only...
"I haven't figured out what to do yet. I feel uneasy telling him right now. Maybe I should go back and think about it and keep it from him for the time being?"
"What are you trying to hide from whom?" she said, but a voice suddenly rang out behind her, startling her. She turned around and saw Huangfu Mi standing tall behind her, staring at her intently.
Seeing her turn around, he took another step forward, glanced at Huangfu Yu, then turned to Meng Wan before saying, "What are you two talking about so suspiciously? Who are you trying to hide something from?"
Meng Wan was visibly taken aback, then instinctively shook her head and said, "Who's being sneaky? What nonsense are you spouting? The Fifth Prince and I were just chatting!"
"Casual chat?" Huangfu Mi wasn't so easily fooled; she raised her eyebrows, her face full of disbelief.
"Yes, just chatting." Meng Wan nodded hastily, then turned to Huangfu Yu: "Right, Fifth Prince?"
As she spoke, she winked at him. Huangfu Yu hesitated for a moment, looked at Meng Wan, then at Huangfu Mi, pondered for a while, and then suddenly shook his head: "No."
ah?
Unexpectedly, he would betray her. Meng Wan was stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly winked at him to signal him not to talk nonsense. Huangfu Yu pretended not to see it, and under Huangfu Mi's gaze, he said slowly, "It was the Empress Dowager who suddenly mentioned my marriage with Meng Wan, so the two of us were discussing it."
"What?" Huangfu Mi frowned, her face suddenly darkening. "Your marriage? Father Emperor has given his permission?"
"No." Seeing that things had come to this point and it was clear that she could not hide it any longer, Meng Wan stopped trying to cover it up: "Her Majesty the Empress just said that, and I made up an excuse, so His Majesty didn't say anything more."
No sooner had she finished speaking than her wrist was suddenly grabbed, and Huangfu Mi dragged her away, turning her towards the inner courtyard.
"Ah, what are you doing? Feng Qi, let go."
Knowing that this would be the consequence, Meng Wan could only struggle to make him stop, but Huangfu Mi paid no heed. He was used to being carefree and did whatever he wanted. He knew that no matter what, the emperor loved him the most, and the emperor would not blame him for anything he did.
Meng Wan, however, did not want to go with him to the Emperor's presence, otherwise what would people think of her for secretly exchanging favors with Huangfu Mi?
At this moment, she could only turn to Huangfu Yu for help, but he just stood there with his arms crossed, watching with a smile on his lips, without moving, showing an attitude of complete optimism.
Meng Wan was in despair and could only let Huangfu Mi drag her along towards Zhengyang Palace.
--
Inside the warm pavilion of Zhengyang Palace, the Empress was still chatting with the Emperor when Huangfu Mi dragged Meng Wan in. The two knelt down and, without beating around the bush, bowed gracefully to the Emperor, saying, "Father, your son wishes to marry Miss Meng. Please grant my request."
His tone showed no sign of fear, nor was it a fit of pique or anger; he was simply calmly stating his thoughts.
In contrast, Meng Wan was not so calm. Although her mind was racing as she listened to his words, she knew clearly what kind of occasion this was and who she was facing. At this moment, she could only lower her head and desperately try to wink at him.
But Huangfu Mi didn't look at her. After saying that, he looked up and stared straight at the Emperor and Empress sitting above.
The two men were both taken aback, and after exchanging a glance, their eyes were filled with confusion.
Just now, they were saying that Meng Wan and Lao Wu were getting close, and that their marriage hadn't been arranged yet. How come Lao Qi is talking nonsense again now?
"What do you mean, 'marry her'? What are you trying to do with this nonsense?"
"Your subject is not confused. I have always been fond of Wan'er and I am afraid that Your Majesty will arrange a marriage for her with someone else. So I have come to ask Your Majesty to grant my request first."
Knowing full well that she shouldn't be happy at this moment, especially since she was saying such things in front of the Emperor and Empress, Meng Wan still felt an uncontrollable surge of warmth in her heart.
Perhaps Huangfu Mi, also known as Feng Qi, is indeed a bit unruly and does things unconventionally. But it is precisely because of this that his impulsiveness when he is moved by love is all the more precious. After all, in the environment of the palace, there are very few people who dare to love and hate!
"Wh...what?" The emperor was startled again, and remained stunned for a long time.
Did he hear wrong about Lao Qi and Wan Yatou? When did these two get involved, and when did Lao Qi become so fond of that girl?
V31 Wedding (Part 3)
"Wh...what?" The emperor was startled again, and remained stunned for a long time.
Did he hear wrong about Lao Qi and Wan Yatou? When did these two get involved, and when did Lao Qi become so fond of that girl?
"Please grant my request, Father!" Taken aback, Huangfu Mi nodded again, bowing respectfully to the emperor, his tone firm yet resolute.
The emperor was taken aback again, staring at the two kneeling figures. Both of them had their heads down, making it impossible to see their expressions. However, Wan'er clearly did not intend to refute him. He couldn't help but frown, and hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to speak.
At this moment, the Empress glanced at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, what kind of joke is Seventh Prince making? Wan'er has always been on good terms with Fifth Prince, what nonsense is he spouting now!"
"Your subject is not making things up. Long ago, your subject fell in love with Miss Meng at first sight, but has not yet expressed his feelings. As for Fifth Brother, his relationship with Wan'er is merely that of gentlemen, not the close friendship that Mother Empress claims. I beg Father Emperor to see the truth."
The firm tone startled the emperor slightly. He paused, then suddenly remembered the incident when Meng Wan was imprisoned. At that time, he wondered why the seventh prince would step in to save her, but the seventh prince explained that it was to prevent him from regretting it. Could it be that the two of them had already developed feelings for each other since then?
"So now you come to me and say that you intend to get married?"
"yes."
"Is it that you won't marry anyone but Wan'er?"
They exchanged a glance: "Yes, the moment I saw Wan'er, I decided that I would marry no one but her in this life."
So resolute! The Emperor watched in silence, momentarily lost in thought. He suddenly recalled that many years ago, when he met Lian'er, he was just as determined. In this life, he would marry no one but Wen Lian'er.
Even though she couldn't become empress because of her low birth, and even though she passed away when she gave birth to the seventh prince, he has never forgotten the thrill he felt when they first met, even now, after all these years.
"In that case, what about Wan'er? What are your feelings?" After finally calming down, he asked in a deep voice.
Meng Wan was clearly taken aback, her cheeks flushing crimson. She glanced at Huangfu Mi, then turned back to the emperor and said, "This subject... this subject feels the same way."
"Very well, in that case, I will take care of this matter for you!"
With a loud, clear voice, the joy in his tone was impossible to conceal: "I will summon the Prime Minister to the palace another day so that I can have a proper discussion with him."
What they were discussing was self-evident.