Could it be that the two of them have really made up? How could that be? She had gone to great lengths to sow discord between them. If they were to reconcile, how could she possibly win Huangfu Mi back?
She frowned slightly. Huangfu Mi noticed this and assumed she was unwell, so he quickly said, "You should rest. I'll go ask the imperial physician what's wrong with you."
Changping grabbed his hand and said, "Brother Mi, don't go. Stay here with me, okay?" Her eyes were full of longing and expectation as she looked at Huangfu Mi, her expression full of reluctance.
No matter what, we can't let Huangfu Mi leave, otherwise he will definitely go to Meng Wan's place.
Huangfu Mi paused for a moment, pondered for a moment, and then nodded: "I'll stay here with you. You can go to sleep peacefully!"
The night passed peacefully, but Huangfu Mi was nowhere to be found the next morning. Changping was still troubled by what had happened the night before and decided to go to Jiangyun Pavilion to find out what Meng Wan was really thinking.
Meng Wan had finished her breakfast and was making desserts with Mu Ci and the others when she saw Chang Ping arrive. She put down her work and went to greet her.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" He gave a slight curtsy, his smile faint, unlike the bewilderment he had shown when he saw Changping a few days ago.
Changping's heart skipped a beat, but she entered the room without making a sound. "Sister, there's no need to be so polite. Changping has come to congratulate you." As she spoke, she gave Nanshuang a wink, and Nanshuang then brought out a pair of jade ruyi scepters. "This is just a small gift, nothing special. Please accept it as a token of my appreciation for your entry into the palace."
Meng Wan smiled slightly and did not refuse: "Your Highness is too kind. However, since you are not feeling well, you should rest well. Such a small matter can be handled by Nan Shuang."
She spoke with poise and grace, handling the situation with ease. Changping couldn't help but take another look at her. The smile on her face was faint, but it wasn't the forced smile she had shown a few days ago. This smile seemed genuine.
This situation made Changping even more flustered. How could Meng Wan be so calm in front of her?
Meng Wan poured tea for her herself. Changping took it but did not drink it. She looked at Meng Wan's face, pondered for a moment, and then a plan came to her mind.
"I'm fine." She chuckled softly, seemingly blushing with embarrassment. "Brother Mi stayed by my side all night, taking care of me. If I don't get better, wouldn't I be letting down Brother Mi's love and care?"
He was resorting to his old tricks, trying to catch Meng Wan off guard. As he spoke, he carefully observed Meng Wan's expression, but Meng Wan remained smiling as usual.
"The Crown Princess is His Highness's cousin. His Highness always says he dotes on you, so it's only natural that he cares for you." There seemed to be a hidden meaning in his words. He paused slightly, glanced at Changping, and then continued, "However, the Crown Princess may be asleep and unaware that His Highness couldn't stay up all night and even came to my place for a short rest around midnight. Otherwise, I'm afraid he wouldn't have slept a wink and wouldn't have been able to attend court this morning."
This tactic is called copying what you see. Changping liked to show off her relationship with Huangfu Mi in front of her, so Meng Wan imitated her and told her a story, just to see who would panic.
As expected, Changping's expression changed slightly. He was clearly not expecting Huangfu Mi to come to Meng Wan's place for a rest. He was stunned for a moment, and his heart sank.
In the past, Changping was able to sow discord between Meng Wan and Huangfu Mi only because Meng Wan had a grudge in her heart, which caused her to have unpleasantness with him. Now, Changping is using the same trick again, but Meng Wan can handle it with ease. This time, not only Changping was surprised, but Mu Ci was also incredulous.
After Changping left, he went to ask, "Miss, why have you changed so much? Have you come to a realization?"
The last time Changping came to show off, Meng Wan was almost heartbroken. But this time, not only was she not affected by Meng Wan, but she was also dealt a brilliant blow. No wonder Mu Ci found it hard to accept.
Meng Wan smiled slightly; she had nothing to hide from Mu Ci.
"Although I don't want to fight for anything, I won't let go of what's mine. The Crown Princess has been showing off to me, so how could I be willing to be bullied? Of course, I have to take revenge."
Mu Ci visibly breathed a sigh of relief. "Miss has finally come to her senses." As she said this, she failed to notice the faint trace of loneliness that appeared in Meng Wan's smile. It was very light and fleeting.
