Chapter 46 046 She did have something to hide from him, but she could hide it...
The next day, the sky was still gray, and there was a rustling sound outside.
Qingli's sleep was disturbed. Outside, Granny Huaying was still telling everyone to keep their voices down. Hearing her call, she hurriedly entered the room. "Miss, you're awake."
What's going on outside?
"They are servants sent by Consort Su Chen and Consort He to clean this Jing Si Hall."
"Consort He?"
Granny Hua Ying slapped her forehead and said, "Oh, Consort He's maid, Yu Xu, just came over and said that Consort He has received the Empress's order to make you the Third Princess's playmate."
Qingli's impression of the Third Princess was limited to her timid and helpless appearance when the First Princess made things difficult for her. She heard that Miss Fang had put a sleeping potion in the Third Princess's tea so that she could meet the First Prince at night. Therefore, Consort He dared not let Qingli stay there again.
On the one hand, they sent people to handle things properly, and for now they just thought Consort He was a kind and gentle lady.
Today was the first day of visiting Chongwen Palace. Qingli also had to go to Suchen Palace to pick up the Third Princess. Although it was rushed, Huaying Mama had already prepared everything. They arrived at Suchen Palace at the end of Mao Shi (5-7 AM).
Having seen the solemnity and uprightness of Yingcui Palace, I don't find Suchen Palace too rigid. At least there are two moon-shaped vases on the table inside the hall with newly opened winter plum blossoms, their golden stamens emitting a delicate fragrance.
Yu Xu led her into the house and then into the inner room. They whispered among themselves, and after a quarter of an hour, the warm curtain embroidered with crimson crabapple blossoms was lifted from the inside, and Consort He led the Third Princess out.
Princess Ling Shupei was born early and was frail and gentle. She didn't speak until she was five years old. Consort He's mind was entirely on the princess, but she became increasingly timid. This time, after much deliberation, she asked the Empress to select a noble lady from a prominent family, but she didn't expect such a thing to happen. She thought she would never get involved again, but after two days of silence, she asked the Empress to select another one.
The Empress looked at Consort He with hesitation, listening to her numerous requests filled with fear and uncertainty. Since she couldn't choose again and could only use the one currently in reserve, the Empress became impatient and directly dismissed her.
Consort He sat at the head of the table with a smile on her face, observing Qing Li below. Her steps were light and graceful, and her previous doubts disappeared. "Sit down."
The third princess felt ashamed that she hadn't helped earlier and had even tried to stop the second princess from intervening. She couldn't even lift her head.
Consort He gave her detailed instructions, even specifying when to drink water. Qing Li watched quietly from the side, while the Third Princess hung her head, seemingly lost in thought.
Upon arriving at Chongwen Palace, the sound of recitation could already be heard. The Third Princess stood under the corridor, not daring to go in no matter what.
Qingli glanced at her, walked up to the Third Princess, stood at the door, and said sincerely, "Teacher, I am late."
The Third Princess, Ling Shupei, tugged at her from behind. The tutor of Chongwen Palace was an old editor of the Hanlin Academy, aloof and proud, and rarely showed a gentle side.
Sure enough, a huff followed.
Qingli bowed deeply once more, then led the Third Princess to the back to sit down. She smiled at the Third Princess, and only looked forward after seeing that the Third Princess's expression was no longer so flustered. In fact, she had been feeling uneasy all along. The Third Princess was already afraid, and if she took a step back in the face of trouble, she would probably lose even more confidence.
Keep moving forward with your head down, and you'll eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel, and there will be more possibilities.
She had no opportunity to attend school. In her childhood, it was because of poverty. When Meng Qingshan grew older, she was also getting older. She was introduced to a scholar by an old scholar who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. He spoke only classical Chinese phrases, which were superficial and boring. She endured it for two years and then stopped going.
When she went to the study and saw other books, her aversion to books faded away. She realized that she had been misled by that old scholar. Now, listening to the old editor's simple yet profound explanation, she was genuinely more interested.
She felt a little unsatisfied after the teacher finished his lesson.
She looked at the Third Princess gently. Although Ling Shupei still had her eyelashes lowered, her expression was no longer so tense.
One's temperament doesn't change overnight, but it's not immutable either.
Ling Shuyao approached with a bright smile, took the Third Princess's hand, and praised, "Really good."
Ling Shupei smiled slightly and said softly, "It's nothing."
Ling Shuyao couldn't help but laugh, nodding in agreement, "That's right, the sky won't collapse, and the earth won't sink."
Qingli's eyes flickered slightly. Although Ling Shuyao was bold, she was very sincere and straightforward. She could be seen as a kind girl. However, she did not expect that the Third Princess would be so dependent on Ling Shuyao. She reached out and held her hand back, and did not let go.
