"Since you've already heard from your father that he's such a despicable person, how good can he be?" Anke said with some disdain. In Anke's eyes, Meng Dan was both irritable and incompetent.
If Ali Khoja still loved Hanxiang even a little, he would never have allowed her to marry such a person.
"Okay, I understand." Hanxiang finally spoke in a hoarse voice, as if she had come to terms with reality. After a while, she said, "Thank you, Princess Yong'an. You made me see people for who they really are."
"You've seen through him. You've chosen to keep your Hui people in the harem, right?" An Ke wasn't surprised by her decision at all. As long as she wasn't blind, she basically knew what she should do.
“Yes, there’s nothing we can do about it.” Hanxiang thought for a moment. Her relationship with Mengdan felt like a dream she had once had. Once the dream ended, they should return to their original paths. “I have my own responsibilities, and Mengdan has his own unresolved issues. In the end, we can’t be together.”
"While I sympathize with your plight, you are fortunate that at least you have come to the Qing Dynasty," An Ke said sincerely. A prosperous era needs beautiful women to adorn it, while chaotic times need beautiful women to bear the blame. Now, the Hui people are suffering heavy losses, and the small border kingdoms are eyeing them covetously.
If Ali Khoja, a Hui Muslim, truly did not intend to submit to the Qing Dynasty, then his Hui people would very likely be directly annexed by a neighboring small state. And Hanxiang would certainly not be as carefree as she is now in the Qing Dynasty.
Hanxiang understood what An Kou hadn't finished saying, and nodded with a mixture of gratitude and lingering fear.
Yes, if she really eloped with Meng Dan, what would become of her Hui people? Hanxiang dared not think about it; that was her hometown, the place where she had lived for more than ten years. How could she bear to see her hometown destroyed?
"Did you explain things clearly to Meng Dan?" An Keke didn't come here simply to hear what Han Xiang had to say, otherwise she wouldn't have wasted her afternoon nap.
"I've made it clear, but he might not be able to accept it right away." Hanxiang had indeed explained things to him clearly, but Mengdan's final expression was still a thorn in her heart. "Once he truly gives up, he'll probably leave the capital."
Hanxiang hesitated before saying the last sentence. She knew what kind of person Meng Dan was, and how could he give up so easily?
“I don’t think Mondan will give up.” Anke sat on the cushion and tasted a freshly peeled grape. She found the grape juice a little sticky and took out a handkerchief to wipe the juice off her hands.
Regardless of whether Meng Dan wants to give up, as long as Xiao Jian and Fu Erkang are by his side, the two of them will live up to An Ke's expectations and ignite the anger in Meng Dan's heart.
Although Meng Dan is reckless and foolish, he can be a valuable asset if used properly. After all, everyone appreciates someone who can shoulder responsibility when trouble arises. Currently, while there's no explicit conflict between Meng Dan and the Emperor, as long as Han Xiang stands between them, Meng Dan will forever harbor resentment towards the Emperor.
As long as Xiao Jian is involved, and he instigates Meng Dan openly or secretly, Meng Dan might just fly into a rage and attempt to assassinate the Emperor. Even if Meng Dan ends up in prison, the Emperor won't be able to pry anyone's name out of him.
This is one of the White Lotus Sect's clever tactics, isn't it? They can always use anyone to clear themselves of suspicion. This is probably why Xiao Jian despises Meng Dan so much, yet he has no choice but to get involved with him.
“But I’ve already advised him, and he should be leaving the capital soon.” Hanxiang said hesitantly. Although she and Mengdan had severed their old relationship, she still didn’t want to see Mengdan end up with a bad ending.
"If he can leave obediently, that would be best. But if he harbors any ill intentions, then Consort Xiang, you'll have to clear yourself of any wrongdoing." An Ke hadn't expected that Consort Xiang would still be thinking about Meng Dan at this point, and her tone naturally carried a hint of impatience.
“He…he won’t,” Hanxiang said, her lips trembling. “I’ve already sent him a letter. Once he sees my handwritten letter, he’ll probably leave the capital.”
"Little Swallow and Ziwei?" An Ke interrupted Hanxiang's reverie directly. "They both have difficulty leaving the palace these days, and you still expect them to deliver messages to you?"
"But... but last time they took me out of the palace unharmed." Hanxiang herself didn't realize how much she trusted Anke now, and actually confessed such an important matter to Anke directly.
