Ye Qianlong smiled, a bitter smile. A person without a heart cannot survive: "I know, but I don't regret it!"
A deep look of confusion filled Dongfang Xun's eyes. He was willing to give his heart to Dongfang Heng because Dongfang Heng was his younger brother, and he was willing to risk his life to save him. Ye Qianlong had no relation to Dongfang Heng, so why was he also willing to sacrifice himself to save Dongfang Heng?
“Li Xue thought that even if you found a suitable heart to save Dongfang Heng after I returned to Xiliang, she wouldn’t suspect anything!” Ye Qianlong saw that Dongfang Xun was just looking at him without saying anything, and assumed that he was concerned about Shen Li Xue, so he explained softly.
The shock in Dongfang Xun's eyes was beyond words. Could it be that Ye Qianlong had voluntarily given his heart to Dongfang Heng for Shen Lixue's sake?
Dongfang Heng is saved, something he has always hoped for. But facing Ye Qianlong, who is pure, innocent, and willing to offer her heart, he feels nothing but guilt, not joy: "Shen Lixue is very smart; she might figure out the truth!"
Ye Qianlong smiled calmly and composedly: "As long as you don't tell, she won't know!"
"Have you thought it through?" Dongfang Xun stared at Ye Qianlong, his eyes as mysterious as a fog, making it impossible to see through him.
"Yes!" Ye Qianlong nodded gently. He had already made his decision the moment he rode back.
Dongfang Xun looked up at the sky. In the dark sky, the stars twinkled, each one like Ye Qianlong's eyes. He closed his eyelids, no longer looking at those simple stars, and coldly ordered, "Return to the Holy King's Mansion!"
A night breeze blew into the room through the half-open window. On the carved bed, the semi-transparent gauze fluttered, and a person could be vaguely seen lying on the bed.
Shen Lixue walked to the window, closed it, and casually picked up the nearest luminous pearl. The light in the room instantly dimmed, becoming warm and cozy.
The soft, even breathing sounds emanated from behind the light gauze, revealing the man's profound inner strength.
Shen Lixue lifted the light veil and sat silently on the edge of the bed. She reached out her small hand and gently stroked Dongfang Heng's pale, bloodless face. Once upon a time, this man was handsome and aloof, the pride of the entire Qingyan people. But now, he only had three days left. He was so weak that it broke people's hearts. A tear overflowed from her eyes and dripped onto the back of Dongfang Heng's hand.
"I'm fine, don't cry!" With a gentle voice, her jade-like fingers lifted up and gently wiped away the tears on Shen Lixue's face.
Shen Lixue was startled, looked up at Dongfang Heng, her eyes slightly red, with glistening tears still welling up: "You're awake!"
"Mmm!" Dongfang Heng nodded, his eyes looking somewhat tired, and his voice weak and listless: "I'm so tired from sleeping, help me up!"
"Okay!" Shen Lixue helped Dongfang Heng sit up, considerately placing a soft cushion behind him to make him more comfortable, and poured him a glass of water, bringing it to his lips: "Drink some water!"
Patients often become dehydrated after waking up from a long sleep, and Dongfang Heng was no exception. He slowly finished the water in his cup, his slightly chapped lips now showing a faint rosy hue.
"Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?" Shen Lixue put down her water glass and asked Dongfang Heng, who had not had a drop of water for several hours.
"I'm not hungry!" Dongfang Heng shook his head with a smile, his large hand tightly holding Shen Lixue's fair hand, his obsidian-like eyes unfathomable: "Lixue, how much longer do I have?"
Shen Lixue's eyes flickered, quickly concealing the expression in them, and she forced a smile: "Don't talk nonsense, you'll be fine!"
"I know my own illness well." Dongfang Heng smiled, gazing deeply at Shen Lixue, a hint of pain and reluctance surfacing in the depths of his eyes: "I will arrange everything, and no one will bully you again..."
"I won't let you leave alone, I... I will go with you..." Shen Lixue grasped Dongfang Heng's jade-like hand and firmly stated her decision: no matter heaven or hell, she would go with him.
"Don't talk nonsense. You are still young and can have a better life. There are many outstanding men in Qingyan, not just me..." Dongfang Heng's voice was very weak, as if he had used up all his strength.
"But I only love you!" Shen Lixue was always good at hiding her emotions, but when faced with Dongfang Heng, who was seriously ill and could leave at any time, yet still had his heart full of thoughts for her, she could no longer remain calm, and tears poured down like a burst dam.
"Forget me, and you can like other men. I can't be with you for life, but they can!" Dongfang Heng's smile was tinged with bitterness. He had always thought that he could be with her for life, but fate played a cruel trick on him and didn't give him the chance.
