You see, what she was most worried about was that the seventh prince would get involved with the Meng family. After all, the emperor doted on him so much. Even though he had been raised outside for more than ten years, if he had the prime minister to protect him, then no one could take away his position as crown prince!
Meng Wan was taken aback and instinctively glanced at Huangfu Mi, unsure of how to respond. However, she saw Huangfu Mi still sitting there casually drinking tea, as if what the Empress said was none of his business.
Meng Wan couldn't help but feel a little disheartened.
If it weren't for their similar appearance, she would have found it very difficult to connect the man before her with the Feng Qi she remembered, because his current indifference made her heart race.
"I heard Father Emperor mention that matter before. Father Emperor ordered my seventh brother to supervise the trial, but he saw them using torture, so he rescued the person first."
Huangfu Yu, watching from the side, felt that Meng Wan was acting strangely today, but he didn't have time to think too much about it, so he spoke up to help her smooth things over.
The Empress didn't say anything more at this moment, but just nodded slightly. The group chatted for a while before leaving.
"Meng girl, after you pay your respects to the Emperor, how about we go to Changyin Pavilion to watch a play together?"
As they walked along the snow-covered stone steps, Huangfu Yu made a suggestion.
Meng Wan paused, looked up at Huangfu Mi who was walking ahead, and watched him stride forward steadily, seemingly oblivious to what was behind him. She bit her lip, and after a long while, nodded: "Then wait for me, Fifth Prince. I'll go to Zhengyang Palace to pay my respects first, and then I'll go out with you."
--
Meng Wan was feeling down. Even though she tried to cheer herself up, it was all in vain. Listening to the singing on the stage, she rested her chin on her hand, looking dazed.
"Are you bored?" Huangfu Yu, who was beside her, noticed her unusual behavior and tapped on the table to remind her to come back to her senses.
Meng Wan looked up at him and said, "Oh, no, that's interesting."
"Liar!"
"Um?"
"If it's interesting, then tell me, what was that song you were singing just now?"
Huangfu Yu chuckled and hit the nail on the head.
Meng Wan naturally had no idea what the song was about, because her mind was elsewhere, and she herself was not even sure where it had gone. Hearing Huangfu Yu say this, she could only smile awkwardly and say, "Sorry, I guess I've been staying at home for too long and my brain is a little sluggish."
"Hehe--" Huangfu Yu continued to laugh, but his laughter held a deeper meaning: "Is your mind not working properly, or is something on your mind?"
Meng Wan was taken aback, then chuckled dryly, "You can tell I have something on my mind?"
What if I said I could?
Meng Wan was taken aback, and looked up, but she was still half-believing and half-doubting.
Huangfu Yu couldn't help but smile: "We've known each other for a while now, but not too long, not too short either. You've always been free-spirited, and although you're a woman, you're not the kind of person who's pretentious. But just now, you were clearly a bit reserved with the Empress Dowager, and you were even more distant and cold towards the Seventh Prince, who is your savior. And look at the Seventh Prince's face; when he heard that I wanted to invite you out to the opera, it was beyond description—it was as black as charcoal, it was extremely ugly. So I think, something must have happened between you two, right?"
Meng Wan had always thought Huangfu Yu was a bit dull and not very perceptive, but she never expected him to be so insightful this time. He could see so many clues after only a short time together. Meng Wan was now very impressed with him.
But... "Was my behavior that obvious?"
Why didn't that person notice? Or did he notice but pretend not to?
He couldn't help but feel a little down. What did he want? Did he really want to cut all ties with him, just like he had said before?
"Look at your face, do you believe me if I say it's not obvious?" Seeing her blank expression, Huangfu Yu reached out and tapped her forehead. This action reminded Meng Wan of that person again, and she couldn't help but feel more and more irritated.
What's wrong with her? How could she so easily control her emotions?
She knew perfectly well that now, having experienced life and death, nothing and no one should disturb her mind, but the thought of that person still caused her uncontrollable distress.
"Alright, stop looking so down. I don't know what happened between you two, but since you're so troubled, you obviously still care about him. In that case, why don't you go and have a calm talk with him?"
"Talk...talk?"
"Yes, or do you want to keep giving him the cold shoulder like this, so that you won't feel good either, and he won't feel much better either? Just now, my people said that Seventh Brother went to the riding field after leaving the palace. I don't know what happened. He is clearly a very good horseman, but he fell off his horse..."
"What? He fell off his horse! Where did he fall? How serious is it? Where is he now? Has the imperial physician been summoned?" Before he could finish speaking, she exclaimed in surprise, stood up abruptly, and her worry was evident in her expression.
Seeing this, Huangfu Yu smiled inwardly, but on the surface he remained calm and nodded, saying, "Yes."
He only uttered those two words before stopping, and never said another word.
This worried Meng Wan greatly. She leaned down and pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him to look at her. Her face was almost touching his: "Tell me quickly, what's going on?"
Huangfu Yu curled his lips and couldn't help but smile. "You said you didn't understand, so what's the meaning of your worried look now?"
He still had the mind to tease her at this moment? Meng Wan glared at him angrily and turned to leave.
Huangfu Yu reached out and grabbed her arm: "If you barge into the palace to see him like this, and someone sees you, something bad will happen."
Meng Wan was well aware of this, but she was just too worried about how badly he was injured!
V23 Deep Affection (Part Two)
Meng Wan was well aware of this, but she was just too worried about how badly he was injured!
"Alright, I'm not joking with you anymore. Actually, I sent someone to invite him over early this morning, and he should be waiting in the side hall by now. You should go quickly, but be careful and make sure no one else sees you, otherwise I won't know how to explain it to the Empress Dowager."
Meng Wan was clearly taken aback, even forgetting the man's injuries at that moment, only shocked by Huangfu Yu's action: "Fifth Prince, why are you helping me?"
"Because we're friends, so what? Isn't that right?"
No... That's not what Meng Wan meant.
"What I mean is, Her Majesty the Empress clearly misses you and me... but you're helping me instead..."
"Then do you like me?" Huangfu Yu seemed to know what she was going to say and interrupted her with a smile.