Meng Qingluan was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
She opened her eyes, and the man beside her also opened his eyes.
She saw that his eyes were clear, indicating that he hadn't slept all night again.
Shen Yan changed his clothes, got up and opened the door, his voice trembling.
"grown ups……"
Shen Yan wasn't surprised to see her flustered appearance, and he stepped aside to make way for her.
"Go in."
"Thank you, sir."
Dollars burst into the house. Meng Qingluan had already changed her clothes, her hair loose over her shoulders.
"Madam! You should go check on the neighboring courtyard quickly, Young Master Zhu..."
Meng Qingluan's heart sank. She stood up without a word, and without even putting on a thick coat, she walked out of the house into the cold wind.
It had already started snowing heavily outside in the early morning, the snow falling on the ground and landing on our heads.
Shen Yan picked up a woolen cloak and ran out after Meng Qingluan.
Meng Qingluan quickened her pace, and Mei Yuan had to jog to keep up with her and hold the umbrella for her.
She walked very fast, but her mind was a complete blank, and her ears were ringing, her eardrums thumping like drums.
Her legs felt unsteady, and several times she almost lost control of them and nearly fell to the ground.
The journey that usually takes three minutes took her less than a minute.
The maids who served Zhu Qing'an stood at the courtyard gate, craning their necks to look ahead, their eyes filled with tears, bewildered and afraid.
"lady……"
They called out softly when they saw Meng Qingluan arrive.
"You all go down first and inform the Meng family that I will handle his affairs. Also, prepare a coffin made of Phoebe zhennan wood, and buy paper offerings and incense."
Meng Qingluan arranged everything methodically and meticulously.
She remained calm and did not question the maids who had made trouble; she simply made arrangements for her funeral.
As the maids' fear subsided, they nodded.
"yes."
Just as the maids were about to turn and leave, Meng Qingluan stopped her foot, which had already stepped onto the threshold, and suddenly called out to them.
"Oh, right... buy some candied plums, and also bring the brush and ink."
"……yes."
The maids ran out and bumped into Shen Yan, who was rushing over. They bowed respectfully.
He explained what Meng Qingluan had arranged and won her approval.
Shen Yan held the cloak he had given to Meng Qingluan in his arms.
"Do as Madam says. Go and get your token and money from the steward."
"yes."
"..."
Meng Qingluan walked to the steps at the door and suddenly stopped.
She looked down, her shoes sinking into the thick snow, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.
The floor heating in the room was still warm, and a wave of warmth blew in, making her frosty eyebrows feel damp.
The snow has melted.
She went into the inner room. The bed curtains were half-open, with the other half still covering half of his face.
It is likely that the maids discovered his death and ran out in panic.
Meng Qingluan reached out her hand, her fingers grasping a corner of the bed curtains, but she hesitated to move.
Her heart was pounding, and her fingers gripping the bed curtains were trembling.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally made a move and pulled back the bed curtains.
Zhu Qing'an huddled under the covers, only revealing her collarbone and above.
His face was peaceful, his eyes were closed, and he looked just like someone fast asleep.
As she looked at him, she could vaguely feel his chest rising and falling, and subconsciously reached out to touch his chest.
His heart had stopped beating, but his body was still warm, which gave people the illusion that he was still alive.
Meng Qingluan's mind flashed back to everything in his dream, and she unconsciously slumped down on the edge of the bed.
She covered her face with one hand, not daring to look at him anymore.
Guilt outweighs reluctance.
Meng Qingluan couldn't remain calm when facing a child she had practically raised.
She admitted that she had seen through his scheming, and that she had also disliked this superior who "gained benefits and then acted innocent" because of Meng's parents.
Knowing everything, guilt instantly overwhelmed all my emotions.
She felt even more guilty.
The warmth I gave him truly existed.
It's all just that I've forgotten.
The kindness I casually offered has stayed with him for so long.
Shen Yan walked to the door of the inner room, saw Meng Qingluan's back, and put his raised leg back down.
He turned around and hid behind the door. He clutched the cloak he had brought with him, his gaze fixed on the ground.
Meng Qingluan lowered her hand, reached under Zhu Qing'an's pillow, and sure enough, found the storybook she had seen last time.
The maid was just entering with writing brush and ink when she saw Chen Yan standing in the main room. She instinctively wanted to greet him.
"big……"
Shen Yan immediately put a finger to her lips and shook her head to indicate that she did not need to greet her.
The maidservant glanced instinctively at Meng Qingluan standing in the inner room, understanding the situation.
She nodded to Chen Yan and handed him the brush and ink.
Meng Qingluan took the brush and ink, and the maid withdrew.
She opened the storybook and painstakingly filled in the rest of the story, word by word.
In less than half an hour, the last few pages were finally filled with black text, the story ended, and the final period marked the end.
Meng Qingluan picked up the storybook again and read the ending to Zhu Qing'an.
Finally, I closed the book.
Meng Qingluan placed the storybook beside Zhu Qing'an's pillow and whispered.
