"Wan'er--"
"Seventh Sister-in-law!"
Seeing this, Huangfu Yi and Meng Junheng felt a pang of regret. Even if Huangfu Mi was really dead, even if it was the worst news, it would be better than giving hope only to disappoint them, and in such a utter way.
"I'm fine." Meng Wan gritted her teeth, looked at the two people's concerned expressions, and forced a smile. "No matter why that person disappeared, as long as he said he had seen someone similar to Huangfu Mi, there is hope. As long as there is hope, we should not be disappointed."
Such resilience impressed the two men. They exchanged a glance and then nodded in agreement: "That's right. Since you said you saw him in Sanyuan Town, then let's go look for him. This place is so big, I don't believe we can't find a living person here!"
Turning to the man who had led the way, he said, "Please lend us a few men, sir, so we can find our own way."
Lending someone is not a big deal, but the person knew that even if they lent someone to them, it would be in vain, because the person they were looking for was not here at all.
However, he couldn't say much. He simply followed their instructions and arranged for a few guards to accompany him, while he went with them in case of emergency.
In the following days, the three of them, along with several guards, searched everywhere. Sanyuan Town was neither large nor small. They searched all the houses, inns, and places where people could stay for five days, but they found no one who looked like Huangfu Mi.
Disappointment, nothing but disappointment, as if it were all a farce with no witnesses and Huangfu Mi never even showing up in Sanyuan Town.
After the disappointment came a series of questions: if it really hadn't happened, why did the King of Western Shu say that someone had seen it, and why did he arrange for them to come to Sanyuan Town?
The three of them were puzzled by a series of questions, but they couldn't figure it out no matter what. It was already noon, and they had to eat no matter what. So they went to a restaurant that looked fairly clean by the roadside.
The storefront wasn't large, but the interior was quite uniquely decorated. Several people sat around it, all looking rather listless, clearly frustrated because they couldn't find anyone.
Seeing this, the person who had been leading them around carefully observed their expressions and reassured them, "Don't be impatient, everyone. We'll search again tomorrow, and if it doesn't work the first time, we'll do it again. I believe that as long as we persevere, we will definitely find some clues."
As he spoke, the three men seemed uninterested, as they didn't know whether there was any hope or not. Moreover, they all had doubts in their hearts and felt that something was amiss.
Seeing that they didn't seem to care about him, the man sat down at the next table with his men, somewhat sullenly, and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Meng Wan finally raised her head: "Brother, Eighth Prince." She called to them, and Meng Junheng and Huangfu Yi sat down beside her: "Since we can't find it, let's go back."
Meng Junheng and Huangfu Yi were both taken aback. They exchanged a glance and then asked, "Have you thought it through?"
Meng Wan nodded, reached into her bosom and took out the portrait, placing it on the table. She sighed repeatedly, "The entire town of Sanyuan has been turned upside down, but there's no one who looks like him. I wonder who's lying. Since that's the case, why bother anymore? Let's go!"
With a soft sigh, the two people present couldn't help but feel a little sad. Just then, a gasp of surprise suddenly came from the next table, drawing everyone at the table's attention.
The first thing they saw was a strange-looking man, not like a person from the Central Plains, with blue eyes and a high nose, more like a Westerner described in the book. He was staring intently at the portrait that Meng Wan had placed on the table. When they turned their heads, he suddenly got up and walked over.
"Gentlemen, are you looking for the person in this painting?" The question startled the three men. They exchanged glances, and after a long pause, nodded. "Indeed, have you seen him before?"
Seeing this, the man took another step forward, examined the man carefully once more, and then nodded: "Yes."
"where?"
The man narrowed his eyes, just about to speak, when a group of guards sitting at the next table suddenly stood up and, led by their leader, stopped the Westerner from speaking: "Where are you from? Don't talk nonsense, get out of here!"
They seemed somewhat flustered and wanted to drive the Westerner away. Seeing this, Meng Wan turned to look at Meng Junheng and Huangfu Yi. The two understood and immediately blocked the group outside.
