Dongfang Zhan stared at Shen Lixue for a moment, a dark glint flashing in his deep eyes: "Do you not want to see me?"
"What makes you say that, Prince Zhan?" Shen Lixue was startled. Dongfang Zhan had such high insight. However, he smiled gently, polite and proper, but his smile carried indifference and aloofness.
"Since the Fourth Miss is ill, I will go to Yun Garden to see her and inquire about her injuries!" Dongfang Zhan said abruptly, seemingly ignoring the question. He put down his cup and slowly walked out of the bamboo garden, each step resounding as if venting his dissatisfaction.
"Thank you for your trouble, Prince Zhan!" Shen Lixue said calmly, her gaze slightly narrowed. Dongfang Zhan had realized that she was trying to send him away, yet he still went along with her wishes to visit Yun Garden...
Dongfang Zhan's footsteps faded into the distance until they disappeared completely. Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door. Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. They had arrived just in time!
"Shen Lixue!" Shen Yingxue, dressed in a light blue Xiang dress, bypassed Xiao Yun's anxious obstruction and stormed into the bamboo garden with a large group of maids and nannies, making quite a scene. Looking at the empty stone table, she angrily questioned, "Where is Prince Zhan? Where did you hide him?"
Her angry gaze kept drifting towards the bedroom behind Shen Lixue. "That bitch! Did she use the same method again to trick Prince Zhan into bed with her? How despicable!"
Faced with Shen Yingxue's furious outburst, Shen Lixue remained calm and composed. She glanced at Xiaoyun indifferently, her clear, cold eyes revealing boundless icy intent. Startled, Xiaoyun retreated repeatedly, quickly lowering her head, not daring to look at her again.
Shen Lixue curled her lips into a cold smile, her gaze fixed on the rising steam, and said leisurely, "Prince Zhan is not here!"
"Stop lying. Someone saw Prince Zhan enter the bamboo garden with their own eyes." Shen Yingxue pointed at the stone table and scoffed disdainfully, "His cup is still on the table..."
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow: "Prince Zhan did come here just now, but he has already left!"
"You think I'd believe that?" Shen Yingxue looked at Shen Lixue with sarcasm. She wasn't a stupid fool who could be easily deceived.
“The Prince Zhan has indeed left. If my sister doesn’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do!” Shen Lixue’s cold gaze remained fixed on the teacup, her voice indifferent and devoid of emotion.
"Let me search the room. If I really can't find anyone, then I'll believe you!" Shen Yingxue said arrogantly, her eyes full of mockery and disdain as she looked at Shen Lixue. If Shen Lixue dared to refuse her search, then she must be hiding something.
“It’s not that I can’t search the courtyard, but I am also the daughter of a high-ranking official. If my own sister were to search my courtyard for no reason, and word got out, I would lose all face. If you can find the person, I have nothing to say and you can do whatever you want with me. If you can’t find the person, then I can do whatever I want with you. How about that?” Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow and looked at Shen Yingxue. Her clear, cold eyes were filled with chilling and eerie light, which made Shen Yingxue feel cold all over.
If she finds the person, Shen Lixue can do whatever she wants with her. This is a great idea. She can use all sorts of methods to torture Shen Lixue. If she doesn't find the person, she can do whatever she wants with Shen Lixue. This suggestion is very bad for her. Shen Lixue is cunning and ruthless. If she falls into Shen Lixue's trap, her life will be in danger.
"Then tell me, where did Prince Zhan go?" Shen Yingxue looked at the tightly closed door, her head held high, and questioned sharply. She had been speaking so loudly outside. Given how much Prince Zhan cared about her, if he were in the Bamboo Garden, he would have come out long ago. Shen Lixue was indeed a cunning and despicable woman, trying to lure her into a trap so she could teach her a lesson in a legitimate way.
Shen Yingxue only knows how to lecture others, completely forgetting that it was she who suggested searching the house.
"Upon hearing that Sister Caiyun was injured, Prince Zhan went to Yun Garden to visit her!" Shen Lixue answered casually, raising an eyebrow at Shen Yingxue: "It's too hot, and I see that you seem a bit restless. Why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea to cool down?"
"You!" Shen Yingxue pointed at Shen Lixue, gritting her teeth in anger. "You bitch, she actually mocked me for having a bad temper."
"Miss!" Xia Duan stepped forward, glanced at Shen Lixue, and whispered to Shen Yingxue, "If Prince Zhan is really with Fourth Miss, the situation is not good..."
Shen Yingxue was taken aback. Shen Caiyun, relying on her limited talent, was openly and secretly seducing Prince Zhan. Making a move in Yun Garden was the most opportune time!
That bitch almost ruined her important business.
glaring hatefully at Shen Lixue, Shen Yingxue strode out. Her immediate priority was to go to Yun Garden to see Prince Zhan, lest he be deceived and seduced by Shen Caiyun. As for Shen Lixue, she would let her be smug for a few days, and then teach her a lesson after dealing with Shen Caiyun.
