--
In the following days, Huangfu Mi rested at the mansion. Although he was not seriously ill, Meng Wan and Huangfu Mi did not know this and thought he had a serious illness, so they took great care of him.
Thus, it was half a month later before Huangfu Mi fully recovered.
Because of his illness, Huangfu Mi had not entered the palace for more than half a month. During this period, Meng Wan went there a few times to report Huangfu Mi's condition to the emperor, who was very concerned about it. Now that Huangfu Mi had recovered, he naturally had to go and pay his respects.
The whole morning passed before Meng Wan finally sat down at the dining table around noon, when she was informed that the prince had returned.
Meng Wan put down her chopsticks and looked up. Behind the light blue curtain, Huangfu Mi had already peeked in. Seeing that she was eating, he immediately strode forward and said, "Luckily I came back early. It was mealtime, and I was starving."
Meng Wan was visibly surprised to find him dining with the Emperor in the palace, having expected him to return home. "Why are you back? Didn't Father invite you to stay for dinner?"
"I've kept him." Huangfu Mi took the chicken soup that Mu Ci had served and took two big gulps. The gentle chicken soup filled his lungs and he felt much better. He then raised his head and said, "But I said I wanted to come back to be with you, so Father Emperor released him."
Meng Wan couldn't help but glare at him reproachfully: "You're talking nonsense in front of Father Emperor. Who told you to come back and keep him company? It's rare that you're feeling better, you should be with Father Emperor."
Huangfu Mi smiled and gently pinched her cheek with his large hand, then said, "I was just kidding. Father went to accompany Consort Hui, so I came back."
"Consort Hui?" Meng Wan raised an eyebrow.
Meng Wan had visited Consort Hui several times after she lost her child, but she was in a bad mood and refused to see anyone. Unexpectedly, she was willing to see the Emperor this time.
"It seems she's alright now."
Huangfu Mi nodded: "That's probably it. Although it's sad, we know there's nothing we can do."
Meng Wan nodded, knowing that no one else could help with this matter, and only Consort Hui herself had figured it out, so everything was fine.
So he didn't say anything more, but personally served Huangfu Mi rice, and the two of them ate together.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing." Huangfu Mi was clearly starving; he hadn't even swallowed his food as he spoke, mumbling incoherently. Meng Wan gave him a disgusted look, then handed him a glass of water. After he drank and swallowed, she asked, "What is it?"
Huangfu Mi patted his chest: "Today, Father Emperor mentioned that in half a month it will be Grandmother's birthday. Father Emperor has already ordered a grand celebration and has sent people to bring Grandmother back to the palace."
Meng Wan exclaimed, "Is Grandmother coming back? When?"
Seeing her so excited, Huangfu Mi couldn't help but smile: "They said they sent someone while I was ill, and they should arrive in the capital soon. What? Do you want to see her?"
Meng Wan immediately nodded: "That's for sure."
In her previous life, she had been married into the palace for so long but had never met the Empress Dowager. She had only heard that she was a very kind yet dignified old woman who was devoted to Buddhism and had been practicing Buddhism since the death of the Emperor Emeritus. Meng Wan had always wanted to meet her, and now she finally had the chance.
"Grandmother has finally returned, so of course I, as her granddaughter-in-law, want to see her. What, is that not allowed?" Meng Wan raised her neck and spoke happily, her eyes sparkling with a lively spirit that was rarely seen. Huangfu Mi watched quietly, feeling her heart fill with joy.
He couldn't help but reach out and stroke the hair behind her ear, and smiled: "Why not? But if we can have good news before she comes back, she will be even happier."
As he spoke, he scanned her lower abdomen.
Meng Wan's face immediately turned red, and she glared at him reproachfully, saying, "What is this? All you ever talk about is this. How boring! You're such a bad person!"
This caused Huangfu Mi to burst into laughter. Seeing her blushing cheeks and the fine strands of hair falling from her ears to her delicate neck, he couldn't help but reach out and ask, "Am I a bad person? Do you really think so?"
He drew his cheek closer and closer, staring intently at her, his narrow eyes filled with a captivating, almost devilish light, which made Meng Wan's heart flutter.
"What... what are you going to do?" She blinked, looking at his face that was getting closer and closer, and felt her breath quicken.
"Stay away from me..."
He... is he thinking of... something else? We're eating right now!
The man simply approached without speaking, causing Meng Wan's heart to pound wildly. However, he didn't kiss her. When he was almost within reach, he suddenly raised his hand, picked a leaf from her clothes, and held it to her face. Looking at her flustered expression, he smiled ambiguously: "It's just a leaf. What are you thinking? You're so lecherous!"
Thinking back, he seemed to have teased her in such an ambiguous and ambiguous tone before. Her cheeks turned even redder. Why did this man love to play tricks on her like this?
How annoying!
And how come she's always so incompetent, so easily controlled by him? It's truly shameful!
--
When the Empress Dowager returned to the capital, the whole country celebrated. Early in the morning, the carriage of the Prince of Heng's mansion carried a group of people into the palace.
She naturally went straight to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace to pay her respects, and was led by a palace maid, with Meng Wan following behind.
As soon as she arrived at the entrance of Cining Palace, she heard a series of silvery laughs coming from inside. The voice was unfamiliar, and Meng Wan paused slightly, feeling a little puzzled.
She thought she had arrived early, so how could someone else have arrived even earlier than her? She paused for a moment, then started walking.
Inside the Cining Palace.
Upon entering, one is greeted by the scent of sandalwood, rich yet not overpowering, which is not unpleasant. Meng Wan took a deep breath and waited until her heartbeat calmed down before stepping inside.
Inside the hall, the elderly woman in the main seat, dressed in a bright yellow court robe, was undoubtedly the Empress Dowager. Although Meng Wan had never met her before, her attire and demeanor made it clear at a glance that she was indeed the Empress Dowager.
Meng Wan's gaze was quickly drawn to another figure beside her.
She was a beautiful woman with skin as smooth and lustrous as warm jade, and cherry-red lips that were naturally red and delicate. Her red dress complemented her perfectly, its exquisite embroidery depicting a light pink rosy flower adorning the lower left corner of her waist. The seams of her dress were tightly closed, outlining a flowing, graceful curve. Her neck was slightly open, her lips seemingly reaching out and swaying in the breeze, exuding a sense of ease and grace.
When Meng Wan entered, she was gesturing wildly at the Empress Dowager. Seeing Meng Wan approach, she reluctantly stopped gesturing and simply stood beside the Empress Dowager, her gaze drifting towards Meng Wan.
V97
When Meng Wan entered, she was gesturing wildly at the Empress Dowager. Seeing Meng Wan approach, she reluctantly stopped gesturing and simply stood beside the Empress Dowager, her gaze drifting towards Meng Wan.
Meng Wan was also looking at her. When their eyes met, she couldn't help but wonder about her identity. How could she be so at ease in front of the Empress Dowager? Who was this woman?
After a moment of contemplation, she had already walked to the center of the main hall and performed a grand salute to the emperor: "Meng Wan greets the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager live a thousand years!"