The sky was overcast, and Meng Qi wrapped herself tightly in her cloak, her hair tied up in a bun, without any headwear. She wore simple clothes, except for the jade bracelet Song Chengze had given her when they got married.
She even joked at the time, saying that your sister is getting married, so why would you give me something? Song Chengze smiled and gently tidied up her scattered hair while whispering, "This is your birthday gift. I will give it to you every year on your birthday."
Meng Qi was surprised but also felt warm in her heart. On her birthday last year, her relationship with Song Chengze was still in the stage of mutual testing. Not to mention receiving a gift from Song Chengze, it was Zhang Decheng who reminded him of her birthday.
This year's birthday happened on the day when he was injured by King Jing and was living in Jing'an Garden. The two of them ate noodles together. Song Chengze said that he was not feeling well and would find a gift for her when he got better.
As a result, his injury healed, and things in the palace happened one after another. Meng Qi forgot about this sentence. Unexpectedly, Song Chengze gave her such a bracelet at that time.
"Yuan Dong, you'll go to that farm later. It's been getting colder these past few days, and the snow is falling thick. I don't know if the house can withstand it. Bring a few more baskets of silver frost charcoal, and the cotton sent by the farm... Take as much as you can. I'm afraid the snow will not stop today. Don't worry, the mountain road will be blocked. You don't have to rush back. Stay for a few days."
Yuan Dong paused as she put on Meng Qi's cloak. "Princess, aren't you coming back?"
Meng Qi tied the cloak belt herself. "I don't know what the situation is like in the palace. It's true that the emperor is not in good health. If there is any need, I can't just go and leave."
Meng Qi thought about what Song Chengze had said about the Emperor's condition, and she was truly worried. This incident with the Crown Prince was a devastating blow to the Emperor. Even if he disliked the Crown Prince, he had been the Crown Prince for over thirty years, and now, to secure that position, he had resorted to so many shameful tactics, especially with the matter of the late Empress Dowager involved.
The Emperor had been recovering from his illness for over two years, no matter how severe it was, and had always managed to survive. Therefore, no one took his recent bedridden state seriously. Only Meng Qi had a bad feeling, fearing the Emperor might actually be... Therefore, she had made thorough preparations for this visit to the palace, especially since the Emperor had already ordered the draft decree deposing the Crown Prince. While the news hadn't been released, it was certainly known to everyone who needed to know, and those dissatisfied with the status quo or those who had long supported the Crown Prince would certainly not remain silent.
Therefore, she needed to stay in the palace. She knew that she could not help at the critical moment, but she just wanted to be closer to Song Chengze and let him know that she was always there.
As Meng Qi got into the warm sedan chair, she said to Wang Chenghai, "Have you made all the arrangements at the mansion?"
Wang Chenghai nodded, "Don't worry, Princess. Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Chunzi can handle it. And Lixia and Sister Suxin will be fine."
Meng Qi hummed, "Did you bring enough silver?"
"I've brought enough. Sister Yuandong just gave me an extra stack of banknotes." Wang Chenghai said.
Yuan Dong said as she closed the door of the warm sedan chair, "I don't know what the situation is like in the palace. I thought it would be better to bring more than not being able to find what I need. It would also be convenient to exchange it for banknotes."
Meng Qi hummed, looking at Yuan Dong's worried eyes, and smiled as she tightened her cloak for her. "It's okay, you should get ready and go."
Yuan Dong watched Meng Qi's sedan chair turn through the hanging flower gate, and her eyelids suddenly twitched uncomfortably. She looked up at the sky. It was very overcast, but no snowflakes were falling. The gloomy feeling made her feel breathless.
As Meng Qi had expected, she did not return to the palace that night. Since Qingning had been in the palace, Concubine Lian did not massage the emperor again.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at the sleeping Emperor Jing'an and quietly withdrew. Lu Chengbao bowed and stepped forward, "Your Majesty, Princess, the warm sedan chair is ready."
"Looking at the emperor's appearance, I am really worried. Why don't I stay here today?" Concubine Lian said softly.
Lu Chengbao said, "Your Majesty, please go back. Young Master Qing just said that the Emperor is fine, and the Emperor has said that apart from Young Master Qing, no one else will serve him. Your Majesty, don't worry, your servants will be watching the Emperor closely. If anything happens, I will send someone to report to you immediately. Besides, there is the Prince. I'm afraid he will be here in an hour."
Concubine Lian knew that Song Chengze had been in the palace these days, helping to handle state affairs during the day and staying in the west side hall at night.
"Mother, Eunuch Lu is right. Let's go back. You've been tired for quite some time. You need to rest well so that you can serve the emperor at any time."
"Yes, Princess is right." Lu Chengbao said as he lifted the cotton curtain.
On the way to Qionghua Palace, Meng Qi gently lifted a corner of the sedan chair curtain. Directly opposite was the East Palace where the Crown Prince lived. Meng Qi narrowed her eyes. Why did she feel that the lights in the East Palace were particularly bright?
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"Are you all ready?" The prince was wearing eunuch's clothes and sitting at the top with a frosty face.
Several men in black stood below. The leader stepped forward and said, "Yes, everything is ready. It's our turn to change guard tonight. The northwest and south will arrive tomorrow morning."
The prince stood up, looked at the dark sky outside, and smiled coldly in the direction of Chengtian Palace, "You forced me to do this." After saying that, he raised his foot to walk out, and the Crown Princess came towards him.
"Is Aihua settled?" asked the prince.
"Yes, you, you must be careful. If, if, it would be better..." The Crown Princess looked conflicted.
The prince waved his hand and said, "You don't need to say anything more. According to our previous agreement, you should just lead your men to surround the Qionghua Palace."
The Crown Princess knew that it was useless to say more at this time, so she nodded and watched the Crown Prince and some people disappear into the night.
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