"I'm sorry," Shen Yan said, his fingertips trembling as he placed his hand on hers, "Can I take a look? How serious is the injury?"
Meng Qingluan was unwilling to do that. She hadn't even blushed yet, but if he found out, wouldn't she be exposed?
"It doesn't hurt," Meng Qingluan sniffed hard. "It's my own bad background and my outspokenness that angered the Imperial Concubine."
Shen Yan held her in his arms, preventing her from seeing what was happening in front of him.
The Imperial Concubine never expected that after decades of navigating the treacherous waters of the inner palace, she would fall victim to such a petty trick.
In fact, this woman was a wild girl from the countryside?
However, she didn't have time to think about anything else, because Shen Yan's gaze was icy cold, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
The imperial concubine, at a loss, raised her hand and stepped forward to explain in a trembling voice.
"Shen Yan, it's not what you saw! I didn't hit her, she did it herself..."
"Did she run into it herself?" Shen Yan interrupted.
“Yes! That’s right!” The imperial concubine, oblivious to the sarcasm in his words, responded excitedly, “She bumped into my hand herself, trying to frame me. She deliberately let you see this scene.”
"Your Highness, you have struck my wife and are now making baseless accusations and framing me?"
Shen Yan's tone had turned completely cold. "My wife is kind-hearted and doesn't understand these despicable tricks in your harem. If you want to use this to frame someone, you've probably picked the wrong person."
"No……"
The imperial concubine retorted in a low voice.
Shen Yan made no attempt to conceal his disgust for the Imperial Concubine; his words were sharp, like daggers stabbing into her heart again and again.
The imperial concubine's eyes reddened, and her palms trembled; she still wanted to step forward and explain.
Shen Yan had already taken a step back with his arm around Meng Qingluan's shoulder, widening the distance between them, and his hand was placed defensively behind Meng Qingluan's head.
The imperial concubine's heart was once again pierced by his actions.
Was he afraid he would hurt the woman in his arms? She was his own mother, how could he think of himself like that?
How could this be? When did the relationship between the mother and son deteriorate to this point?
The last time she approached him, she even asked him to leave the capital and give up his career in government.
Although he was distant and his words to her weren't exactly gentle, she could sense that he longed for her and wanted to be close to her.
It's all because of her!
The Imperial Concubine's gaze fell upon Meng Qingluan with a venomous intensity, her expression one of intense, unyielding disgust.
Meng Qingluan, on the other hand, timidly poked her head out, looking up at Chen Yan with tears in her eyes.
"It's not Your Highness's fault... Your Highness is right, I bumped into it myself."
After saying that, Meng Qingluan suddenly lowered her head, her back heaving dramatically, and she occasionally let out a sob.
"..."
The imperial concubine stared intently at her back, as if she wanted to burn a hole through her with her gaze.
Her explanation left much to the imagination.
It didn't seem like he was testifying to help her out of a predicament; it seemed more like he was deliberately taking the blame because of her pressure, making her explanation seem even more weak and unconvincing!
Shen Yan certainly didn't believe it. Besides, even if he did, what difference would it make? As long as it concerned Meng Qingluan, he would stand by her side regardless of right or wrong.
Meng Qingluan turned her head and winked at her provocatively.
The imperial concubine gritted her teeth. Although she was blinded by anger, she had, after all, been a veteran of the palace for decades.
She calmed herself down, two lines of tears already streaming down her face, making her look incredibly pitiful.
If it were before, Shen Yan would have softened his heart long ago, but since it concerns Meng Qingluan, he now only feels that she is hypocritical.
What do you want me to do?
"You should ask her."
Meng Qingluan sniffled, her nose red, looking even more pitiful than the Imperial Concubine.
"Your Majesty did not mean it. Your apology today is enough to let it go."
Meng Qingluan didn't want to make a big fuss. After all, she was a noble concubine, and even a rabbit will bite when cornered.
She just wanted to teach her a lesson so she wouldn't bother her all the time.
She also wanted to improve Shen Yan's impression of her, as she was afraid that the Imperial Concubine might play the family card and her neglected puppy would be sold off again.
The imperial concubine's fingernails dug into the flesh of her palms as she gritted her teeth and forced out two words with great difficulty.
"Feel sorry."
Meng Qingluan shook her head.
"Your Highness, we have settled everything. I will definitely get my revenge for what happened today."
The imperial concubine's eyes widened, and she staggered back a few steps. If the palace maid standing beside her hadn't caught her in time, she would have fallen onto the table behind her.
Shen Yan didn't even glance at her, letting the tears stream down her face as he led Meng Qingluan away from the room.
The imperial concubine shook off the palace maid who was supporting her, and threw the teacup on the table to the ground with a crashing sound.
The palace maids were stunned and speechless when they saw the Imperial Concubine so angry for the first time.
The imperial concubine covered her face and struggled to support herself on the table with both hands.
"Get out, everyone."
"Your Majesty..." the personal maidservant said worriedly.
"Get out!" the imperial concubine roared.
The palace maids dared not hesitate and hurriedly retreated outside the door.
The imperial concubine slumped weakly to the ground, the broken tea table soaking her magnificent skirt.
"How could this happen... I'm his own mother, how could he treat me like this?"
The imperial concubine murmured to herself, unable to believe that her beloved son would say such a thing to her.
After sitting on the ground for a long while, a cruel smile appeared on the concubine's ferocious face.
This Meng Qingluan is definitely an unexpected turn of events!
She's a menace; I can't let her stay easily.
"Come in and investigate her background and family members."
"yes."
"..."
Meng Qingluan was dragged back to her room by Shen Yan. As soon as they entered the room, Shen Yan pressed her down into a chair.
He pressed his hands on her shoulders, his gaze fixed on her face, examining it closely, not daring to blink, for fear of missing the wounds on Meng Qingluan's face.
Meng Qingluan raised her head, deciding to let him see as much as he wanted.
Shen Yan didn't see the marks on her face, and hurriedly lifted her hand, holding it up to his eyes to examine it closely.
Meng Qingluan withdrew her hand. "I'm fine. Don't look anymore. My arm is getting sore from holding it up."
Shen Yan knelt down in front of her, took her hand in his, and kissed it.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being late and making you suffer so much alone."
Meng Qingluan thought about it carefully. Did she feel wronged? It didn't seem so; she actually felt quite pleased.
It feels like it can hold green tea, which seems pretty good.
Meng Qingluan placed her hand in his palm, frowning in displeasure.
"My hands hurt, my face hurts, and my face feels numb." Meng Qingluan pointed to her cheek and showed it to him. "Look, do you know why it's not swollen? Because it was already swollen from being hit, and then she flattened it."
Shen Yan knew Meng Qingluan was pretending, but her heart still felt uncontrollably throbbing and astringent.
Right under his nose, she was wronged again.
It's all because of him.
With tears welling in her eyes and a look of guilt, Shen Yan pressed her face against Meng Qingluan's ingratiatingly.
Meng Qingluan caught a glimpse of the wound on his lip out of the corner of her eye. Just as she was about to apply medicine to it, she suddenly felt a wet sensation on her cheek.
Eyes wide open.
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