Chapter 153: Zhan Wang Entangled with Li Xue
"Your Highness, the Prince of Zhan has hosted a small banquet at his residence, inviting many important officials!" Zi Mo said in a deep voice, handing over a neatly folded sheet of Xuan paper.
Dongfang Heng unfolded the Xuan paper, looked at the rows of familiar names on it, and his gaze narrowed slightly: "Dongfang Zhan is deliberately making things mysterious!"
Dongfang Zhan is the Prince of Qingyan, a man of exceptional talent and ability, with the support of Prime Minister Li. It is not surprising that one, two, five, or six important officials would pledge allegiance to him. However, there are dozens of such officials, all of whom hold pivotal positions in the court. It is impossible for them all to abandon the Crown Prince and pledge allegiance to him.
He held a banquet at the Prince's Mansion to win people's hearts. It seems that he is accumulating strength and preparing to confront Dongfang Heng head-on.
As night fell, Shen Lixue returned to the War King's Mansion in a carriage. Just as she lifted the curtain, a familiar voice called out, "Lixue!"
Shen Lixue was startled and looked up. Under the black sky and in the bright candlelight, a young man stood against the wind. His well-tailored blue brocade robe made his figure look even taller and more upright. His youthful face was so handsome that it was hard to look away. His gentle smile was like a spring breeze, making people unconsciously fall in love with him.
“Prince Zhan!” Shen Lixue stepped down from the carriage, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. He had just been defeated by Dongfang Heng, and instead of reflecting on his defeat at the Prince Zhan’s residence, what was he doing at the Prince Zhan’s residence?
"I have a very important matter to ask the princess!" Dongfang Zhan's smile faded, and he looked at Shen Lixue with a deep gaze.
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "What is it?"
"It's not convenient to talk here, let's go inside the manor and discuss it in detail!" Dongfang Zhan looked at the road where people occasionally passed by, lowered his voice mysteriously, and before Shen Lixue could offer him a courtesy, he had already turned around and strode into the Zhan Wang manor.
Shen Lixue's beautiful eyes blazed with anger. He treated the Zhanwang Mansion like his own home, entering without a word, showing no manners or humility befitting a guest.
"Li Xue, why aren't you coming in?" Perhaps noticing that Shen Li Xue hadn't followed, Dongfang Zhan, who was almost at the second gate, stopped, turned around, and looked at her with a puzzled expression, just like a host inviting a guest.
Shen Lixue glared at him fiercely. This was the War King's Mansion. How could she let Dongfang Zhan usurp the host's place? She quickly took a few steps, passing him by a meter, and said coldly, "Let's talk in the living room!"
As darkness fell completely, strings of lanterns were lit in the Holy King's Mansion, and two luminous pearls were embedded in the living room wall, their pale yellow light emanating a quiet and warm glow.
Shen Lixue walked into the living room, sat in the main seat, and looked coldly at Dongfang Zhan: "I wonder what brings Prince Zhan to the Zhan Prince's residence?"
"Is there any water?" Dongfang Zhan coughed a few times, his voice dry and his lips slightly pale, looking weak as if he had caught a cold.
Shen Lixue frowned and glanced at him, suppressing her displeasure, and said coldly, "Someone, bring tea!"
The fragrant tea was refreshing and pleasant. Dongfang Zhan took a few sips and exclaimed repeatedly, "Excellent tea!"
"Prince Zhan, did you come to the Zhan Prince's residence for tea?" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow at Dongfang Zhan, her lips curving into a half-smile.
Dongfang Zhan placed the teacup on the table and said seriously, "Sixth Imperial Uncle went to Qingzhou?"
“Yes!” Shen Lixue nodded. The fact that the War King went to Qingzhou was not a secret, so she had no need to hide it.
"He went to keep Lady Qingzhu company?" Dongfang Heng asked in a deep voice, looking at the bright luminous pearl on the wall.
“That’s right!” Shen Lixue nodded again, not understanding Dongfang Zhan’s intention. The court officials all knew about these things, and he was also fully aware of them, so why did he need to ask again?
"Did Sixth Imperial Uncle say when he would be back?" Dongfang Zhan asked in a low voice.
"No!" Shen Lixue shook her head. There was no one left in the capital that the War King cared about. Perhaps he would never return in his lifetime.
"What a pity." Dongfang Zhan sighed softly, his eyes dimming. "I was planning to wait for my sixth uncle to return so I could ask him for tactical advice!"
Shen Lixue frowned: "Crown Prince, Dong Yanxun, Dongfang Heng, and Nangong Xiao all understand tactics. Why don't you ask them for advice?" Dongfang Zhan is extremely intelligent and already knew that the War King would not return to the capital. Why is he talking to her about these irrelevant things? What is he trying to do?
