She stepped into the pavilion and came to Dongfang Heng's side. She looked down at the painting. The woman in the painting was dressed in a light green Ruan Yanluo dress. She was lying lazily on a soft couch, holding a round fan and looking at the scenery outside the window.
"Are you satisfied with this painting?" Dongfang Heng gently embraced Shen Lixue's small waist, rested his chin on her shoulder, and looked at the painting with her. His obsidian-like eyes were as deep as a pool.
"The person in the painting looks exactly like me!" Shen Lixue nodded with a smile, another compliment to Dongfang Heng's painting skills. Her mind stirred slightly; did she really intend to paint a picture for her every day?
"Li Xue, it's almost noon. What would you like to eat for lunch?" Dongfang Heng stroked Shen Li Xue's beautiful face with his jade-like fingers. She's gotten so thin from hunger; she needs to nourish herself!
"Anything is fine, I'm not picky!" Shen Lixue brought the scroll closer and gently blew on the slightly damp ink. The ink had to be dry before she could put the scroll away; otherwise, the ink would be all over the painting and ruin it.
"Then I'll have the kitchen prepare your favorite..."
"Second Brother!" A sudden excited male voice interrupted Dongfang Heng's words.
Shen Lixue was taken aback. Second brother? Dongfang Heng had a younger brother? How come she had never heard of him?
A cool gaze swept across the pavilion and looked in the direction from which the sound came. From behind the elegant partition, a young man emerged, about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a sandalwood brocade robe. He was handsome, young, and full of vigor.
"Who is he?" Shen Lixue asked Dongfang Heng in a low voice as she looked at the smiling man who was walking briskly towards her.
"He is my uncle's eldest son, Dongfang Han!" Dongfang Heng's tone turned somewhat somber when he spoke of this family.
Besides his legitimate son, the old prince of the Holy King's Mansion also had two illegitimate sons, Dongfang Xun and Dongfang Heng. They were also illegitimate uncles and cousins. Although they also shared the surname Dongfang, their status was somewhat low. They could not be granted the title of prince and did not have independent residences. They all lived in the Holy King's Mansion.
"How come I've never seen him before?" Shen Lixue had not only never seen them before, but she had never even heard of them.
Dongfang Heng released Shen Lixue, glanced at Dongfang Han, and lowered his voice, saying, "When our uncles went out to take up new posts, he, as the eldest son, went with them to gain experience. When the three-year term is up and his uncles are transferred, he will naturally return to the capital with them!"
"Second Brother!" Dongfang Han walked into the pavilion with a big smile, his handsome face full of youthful vigor.
"Hmm!" Dongfang Heng replied indifferently, his attitude extremely detached, completely different from his indifference towards Dongfang Xun.
Dongfang Han knew his cold nature well and didn't mind. He smiled and looked at Shen Lixue, blinking to hide the amazement in his eyes: "This is... Second Sister-in-law!"
Shen Lixue smiled and said, "Dongfang Heng and I are not married yet, just call me by my name!" Dongfang Han's personality seemed alright, and Dongfang Heng was too lazy to pay attention to him, so Shen Lixue dealt with him for him.
Dongfang Han waved his hand dismissively: "There are no outsiders here, so I'll still call you Second Sister-in-law!"
"Whatever you want!" Shen Lixue secretly raised her eyebrows. Dongfang Han was really a natural at making friends. He was so enthusiastic and casual when talking to her, someone he had just met.
She ordered the guards to remove the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and brought out a teapot, teacups, and snacks. She shook Dongfang Heng's hand and looked at Dongfang Han: "Sit down and let's talk!"
"Thank you, Second Sister-in-law!" Dongfang Han sat down at the stone table without any ceremony, poured himself a cup of tea, drank it quickly, and squinted his eyes in enjoyment, as if savoring the taste: "The tea at home is still the best. In Yang County for three years, I drank bitter tea every day, and my mouth was turning bitter!"
Dongfang Heng held a teacup in his hand, his gaze fixed on the stone table, expressionless and silent.
"Once we return to the capital, you can drink as much as you want!" Shen Lixue's gaze darkened, her smile subtly hinting at the situation.
"Yes, my dad said that this time he's going back to Beijing and he won't be leaving again!" Dongfang Han picked up a piece of pastry, put it in his mouth, and savored it, nodding repeatedly in praise: "Homemade pastries taste the best!"
Shen Lixue raised her lips. In the remote and impoverished Yang County, nothing, no matter how good, could compare to the Holy King's Mansion. Even the worst pastries and the cheapest tea were better than those from Yang County.
