When the twelfth lunar month began, a snowstorm hit the outskirts of Beijing, and the emperor handed over the task of disaster relief to the crown prince.
The prince became very busy, personally managing the work, and even frequently went out of the city to check on the disaster relief efforts. He even suggested to the emperor that the soldiers from the Dongshan camp be mobilized to build houses for the affected people so that they could have a good New Year.
The emperor was very pleased with the prince's consideration and gave him the tiger talisman, allowing him to mobilize the troops of the Dongshan camp.
After the prince got the tiger talisman, he became more arrogant in front of Song Chengze.
"Princess, Prince Zhou has brought Young Master Qing into the mansion." Wang Chenghai walked into the room with his back bent.
Meng Qi put down the account book. It was the end of the year, and both Song Chengze's and her own, the profits from the farm and the shop, as well as the New Year's goods, had been handed in. This year, Song Chengze had entrusted her with the preparation of all the holiday gifts for his outer courtyard. She couldn't afford to be careless, so she personally followed the old practices of previous years and finalized each one.
"Did you ask about it, or did Zhang Decheng tell you?"
Wang Chenghai stepped forward a few steps. "It was Eunuch Zhang who told me that the prince would be back very late today and would not be coming into the inner courtyard. I was afraid you would be worried, so he told you that the prince would bring Master Qing to the palace early tomorrow morning, and Zhuang Jing in Concubine Lian's palace would be waiting for the prince."
Meng Qi breathed a sigh of relief and finally moved. Song Chengze was going to defeat the enemy with one move.
"Remember, from now on, as for matters in the outer courtyard, as long as they don't let you know, don't ask about them. Keep those people under you under control."
Wang Chenghai responded respectfully. He was now the chief steward of the inner palace. Since following Meng Qi, his perspective and mind had changed. He could sense what Prince Rui was doing. If it was truly as he imagined, Wang Chenghai couldn't imagine how he would rise to prominence one day.
"The prince promised the eldest lady to spend the night with Concubine Wu and send her away early tomorrow morning."
Meng Qi nodded. Song Chengze had asked her about how to deal with Wu. She said that only Li could be dealt with according to his own wishes, and she would listen to Song Chengze for everyone else.
Because Wu's affairs involved Song Nongyu, she didn't want to get involved. Her relationship with Song Chengze had developed into something different than she had originally envisioned. She couldn't control her feelings. When that day came, would she stick to her original intention or do as Meng Wan suggested? She wasn't sure yet, and she didn't want to think about it.
But everything is possible. If it is really as Meng Wan said, she doesn't want to keep a child who is ready to avenge his mother at any time.
"Do you know what the prince said to the eldest lady?" Meng Qi asked.
Wang Chenghai shook his head. "I only heard from Hu Changsheng that the prince spoke to the eldest lady alone for over an hour the other day, and when she came out her eyes were swollen beyond recognition."
Meng Qi believed that Song Chengze would give Song Nongyu a reasonable explanation. She guessed that Song Chengze would not let Wu stay in the manor anymore, but she did not expect that he would not let her stay for years and sent her directly to the manor. As for how long she could live there, it all depended on her own luck.
"After Wu leaves tomorrow, you take your men to clean up Jinmoju and Yinyan Pavilion, and lock the yard. You can just sweep it a few days a month. It's the New Year, and there's no need to have so many people guarding an ownerless yard."
Wang Chenghai nodded in agreement, and seeing that Meng Qi had no other instructions, he bowed and left.
Meng Qi looked at the snow falling outside again, called Yuan Dong to put on a cloak for her, and walked out of Jing'an Garden with a hand warmer.
Yuandong and Lixia followed behind. Meng Qi listened to the crunching sound of the snow under her feet, and her heart felt peaceful. She stretched out her hand and watched the crystal snowflakes fall on the muff, and could even clearly see the petals on it.
Before she knew it, she had reached the pond in the backyard, the pond where she had been pressed down by the old woman in her previous life.
Meng Qi paused. Ever since she married into Prince Rui's Mansion, she had never been here before. She subconsciously avoided this place, not wanting to be reminded of her unbearable past by the sight.
She kept thinking about what kind of emotions she would feel if she had the chance to walk here again. She thought she would be afraid, excited, and even angry. But she didn't expect to feel so calm.
Meng Qi walked towards the pond step by step. Lixia was about to go forward but Yuandong grabbed her sleeve and shook his head at her.
Meng Qi walked to the place where she stood after being forced by Hong Zhe in her previous life. She closed her eyes, and the scene of Hong Zhe throwing her clothes at her was still vivid in her mind.
She didn't know how the clothes got into Hongzhe's hands. She only knew that she received a note saying that Hongzhe wanted to see her. She was terrified at the time. How could Hongzhe be so bold? This was the Rui Palace, and he actually asked her to meet him in private.
She shouldn't have gone, but seeing Hong Zhe's heartfelt words, he also said that this might be their last meeting, because he was increasingly disregarded by King Jing, and he was sent south by the Hong family to run their own business. He wanted to see her before he left, and this was his only chance.
Her heart was moved, thinking that she would never see him again, even a glimpse of him from afar when there were many people around, would be impossible. She felt very heartbroken and told herself that this was the last time.
Then, under the protection of Ms. Zhang, she came to the thatched house by the pond. She didn't see Hongzhe, but she felt dizzy. When she woke up again, the door was surrounded by people. At this time, Hongzhe appeared, put clothes on himself, opened the back door, and told her to leave quickly, taking care of everything.
She was extremely scared and ran desperately. She thought Hong Zhe would stop those people, but there were more and more people behind her, and they were getting closer and closer to her. Almost all the female relatives who came to attend Song Chengze's birthday party had arrived at the pond.
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