Meng Wanfang stood up and walked up to the Westerner: "Excuse me, do you remember where we met before?"
His anxious tone clearly showed that he was very concerned. The Westerner, who was originally wary of the fierce-looking guards, could no longer bear to hide it. He nodded and said in broken English, "I am a Western painter. A month ago, I was summoned to the palace of the Western Shu Kingdom. Their Princess Hongxiu asked me to paint a portrait of someone. It is this person in the portrait."
Meng Wan froze, and suddenly stopped there.
The palace, the palace, after wandering around for so long, they said he was in the palace.
But why? If they were in the palace, why would the King of Western Shu tell them about Sanyuan Town? What exactly happened?
Meng Junheng also sensed something was wrong. Seeing Meng Wan standing there in a daze, he grabbed the Westerner by the collar. "Are you telling the truth? You're not lying, are you?"
The man shook his head repeatedly and said, "Don't be so fierce. Let me go. I'm not lying. Believe it or not!"
Her confident demeanor made it impossible to detect any sign of lying. Seeing this, Meng Junheng finally released her grip. At this moment, Meng Wan suddenly turned around and looked at the group of guards who were being held back by Huangfu Yi: "You all know, don't you? That's why you've been leading us around searching these past two days. It's because of the orders of the King of Western Shu, isn't it?"
The leader looked somewhat guilty under her sharp gaze and hurriedly lowered his head. Seeing this, Meng Wan became even more certain of her guess. Ignoring whether he answered or not, she pushed those people aside and said to Huangfu Yi and Meng Junheng behind her, "Let's go!"
Naturally, they returned to the palace of the Western Shu. Although there were still some doubts, it could be roughly guessed that Hongxiu and the King of Western Shu had joined forces to hide Huangfu Mi, and in order to prevent Meng Wan and the others from finding him, they deliberately lied to them to get them away.
Despicable, utterly despicable!
Along the way, Meng Wan cursed countless times, but she was mostly overjoyed, incredibly overjoyed. Although she had been deceived by the King and his daughter of Western Shu, their actions undoubtedly proved one thing: Huangfu Mi was still alive, and was in the Western Shu palace. They had tricked Meng Wan and her party away precisely to prevent her from seeing him in the palace!
Remembering the person she saw playing the flute in the snow that day, she suddenly realized that it was not a hallucination at all, but real. That person was Huangfu Mi!
Overwhelmed with excitement, he rode at full speed towards the capital of Western Shu.
The King of Western Shu was secretly pleased that Meng Wan and her entourage had not made any moves. He was just waiting for Hongxiu's wedding so that even if they came looking for him again, he wouldn't have to worry. But at this moment, someone came to report that the Eighth Prince of Lanling and his entourage were requesting an audience. The King of Western Shu panicked and was completely at a loss.
They must have heard something when they came back. What should we do now?
Meng Wan and her group waited outside for a long time, but no one came to invite them in. They guessed that the King of Western Shu and his men were too guilty to see anyone, so they turned to Huangfu Yi and Meng Junheng and said, "You help me distract the guards guarding the city, and I'll sneak in, okay?"
The two turned their heads and glanced at each other, pondered for a moment, then nodded, leaped up, and rushed over.
--
While everyone's attention was drawn to Huangfu Yi and Meng Junheng, Meng Wan secretly slipped inside. Fortunately, she had already changed her clothes and was not wearing the ethnic costume she had bought in Sanyuan Town, so she was able to get away peacefully.
It was a pity that I wasn't very familiar with the palace. Thinking of the place where I had met Huangfu Mi that day, I went there according to my memory.
Qingling Garden was Hongxiu's residence. Meng Wan went there originally intending to see if Huangfu Mi was there, but as soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Hongxiu hurriedly walking out. When their eyes met, Meng Wan did not avoid her, but went straight to meet her.
"Where is Huangfu Mi?" she asked.
Hongxiu was clearly taken aback.