Two gongs and two clappers were heard outside. Yuandong took out a pair of silver scissors, pried the candle wick, and cut off the burning part.

"Princess, it's midnight, aren't you going to rest yet?"

Meng Qi rubbed her sore eyes and looked at the papers she had drawn on. She wondered why there were so many things waiting for her.

In her previous life, she had never had such a life after marrying into the Rui Palace. She just followed her mood all day long. And because she would cause some small disturbance every time she entered the palace, the Queen probably didn't want her to come to the palace too often, let alone Song Chengze. So, she felt very bored every day. At that time, her mother had passed away, and the eldest sister-in-law was in charge of the Huainan Marquis Mansion, so she naturally didn't like to go back. And Song Chengze didn't seem to care about her in the palace. The only thing was that he was not allowed to go out casually and asked people to guard the second gate tightly, which made her even more bored. After getting married in the previous life, apart from meeting Hongzhe in the palace and the Meng family, she would use the excuse of going to the temple to see him.

She had already confirmed that Ms. Zhang was from Prince Jing's Mansion. So it seemed that her "chance encounter" with Hong Zhe in her previous life was intentional.

Meng Qi gently folded the papers and asked, "Has the prince returned to Bibo Hall?"

Yuan Dong shook his head. "Eunuch Wang has been asking Xiao Chunzi to keep an eye on it. If the prince goes straight back to Bibo Hall, he will report to you immediately."

"What did Hu Changsheng say just now?"

"Hu Changsheng said that the prince had something to discuss with his staff today, so he asked the princess to rest first and discuss anything else tomorrow."

Meng Qi understood that Song Chengze would never be unhappy because she didn't tell her about her mother's birthday in advance. He was just a little angry because he heard about it from someone else.

If she had known this would happen, she would have said so two days ago. But she truly didn't take it seriously. Not to mention that the prince wasn't required to attend every princess's family's birthday. Take Prince Cheng, for example. He didn't attend Princess Cheng's mother's birthday last year, apparently because Princess Cheng's treatment of a young girl had displeased him. Besides, she and Song Chengze still looked like they were on the same page to outsiders, so Song Chengze not going back would have facilitated their plans even more.

Especially since Song Chengze clearly agreed to her promise that day, everything Meng Qi does now puts Song Chengze first. As long as she can help him, she will not miss any possibility.

In the past few days since returning from Hanyuan, she has been thinking so hard that she has almost made a hole in her head. She has drawn so many pages just to connect some things in her past and present lives. Thinking that the more she can think of, the less effort Song Chengze will have to put in.

So, she really didn't intend to hide this matter from Song Chengze, and she had originally planned to tell him about it today, but she didn't expect Song Chengze to know it first.

"Princess, are you still waiting?"

"Have Yuanyue take Guyu to the second gate. They don't have to hide from others. If anyone speaks to them, just say they want to see when the prince will return. They don't have to stay too long."

Yuan Dong knew that the princess was going to do this for others to see, so she nodded.

An incense stick later, Yuan Yue came in and replied, "I asked Gu Yu to chat with the old woman guarding the second gate, and I walked back and forth near the second gate. I didn't see anyone, and no one from other courtyards went to investigate the prince's whereabouts. When I felt it was almost time and wanted to go back to the second gate, I saw a person wrapped tightly as if he had come back from the west courtyard, with a headscarf on his head." Yuan Yue said.

The west courtyard is not far from the hanging flower gate of the second gate, which makes it convenient for the eunuchs to go to the outer courtyard.

"Can't tell who it is?" Meng Qi asked.

"I couldn't tell. I didn't pay much attention to it at first. I thought it was a eunuch from the west courtyard coming back from his night patrol."

The Prince Rui's Palace also has night patrols, and they form groups of several people and follow the night watchman to walk around the palace.

"No?" Yuan Dong asked.

"Of course not. It's spring now, how could it be that cold? Why would he wrap himself up so tightly? It's obvious he's not up to any good. And he came out after finishing the second update. Isn't he just avoiding people?"

"Did you see where he went?" Meng Qi asked coldly.

"I didn't see which yard it went to, but it went east." Yuan Yue said.

East? That's hard to find. The concubines, concubines, and aunts all live in the east, and the east side courtyard is also in the east.

"Can you tell whether it's a man or a woman?" Meng Qi asked again.

"She was walking very fast, along the path. I couldn't see her clearly, but I had a feeling she was a woman. I wanted to follow her, but I was afraid of alerting her because of the important matters the princess had arranged."

Meng Qi nodded. "You were right not to follow, Yuandong. Go find Wang Chenghai tomorrow and tell him what Yuanyue discovered today. See if you can find out who wasn't in the room at this time tonight."

Yuan Dong nodded, "Yes, I understand."

Meng Qi knew Song Chengze probably wouldn't return to the inner chambers. She was thinking about returning to the Huainan Marquis's residence tomorrow. She hadn't seen Wang Shi for over three months, so she had to be in good shape to see her mother. So she simply asked Yuan Dong to help her wash and rest.

Although there were a lot of things to do, Meng Qi slept well. Perhaps it was because she would see Wang soon that made her feel particularly good.

The next day, Yuan Dong heard some movement in the tent and lifted the curtains, saying, "The prince came back at midnight yesterday and rested in the west room. He went out to practice swordplay early this morning."

Meng Qi paused as she stretched lazily. "He's back?" "Why didn't you call me?"

"The prince didn't allow me to call you, saying that if there's anything to say, it's the same today. Princess, Su Xin has asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the prince."

Meng Qi nodded and quickened her pace. When she finished washing up, she heard that the prince had returned.

When Song Chengze entered the room, Meng Qi handed him a wet handkerchief with a smile. "Although it's spring, the wind is still cold. It's easier to get sick at this time than in winter. Your Highness is sweating all over after practicing swordplay. At least wrap yourself in a thick cloak before returning."

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