Meng Wan suddenly staggered twice, and if she hadn't grabbed the table for support, she probably would have fallen.
A slight smile played on her lips, but seeing it made Huangfu Mi's heart ache. "So... you believed it... you believed it..."
He took it as her desperate explanation, and an indescribable pain spread through his heart. How could his Wan'er have become like this?
“I know you resent me and are angry with me, but I have apologized and explained everything to you. I even didn’t give Changping a proper status when she was pregnant, just because I was afraid you would be even angrier. I’ve done all this, what more do you want from me?”
Faced with his accusations and doubts, Meng Wan gave a bitter smile: "What do I want from you? And what do you want from me?"
Huangfu Mi was taken aback by her question and paused for a moment before saying sadly, "I've thought it over. Although what you did is unforgivable, it didn't cause a major disaster. As long as you apologize to Changping and promise never to harm the child again, this matter will be considered closed..."
"Slap!" A hard slap landed on Huangfu Mi's face. Seeing his incredulous look, Meng Wan's body began to tremble. "So, you really think it's because I can't tolerate her, right?"
Meng Wan's heart began to tremble, tears streaming down her face, as her bleeding heart shattered bit by bit.
He actually told her to apologize and repent, but why would she do that? She hadn't done anything wrong, and she was the one being framed. Why should she apologize?
"Meng Wan." That slap ignited his fury. He had always been high and mighty, and no one dared to challenge his authority. Therefore, this slap was an immense insult to him.
He clenched his fists, desperately suppressing his anger, and looked at Meng Wan coldly, saying, "I can take this slap as your way of venting. But you must understand that we have been married for a long time but have no children. Therefore, this child is not only important to me, but also crucial to the entire Lanling. So, I beg you, please put away your petty temper, be more tolerant, and stop causing trouble. Otherwise, don't blame me for disregarding our past relationship."
Petty and narrow-minded?
Meng Wan finally glanced at him, looking at this familiar face, and suddenly felt as if she had never truly known him before.
She suddenly smiled, her chest throbbing with pain, but she didn't have the strength to explain, or rather, she simply didn't want to explain.
He said so much, warned so seriously, but didn't he know that he didn't need to do anything or say anything? Just one word of disbelief from him could instantly shatter her long-held belief.
A tear slid down her cheek, the bitterness of it all masking her sorrow. Yet, she curved her lips into a charming smile: "I'm sorry, Your Highness. It's my fault for not bearing you a son or daughter, and it's also my fault for doing things against your wishes. But I am such a ruthless woman. Is this the first time you've met me?"
She smiled, her dimples shallow, her eyes alluring, and looked at Huangfu Mi with a smile. His image was reflected in her eyes, and all the things about their past gradually faded from her sight.
"You...you admit it..." Huangfu Mi's dark eyes narrowed as he stared intently at her, his gaze fixed on her radiant smile. He erupted in fury: "Wan'er, how have you become like this? How could you become so cruel?"
"And what about you?" Meng Wan interrupted him. "You say I've changed, but what about you? Huangfu Mi, ask yourself honestly, have you truly lived up to your promise of unwavering trust?"
Meng Wan still smiled faintly. Through her teary eyes, she glanced at him one last time before abruptly turning away and refusing to look at him again.
"We became husband and wife, and our love was unwavering. Huangfu Mi, I have ultimately made a mistake in giving my heart to you."
With her back to him, she took out a hair comb from her bosom with trembling hands. It was a gift from him, and she had always treasured it, carrying it with her at all times. She thought he could do it, and she tried her best to do so. But in the end, love could not withstand suspicion. From the moment he brought people in to search, she knew that her heart was completely broken for him.
She raised her hand and threw the hair comb hard to the ground. With all her might, the comb shattered into pieces. A piece landed at his feet, revealing the bright red "Li" character on it, which looked somewhat ferocious and made one dizzy.
She spoke slowly, her voice steady and without a trace of emotion, saying, "If love only brings hurt, I would rather I had never met you."
Huangfu Mi's steps faltered, his face instantly turning ashen. He turned to look at her retreating figure, hidden in the rainy night, and felt a sense of loneliness and desolation.
He paused for a moment before speaking: "Since that's the case, you should stay in Jiangyun Pavilion and reflect on your mistakes to wash away the resentment in your heart."
His body trembled slightly, he glanced at her again, and finally took a step and left without looking back.
Meng Wan listened to his footsteps, which faded into the distance and disappeared into the sound of raindrops. She closed her eyes, and the last tear slid down her cheek, as if as a final tribute.
*
The rain was drizzling, and the night was slightly cool. Meng Wan stood with her back turned at the door, letting the raindrops fall from the eaves and onto her slender figure, feeling the coolness.
As dawn broke, she remained in the same position the entire time, standing there all night. Her thin figure looked incredibly lonely, which was heartbreaking.
Several unnamed flowering trees were planted in the yard, their branches laden with blossoms, clusters of which weighed down the trees, creating a desolate scene when the wind blew.
She stretched out her hand, and a few petals mixed with raindrops fell into her palm. The biting cold made her pull her fingers back, and she felt the chill spread from her palm to her whole body. She shivered, but stubbornly refused to pull her hand away.
Mu Ci stood on the other side, looking at her with melancholy eyes. At this moment, she didn't even know what to say to comfort her, so she chose to remain silent.
Meng Wan stood there from late at night until dawn, and then from dawn until dusk. By the evening of the second day, she could no longer endure it. She felt feverish all over and her head began to ache. Mu Ci hurriedly tried to fetch the imperial physician, but Meng Wan stopped her.
"I'm fine, just a headache. Go get me some medicine, I'll feel better after taking it."
She must have caught a cold; her head felt like it was going to explode, more intense than ever before. She kept clutching her head and huddling up.
Mu Ci hurriedly gave her the medicine, but Meng Wan swallowed it without even drinking water. The pill got stuck in her throat, and she coughed incessantly.
"Master, Master..." Mu Ci exclaimed in alarm, "Are you alright? Are you alright?"
Meng Wan shook her head repeatedly, pulled the brocade quilt over herself and wrapped herself up tightly. Her voice came from under the quilt in a muffled tone: "I'm fine, cough cough--I'm fine, I'll be fine after a while."
Actually, compared to heartache, she would rather have a headache. After the headache, she wouldn't have to think about those things she didn't want to remember. Call it escapism or cowardice, but she was just an ordinary woman who could be weak and sad.
Mu Ci stayed by the bedside for a while, and seeing that Meng Wan had gradually calmed down, she covered her with the quilt, sighed, and went out.
However, he was genuinely worried. After being soaked in the rain all night and coughing so badly, he was afraid he couldn't continue like this. After thinking it over, he decided to report the matter to His Highness, so he closed the door and went out.
But as soon as they stepped out of the ancestral hall, they saw a familiar figure approaching from afar. Upon seeing Mu Ci, the figure immediately rushed forward and grabbed Mu Ci, asking, "Where is Meng Wan? Where is she?"
Huangfu Yi's hair was slightly disheveled, and his clothes were somewhat unkempt, clearly indicating that he had been busy and exhausted. In particular, the bloodshot eyes and the crimson under his eyes made him look quite frightening.
Mu Ci was startled: "Miss, Miss, she..."
After a moment's hesitation, Huangfu Yi had already lost patience and pushed Mu Ci aside, striding into the house.
He needs to see him right now!
"Your Highness, you can't go in!" Mu Ci exclaimed in surprise as she came to her senses.
Huangfu Yi, however, acted as if he hadn't heard anything and completely ignored it.