"What do you want with her?"
Meng Wan walked out, and Huangfu Mi followed, naturally taking her hand and asking in a calm tone.
Meng Wan raised an eyebrow and said, "She is a confidante of Meng Junyao and the second concubine, so she wanted to ask them some questions."
Huangfu Mi didn't say much at this moment, but simply took Meng Wan's hand and walked out together.
Wu'er was standing there when she saw Meng Wan and Huangfu Mi. She hurriedly bowed and greeted them. Meng Wan waved her hand and sat down with Huangfu Mi on the armchair. Then she said, "You are no longer in the Prime Minister's residence, so there is no need for such formalities. Please get up."
After the Second Madam died, Wu'er took the initiative to leave the Prime Minister's residence. The Third Madam, grateful for the deep bond between her and the Second Madam and knowing that the Second Madam's death had greatly affected her, did not stop her. Instead, she gave her some money and sent her home.
Wu'er then stood up: "Thank you, Miss. Although I am no longer serving in the Prime Minister's residence, I have been fortunate to receive the care of the Master, Madam, and Miss for a long time. In my heart, the Prime Minister's residence is like home, and Miss will always be my mistress."
Wu'er is a very meticulous girl, unlike ordinary maids. She is also very steady, which explains why the Second Madam and Meng Junyao trusted her so much.
Meng Wan nodded slightly, but did not linger because of Wu'er's pleasant words. Since she had asked her to come back for something important, she would not beat around the bush: "In that case, I will speak frankly. You must have heard about the ghost story at the Prime Minister's residence yesterday, right?"
Even if she ordered that no one should talk nonsense, there are many people in the Prime Minister's residence, and it would be impossible to prevent the news from spreading.
Wu'er nodded: "I heard about it on the way here, but I just don't believe it. There are no ghosts in this world. Besides, even if there are ghosts, they only linger in the human world because of grievances. Second Miss fell off a cliff and died. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Why would she come out to scare people?"
He spoke so eloquently, as if he had prepared his speech in advance, without any flaws, which surprised Meng Wan.
He turned to look at Huangfu Mi, who looked back at him. Their eyes met, and it was clear that they had the same idea.
"In that case, you don't believe the ghost story from yesterday?"
"yes."
"So you believe Second Sister is dead?"
Wu'er was clearly taken aback, then nodded: "Of course, although the remains have not been found, how could anyone not die from falling from such a high place?"
"In that case, I also found this in my second sister's room yesterday..."
Mu Ci took out the tassel and handed it to Wu'er. At this moment, Wu'er suddenly burst into tears: "Second Miss, are you reluctant to leave? That's why you specially brought the tassel back, just to stay in the manor to accompany Master, Madam and Miss. But even if you are reluctant, you still have to leave. If you have no grievances, don't linger in the mortal world. Find a good family to be reborn into as soon as possible!"
Tears streaming down her face, she left onlookers somewhat bewildered. Huangfu Mi and Meng Wan exchanged a glance, their confusion deepening.
Why is this dancer talking incoherently?
After asking some more questions, Wu'er began to dodge the questions, claiming ignorance about everything. She said she believed in ghosts and gods one minute and said she didn't the same thing the next, but she kept emphasizing that Meng Junyao wouldn't be haunted if she hadn't been wronged, as if she was deliberately reminding someone of something.
After finally seeing her off, leaving only Meng Wan and Huangfu Mi, Meng Wan said, "I feel like Wu'er knows something. What do you think?"
The reason for bringing Huangfu Mi along was to ask him for advice and suggestions.
Huangfu Mi pondered for a moment: "I think even if she knows, it's only because she's still resentful about the deaths of Meng Junyao and the Second Madam. Just now, she kept emphasizing that Meng Junyao was wronged, but didn't mention anything else, which makes it seem like she's using that incident to target you."
The analysis was quite logical, but Meng Wan hesitated for a moment: "So you mean to ignore her?"
"No, if we have any doubts, we can send someone to follow and see. It would be best if we could find out something. If we can't find anything, we can try to find another way."
Meng Wan nodded and naturally called out towards the door, "Huanyan--" but it was Mu Ci who came in.
"Sister Huanyan hasn't come back yet!" Mu Ci said.
Meng Wan frowned slightly. It was almost noon, why hadn't Huan Yan returned yet?
Putting Wu'er's matter aside for the moment, he said to Mu Ci, "Then go to the Prince's mansion again. If Huan Yan is waiting for the Prince there, ask her to come back with you."
Mu Ci agreed and left, but Meng Wan's brow remained furrowed, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason. What was wrong? Why did she suddenly have a bad feeling? Could it be that something was about to happen again?
--
Mu Ci returned quickly, but Huan Yan was still nowhere to be seen. She also said that no one in the Prince's mansion had ever seen Huan Yan.
Meng Wan was really panicked. The person who had gone there early in the morning had not been seen by anyone and had not returned yet. Could it be that something had happened, just as she had suspected?
But... Huan Yan is always quick-witted, she shouldn't be like that!
Thinking this, he couldn't sit still any longer. He hurriedly ordered Mu Ci to pack her things, and then he and Huangfu Mi rushed out of the Prime Minister's residence.
She thought that as long as Huanyan went out, someone would surely have seen her, so she should inquire around; she was sure she would find something.
Sure enough, along the way from the Prime Minister's residence to the Prince's residence, several vendors said they had seen a girl who looked just like Huan Yan heading east.
That was the direction of the Prince Heng's residence, so the couple went straight back to the residence.
Huangfu Mi knew that Meng Wan was anxious to find someone, and he also knew the significance of Huan Yan to Meng Wan. At this moment, he dared not be negligent in the slightest and hurriedly instructed everyone to wait in the courtyard.
Naturally, we had to ask them one by one. Although we couldn't be sure that Huan Yan had actually come here, since someone saw her coming in this direction, it was very likely that she had entered the Prince's Mansion.
However, after asking everyone, no one said they had seen her. Meng Wan became anxious, grabbed a gate guard by the collar, and said sternly, "It's not surprising that the maids in the manor haven't seen her, but you are guarding the gate. If she passed by, you couldn't have missed her. The vendors all said she went this way. You should think carefully."
The guard had never seen the princess so anxious before, and he couldn't help but panic. He racked his brains but couldn't remember anything. Huangfu Mi, seeing her lose control, quickly went over and hugged her, then gently comforted her, "Don't worry, let me ask."
Meng Wan barely suppressed her anxiety and nodded to him. Only then did Huangfu Mi release her hand and walk up to the guard: "When did you change shifts today?"
Upon seeing Huangfu Mi, the guard immediately stood up straight and said, "Your Highness, it's 3:45 a.m. Last night, the four of us were on watch, and this morning Li Yong's team came to relieve us."
"If I remember correctly, when you change shifts, there's a moment when no one is guarding the door. Could it be during that gap that Huanyan came in?"
"This..." The guard hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "That's possible, because we all go to the courtyard to hand over duties..."
Huangfu Mi nodded, signaling them to step back first, before walking to Meng Wan's side: "Since there is such a possibility, let them conduct a thorough search. The capital is so big, I believe that as long as we search, we will definitely find it."
That's all we can do now, Meng Wan nodded, but her heart was filled with endless worry.