"We're still at the banquet, why did Your Highness send someone to fetch me?" Meng Ruoyun asked. "Is there something urgent?"

Prince Duan's expression was grave: "This is a matter of utmost importance."

Meng Ruoyun's expression turned serious as she heard Prince Duan continue, "The Crown Prince has secretly deployed the Black-Clad Guards, and I'm afraid they will make their move against the Empress and the young prince tonight."

Meng Ruoyun's expression also changed. "How dare the Crown Prince do such a rebellious thing in front of His Majesty?"

“Why wouldn’t he dare? The more the little prince grows, the greater the threat he poses,” said Prince Duan.

Meng Ruoyun's heart tightened, and she looked at Prince Duan again: "Your Highness, you are my only friend in the palace. I don't trust anyone else but Your Highness. Please help me."

She stepped forward, about to kneel in greeting, but Prince Duan helped her up.

Prince Duan looked at Meng Ruoyun with suppressed emotions in his eyes: "I will call you Ruoyun. Since you have said that I am your friend, why is there any need for this word 'begging' between us?"

His gaze and expression said, "Your affairs are my affairs."

He then added, "Although the current situation is dangerous, I believe this is an opportunity for you and the young prince. As long as the Crown Prince remains in power, he will eventually make his move against you two."

Meng Ruoyun knew what Prince Duan meant, and she bit her lip lightly: "I originally only wanted my son to live a peaceful and happy life, but seeing the Crown Prince's behavior now, he is not worthy of being a ruler. For the sake of the people of the Southern Dynasty, I must fight for it."

Prince Duan carefully explained something to Consort Yun, and before leaving, he said, "Meng Huaiyi is highly skilled in martial arts. Since he is Your Highness's cousin, why don't you have him serve by your side? It would be much safer than having someone else do it."

At least Meng Huaiyi's martial arts skills should be enough to hold out until things escalate.

Meng Ruoyun lowered her eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "My younger brother Meng Abao is also traveling with us. His martial arts skills are not weak either."

Prince Duan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will have your younger brother lead a team of men to protect Princess Tianfu."

Meng Ruoyun frowned: "Why?"

Prince Duan simply said, "The Crown Prince and the Princess have long been at odds. Tonight, I will impersonate the Crown Prince and send men to abduct the Princess. She has saved my life, and she has been seen with another man in public. I am confident that I can persuade His Majesty to grant her a marriage to the Meng family."

Meng Ruoyun frowned: "With her reputation..."

“Your Highness, Tianfu is no ordinary princess. She controls the textile factory, which is a powerful tool for both the young prince and the Meng family! The young prince is still young, and if she is won over by other members of the royal family, she will only become a greater threat.”

Hearing this, Meng Ruoyun could only nod reluctantly.

...

Meng Ruoyun felt that Tianfu was not good enough for her younger brother, but she knew that Prince Duan was doing it for the good of the young prince, and there was some truth to it.

"Very well, since the prince has already made arrangements, we can't refuse him."

For the sake of the young prince and the Meng family, she could endure the disgust and accept this younger brother and sister-in-law. But what about Meng Huaiyi…?

Meng Ruoyun's eyes clearly showed disgust. This cousin had already caused the Meng family a lot of gossip when he left the Meng family to join the Black-Clad Guard. If she were to have him serve by her side now, wouldn't that be giving him a great opportunity to make a name for himself?

There's no need to insist on having Meng Huaiyi come. Abao's martial arts skills are quite good; why can't he save the little prince first and then go save the princess...?

Wouldn't it be good to combine these two achievements?

Why push such a great achievement away?

Thinking of this, Meng Ruoyun made a plan: "Alian, go and call my brother over, and tell him that I have something to discuss with him."

Consort Yun's personal maid, A-Lian, stood up: "Yes, Your Highness."

...

Inside the princess's room in the royal villa.

Bai Yan was wearing a nightgown, her long hair cascading down her back. Her hair had been tied up all day, and she was experiencing a slight headache. Dan Niang gently massaged the loose hair on either side of her head, and Bai Yan asked with her eyes closed, "What's that noise over there?"

Dan Niang smiled slightly and said, "That guy over there, he's not very bright, but he's got quite the ambition."

He then reported the news to the princess.

Upon hearing this, Bai Yan pressed her forehead. She didn't care whether Meng Ruoyun lived or died... it was just that the old man's health was deteriorating, and he would be heartbroken if his younger brother were to die.

"Summon General Meng to my residence in a moment," she instructed.

Dan Niang agreed and quickly withdrew.

That night, the royal villa was eerily quiet. After confirming the location of Consort Yun and the young prince, several masked men dressed in black exchanged glances and broke down the door, barging into the palace.

Although it is said that you can't catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's den.

But Meng Ruoyun was still scared, and held the little prince tightly all night without letting up.

The candlelight flickered slightly before her eyes, and she was feeling a little uneasy when suddenly a maid outside shouted, "Your Highness, assassin! There's an assassin!"

After shouting, Meng Ruoyun's legs went weak: "Abao, Abao!"

Holding a long knife, Meng Abao patted his chest with one hand: "Sister, don't worry, with me here, I can definitely protect you and your nephew."

Prince Duan had already told Meng Abao about what happened tonight. Meng Abao, like his sister, was also dissatisfied. He was from the Imperial Guard and was a legitimate member of the royal family. He was much better than Meng Huaiyi, who came from a filthy background and was a member of the Black-Clad Guard.

Prince Duan is the same. He doesn't let him take credit for such a great achievement, but instead takes credit for saving the princess.

He wouldn't deign to marry Princess Tianfu, given her terrible reputation.

With a "splat!" sound, blood splattered across the pristine white window.

Meng Ruoyun and Meng Abao were stunned. The next moment, a corpse was thrown into the house through the door.

"Ahhh!" Meng Ruoyun screamed in horror.

Meng Abao, being a man after all, panicked and grabbed his knife, shouting, "Protect the Empress!" The two Imperial Guards standing at the door immediately drew their knives and pressed them against him, but the assassin was no pushover, and it was clear that the two men could not resist.

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