Chapter 197: Pretending to be Crazy While Drunk

Bai Yuxin and Liu Qilan were caught off guard and quickly moved to the side of the road.

The man was clad in armor, tall and imposing, with a strikingly heroic face, a bronze complexion, and piercing eyes, like those of an eagle. A scar adorned the bridge of his nose. While he wasn't the fair and handsome figure typically seen among the dandy young men of the capital, he possessed a distinctly heroic and unrestrained demeanor.

But there was a hint of anger on his face, and he strode out of Ganqing Gate with brisk steps, as if he didn't see the two people, and walked straight forward.

Behind him, another young eunuch rushed out, still shouting, "My Lord, please wait for me, please slow down!"

Bai Yuxin recognized the young eunuch as Rong An's apprentice, Xiao Tang, and called out to him, "Eunuch Xiao Tang, what's going on? Isn't that the prince of Yiyang Marquis's mansion? How did he become the Duke of the State?"

Xiao Tang was initially impatient, but when he saw it was her, he quickly put on a smile. "Oh, it's Noble Lady Bai. I'm here to pay my respects to you. General Meng returned victorious today, and the Emperor hosted a banquet to welcome him. At the banquet, he personally conferred the title of Duke of the Protectorate on him. Although the official decree hasn't come down yet, it's set in stone. The Duke is coming out of the Yangxin Palace right now, and the Emperor has seen that it's going to snow, so he asked me to see him off."

As he spoke, he saw Meng Changyuan's figure gradually going away, and hurriedly said, "Your Excellency, I still have to see the Duke off. I can't talk to you anymore. Please forgive me!" After that, he quickly followed him.

When Bai Yuxin heard the news, she was very happy for the Meng brothers and sisters.

Sister Yan will be crowned queen in the future. Besides the emperor's favor, if she has a capable mother's family, her road will be much smoother.

Meng Changyuan is a good general. It is a great blessing in his life for him to meet a wise leader and be able to realize his ambitions.

But seeing how hurried he was and how angry he looked, I guess... that incident had happened as well.

She knew that Meng Yan had an affair with Zheng Fangchu in Shanghe Garden.

At that time, she was puzzled. With such a husband, what could Zheng Fangchu be dissatisfied with? Why did she do such a shameful thing?

What's more, the daughter of a Duke, didn't even care about her status and face, and had an affair with a man outside her family before she even got married... It's really shocking.

I've always heard Sister Yan say that Meng Changyuan is a straightforward and righteous man. He was betrayed by his wife before he even married her. I hope he doesn't get upset and cause trouble...

"Master Bai, is that the prince of Yiyang Marquis's Mansion?"

Liu Qilan's soft voice sounded from the side, breaking Bai Yuxin's contemplation.

Bai Yuxin came back to her senses and smiled at her, "Yes, he is the Imperial Concubine's biological brother, the Prince of the Yiyang Marquisate... Now we should call him Duke. So, Miss Liu has heard of him too?"

Liu Milan lowered her head slightly, her small face, the size of a palm, half hidden in her fur collar, making it impossible to tell her expression.

She only heard her say softly, "Yes... When I was at home, I often heard my brother mention him and praise him as the best among the young generation in the capital."

Bai Yuxin nodded and smiled, "Your brother's evaluation is indeed well-deserved."

Liu Yilan nodded and remained silent, her clear eyes staring at the tall figure gradually disappearing into the distance.

He didn't even see her...

She is so inconspicuous.

The two walked along the long street for a while and arrived at Shunzhen Gate.

This gate marks the boundary between the inner and outer parts of the imperial city. Having reached this point, Bai Yuxin felt it was no longer convenient to see her off, so she said goodbye to Liu Qilan and watched the aunt and niece leave Shunzhen Gate, surrounded by the maids and servants of the Zhenyuan Marquis' Mansion. Then she headed west and returned to Lezhixuan.

Back in the house, a palace maid came out and took the cloak from Bai Yuxin. She asked in a low voice, "My lady, it's getting late. Should we serve dinner?"

Bai Yuxin slowly shook her head, "I don't really feel like eating yet, maybe later."

Upon hearing the sound, the palace maid retreated.

She walked alone to the charcoal brazier and stretched her hands over the charcoal fire for a while. Lingyu came over and said, "My lady, the books have been put away, and the pens, inkstones, and paper have been arranged."

Bai Yuxin nodded, moved to the desk, and wrote down everything she had seen and heard today.

After a while, she finished writing and put the page into a mahogany desk case, which already contained a thick stack of paper.

Ever since Meng Yan had secluded herself in Tishun Hall, Bai Yuxin had developed this habit. When Sister Yan came out and brought down the Liang family, these records would probably come in handy.