"Second Brother, I heard your condition has worsened again. These are medicinal herbs I bought from Yang County, mainly for treating heart problems!" Dongfang Han took out a small wooden box, quickly opened it, and a bunch of dark green herbs appeared in Shen Lixue's eyes.
Yang County is surrounded by mountains, which are home to many medicinal herbs. Occasionally, some precious medicinal materials are also found there. This particular herb is one of the more valuable ones, and judging by its color, it must have been dug up not long ago.
"Thank you!" Dongfang Heng glanced at the medicinal herbs, his expression neither happy nor sad, his tone still cold and emotionless.
"Brothers, no need to be so polite!" Dongfang Han seemed pleased to hear the thanks and pushed the medicinal herbs toward Dongfang Heng. Shen Lixue said, "Quickly put them away; you can use them for your second brother's medicine later!"
"Thank you!" Dongfang Heng didn't seem to want to take the herbs. Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows, reached out to collect the herbs, and secretly glared at him. They weren't even married yet, and he was already treating her like a doting mother-in-law.
"Cough cough cough!" Dongfang Heng suddenly coughed violently, his tall body trembling slightly, and bright red blood flowed rapidly between his fingers.
"Dongfang Heng!" Shen Lixue exclaimed in surprise. Forgetting about the herbs, she hurriedly supported Dongfang Heng's arm. The silver needles moved with lightning speed, instantly piercing several major acupoints on his chest to alleviate his symptoms. She looked up and ordered the expressionless guards outside the second gate, "Quickly go and fetch the Ghost Doctor from Southern Xinjiang!"
"Yes!" the guard replied and quickly ran towards the pharmacy.
Blood continued to flow from between Dongfang Heng's fingers, and Shen Lixue kept wiping it away with a silk handkerchief, her heart filled with anxiety. Wasn't he supposed to be fully recovered within half a month? How could he suddenly have a relapse?
"Li Xue... help me back to my room!" A sharp pain shot through his heart, as if several sharp steel needles were piercing it. Dongfang Heng's chest was churning with blood and qi. No matter how he tried to circulate his internal energy, he could not suppress it. His words were slurred and bloody.
“Okay!” Shen Lixue understood. She put his arm around her neck, used her other hand to support his waist, slowly stood up, and walked out of the pavilion step by step.
Dongfang Heng was completely powerless, his weight almost entirely resting on Shen Lixue. Looking at the cold sweat on the forehead of the little woman in his arms, he wanted to wipe it away for her, but his arms were too weak to move. He wanted to say thank you and words of comfort, but instead, he coughed up streams of blood.
His snow-white clothes were stained with large patches of bright red blood, and he had fainted on Shen Lixue. He wanted to apologize for getting her clothes dirty, but a wave of dizziness washed over him. Just before his consciousness faded, he saw Shen Lixue's anxious little face, and a smile appeared on his lips. Lixue, I'm sorry!
A gust of wind blew by, bringing fresh moisture. Dongfang Han snapped back to reality in an instant. Looking at the large patch of blood on the ground, he couldn't help but frown and his lips twitched.
Dongfang Heng's illness has flared up again. It's terrifying. He's been living like this for the past three years. It's truly tragic, a living hell. It's a miracle that he's managed to hold on until now! It's a miracle!
If it were him, he probably wouldn't have lasted six months!
Looking up at Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, who had disappeared into the distance, he blinked, picked up the medicinal herbs on the table, and chased after them: "Second brother, second sister-in-law, we forgot to bring the medicinal herbs. Give this medicine to second brother!"
Maple Pine Courtyard
Several guards carried basins of water in and out, bustling about. The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang was taking Dongfang Heng's pulse in the inner room, not allowing anyone to disturb him. Shen Lixue stood in the outer room, pacing back and forth anxiously, her heart burning with worry.
"Why did Dongfang Heng suddenly fall ill?" Dongfang Xun walked into the room, his gentle eyes now filled with a layer of ice.
"I don't know either." Shen Lixue shook her head, stopped walking, and tried to calm herself down.
"Dongfang Heng took the medicine from the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang; he wouldn't have fallen ill for no reason!" Dongfang Xun said each word clearly, his gaze unwavering.
"But he didn't drink anything, he didn't do anything, and then suddenly he fell ill!" Shen Lixue carefully recalled the situation. Dongfang Heng's environment was no different from usual, except...
Shen Lixue's cold gaze suddenly turned to Dongfang Han. When he wasn't in the Holy King's Mansion, Dongfang Heng was perfectly fine. But as soon as he returned, Dongfang Heng fell ill. Was it a coincidence, or was it intentional?