Chu Heng paused, recalling Meng Wan's words, clearly hesitant. Now that Hong Xiu had come to ask again, he thought for a moment and then repeated Meng Wan's words verbatim. Finally, he asked, "Princess, what she said was false, wasn't it? You can be sure I am Chu Heng, right?"
Hongxiu paused noticeably, then nodded hurriedly, staring straight at him, and said firmly, "Of course you are Chu Heng, not Huangfu Mi as she said, I can confirm that!"
Chu Heng nodded without saying anything more, and left the mansion together with Hongxiu.
Naturally, he had to apologize to the King of Western Shu. The arranged marriage had been ruined because of his negligence. Fortunately, the King of Western Shu was very lenient towards him, and with Hongxiu speaking up for him, he was not harshly reprimanded. He was simply told to go back and rest well, and so he was dismissed.
Now only the King of Western Shu and his daughter remained in the hall. The King of Western Shu put away his previous smile and put on a solemn expression. He turned to Hongxiu and said, "My dear daughter, what happened during the wedding procession when a mad horse suddenly appeared and charged straight at Chu Heng?"
"Hmm." Hongxiu nodded. "I didn't see it with my own eyes, but that's what Brother Heng said. Father, is something wrong?"
The King of Western Shu stroked his beard: "I just felt something was amiss, so I wondered if it was your uncle playing tricks? That day he came and made a huge scene, saying he wouldn't let me pass the throne to someone outside the family, and that he was determined to get the throne, so I thought..."
"Was it him who tried to harm Brother Heng?" Hongxiu exclaimed in shock, her face darkening instantly. "How could he be so vicious? I'll go and confront him right now!"
"Wait—" The King of Western Shu stopped her in her tracks: "Without any evidence, even if you go to him to reason with him, he won't admit it."
"What can we do? Just let him run wild? He didn't hurt Heng-ge this time because Meng Wan suddenly rushed out, but what about next time? Something will happen sooner or later!"
The King of Western Shu was no different, which is why he kept searching for his son. If his son was still alive and could return to inherit the throne, then the King of Ning would have no grounds for complaint!
Just then, a eunuch came in to report that Young Master Meng Junheng was requesting an audience. The King of Western Shu was taken aback and looked up at the door!
Meng Junheng?
V90
Meng Junheng waited outside, and soon the King of Western Shu came out. He was about to bow when the King of Western Shu stopped him, indicating that he did not need to be so polite. The two then sat down together.
"Why have you come at this hour? Is there something you need from me?" the King of Western Shu asked after settling down.
Meng Junheng nodded: "The King of Western Shu is wise. I think even if you don't say it, you should know why I have come. So I will not beat around the bush. Please allow us to take Prince Heng away."
Clearly, he had expected this, so the King of Western Shu was not surprised. Hearing him say this, he merely raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly, looked at him for a long time, and said, "It's not that I don't allow him to leave, it's just that he cannot leave!"
Meng Junheng narrowed his eyes, and the King of Western Shu continued, "Whether he is Huangfu Mi or not, I do not want to argue with you. Just one thing: he is the son-in-law of my Western Shu, a fact known throughout the country. If he leaves, what will Hongxiu do?"
"Your Majesty—" Upon hearing this, Meng Junheng suddenly stood up: "If you keep him here, what will happen to my sister? Your Majesty, one cannot be so selfish!"
His tone was somewhat displeased, with a hint of reproach. It was not for any other reason than that he used to respect the King of Western Shu as a person, but now he was ignoring others for the sake of his own daughter. Meng Junheng found it unbearable!
The King of Western Shu did not respond to his accusations, but only sighed almost imperceptibly: "Hongxiu is my only daughter. I would do anything for her. Junheng, you are not a father, so you don't understand. Just like you protect your sister, I will also risk my life to protect my daughter. Don't you think so?"
That was true. Meng Junheng listened quietly, and was inevitably moved. He just stood there, not uttering a sound for a long time.
At this moment, a palace maid brought in tea. Upon seeing this, the King of Western Shu stretched out his hand to him and said, "Leave those matters to them to handle themselves. This is our Western Shu's unique Wuniu Morning Tea, which has a very special taste. Please try it."
