As he listened, Dongfang Heng stepped out of the room, looked at the respectful steward, and said in a deep voice, "I will come to pick up Li Xue after half an incense stick's time. On the day of Prince Zhan's wedding, which is a joyous occasion, I do not wish for anything to happen to the Prince Zhan's residence and ruin this wedding celebration. Does the steward understand what I mean?"
The implication was that if Shen Lixue were to have an accident at the Zhan Prince's Mansion, he would destroy the mansion.
"Your humble servant understands. Prince An, please rest assured that the Princess Consort is staying at the Zhan Prince's residence and will be absolutely unharmed." The steward solemnly assured him, his words sincere, almost as if he were raising his hand to swear an oath.
"That's good." The sun was rising higher and higher, and if he didn't go to the Crown Prince's residence to offer his congratulations soon, it would be too late. Dongfang Heng took a deep look at the inner room, turned around, and strode forward.
Watching his tall, slender white figure walk out of the courtyard and disappear from sight, the butler secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He took a step forward, stood at the main entrance, and quietly peered into the inner room. The inner room was dimly lit, and he couldn't see clearly what was inside. Through the semi-transparent curtains, he could vaguely see a small protrusion on the large bed, where Shen Lixue was resting.
A smile played on his lips as he strode out of the courtyard. Shen Lixue had stayed in the guest room to rest; his mission was complete, and he could now report back to Prince Zhan.
Just as he stepped out of the east wing, he ran into Dongfang Zhan. He had changed out of his garish bright red wedding robe and was now wearing an exquisite and elegant azure brocade robe that accentuated his tall and slender figure. His handsome face was so striking that it was impossible to look away. "How did it go?"
"Your Highness, Dongfang Heng went to the Crown Prince's residence to offer his congratulations and returned half an incense stick later. Shen Lixue is resting inside." The steward pointed to the small courtyard in the east wing, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
Dongfang Zhan felt a slight joy in his heart, but then his eyelids darkened: "Why would Dongfang Heng agree to let Shen Lixue stay?" Knowing that he had ill intentions towards Shen Lixue, why would he still let her stay in the Zhanwang Mansion? Could it be that there is some kind of conspiracy?
As the Azure Flame King, Dongfang Zhan possesses remarkable strategic skills, and his thinking and considerations are more comprehensive than those of the steward.
The steward chuckled and said, "Your Highness, Shen Lixue is pregnant and very sleepy. A carriage is still a carriage, and no matter how comfortable it is, it can't compare to a large bed. Dongfang Heng had no choice but to leave her at the Zhan Prince's residence to rest."
Dongfang Zhan frowned: "She's only two months pregnant, how can she be so sleepy?"
From the Holy King's Mansion to the Zhan King's Mansion, and then to watching his wedding, it would have been at most half an incense stick's time. In a day of twelve hours, she would be awake for at least three or four hours. Yet, after only half an incense stick's time, she was so sleepy that she couldn't keep her eyes open. Something was amiss.
"Your Highness may not know this, but pregnant women are physically weak and sleep much more than ordinary people. If there is any strenuous activity the night before, they will sleep very late the next day. Right now is the time when pregnant women are sleepy, and they will feel better in the evening."
The housekeeper, being an experienced person, recognized what had happened to Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue the moment he saw her lips. It wasn't surprising that she was so tired she could fall asleep standing up.
Intense action! Dongfang Zhan's gaze sharpened as he thought of Shen Lixue's luscious lips and the marks of lovemaking on her neck. Last night, the two of them had made love passionately, and Shen Lixue must not have had enough rest before being dragged to Zhan Wang Mansion to offer congratulations. Naturally, she wouldn't be in much spirits. He was just overthinking it.
"It's alright, you can go now. Don't let anyone disturb the east wing."
"Yes!" the steward replied and hurried away. He had no right to interfere in his master's affairs, nor could he. The Zhan Prince's Mansion belonged to Dongfang Zhan, so let him do whatever he wanted.
Dongfang Zhan walked into the east wing, step by step, slowly approaching the small courtyard where Shen Lixue was. In the center of the courtyard, Zi Mo stood steadily with his sword in hand, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, vigilantly watching the movements around him.
Dongfang Zhan raised an eyebrow. Dongfang Heng had learned his lesson. He was worried about Shen Lixue and had arranged for Zi Mo to protect her... No... not just Zi Mo!
He listened intently, and several breaths of varying depths came from the empty courtyard. Two... three... five. Five guards were quietly lurking in the courtyard, ready to be at Zi Mo's command at any time.
Dongfang Heng was truly dedicated, arranging so many guards to protect Shen Lixue both openly and secretly. Unfortunately, with Zi Mo and the others' abilities alone, they couldn't stop Dongfang Zhan.
A cold smile played on his lips as Dongfang Zhan slipped away from the main gate and went to the back of the courtyard. Standing by the window, he listened intently. Soft, shallow breathing could be heard inside; it was a woman resting. Gently pushing open the window and parting the curtains, he jumped into the room and silently walked toward the carved bed.
The bed curtains were semi-transparent, allowing a beautiful figure to be clearly seen lying under the soft brocade quilt. She was facing inwards, her back to him, so he couldn't see her face. The light purple Xiang dress placed beside the bed emitted a delicate fragrance that drifted in the breeze. Her slender figure and jet-black hair were undoubtedly those of Shen Lixue.
Dongfang Zhan lifted the bed curtains and carefully sat down on the edge of the bed. His fair fingers slowly reached out and gently stroked the woman's soft, dark hair. His sharp eyes sparkled with tenderness that he himself did not notice. This was the first time he had been so close to her in all the time they had known each other.
