Song Chengze turned his head and glanced at her. "Just let him know that you really want to help him. Only when he is sure of your intentions will he spare no effort to persuade Fourth Brother to add fuel to the fire at the palace banquet. Only then will the fire burn brightly."
"Does he need me to put on a show with him in the palace?"
Looking at the gate of Jing'an Garden, Song Chengze stopped and loosened his hand to pull Meng Qi's cloak up. "No need. Hongzhe is not worth your doing that. You just need to go back to your mother-in-law on the third day of the New Year and show her that you will help him. As for the palace banquet on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, you don't have to go."
Meng Qi felt a warm feeling in her heart. She was really afraid that Song Chengze was setting up a trap for her and Hong Zhe in the palace. Although she believed that Song Chengze would not let her do anything shameful, if something got out of the palace, she really wouldn't be able to explain it.
Everything before the marriage could be explained away as youthful recklessness or ignorance of the ways of the world, but now, without much explanation, just having people see her and Hong Zhe alone together would be enough to make her unable to gain a foothold in the palace in the future.
Hearing Song Chengze's words, Meng Qi felt relieved. Meng Juan would definitely return to the Huainan Marquis' Mansion on the third day of the Lunar New Year, and Hong Zhe, as her son-in-law, would naturally accompany her. Some things and some conversations were naturally much more convenient at her mother's house than in the palace.
"Okay, I understand. I'll think about how I can avoid leaving any traces that day so that Hongzhe can trust me. I'll discuss this with you later."
Song Chengze nodded. "Don't worry. There are still many days left. You will be busy enough with the New Year gifts for now. Don't worry about your mother-in-law. I asked Chu Yong to find some good things for her."
Meng Qi's eyes lit up and she nodded happily, "It's getting late today. Your Highness, are you going to the Bibo Hall or back to the outer courtyard?"
"Why, is there no bedding for me in the west room of Jing'an Garden?"
Meng Qi smiled when she heard this and made a gesture to invite him in. Song Chengze shook his head and said, "I'm going to Bibo Hall. I have a lot of things to deal with."
"Would you like me to prepare some midnight snack for you?"
"How about 'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall'?"
When Meng Qi heard what Song Chengze said, she smiled.
――――――
Meng Qi lay down but couldn't fall asleep. The amount of information she received tonight was too much. She never thought that the rumor from that year was true. Not only was it true, the truth was beyond everyone's imagination.
She turned over, thinking about the children's clothes and the two affectionate letters she and Wang Chenghai found in the house next to Hanyuan. She couldn't believe it.
Since these things were hidden by Zhuang Cairen, it proved that she was an insider. She hid these things for two reasons: one was to threaten the late Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and the other was to keep the secret for the late Empress Dowager.
But based on Zhuang Cairen's final outcome, Meng Qi is more inclined to the first reason.
It seems that the affair between the late Empress Dowager and the Emperor was also known to someone in the palace, at least the late Empress and Concubine Xiang. It is unknown what the late Empress was thinking, but Concubine Xiang was able to endure it for so many years, probably hoping to use this as an excuse to strike a blow.
So, is Prince Duan trying to bring up these old accounts to target Song Chengze, Prince Jing, or even Prince Cheng?
This matter was a sharp weapon for Concubine Xiang and her son, and they would not waste it in vain. Therefore, Meng Qi believed that they should deal with Prince Cheng. After all, when the Queen was frightened that time, Song Chengze asked the Queen to direct the spearhead towards Concubine Xiang.
After such a long time, it is impossible for the Queen not to find opportunities to attack Concubine Xiang, and Concubine Xiang is not someone who will wait patiently.
That was truly interesting. Everyone wanted to capitalize on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month palace banquet, each busy with their own efforts, each hoping to achieve their desired effect. Now it all depended on who arranged it best, and who would be the final winner.
Meng Qi hugged the quilt in her arms, and inexplicably thought of Song Chengze's hug again. It was so sudden and yet so reassuring. Song Chengze did it naturally, as if it was just a very familiar action to them.
Maybe for Song Chengze, it really is just a familiar action?
What about herself? Meng Qi patted her slightly hot face, suddenly remembering that she had forgotten to tell Song Chengze about Ms. Li and Baochun.
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