"Huangfu Mi." Her tone was not as steady as before; it trembled and carried a hint of disbelief.
"It's me." He held her tightly, not moving an inch, but his tone of voice subtly revealed the feelings in his heart.
Meng Wan suddenly pushed him away, as if he were a lone wolf or a wild beast. She braced herself on her arms and took two steps back, staring at him with a sharp gaze.
"Your Highness, no, it should be Your Highness the Crown Prince. Why are you out here? Shouldn't you be inside with your Crown Princess, receiving the worship of everyone? Ha--"
If she should act dignified and virtuous at this moment, she would rather not. She felt uncomfortable inside and couldn't pretend to be nonchalant.
How could she bear it when her husband publicly announced that he wanted to marry another woman?
"Wan'er, don't be like this." Her aloofness made Huangfu Mi feel sad. He reached out and held her hand in his palm. Seeing that she did not pull away, he said again, "You should understand my predicament. It was my grandmother's idea to make Changping the Crown Princess. No one can shake your position in my heart."
He took her hand and placed it on his chest, speaking with absolute certainty.
If it were before, Meng Wan would have been moved to tears by his words, but now, her heart trembled with sorrow.
She understood, how could she not understand? She had a vague premonition when she met Changping at the Empress Dowager's place a couple of days ago, and she felt even more uneasy after hearing the Empress Dowager's probing words. But she kept comforting herself that he, her Huangfu Mi, would never marry someone else.
But in the end, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. If she hadn't been so confident in Huangfu Mi's feelings for them, she wouldn't have felt such heart-wrenching pain.
"Yes, I understand, but what do you want me to do? What should I do?" She decided to pour out her heart to him all at once, "I can't share a husband with someone else because I hate fighting, and I can't bear to watch the person I love marry someone else. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to smile and congratulate you? Smile and say to you, wishing you and the Crown Princess a long and happy marriage..."
"Mmm..." Her angry words were completely sealed by a pair of hot, thin lips. Huangfu Mi pulled her into his arms and sealed her lips with a kiss.
Meng Wan was stunned for a moment, forgetting how to react, until his tongue pried open her mouth and began to roam freely inside, at which point she suddenly snapped out of her daze.
"Huangfu Mi, what are you doing!" The next moment, she began to struggle. Her body was firmly held by him, and her jade feet were wrapped in his arms. No matter how she struggled, she could not break free from his embrace.
In desperation, she opened her mouth and bit down hard on the tongue that was wreaking havoc inside her.
He gasped, "Instead of learning anything good, he's learned to bite people."
Meng Wan's lips were also stained with blood, but she felt a sense of relief, as if his blood had instantly cleared her mind.
She glanced at him sideways, bit her lip, and her breathing became a little unsteady.
Seeing this, Huangfu Mi seized the opportunity to pull her into his arms, ignoring her struggles and holding her waist tightly: "Wan'er, listen to me calmly. What I said before will never change. As for Changping, she will only occupy this position of Crown Princess, a position that the Empress Dowager obtained by threatening your life. As for anything else, she will not get anything. You are the only one in my heart."
These words made Meng Wan's heart tremble slightly. Should she believe him? Should she believe in her love?
She peeked out from his embrace, looked at his handsome face, and, just like before, reached out her hand.
This was the first time I had ever gently stroked his cheek like this. Perhaps nothing had really changed, perhaps he would still be the same person he always was.
She bit her lip, almost nodding and saying she believed him, but she opened her mouth and swallowed all the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Because she saw a brightly dressed figure standing under a tree branch not far away, gazing at them with resentment in his eyes.
Meng Wan froze, feeling a chill emanating from the other side, the source of which was Chang Ping standing there.
"What's wrong?" Huangfu Mi was waiting for her answer when Meng Wan suddenly stopped. He turned around in surprise and saw Changping standing there in a daze.
Huangfu Mi was also taken aback, and subconsciously loosened his arms around Meng Wan. The sudden loss of strength in her waist made Meng Wan's heart feel empty for no reason.
Changping had already put on a smiling face and stepped forward, as if the resentful look Meng Wan had just seen was just an illusion.
“Brother Mi, I heard you ran out when the ceremony was only halfway through. If you were worried, come out and look for her.” As he spoke, his gaze finally fell on Meng Wan.
Meng Wan had thrown away her phoenix-head shoes, and now she was barefoot, wrapped around Huangfu Mi's legs. Chang Ping looked at her calmly, and those fair and white feet felt like needles pricking her heart.
She clenched her fist, but still smiled: "So you've come to see the Princess."
He spoke softly, but his gaze remained fixed on Meng Wan. Meng Wan was momentarily embarrassed and quickly withdrew her foot. However, she had no shoes, so she could only huddle under the hem of her clothes, looking at Chang Ping with a slightly awkward expression.
Huangfu Mi had already stood up, went over to take Meng Wan's phoenix-head shoes, and personally helped her put them on before helping Meng Wan to her feet.
"Thank you." Meng Wan straightened up, her arm still held in Huangfu Mi's hand. His warmth seeped through her palm, but she still couldn't stop trembling.
Changping frowned slightly: "Alright, Brother Mi, hurry up and go to the front hall, everyone is waiting for you!"
Huangfu Mi was slightly taken aback, then glanced at Meng Wan again. Meng Wan was also looking at him, her eyes filled with eager expectation. She didn't want him to go with Changping.
But she knew that things had come to this point and they had no choice, so she could only nod to Huangfu Mi and say, "Go."
Huangfu Mi clenched his fists, and under Meng Wan's gaze, he stood up as if he had made up his mind. He glanced at Meng Wan one last time and said, "Then you go back first. I will come back to the manor to see you as soon as the ceremony is over."
The two looked at each other, and Changping's heart sank. Looking at the two people on the other side, a hint of fierceness flashed in her bright eyes, but it was only for a moment before she smiled again.
"Alright, Brother Mi, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are waiting ahead. Let's hurry over so we don't miss the auspicious time."
Her voice was soft, with a girlish coquettishness, as if she were pouting. She kept tugging at Huangfu Mi's sleeve. Huangfu Mi turned his head and glanced at her, but did not say anything.
Seeing this, Changping became even bolder, and simply reached out and grabbed his arm, following behind him with light and cheerful steps.
Meng Wan didn't say a word from beginning to end, only watching coldly. All the words she wanted to say earlier had vanished. At this moment, she suddenly felt a sense of irony, watching the two figures, so harmonious, like a perfect couple, walking further and further away until they disappeared from sight. She suddenly wanted to sneer.
To be with one person for life has always been her wish, a wish that could not be fulfilled in her previous life, and in this life, it can only be so.
She sighed, and instead of returning to the manor as Huangfu Mi had instructed, she remained curled up in her seat, feeling desolate.
But her cheeks were dry, and there was no sparkle in her eyes. She just stared blankly, not even knowing where to look.
She didn't know how much time had passed, until it gradually got dark, before she came to her senses and stood up blankly, like a soulless puppet, moving her aching ankles.
Every step she took was painful; she couldn't tell if it was from sitting for too long or from breaking her shoes, as she was unsteady and wobbly.
Suddenly, she stepped on something and her ankle twisted. She lost her balance and slipped. Just as she was about to fall to the ground, she resignedly closed her eyes without even letting out a short cry of surprise.