Meng Wan was stunned when she heard the announcement that the Crown Princess had arrived, as she hadn't expected Changping to come. It took her a long time to react.
She didn't come to her senses until a pretty figure lifted the curtain and came in.
It really is Changping.
She wore a light-colored silk skirt with silver trim, and a water lily-colored gauze ribbon around her waist. She also wore a deep purple painted lotus flower long skirt with a train that trailed to the ground, with a front opening, a fitted waist, and fluttering sleeves. She twirled twice, and the soft hem of the skirt swirled into a beautiful circle.
Now she was standing at the door looking at Meng Wan, her innocent eyes shining like pearls, clear as a stream under ice, untouched by the dust of the world, her long and thick eyelashes curling up like a fan.
Seeing Meng Wan looking over, he quickly stepped forward with the help of a palace maid and pressed down on her body before she could get up.
"Sister, there's no need for such formalities." Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes brimming with warmth, her pupils sparkling with light—she was truly a lively and spirited woman.
She said that, and Meng Wan did not insist on bowing. In her heart, she still could not accept the fact that Changping was the Crown Princess. She just looked at her and slowly asked, "You've come here. Is there something you need?"
Meng Wan held Xueqiu in her arms, and felt an extra bit more cautious and careful around Changping.
Meanwhile, Mu Ci had already served tea and snacks, and then stood next to Meng Wan, staring intently at Chang Ping.
She had to be careful, lest someone bully her young lady.
Changping felt a little uneasy under her gaze. Under Mu Ci's watchful eye, she sat down at the table opposite her and said, "I came here specifically to bring my sister into the palace. Since Brother Mi has become the Crown Prince, it is only natural that he should bring my sister into the palace."
Meng Wan disliked the way he kept calling her "sister." She curled her lips into a distant smile and said, "Thank you for your concern, but if you want me to enter the palace, Huangfu Mi will come to tell you himself. There's no need for you to trouble yourself, Princess."
That coldness made Changping blush slightly. "Sister, you're like this..." She glanced timidly at Meng Wan, her clear eyes filled with caution. After a brief eye contact with Meng Wan, she continued, "Sister, are you like this because you don't like Changping?"
Her pitiful appearance would make even a woman, let alone a man, want to protect her. Meng Wan's hand, which was stroking the snowball, paused. She could almost see Changping acting coquettishly in front of Huangfu Mi, and her heart trembled slightly.
"Your Highness is too kind." Meng Wan barely suppressed the emotions in her heart and spoke lightly, but her tone was cold and aloof.
She wanted to use this to get Changping to leave quickly, but Changping seemed not to feel her coldness at all, and still smiled brightly: "Changping has already married Brother Mi, so Princess Consort, you don't need to call me Princess anymore."
As she spoke, she lowered her head, chuckled softly, and blushed slightly. "Just call me Crown Princess."
That Crown Princess had pierced Meng Wan's heart. It was strange; although Changping hadn't uttered a single harsh word, every time she spoke, it felt like a knife to Meng Wan's heart, making her extremely uncomfortable.
Meng Wan frowned, her hand unconsciously going to her chest, trying to ease the depression in her heart. Unexpectedly, her movement was too abrupt, catching Changping's eye. A flash of smugness crossed Changping's eyes as she looked at Meng Wan's suddenly pale face and smiled even more innocently: "Sister, what's wrong? Did Changping say something wrong that made you unhappy?"
V100
Meng Wan frowned, her hand unconsciously going to her chest, trying to ease the depression in her heart. Unexpectedly, her movement was too abrupt, catching Changping's eye. A flash of smugness crossed Changping's eyes as she looked at Meng Wan's suddenly pale face and smiled even more innocently: "Sister, what's wrong? Did Changping say something wrong that made you unhappy?"
Mingming felt uneasy the moment she saw that face, but no one could bear to say anything harsh about that innocent smile. Meng Wan could only press her chest and shake her head: "I'm fine."
Changping still looked bewildered: "Sister doesn't look well, are you really alright?" As she spoke, she reached out and wiped Meng Wan's forehead: "I heard Brother Mi mention a few days ago that Sister's health is weak, and now it seems to be true. She's really pitiful, we must take good care of her."
Upon hearing "Brother Mi" again, Meng Wan felt a surge of irritability and depression. She turned her head away, not wanting to get entangled with Changping any longer. Mu Ci, unable to bear it any longer, quickly stepped forward and subtly blocked Changping's hand to the side.
"Your Highness, my young lady is unwell and may not be able to talk for long. If Your Highness has nothing else to instruct us on, then perhaps..."
In the end, not daring to act rashly in front of Changping, Mu Ci, though extremely displeased, carefully considered every word he uttered.
Changping was taken aback, then tapped her forehead and immediately apologized, "It's all my fault. My sister is still sick, and I kept you talking so much. It was my oversight. Please don't blame me, sister."
She stood up and said, "Then I'll be going now. You should get some rest, sister."
Finally, she was gone, and Meng Wan breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, before she could catch her breath, Changping returned: "By the way, sister, you're not feeling well. Has Brother Mi come to see you? Or, I can have him come and see you later, okay?" She paused, then added, "He invited me to go flower viewing later."
Despite her concerned expression, Meng Wan felt a tightness in her chest and her brows furrowed even more: "Thank you for your kindness, Crown Princess, but it's no need. I'm fine."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, almost through gritted teeth, each word swirling in his mind.
I admired the flowers with Changping, but I had no time to even glance at my old friend.
Suddenly, a saying came to mind: "We only ever hear the laughter of the new, but who ever hears the weeping of the old?" This is probably what it means!
Bao Tong couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Knowing you can see the Crown Prince, is it really necessary to show off like this?"
Bao Tong was impatient and unlike Mu Ci, who knew how to behave properly. As soon as she said this, both Mu Ci and Meng Wan gasped, and Chang Ping's face darkened instantly.
"This girl doesn't know her place, Your Highness, please don't take offense." Meng Wan quickly stepped in to smooth things over, and didn't forget to wink at Bao Tong: "Quickly apologize to Your Highness."
The tone was uncompromising.
Bao Tong bit her lip and glanced at Meng Wan. Meng Wan's face was a little pale, but her gaze was firm. Under that firm gaze, Bao Tong had no choice but to grit her teeth and apologize.
"This servant misspoke, please forgive me, Your Highness the Crown Princess." Her tone was unclear and unwilling.
Changping smiled slightly, even more so than before: "It's nothing serious, it's not that serious."
Her expression changed rapidly, but she eventually returned to her usual innocent and carefree self.
"Then you can rest, I'll be going now."
After saying this, she staggered out with the help of the maid, and that crimson purple color lingered in Meng Wan's eyes for a long time.
Only after her figure disappeared from sight did Baotong hurriedly speak up: "Master, she is clearly here to show off her power. Why be so polite to her? You should know that you entered the manor early, and the position of Crown Princess should have been yours. She is just relying on the Empress Dowager's support. What's so great about her?"
Meng Wan was warmed by his indignant expression, but after the warmth came a chilling cold.
They were all worried about her. The two maids would frantically pace around if she felt even slightly unwell, but her beloved husband seemed oblivious to it all, and even went to admire flowers with other women.
How ironic!
"Alright, Baotong, stop talking nonsense. Miss is already sad enough." Mu Ci whispered in Baotong's ear, looking at Meng Wan's thin back, which seemed to have lost even more weight, and couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.
"Why not say it? I'll tell you that our prince is a heartless person. He hasn't come back to visit his master for so many days. He's really bewitched by that woman."