Chapter 49 049 Was it a visit to relatives and friends or revenge...?
Fearing being spied on, she secretly returned to the pavilion.
Ling Shupei leaned on Qingli's shoulder, and a wave of heat came over her. Qingli was startled and quickly covered her forehead, only to find that she had a fever. Ling Shuyao hurriedly called a maid and sent the Third Princess back to Su Chen Palace.
Consort He was so frightened that she immediately summoned the imperial physician. An hour later, the Third Princess finally recovered from the fever, and the two parted ways and left Su Chen Palace.
The sound of gongs and drums filled the air at Yingzhou Pavilion. Qingli, seeing that Ling Shuyao was not in good spirits, said, "There's still time. I'll go with you there."
"Forget it, Pei'er is making such a fuss, I've lost interest."
"Go ahead, now that only the competitors are left, it might get even more exciting."
Ling Shuyao knew her good intentions, and tried to smile, but still shook her head. She didn't know what was wrong with her; she just felt completely uninterested.
Qingli didn't try to persuade her anymore. Some things are better left unsaid; understanding them can be detrimental. They parted ways outside the palace road. She had sent Granny Huaying back to Jingsi Palace earlier. Now, walking along the palace road, she felt a strange chill. She looked back at her surroundings, waiting for the feeling of being watched from behind to subside before turning around.
Unexpectedly, a dark shadow loomed over her, and she cried out in surprise, staggering back two steps. When she could see who it was, her arm was grabbed and she was pulled forward. With one step back and one step forward, she stood still in his arms.
Her heart was still pounding like a drum, and Qingli, feeling weak and unsteady, let him support her, angrily shouting, "What are you doing!"
Meng Qingshan: ...
"Seeing you looking around here, I came up to ask if you have anything to do."
She looked really unwell, so Meng Qingshan escorted her back to the Jingsi Palace.
After they left, a eunuch emerged from a corner. His thin frame was hunched over, obscuring his face. He glanced back, his eyes filled with gloom.
Dusk fell early in the morning, and lanterns were hung under the eaves of the Jingsi Palace. The dim light cast shadows on the ground, echoing the bright moonlight. The light shining through the window lattices was warm and gentle.
Inside the room, Meng Qingshan and Qingli sat around the stove, the rising white steam gradually dissipating into the air, carrying the aroma of tea and fruit.
Lighting lamps and candles, burning incense and brewing tea, Qingli looked forward to the new year.
Qingli asked rather boldly, "How about we warm up a pot of wine?"
Meng Qingshan leaned back slightly, looking at the embroidered shoes hidden under the hem of her skirt, but unfortunately didn't see them.
He nodded with a slight smile.
The candlelight flickered, and the aroma of wine wafted through the air. Meng Qingshan only dared to let her drink one cup, for this was not the Meng residence, and he was afraid that something might happen.
Qingli knew this too, and just watched him slowly drink. He was surrounded by a thin layer of wine fragrance, and apart from his increasingly cold eyes, there was almost no difference.
After a sleepless night, Qingli slept soundly.
In Su Chen Palace, Ling Shupei had been out all night without incident and was full of energy. However, Consort He was timid and wouldn't let her go out again. Qing Li said to rest first, and she would go to Chongwen Palace to retrieve the teaching materials from the teacher.
The Second Prince watched the blue-clad figure whispering in Ling Shuyao's ear, wondering what dangerous matter it was. She would sometimes widen her eyes, sometimes cover her mouth, her amusing behavior making the Second Prince lower his head and purse his lips in a smile.
As they left the palace, the personal eunuch Gao Ying glanced around and, unable to contain himself any longer, stepped forward and whispered, "Master, this servant has received this."
The second prince took the unfolded document, his humble smile vanishing as he abruptly stopped, staring sharply at Gao Ying. "Who gave this to you?"
Gao Ying was terrified. "While I was serving tea, I slipped it into the book in my handbook."
The second prince, not realizing it was a joke, recalled the people he had met that day, and suddenly chuckled softly, his face returning to its gentle and refined appearance.
