"Judging from the blood on Shen Yingxue's body, she has been lying here for at least the time it takes to brew two cups of tea. Young Master, you watched the commotion for so long without caring about her life or death. Why are you clamoring to save her as soon as I return?"
Shen Lixue's clear, cold eyes were as transparent as glass, and the sharp, cold light flashing within them was like a blade that could instantly pierce through all pretense.
The man was horrified, as if she had seen through his secret. He hurriedly lowered his head, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the people looking at him with confusion. He was extremely flustered and stammered, "I...I just...I just..."
"Sister... if you won't save me, fine... I'll go find a doctor myself..." As she spoke, Shen Yingxue gritted her teeth and swayed as she tried to stand up. She had lost too much blood and had no strength left. With the slightest movement, she used up all her strength, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Your Highness, the pregnant woman has fainted," a guard reported from the side.
Shen Lixue turned her head and saw that the blood beneath Shen Yingxue had stained most of the ground red. Her face was pale and bloodless, her eyes were closed, and her breath was weak. She was on the verge of death. "Someone, set up a tent and ask the physician to examine Shen Yingxue."
Shen Yingxue lost too much blood and there was no time to send her to the hospital. It would be inappropriate for her to die in front of the Holy King's Mansion in front of everyone, and it would also attract criticism from those with ulterior motives. It would be better to save her first and then make other plans.
The guards responded and went to fetch the royal physician and get the tent. The annoying voice of the passerby rang out again: "Setting up the tent will take some time. Miss Yingxue has lost too much blood. If we delay any longer, she will die. Wouldn't it be more convenient and faster to carry her into the manor for treatment?"
"Shen Yingxue has been demoted to a commoner, and many of her actions are restricted. Can she openly enter the Holy King's Mansion?" Shen Lixue coldly looked at the passerby man.
Inviting a god is easy, but sending him away is difficult. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Shen Yingxue was helped into the Holy King's Mansion for treatment. Even if she recovered and was kicked out, if she had an accident on the street, people would still point fingers at the Holy King's Mansion.
By having Shen Yingxue stay in a tent outside the mansion, it was shown that she was an outsider, and that the Holy King's Mansion was only doing a good deed by saving her, and that her daily life had nothing to do with the Holy King's Mansion.
The man was speechless. Shen Yingxue's lowly status was a demotion imposed by the emperor, and she was indeed unsuitable to enter the Holy Prince's Mansion. If he were to argue with Shen Lixue, he would be questioning the emperor's decision.
“This is the Holy King’s Mansion. If just anyone can come and go as they please, what will become of the Holy King’s Mansion’s prestige? Shen Yingxue has lost too much blood and is on the verge of death. I ordered people to set up a tent and invited the manor doctor to examine her to ensure her safety. Isn’t that enough?”
Shen Lixue's clear, cold voice carried a sharp, icy edge, and the cold glint in her dark eyes was like the snow that never melts on the Tianshan Mountains. The man was secretly alarmed and lowered his head, saying, "Princess Consort, please forgive me. I was only worried about Miss Yingxue's health and had no other intentions."
The gazes of the crowd towards the man carried a hint of reproach. The Holy King's Mansion was the royal residence, the home of the Azure Flame War God. How could one simply walk in? The pregnant woman lying on the ground was the former Shen Yingxue, now nothing more than a beggar. If she had collapsed in front of some other noble family, she would have been thrown far away long ago. The Princess Consort of Anjun was willing to help save her; what more could one ask for?
"Young Master is truly kind to Yingxue. You took her to the clinic as soon as you found her, and she is already receiving treatment. How could she be seriously ill and on the verge of death?"
Suddenly, Shen Lixue seemed to realize something and looked up at the man: "Could it be that you have been waiting for me to come back and heal Shen Yingxue?"
"No...no." The man hurriedly shook his head, his palms sweating nervously. "I was startled by the blood beneath her, and when I came to my senses, you arrived..."
"Really? What a coincidence." Shen Lixue deliberately drew out her voice with a hint of sarcasm, as if she had seen through everything. The man shuddered upon hearing this, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. Had Shen Lixue noticed something?
Shen Lixue watched as four guards pulled up the tent and carried the unconscious, blood-covered Shen Yingxue inside. The royal physician also hurried in with his medicine chest, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Shen Yingxue is already being treated, everyone can go back without worry."
The onlookers discussed amongst themselves and dispersed in twos and threes. The young man secretly breathed a sigh of relief, slowly turned around, and prepared to leave with the crowd. Shen Lixue's cold voice rang out behind him: "I wonder where you live, young master. Since you care so much about Yingxue, I will have her pay a visit to thank you when she wakes up."
The man was startled, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead again. His heart, which had just settled, was in suspense once more. He pretended to be calm and said, "Your Highness, you flatter me. I am just an ordinary passerby and have no reason to care about Shen Yingxue... I take my leave." To reveal his address would be tantamount to courting death!
