Two cold glints flashed in Shen Lixue's clear eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She subtly shook off Shen Yingxue's hand, which was tightly gripping her clothes, and feigned incomprehension, saying, "I'm here to set up a memorial tablet for my mother. Madam is still alive and well, and you want to go to the main hall to set up a memorial tablet for her?"
"Sister, stop pretending. Everyone knows that Master Yan Hui's fortune-telling slips about marriage are extremely accurate. Although you are engaged to the Prince, you only asked for a fortune slip, so it's not a big mistake!" Shen Yingxue smiled smugly. You slut, keep pretending. Watch how I tear off your hypocritical face.
"I'm really here to set up a memorial tablet for my mother. I have no interest in asking for marriage fortunes!" With that, Shen Lixue took out a wooden tablet, facing the young ladies, which read: "Deceased Mother Shen Shi Lin Qingzhu!"
Nameplates! Everyone was stunned for a moment, their gazes turning to Qiu He and Yan Yue behind Shen Lixue. The dilapidated carriage jolted, and the light gauze covering their baskets was knocked off, revealing the contents inside: incense, candles, and many other items needed to set up memorial tablets.
It turns out that Shen Lixue really came to set up a memorial tablet for her mother, not to ask for a marriage fortune.
The crowd's anger vanished instantly, and their gazes toward Shen Yingxue were full of mockery. She didn't even know what her own sister was doing at Xiangguo Temple, yet she dared to ridicule her. How foolish! Luckily, she didn't join in the commotion, or she would have been utterly humiliated!
"Princess, it's getting late, I'll take my leave first!" Shen Lixue smiled faintly, and led Qiu Chaihe and Yan Yue to the main hall. Even after walking a long way, she could still feel Shen Yingxue's vicious gaze. She smiled coldly. Her intelligence and beauty were completely inversely proportional. The more beautiful she was, the more stupid she was. If it weren't for Lei Shi protecting her, she would probably have died hundreds of times over.
The group also went to the palace for seeking marriage in twos and threes: "We heard that Master Yan Hui has not yet left Xiangguo Temple!"
"If only Master Yan Hui could personally interpret the marriage fortune slip I drew..."
"Master Yan Hui, a highly virtuous monk, only spoke of Buddhism and rarely interpreted divination slips..."
The crowd brushed past Shen Yingxue, ignoring her completely. Shen Yingxue was furious, her eyes blazing with anger. Shen Lixue, like herself, had stayed in the Prime Minister's residence for three days, never venturing out. On the fourth day, she got up early and rushed to Xiangguo Temple. What was she doing if not seeking a marriage fortune slip? Setting up a memorial tablet for her mother? Just an excuse.
Hmph, it's not just noble ladies who come to ask for marriage fortune slips, but also noble gentlemen. Shen Lixue will definitely enter the fortune-telling hall, so I'll keep a close eye on her and catch her red-handed. Let's see how she tries to explain herself then.
Zhuang Kexin walked at the back. The moment she stepped into the main hall, she looked back at the furious Shen Yingxue, shook her head slightly, and a hint of mockery flickered in her eyes: "We are outside the hall now. Shen Yingxue has many reasons to get away with it. Can't you wait until she enters the main hall and her guilt is confirmed before you laugh at her? Being so impatient is utterly foolish."
The main hall was relatively remote and sparsely populated. Shen Lixue instructed Qiuhe and Yanyue to wait outside, while she entered the hall alone with a basket.
This was a grand hall specifically for placing memorial tablets. Rows and rows of tablets were placed on wooden tables around the hall. Lin Qingzhu's tablet was placed in a relatively conspicuous position. Shen Lixue lit three incense sticks. As the smoke rose, Shen Lixue bowed to Lin Qingzhu. Her cold gaze pierced through the layers of smoke to look at the three words "Lin Qingzhu" on the tablet: May you and your daughter rest in peace. I will avenge you!
The original owner of Shen Lixue's enemies have now become her enemies, constantly plotting to harm her. Bloodshed and corpses strewn across the fields are not the results she wants to see, but this is a world where the strong prey on the weak, and if she doesn't kill, she will be killed by others.
Shen Minghui, the husband Lin Qingzhu had longed for for fifteen years, and the father Shen Lixue had yearned for for fifteen years, was only interested in him and the Lei family's daughter. He was utterly heartless and cruel towards Shen Lixue, showing no love whatsoever. If the person who came looking for her was the real Shen Lixue, she would have been killed hundreds of times over. A father with such a lack of responsibility is better off without...
Lin Qingzhu, so incredibly talented back then, why did you misjudge him at the last moment and fall for Shen Minghui? If you had married someone who truly loved you, you would definitely be very happy now, with a loving husband and many children...
A faint scent of pine resin lingered in the air, and Shen Lixue suddenly awoke. Dongfang Heng's handsome face was right in front of her, his dark eyes gazing intently at her, a strange emotion flowing deep within them. He gently handed her a silk handkerchief.
A cool sensation spread across her face, and Shen Lixue was startled. When had she shed tears? In the modern world, she became a candidate for the young master of the Shen family at the age of fifteen and was thrown into the desolate mountains for training. Until the moment of her death, she did not shed a single tear.
"Thank you!" Shen Lixue took the handkerchief and gently wiped her cheeks. Just now, recalling Shen Lixue's past, she felt only anger and sympathy, not sadness. The tears were definitely not hers. Could it be the original owner of Shen Lixue's emotions playing tricks on her? After all, this body belonged to Shen Lixue...
Dongfang Heng gazed quietly at Shen Lixue, whose face was exquisitely beautiful, with a few crystal-clear teardrops hanging on her long eyelashes, making her even more charming.