Regardless of what Hongxiu Mengwan and Chu Heng were like, Meng Junheng was special to the King of Western Shu. He couldn't even explain why he came; he just felt an inexplicable affinity for the child, so he was particularly fond of him.
However, Meng Junheng had no time to sit here and peacefully drink tea. Wan'er was still worried. As the eldest brother, he had to do something. Since they couldn't reach an agreement with the King of Western Shu, they should simply leave and go back to discuss whether there was any other way.
So he stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "I won't drink the tea. Since you're not willing to help, I'll take my leave."
After saying that, he turned to leave, but did not notice a palace maid standing behind him. He bumped straight into her, and if Meng Junheng had not caught him in time, he would have fallen down.
Upon seeing this, the palace maid hurriedly knelt down, but Meng Junheng did not reprimand her. He merely glanced at her and walked out.
After the man left, the King of Western Shu stood up, walked to the door and watched him leave. Only after the figure disappeared from sight did he turn around, but his gaze was drawn to a small amulet on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, and after examining the amulet carefully, he was stunned. He then shouted, "Guards! Stop Meng Junheng for me!"
--
Meng Junheng had already walked quite a distance when he suddenly heard someone call him from behind. Turning around, he saw the palace maid who had bumped into him earlier hurriedly chasing after him. He paused for a moment, then stopped in his tracks: "What is it?"
The palace maid curtsied to him and then said, "Reporting to Young Master Meng, our king requests that you return again."
Meng Junheng was taken aback and puzzled, but he still did as she said and followed the palace maid back.
The King of Western Shu was still holding the amulet in his hand. When he saw Meng Junheng, he immediately came forward, grabbed Meng Junheng's wrist with one hand, and handed the amulet to him. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "This...this..."
The amulet looked very familiar. Meng Junheng raised an eyebrow, reached into his robes, and found it was indeed gone. Ignoring what the King of Western Shu was about to say, he snatched it away, saying, "This is mine. Thank you, King of Western Shu!"
The King of Western Shu still refused to let go, especially after hearing Meng Junheng's words, he became even more astonished. Meng Junheng said it was his, his amulet for protection. So...
On the table was a glass of water that he had prepared. He grabbed Meng Junheng's arm without a second thought, then took out a dagger and stabbed him hard in the fingertip. Blood gushed out instantly. But that wasn't all. He then stabbed his own fingertip. Watching the blood drip into the water, his eyes widened.
As the bloodstains in the bowl slowly merged together, he suddenly cried out in alarm, "My son! My son!"
--
Meng Wan had been resting at the Prime Minister's residence. Originally, her elder brother had said he would go to persuade the King of Western Shu, but to her surprise, she received the news that Meng Junheng was the King of Western Shu's long-lost son. She was so shocked that she immediately sought out Huangfu Yi: "I feel that things are not good. If my elder brother is really the heir of Western Shu, he will definitely not be able to help me anymore. So, could you please do me a favor?"
She was extremely confused at this moment. Her husband had lost his memory, and her elder brother had become someone else's son and someone else's brother. At this time, the only person she could rely on was Huangfu Yi.
Huangfu Yi was clearly taken aback, but he didn't say much, only nodding: "What is it? Tell me!"
He knew in his heart that he would do anything Meng Wan asked him to do, even go through fire and water. Perhaps this was a kind of feeling, a feeling that shouldn't exist, but which he had nonetheless.
--
Huangfu Yi's message came five days later, arranging to meet her the next day. Early the next morning, Meng Wan dragged Chu Heng out of the Prime Minister's residence.
It was a combination of deception and trickery, otherwise it would have been difficult for him to go out with her. Meng Wan could only make excuses that she had some things to buy and was unfamiliar with the area, so Chu Heng went out with her.
This was the first time she had gone out in many days, and Meng Wan couldn't help but feel excited. Coupled with the good news brought by Huangfu Yi, she almost wished she could fly right now.
Yes, Hua Jiuye has arrived, the successor of the divine physician Hua Jiuye has arrived.
A few days ago, Meng Wan asked Huangfu Yi for help, specifically to ask him to go back and bring him back, because she believed that Hua Jiuye was indispensable in order to cure Huangfu Mi.