Gao Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His master appeared humble on the surface but was extremely strict and disciplined inside. If he got angry, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
At night, in the Second Prince's residence, the darkness deepened from the winter solstice onwards. The Second Prince was diligent and frugal in his conduct, and his residence was not ostentatious. A lantern was hung every ten steps, illuminating only about ten inches of space.
One person deftly pushed open the door to a side room, and just as they pinpointed their location in the dim light of the night, they were suddenly met with sharp eyes next to them, and immediately took a step back in fright.
The room was instantly illuminated, but it was too late.
"Strategist Xu, it's late at night and the dew is heavy, what are you doing in this small, secluded courtyard?"
"I'm a little unsure about the job, so I thought I'd look through my notes."
"Oh? Should we watch or show it?"
The second prince unconsciously rubbed his fingers together, his patience completely exhausted. His eyes remained calm, as if he were looking at something worthless.
Gao Ying waved his hand, signaling for his men to tie him up.
The man was indignant and shouted that he was wronged. Gao Ying stepped forward and slapped him hard on the left and right, took out a piece of paper from his pocket, and spat out the words, "You traitor!"
Caught red-handed, the man's legs went weak and he knelt heavily on the ground, screaming and begging for mercy.
"Drag him away."
The man knew that being pulled down meant certain death, and he struggled desperately, whimpering and pleading. But as the light grew smaller and smaller, he momentarily lost his soul and became dazed.
The snow in Kyoto has started falling heavily again. Jiang Yue had never been to Jiangdu before. She thought that Yanmen City in Xizhou was a bitterly cold place, but she never expected that the snow in Kyoto was so deep that it reached her knees.
Taking advantage of the cold winter, Consort Liu sent many gifts. Today, after receiving a table of exquisite food, Meng Qingshan entered the Jingsi Palace with thick snow on his shoulders.
Granny Hua Ying went to get the bowls and chopsticks, while Jiang Yue tidied up their dishes and went to the side room.
After a moment, Qingli stood up and took his dark cloak. Snowflakes got stuck in the glossy black fur, melting into water when it got warm and wetting the outer layer. Qingli asked Granny Huaying to put the clothes on the incense burner.
"A gift from Consort Mu?"
Qingli shook her head, "Consort Liu."
Meng Qingshan paused for a moment. When did she get involved with the Second Prince again?
If Qingli knew what he was thinking, she would surely admire him even more. To be able to bypass Consort Liu and think of the Second Prince directly must mean he was very clear about Consort Liu's ways. But he had only entered the palace at the same time as her.
Qingli didn't think this matter could be hidden, so she told him the whole story.
Meng Qingshan disagreed. The Second Prince's reputation for being gentle and refined was extremely popular among the noble ladies of the capital. Could it be that she also liked him? She had liked such handsome scholars since she was a child. The more he thought about it, the colder his heart became.
Qingli noticed his displeasure and asked worriedly, "Is something wrong?"
Her eyes were clear and bright, which made Meng Qingshan unsure of what to say. He could only start by mentioning Consort Liu, saying, "She has ulterior motives and we must be on guard."
Her aunt also had the same opinion of Consort Liu. If it weren't for this incident, Qingli wouldn't have had any connection with Consort Liu.
Hearing this, it is certainly true.
Seeing that she agreed readily, Meng Qingshan felt a little relieved, but he still felt that staying in the palace was not a long-term solution.
On the fifth day after the winter solstice, Emperor Mingkang will hold a prayer ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to pray for favorable weather and national peace in the coming year. Therefore, Meng Qingshan will accompany the emperor to the Hall of Central Harmony tomorrow to review the prayer text and receive the officials. He will not be able to see her for three days, and today he specially told her to be careful.
Qingli agreed readily, even though she was very cautious, he was still not at ease.
The next day, Ling Shupei did not allow her to go out, and Qingli did not need to go to Chongwen Palace again. She asked Jiang Yue to bring her some drawing paper, intending to draw the jade pattern falling to the ground on the tassel. However, after drawing it, she felt that it was either too ordinary or that the meaning was not enough.