There was no rejection, no harsh words, they just naturally moved closer together. He could clearly hear her soft breathing and heartbeat: "Do you know? You are the second woman I've ever cared about."
The first was his mother, who left him when he was three years old, and his life changed drastically from then on. Although Ye Qianmei was his sister, the two did not have much contact. When he learned that she was his sister, she had already died. He felt guilty towards her, but had no feelings for her. As for Shen Lixue, she affected his life.
The woman on the large bed was fast asleep, seemingly unaware of the approaching strangers.
Dongfang Zhan smiled, looking at the woman, and murmured to himself, "Do you remember the first time we met? In front of the artificial hill in the Prime Minister's residence, you walked so naturally and refreshingly into the sunlight, illuminating the darkness in my heart..."
He approached Shen Lixue because she was Dongfang Heng's fiancée. With the downfall of the Wu State Duke's Mansion, Prime Minister Shen sided with Shen Yingxue, leaving Shen Lixue with no advantage. He also thought that Shen Yingxue would be Dongfang Heng's future Princess Consort, which is why he focused his attention on Shen Yingxue.
He planned to scheme against Dongfang Heng before carefully studying the woman who brought him warmth, but unexpectedly, Dongfang Heng was in love with Shen Lixue. Before he could take any action, Dongfang Heng had already married her and brought her back to the Holy King's Mansion.
After his mother's death, his only belief in life was revenge, to ascend the throne and become a superior person. The appearance of Shen Lixue brought different feelings to his heart. It can be said that she brought a ray of sunshine to his dark life. Unfortunately, he failed to hold on to this only ray of sunshine and watched helplessly as she passed him by.
"I will not give up anything that belongs to me." Dongfang Zhan's hand slipped under the quilt, running down his hair, and he grabbed the woman's clothes, tearing at them forcefully. He gritted his teeth and said, "Shen Yingxue belongs to Dongfang Heng, and you belong to me..."
"Ah... what are you doing?" A large hand touched her skin, and a chill spread through her body. The woman on the bed suddenly opened her eyes and screamed sharply.
Dongfang Zhan suddenly stopped. No, this wasn't Li Xue's voice.
A large, iron-like hand gripped the woman's chin, turning her face around. Her beautiful oval face was very familiar, and her lovely eyes were filled with tears, making her look pitiful. Her delicate skin was captivating, comparable to Shen Lixue's, but it wasn't her.
His deep eyes blazed with intense anger: "Why is it you?"
Dongfang Zhan was furious, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, and he was using so much force that it seemed he could crush the woman's chin.
"Your Highness Zhan, please be gentle...please be gentle..." The woman couldn't break free from his clutches, her small hands weakly pounding his wrist as she pleaded desperately. Tears welled up in her beautiful eyes, her pitiful appearance evoking tenderness in all who beheld her. But Dongfang Zhan showed no mercy, angrily demanding, "Shen Yingxue, what are you doing here? Where is Shen Lixue?"
"I don't know... I don't know anything... cough cough cough..." Shen Yingxue had always known Dongfang Zhan to be gentle, elegant, and polite. This was the first time she had ever seen him so ruthless and heartless. In a panic, she begged for mercy repeatedly: "Your Highness Zhan... my jaw is going to break... please let go..."
“Tell me where Shen Lixue is, or else…” Dongfang Zhan’s deliberately lowered voice carried a hint of gritted teeth, and his sharp eyes flashed with cold light. Shen Yingxue had no doubt that if she did not tell him Shen Lixue’s whereabouts, he would kill her without hesitation.
"I don't know where Shen Lixue is, I really don't know." A sense of despair rose in Shen Yingxue's heart. She had only followed Shen Lixue's plan and was lying here waiting for Dongfang Zhan. How could she know where Shen Lixue had gone?
"Looks like you're tired of living." Dongfang Zhan's eyes turned cold, and his large hand moved to Shen Yingxue's neck. Shen Yingxue felt her neck tighten, and an overwhelming sense of suffocation rushed into her mind. Her mouth was wide open, but she couldn't say a word or breathe in any air. Her lungs felt like they were about to explode, and she felt a heavy, uncomfortable discomfort.
She needed to breathe, she needed to breathe! Her eyes bulged out, her arms flailed wildly, she struggled desperately, tearing her and Dongfang Zhan's clothes into a mess.
Dongfang Zhan ignored her, coldly watching Shen Yingxue, who was on the verge of death. Her tongue was sticking out, and her eyes were bulging, making her look as ugly as could be, mercilessly polluting his vision. He frowned and clenched his fist. How dare she team up with Shen Yingxue to play him? Die!
"Prince Zhan, would you like to come with us to the palace for a banquet..." The tightly closed door was suddenly pushed open, and Nangong Xiao walked in slowly, waving his folding fan lightly. His devilish face was full of a smug smile. When he saw Dongfang Zhan and Shen Yingxue in the inner room, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Nangong Xiao, what are you doing standing at the door? You're blocking my way." The Fifth Prince complained, pushing Nangong Xiao aside and walking in. Dongfang Zhan and Shen Yingxue were standing close together. From his angle, the two of them were facing each other, about to get intimate.
Blinking hard, Dongfang Zhan and Shen Yingxue remained inseparable. The Fifth Prince hurriedly turned around, his childish face flushed red: "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I didn't know you were with your sister-in-law..."
The noblemen who were about to enter the house all stopped in their tracks, their lips twitching. Prince Zhan had married a principal wife and taken a concubine, enjoying the blessings of having two wives, but on their wedding night, they should be with the principal wife. It was somewhat inappropriate for him to be intimate with a concubine here...
"Prince Zhan, this is a guest room. Why did you bring your concubine here?" Nangong Xiao asked, slowly waving his folding fan, puzzled.