"The Sixth Imperial Uncle is an elder who has led troops in battle for many years and is very experienced. Asking him for tactical advice is much faster than us young people figuring it out on our own!" Dongfang Zhan's words were filled with unspeakable regret.
The War King has left the capital and will never return. Dongfang Zhan kept bringing up the topic, but his real intention was not what it seemed!
Shen Lixue glanced at Dongfang Zhan discreetly, just as she was about to test him, the respectful inquiry of Butler Wang rang out from outside: "Princess, it's already late afternoon (5 PM to 7 PM). When would you like to have dinner?"
"Bring it in!" Dongfang Zhan looked towards the door and spoke before Shen Lixue could.
"Dongfang Zhan, this is the Zhanwang Mansion, not your Zhanwang Mansion!" Shen Lixue glared fiercely at Dongfang Zhan, enunciating each word with gritted teeth. From the entrance to here, he had been usurping the position, always giving orders before Shen Lixue could. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was the master of the Zhanwang Mansion.
"It was my oversight!" Dongfang Zhan smiled apologetically and asked Shen Lixue for her opinion: "I've been busy all day and am a little hungry. I'd like to have dinner first before we talk. What do you think, Lixue?"
Shen Lixue looked at the servants coming and going. They had all brought in the dishes, so how could she send them away again? She said, word by word, "Please, Prince Zhan, go ahead!" Taking the initiative, making things a fait accompli, and seizing the initiative at all times, Dongfang Zhan's strategy was truly brilliant.
The aroma of food wafted through the air, making one's mouth water. Dongfang Zhan washed his hands, lifted his robe, and sat down at the round table in the center of the room. He looked up and saw Shen Lixue sitting in the main seat without moving. He frowned almost imperceptibly: "Lixue, aren't you going to eat?"
"I'm not hungry!" Shen Lixue replied irritably, she didn't want to eat at the same table as Dongfang Zhan.
"Then I'll eat it myself!" Shen Lixue didn't want to eat, and Dongfang Zhan didn't insist. He smiled and picked up his chopsticks to eat.
He ate with elegance, charm, and slowness, chewing each bite for a long time, his gaze gentle, a smile playing on his lips, as if savoring the moment.
The aroma of food filled the entire room, wafting into her nostrils. A wave of hunger washed over Shen Lixue; her stomach was already empty, and her flat belly and slightly light body were a reminder that it was time to eat.
When she glanced sideways and saw Dongfang Zhan sitting beside the delicious food, her appetite vanished instantly.
"Mapo tofu, spicy chicken, and braised fish are my favorite dishes, and they taste excellent. The chefs at the Prince Zhan's mansion truly understand my preferences. Would Li Xue like to try some?" Dongfang Zhan picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and leisurely enjoyed himself immensely. His gentle gaze and magnetic voice, filled with praise, silently tempted Li Xue to dine with him.
"I'm not hungry!" Shen Lixue replied coldly. The delicious dishes on the table were prepared by the chefs of the War Prince's Mansion according to her preferences. It was purely coincidental that there were dishes that Dongfang Zhan liked.
Dongfang Zhan looked at Shen Lixue, her beautiful face filled with anger, her tightly pursed lips slightly pale, her cold eyes flashing with indifference and aloofness, keeping everyone at arm's length, completely unmoved. Her smile froze for a moment, and she continued to eat with her head down.
Time passed slowly, and Dongfang Zhan leisurely ate his dinner without stopping. Shen Lixue looked at the starry sky outside the window and said coldly, "Prince Zhan, it's been half an hour, aren't you full yet?"
"I'm sorry, I'm taking my time eating. I've kept Li Xue waiting!" Dongfang Zhan smiled slightly and put down his chopsticks.
Shen Lixue glanced at the dining table. There were eight dishes in total, and each dish was only touched once or twice. Dongfang Zhan didn't eat much at all, but it took him half an hour. He was deliberately stalling for time.
The servants cleared away the food and brought over a copper basin and a washbasin. Dongfang Zhan slowly washed his hands and rinsed his mouth. He then took a cup of tea and sat down next to Chen Lixue. The rising steam obscured the expression in his eyes. The aroma of the food in the room was gradually replaced by the fragrance of tea, which was refreshing and pleasant.
Shen Lixue turned to look at Dongfang Heng: "We've eaten and drunk our tea, Prince Zhan, can we now get down to business?"
"You still have two months until your coming-of-age ceremony?" Dongfang Zhan asked abruptly, lightly scraping the tea leaves on the surface of the water with the lid of his cup.