Chapter 148

Chapter 148: You Didn’t Mind, Right?

After everyone received the decree and bowed, the Palace Eunuch left.

Meng Yang spoke right away, full of longing and envy: “The Imperial House hunting meet must be grand and magnificent. It is a pity that with my status, even if I want to go and watch, I probably cannot…”

Meng Yang lowered her eyes and forced a smile: “Forget it. I will stay in the residence and serve Mother.”

Qi Shu Xian heard that and held her hand with guilt, but he still did not say what Meng Yang wanted to hear.

Sheng Zhi Wan had no interest in watching the two of them cling together. Sheng Zhi Wan turned and left.

Qi Shu Xian frowned at Sheng Zhi Wan’s back. After a moment, Qi Shu Xian actually chased after her.

“Zhi Wan…” Qi Shu Xian stepped in front of Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan had not spoken yet when Qi Shu Xian said, “I heard there is a large Plum Grove right beside the Hunting Lodge. It is blooming at its peak. When the time comes, I will take you to see it. How about it?”

The two of them looked at each other, and time went quiet.

Sheng Zhi Wan stared at the person in front of her and, in a daze, recalled the first time she met Qi Shu Xian long ago. Back then, the boy had been bold and bright, smiling with reckless pride.

Qi Shu Xian was still Qi Shu Xian, yet Qi Shu Xian had long stopped being that person.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s love had also been worn down in her previous life, little by little, by cold neglect and grinding disappointment.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not say yes, and she did not say no. Sheng Zhi Wan only turned her head and looked at Meng Yang, who was biting her lip as she watched.

“Concubine Meng also wants to watch the hunt?” Sheng Zhi Wan asked.

Meng Yang froze. “Princess, please do not misunderstand. I only envy that Princess can witness such a scene with the Heir Apparent.”

Meng Yang really did want to go. Meng Yang had even planned to find a chance tonight to beg Qi Shu Xian to take her along.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled. “Since you envy it, then tomorrow we will go together.”

“Zhi Wan, what nonsense are you saying?” Qi Shu Xian frowned. “That kind of occasion is not somewhere she can go with her status.”

Meng Yang’s face went pale at once.

Sheng Zhi Wan only gave a soft laugh and said nothing. Sheng Zhi Wan turned and left.

In her previous life, Qi Shu Xian had also started like this, telling Sheng Zhi Wan that he would take only her. But the next day, Qi Shu Xian still brought Meng Yang along.

Later, because Meng Yang had suffered terrible stomach pain at the travel palace, Qi Shu Xian had even sent one of Sheng Zhi Wan’s maids to serve Meng Yang.

So Sheng Zhi Wan did not need to worry that, once they reached the travel palace, Qi Shu Xian would cling to Sheng Zhi Wan. Meng Yang would definitely find a reason to persuade Qi Shu Xian to go with her.

That way, Sheng Zhi Wan could relax and plan her own matters in peace.

That night, Sheng Zhi Wan rarely had An Zhi bring out a small flask of flower brewed wine. Sheng Zhi Wan sat by the stove, taking a sip while gazing at the night sky outside the window.

An Zhi and Ting Lan busied themselves nearby, preparing for the trip.

Clothes, jewelry, the oils and creams for skin and hair, a small hand warmer, and even the books Sheng Zhi Wan liked to stare at in a daze – all of it had to be packed.

Sheng Zhi Wan lazily propped her chin on her hand. Through the crack in the window, Sheng Zhi Wan swept her eyes across the vast, distant sky beyond it.

At last… in this life, Sheng Zhi Wan would no longer be trapped inside that tiny courtyard.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled, leaned to the side, and fell asleep.

The next morning, when the sky was only faintly bright, An Zhi woke Sheng Zhi Wan to wash and dress.

Sheng Zhi Wan kept her eyes half closed as An Zhi cleaned her face and combed her hair.

An elaborate bun was pinned into place, and then An Zhi added gorgeous ornaments and hairpins at the end.

Sheng Zhi Wan only felt that her head was heavy.

But there was no choice. This time, Sheng Zhi Wan did not only represent the Duke residence. Sheng Zhi Wan also represented the dignity of the Princess of Sheng Kingdom, so no amount of lavish dressing could be called too much.

At the same time, inside Wei Yang Courtyard, Meng Yang also sat before the mirror and dressed with care.