Ling Shuyao, her face still beaming with a bright smile, looked at her and asked with concern, "Are you adjusting well?"
"fine."
Both of them tacitly refrained from continuing the conversation.
The eunuchs and maids entered the room, creating a bustling atmosphere. A sneer was heard, and the eldest princess looked around with disdain. However, having learned from Feng Yuchan's experience, the other young ladies were no longer as enthusiastic towards the eldest princess as before.
After all, how can one trust someone to befriend them if they can be pushed away in the blink of an eye? The young ladies from noble families all received letters from their families and were all more silent than before.
The eldest princess seemed completely oblivious, scolding Chen Lihui a couple of times for being such a blockhead, before her anger was calmed down by the maid's coaxing.
Qingli gave the Second Princess a reassuring look to indicate that everything was alright, and then landed in front.
The eldest prince and the people around him laughed and joked. He was dressed in brocade robes and a golden crown, just like he had seen before. He was still putting on airs even in broad daylight. Qing Li turned her eyes and suddenly met the eyes of the second prince.
Ling Zizhou's eyes were clear and bright, without any mockery. His gaze fell on the eldest prince, then turned back, and he smiled knowingly.
She hadn't expected to be discovered, and her cheeks flushed.
Looking at her rosy cheeks, Ling Zizhou noticed the absence of her previous cold disdain. In their previous meetings, she had always exuded a vibrant personality. He felt that the vast Chongwen Palace seemed a bit too hot, so he ordered a eunuch to open a window.
The room was heated by an underfloor heating system, so there was no feeling of coldness at all. Instead, a cool breeze gently blew in, making one feel very comfortable.
The palace was majestic, with red walls and black tiles, solemn and dignified. A deep thud of armored soldiers resounded along the palace path.
The eldest prince stopped laughing, glanced sideways, then casually got up and walked to the window, calling out, "Meng Qingshan."
Qingli frowned immediately, a strange displeasure rising in her heart.
Meng Qingshan turned around and gave a few instructions. He walked alone to the bottom of the steps. He was tall and upright with sharp eyes. He just stood there quietly. Although he was in a low position, his aggressive aura radiated from below.
The eldest prince's expression changed, while the second prince behind him looked on with admiration. He had long known that Meng Qingshan was no ordinary person, and was not someone who could be ordered around like a spineless man.
"First Prince, Second Prince." Meng Qingshan's expression remained unchanged. The snowflakes carried by the wind coated his black iron body with a layer of cold hardness, giving off a chilling feeling.
"Commander Meng, it must be hard work in this freezing weather."
"The duties of a subject are not considered arduous."
"What, are the Imperial Guards all useless? You're being made to inspect them personally?"
The eldest prince made a sarcastic remark, and everyone in the room immediately fell silent. The Imperial Guards were the Emperor's personal guards, and to say such a thing was tantamount to criticizing the Emperor to his face.
But who would dare to report this to the Emperor?
The eldest prince braced his hands against the window frame, leaning forward and looking at Meng Qingshan with a provocative and mocking gaze. He gave Meng Qingshan opportunities at every turn, first with Feng Wuxiu, then with the camp in the outskirts of the capital. Meng Qingshan was quick-witted; those traps failed to catch him, and he managed to escape unscathed.
The eldest prince also understood that their intentions were different, and they were not of his kind; they only needed to be eliminated.
"The Imperial Guards have neglected their duties and disturbed the Crown Prince's enjoyment. We beg Your Highness to forgive them."
Everyone pretended to be unaware of the farce of the past few days, but now that the truth has been revealed, they look flustered.
The servants behind them knelt down in fear, terrified that they might hear something they shouldn't.
The room felt like an ice cellar, even the air seemed frozen, and all I could hear were the sounds of erratic, fluctuating breathing.
"The things that Master instructed us to prepare earlier, are they ready?"
The Second Prince's question was like a stone breaking through ice; the water finally began to flow, bustling about, seemingly deliberately creating a lively atmosphere.
The second prince casually remarked, "The safety of the palace walls is the responsibility of the Imperial Guards."
The eldest prince sneered at the second prince and brazenly ordered, "In that case, guard this place to prevent any more fools from appearing."
They were already treating him like a servant to be scolded at will. Qingli looked at the First Prince's ferocious and distorted face, which was swaying in front of her. Her hands were clenched tightly, and the anger in her heart was burning so hard that she almost lost her mind.
She looked outside and saw him looking back at her indifferently. Their eyes met, and suddenly her nose stung with tears, and a feeling of grievance rose in her throat. She subconsciously lowered her head.
No matter how profound or simple the teacher's explanations were, Qingli only looked at the incense clock in front of her. The fragrant clouds rose into the air and disappeared, then rose again and disappeared. This half hour seemed to be stretched infinitely, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.