"If I hadn't communicated with the guards beforehand, do you think you could have gotten out?" Anke rolled her eyes. "I originally meant well by letting you see Meng Dan's true colors, but I didn't expect that after you came back, you still wanted to get a good ending for him. How old is he now?"
Hanxiang was taken aback by Anke's sudden question and froze on the spot, unable to answer it.
“He’s not a child anymore; he’s an adult. Adults have their own judgment. If he continues to act like a headless fly, blindly rushing around, then his final fate will only be bad.” An Ke spoke frankly to Han Xiang. “Everyone has to pay the price for what they do.”
For a moment, Hanxiang didn't know what to say, and her eyes quickly filled with tears again.
An Ke felt a bit annoyed watching this scene and couldn't help but speak again, "Why are you crying? Are you crying for yourself, for Meng Dan, or for the relationship between you two? Your father will be setting off to return to the Hui people soon. You should go and visit him these days. In the future, the day when father and daughter can meet again will be a long time away."
Upon hearing this, Hanxiang abruptly wiped away her tears. Yes, these past few days she had been studying palace rules and reciting the Mengdan scriptures from outside the palace. She hadn't even visited her father at the post station once. If father and daughter were to part, she, a concubine of the emperor, would be in grave danger.
The Hui people and the capital were thousands of miles apart, and her father truly had no chance to see her again. Thinking of this, Hanxiang couldn't help but feel a hint of self-reproach on her face.
She was angry at herself for thinking about her children's feelings at this moment, completely forgetting her father.
"It's not too late to see things clearly now. Your father is leaving the day after tomorrow. You have two days to reconnect with him and your father-daughter relationship," An Ke kindly reminded him, after all, she had been through a similar situation herself.
An Ke kindly held an umbrella for Han Xiang, and Han Xiang was extremely grateful to An Ke for this.
*
When Meng Dan woke up at the Huibinlou Hotel, he found himself in the hotel and sat in his room, pounding his fist on the bed. His companions rushed to his room to visit him.
Without saying a word, Meng Dan started chasing people away. His companions didn't know what had happened and didn't dare to try to persuade him, so they scattered in a swarm.
They just don't say it to his face, but one or two people talk about it behind his back, and he doesn't know when he'll be able to go back. After all, those two have elderly parents and young children at home, and he's thinking about going home as soon as possible to support his family.
Another married man traveling with him patted him on the shoulder. If it weren't for the past favor, they wouldn't have been at Meng Dan's beck and call. They hoped that this debt would be repaid in full, and that they would have no further dealings with Meng Dan.
Xiao Jian lived next door to Meng Dan and had heard Meng Dan barking incoherently early in the morning. He found two wads of cotton and plugged his ears, letting Meng Dan vent first before going over to give him a proper talking-to.
Liu Qing and Liu Hong had heard the commotion upstairs quite early, but they were unable to get away for the time being. Unable to go upstairs to check, they could only place their hopes on Xiao Jian, who lived next door to Meng Dan.
Xiao Jian could only hope that he could dissuade Meng Dan as soon as possible and minimize the losses to Huibinlou. After all, it would cost money to purchase these items. It would be one thing if they stayed here without spending any money, but they should not be allowed to further drain Huibinlou's resources.
However, their hopes were ultimately dashed, as the sounds of smashing and breaking from upstairs continued incessantly, without a moment's respite. Left with no other option, Liu Hong had to send her brother upstairs to check on things while she greeted the guests downstairs.
Entrusted with this important task, Liu Qing could only go upstairs to check. What he saw was a complete mess in Meng Dan's room, with the newly purchased tables and chairs smashed to pieces by Meng Dan. Upon seeing this, the veins on Liu Qing's forehead throbbed.
"What's wrong with you now? Didn't you faint from excitement when you saw Hanxiang yesterday?" Liu Qing, unaware of what had happened yesterday, brought up the very thing she didn't want to discuss. "I haven't charged you for your rooms at the guesthouse every day, yet you're wasting the things here?"
Upon hearing Liu Qing mention the name Hanxiang, Meng Dan shouted excitedly, "I want Hanxiang!"
Xiao Jian heard the noise and knew he couldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb anymore, so he pretended to have just woken up and went over.
Then, under Liu Qing's disapproving gaze, he subdued Meng Dan, who was still going crazy on the side.
"Even if you want Hanxiang, you should at least have a plan." Xiao Jian rolled his eyes, utterly exasperated. He'd never seen anyone so stupid. "You think Hanxiang will just magically appear in front of you if you just keep shouting that you want her?"
