Such grateful people are truly rare, so Wu'er's kindness is indeed exceptional.
He rolled off the soft couch, called Huanyan to help him get dressed, and then headed forward.
The Third Madam was talking to Prime Minister Meng in the study when Meng Wan went straight over, knocked on the door, and waited for a response before stepping inside.
Originally, he wanted to discuss with the Third Madam the matter of sending Wu'er to serve the Second Madam, but the Prime Minister and the Third Madam didn't seem to care much. They just told Meng Wan to make her own decision and then invited her to sit down together.
Meng Wan then noticed that the two people were sitting at the table, one on each side, and on the table was a piece of white paper with a few words on it.
One shady, one dark; one short, one long; one hot, one cool.
Meng Wan glanced at it, silently recited it in her heart, then looked up at the two of them and chuckled, "I didn't expect Father and Aunt to be in such high spirits that they even started guessing riddles."
The Third Madam's eyes lit up: "That's right, Wan'er is just in time. She's been clever since she was a child, let her see her now."
Meng Wan was somewhat bewildered, but Prime Minister Meng nodded repeatedly: "Quickly help your father think of a solution to this riddle."
Meng Wanfang took the paper, stared at the vigorous handwriting on it for a long time, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Is it the sun and moon?"
“Sun and Moon?” Prime Minister Meng repeated, “Yes, it is the Sun and Moon Pavilion.”
Before he finished speaking, he had already stood up, taken the paper from Meng Wan's hand, and left in a hurry without saying another word. Meng Wan was left there, watching her father's back, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed.
"Aunt, what is Father doing?"
That kind of haste was unlike his father's usual calm and composed nature.
The Third Madam also smiled and said, "It's all because of that Prince Heng's strange behavior. He has clearly arrived in the capital, but suddenly he avoids people, making the Emperor and his ministers wait for a whole day. Not only that, he also caused trouble by saying that he would ask the Emperor to guess a riddle first, and the answer to the riddle is where he is right now."
That's interesting. They even dare to provoke the Emperor. But the reason they have such courage is simply because they are favored by the Emperor!
He chuckled softly, said nothing more, and simply chatted casually with the Third Madam.
Prime Minister Meng returned to his residence at three quarters past dusk. Meng Wan had just returned to the Bamboo Pavilion when she was summoned to the study. She stepped lightly and bowed, saying, "Father, may I ask what brings you to my residence?"
Prime Minister Meng looked travel-worn, clearly having rushed, and was still slightly out of breath. However, this did not diminish his joy: "His Majesty has sent people to bring Prince Heng back. He was overjoyed and praised your intelligence and talent highly. He also mentioned to me that you had cleverly caught a thief on the street earlier that day, and he was full of praise for you. Tonight, a banquet will be held in the palace to welcome Prince Heng back, and His Majesty specifically instructed me to bring you along."
--
As night fell and the lanterns were lit, the palace was bustling with activity.
The banquet was held in the main hall of Yusheng Tower. The hall was shaped like the Chinese character "工" (gong), with two halls, one in front and one in back, and dozens of steps leading down from top to bottom. The chairs were placed at the very top.
There is a passageway connecting the two buildings. The front hall, the south room, and the east and west side halls form an independent courtyard, which is connected by a covered corridor. The front hall has five bays in width and three bays in depth. There is a door in the central bay of the front eaves, and the rest are windows with lattice windows.
The main hall and side halls are separated by floor-to-ceiling flower screens. The hall is topped with yellow glazed tiles and illuminated by crystal and jade lamps. On both sides are twelve white jade pillars, each inlaid with a pearl from the East China Sea, which illuminate the hall as brightly as day.
When Meng Wan arrived with the others, the Emperor and Empress had not yet arrived. Only a few princes and their wives, as well as a few concubines, were gathered there chatting.
According to the rules, one had to perform the rites. Led by the palace maids, Meng Wan performed the rites in turn and finally went to her seat, where she sat down.
Where there are women, there is no shortage of gossip. Even royal women and royal wives, when they get together, they still chatter away, making quite a scene.
Such scenes were commonplace for Meng Wan. She didn't say much, just listened to everyone chatting. Occasionally, someone would speak to her and she would exchange a few words, but they were only trivial. After that, she would sit there silently, listening to them talk.
Laughter and cheers filled the air.
Just then, a woman who looked like an imperial concubine walked up to her and asked, "Are you the Prime Minister's daughter?"
Meng Wan was familiar with most of the people in the palace, but this one was someone she had never seen before. She was probably an unfavored concubine or a newly arrived one. Meng Wan didn't say much, but simply nodded respectfully, "Yes."
V4 Reunion with an Old Friend (Part 1)
Meng Wan was familiar with most of the people in the palace, but this one was someone she had never seen before. She was probably an unfavored concubine or a newly arrived one. Meng Wan didn't say much, but simply nodded respectfully, "Yes."
"You really do have a vixen's face; no wonder His Majesty favors you so much."
Despite the arrogant tone, Meng Wan frowned almost imperceptibly, but kept her eyes lowered and remained silent.
Just then, someone came over and tugged at her, seemingly trying to dissuade her, but she shook them off immediately, looked down at Meng Wan, and sneered: "Why are you pulling me? I just heard that His Majesty likes her quite a bit, so I came to see. I'm not going to eat you."
She certainly doesn't eat people, but she's more terrifying than anyone else. Just look at her sharp and mean-spirited appearance; she looks like she's about to devour someone alive.
However, Meng Wan was not afraid of her. On the contrary, she felt that such a person was not a bad person. After all, those who could show all their emotions on their faces were innocent.
Instead, they had some doubts about what she had said earlier.
Has everyone already heard of the Emperor's praise of her? But... that doesn't seem like a good thing!
Thinking this, she remained somewhat dazed even after the concubine returned to her seat. At this moment, a palace maid came to pour her tea. Meng Wan didn't pay much attention, but then she saw the maid kneeling beside her and whispering in Meng Wan's ear in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Miss Meng, the Third Prince sent a maid to deliver a message to you. He picked up your lost hairpin and asks you to go to Desheng Gate to retrieve it."
A hairpin? Meng Wan was taken aback. As she looked up, the palace maid had already respectfully retreated. She then raised an eyebrow.
See? She had just realized that it wasn't a good thing, and now someone was already eager to discuss "important matters" with her.
Return her hairpin? That's a really weak excuse.
Clever as she was, how could she not know that it was Huangfu Qian's excuse to see her? The reason he asked her to meet him outside Desheng Gate must be because the Emperor had not yet allowed him to enter the palace.
I was initially thinking of ignoring it, but then I thought, what if he does something reckless again if I ignore him?
Thinking this through, she frowned slightly, knowing she would never let him have his way, but...
Hearing the sound of the palace gates being locked and the clattering of the swords at the waists of the guards, she focused her mind, and as her thoughts raced, a plan came to her.
She rose silently, slipped out from behind the crowd, and disappeared gracefully.
--