Shen Yingxue, accompanied by her maids and nannies, rushed towards Yun Garden. Shen Lixue smiled coldly. Shen Caiyun was smarter than Shen Yingxue and dealing with her would be no problem. With the sisters quarreling in front of Dongfang Zhan, Shen Minghui couldn't interfere. She was giving Shen Caiyun a chance for revenge, hoping she would seize it.
In Yun Garden, Shen Caiyun lay on the bed, looking haggard and pale. A maid stood by the bed, carefully applying medicine to her badly injured buttocks. Although the maid's movements were very gentle, her wound was still sometimes pressed painfully, causing her to frown and twitch her lips, a look of pain appearing on her small face.
In the center of the room, Aunt Jin sat at the round table, her hand covering her face with a silk handkerchief, weeping bitterly: "Caiyun, you are also the master's daughter, how could he be so cruel, beating you so badly without even asking what happened..."
Aunt Jin's sobbing accusations sounded like boring noise to Shen Caiyun, not concern. She frowned, closed her eyes, and pretended not to hear. At this point, she had given up all hope for her weak and incompetent mother. She was simple-minded, lacked tact, and had no ideas. All she knew how to do was cry and cry, never thinking of a calm solution.
She was severely injured, and Aunt Jin also bears some responsibility. If she had used her unborn child to plead for her, she could have been spared punishment. Why would she be lying here, severely injured and motionless, making herself a laughingstock?
The curtain was opened, and a maidservant walked in from outside, announcing, "Fourth Miss, Aunt Jin, Prince Zhan has arrived!"
"What? Prince Zhan!" Shen Caiyun was stunned, somewhat disbelieving. How could the dignified Prince Zhan of Qingyan come to this small Yun Garden? "Are you sure that's Prince Zhan?"
"This servant has seen Prince Zhan many times and would never mistake him!" the maid replied confidently, thinking to herself, how could she dare to give false information about a royal prince? The young lady's question was so strange.
It really was Prince Zhan who came to see her!
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Shen Caiyun's beautiful eyes lit up with joy, and she said urgently, "Please come in quickly!"
"Xiaosi, quickly help me change my clothes, and get me a soft cushion to sit on..."
"Xiao Tu, open the window and let the smell of the medicine go out..."
When Prince Zhan arrives, she must show him her most beautiful self. Although her current pitiful appearance is endearing, it needs to be paired with the right environment and used properly to achieve the best effect.
Shen Caiyun directed her personal maids to do this and that in an orderly manner, behaving like a pampered young lady.
The bustling sounds of the maids brought Aunt Jin back to her senses. Her heart pounded, and a look of ecstatic joy appeared on her face. The Prince Zhan had actually come to Yun Garden to see Caiyun. What an unparalleled honor! "Caiyun, does the Prince Zhan have feelings for you?"
She was confident in her daughter's looks and talent, which were unmatched by ordinary people. It was only natural that she would win the favor of the Prince of Zhan.
"I don't know!" Shen Caiyun replied irritably. Aunt Jin was stupid by nature and could not help with anything. She was too lazy to discuss anything with Aunt Jin.
With Xiao Si's help, Shen Caiyun carefully and quickly changed into her new clothes. Her gaze swept over the beaming Jin Yiniang, and she frowned: "The Prince Zhan is here. It's not appropriate for you, a concubine, to stand here. Go hide behind the screen. Remember, don't say anything and don't do anything, so as not to make a mistake!"
Prince Zhan had already arrived outside the door. She couldn't send Concubine Jin away; this was a golden opportunity for her, and she didn't want to let the brainless Concubine Jin ruin it.
"I know, I know!" Aunt Jin replied repeatedly, giving Shen Caiyun and the figure outside the door an ambiguous smile. Holding her maid's hand, she hid behind the screen. Aunt Jin was very happy that her daughter had climbed up the social ladder to Prince Zhan. Her happiness for the rest of her life depended on Prince Zhan. Even if Shen Caiyun didn't say anything, she wouldn't stay here to hinder their relationship.
The curtain opened again, and Dongfang Zhan walked into the room with a sunny smile: "Fourth Miss!"
"Prince Zhan!" Shen Caiyun struggled to get up, her slender figure lying on the pink sheets, extremely beautiful, making people's imaginations run wild.
Dongfang Zhan's gaze sharpened slightly, and he quickly stopped her, saying, "Fourth Miss is injured, there's no need for such formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Shen Caiyun bowed slightly, smiled at Dongfang Zhan, her eyes clear, without a trace of infatuation or admiration: "Your Highness is busy with many affairs of state, yet you still came to visit me. I am extremely grateful!"
Men are creatures with a desire to conquer. If you are too obedient to them, they will become disgusted and stop caring about you. If you are too distant, given their pride, they will not take the initiative to start a conversation with you. To win their hearts, you must be aloof and talk to them casually without showing how much you like them. Let them become interested in you, and then, feelings will develop between you!
"I admire Miss Shen's talent and have come to visit you. Miss Shen, you need not be so polite!" Dongfang Zhan smiled slightly, his politeness revealing indifference and aloofness.