Nangong Xiao presented the gift, and when he saw Shen Lixue below the Empress Dowager, his eyes lit up. Just as he was about to make a few teasing remarks, Shen Lixue threw him a cold glare, and Nangong Xiao immediately shut his mouth, elegantly waving his folding fan, and turned to walk to the side.
The Empress, concubines, noblewomen, and young ladies presented their carefully prepared gifts one after another. Shen Lixue remained seated, her aloof gaze shifting back and forth between Prince An and Su Yuting. In the entire Imperial Garden, only the two of them were dressed in white, making them look like a couple at first glance…
"Yingxue sent black pearls from the South China Sea; how thoughtful of her!" The Empress Dowager smiled gently.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager!" Shen Yingxue was a little proud. Everyone had put thought into their gifts, but apart from the princes, she was the only one who received praise from the Empress Dowager. Even the most talented woman, Su Yuting, did not have this honor. She had really given the right gift. Would Prince An have a better impression of her because of this?
Shen Yingxue glanced shyly at Dongfang Heng, only to see him standing tall and gazing quietly in one direction. Following his gaze, she saw Shen Lixue!
Shen Yingxue's anger flared up instantly. "You slut, you're seducing Prince An again!"
"Sister Lixue, what gift did you give to the Empress Dowager?" Shen Yingxue's gentle and loud voice instantly attracted everyone's attention. Yes, they only saw Shen Lixue sitting next to the sun, but they didn't see her giving a gift.
Shen Lixue smiled gently: "Compared to everyone else, my gift is really too insignificant, so I won't embarrass myself by showing it off!" She had left the luminous pearl in the bamboo garden when she went to the market, and all she had on her was a set of silver needles and a few hundred taels of silver. Where would she get a gift to give away?
“Whether the gift is large or small, it’s the thought that counts. Sister, there’s no need to feel ashamed. Show it to everyone!” Shen Lixue’s refusal only made Shen Yingxue more smug. Her mother provided Shen Lixue with food and drink but never gave her any money. As a poor, wild girl, she certainly couldn’t afford to give a gift.
"My gift requires specific conditions before it can be presented!" Shen Lixue lowered her eyelids, a cold glint flashing in her clear eyes. Shen Yingxue wanted to embarrass her in public.
"The palace lacks nothing. Sister, just tell us what you need, and the palace maids will definitely be able to do it!" Shen Yingxue reassured her in a fake gorilla-like manner, but she was secretly overjoyed. Shen Lixue, you're penniless and can't offer anything. Just wait to be severely punished.
Shen Lixue sneered. Shen Yingxue was eager to see her make a fool of herself. How could she let her have her way?
Suddenly raising her eyelids, Shen Lixue said coldly, "My condition for providing the gift is actually very simple!"
045 The fragrance of lotus blossoms amazed everyone.
"I need a few porcelain basins and several buckets of boiling water!" Shen Lixue's calm voice echoed throughout the Imperial Garden. Everyone looked at each other, puzzled: What strange gift had she prepared that required these things?
"Your Majesty, my sister's gift is so unique, it's sure to surprise everyone. I'd love to see it!" Shen Yingxue smiled brightly, feigning curiosity and longing, but inwardly she sneered. A porcelain basin? Hot water? If you want to be mysterious, don't use such shabby things. No wonder she's from the countryside, she's never seen the world.
First, lift her up, then yank her down hard, making sure she's smashed to pieces.
Shen Lixue smiled slightly, her face as delicate and white as porcelain, with large almond eyes and arched eyebrows. Her cool demeanor exuded an indescribable elegance and nobility. Shen Yingxue had racked her brains to embarrass herself, but unfortunately, she was going to be disappointed this time.
Shen Yingxue's encouragement fueled everyone's curiosity, and they all chimed in, eager to see Shen Lixue's gift.
"Someone, bring a few porcelain basins and a few buckets of hot water!" The Empress Dowager glanced at Shen Lixue and gave the order softly. As expected of Qingzhu's daughter, she was noble, calm, and composed in the face of danger.
A moment later, six palace maids placed six porcelain basins next to Shen Lixue, and six eunuchs brought six buckets of hot water and poured them into the basins.
Shen Lixue gently pinched the small, round particles and placed them into the porcelain basin. The particles sank quickly in the hot water, and green stems spread out rapidly at a speed visible to the human eye, bursting out of the water and blooming into bright, pale purple petals.
Hot water bubbled and flowers swirled, filling the garden with fragrance. Shen Lixue, dressed in a light blue gown, stood quietly among the green leaves and purple flowers. Bathed in golden sunlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful, instantly captivating everyone's attention.
"It's the Empress Dowager's favorite water lily!" Fifth Prince Dongfang Che exclaimed and rushed to Shen Lixue: "Miss, how did you make the water lily bloom?" The Empress Dowager loved water lilies the most. She had invited many gardeners, but they had tried their best to cultivate the lotus flowers that were now blooming. So she had to settle for the jade Buddha instead.