"I'm sorry!" Shen Lixue leaned on Dongfang Heng's shoulder, heartbroken. Ye Qianlong's heart could save Dongfang Heng. By sending Ye Qianlong away, she had cut off his last hope of survival. However, she really didn't want to hurt the innocent.
"After I'm gone, you must live a good life. Don't rush to find me. Keep the Crystal Swallow safe; it can ward off poison..." Dongfang Heng gently stroked Shen Lixue's black hair and spoke softly. As he was about to die, he had come to terms with everything.
"Crystal Swallow!" Shen Lixue's crying stopped abruptly. She straightened up and quickly wiped away her tears: "Dongfang Heng, you rest first, I'll go out for a bit!"
"Where are you going?" Dongfang Heng held Shen Yuxue's hand tightly, reluctant to let her go.
"I'm going to find the Jade Glaze; it can save your life!" Shen Lixue said each word with unprecedented determination.
“Jade Glazed Glass has disappeared.” Dongfang Heng suffers from a heart ailment and has sought many treatments. He had also heard of Jade Glazed Glass and, knowing it was extinct, he still tried his best to find it. He searched everywhere, from the capital to towns and cities and even pharmacies on the border, but he couldn’t find it. How could Shen Lixue possibly have found it in just a few days?
“The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang said that there is jade glass in the mountains where jade is produced. Jade glass and jade should be related. I can’t find jade glass in the pharmacy. I’ll go to the jade shop to ask. Maybe someone has collected jade glass!” As long as there is a glimmer of hope, Shen Lixue will not give up. If she can’t find jade glass, she will go to accompany Dongfang Heng, whether he wants to or not.
"Then be careful!" Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow. He went to the jewelry shop to find Yu Liuli. He really didn't expect that Shen Lixue was so stubborn. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn't easily waver. He didn't stop her anymore and solemnly told her to be careful.
Shen Lixue nodded and squeezed Dongfang Heng's hand tightly: "I'll be back soon!" He can hold on for a few more days; there's still a glimmer of hope.
Dongfang Heng leaned against the headboard, flicked open the tightly closed window, and looked through the window at Shen Lixue in the courtyard. In the morning light, she was wearing a snow-blue dress and walking quickly, her small face full of anxiety and determination.
A faint smile played on her lips. She was worried about him and had done her best to find medicine for him. That thought alone was enough...
Shen Lixue walked out of Fengsong Courtyard and disappeared. Dongfang Heng stared silently at the doorway where she disappeared for a long, long time, until a sharp pain shot through his chest, and he suddenly snapped out of his daze and slowly withdrew his gaze.
Taking a deep breath, just as he was about to take the medicine, Dongfang Xun's figure in light blue quickly entered the inner room, his face full of joy, but not reaching his eyes: "Second brother, a suitable heart has been found, you can have a heart transplant!"
"Really?" The good news came too suddenly, and Dongfang Heng was stunned for a moment. After regaining his senses, he was also a little incredulous. It was not easy to find a heart that matched his body.
"Why would your elder brother lie to you!" Dongfang Xun took out a pill and placed it in Dongfang Heng's hand, his smile gentle: "Quickly take this pill so that the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang can give you a heart transplant!"
The pill in Dongfang Heng's hand emitted a faint fragrance; it was a sedative. His sharp eyes turned to Dongfang Xun: "Brother, whose heart did you use?"
Dongfang Xun smiled and said, "He was a woodcutter who went up the mountain to chop wood and accidentally fell down a high slope!"
As if to verify his words, two guards carried over a strange man. The man's eyes were closed, and he was lifeless, clearly dead. His legs were limp, as if he had broken them.
"Please send more silver to his family, brother!" Dongfang Heng could rest assured that he could take the heart from the recently deceased.
"Of course!" Dongfang Xun smiled slightly, watching Dongfang Heng take the pill and fall into a deep sleep without blinking. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His second brother was too clever and not easy to fool. Fortunately, Lin Yan sent someone to deliver this recently deceased corpse. Otherwise, he really wouldn't know how to deceive Dongfang Heng.
"Your Highness, what should we do with this body?" The guards asked Dongfang Xun in hushed tones, seeing that Dongfang Heng had already fallen into a deep sleep.
"Send the body back to his home and give his family one hundred taels of silver!" The body had helped them a great deal, so naturally they should treat it well.
"Yes!" The guards carried the body out of the inner room.
Ye Qianlong walked in slowly and looked at the carved bed. On the light-colored brocade quilt, Dongfang Heng lay quietly, his face pale and his expression haggard, but it did not diminish his handsome appearance or his sharp aura. A bitter smile appeared on his lips. The person Li Xue liked was him!