Tan Yonglin thought he was seeing things, so he rubbed his eyes and then confirmed that the person in front of him was indeed Consort Mingfei.
"Your Highness, when did you return, and why are you dressed like this?" Tan Yonglin was so surprised that he forgot to bow. "Your Highness and I searched for you all night yesterday. Where did you go?"
Joy overflowed from Tan Yonglin's wrinkled eyes, but Shen Mingzhuang was taken aback. "You said you and His Majesty searched for me all night?"
Tan Yonglin nodded, but worried that Consort Ming might misunderstand, he added, "It wasn't just one night. His Majesty has been searching for you these past few days. There's been no news of where you went, and it's driving His Majesty extremely anxious!"
Shen Mingzhuang was somewhat incredulous. Why would Jiang Wang be so anxious if she disappeared?
She pursed her lips, feeling a pang of sadness, unsure whether she should trust her feelings.
Where is His Majesty?
If they could see Jiang Wang now, perhaps many mysteries could be solved. Tan Yonglin casually grabbed some clothes from the clothes rack behind the door, put them on, and led Shen Mingzhuang to the study.
The people in the Imperial Study dared not stop Tan Yonglin, and Shen Mingzhuang, disguised as a eunuch, easily followed behind Tan Yonglin into the Imperial Study.
The study was quiet. When Tan Yonglin led Shen Mingzhuang in, Jiang Wang was standing by the window, gazing out in a daze.
Outside the window was a stone wall with bamboo shadows, quiet and secluded, with bamboo leaves rustling. Hearing footsteps, Jiang Wang didn't turn his head and said, "I said no one should disturb me."
Perhaps due to exhaustion from not getting enough rest all night, Jiang Wang's voice was somewhat hoarse. Upon hearing this, Tan Yonglin immediately dared not proceed further and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, it is... Consort Ming."
Jiang Wang subconsciously turned around abruptly, and when he saw the person in front of him clearly, his expression changed immediately, and his gaze fell on Shen Mingzhuang with a complicated expression.
In that instant, all the longing and worry that had accumulated day and night swept over him like a tidal wave, and Jiang Wang's throat tightened, unable to say anything.
Seeing this, Tan Yonglin quietly slipped out.
Looking at the person in front of him, all those vague memories flooded back to Shen Mingzhuang. He seemed to be much thinner than he remembered. Had he been having a hard time these past few days?
There are so many questions I want to ask, but when the words reach my lips, I can't say anything at all.
Where have you been all this time?
Jiang Wang pulled the person into his arms, the words of blame and questioning stuck in his throat. At this moment, only an overwhelming concern rose in his heart. The days of sharing joys and sorrows and staying together day and night flashed through his mind. He no longer wanted to dwell on those things.
But Shen Mingzhuang still slowly pushed the person away.
"Your Majesty, is it because they didn't serve you well?" Shen Mingzhuang asked Jiang Wang with a forced smile, tears welling in his eyes.
Jiang Wang realized what she had asked, her expression faltering slightly. Shen Mingzhuang had already casually brushed the question aside; she needed to find Xue Rong as soon as possible. "Does Your Majesty know where my maid Xue Rong is?"
Jiang Wang smiled wryly, looking at Shen Mingzhuang's stubborn expression, and suddenly felt extremely distressed.
Everyone says that emperors are cold-hearted, but they don't know that even the cold-hearted emperor once bowed his head before the one he loved. But when he bowed his head, she was so disdainful, saying, "She is already dead."
After Jiang Wang finished speaking, he reached out and held Shen Mingzhuang's shoulders again, suppressing his displeasure and speaking gently, "Don't be angry with me anymore, okay? Come back. This huge harem is always cold and lifeless without you. Please come back and keep me company."
Xue Rong actually died just like that. The days she spent in the Shen family were dark and hopeless. Now that she had finally made it through, she died because she followed her into the palace and tried to protect her...? Shen Mingzhuang felt a chill in her heart, and her vision gradually blurred. Something slid down her cheek and dripped onto the cold floor, making a barely perceptible sound.
Faced with Jiang Wang, who had lowered her guard and begged him to come back, Shen Mingzhuang stiffly tugged at the corners of his mouth, the curve of which revealed an indescribable coldness.
Love extends to everything connected to the beloved. Even his own maidservant was barely mentioned in front of Jiang Wang, so how much weight could he possibly have? What was he still hoping for? Who knew if he had also shown this same unguarded side to Consort Song and Consort Shu?
"Does Your Majesty still need someone to accompany you? Is it that Consort Song is not beautiful enough, or that Consort Shu is not gentle enough, or is the Emperor simply amorous, wanting more after having this one, unable to give up either one, feeling that he is the chosen one of Heaven and should enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives?"
As soon as the words reached his ears, the chill of early spring suddenly became more biting, and the faint scent of ambergris in the air turned bleak and cold. Jiang Wang looked at the girl in front of him who no longer showed him any affection, and a pain spread through his heart. It was so nonchalant yet so deeply ingrained, and he only realized it belatedly.
He slowly released his grip and took a step back.
"If you are willing to come back, I will abolish this harem for you."
He offered his terms, but Shen Mingzhuang turned around without looking back and left the study without pausing.
At the door, they encountered a figure—Song Jingxi, who had come to deliver something to Jiang Wang.
Shen Mingzhuang's hat was knocked over, and she recognized the person in front of her at a glance. She immediately shouted, "Shen Mingzhuang, it's you! You killed Consort Shu's unborn child and you still dare to come back! Quick, someone, come and arrest her!"
She shouted loudly, but no one in the Imperial Study listened to her. Tan Yonglin jogged over and hurriedly tried to calm things down. Quan Song Jingxi whispered, "Consort Song, this is His Majesty's will. It would be best if you didn't spread it around."
Song Jingxi didn't believe it. His Majesty had clearly grown tired of Shen Mingzhuang, so how could he allow Shen Mingzhuang to move freely in and out of the palace? You must know that Consort Shu is currently the most favored, and Consort Shu was carrying His Majesty's first child. If the child were to die in the womb like this, how could His Majesty let Shen Mingzhuang off so easily?
Moreover, the Empress Dowager has already ordered that Consort Ming's title be revoked and that she be arrested, imprisoned, and executed on a later date.
"Has Eunuch Tan lost his mind? She killed the imperial heir; how can she be let off so easily!"
Upon hearing this, Tan Yonglin's expression turned cold, and he replied icily, "Then Consort Song should think carefully about whether this is His Majesty's world or the Empress Dowager's world, and whether His Majesty's wishes are more important or the Empress Dowager's wishes are more important."
A simple sentence made Song Jingxi's face turn pale instantly.
Could it be... that this really is the Emperor's will?
Shen Mingzhuang felt heavy-hearted. The sky was gloomy, and there was a faint hint of rain. She lifted her foot and walked out. Tan Yonglin thought for a moment, then took a few steps forward and followed her.
"Your Majesty, why are you leaving again? His Majesty has been unable to eat or drink these days. Please stay and try to persuade him."
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