It seems like they want to help Meng Wan, but they really can't think of a reason to help her, so Meng Wan can't let her guard down.
Nan Shuang lowered her head: "I was deeply moved when I saw Consort Li disregarding everything for Bao Tong. I have been by the Princess's side since I was a child, and in all these years of affection, I have never been treated like that before. That is why I risked my life to tell the truth, just to prevent Consort Li from taking any more risks."
Her words were sincere and heartfelt. Meng Wan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Nan Shuang, thank you for reminding me."
Regardless of whether Nan Shuang was sincere or not, what she said was not wrong. If she were to pester Chang Ping too much because of Bao Tong, it would probably put Huangfu Mi in a difficult position.
After Nan Shuang quietly left Jiangyun Pavilion, Mu Ci finally spoke up: "Miss, what should we do now?"
Meng Wan frowned slightly: "Let's suppress this matter for now and discuss it further after Bao Tong wakes up."
Mu Ci asked, "Was Miss persuaded by Nan Shuang's words?"
Meng Wan shook her head slightly: "What she said makes sense. After thinking about it carefully, I also feel that even if this matter is investigated further, it will not cause any damage to Changping. In the end, we will be the ones who suffer."
“But we can’t just let her run rampant. If she dares to treat Baotong like this today, who knows what even more outrageous things she might do in the future if we don’t deal with her?” Mu Ci’s concerns were not without merit.
Meng Wan reached out and patted her shoulder: "Don't worry, I won't let Bao Tong suffer in vain. But we can't hold onto this matter, otherwise Chang Ping might turn around and bite us back, which would be bad."
Mu Ci nodded slightly: "Does Miss have any plans?"
Meng Wan bit her lip, pondered for a while, and then suddenly seemed to remember something, turning to Mu Ci: "Remember to prepare a magnificent outfit for me first thing tomorrow morning. I'm going to Qingyu Pavilion to pay my respects to the Crown Princess!"
Mu Ci didn't know what she was going to do, but he could roughly guess that she had some kind of plan. So he nodded and watched Meng Wan get up and leave. Her wide sleeves danced in the wind and eventually disappeared into the dark night.
The night passed uneventfully, and early the next morning, Meng Wan dressed herself and went to Qingyuxuan.
Her hair was styled in a high bun, revealing her temples. Her eyebrows were lightly drawn, and her eyes held a spring-like charm. Her skin was smooth and lustrous like warm jade, and her cherry-red lips were naturally red and delicate. Two strands of hair on her cheeks gently brushed her face in the wind, adding to her alluring charm. She wore a long green dress, and her waist was so slender that it could be encircled with one hand, making her look like a fairy descended from heaven.
Upon seeing Changping, Meng Wan gave a slight curtsy and performed a grand salute: "Your Highness, I misunderstood you yesterday. I have come here specifically to apologize to you."
This unusual behavior made Changping wary, and she didn't approach Meng Wan, only raising her hand from a distance: "Sister, you don't need to be so polite. Someone, please bring a seat."
Meng Wan did not refuse, and with a smile on her face, she sat down opposite Chang Ping, her gaze sharp as she slowly turned to him.
"Your Highness, I have something important to discuss with you. How about we have the maids go outside to serve you?"
He uttered a few words in a calm tone, his smile harmless.
Changping glanced at her; her delicate appearance suggested she was fragile and easily defeated. If she truly harbored ill intentions, she would certainly be no match for her. Therefore, he confidently dismissed the maids.
Mu Ci and the others also went outside to keep watch, leaving only Meng Wan and Chang Ping inside the house.
Now, Chang Fangyuan put away his innocent smile and put on a cold expression: "Consort Li, you can say what you have to say now."
After what happened yesterday, she no longer wanted to pretend in front of Meng Wan. She was very clear that only one of them could stay in the Hengwang Mansion; it was either her or Meng Wan who would die.
