Meng Qi first picked up the teapot and poured it out, then picked up the handkerchief in the basin from under the kang table and handed it to Song Chengze.
Song Chengze exhaled lightly, took the handkerchief handed to him by Meng Qi and wiped his mouth. "I don't usually pursue luxury, I don't eat fine food, I drink in moderation, I get up early every day, and I don't like people who talk too much."
After placing the towel on the table, he took a sip of tea and continued, "Although there are quite a few people in the palace, it's relatively simple compared to other royal palaces. I've already told Madam Hai and Li Mancang that you can order them around as needed. It's getting late today, so there's no need to rush. You can sort things out in detail after Sanchao returns home."
After saying that, Song Chengze stood up. He took two steps, thought for a moment, turned back, hesitated for a moment, and stretched out his hand again. "It's late. We have to go to the palace to thank you tomorrow. Go to bed early."
Meng Qi stood up and looked at the hand stretched out in front of her. The palm was broad, the knuckles were distinct, and there were many fine lines next to the three deep palm lines.
She looked up and met Song Chengze's inquiring gaze.
That’s right, explore.
Meng Qi was hesitating, Song Chengze was waiting, and the two of them just stood there, it seemed like a long time had passed, and yet it seemed like just a moment.
When Meng Qi's soft hands rested on Song Chengze's palms, Meng Qi clearly heard a sigh of relief.
Song Chengze was about to hold it tightly when Meng Qi took his hand and knelt down to salute. "May I ask, Your Majesty, how should I face everyone tomorrow?"
Song Chengze paused, "Are you serious?"
"Yes, what I said the other day was well thought out and came from the heart. It may have sounded shocking to Your Highness, but it was the result of my careful analysis. Not a single word was fabricated. I'm sure Your Highness has been thinking seriously over these past few days."
Song Chengze gently exerted force on his hands to help Meng Qi up, then let go of her hand and turned to walk towards the kang.
"Come over and talk. It's not good to discuss this while standing on the ground. Also, you don't have to be so modest when it's just the two of us."
Meng Qi felt warm in her heart and responded softly, "Follow behind."
Song Chengze took off his shoes and got on the kang first. Meng Qilue stood for a moment before lowering the curtain. In an instant, the wedding candles outside became dim, and the kang, illuminated by the red curtain, became a little more ambiguous.
Song Chengze watched Meng Qi take off her shoes and lift the corner of the quilt with shaking hands. After all, she was still a little girl. No matter what caused her to have such an unexpected idea, it was ultimately because she lacked confidence.
Meng Qi lay down gently, not listening to Song Chengze's words. After thinking for a while, she said, "I... I was thinking that if you agree with what I said the other day, then starting today would be the best."
Song Chengze hummed, "Who taught you this? It couldn't have been Meng Yuan, and it's even less likely that it was Meng Shao or Meng Wei. The only people in your Meng family who could have come up with such a method besides Meng Changfeng and Meng Hai, but I can't imagine why you would do this for them."
Meng Qi turned her face to the side. Song Chengze had already turned sideways, with one arm under his head and the other resting on the quilt, staring at her intently.
Meng Qi gathered her quilt closer and sat up slightly. "I told you, this is all my own thinking and has nothing to do with anyone else. No one gave me any advice. Last time I told you about the Third House, they plotted against me like that, how could I obey Meng Hai? Besides, my grandfather has been frightened by the Emperor's recent reprimands. He thinks he has clinged to his Third Uncle and can't listen to anyone else's advice. He doesn't think I, his humiliating granddaughter, will be of any use."
Song Chengze also sat up, moved the pillow back, and found a comfortable angle to half-lie down.
"Have you ever thought that if you do what you said, your reputation will be..."
Meng Qi laughed at herself, "Your Highness is kind and generous. He's willing to marry me despite my current reputation. If I go to the palace with you tomorrow and we're so affectionate, it would be surprising, wouldn't you say?"
Song Chengze looked at Meng Qi, and Meng Qi continued, "Besides, my reputation is already like this, how much worse can it get? Since it's such a bad reputation, naturally I have to make good use of it. My second sister said something very right, don't worry about whether it is good or bad in the eyes of others, just benefit yourself and get the desired results, then you can continue. So, as long as the prince doesn't care about my bad reputation, what do I care about?"
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