Bending over, she said, "Fourth Sister... let's rest for a bit, I... I'm out of strength..." and her body went limp.
I quickly helped her up and led her into a dilapidated house.
Looking at her with concern, he asked, "Second sister, are you alright?"
Liu Mengshi glanced around with disgust, suppressing her annoyance. She forced a weak smile: "It's nothing, I... I just..."
Suddenly I heard a stomach growling.
"Second sister, are you hungry?"
Liu Mengshi lowered her head shyly and nodded.
I looked regretful: "Oh no, all the food is with Ping'er. And I don't know where she is now, this is such a hassle..." I glanced at Liu Mengshi, "How about this, I'll go back and find Ping'er first, and bring you the food."
Liu Mengshi felt a wave of nausea in her stomach and nodded, "Thank you, Fourth Sister."
I smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go now."
I crossed the street and walked along the road. I looked around and called softly, "Ping'er..." but I didn't see her.
Another turn.
"Miss……"
I flinched and quickly turned around: "Ping'er, you're here! You scared me."
Ping'er smiled and said, "I've already sent Master Meng over there. That should be enough."
I nodded.
Ping'er's expression suddenly darkened: "Miss, do you think we're being too heartless, after all, Master Meng..."
I looked her straight in the eye and stroked her hair: "Ping'er, I know you are kind and can't understand, but... this is all we can do for their lives."
Ping'er nodded.
I returned to where I started with the food.
"Second sister, I brought the food."
Liu Mengshi immediately stood up, glanced at me, and said, "Let's go. I don't want to stay here for another second."
They left in a hurry.
Ping'er whispered in my ear, "Miss, what exactly happened?"
Master Meng entered my courtyard through Ping'er.
"Fourth Miss..."
He knelt down with a thud.
“Master Meng…” Ping’er called out, looking up at me.
"What are you doing?" I stared at him.
Master Meng: "Fourth Miss arranged for me to meet Second Miss, and I am very grateful..." He then kowtowed, "I hope Fourth Miss can help me one more time, I beg you..."
I stared at him silently.
"If Fourth Miss doesn't agree, I will kneel here forever..."
I turned around and walked away silently.
Seeing her young mistress's indifference, Ping'er didn't know what to say. She brought over a cup of hot tea.
I took a small sip: "Ping'er wants to know why I'm being so heartless, right?"
Ping'er replied, "I've never thought that way. Miss is doing the right thing..." Then she continued, "Master Meng is just being wishful. If he continues like this, he's only heading into a dead end. There's no way out at all."
I smiled and looked at Ping'er.
Then he slowly said, "A man's knees are worth gold; he only kneels to heaven, earth, and his parents... Go and tell him."
"Understood, Miss." Ping'er went out the door.
Looking at the person kneeling motionless in the courtyard, I thought, he must have had his own choice.
“Ping’er, what did the Fourth Miss say?” Meng Yun asked, as if grasping at a lifeline.
Ping'er slowly uttered those words.
Meng Yun's expectant gaze flickered like a extinguished candle. "Then Fourth Miss...she's not going to help me..." her voice trembled with sorrow.
Ping'er stamped her foot in frustration, "You bookworm, how can you not understand? Miss is trying to teach you a lesson..."
Meng Yun immediately regained her composure: "Really? What does Fourth Miss mean?"
Ping'er glanced at the young lady in the room and asked, "What did you want to ask of the young lady earlier?"
Meng Yun replied shyly, "I hope that the Fourth Miss can help me find a minor official position. That way, the Second Miss won't look down on me because of it."
"Fool!" Ping'er blurted out on the spot, "The Second Miss will never... will never be with you, do you understand?"
Meng Yun stared at her in astonishment.
Ping'er hurriedly said, "I'll tell you one last time: if you want to change your current situation, hurry up and study hard to pass the imperial examinations."
"Miss, Master Meng has left."
"oh."
I placed the cup on the table: "Ping'er's tea-brewing skills are getting better and better..."
Ping'er smiled and said, "Miss is too kind."
"By the way, have Ping'er and Master Meng made things clear?"
Ping'er asked with some surprise, "Miss...you already know?"
I nodded, smiling. "Our Ping'er is always so kind-hearted. How did you tell him?"
“I told him to give up the idea of being with the second young lady and to study hard to pass the imperial examinations. That’s the path he should take.”
"Yes," I nodded, praising, "Ping'er did the right thing. But that's not enough..."
"Miss, are you going to help him?"
I nodded: "He needs to get some exercise..."
I assigned Meng Yun to Qiu Niang, putting him in charge of dealing with officials. Although Meng Yun was initially reluctant, saying he couldn't do it, he eventually agreed.
"Miss, I hope he can understand your good intentions."
I patted Ping'er's head. "It's good that Ping'er knows me."
Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
Liu Chengxian went upstairs and entered a special private room.
"Your Highness..."
Sitting opposite him, Dugu Jing was sipping tea, his gaze slightly lowered. "You've arrived."
"Your Highness summoned me here. Is there something you wish to discuss?"
Dugu Jing put down his teacup: "I plan to recommend myself to Chuzhou."
Author's Note:
Please support me... Mwah!
Chapter 19 A Deep Affection
Liu Chengxian was somewhat surprised by the Fourth Prince's decision: "Then what about the palace..." Now that the First Prince is building up his power in the court and slowly extending his influence, it is very disadvantageous for the Fourth Prince. If the Fourth Prince leaves under such circumstances, it will be very detrimental.
Dugu Jing remained calm: "I've temporarily entrusted the affairs of the palace to Lord Ding."
Liu Chengxian suddenly remembered his father's impeachment: "Your Highness, could it be that..."