Meng Wan calmly picked up a piece of fruit from the table and put it in her mouth. Her gentle smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression: "Don't you know what I'm going to say?"
Changping calmed down instead: "You're going to say that I harmed Baotong again. Yes, I admit it, so what? She's just a lowly servant girl. Even if she's crippled or dead, what does it matter?"
Meng Wan's face darkened: "Aren't you afraid that Huangfu Mi will blame you if he finds out?"
Changping laughed even more heartily: "You really are stupid. How could Brother Mi scold me for a lowly servant? You should know that I am Princess Changping. I have the Empress Dowager backing me up, and now I am the Crown Princess. When Brother Mi ascends the throne in the future, I will be the Empress who will rule the world. How can that lowly servant compare to me?"
The constant use of the term "lowly servant" made Meng Wan feel extremely uncomfortable.
She narrowed her eyes: "Since you consider yourself of high status, why make things difficult for a maid? Don't you think this is inconsistent with your status?" Her tone was slightly sarcastic.
Changping burst into laughter: "Status is important, but I love Brother Mi. For him, I can give up everything, including the status you mentioned. But you, you know I'm just pretending, yet you insist on doing nothing for the sake of your so-called pride and face. Tell me, what makes you think you can compete with me?"
Meng Wan stood up and slowly turned her gaze to Chang Ping. Chang Ping's smug face made Meng Wan feel an urge to tear her apart, but she clenched her fist and barely held back. She simply said in a calm tone, "In terms of shrewdness, I can't compare to you, and in terms of backing, I'm far inferior to you. But you seem to have forgotten one thing. Compared to you, I have something that you can never surpass."
These words finally made Changping stop laughing. He frantically searched his mind to figure out what Meng Wan was referring to, but after thinking for a long time, he couldn't come up with anything. He could only stare coldly at Meng Wan and say, "What do you mean by that?"
Meng Wan raised an eyebrow slightly, not bothering with riddles, and slowly spoke, enunciating each word clearly: "Huangfu Mi's heart."
Upon hearing this, Changping's already angry face twisted even more, clearly provoked by Meng Wan into uncontrollable rage. Seeing this, Meng Wan immediately smiled.
He's angry, very well.
"You bitch, I will definitely get rid of you! Brother Mi is mine, and he will always be mine!" Changping, unaware of the trap, shouted a curse and raised her hand to slap Meng Wan across the face.
Meng Wan had no intention of dodging, so she stood there and took the blow squarely. Her cheek swelled up instantly, and she collapsed to the ground.
"Crown Princess, what are you doing?" Meng Wan suddenly shouted as she fell to the ground, her voice trembling with tears and slightly shrill.
Changping didn't see the cold smile that appeared on Meng Wan's lowered face. If she had seen it, she certainly wouldn't have slapped her, much less been alone with Meng Wan.
But instead of noticing, she was now provoked by Meng Wan to the point of wanting to kill. As soon as the slap landed, she half-squatted down, preparing to strike a second time, when Meng Wan suddenly pulled a hairpin from her hair.
Caught off guard, Changping stumbled back two steps. The sharp blade gleamed coldly, sending chills down one's spine.
"what you up to?"
Thinking that Meng Wan was going to kill her, she instinctively took a step back. However, Meng Wan did not approach. Instead, she suddenly raised her head, a smile appearing on her swollen cheeks, revealing her pearly white teeth.
The tricks I learned from Hongxiu have finally come in handy!
The next moment, Meng Wan raised her hand and slid it heavily down her cheek. Instantly, she felt a piercing pain surge up.
"Ah, Crown Princess, don't kill me—" The short sword fell to the ground with a clang, landing right at Changping's feet, startling Mu Ci and the others who were guarding outside the house. They hurriedly called out from outside.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
Changping was clearly terrified by Meng Wan's actions and remained stunned. Meng Wan covered her face, ignoring the pain, and shouted outside, "Mu Ci, save me!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than the door was flung open, and Mu Ci leaped inside.