"Really?" A glimmer of starlight ignited in Su Yuting's lifeless eyes. She had been imprisoned and sentenced to death, waiting to die, and her heart had gradually become numb. Now, upon hearing that she could be released from prison, her dead heart instantly began to beat with excitement.
Duke Wen sighed heavily: "When have I ever lied to you!" He could no longer have any more children. Su Yuting was his only daughter and the only hope of the Su family. He had to protect her and could not let her die.
"Thank you, Father!" Su Yuting suppressed her pounding heart, and the food in her mouth tasted exceptionally delicious. She would be out of prison soon. Heh, she would not let go of any of the people who had hurt her, especially that Shen Lixue. She would make her pay back a thousand times over for the pain that Shen Lixue had inflicted on her.
The night was cool and still, the moon high in the sky.
Zhan Wang Dongfang Shuo stood at the window on the second floor of the Green Bamboo House, looking at the vast green bamboo forest and the string of red lanterns burning. He held a scroll in his hand, and his deep eyes were filled with a sense of heaviness.
A gentle breeze blew by, bringing a refreshing mist. The War King's gaze followed the breeze to the pool. The pavilion, with its swaying gauze, seemed to have someone lying there. But because it was far away and the gauze concealed the person, he couldn't see who was lying inside.
With a swift movement, he instantly emerged from the window. His slender figure, like a fleeting glimpse of a startled swan, traced a graceful arc in mid-air. As his robes fluttered lightly, he arrived in the air and silently landed by the waterside pavilion.
Step by step, he slowly entered the waterside pavilion, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible. A gentle breeze blew, causing the light gauze to flutter outwards, removing the obstruction within the pavilion. The War King could see clearly that a young woman was lying on the soft couch, her long robes hanging down from the bed and spilling onto the floor. Her black hair was unkempt, covering most of the couch, and her long eyelashes were slightly upturned, casting two faint shadows on her eyelids. Her lips were slightly pursed, and her small nose was breathing softly. Her peaceful and serene sleeping face made one reluctant to defile it.
Looking at the face he had longed for day and night, the War King was momentarily dazed, but then he came to his senses. She was not Lin Qingzhu, but his daughter Shen Lixue.
A gentle breeze blew by, gradually growing stronger, carrying a hint of chill that penetrated her clothes and seeped into her skin. Shen Lixue, lying on the soft couch, seemed to feel the cold as well, unconsciously shrinking her body.
The War King shook his head, took off his outer robe, and gently covered Shen Lixue with it, casually tidying up the stray hairs on her forehead.
Shen Lixue frowned, slowly opened her eyes, and saw the War King's concerned face. She blinked, rubbed her forehead, and sat up: "Godfather!"
"Why are you sleeping here?" The War King sat down by the bed, his sharp eyes flashing with gentle concern.
"I was reading a book and fell asleep without realizing it!" Shen Lixue waved the book in her hand, glanced at the sky, and saw that the moon was high in the sky; it was already midnight.
The War King frowned: "Why didn't you check from inside the room? It's windy here at night, and even in summer, it's easy to catch a cold."
Shen Lixue blinked: "Dongfang Heng is in my room, I'm afraid of disturbing him!"
Upon closer inspection, the War King noticed that Shen Lixue was reading a medical book. On a small table beside the bed, there was also a small notebook containing instructions on how to use silver needles to alleviate heart ailments: "His illness is very serious!"
The War King didn't understand medicine, but seeing Dongfang Heng's increasingly pale complexion, growing weaker, and his steps becoming heavier, he naturally understood what was happening.
“He is very weak, often feels heartache, and sleeps for longer and longer periods of time. I want to use silver needles to help him hold on for a while longer, until the Ghost Doctor from Southern Xinjiang comes to the capital!” Shen Lixue said softly, her tone heavy.
"Someone is secretly sabotaging things to prevent the Ghost Doctor from the Southern Frontier from coming to the capital!" As the God of War of Azure Flame, the War King understood what was going on after a moment's thought.
Shen Lixue nodded: "That person is very capable!" Although the subordinates that person sent failed to kill Dongfang Heng's secret guards and the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang, they delayed for a long time, preventing the secret guards from finding out their identities. Their methods were truly extraordinary.
"Dongfang Heng is a blessed man, nothing will happen to him, don't worry!" The War King patted Shen Lixue's shoulder gently to comfort her. A scroll fell out of his sleeve and rolled open automatically after landing, revealing a beautiful woman on the painting.