“Miss Qingli…” Pearl bowed as she entered and said, “The princess is bored and would like to… invite you over.”
Qingli also felt dizzy, so she put down her pen, stood up and called out to Granny Huaying.
"Miss, the princess just wants to talk to you, there's no need to bring the nanny."
Pearl spoke urgently, and everyone in the room looked over. Upon closer inspection, they saw that Pearl's pale face was covered in sweat, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness. Whether it was the wind or her imagination, she could only feel her sleeves trembling slightly. When she saw everyone looking at her, she forced a smile.
A half-smile, a strange and suspicious expression.
Qingli paused for a moment, then instructed, "I'll change my clothes and leave."
Pearl was about to open her mouth when Qingli quickly entered the inner room. "Soon."
Indeed, she appeared very quickly, dressed in a cherry-red brocade dress embroidered with orchids in gold thread. Her beauty was striking, and her movements seemed to exude a subtle fragrance. Pearl was momentarily stunned. This kind of attire was usually favored by princesses, but she hadn't expected that she would look even more charming than a princess in it.
"What, not in a hurry anymore?" Qingli asked back.
Pearl snapped out of her daze, took a deep look, opened her mouth but remained silent, and turned to lead the way.
Yaohua Palace was empty and its gates were wide open, which was obviously unusual. Pearl looked at her with worry and fear, wondering how to persuade or threaten her if she didn't go in. Unexpectedly, her face remained calm and she walked into the room with ease.
The doors and windows inside were tightly closed, and layers of curtains hung down, concealing what was inside.
Qingli instructed, "Go and check the situation."
Pearl was filled with anxiety and guilt. She looked around, afraid that her actions might anger the princess and hurt her. Helpless, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Go and see how the princess is doing."
Another calm command was given, and Pearl's heart skipped a beat. Even now, she remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. Looking at her elaborate hairstyle, she saw the hairpin that the princess had given her a few days ago. For some reason, Pearl felt that she and the princess looked somewhat alike at this moment.
A thought popped into her mind, and in shock, tears streamed down her face. Pearl had just felt threatened, and now she wished she could slap herself twice.
Finally, gritting her teeth, she walked into the inner room. As layers of curtains were hung up and the light from outside shone on the person lying peacefully on the bed, Qingli's shoulders relaxed slightly.
Behind the bed, extremely light footsteps sounded, and Shen Yongning appeared, looking at her with a sinister smile. Her dark hair was lightly tied up, revealing her crystal-clear skin. Her eyebrows and eyes were still affectionate, but now they were mixed with disgust and had become sharper.
He tried his best to straighten his body, but the spear had broken his bones, so he could only hunch over, like a lowly servant, like a vile wild dog.
His face was contorted in a ferocious grin, and even though Qingli was prepared, she still trembled with cold.
How could she forget the bone-chilling coldness and subconscious aversion? It was just a pity that, despite the execution of the entire Dingxi Prince's Mansion, some escaped.
Shen Yongning's eyes were almost greedily fixed on her face. He was the one who took a liking to her first, but the Prince of Dingxi was so powerful that he, a mere strategist, would not allow him to say no. He thought the Prince of Dingxi would soon get tired of her, but he did not expect that she would remain so favored. However, he eventually discovered that she was unwilling and even had the idea of escaping.
Even he hadn't expected that she would become the key to the decline of the Dingxi Prince's Mansion, and that she would actually escape.
However, he was also blessed by the heavens, as he was shot out of the Dingxi Prince's Mansion by Meng Qingshan's silver spear and was spared from the disaster.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
"Lord Shen, how have you been?"
Shen Yongning seemed to have heard a joke, and laughed silently, panting heavily, "No wonder you were able to escape from Yanmen City to the capital. Such composure is admirable."
"Lord Shen, you've actually come to the capital. I wonder if you're here to visit relatives and friends or to seek revenge?"
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