Xiao Yun'er looked at her, and was even more confused. Doesn't admiration mean liking? But why wouldn't her sister let her like the Fifth Prince?
She couldn't figure it out all afternoon. When she returned to the mansion and had dinner with her father and third wife, she asked them about it. Originally, she was just confused, but she didn't expect to startle the old couple. They thought to themselves, "Could it be that Yun'er has fallen in love for the first time?" They hurriedly sent someone to deliver a letter to Meng Wan.
Naturally, she wanted to find out what had happened that day. She only asked Meng Wan because she couldn't get anything out of Xiao Yun'er. But this letter actually put Meng Wan at ease.
It seems she had been worrying too much. Xiao Yun'er was just a child and didn't understand love. Her feelings for Huangfu Yu were just admiration. Thinking this, she felt relieved and wrote a letter back to her father to put his mind at ease. Thus, the matter was truly put aside.
Life remained as peaceful as ever. Several times during her stay at the Prince Heng's residence, Xiao Yun'er and Huangfu Yu met by chance. She would still blush whenever she saw Huangfu Yu, but she did nothing else. Thus, life became increasingly stable.
During the day, because Consort Xin—no, it should be Consort Xin—was pregnant and found life in the palace boring, she would often summon Meng Wan to the palace.
This was Shuangyun Palace, which was granted by the Emperor, allowing her free access to Consort Xin. It was also a place specially bestowed upon Consort Xin by the Emperor after her promotion, so that she could have a safe pregnancy. This was because the imperial physician had previously predicted that this child was very likely to be a princess, and the Emperor had always hoped to have a daughter. Now that he had the opportunity to have his wish fulfilled, he naturally paid more and more attention to Consort Xin's pregnancy. As a result of her daughter's status, Consort Xin enjoyed unparalleled prestige in the palace for a time.
Meng Wan naturally accompanied her carefully. She had been a mother before, although she had never given birth. However, she had asked the old nannies and imperial physicians in the palace about many things. Now, she could use her knowledge to tell Consort Xin what to pay attention to and what not to do. Even when going out for a walk, she was very careful.
Consort Xin was naturally a lively person, and she couldn't stand such restraint. After being nagged by Meng Wan, she finally got a little impatient and stuck out her tongue, saying, "Now I know why the Emperor likes you so much. It turns out that your nagging nature is just like his. You repeat the same words to me a thousand and eight hundred times a day. It's really enough. My ears are getting calluses from listening to it."
The reproachful tone made Meng Wan smile, and she helped Consort Xin out of the courtyard.
The weather is lovely, a perfect time for a stroll in the crisp autumn air. The flowers in the garden have begun to fall, but the leaves remain lush and green, with a few hints of yellow, making the garden scenery even more enchanting.
The two walked very slowly, chatting idly about this and that, and didn't notice what was ahead.
Once outside Jiande Gate, several figures could be seen swaying in a pavilion not far away.
The bright red and green clothes must belong to some imperial concubines. Consort Xin found it annoying at first glance and pulled Meng Wan away, ready to leave. Little did she know that someone had already noticed them.
"Consort Xin, why aren't you coming over even though you see her? Can't you see the Empress is here?"
Consort Xin stopped in her tracks, exchanged a glance with Meng Wan, and cursed inwardly for using the Empress to intimidate her. However, she still had to put on a smile, and she and Meng Wan turned around and walked to the people in front of them, bowing and saying, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress (Mother)!"
He glanced around and saw that, apart from the Empress, the others were all concubines of lower rank, probably the Empress's confidantes or people she wanted to curry favor with.
The Empress sat there, glancing only at Consort Xin without telling her to get up. Instead, she turned to Meng Wan and said, "Seventh Prince's wife has come to the palace again. It must have been really tough on you, coming back and forth three times a day."
Her tone was ambiguous, seemingly mocking. Meng Wan knew that she had never liked her, and given what had happened last time, she considered her a thorn in her side. To avoid being humiliated, she didn't argue back, but just knelt there with a slight smile and remained silent.
Consort Xin, on the other hand, would never be bullied by the Empress for no reason. You must know that she is now the Emperor's darling, and even the Empress cannot do anything to her!
At this moment, she glared at the Empress, who was staring coldly at Meng Wan. Consort Xin snorted and stood up: "It was His Majesty who sent Wan'er to accompany me. If Your Majesty has any dissatisfaction, you can go and speak to His Majesty. What is the meaning of speaking so sarcastically here!"
The Empress had always known that she was ignorant of etiquette, but she never expected that she would dare to talk back to her in front of so many people, which made her angry.
However, rationally, she still had to maintain the dignity befitting an empress. So, although she was annoyed, she merely looked at her calmly and smiled, saying, "Consort Xin, you're overthinking it. Where did I say anything barbed? I was clearly praising the deep affection between you and the Seventh Prince's wife. Everyone else knows that's what I meant. How come it's become barbed words in your eyes!"
