Just fall down like that; the physical pain might ease the pain in your heart.
Suddenly, a warm feeling came from my arms, and my body was gently pulled into a warm embrace.
The smell of this chest was unfamiliar, with a faint scent of ink. From Meng Wan's perspective, all she could see was a long red brocade robe embroidered with large, magnificent patterns.
Meng Wan quickly pulled away from the man's embrace, looked up, and saw Huangfu Yi's face, which was tinged with a wicked smile, staring at her without blinking.
"Eighth Prince!" Meng Wan quickly stood up straight and gave him a slight curtsy. Under his gaze, she took a few steps back, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
The softness in his hand was suddenly taken away, and a trace of reluctance flashed across Huangfu Yi's face, but he still smiled slightly: "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.
Meng Wan shook her head indifferently: "Thank you!" After saying that, she nodded slightly and made to leave, but Huangfu Yi suddenly blocked her way.
"Have you been crying?" He looked her over carefully. Her makeup was very meticulous, but there were still faint traces of tears at the corners of her eyes, as well as glistening tears in her eyes.
Her tearful appearance made his heart tremble for no reason.
"No." Meng Wan turned her head away, avoiding his probing gaze. The pity in his eyes was so deep, and his tone so firm, that she felt as if she had been stripped naked and had her inner thoughts spied on, which made her very uncomfortable.
She wanted to escape, so she walked around him and staggered out, but he blocked her way again.
"I'll take you." His voice was soft, yet firm and unyielding. As he spoke, he bent down and lifted her up in his arms. Her soft body was lighter than he had imagined, and a faint fragrance wafted from her, not the scent of cosmetics, but rather the natural freshness of a garden after the rain, bringing him a sense of peace.
"What are you doing!" Meng Wan exclaimed in surprise. His movements were so sudden that they startled her. Her hand unconsciously hooked around his neck, but she subconsciously pulled it back and curled up against his chest.
Suddenly, she recalled the past, when Huangfu Mi held her like this, the faint scent of ambergris and his overwhelming warmth. It seemed like only yesterday, yet everything had changed.
She suddenly felt wronged and wanted to cry. The emotions that had been suppressed in her chest were about to burst forth. The feeling of sorrow was like a raging storm, and she vented it all on Huangfu Yi.
"Put me down." The reprimand was a sound of rejection, alienation, and an instinctive urge to vent the unhappiness in one's heart.
"Your foot is injured." Huangfu Yi merely glanced at her indifferently, smiled slightly, and ignored her words.
He took a big step, turned around, and left.
Meng Wan was overcome with anger. She felt resentful, and he still dared to provoke her. So she decided not to be polite and vented all her anger.
She was held horizontally in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. She opened her mouth and bit down hard on his shoulder.
This time, he used all his strength. Huangfu Yi felt pain and immediately let go. Meng Wan slid down, and as soon as her feet touched the ground, she gasped in pain.
"How are you?" Huangfu Yi rushed forward to check on her, but Meng Wan stopped him by raising her head. She didn't need the pity of others.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine. Farewell."
After saying that, he ignored Huangfu Yi's obstruction and ran out in a few quick steps. His ankles were still in excruciating pain, and every step was torture. So he simply took off his shoes and ran out barefoot at high speed, leaving only a stubborn and thin figure behind.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. You should go to the banquet." The servant who had been standing by said this, and Huangfu Yi realized that Meng Wan had disappeared from his sight at some point. He was still staring in that direction, completely unaware of it, as if he were in a daze.
"Let's go!" With light footsteps, a flurry of catkins rose from the ground.
*
Upon arriving at the palace gate, Mu Ci and the others were anxiously pacing back and forth. When they saw Meng Wan, they rushed to greet her.
Before he could even speak, he was startled by Meng Wan's appearance.
Her clothes were disheveled, her hair was slightly messy, and what was worse was that she was barefoot on the ground, with the shoes that should have been on her feet being carried in her hands. She looked pitiful.
Mu Ci hurriedly took off her clothes and draped them over Meng Wan, her eyes full of worry: "Miss, what happened to you? Why are you in such a disheveled state?"
Disheveled, yes, truly disheveled.
Even without looking in a mirror, she knew exactly what she looked like. She had run so far, and her back was covered in a thin layer of sweat, sticky and clinging to her body. She was standing there barefoot, and now, with the wind blowing, Meng Wan felt a little cold.
She couldn't help but shiver.
Seeing this, Mu Ci didn't ask any more questions. He quickly pulled Meng Wan into the sedan chair that had been prepared in the morning and headed towards the mansion, while instructing people to prepare ginger soup and hot water.
The palace wasn't far from the Prince Heng's residence, and they returned in no time.
Hot water and ginger soup were prepared, and after Meng Wan drank them, she sent everyone out, leaving her alone in the room.
After removing her clothes, Meng Wan glanced into the bathtub. In the steamy water, her figure was clearly reflected in it. Her eyes were lifeless, and her cheeks were swollen. She really looked like a resentful woman!
She breathed a sigh of relief, trying to suppress her displeasure, and immersed herself completely in the water, letting the fine, dense warmth wash over her.
The music in the distance grew louder, its notes never ceasing. Meng Wan leaned against the bathtub, listening quietly. Although it was a cheerful melody, for some reason, there was a faint sense of sorrow in it.
She sighed, her head aching slightly, perhaps from the cold wind she had just been exposed to. She slowly closed her eyes, leaned against the edge of the bathtub, and her thoughts became somewhat concentrated.
*
In the days that followed, the entire imperial city was plunged into a state of unparalleled jubilation.
The ceremony for the crown prince's investiture and the crown princess's investiture lasted for three full days.
Silver light and snow waves, smoke from incense burners and painted beams, dragons and phoenixes, jewels and precious stones everywhere, gold bricks and jade steps are everywhere, dragon-shaped incense sticks hang from the sky, and evergreen stamens are inserted into porcelain vases in rows, making it even more luxurious, noble, majestic and solemn.
Despite the bustling scene, the Prince Heng's residence was desolate and quiet.
Huangfu Mi has not returned since that day. It's no wonder, since he is now the Crown Prince and naturally has to live in the palace. However, Meng Wan is not legitimate and doesn't know where to go, so she can only stay at the Heng Prince's residence.
And so it went, one day, two days, three days...
On the fourth day, the incessant sounds of string and wind instruments finally subsided. I got up early in the morning, washed up, and then nestled on the chaise lounge to play with Snowball.
The snowball was brought by Xiaoyun last time, saying it was to cheer her up. Meng Wan knew her sister was worried about her being sad, so she didn't say anything but kept the snowball and played with it all day to pass the time.