A gust of wind blew, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker.

Bai Yuxin rubbed her wrist and moved the candlestick away a little, and couldn't help but think of what happened when she met Meng Changyuan today.

He was a little darker than before he went on the expedition, but he looked more sturdy and strong. After this experience at the border, he became a mature, steady and independent man.

The emperor appointed him as the Duke of Protector of the Country. As the saying goes, he should start a family and build a career. Next, if he marries a virtuous and beautiful wife, his life will be complete.

The only pity is that he met the wrong person and ended up with a frivolous woman like Zheng Fangchu.

But she believed that for a young and promising man like him, there would be many good girls who were good at choosing a partner and he would be able to get out of the quagmire quickly.

As long as he was safe and happy, she would also feel happy and satisfied.

Bai Yuxin stroked the sandalwood Buddhist beads given to her by the Queen Mother on her wrist, looked at the flickering candlelight, and smiled slightly.

Ever since Meng Changyuan left, Meng Yan has been restless in the main room of Tishun Hall, and it is inconvenient for her to send people to inquire about the news from time to time.

Finally, Xiao Tang returned with the news, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I escorted the Duke to the Meridian Gate. I watched him ride his horse, followed by several servants from the palace. I returned only after he had gone far away."

Meng Yan finally felt relieved. She sent Xiao Tang away, sighed heavily, and sat down on the edge of the kang.

Ruizhu noticed the teacup beside her had gone completely cold, so she came over to replace it for her, advising, "Don't worry too much, Your Majesty. I'm sure the Duke is a grown man, so he must have his own ideas. Zheng was so rude, the Duke will definitely not want her anymore."

Meng Yan shook her head and said solemnly, "My brother has always valued friendship and loyalty, and has never experienced the tricks of the women in the harem. I am only worried that he will be deceived by Zheng Fangchu's sweet words again. However, it is not convenient for me to show up at the moment."

Ruizhu stood aside. As a servant, she shouldn't interfere in her master's affairs. But seeing that the queen was so upset and the master had served her since childhood, she couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, I have an idea."

Meng Yan looked at her and smiled gently, "Go ahead, I want to hear it too."

Ruizhu whispered, "Your Majesty, why not ask the Emperor to find another marriage for the Master? The Master is loyal to the Emperor, and since Zheng was so rude before, he will definitely not object."

Meng Yan stood up and paced back and forth in the hall. After pondering for a moment, she shook her head and said, "It's not appropriate. My brother has a stubborn temper. It might be okay to negotiate with him gently, but forcing him to do something like this will only backfire. Besides, as for the arranged marriage, there is no suitable candidate at the moment. Finding a random woman to pair them up may work out, but if it doesn't, it will ruin both of their lives."

At this moment, Xiao Tang came to report again, "The side dishes that the queen ordered have been prepared. Can they be delivered?"

Meng Yan's usual eunuch Dong Sanbao stayed in Shanghe Garden, and now Rong An, the young apprentice, is following and serving him, doing the errands of delivering messages and things.

Meng Yan was about to speak when she heard Lu Haozhi's high-pitched voice coming from the courtyard.

"Yan'er!"

She was shocked and asked what happened, then hurried out.

When I walked to the corridor, I saw Rong An supporting Lu Haozhi coming in from outside.

Lu Haozhi seemed to have drunk a lot of wine. His handsome face was flushed, his eyes were wandering, and his steps were staggering.

From a distance, Meng Yan could smell the strong smell of alcohol on him.

"Yan'er..."

As soon as he saw her, Lu Haozhi grinned, stretched out his hand and walked towards her.

Meng Yan was puzzled. Seeing that Lu Haozhi's steps were unsteady, she hurried down the stairs and stepped forward to support him.

Lu Haozhi took advantage of the situation and hugged her tightly, pressing his entire body on her delicate body and resting his head on her shoulders.

He was tall and strong, and Meng Yan could only support him with all her strength, and she couldn't help but put her arms around him.

Lu Haozhi chuckled and murmured softly, "Yan'er, you are so kind..."

Seeing that he seemed to be drunk and unconscious, Meng Yan turned to Rong An and whispered, "What's going on? How did the emperor get so drunk? As the eunuch in charge of the imperial court, are you going to watch the emperor get drunk?"

Rong An cried out in injustice, "Your Majesty, you're really wronging me. Who dares to force the Emperor to drink? This happened after the Emperor left the banquet and was drinking alone in his study in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He sent people to inquire about the Duke's arrival, and all the while he was sipping cup after cup. He must have gotten drunk!"

As he spoke, he stole a glance at Meng Yan again and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is afraid of disturbing your meeting with the Duke, so..."