She would glance outside every now and then, and whenever he looked at her, she would immediately lower her head, tears streaming down her face, staining the words on the table with dark smudges.
Suddenly, she remembered how, when she was a child, she would be sent to the old scholar's house listlessly. He would coax her on the way, promising to pick her up early, and he would always bring some toys and snacks so that she would have something to look forward to that day.
Sometimes, she would look up outside and meet his eyes. He would smile and encourage her, and even the old man's rough and boring voice seemed to have a tune, no longer so torturous.
She thought that during those two years, he would pick her up almost every day, rain or shine. When he was too busy to pick her up, she didn't want to go anymore. He sighed and readily agreed. Her adoptive mother scolded her at the dinner table for being wasteful, asking why she wasn't going to pay the tuition that had just been sent to her.
She chuckled, completely oblivious to the fact that it was all a big deal.
Now she was confused. She had been carefree and at ease in her childhood, but was he carefree?
When a cold wind blew by, she looked up again, but there was no trace of him. She pretended to straighten her posture and took the opportunity to glance around. Sure enough, she saw him walk out with a resounding thud.
She looked down and smiled.
When the teacher dismissed the class, only the second and third princesses looked her up and down, their eyes questioning. She felt uncomfortable and avoided them, returning to the Jingsi Palace.
She saw the person casually leaning back on the tatami mat, holding a half-finished tassel in his hand, and looking at her with a confused expression when he heard the sound.
She rushed forward and snatched it away, saying, "Why are you going through my things like that?"
She hid it very well.
Jiang Yue, holding the box in her hand, took small steps forward and said, "Miss, I found this."
Qingli fell silent. She had made the tassel behind Jiang Yue's back. Jiang Yue was cleaning the house when she saw the box and sighed. Hua Ying, the old woman, couldn't stop her in time, and Meng Qingshan took it from her.
Meng Qingshan looked completely innocent.
She felt somewhat guilty and hurriedly put the box in, handing it to Granny Huaying. Granny Huaying quickly went into the inner room, and the sight of the two of them, mistress and servant, made him frown.
She was indeed hiding something from him.
However, how long can this deception last? When the time comes, he'll see which dares to risk their life to accept this harvest.
He suppressed his thoughts, noticing the slight panic on her face, and couldn't help but ask, "Did you suffer any injustice during the day?"
Qingli gave him a deep look. He seemed completely unaffected. She couldn't bring herself to say anything, partly because she was worried about hurting his pride, and partly because she felt ashamed to say that she felt indignant on his behalf. She just murmured, "I just feel that the imperial family is heartless."
That was all he felt? Her eyes were red at the time, and she stared at him pitifully, sometimes helpless, sometimes sad. If he hadn't been worried about her, he wouldn't have held back for so long.
Only after seeing that she had calmed down did she leave Chongwen Palace, urged by Lu Yunye repeatedly.
"That's good. Come find me if you need anything."
Qingli was a little sullen. "You should take care of yourself."
Meng Qingshan: ...
These feelings are rising again? It's not a good thing to have too much emotion. He had no choice but to soften his tone and say, "The Crown Prince is arrogant and disrespectful. Little does he know that when the wrath of Heaven descends, how can he resist it with his self-confidence?"
Finally, he added, "What you said is based on evidence and is not something you just made up."
Qingli: ...
Qingli glared at him gently. Why was he being so cautious? The Crown Prince had no fear of anything and deserved to be punished.
She dismissed Hua Ying and Jiang Yue, then took out the item An Shulan had given her, handed it over, and said, "An Shulan only asks that you save her brother's life."
Meng Qingshan took it, glanced at it, and asked casually, "You agreed?"
Seeing her nod, he said indignantly, "How audacious! They're digging their own graves. But isn't this a difficult matter to handle?"
Qingli thought to herself with a heavy heart that the eldest prince was so arrogant because he must have something to rely on. She had rashly agreed to the proposal, only thinking about avenging his serious injury back then, without considering the difficulties she would cause him.
Meng Qingshan's heart was suddenly touched. His gaze lingered on her face. Her porcelain-like skin and clear, spring-like eyes, moistened by wind and rain, were misty with moisture, making one want to lean in and kiss her, to taste if she was as sweet as morning dew.
"The days ahead may not be peaceful in the palace, so take good care of yourself."
Qingli's eyes lit up, and she excitedly took a step forward, asking again to confirm, "Will it really work? Will it affect you?"
After asking a series of questions, Meng Qingshan leaned back on the couch, his body relaxed, and a leisurely smile appeared on his lips.
A faint glimmer slowly spread across his eyes, so bright that she could barely stand.
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