"I don't know anything about gift lists, you figure it out!" There were too many gifts on the list, and many of them were things that Shen Lixue had never seen before, making her dizzy just looking at them.
"Then I will hand the gift list over to the steward and let him make a grand arrangement!" Dongfang Heng is very good at leading troops and fighting battles, and he can also handle the affairs of the Holy King's Mansion properly, but he has never arranged a wedding before and does not know what to pay attention to. The gift list and arrangements will be temporarily handed over to the steward.
“Okay!” Shen Lixue nodded. She was a modern person and not familiar with the rules and procedures for marriage in ancient times.
Looking at the guards coming and going in the courtyard, and thinking about the quietness of the mansion, Shen Lixue asked in confusion, "Dongfang Yi was beheaded, but why is there no movement from Dongfang Han's side?" It's as if Dongfang Yi is still alive, there isn't even a sound of crying.
Dongfang Heng sneered, "Dongfang Yi committed a capital crime and was beheaded by the Emperor. It's not a glorious thing. How dare his wives and concubines cry!"
"Your Highness, aren't you heartbroken?" Shen Lixue asked cautiously, after all, Dongfang Yi was his biological son.
Dongfang Heng's gaze narrowed slightly: "My grandfather has always lived in his own courtyard and rarely paid attention to the affairs of the manor. His relationship with Master Yi was also just so-so. He may not have received the news of his death yet!"
Shen Lixue frowned: "Dongfang Yi has passed away, and my mother's three-year mourning period is not over yet. Shouldn't we get married...?"
"You want to postpone the wedding?" Dongfang Heng's expression darkened slightly, his sharp gaze shifting between light and shadow.
Shen Lixue shook her head: "No, I just feel..."
"That's good!" Dongfang Heng's expression softened instantly. "Qingyan is going through a turbulent time, and the situation is somewhat chaotic. We should get married as soon as possible to avoid any further complications!"
An unexpected turn of events? Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened, and she lowered her voice mysteriously: "Dongfang Heng, come with me somewhere tonight!"
"Where?" Dongfang Heng's handsome face lightly touched Shen Lixue's beautiful face as he asked casually.
Shen Lixue smiled mysteriously: "You'll know when we get there!"
As night fell, Shen Lixue changed into a black outfit and covered her face with a black mask, revealing only her clear and beautiful eyes. She checked herself in the mirror to make sure there were no flaws, then looked behind the screen and asked, "Dongfang Heng, are you ready?"
"Alright!" A figure in white robes stepped out from behind the screen, his flowing garments exuding elegance and grace, like a celestial being.
Shen Lixue frowned. She told Dongfang Heng to change his clothes, and he did. He changed into another set of white clothes: "Are you planning to eavesdrop in white?" In the dark night, white clothes are the most conspicuous. Dongfang Heng was so blatant.
Dongfang Heng smiled slightly: "After drinking the Jade Glaze, my internal strength has recovered. Looking across the entire Qingyan, there are very few people who can detect me. Wearing white clothes, others can't easily spot me either!"
Shen Lixue sighed and rubbed her forehead: "We're going to a master's house!" That person's martial arts skills are almost as good as Dongfang Heng's, and we might be discovered if we're not careful.
"Don't worry, nothing will go wrong, let's go!" Dongfang Heng stretched out his long arm and hugged Shen Lixue's small waist tightly. His slender figure instantly went out of the window, soared into the air, and flew in one direction.
"Turn left, go forward, turn left..." Under Shen Lixue's command, Dongfang Heng used his lightness skill to move rapidly through the darkness and soon arrived at a villa in the suburbs.
Looking at the plaque above the gate of the villa, Dongfang Heng's gaze sharpened: "Are you here to see Nangong Xiao, or the King of Yunnan?"
"Search both of them. Be careful not to get caught!" Shen Lixue lowered her voice. The guards in the villa were elites brought by the King of Yunnan and could not be underestimated.
Dongfang Heng nodded, his eyelids drooping, and with his arm around her small waist, he landed on a rooftop. His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. The two of them crouched down gently, carefully lifted a tile, and quietly peered inside.
This is Nangong Xiao's room. The walls are inlaid with luminous pearls. The King of Yunnan stands opposite Nangong Xiao and sighs heavily: "Xiao'er, in Qingyan Capital, you must remember to conceal your talents and never let the Emperor discover your true abilities. Otherwise, just like yesterday, even if we have no intention of rebelling, we will be forced into rebellion..."
