Changping shook his head frantically: "No, Brother Mi, I really didn't want to kill her. She brought the hairpin herself; she just wanted to frame me..."
"Enough, Changping." Huangfu Mi slowly interrupted her. "I don't want to hear any more words. There's a Bamboo Pavilion in the North Fifth Palace. It's a quiet place, perfect for you to cleanse yourself of your anger. I'll pack my things and go there later. I'll talk to Grandmother, so you don't need to worry about it."
Her tone carried a ruthless undertone, also serving as a reminder that nothing the Empress Dowager said would matter now, because it was Meng Wan who was injured.
Each word struck Changping's heart, and her steps faltered: "Brother Mi, you banished me to the Cold Palace without listening to my explanation, why? Why?"
The only response she received was Huangfu Mi's profile.
"Your mistake was that you shouldn't have provoked her." His voice carried slowly, with a subtle ripple in his tone.
Changping's hand loosened little by little. After hearing Huangfu Mi's words, her eyes turned bloodshot with anger, and they seemed ready to burst forth.
"Just because it's her, you won't even give me a chance to explain? Brother Mi, look carefully, I am your Crown Princess!"
"But she is my wife."
Changping finally lowered her hand. She suddenly remembered Meng Wan's words: 'In terms of shrewdness, I can't compare to you; in terms of family background, I'm far inferior. But there's one thing you'll never surpass me.'
At that time, Changping still held a sliver of hope, thinking that Meng Wan's supposed advantages were simply nonexistent. But as it turned out, she was wrong.
He didn't even need to investigate the matter thoroughly before choosing to unconditionally protect Meng Wan. In this gamble that was decided before it even began, she was the loser.
Changping slowly closed her eyes. Before her was the fleeting figure of Huangfu Mi, with ripples of light and shadow. She finally spoke, her voice slightly choked with emotion: "If it weren't for her, would you have even glanced at me?"
Huangfu Mi only paused briefly before continuing on his way, quickly walking out, leaving Changping, supported by Nan Shuang, to slowly collapse to the ground against the door.
She had never been so humble in her life. Although she lost both her parents at a young age, the Empress Dowager always doted on her. But in front of Huangfu Mi, she always pretended to be the way he liked her, abandoning her self-respect and pride, just hoping that he would look at her more. But he didn't have her in his eyes, and he didn't like to listen to her words. In the end, her heart turned cold.
She closed her eyes briefly, then finally let go of his hand. Watching his departing figure, tears welled up in her eyes.
--
"Puyang." As soon as they left Qingyu Pavilion, Huangfu Mi summoned Puyang. "Go and report to the Empress Dowager that the Crown Princess has acted immorally and actually harmed a concubine. I have already banished her to the Cold Palace. Please do not show favoritism to the Empress Dowager."
Puyang paused for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."
--
The next day, news came from the Crown Prince's residence that the Crown Princess was narrow-minded, jealous of the other concubines, and plotted to kill them. She was imprisoned in the Bamboo Pavilion and could not leave without being summoned.
When the news arrived, Meng Wan and Mu Ci were taking a walk in the garden.
The weather is warm, and the signs of spring are becoming more and more obvious. Everywhere is lush and green, full of vitality.
Meng Wan's wound on her cheek began to heal, but it was still very noticeable, so she took a veil to cover her face.
Mu Ci and I strolled along at a leisurely pace, taking our time, since the weather was so nice and it was a rare treat to get out for a walk.
After walking for a while, Mu Ci suddenly sighed, "The weather is so warm, it's not very good for the Empress and Bao Tong's wounds to heal."
Bao Tong is still not fully awake, and the wound on her leg keeps getting better and worse, so it's no wonder that Mu Ci is in a bad mood.
Meng Wan glanced at her.
Meng Wan had noticed Mu Ci's unstable emotions these past few days. Although she tried her best to suppress it so as not to worry others, Meng Wan still noticed something was wrong.
She looked at Mu Ci and said, "You don't need to worry about us. The imperial physician has already said that Bao Tong is still unconscious because the effects of the medicine haven't worn off yet. She will be fine in a couple of days. As for my face, it will heal slowly after the scars have scabbed over."
She knew Mu Ci was worried about them, which was why Meng Wan pretended to be fine and comforted her, because she knew that if she also became depressed, Mu Ci would be even more upset.
Mu Ci nodded, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes: "It has caused Miss and Bao Tong to suffer like this. It is too good for her to just throw the Crown Princess into the Cold Palace."
Meng Wan smiled slightly and said, "But this is the best torture for her." She paused and then said, "Being banished to the cold palace by the person she loves is something that someone as proud as her cannot bear. Besides, I never intended to kill her. Firstly, Huangfu Mi couldn't bring herself to do it, and secondly, the Empress Dowager wouldn't allow it. For now, let her stay in the cold palace and suffer."
Mu Ci nodded thoughtfully, but her gaze narrowed slightly: "Miss, I have something I'd like to ask, but I'm not sure if I should."
Meng Wan raised an eyebrow slightly: "What is it? Please ask."
Having received her permission, Mu Ci hesitated. Under Meng Wan's gaze, it took her a long time to speak again, but her voice was lower.
"This servant wishes to ask, was your face truly injured by the Crown Princess?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Wan was taken aback, and then slowly smiled.
Her smile was radiant, sweeping away the previous gloom, and a warm feeling slowly spread through it.
She countered, "Don't you already have the answer in your heart?"
Mu Ci was also taken aback for a moment, then laughed. After laughing, she remembered something and said, "By the way, Miss, I asked Nan Shuang. She asked me to thank you, but she has already decided to go and accompany the Crown Princess."
As expected, Meng Wan nodded slightly: "Since that's the case, we can't force it. You should keep an eye on her and help her if you can if she has any difficulties."
Mu Ci nodded in agreement. Seeing Meng Wan find a pavilion to sit down, and with the spring breeze slightly cool, Mu Ci suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to instruct someone to apply medicine to Bao Tong before leaving home. So, after receiving Meng Wan's permission, she hurriedly returned to Jiangyun Pavilion.
Meng Wan waited alone in the garden. The sun was warm and shining on her. It was midday, and after a short while, she felt drowsy.
In her hazy state, she felt a huge figure looming over her, as if blocking out the warm sunlight forever. With a cool breeze, Meng Wan suddenly opened her eyes.
Unexpectedly, what met his eyes was a pair of smiling eyes.
Huangfu Yi looked down at her, his gaze sweeping over her face. It wasn't clear through the veil, but the faint traces made it all the more unbearable.
"You came out into the wind before your wound had healed. What did you hear about the imperial physician's instructions?"
There were no lengthy opening remarks, and the tone carried a hint of reproach, like a conversation between old friends, extremely familiar, without the slightest sense of distance.
Meng Wan was taken aback, not expecting to run into him here. She stood up and said with a smile, "It gets stuffy staying indoors for too long, so I came out for a walk. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll get sick from being cooped up."