Chapter 45 The Price
Meng Lingge stayed in the courtyard of Yun Shen Ge for most of the day until sunset before returning to the Prince of Anshun's Mansion.
Although Meng Lingge was already 80% convinced that Wen Zhiming had been poisoned by a Gu, the matter was still bizarre and there was no suitable cure, so she decided not to tell Princess Anshun for the time being.
There were many people in the mansion who would gossip, and she didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.
After entering the room, Chunhong and the others told Meng Lingge about the Princess's handling of Wen Weizhu. The maids, who hadn't gone to the Yun Shen Pavilion courtyard, also guessed the general situation from the Princess's actions.
“Your Highness, Consort Jiang came today and brought these things. She said that the Second Miss has realized her mistake, but she is injured and confined to her quarters, so she cannot come to apologize in person. These things are what the Second Miss asked her to bring as an apology.”
Chunlan brought over an exquisite box containing a box of rouge and a box of face cream, both inscribed with the words "Liu Fang" (meaning "leaving fragrance").
It's immediately obvious that it comes from Liufangge, the most famous rouge shop in the capital.
“We didn’t want to accept it, but Consort Jiang said that if we didn’t accept it, it would mean that we were dissatisfied with the gift selection, and she would choose something else to send. So I had no choice but to let her put it down for now.”
“Then leave it here,” Meng Lingge said calmly. “Pick something of equal value to return, and then tell Consort Jiang to let the Second Miss rest well. If she gets married as scheduled, I will send her a generous gift.”
If she didn't accept the gifts, Consort Jiang would come again and again with more gifts, which would exhaust her. Furthermore, her mother would think she was being unreasonable and overly calculating.
The fact that Wen Zhiming was poisoned by Gu is the biggest problem troubling her right now, and she doesn't want to waste her energy on other unimportant people and things.
She believed that Consort Jiang should be able to understand the implied meaning in her words.
If Wen Weizhu behaves herself, she can naturally get married on time. But if Wen Weizhu has any more intentions to harm her, then she shouldn't blame her for ruining Wen Weizhu's good marriage.
Chunlan accepted the order and withdrew, but soon returned to report.
"Consort Jiang said that you can rest assured that she will take good care of the Second Miss."
Meng Lingge nodded gently, unwilling to think about it anymore.
Today, Su Leran and I selected some medicinal herbs. At the time, I didn't feel anything, but now my shoulders are a little sore. She just twisted her neck a couple of times, and Dongqing quickly washed her hands and went over to massage her.
The pressure was just right, making Meng Lingge close her eyes comfortably.
Just as she was wondering why Wen Zhiming hadn't returned to the manor yet, she heard a series of hurried footsteps outside. When she looked up, Wen Zhiming was already standing at the door.
"My wife, my wife, guess how well I practiced today?"
He walked straight to Meng Lingge's side and excitedly grabbed her hand and shook it.
Dongqing and the others wisely withdrew.
Meng Lingge smiled and said, "My husband must be very good at it."
Wen Zhiming nodded smugly, "My wife guessed right. I shot a hundred arrows today and didn't miss once. The instructor said that in the entire army, no one is better than me."
Meng Lingge smiled and said, "My husband is really amazing. The instructors and soldiers in the military camp must admire him very much."
Wen Zhiming tilted his head, somewhat confused, and said, "The instructor said that if I hadn't gotten sick, I would definitely have become a more powerful military general than my father. But what illness do I have? I don't know anything about it. I asked the instructor, but he wouldn't tell me..."
He often heard the servants gossiping that he was ill, but he thought he was perfectly normal and in excellent health; he was just a man of few words.
And ever since he married his wife, he's become much more talkative.
“My husband is not ill. It’s just…” Meng Lingge hesitated for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject, “If my husband could become very powerful, but it would come at a great price, would he be willing to pay it?”
She didn't want to use the last method Su Leran suggested, but if she didn't, Wen Zhiming might only have a few years left to live.
No matter how good her relationship with Wen Zhiming was, she couldn't make decisions about his life.
She wanted to hear Wen Zhiming's own thoughts.
"What is the great price?" Wen Zhiming asked, somewhat puzzled.
He can get whatever he wants easily, without knowing what the price is.
Meng Lingge felt it was too cruel to say these things to Wen Zhiming, but she didn't know what to do if she didn't say anything.
Hardening her heart, Meng Lingge looked at him earnestly and said, "For example, status, wealth, or the person you care about most, the princess, and me..."
"I don't want to, I don't want to!" Wen Zhiming covered his ears upon hearing this, terrified.
Meng Lingge hugged him tenderly and comforted him, "Alright, alright, if my husband doesn't want to, then we won't become so powerful. It's fine as it is now. Don't be afraid, I'll always be by your side."
Indeed, nothing is more important than life, but we haven't reached that point yet.
Wen Zhiming was still shaken.
"Has my wife gone to see that man again? Does she not want me anymore? I'm going to confront him and make sure he never sees her again!"
He stood up and prepared to run out to find Su Leyan.
Meng Lingge hugged him tightly from behind, pressing her head against his back. "Husband, don't go! Doctor Su is a girl, not a man. I won't abandon you for her, nor will I leave you for any other man."
Some of what happened today will eventually reach Wen Zhiming's ears. If he doesn't tell him that Su Leyan is a girl, he'll probably throw a tantrum when he finds out that he spent the whole day with Su Leyan.
Wen Zhiming stopped, somewhat enjoying the feeling of Meng Lingge taking the initiative to hug him.
"Really? Then my wife can't see her every day."
You can't see other people more often than you see him.
“I have some things to take care of these next few days, so I might be seeing Doctor Su more often. When you have time, you can come with me.”
"Alright. Then my wife must wait for me, and you're not allowed to sneak away while I'm asleep." He turned around and put his arm around Meng Lingge.
Meng Lingge looked up at him and found Wen Zhiming's eyes to be as clear as autumn water. His tender gaze only deepened her complex emotions.
She couldn't help but gently touch Wen Zhiming's face with her hand and asked softly.
"Husband, do you trust me?"
"Of course I believe you. The person I trust most is my wife," Wen Zhiming replied without hesitation.
"Could I borrow one of my husband's bodyguards?"
Although Zhang Luo was there to handle things for her outside the mansion, the matters she needed to deal with right now were quite time-consuming, and Zhang Luo couldn't manage them all by himself.
Wen Zhiming said, "My bodyguard is the same bodyguard my wife has. Why would I need to borrow one? I'll summon him right now."
After he finished speaking, he walked to the door, clapped his hands a few times, and a man in black, close-fitting clothes, jumped down from the eaves and knelt on one knee: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Wen Zhiming pointed at Meng Lingge: "This is my wife. From now on, you must obey her orders. Whatever she tells you to do, you must do."
The guard responded with a "Yes," and turned to Meng Lingge: "What are your orders, Princess Consort?"
Meng Lingge recognized him as the one who had captured Su Leran that day, and asked with some doubt, "Are you the only secret guard of the young master?"
The guard replied respectfully, "No. I am the head guard. There are ten people in total responsible for the safety of the Crown Prince. Four of them are divided into two groups to take turns on duty, and the other six are currently training. If the Crown Princess wishes to meet with him, I will summon them all over now."
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