After last night’s stubborn arguments, Meng Yang finally brought up the excuse that she wanted to use this chance to discuss a new business deal with the Third Prince. Only then did Qi Shu Xian agree to take Meng Yang to the travel palace.

No matter what, once they reached the travel palace, Meng Yang would not let Sheng Zhi Wan find a chance to stay with Qi Shu Xian.

If it came down to it, Meng Yang could always use the child in her belly as an excuse.

Meng Yang was slender, and it was winter. A thick cloak hid her small frame, and if no one looked closely, they would not notice she was pregnant.

After finishing her careful makeup, Meng Yang turned around.

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes lit up.

Beauty needed to be pampered. Meng Yang’s natural features were not bad, but her background had been poor, and her skin had been rough before. Now that she had been nurtured for over half a year, her pale pink dress, paired with a Grey Fox vest, made her look gentle and delicate.

But that brightness became meaningless the moment Meng Yang saw Sheng Zhi Wan.

Today, Sheng Zhi Wan dressed with extra ceremony. Her splendid gown and cloak made Sheng Zhi Wan look like a goddess, stately and noble, stunning as if born that way.

Standing beside Sheng Zhi Wan, Meng Yang looked like she belonged as a maid.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze circled over Meng Yang once, and Sheng Zhi Wan raised a brow.

Qi Shu Xian hurried to explain, “She has business to discuss with the Third Prince, so I brought her along.”

“It does not matter,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, her mood untouched.

As an imperial clan Princess, Sheng Zhi Wan could bring two maids to attend her closely on this trip.

Liu Shang knew martial arts, so Liu Shang had to come.

The other maid had originally been Ting Lan, but Ting Lan felt she was not as careful and reliable as An Zhi, so Ting Lan yielded the opportunity to An Zhi in the end.

Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang were not members of the imperial clan, so they could not bring attendants. Because of that, the Steward only prepared three carriages.

One carriage was for Duke Qi.

The other two were for the three of them: Qi Shu Xian, Sheng Zhi Wan, and Meng Yang.

As for the maids, the Steward did not consider them at all.

By rights, on a day like this, Qi Shu Xian should have shared a carriage with Sheng Zhi Wan. But Sheng Zhi Wan glanced at Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang, then directly brought Liu Shang and An Zhi into the carriage.

Qi Shu Xian frowned.

Duke Qi also arrived with Madam Tao, and Qi Shu Xian’s expression sank at once.

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted the curtain.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Duke Qi supporting Madam Tao, then looked at Qi Shu Xian supporting Meng Yang, and Sheng Zhi Wan could not help letting out a soft laugh.

When the group set out, they gathered with the families of other officials at the palace gate. After that, the Northern Di envoy procession came out.

Through the crowd, Sheng Zhi Wan saw the Crown Prince of Northern Di, who had died young in her previous life.

In the end, they had to wait until Emperor Chong Sheng and the Imperial Consort’s procession came out. Only after they paid their respects could they depart for the travel palace.

The procession was vast and mighty, from the Emperor to the court officials to several thousand guards in attendance. That was only what was visible, not to mention what was hidden in the shadows.

By the time they reached the travel palace, dusk had already fallen.

The attendants arranged the Duke residence in an outer side courtyard. The courtyard was not large, with two main rooms and two small side rooms.

Duke Qi and Madam Tao naturally took one main room.

The other main room belonged to Sheng Zhi Wan, and as a Princess, Sheng Zhi Wan took it without question.

An Zhi and Ting Lan carried Sheng Zhi Wan’s things down from the carriage one by one.

Qi Shu Xian wanted to step forward to help, but then a startled cry came from behind him.

Qi Shu Xian turned around and saw that Meng Yang had dropped her luggage onto the ground. Meng Yang bit her lip and crouched to pick it up herself, looking pitiful.

Qi Shu Xian felt an uncomfortable twist in his chest. Qi Shu Xian personally picked it up for Meng Yang and carried it into one of the small side rooms.

Meng Yang looked at Sheng Zhi Wan with a guilty expression. “I am heavy now. Princess will not mind… that the Heir Apparent takes a bit more care of me, will Princess?”

Sheng Zhi Wan found it funny. “Of course not.”

Sheng Zhi Wan was about to leave him anyway. Why would Sheng Zhi Wan care what Qi Shu Xian did for someone else?