Did you get drunk because you didn't want to disturb her meeting with the prince?

Meng Yan almost laughed out of anger. Could it be her fault?

Seeing that Lu Haozhi was so drunk, Meng Yan had no choice but to order the palace servants to help the emperor to the bedroom first, and sent a palace maid to make sobering soup.

Everyone helped the emperor to the bed. Meng Yan took off his outer clothes, shoes and socks, and pulled the quilt over him. However, Lu Haozhi pulled her away, mumbling,

"Yan'er, don't go..."

Meng Yan coaxed him, "I will not leave. I will stay here with the emperor."

Lu Haozhi looked drunk, but he understood what was going on in his heart, and he held her tightly in his arms.

Meng Yan had no choice but to sit down beside the bed. Lu Haozhi took the opportunity to lie in her arms and smiled at her, "I... am very happy today... your brother won the battle... I have made my brother-in-law a Duke! Yan'er, do you think I did a good job?"

Meng Yan took the handkerchief from the palace maid and wiped his face and neck, saying perfunctorily, "Yes, yes, Your Majesty has done a great job. I am deeply grateful."

Lu Haozhi continued, "It was your brother who won the battle... and performed a great deed! No one, no one can accuse me of favoring my relatives... Yan'er, they can no longer say that you... that you used your beauty to serve the emperor... Yan'er, I can now make you the queen..."

Meng Yan paused slightly. It turned out that Lu Haozhi was concerned about this.

In his previous life, although Meng Changyuan also returned in triumph, he was disabled in both legs and was capricious and violent. Although Lu Haozhi gave him the title of Duke, it caused a lot of discussion in the court and the public. People accused Meng Yan of seducing the king and said that the Meng family's future was only due to the in-laws... At that time, she also complained about him behind his back, why didn't she shut these people up.

It turns out that he also cares about it...

Gently stroking his face, Meng Yan looked at the man in her arms, her eyes as clear as water, and smiled gently, "You have never said these words to me before..."

Lu Haozhi suddenly hugged her and began to talk to himself, "I don't want you to be the queen anymore... If you become the queen, you will have to take care of many things... By then, you will ignore me... Yan'er, promise me that you will stay in this Ti Shun Hall forever, okay?"

Like a fool...

Meng Yan knew that she couldn't reason with a drunk man. Just then, a palace maid brought over some sobering soup, and she coaxed and tricked Lu Haozhi into drinking it.

Only after Lu Haozhi finally fell asleep did Meng Yan get out, lower the curtains and walk outside.

When she entered the main room, she saw the two maids, Ruizhu and Yunxiang, looking at her, pursing their lips, as if they wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

Meng Yan felt a little uncomfortable and cleared her throat. "Tonight, you all should go to bed. I will accompany the emperor."

Yunxiang said yes, but Ruizhu was a brave woman and smiled, "Your Majesty is afraid that the Emperor will say something in his drunken dream, so you want to send us away!"

Meng Yan's face flushed, and she cursed with a smile, "You wicked little bitch, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll twist your mouth into pieces!"

Lu Haozhi was soundly sleeping, so Meng Yan had to have dinner alone.

In the evening, fearing that Lu Haozhi would get drunk and make a scene in the middle of the night, she washed up and slept on the kang in the main room. The main room was only separated from the bedroom by a wall, so she could hear any noise.

In the middle of the night, Meng Yan was sleeping soundly, and something seemed to be disturbing her in her dream.

There was a rustling sound beside me, as if someone had squeezed into the quilt.

Then, his warm and rough palms touched her waist, sliding around.

Meng Yan muttered something, turned over, and got closer to the man.

The person next to her chuckled, hugged her and pressed forward.

"Yan'er..."

A sticky kiss followed the unclear sound.

Meng Yan immediately opened her eyes and saw a head lying on her chest, with most of her pajamas already undone by him.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?!"

She scolded him coquettishly, pushed Lu Haozhi and sat up.

Lu Haozhi had no choice but to sit up. His eyes were clear, without any sign of drunkenness.

He smiled and said, "What...it's the middle of the night, of course I should sleep."

This is... quite natural.

"sleep?"

Meng Yan chuckled softly, "Your Majesty was sleeping soundly in the inner room, why did he suddenly come to the kang outside?"

"How can you two sleep in separate beds at night? Naturally, I will be wherever you are."

As Lu Haozhi spoke, his eyes lingered on her.

The candles in the room were all extinguished, leaving only moonlight that shrouded her like a veil. She raised her eyebrows and smiled softly, her eyes sparkling with light. She was delicate and charming, and her beauty was unparalleled. Although her lilac satin nightgown was gently gathered up by her, the neckline was slightly open, revealing her towering peaks.