The work of guarding the palace has always been arranged by Meng Junheng, and tonight's grand scale is naturally even more so.
Meng Wan guessed that he was probably guarding Zhengyang Palace, so after leaving Yusheng Tower, she went straight there.
Meng Junheng was arranging the guard duties for the night when he saw Meng Wan. He was clearly taken aback for a moment, then dismissed everyone and went to greet her.
He dragged her to a secluded spot, whispering, "Wan'er, what are you doing here?"
Leaving aside the fact that only high-ranking officials of the court and those authorized by the emperor are allowed to enter this place, it is also a mystery how Wan'er found the way from Yusheng Tower.
Meng Wan didn't offer any explanation. Instead, she looked at him with a worried expression and frowned, saying, "Brother, I've lost my hairpin. I've searched everywhere but can't find it. I can only ask you for help."
"A hairpin?" Meng Junheng frowned.
Wan'er wasn't someone who couldn't distinguish between what was important and what wasn't. She should have known which was more troublesome, a hairpin or trespassing in front of the palace, yet she still did it. Meng Junheng guessed there must be some inside story.
Meng Wan nodded: "That hairpin was a gift from my aunt. She said it was something my mother used to use. I originally wanted to keep it as a memento, but I don't know how I lost it just now, so I wanted to find it no matter what."
"I see." Meng Junheng nodded slightly. "Then think carefully about where you left it. Could it be that you forgot to wear it?"
“No way.” Meng Wan shook her head: “It was still on my head when we changed to a sedan chair outside Desheng Gate, but then it disappeared. I suppose it fell off there at that time.”
Meng Junheng lowered his eyes: "In that case, you should go back to Yusheng Tower and wait there. I'll go and help you find it. Can you find the way back?"
Meng Wan was overjoyed and nodded hurriedly, "Yes."
She did live in the palace for a few years back then, and although it was renovated later, the basic layout remained unchanged.
Meng Junheng nodded. Seeing this, Meng Wan turned and left first. After taking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned back: "By the way, elder brother, the weather has been hot and dry these past two days. You must take care of yourself. Also, I heard that the Emperor has been suffering from a cough. Perhaps we could use pears as medicine, which might help."
Her words were spoken so naturally that Meng Junheng's gaze held a distinct hint of suspicion. Looking at Meng Wan's smiling face, he felt that Wan'er seemed somewhat different from before, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It seemed... she was more insightful about the world, yet also as if she were hiding a great secret...
Is it a secret? He frowned inwardly.
--
It started snowing sometime during the day, with goose-feather-like snowflakes falling gently and soon covering the red bricks and green tiles in the distance.
On her way back to Yusheng Tower, Meng Wan walked very slowly. Everywhere she looked was familiar. Thinking about the past few years, she had spent her days here. The past events were vivid in her mind, and she couldn't help but be a little lost in thought.
Just then, a gust of wind suddenly blew up, and the branches of the trees not far away rustled, causing the snowflakes on the branches to fall. Looking in the direction of the sound, I vaguely felt a burning gaze following me. After a moment of concentration, I realized that a dark shadow stretched out in front of me along the corridor, its reflection shimmering on the snow.
Startled, Meng Wan couldn't react in time. Her leg slipped, and she fell forward. Fortunately, the person reacted quickly and caught her. Meng Wan couldn't stop herself in time and fell into the person's arms. However, before she could see the person's face clearly, she heard the guard's voice from not far away: "Who's there?"
Meng Wan was startled, fearing that the guards had seen the light and were coming after her. She hurriedly blew out the horn lamp and huddled there, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
"You stay here and I'll go out and lure them away." A warm breath brushed against her ear, and the voice was extremely familiar. Meng Wan froze, and then she was stunned again.
"It's you?" Who else could it be but Feng Qi, the person holding her tightly in his arms behind her?
At this moment, she no longer had the time to question him as before about why he had appeared in front of her again, because her doubts were growing infinitely larger.
This is the royal palace, why is he here? Who is he? Could it be...?
A barrage of questions flooded her mind, but before she could ask any more, he had already leaped away, not in the open, but by scaling walls and rooftops.
V5 Reunion with an Old Friend (Part Two)
A barrage of questions flooded her mind, but before she could ask any more, he had already leaped away, not in the open, but by scaling walls and rooftops.
Meng Wan was even more shocked. She had just been guessing that he might be a prince or minister, or even a prince himself, but after seeing his behavior, she immediately dismissed the idea.
If he truly possessed that kind of identity, he wouldn't have needed to flee like this; he could have done so openly and honestly. So... could it be that he secretly infiltrated the palace?
The thought arose in her mind, and she became increasingly worried. Her eyes were fixed on the direction he had left in and the sound of the guards chasing after him. Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed.
Back at Yusheng Tower, he was still absent-minded, constantly listening to the sounds outside, afraid that he would be captured. However, he did not hear any sounds; instead, the hall suddenly became quiet.
Meng Wan looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Emperor and Empress entering in their full regalia. As the eunuchs announced their arrival in a high-pitched voice, everyone stood up: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!"
Those bright, dazzling figures were so striking they made one dizzy. Meng Wan blinked before standing up and kneeling down with the others.
A flurry of bows and chants erupted. When the emperor rose again, he was already seated on his dragon throne, his dragon eyes sweeping around the room. After a long while, he waved his hand and said, "Today is a family banquet. My ministers, there's no need for formalities. Rise." He then turned to the accompanying eunuchs and asked, "Where is the seventh prince? I haven't seen him."
It was against the rules that one of the main figures of the banquet did not show up.
Immediately, a eunuch came to report: "His Highness Prince Heng's palanquin has stopped outside, but we don't know where he is. I have already ordered people to search for him, and we should be able to find him soon."
The emperor nodded, but there was no displeasure in his smile, as if he would not blame Prince Heng even if he committed a terrible mistake.
He looked down and when his gaze fell on Meng Wan, a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips: "Wan girl is here too."
Upon hearing the Emperor's call, Meng Wan hurriedly rose and walked gracefully to the center of the hall. As she passed the concubine from before, she clearly saw the concubine casually extend her foot. Meng Wan pretended not to notice, walked around her, and then knelt down properly to pay her respects. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. Thank you for granting me permission to enter the palace and attend the banquet!"
"Rise, no need for such formalities!" The emperor waved his hand and laughed heartily: "Speaking of which, the reason why the seventh prince was able to return today is all thanks to you solving his riddle. Otherwise, that child might have been causing trouble outside for who knows how long."
He was clearly in a great mood, and everyone in the room laughed along with him. The Empress, who was standing beside the Emperor, smiled dignifiedly and gently: "In that case, when the Seventh Prince arrives later, we must have him properly offer a toast to Miss Meng. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
The emperor nodded repeatedly, unable to hide his smile, and the atmosphere became extremely harmonious.
But then, a crisp sound, followed by a thud as something hit the ground, abruptly broke the atmosphere.
Turning around, she saw the woman who had glared angrily at Meng Wan lying on the ground, curled up in distress, her body convulsing.
"Consort Xin!" exclaimed the maid beside her, rushing over to help her up. Everyone else also stood up and looked over.
"What happened?" The emperor walked from the main seat to the crowd and asked the palace maid next to Consort Xin. The palace maid shook her head: "This servant does not know. Consort Xin suddenly fainted. I don't know if she was poisoned."
Upon hearing the news of poisoning, a chorus of astonishment rose and fell in the hall. Everyone's face changed drastically, and they clutched their chests and stamped their feet to check if they were alright.