Goodnight, little brother.
"..."
…
Zhu Qing'an's funeral was a grand affair, with Meng Qingluan and Shen Yan handling the entire process.
When Meng's parents heard the news of Zhu Qing'an's death, they came to see him one last time.
When Meng Qingluan saw the two again, she could hardly believe that they were the same people she had been before.
The elderly couple looked at least ten years older, their faces etched with the marks of time, and they needed each other's support to get there.
Meng Qingluan frowned.
Even though she knew nothing about medicine or physiognomy, she could tell that the two of them were nearing the end of their lives and didn't have much time left.
Before leaving, Meng's mother spoke a few more words to Meng Qingluan.
She no longer had the agitation and hatred she had shown before; her face was much calmer, though the weariness on her face had only increased.
She said to Meng Qingluan.
"After I returned home, I devoted myself to Buddhism. I built a temple for her and chanted sutras and Buddhist prayers all day long. Guess what?"
Meng Qingluan said, "Go ahead."
Mencius' mother said.
“I dreamt of Luanluan. She said she missed me too, and she didn’t blame me. But she was leaving and would never see me again, and told me to take good care of myself.”
"..."
"I think that her father and I have lived a mediocre life, but we have ruined our two children. In the end, we have only gained nothing and moved ourselves in vain."
“I know my days are numbered, and I am but a broken body. I have been looking forward to this day, and I think I cannot delay any longer. If I am even a step slower, I will not be able to catch up with my Luanluan.”
“I am willing to atone for our sins. After I die, I will leave all my inheritance to you. I only hope that you will set aside a portion to build a temple for An’an.”
"Thank you for today, this is our final farewell."
After Mencius' mother finished speaking, she bent her waist as low as possible and buried her head very deep.
Meng Qingluan took a deep breath, said nothing, and simply helped her up.
Mencius' mother and father left together.
Zhu Qing'an's body was kept in state for only one day, and he was buried the following day.
It snowed all night, then it stopped.
Meng Qingluan felt the chill around her dissipate, and a warm current rose around her ears.
…
Three days after the Little New Year, the palace banquet was soon held.
The palace banquet was held in the evening.
Meng Qingluan was dressed neatly and solemnly, and the ornaments on her head were so heavy that her neck ached.
Turning around, I saw that Chen Yan had simply tied a crown around his neck.
Meng Qingluan felt somewhat resentful.
"Why are you dressed so casually? Don't you know you're going to see the emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Yan humbly requested leave.
"How about you, madam, help me embellish it again?"
"OK."
Meng Qingluan arrived as soon as she was told, immediately opening the jewelry box and taking out a lotus-shaped hairpin.
She held up the hairpin in her hand, not forgetting to ask the "doll's" own opinion.
How about this one?
Shen Yan lowered his head obediently, observed for a moment, and then spoke slowly and deliberately.
"This one is nice. But I like this one better; it matches the one on your head perfectly."
Following the direction of his finger, Meng Qingluan picked up another hairpin and inserted it into his crowned hair.
Both of them had a colorful jade hairpin jingling and swaying in their hair, making them look like twins.
Meng Qingluan stretched out her arm and smiled.
"Good sister, come on! Let me show you the world."
Shen Yan stared at her outstretched arm, a smile playing on his lips. He felt something was off.
Why does it look so much like a madam bringing her favorite top courtesan to a banquet?
But he still hooked his hand inside and answered coquettishly.
"OK."
The two walked out of the courtyard arm in arm and got into the carriage.
As the two men left, Dollar and British Burroughs couldn't help but facepalm.
It saved my life.
Can't the ladies and gentlemen be a little more normal?
The two sat in the carriage. Meng Qingluan, unable to bear the weight of her headdress, leaned on the table.
"Can I really do that?"
"certainly."
As Chen Yan answered, he began to remove the useless headdress from her head.
Meng Qingluan immediately straightened up.
What are you doing?
"Isn't it uncomfortable to be pressed down? Just take it apart." Chen Yan said, and started to take it apart again.
Meng Qingluan protected her head.
"No way! All the other ladies are dressed so beautifully. What if I look the ugliest when I go? I can't lose face."
Meng Qingluan was so concerned with saving face that she suffered for it.
Chen Yan couldn't help but chuckle.
"But you forgot, you still have to clean it up yourself. How can you move around with so much on your head?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingluan quickly asked him to bring over the mirror.
“You’re right! I’m going to take down the useless and heavy things and give her a good tidying up.”
As Meng Qingluan spoke, she quickly removed most of the headdress, instantly making her neck feel much lighter.
The carriage arrived at the palace gate, the driver handed over the token, and soon a eunuch came to lead the way.
The two walked into the palace, encountering many people along the way. Most of them greeted Shen Yan politely but said little, quickly leaving with their families after exchanging greetings.
Meng Qingluan found this rather strange.
"You're so capable, how come no one tries to curry favor with you?"
And it looks like...
They were all afraid of him.
He even saw a hint of admiration for him in their eyes.
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