A cold glint flashed in Nangong Xiao's wicked eyes: "Father, do you want to find out who is the mastermind behind this plot to frame us?"
Yunnan Wang Li narrowed his eyes slightly and sighed, "Don't investigate this matter anymore!"
Nangong Xiao's gaze sharpened: "Does Father know who is framing us?"
The King of Yunnan shook his head and frowned, saying, "I don't know exactly who it is, but it's always the same few people. I'll be leaving the capital soon, so they shouldn't be plotting against you anymore. You're all alone here, so be careful in everything you do!"
“I know!” Nangong Xiao nodded, a cold light lingering in his eyes.
"It's late, get some rest!" The King of Yunnan patted Nangong Xiao's shoulder heavily, then turned and walked out of the room.
Nangong Xiao stood at the door, watching the King of Yunnan leave the courtyard. He turned around and slowly walked back to his room. Suddenly, he heard two breaths beside him. Startled, he looked up abruptly and saw two people appear out of nowhere beside the empty table. The man was dressed in white, elegant and handsome, while the woman was dressed in black, mysterious and noble, with a cold gaze.
Seeing Nangong Xiao walk in, Shen Lixue put down her teacup and said calmly, "Nangong Xiao, aren't you going to explain your affair with the Prince of Yunnan, Cangzhuo?"
Text 147 Hand in Hand
"Did you all hear that?" Nangong Xiao's voice was calm and indifferent.
"We didn't hear everything!" When Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng arrived on the rooftop, the conversation between the King of Yunnan and Dongfang Xiao was nearing its end. The secrets they had heard were just the tip of the iceberg.
"My father's fief is Yunnan. Do you know why I have been living in the capital for so long?" Now that the matter has been exposed, Nangong Xiao no longer intends to hide it. He gently coaxes the truth out of the secret.
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened: "You are a hostage?"
Nangong Xiao nodded, his deep gaze fixed on the dark night sky, a cold glint in his wicked eyes: "My father conquered a quarter of the Qingyan Kingdom, and was granted the title of king. His contributions are immeasurable. Over the years, Yunnan has been beautiful and prosperous under my father's rule, and the army is strong and well-equipped. Even if my father has no intention of rebelling, the emperor has always been suspicious and wary of him!"
The throne of the supreme ruler is coveted by everyone. To sit on that high position, even brothers can turn against each other and kill one another, let alone a king from another clan who has no relation to him.
The word "ruler" implies suspicion; no emperor would tolerate a prince from another family sitting on equal footing with him.
"How have you been doing in the capital all these years?" Shen Lixue's voice was soft and gentle, full of concern for her friend.
The life of a hostage is generally not easy. Nangong Xiao leisurely strolled around the capital every day, appearing carefree and dashing on the surface, but only he himself knew the true extent of his misery.
Nangong Xiao gently waved his folding fan, creating gusts of cool breeze: "My father has always been well-behaved in Yunnan and has never harbored any thoughts of rebellion. The emperor has also treated me fairly well and has not made things too difficult for me. However, there have been quite a few tests, both overt and covert."
Shen Lixue blinked: "How did the emperor test you?"
“There are many methods, one after another.” Nangong Xiao’s gaze darkened, and he raised an eyebrow at Shen Lixue: “Do you still remember Qingzhou City, where we first met?”
"Of course I remember!" Nangong Xiao ordered the guards to close the city gates tightly and fire arrows at the outside of the city. Shen Lixue was almost killed by the stray arrows.
"Going to Qingzhou to quell the beast rebellion was itself a test for me. Among those refugees outside the city, there were spies sent by the emperor to test me. I didn't want to expose my strength, so I ordered them all to be shot!" Nangong Xiao was a womanizer, a dissolute playboy, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and indiscriminately killed innocent people. The worse his impression on the emperor, the more the emperor would lower his guard.
"What would happen if the Emperor discovered your strength?" Shen Lixue asked Nangong Xiao in a low voice.
Nangong Xiao raised an eyebrow and pondered for a moment, then said casually, "He won't kill me, but he'll seriously injure me, just like Dongfang Heng's heart disease. He won't die, but he can't be cured either, and he'll be sickly for the rest of his life!"