Meng Dan was momentarily annoyed after being subdued, but gradually calmed down after hearing Xiao Jian's words.
Seeing that Meng Dan had calmed down, Liu Qing hurried downstairs to greet the guests. However, Liu Qing was also cautious; he knew that Han Xiang was now the Emperor's woman. He also knew Meng Dan's resentment at this moment, but what could he do even if he was resentful?
Could it be that I'm going to go to the palace to assassinate the emperor and steal his woman? Liu Qing was startled by this thought.
But at the same time, he secretly made up his mind to have a good discussion with Liu Hong about what they should do next at the guesthouse. They couldn't put all their hopes on Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi.
It's true that Huibinlou was opened because of Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi, but they also had elderly and young people in the tenement to support, so they couldn't participate in all sorts of events as recklessly as Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi.
After Liu Qing left, Xiao Jian and Meng Dan talked without any more restraint.
When Mengdan learned that Ali Khoja was about to return to the Hui people, he knew that his opportunity was coming again. After all, Hanxiang cared about her father the most, and now that her father was going back, she, as his daughter, would definitely come to see him off. The emperor had no right to stop her.
Seeing that Meng Dan had been aroused by him, Xiao Jian couldn't help but feel a sense of smugness.
Xiao Jian: I didn't expect that after so many days, my eloquence would still be as good as ever.
*
These past two days, Hanxiang has been going to the post station very frequently. Thinking about the few days she and her father have left, Hanxiang just wants to stretch each day into two.
But no matter how reluctant you are, time still flies by unhappily.
Before she knew it, it was time for Hanxiang's father, Ali Khoja, to return to the Hui people. Hanxiang went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to ask the Emperor for permission to see her father off.
When Hanxiang went to plead with the Emperor, Anke was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation talking with the Emperor.
When Hanxiang saw Anke in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she was also shocked. Yes, shocked, because Anke was sitting on the dragon throne at that moment.
Hanxiang knew that Anke was favored, but she didn't expect her to be favored to this extent, to the point that she could sit on the dragon throne at will?
With An Ke intervening, the matter of Han Xiang sending Ali and Zhuo to him was finalized.
The Emperor had long known about An Ke's situation and knew that Han Xiang had a former lover named Meng Dan. Although he kept Han Xiang in the palace, he didn't know what to do with her. But after all, she was a gift from Ali Khoja, and he had already bestowed upon her the title of Noble Lady Xiang, so she was considered his woman.
How could the Emperor allow himself to be adorned with a green hat? He instructed Yongqi, Ertai, and Jichu to deliver Hanxiang and bring her back safely.
Yes, the Emperor has now begun to value Yongqi again. After all, his son no longer has much involvement with Shufangzhai and has returned to being the son he once took pride in.
Yongqi was well aware of the importance of this matter, but he didn't understand why such a large-scale operation was being carried out, with so many people being hired to escort a distinguished person.
Ji Chu and Ertai knew the reason, after all, when Consort Xiang was pouring out her heart to her lover outside the palace, the two of them were watching from a tree not far away.
When Fu Erkang went to Huibinlou and learned that they planned to abduct Hanxiang when Ali and Zhuo were returning, he also expressed his dissatisfaction for a moment.
After all, she was the emperor's concubine, the emperor's woman. Although Fu Erkang was repeatedly devalued by the emperor, he was still the emperor's subject in his heart.
Now, the Emperor's face is about to be tarnished by such a person, and Fu Erkang felt a strange unease for a moment.
But it was only for a moment; Fu Erkang quickly succumbed to Xiao Jian's persuasion.
Fu Erkang even agreed with Meng Dan's plan to kidnap Hanxiang, since if they didn't seize this opportunity, Hanxiang would probably be trapped in the deep palace and unable to get out, and they would have no more chances to make a move.
Now, Shufangzhai is in dire straits. Without the protection of the Fifth Prince, he has lost his position as the Imperial Bodyguard. They have to be cautious and careful in everything they do.
Moreover, precisely because the Emperor doesn't favor Ziwei enough, Ziwei still doesn't dare to ask the Emperor to reinstate her to her original position and to grant her a marriage decree.
Thinking of this, Fu Erkang stopped trying to dissuade Xiao Jian and Meng Dan. He even secretly hoped that the two of them could make a bigger commotion, so that he could show up and stop them and gain credit in front of the emperor.
Before we knew it, the day to say goodbye to Ali and Zhuo arrived.
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