but...
"Do you think what we're doing is really a good thing? Is it a good thing to make them reconcile? Don't you like Wan'er too? Shouldn't we take this opportunity to win her over?"
"And what about you? Aren't you no different! But do you really want to do something so despicable?"
"mean?"
"Yes, knowing full well that she only has eyes for Seventh Brother, how could he still try to steal her away? Isn't that despicable?"
"Ha ha--"
As the sunset faded, the two faces, reflected in the afterglow, gazed into the house, smiles unconsciously playing on their lips.
--
Three days later, Hua Jiuye arrived in Western Shu and personally treated Huangfu Mi's illness. Half a month later, Huangfu Mi recovered, and Meng Wan's belly grew bigger and bigger.
Because both of them loved Western Shu, and Meng Wan's health was not suited to the arduous journey, Huangfu Mi verbally issued an edict to pass the throne to Huangfu Yu, while he and Meng Wan settled down in a small town in Western Shu.
Although it seemed absurd, he only wanted to do what he felt in his heart. The months of separation made him understand his own feelings even more clearly. He had always loved her, regardless of whether they had children.
Although she would still occasionally think of the hurt he had caused her, and of Changping, after leaving that place, she thought, and hoped, that everything would pass.
After all, that woman was only blinded by love, and in the years to come, she would probably only be able to stay in the palace and with her child with Huangfu Mi, living out her days in solitude.
This... can be considered a punishment for her!
As for Meng Wan, if she could, she would never want to go back to that place where she had lived two lives, where she had experienced both joy and pain.
Just like that, traveling with him, exploring mountains and rivers, free and unrestrained, how wonderful!
Reserved chapters
On the eve of the beginning of spring in the fourth year of the Hongxu reign, a sudden heavy snowfall began to fall in Lanling. Although the time for snowfall had already passed, the snowfall seemed to have the potential to blanket the entire city. In just one night, the entire imperial city was covered in a blanket of white, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
In the snow, a slender figure knelt on the ground. The weather was clearly cold, yet beads of sweat kept dripping from her forehead.
'Tick-tock--'
She had been kneeling for a long time, and her knees were sore and painful. But what was even more painful was her lower abdomen, which felt like it was being stabbed with a knife. She covered it with her hands, but the intense pain still spread from her limbs to her whole body.
She couldn't help but bend over, trying to curl up to ease the pain, but she had barely moved when she heard the cold voice of Granny Su behind her: "Your Majesty, you'd better kneel properly! Otherwise, this servant will tell the Emperor!"
Her high-pitched voice, subtly revealing contempt, drew the attention of the eunuchs and palace maids sweeping snow in the courtyard, and even the imperial physicians bustling back and forth in the corridors outside the courtyard turned their heads.
The woman's expression changed slightly. She endured the excruciating pain and glared at Granny Su, her eyes blazing with fury: "What are you, daring to speak to me like that? Just wait until I..." Even in her fallen state, she still possessed the dignity befitting an empress.
But it was this one sentence that made Granny Su laugh unrestrainedly, "At a time like this, why are you still putting on airs like an empress? The Emperor has already given the order. If the Imperial Noble Consort and the unborn child can pull through this time, that's fine. But if anything happens to them, even if you are her own sister..."
At this point, she paused slightly, then smiled and glanced at her sideways, letting out a cold snort from her nostrils: "The Emperor will definitely tear you to pieces!"
The woman trembled, wanting to say something, but the intense pain made her unable to argue with Granny Su. She could only clutch her lower abdomen tightly, her body covered in cold sweat.
Yes, so what if she is the Empress? In that person's heart, she is not even half as good as Meng Junyao. Otherwise, how could she have suspected Meng Junyao of drugging her without any evidence, and then made her, who was also pregnant, kneel in the cold wind for two whole hours?
Another hour passed, and the snow fell even heavier, accompanied by a biting wind that howled and obscured her vision, causing her body to gradually stiffen.
She knew that if she continued to kneel like this, the child in her womb would definitely not be able to bear it. Ignoring Su Mama's cold eyes, she struggled to sit up. However, at that moment, a series of rustling footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Then, a bright yellow figure darted into her view, and she abruptly raised her head.
The first thing she saw was a handsome face, with sharp, resolute features, so beautiful it seemed otherworldly. She had been captivated by him the moment she first saw him, but now, that face that used to always wear a gentle smile now bore a sinister gaze, bursting forth with hatred that seemed ready to erupt from her.
She couldn't help but shiver, and forced herself to ask, "How is my sister?" But before she could finish speaking, she was kicked hard in the stomach and slammed into the wall.
She felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen and instinctively clutched it, groaning as beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. The man's voice was chillingly cold in her ears.
"You vile woman, how dare you harm A Yao's child! Today I will make you and your bastard pay the price!"
Reserved Chapter (II)
"You vile woman, how dare you harm A Yao's child! Today I will make you and your bastard pay the price!"
Her slender body fell to the ground, her internal organs aching as if shattered. Bright red blood oozed from the corner of her mouth, and the intense pain caused her body to convulse.
Almost instinctively, she reached out and grabbed his leg, trying to stop him, but he ignored her and his powerful feet landed hard on her lower abdomen, once, twice.
This scene instantly reminded her of a few years ago, when a similar kick caused her first child to die in the womb. The reason for all of this was simply her anger at him for marrying Gu Junyao and bringing her into the palace.
Her heart ached unbearably, even more intensely than the physical pain. She convulsed a few times, trying to get up, but her body was out of control, and she stumbled and fell down again, lying prostrate in the snow. It was so cold, but she seemed oblivious to it, only staring at him fiercely with her eyes, shouting her accusations with all her might.
"You keep saying I'm the one who harms people, but have you ever thought about why we were at peace before Meng Junyao entered the palace, but suddenly became the unforgivable sinner the moment she entered? Huangfu Qian, have you ever thought about that?"
Her tone startled him for a moment, but he quickly regained his indifference. That indifference was mixed with so much disgust that it seemed so natural, as if he was born to be this way.
"You vile woman, how dare you slander A Yao at a time like this? Let me tell you, A Yao is not that kind of person. She is gentle and kind-hearted, and she wouldn't even have the heart to crush an ant. How could she be like a poisonous woman like you?"
"A poisonous woman?" My heart felt like it was being cut repeatedly with a blunt object; it hurt, but I couldn't make a sound.
"If that's how you see me, why did you go to such lengths to marry me back then? And since you married me, why do you treat me like this? Huangfu Qian, what is your true purpose?"
After five years of marriage and going through thick and thin together, all she got in return was a label of "poisonous woman." She was unwilling to accept it, so unwilling!
"Because of the throne!" Huangfu Qian interrupted her with a light snort. His dark and deep eyes slowly swept over Meng Wan's pale face, his gaze so intimidating that it almost suffocated her: "You are the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, and the late Emperor was very fond of you. If I want to ascend the throne, I can't do without your help, so I have no choice but to marry you!"
His words made her heart clench suddenly, as if a very fine and sharp needle had unexpectedly pierced her heart. The pain made her gasp sharply, and a trace of sorrow flashed in her eyes.
The Prime Minister's eldest daughter, favored by the late Emperor.
Yes, given his status as someone who was not favored by the late emperor, he had no chance of competing for power among the princes. If he wanted to ascend the throne, he could only work from the sidelines, and she undoubtedly became an important pawn in his rise to power!