The first time he met her, she was evading pursuit, using her skills to force back his guards and break into his room. The second time they met, she faced hundreds of bandits without flinching, cleverly seizing a fast horse and escaping. After returning to the capital, she handled all kinds of conspiracies and schemes with ease, and anyone who plotted against her met a bad end.
It could be said that she was not a weak woman. The woman she presented to him was always confident, strong, indifferent, and capable. But just now, he saw her crying.
Large tears slid down her cheeks, and her eyes reflected not grievance, but sadness and disappointment!
She was just a fifteen-year-old girl. Her mother had died early, her father was biased, and there was no one in the entire Prime Minister's mansion to help her. She had to bear many things on her own. It was only natural for her to feel tired, sad, and cry!
Shen Lixue placed the incense sticks into the incense burner and looked back at Dongfang Heng: "Dongfang Heng, what are you doing here?" The capital is still under strict guard, and there has been no progress on the matter of the flute player. How come Dongfang Heng has time to come to Xiangguo Temple?
"I've come to see an old friend!" Dongfang Heng replied softly, his gaze unfathomable, before turning and walking out of the main hall.
Lin Qingzhu's nameplate has been erected. Shen Lixue instructed Qiuhe and Yan Yue to come in and collect the baskets: "When did Prince An arrive?"
"Miss had just gone in when Prince An arrived!" Qiu He answered softly, her head lowered, not daring to look Shen Lixue in the eye.
"Why didn't you remind me?" You made her look so foolish in front of everyone! Shen Lixue's cold gaze pierced through the wide-open palace doors, looking up at the azure sky. Her eyes were misty; she hadn't cried in so long, she'd almost forgotten what tears felt like…
"It was Prince An who forbade us to speak!" Qiu He's voice grew softer and softer, but she was secretly happy that Shen Lixue and Prince An were alone together. She happily put away her basket, pulled Yan Yue along, and quickly walked to the side.
Shen Lixue glared at Qiu He, walked out of the main hall, and not far from the hall was a pond. The warm sunlight shone on the water, shimmering with golden light, and ripples spread out. A faint, cool mist carried on the wind was refreshing and invigorating.
Dongfang Heng, dressed in white, stood with his hands behind his back facing the pond. The wind blew his white robes, making him look handsome beyond compare. The white poplars and green willows reflected his tall figure, yet he appeared unusually lonely and desolate.
With martial law in the capital and the flute player still nowhere to be found, Dongfang Heng's visit to Xiangguo Temple at this time is not without purpose!
A glint of light flashed in Shen Lixue's cold eyes. Just as she was about to step forward to ask, a sweet female voice rang out from outside: "Sister!"
Shen Lixue frowned. Shen Yingxue's arrival was truly timely. This was the main hall, a place where ordinary people wouldn't come. Shen Yingxue's coming here definitely had a purpose: "What do you want with me?"
"Sister, the marriage fortune slips we drew in the palace were all very good. Why don't you go and draw one too?" Shen Yingxue's sweet voice couldn't hide her pride, which showed that the fortune slips she drew were indeed very good.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Shen Yingxue had come here at this hour to show off her lucky fortune, so it seemed she really had gotten a good one: "What was your fortune reading?"
"Sister Yingxue!" Su Yuting hurried over, glancing apologetically at Chen Lixue: "Sister Lixue is setting up a memorial tablet for Aunt Qingzhu, so please don't bother her. Let's go to the front hall!" Showing off marriage fortune slips in front of the dead is extremely disrespectful!
"I had her draw a fortune stick for her own good!" Shen Yingxue said smugly, ignoring Su Yuting's advice. She took out the fortune stick she had drawn, glanced at Shen Lixue, and was about to read it when her gaze fell on Dongfang Heng by the pond. She was instantly shocked and it took her a long time to react before she stammered, "Prince An... Prince An!"
Witty Remarks 067: The Prince, Making a Wish Under the Snow Tree
Su Yuting was also taken aback. She looked at Dongfang Heng and saw him standing by the pond with his hands behind his back. He was elegant and noble, indifferent and sharp. He didn't even glance at her and Shen Yingxue. Her polite smile froze slightly.
Shen Yingxue glared at Shen Lixue, gritting her teeth. "Set up a memorial tablet for Lin Qingzhu? What a load of nonsense! The truth is that she took advantage of the moment to seduce Prince An. She says one thing and does another. What a hypocritical and despicable woman! Her scheming is truly profound!"
"Yingxue, let's go back to the front hall!" Su Yuting tugged at Shen Yingxue's sleeve, suggesting with a slight smile, her bright eyes somewhat dim.
"Sister!" Shen Yingxue shook off Su Yuting, her beautiful eyes almost spitting fire with anger. She had always liked Prince An, but had only met him a few times. She had been longing for him every day. Now that he was here, why did she have to avoid him and go to the front hall?
"Sister Lixue and Prince An have something to say, it's not appropriate for us to be here!" Su Yuting glanced at Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, and explained softly, her smile somewhat bitter.
Shen Lixue raised her lips. Was Su Yuting really taking Shen Yingxue back to the front hall, or was she indirectly accusing her of having a secret rendezvous with Dongfang Heng?
Shen Yingxue's eyes lit up, and her confused mind instantly cleared up: "Xiangguo Temple is a sacred Buddhist site. Those who come to offer incense are all devoted to Buddhism and would not do anything out of line. Sister and Prince An are both law-abiding and respectful people. How could they secretly meet? Yuting is overthinking it!"
Shen Lixue was shameless first. If anyone should avoid it, it should be Shen Lixue. Why should she go to the front hall? Besides, as long as Shen Lixue doesn't marry, she has the opportunity to become the Princess Consort of Anjun. If she voluntarily gives up, wouldn't that make it easier for her to seduce the Prince of Anjun?