However, she was a step too late. Before the carriage arrived, Huangfu Mi had already stepped forward and grabbed Meng Wan's arm.
"Wait a moment."
The sound seemed to come from the sky, making Meng Wan's heart pound. With her back to the ground, the melted snow turned into water droplets and fell down the umbrella, a few of which landed on her back, and she couldn't help but shiver.
What to do? What to do?
Huangfu Mi turned his head slightly and saw a slightly thin figure under the shade of the umbrella, shrouded in a large robe, making him appear even more frail.
Although he was dressed as a man, for some reason, he felt a vague sense of familiarity with him.
"Excuse me..." he began tentatively, feeling a force trying to pull away from his grasp. His fingers tightened. "Excuse me, which direction leads to town?"
Meng Wan's fingers twitched, and the umbrella in her hand was almost blown away by the wind. Her arm was gripped tightly by him, and she felt the burning gaze behind her. Meng Wan bit her lip, with nowhere to escape, and could only turn around.
"No... I don't know." She murmured, almost burying her head in her chest, but even so, Huangfu Mi's eyes lit up.
"Wan...Wan'er?" Almost unable to contain her excitement, Huangfu Mi felt her voice trembling. The person in front of her was dressed in men's clothing, but her appearance was undoubtedly Meng Wan.
He would never admit his mistake.
Meng Wan blinked, having recovered from her initial panic. Her hand unconsciously went to her waist. She shook her head, a faint smile slowly curving her lips: "Young master, are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?"
Huangfu Mi wouldn't let her escape. He reached out and grabbed her shoulder, saying, "No, you are Meng Wan."
The force was so great that it ripped open the umbrella in Meng Wan's hand, and raindrops fell down, hitting the two of them.
Meng Wan subconsciously took a step back: "Young master, you've mistaken me for someone else."
Suddenly, her body felt lighter, and an unexpected force from behind made Meng Wan take a step back. Then, a deep voice seemed to descend from the sky.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?"
At the sound, both of them were startled, even Meng Wan was stunned—Big...Big Brother...? Why is he here too?
Meng Junheng had already walked to her side, giving her a reassuring smile. Then he winked at the guards behind him, who understood and immediately helped Meng Wan into the carriage.
Only Huangfu Mi and Meng Junheng remained, standing there facing each other.
"Junheng, what's going on? Was that Wan'er just now?"
"No, she isn't." Meng Junheng denied it without even thinking.
"You're talking nonsense. I saw it. She looks exactly like Wan'er. How could it not be her?"
"Just because they look alike means it's her? Your Majesty, are you out of your mind? There are plenty of people in this world who look alike, are they all her?"
Meng Junheng snorted coldly.
"Then who is she?" Huangfu Mi was not about to be easily fooled and pressed on relentlessly.
This question stumped Meng Junheng. He turned his head and glanced at the carriage. The curtains were drawn tightly, but he could still sense Meng Wan's fear, her fear of not seeing Huangfu Mi.
He clenched his fists: "She is... my queen."
Everyone was taken aback when he spoke.
Huangfu Mi repeated incredulously, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Meng Junheng nodded.
Huangfu Mi suddenly became agitated: "Don't talk nonsense, she is Wan'er, she is Wan'er, how could she be your queen, you..."
"Isn't it enough that she is carrying my child?"
After saying this, Huangfu Mi froze on the spot.
A child... a child?
Indeed, he and Wan'er had been together for so long without having children. He had even asked Hua Jiuye about it, and Hua Jiuye said that Meng Wan was likely infertile because she was kicked by the mad horse while trying to save him. So if this woman had a child, it couldn't be his Wan'er.
He hadn't told Wan'er about it before, but he knew very well, which is why he was so happy when Changping became pregnant.
However, at this moment, he could not feel happy.
He had opened Meng Wan's coffin to deny the possibility that the person inside was Meng Wan, which is why he searched everywhere. He originally thought he could find her, but in the end, he found nothing.
In the end, he deserved it!
He staggered a couple of steps, and then, for some reason—perhaps his blood rushed to his head—he shuddered and fainted.
--
This first snowfall lasted for three days and three nights, leaving everything in a vast expanse of white that was so dazzling it made one dizzy.
It only paused slightly in the evening, but it was still falling in a scattered and abundant manner.
Meng Junheng moved a heater and sat down next to Meng Wan, looking at the snowflakes outside, and said, "I've heard everything about your situation from the Eighth Prince. I never imagined that you suffered so much during those months."
Meng Wan's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, then she smiled slightly, not replying, but turning her head to ask, "How... is he?"
A few hours ago, Huangfu Mi suddenly fainted, so Meng Junheng had him settled in a nearby inn, while Meng Wan was taken back to the palace in Western Shu.
But Meng Wan's heart returned, though she remained physically there.
She was worried, really worried about him.
For the first time, I realized that the reason she had refused to mention Lanling for so long was not because of resentment, but because of fear.