Shen Lixue smiled slightly: "These water lilies are not the usual lotus flowers grown in water, but a kind of tea that I specially made!" While strolling on the street, she saw dried lotus flowers for sale, bought them on a whim and made them into a modern craft tea, which unexpectedly helped her a lot.
"Tea?" The Fifth Prince was taken aback. "You mean, the water used to grow these flowers is drinkable?"
"Not only can you drink the water, but you can also eat the flowers!" Shen Lixue took an empty teacup, dropped in a small pellet, and gently filled it with water. A tiny water lily floated on the surface, its fragrance filling the air, refreshing and delightful. "Your Majesty, please have some!"
The Empress Dowager smiled and accepted the teacup. The faint fragrance of lotus blossoms lingered in her nostrils, and the slight heaviness in her chest slowly dissipated. She took a small sip, the fragrance lingering on her lips and teeth. The soft petals filled her mouth with a sweet and refreshing taste. She nodded gently: "Li Xue's gift is truly extraordinary!"
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!" Shen Lixue said gratefully.
Shen Yingxue glared at her fiercely, her eyes blazing with jealousy. Not only had she not crushed her to pieces, but she had also helped her please the Empress Dowager and seize the opportunity to rise to the top. How hateful! How hateful! How hateful!
Lei narrowed his eyes slightly. Shen Lixue had already shown her prowess, and he had to change and improve his plan to plunge her into an endless hell as soon as possible, so that she would never have a chance to rise again.
Dongfang Heng glanced at Shen Lixue, then quietly put away the Nine Dragons Jade Pendant in his hand. Several pots of water lilies filled the garden with fragrance. Although they were not valuable, they were much better than his priceless jade pendant. She was indeed extraordinary!
Dongfang Zhanli narrowed his sharp eyes slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. A porcelain basin, hot water, water lilies—seemingly ordinary things—yet he presented a unique gift that no one could have imagined. Clever! Clever!
"Could you tell me how to make this tea?" Dongfang Che was eager to learn and disregarded etiquette, reaching out to pull Shen Lixue. Nangong Xiao pulled him half a meter away and said sternly, "Don't touch her! She is Prince An's fiancée, Shen Lixue!"
"So you're Lin Qingzhu's daughter! No wonder you're so exceptionally talented!" Dongfang Che exclaimed, his eyes full of admiration.
A beautiful young woman walked forward with a smile, looked at Shen Lixue, and sighed softly: "Lixue is so outstanding, if Sister Qingzhu knew this in the afterlife, she would surely rest in peace!"
"Who is Madam?" Shen Lixue was new to the palace and did not recognize the young woman.
"This is my mother, Lady Wen, the Duchess of Wen!" Su Yuting stepped out from behind the young woman, gentle, dignified, and graceful.
Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows slightly as a memory flooded her mind. A hint of surprise flickered in her cool eyes. The Duchess of Wen was actually Lin Qingzhu's close friend from her youth, someone she trusted to the point of sharing everything...
"Li Xue is ill and needs to rest well. The Empress Dowager won't blame you for not coming to celebrate her birthday..." Lady Wenguo said softly, her eyes full of affection.
“I’ve been perfectly fine and haven’t been sick at all. Madam, are you mistaken?” Shen Lixue said calmly, her eyes suddenly flashing. “I understand now. Thank you for your concern, Madam. However, I didn’t go to the palace with my mother because my father said I was not polite enough and was afraid of offending the Empress Dowager. It’s not because I’m sick.”
Whoosh! A single stone stirred up a thousand waves. The gazes of the crowd toward Lady Lei were filled with mockery and disdain: the dignified wife of the Prime Minister, not only lying and slandering the daughter of the first wife, but also cursing her to fall seriously ill, truly narrow-minded and petty...
Lei lowered his eyelids, his face so black it could drip ink, his hands clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh. "Shen Lixue, don't be so smug. I will repay today's humiliation in full!"
Shen Yingxue glared fiercely at Shen Lixue, gritting her teeth. She seized every opportunity to strike back at herself and her mother. What a clever little bitch!
Shen Lixue glanced at the pale-faced Duchess Wen and sneered. She was Lin Qingzhu's good friend and Su Yuting's mother. Su Yuting had been plotting against her openly and secretly, and she would never side with outsiders.
Moreover, she had been in the Imperial Garden for half a day. She didn't come earlier or later, but only after I presented her gift and received praise from the Empress Dowager. Her concern for me was fake; her real intention was to use me to get close to the Empress Dowager. It wasn't unreasonable for me to use her to strike at the Lei family.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Mu Zhengnan from Jiangzhou has come to offer his birthday greetings!" The eunuch's distinctive high-pitched voice rang out, and Shen Lixue's slender body suddenly stiffened: Mu Zhengnan, is that the Mu Zhengnan who strangled Shen Lixue to death?
A cold gaze swept quickly across the elegant partition, where a young man dressed in a moon-colored brocade robe walked in. His handsome face and humble smile were none other than the murderer, Mu Zhengnan.
Shen Lixue narrowed her eyes, a cold light flashing in them. She was just about to do everything she could to find him, but he actually came to her on his own initiative, saving her a lot of time!