She had sensed something was wrong when her father sent someone to summon her, wondering what had happened. Now, seeing Meng Wan and hearing her questioning her like this, she felt a sense of foreboding, but on the surface, she had to pretend nothing was wrong and raised her eyebrows, saying, "What are you saying? I don't understand. What Huangfu Mi? Isn't he in Sanyuan Town? Why are you asking me?"
Seeing her still pretending, Meng Wan couldn't help but get annoyed. She raised her voice and said, "Don't play dumb with me. I already know. Huangfu Mi is in your Western Shu palace. Tell me, did you lock him up? What are you going to do? Don't tell me that he's the one you're going to marry!"
"What? The more you talk, the more confused I get! It's true that I'm getting married, but the person isn't Huangfu Mi, it's Chu Heng, the son of our Prime Minister of Western Shu!"
Chu Heng?
Meng Wan raised an eyebrow, utterly refusing to believe it. Seeing Hongxiu's confident assertion, she didn't want to waste words with her and said directly, "Since that's the case, then find him. I'll confront him face to face and let me distinguish between Huangfu Mi and the Chu Heng you're talking about. I can recognize my husband at a glance!"
Face-to-face confrontation?
Upon hearing this, Hongxiu panicked: "I already said, he is not Huangfu Mi. If that's the case, why should I make you confront him face to face?"
"You dare not confront me, which proves you have something to hide!" Meng Wan retorted without backing down: "You tricked me into going to Sanyuan Town and then had me left there. Don't tell me it was all a coincidence, Princess. Do you really think people are fools?"
With a sharp tone, Hongxiu, seeing that she couldn't stop him, simply put on a stern face: "So what if I tricked you into going? This is my Western Shu, not your Lanling. Whether you believe me or not, to me, he is Chu Heng. What can you do about it? Do you dare to snatch him away?"
"Yes!" Meng Wan exclaimed, "If he really is Huangfu Mi, then I will snatch him back even if I have to!"
Although she was gentle, she was very stubborn, especially when it came to Huangfu Mi. She had been searching for him for so long, how could she allow anyone else to stop her!
After saying this, he ignored Hongxiu's attempts to stop him and walked straight inside.
Seeing this, Hongxiu hurriedly shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Grab her right now!"
Several palace maids rushed up and firmly restrained Meng Wan. How could Meng Wan give up so easily? She fought back with her fists and feet against the maids.
Perhaps it was the hope in her heart that made her incredibly strong. In no time, she pushed the palace maids down. Next was Hongxiu, who was blocking her way. Just then, a familiar male voice suddenly rang out from behind her, causing her to stop in her tracks.
He said, "What are you doing?"
Meng Wan had imagined countless scenarios of their reunion, some warm and sweet, others deeply moving, but she never expected it to be like this.
The man behind her stood there tall and imposing, exactly as she remembered him, yet his expression was colder than ever before. He gazed at Meng Wan calmly and quietly, as if she were a complete stranger.
Meng Wan's heart sank. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but then stopped, staring at him without blinking for a long time without moving.
However, he did not stand there motionless. Although he did not understand why the woman was looking at him like that, he did not have time to pay attention to it. He walked straight past Meng Wan and then went to Hong Xiu's side. He put his hands on her shoulders and said softly, "Are you alright?"
Meng Wan was stunned. The person, the appearance, the voice, it was clearly Huangfu Mi. But why, why did he ignore her and instead show so much concern for Hongxiu?
At this moment, Hongxiu had snuggled up to his side. Hearing his concerned question, she raised her head slightly, a faint smile on her face, and gently shook her head as she looked at him: "I'm fine, don't worry."
Her tone was incredibly gentle, and when she looked at him, her face was full of tenderness. Their eyes met, and she completely forgot about Meng Wan.
Meng Wan was even more astonished. Looking at the two of them, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist: "Huangfu Mi!" she called out.
She simply couldn't believe it. Wasn't it him? Or was it someone who couldn't remember her clearly?
Chu Heng turned his head slightly, finally shifting his gaze from Hongxiu to Meng Wan's face. Seeing the woman looking at him expectantly, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
That face, that expression... he felt like he'd seen it somewhere before, but where? He couldn't remember!
"I've already said, he's not Huangfu Mi, Meng Wan, please stop pestering me like this."
Hongxiu, watching from the side, felt distressed and then sternly rebuked him.
Meng Wan gripped his wrist tightly, refusing to let go, as if she hadn't heard Hongxiu's words, and stared straight into his eyes: "Huangfu Mi, you are him, aren't you? Tell me, you are my Huangfu Mi!"
Her voice was gentle as water, almost bewitching. Chu Heng looked at her quietly, feeling a sense of familiarity, yet unable to recall where he had seen her before. Her face and expressions were like branded marks on his heart. He tried to break free from her grasp, but he had no strength left. He just stared at her blankly, his gaze unfocused.
Seeing this, Hongxiu became even more flustered. At this moment, she didn't care about her status anymore. She grabbed Meng Wan's wrist hard and then threw her aside with a force.
The cold ground and the snow that hadn't melted in days quickly soiled her clothes, but Meng Wan didn't care; she focused all her attention on him.
She was waiting for him, waiting for his answer.
Chu Heng opened his mouth: "You..." One word was enough to make Meng Wan's heart jump into her throat. She collapsed there in a disheveled state, but her eyes were clear as water as she looked at him, and she nodded: "Mm..."
Chu Heng took another step forward. "Who are you? Do we know each other?"
One sentence shattered Meng Wan's heart. He actually asked her who she was. Huangfu Mi, who had once sworn eternal love to her, actually asked her who she was!
Her head was buzzing, and she almost collapsed there. Tears instantly streamed down her face, spreading across the fox fur she was wrapped in, like blooming flowers.
Chu Heng watched quietly, a tightness rising in his chest and a sharp pain in his head. He took a step back repeatedly.
Seeing this, Hongxiu quickly helped him up from the side and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
Chu Heng shook his head and covered his forehead, unable to speak for a long time. Meng Wan was shocked but even more concerned about what was wrong with him. She hurriedly got up to check on him, but Hongxiu would not allow it and gave a wink to the palace maids behind her.
Several palace maids understood and stepped forward to restrain her. Hongxiu was too lazy to pay attention to her at this moment. She helped Chu Heng into the room, and when she turned her head, she did not forget to order the palace maids to drive Meng Wan out.
Meng Wan struggled, but with her mind and body exhausted, she couldn't break free. She could only watch helplessly as Hongxiu helped Huangfu Mi leave, and then collapsed there.
Huangfu Mi, her Huangfu Mi, she really doesn't recognize her anymore. Heavens, is this another joke playing on her?
--
Hongxiu helped Chu Heng into the room and settled him on the chaise longue. She then poured him a glass of water and fed it to him. Seeing that his complexion had eased a little, she asked, "How are you feeling now? Are you feeling better?"
Chu Heng nodded, lying there, gazing at Hongxiu's face. After a long while, he softly asked, "Princess, who was that woman just now? Do I know her?"
Hongxiu's face visibly stiffened for a moment, but then she shook her head: "How could that be? She's not from our Western Shu, how could you know her!"
"But why do I feel a sense of familiarity with her, as if I've seen her somewhere before? Princess, are you really sure I don't know her? Perhaps she's someone I've met before."
"No, that won't happen." Before he could finish speaking, Hongxiu hurriedly interrupted, "We grew up together. I know exactly who you know. You've never seen this woman before, I'm sure of that, so don't overthink it, okay?"