--
As Changping emerged from Jiangyun Pavilion, her anger still burning. She kicked a newly sprouted flowerbed in the garden, wishing she had kicked Meng Wan instead.
Nan Shuang followed behind, trembling with fear, not daring to breathe too loudly. She knew that their princess, though gentle and charming on the surface, had a very bad temper. If she said anything wrong at this time, she would be beaten and kicked at best, and used as a human target for her to vent her anger at worst.
Nan Shuang had suffered a lot in the past, so she was extra careful in serving Chang Ping now, following behind him step by step.
Suddenly, Changping stopped in her tracks. Nanshuang was caught off guard and nearly bumped into her. Fortunately, she caught a tree and escaped unharmed.
Nan Shuang was startled and followed Chang Ping's gaze. She saw a figure walking briskly towards them. Who else could it be but Bao Tong from Jiangyun Pavilion?
V102
Nan Shuang had suffered a lot in the past, so she was extra careful in serving Chang Ping now, following behind him step by step.
Suddenly, Changping stopped in her tracks. Nanshuang was caught off guard and nearly bumped into her. Fortunately, she caught a tree and escaped unharmed.
Nan Shuang was startled and followed Chang Ping's gaze. She saw a figure walking briskly towards them. Who else could it be but Bao Tong from Jiangyun Pavilion?
Nan Shuang looked at Bao Tong, then glanced at her young mistress. Seeing Bao Tong's piercing gaze and cold stare at her, Nan Shuang was startled. Her heart sank, and an ominous premonition arose within her.
Changping stood there with a frown, recalling the sarcastic whispers and taunts from Baotong at Jiangyun Pavilion that day, and her anger surged. As Baotong approached, she took a step forward.
"Stop." With a cold rebuke, she knew there was no one else in the garden besides the three of them, so there was no need for her to pretend.
Bao Tong was startled by the reprimand. After seeing who was in front of her, she reluctantly greeted them: "Greetings, Crown Princess!"
If Mu Ci hadn't repeatedly reminded her to be mindful of her status, and that even if she was dissatisfied with the Crown Princess, she shouldn't be too impolite, she wouldn't have given Changping the proper courtesy. What's so great about the Crown Princess? She's just someone who knows how to play the victim to gain His Highness's sympathy.
Seeing that she showed no respect whatsoever, Changping grew increasingly irritated. Instead of telling her to get up, she glanced at her indifferently before scolding, "You have no manners at all. How did your master teach you? Don't you know that you must kneel before me, the Crown Princess?"
Just when she was worried about having no one to vent to, Bao Tong delivered herself to her doorstep. After saying that, without giving Bao Tong a chance to explain, she winked at Nan Shuang: "Take her to Qingyu Pavilion. This Crown Princess will personally teach her a lesson."
Upon hearing this, Nan Shuang couldn't help but shudder. She glanced at Bao Tong with sympathy, but could only follow Chang Ping's instructions and push Bao Tong away to Qingyu Pavilion, ignoring her cries for help.
--
Meanwhile, Meng Wan was completely unaware of the situation there. She and Mu Ci were wondering why it took Bao Tong so long to deliver some snacks to Huangfu Mi. It wasn't until several hours later, when Nan Shuang and two maids quietly carried the blood-covered and dying Bao Tong into Jiangyun Pavilion, that the two of them were shocked.
--
"What happened? Baotong, what's wrong with you?" Bloodstains were visible on her lotus-colored long robe, and her legs were a bloody mess, a sight that made one's heart tremble.
Mu Ci couldn't help but gasp, clearly shocked by what she saw.
"Don't ask so many questions yet. Quickly go and find the imperial physician to examine Bao Tong. She..." Meng Wan was also panicked. The shocking sight of blood made her dizzy, but she could only force herself to remain calm. She instructed Mu Ci to fetch the imperial physician, and then glanced at Bao Tong. Her voice trembled slightly.
Mu Ci didn't dare to delay for a moment and immediately went to fetch the imperial physician. Meng Wan then ordered someone to settle Bao Tong on the bed. Looking at her tightly closed eyes and bloodless face, she couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in her heart.
How did things turn out like this when I was just going to deliver some snacks to Huangfu Mi?