Everyone else naturally followed the Empress's lead, so when the Empress said this, they nodded repeatedly. Consort Xin, watching from the side, was furious. Her face stiffened, and she was about to give those people a good scolding when Meng Wan grabbed her arm from behind.
Consort Xin turned around and saw Meng Wan shaking her head slightly at her. Consort Xin understood that Meng Wan did not want her to have a major conflict with the Empress, nor did she want her to be angry. Under Meng Wan's gaze, Consort Xin took a deep breath and then took her hand: "That's enough, that's enough. Let's not bother with them. Wan'er, let's go!"
After saying that, she grabbed Meng Wan, turned around and left, ignoring the crowd behind her who stared in disbelief. After she left, she immediately went to the Empress's side.
"Your Majesty--"
They started chattering and listing Consort Xin's faults. The Empress listened quietly, her face expressionless, but her fists clenched tightly. Watching the graceful figure walk away in the distance, her eyes were filled with hatred, ready to burst forth.
--
After Meng Wan and Consort Xin left Desheng Gate, Meng Wan watched the figures behind them gradually disappear into the distance before letting go of Consort Xin's hand. Looking at the little face that was making faces, Meng Wan glared at her and said angrily, "Why did you have to provoke the Empress? Look how angry she is, her face has turned blue."
"Serves her right!" Consort Xin made a face at them, uttering those two words without a care in the world. Then she grabbed Meng Wan's wrist and dragged her along, saying, "Who told her to be so rude? So what if she's the Empress? You know, I'm carrying a princess right now, and even the Emperor is extremely worried. How dare she be rude to me? I'm already being lenient by not complaining to her. Humph!"
Consort Xin was spoiled and pampered, and after entering the palace, she was always favored by the Emperor. Now that she was pregnant, she became even more unruly. Meng Wan couldn't help but worry about her personality. After all, people in the palace are treacherous, and her unrestrained speech and lack of awareness of danger made it easy for her to make enemies.
Meng Wan couldn't help but add, "We can listen to what she says, but no matter what, she is still the Empress. Offending her will not do you any good."
However, Consort Xin couldn't stand being talked about. When she heard Meng Wan talking like this, she just nodded randomly. Seeing that they had arrived at the Imperial Garden, she shook off Meng Wan and ran straight over, leaving Meng Wan standing there with her brows slightly furrowed.
Consort Xin's temperament is truly worrying!
--
Back at the manor, still filled with worry, she lay on her bed after dinner and began to talk to Huangfu Mi about the day's events. She had only intended to casually reminisce, but after listening to Meng Wan's words, Huangfu Mi unexpectedly spoke up: "In that case, you should keep a close eye on her. She's always been carefree and often offends people without realizing it. Now that she's pregnant, she's even more arrogant, so it's best to be careful."
He had never been interested in the struggles between women, but now he suddenly offered an idea. Meng Wan was taken aback, then propped herself up and leaned over to look at him, her gaze so intense that it made Huangfu Mi feel a chill.
He waved his hand in front of her eyes and said, "What are you looking at?"
Meng Wan still looked suspicious: "Huangfu Mi, something's not right with you. Why are you being so nice to Consort Xin? I remember a few times before, I caught you staring at her intently. You wouldn't be..."
"Girl!" Before she could finish speaking, Huangfu Mi interrupted her, giving her a hard tap on the forehead. Seeing her wince and rub her forehead in pain, he said, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll really get angry."
The way he yelled at people with a stern face was truly frightening. Meng Wan stuck out her tongue, but she wasn't afraid. She just gave a half-joking snort: "Getting angry out of embarrassment, huh? It seems there really is something fishy going on."
"There's no ghost involved. I only paid more attention to her because I heard she looks like my mother. Are you jealous of that?"
"Huh?" Now it was Meng Wan's turn to be astonished. Did Consort Xin look like Huangfu Mi's birth mother? This was the first time she had ever heard of such a thing.
"Stop it! I didn't realize you were so petty. Oh well, I won't hold it against you. I know you're only like this because you care about me too much!"
V73 Consort Xin suffered a miscarriage.
"Huh?" Now it was Meng Wan's turn to be astonished. Did Consort Xin look like Huangfu Mi's birth mother? This was the first time she had ever heard of such a thing.
"Stop it! I didn't realize you were so petty. Oh well, I won't hold it against you. I know you're only like this because you care about me too much!"
Huangfu Mi smiled and, before Meng Wan could react, leaned down, his lips poised to kiss her.
It was a long, passionate kiss that left Meng Wan panting heavily. She pushed him away with her hands on his shoulders, and only after he finally got up, still wanting more, did she wipe her mouth roughly with her sleeve: "Stop being so conceited. Who cares about you? I was just asking casually. Don't misunderstand, I—"