The woman was wearing heavy makeup; otherwise, I really wanted to see what kind of woman the Fifth Prince would be interested in!
--
On the way back with Huangfu Mi, he couldn't help but nag, saying things like, "Since you've already gone, why don't you listen to a play before you leave?"
Being a man, he didn't understand the feelings of a woman. Meng Wan thought that since the Fifth Prince had gone to visit that woman with great difficulty, he would want to get along well with her and wouldn't want anyone else to disturb him. That's why she quickly told Huangfu Mi to leave.
But how could Huangfu Mi understand her thoughts? Confused, he kept asking her questions. Finally, Meng Wan got impatient with his persistence and could only stop and say, "You also want to be alone with him, and the Fifth Prince is even more so."
So that's how it is--
Huangfu Mi suddenly realized that Meng Wan had good intentions. He put his arm around her shoulder and headed towards the Prime Minister's residence with a cheerful smile.
Previously, it would have been fine to see her off at the door and watch her enter, but today, when the two arrived at the main gate of the Prime Minister's residence, they were startled.
A bright yellow sedan chair appeared at the entrance, with more than a dozen guards standing in front and behind, all dressed as palace guards. The two women were clearly taken aback for a moment. At this moment, Uncle Fu, the steward of the Prime Minister's residence, came out to greet them, bowed to Huangfu Mi, and said, "Miss, you've finally returned. Please come in quickly, His Majesty has arrived."
Meng Wan was taken aback and looked at Huangfu Mi with confusion in her eyes. Huangfu Mi, however, swept away her previous casual smile and put on a serious expression. She stared at Meng Wan's face for a moment, and then her eyes lit up.
The Emperor himself left the palace; could it be that...?
Inside the main hall.
When Meng Wan and Huangfu Mi entered, the room was filled with a harmonious atmosphere. The emperor sat in the main seat, with Prime Minister Meng and Meng Junheng on his left and right, respectively, and the Third Madam sitting there beside Prime Minister Meng.
Both were delighted to see the two enter.
Meng Wan was somewhat puzzled. She turned her head to look at Huangfu Mi, only to see that he was also looking over, his beautiful peach blossom eyes filled with a smile. That smile made Meng Wan even more confused. She followed his footsteps to the center of the main hall.
"Greetings to Father Emperor--"
"Greetings to His Majesty--"
They both bowed, but before they could even sit down, the emperor raised his hand and said to them, "No need for such formalities, please rise!"
By now, maids had already arranged seats. According to custom, Meng Wan sat down next to the Third Madam, while Meng Junheng offered his seat to Huangfu Mi. Once everyone was seated, the Emperor asked, "Wan, is your health much better? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
According to custom, she should have stood up to reply, but the emperor waved his hand, indicating that she did not need to be so polite. Meng Wanfang sat there, nodded, and said respectfully, "I am much better now, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
It was probably because of what had happened before that the emperor forced Huangfu Mi to marry Hongxiu. Although Meng Wan knew that he had no choice, she still harbored resentment in her heart. Therefore, she could not be as at ease as before when facing the emperor.
How could the emperor not notice? Looking at her with her head bowed, he sighed almost imperceptibly, "Girl, are you still angry with me? Are you and Mi'er trying to torture me to death? Take turns."
Although her tone was light, her words startled everyone in the room, and Meng Wan hurriedly stood up: "This humble woman dares not!"
"You still say you dare not? Look at your restrained appearance. If you say you're not angry with me, I would never believe it."
Meng Wan raised her head slightly, then lowered it again: "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"Enough, enough. In the end, I was in the wrong first. Although there were reasons for it, you have indeed been wronged." The emperor personally got up and helped her up, patting Meng Wan's shoulder. When she raised her head, the emperor smiled slightly: "Then today I will apologize to you in front of your father and aunt. The Hengwang Mansion has been renovated. I wonder if you are still willing to be my daughter-in-law?"
If the first sentence left Meng Wan flattered, then the second was enough to make her overjoyed—it was the Emperor's meaning...
"Does this mean I should marry Wan'er?"
Before she could even speak, Huangfu Mi behind her asked impatiently. Meng Wan's face immediately turned red, but she looked at the emperor with anticipation.
The emperor couldn't help but smile: "Otherwise, what do you think I came out of the palace for in person?"
Huangfu Mi was overjoyed and completely forgot that he had been arguing with the emperor earlier. He rushed over and said, "Thank you, Father! Thank you, Father!"
"And what about you, girl?" Seeing Meng Wan's astonishment, the emperor asked again.
Meng Wan finally came to her senses. Her blushing face had not yet faded. She turned to look at her aunt, then at her father. Seeing that they were both smiling and nodding at her, she knelt down next to Huangfu Mi and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
--
The imperial decree bestowing the marriage was delivered to the Prime Minister's residence in a few days.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the Prime Minister's daughter, Meng Wan, is virtuous, generous, gentle, kind, and of outstanding character and appearance, and I am greatly pleased to hear this. Now that the Prince of Heng is of marriageable age, a virtuous woman should be chosen as his bride. Meng Wan, currently waiting in her chambers, is a perfect match for the Prince of Heng. To ensure the happiness of this union, I hereby betroth you to the Prince of Heng as his Princess. All the ceremonies shall be jointly handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Director of the Imperial Observatory, and the wedding shall be held on an auspicious day. This decree is hereby proclaimed throughout the realm, so that all may know. So be it."
Even though she knew it from the beginning, Meng Wan was still stunned as if she were dreaming when the imperial decree was issued. Her mind was filled with only one sentence: "Meng Wan is currently waiting in her boudoir, and she and Prince Heng are a match made in heaven. In order to make this beautiful woman a perfect match, I hereby betroth you to Prince Heng as his princess."
Prince Heng, Princess Consort
She didn't covet the title; she was simply overjoyed because it was him, and her eyes even welled up with tears.
Marrying him was her dream, and now, that dream had actually come true.
Huangfu Mi, in this life, I only wish that we will never be apart.
She gripped the gleaming imperial edict tightly, her gaze resolute. Little did she know that though the previous bloodshed had passed, an even more cruel and severe test was about to begin, and their lives were destined to be anything but peaceful.
--
April 18th was a rare auspicious day. From early morning, the capital was in an uproar, with lanterns and decorations everywhere. This was not for any other reason than that it was the wedding day of Prince Heng, Huangfu Mi, and Meng Wan, the daughter of the Prime Minister.
According to the customs of the Lanling Dynasty, for royal marriages, the bride would be brought to the palace the day before the wedding, and the prince who was marrying the bride would pick her up from the palace and then take her to his residence.
Early in the morning, Meng Wan was pushed around to get ready and change clothes. After several hours of back and forth, she finally got into the sedan chair carried by eight men with the help of the matchmaker at 9:45 am.
Holding a large red apple, a symbol of peace, in her arms, the sedan curtain was lowered, shutting out all the festivities outside.
Meng Wan lowered her head, extremely nervous. She knew that when the sedan chair door opened again, she would be facing a new chapter in her life, a completely new life for her and Huangfu Mi.
The streets had already been cleared, and the wedding procession was grand and imposing, with firecrackers going off all the way from the palace to the Prince Heng's residence.
With each step forward, Meng Wan felt more nervous. Her fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping the apple tightly, and her heart began to pound wildly.