The woman's features were strikingly similar to Shen Lixue's. She stood under a plum tree, her black hair flowing, her crimson dress fluttering in the wind, and plum blossoms fluttering down her shoulders and body. Her bright smile and clear eyes were captivating at first sight.
Looking at the signature, it reads "Dongfang Shuo," and the date is sixteen years ago.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow at the War King, a hint of a smile in her beautiful eyes. The painting depicted Lin Qingzhu!
The War King tucked his fingers together, instantly gathering the unfolded scroll into his hand. He coughed lightly and awkwardly, saying, "It's late. Get some rest!"
After speaking, before Shen Lixue could reply, Zhan Wang strode out of the waterside pavilion and flew towards the bamboo hut. His figure and speed made it seem as if his secret had been discovered and he was fleeing in panic.
Shen Lixue couldn't help but laugh out loud. This War King was like a young man in love, acting awkwardly and flustered when his secret was discovered. Where was the calm, decisive, and ruthless Qingyan War God?
Thinking of the deceased Lin Qingzhu and the lonely War King, Shen Lixue suppressed her smile and sighed softly. If Lin Qingzhu had married the War King, they would have been a perfect couple. Unfortunately, fate played a cruel trick on them.
The cold wind gradually picked up, and Shen Lixue tightened her clothes, took her books and notes and returned to Lixue Pavilion.
The room was filled with the faint scent of bamboo leaves. Dongfang Heng lay on the bed with his eyes closed, resting. His brows were relaxed, and his face was calm, without any sign of heartache.
A luminous pearl, neither too big nor too small, was embedded in the wall, emitting a warm glow that provided illumination without being too bright for those resting.
Shen Lixue quietly entered the room, placed her books and notes on the table, and gently sat down on the edge of the bed. The moment her small hand touched Dongfang Heng's forehead, Dongfang Heng reached out and hugged her.
"Dongfang Heng, are you awake?" Shen Lixue shook Dongfang Heng's arm.
"Hmm!" Dongfang Heng responded faintly, without opening his eyes.
"I saw an acupuncture method in a book that can relieve pain. Would you like to try it?" Shen Lixue blinked and asked softly.
Dongfang Heng did not answer; his even breathing sounded softly in his ear.
Shen Lixue frowned, a hint of seriousness in her clear eyes. He fell asleep so quickly; his illness must have worsened. How could she make him hold on until the Ghost Doctor from Southern Xinjiang arrived?
With her mind in turmoil, Shen Lixue unknowingly fell asleep. When she opened her eyes again, it was bright outside the window, with sunshine, but Dongfang Heng was nowhere to be seen. A faint scent of pine wafted through the air, indicating that he had slept there for the night.
"Miss, would you like to wash up?" Qiuhe and Yanyue asked softly when they heard the noise outside the door.
"Come in!" Shen Lixue got out of bed and sat in front of the dressing mirror. Yan Yue brought her water to wash her face and a cotton towel, while Qiu He walked behind her and helped her fix her hair.
"Where is Dongfang Heng?" Shen Lixue asked softly, looking at the empty bed in the bronze mirror.
Yan Yue dampened a cotton handkerchief and gently wiped Shen Lixue's small hands: "Miss, the Prince left half an hour ago, saying that there was something to do at the Holy Prince's Mansion and he had to go back to take care of it!"
Shen Lixue nodded, her brows furrowing slightly. Dongfang Heng's handling of matters while ill would only worsen his condition. She didn't know when the Ghost Doctor from Southern Xinjiang would arrive, so she needed to let him try out the new silver needle acupuncture technique she had learned.
After wiping Shen Lixue's hands, Yan Yue opened the food box and took out the dishes one by one: "Miss, please have your meal!"
"You guys eat, I have something to do, I'm going out for a bit!" The acupuncture treatment requires a special-sized silver needle, and Shen Lixue doesn't have a suitable one among her own needles, so she has to have one custom-made.
"We servants will accompany you!"
Shen Lixue shook her head: "No need, I'll be back soon!" It's just making a silver needle, I don't need to go far or take long, there's no need to bring so many people.
After leaving the War King's Mansion, they walked down a street lined with bustling shops. Shen Lixue handed the shape of the silver needle to the blacksmith, who marked the dimensions. She then sat down to wait.
Looking at the silver needle on the drawing paper, she suddenly remembered the painting in the War King's sleeve. Such a long painting must be very inconvenient to put in his sleeve, and there was also the risk of it falling out. The War King missed Lin Qingzhu, so he could use a small object instead.