Before Shen Lixue could speak, the man's eyes flashed, and he ran forward like the wind, not daring to stop for even a moment. He looked like he was fleeing in panic.
Shen Lixue watched the man's figure, a cold smile playing on her lips. She knew there was something wrong with that man.
"Princess Consort, should I send someone to follow him?" Zi Mo asked from behind.
“No need.” Shen Lixue shook his head. His goal was to get Shen Yingxue into the Holy King’s Mansion. Once Shen Yingxue woke up, the truth would come out.
"Quickly bring hot water," came the physician's command from inside the tent.
The maids carried basins of hot water into the tent, and when they came out, the clear water had turned into bloody water, a thick red that was quite eerie, and a faint smell of blood wafted in the wind.
Shen Lixue frowned as she looked at the basin full of bright red blood. With so much blood lost, was Shen Yingxue still alive?
Gradually, the maids and servants slowed down their comings and goings, and whispers came from inside the quiet tent. Shen Lixue lifted the curtain and went in. The physician had finished his treatment and was standing to the side washing his hands.
Shen Yingxue lay quietly on the simple wooden bed, her eyes closed, her face pale and bloodless. The maids cleaned the blood-stained sheets and were covering her with a blanket.
"How is it?" Shen Lixue asked in a low voice.
The royal physician turned around and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the master's life has been saved, but as for the child... the treatment was too late, and the child could not be saved..."
Shen Lixue turned to look at the unconscious Shen Yingxue. The child was the product of Lei Cong's rape of her, which she hated. She miscarried, and without the child, it suited her just fine.
When will she wake up?
The physician pondered for a moment: "It will take at least three hours." Having miscarried and lost too much blood, Shen Yingxue was extremely weak and desperately needed rest.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Three hours? No problem, she'll wait!
In a daze, Shen Yingxue felt her whole body go limp, she didn't even have the strength to turn over, her head was spinning, her eyes were too tired to open, her throat was parched and she couldn't help but cough a few times, murmuring, "Water...water..."
Through her blurry vision, a slender figure approached, gently lifting her shoulder and placing a cup of warm water to her lips. She was extremely thirsty and drank it down eagerly.
Clear water flowed from her mouth into her throat, then into her stomach and belly, making her feel warm and comfortable all over. Shen Yingxue sighed softly, and a clear, familiar female voice rang in her ears: "You're awake."
It was her! Shen Yingxue was startled and suddenly opened her eyes. Shen Lixue was sitting lazily on a recliner three meters away from her. Her black hair was like a waterfall, her face was rosy, and her Xiangfei purple Xiang dress was made of precious cloud silk brocade, which was soft and comfortable. It complemented the purple hairpin and teardrop earrings in her hair, making her look even more fresh, noble, elegant and charming.
What are you doing here?
Shen Lixue sipped her tea and said casually, "Shen Yingxue, stop pretending. Didn't you deliberately collapse at the entrance of the Holy King's Mansion? You even argued with me for a bit. Don't you remember?"
Shen Yingxue was startled, recalling the man in black she had encountered in the alley. In her dazed state, she had heard him instruct her to use every means possible and spare no expense to infiltrate the Holy King's Mansion. It turned out he had left her at the entrance of the Holy King's Mansion.
Her eyes flickered unnaturally, and she feigned confusion, saying, "Shen Lixue, you've misunderstood. I was just taking a walk in the street; I didn't intentionally fall down at the entrance of the Holy King's Mansion." She absolutely couldn't let Shen Lixue know that she was planning to infiltrate the Holy King's Mansion.
"I saw you arguing with Shen Yelei when I passed by a small alley. When I returned to the Holy King's Mansion, you were already lying outside the door. I used a carriage to get around, but I couldn't even walk as fast as you, a pregnant woman with a big belly. Did you fly?" Shen Lixue's voice rose slightly, carrying a strong sense of sarcasm.
Shen Yingxue was startled. The man in black had indeed grabbed her arm and carried her to the gates of the Holy King's Mansion. Shen Lixue hadn't seen the specifics, but she was already suspicious of him. She had to come up with a suitable reason to cover it up: "Actually, I..."
"Shen Yingxue, I have no mood to listen to your nonsense. I know you are under someone's orders to try to sneak into the Holy King's Mansion. I might as well tell you directly, in this life, as long as I am here, you can forget about stepping into the Holy King's Mansion."
Shen Lixue's cold voice was like ice in the twelfth lunar month, making Shen Yingxue's heart shiver. Her eyes flickered unnaturally. Her purpose was easily seen through by Shen Lixue. She couldn't even enter the gate of the Holy King's Mansion. How could she complete the task given to her by the man in black?
The man in black saved her life, but she failed to complete the task he assigned her. In a fit of anger, he will surely kill her.