Consort Wang hadn’t expected this girl to be so sensible. She smiled, then removed the bracelet from her own wrist and slipped it onto Meng Yanzhi’s, saying gently, “If I say you are, then you are. Quickly taste these dishes—they’re all prepared by the Imperial Kitchen, not something you can eat ordinarily.”
Meng Yanzhi instinctively glanced toward Meng’s Mother and indeed saw her face had turned quite unpleasant.
“Madam Meng, how is it that I’m only meeting the Eldest Young Lady of the Meng family for the first time, even though she’s been in the capital for so long?” Consort Wang raised an eyebrow, looking at Meng’s Mother.
Meng’s Mother quickly rose to bow: “Your Highness, please forgive her. This girl was raised in the countryside and doesn’t understand etiquette, so she rarely goes out.”
Doesn’t understand etiquette?
Consort Wang instinctively looked at Meng Yanzhi, who was obediently eating pastries. At this moment, she resembled a little squirrel in the forest, unbearably adorable—how could this be the behavior of someone who doesn’t understand etiquette?
“Since she’s unfamiliar with the capital’s customs, Yu Momo, you shall follow her back and properly teach the Eldest Young Lady.” Consort Wang directly assigned her personal maid to Meng Yanzhi.
Now Meng’s Mother was truly anxious. First, the Crown Prince had given his own maid to Meng Yanzhi, and now the Consort was also giving her own person to Meng Yanzhi—what exactly did this mean?
Could it be that both of them had taken a liking to Meng Yanzhi?
“Your Highness, your gracious favor is understood in this humble subject’s heart, but Yu Momo holds a noble status—I’m afraid it would be an imposition on her.”
Meng’s Mother kowtowed heavily.
Hearing this, Consort Wang suddenly withdrew her smile and looked coldly at Meng’s Mother: “Are you saying that the person I’ve chosen is unworthy in your eyes?”
“This subject wouldn’t dare!”
Meng’s Mother hurriedly knelt to beg for forgiveness!
“His Majesty has arrived!”
The eunuch outside suddenly announced, and immediately after, Xiao Xingyuan in bright yellow robes abruptly entered everyone’s sight.
Everyone rose and knelt on the ground, performing proper obeisance.
“Your Majesty!”
Meng Yanzhi was especially nervous, hurriedly kneeling on the ground with her head lowered, not even daring to look up.
Xiao Xingyuan walked to Consort Wang’s side, wrapped his arm around her waist, smiled faintly, and said lightly, “What puts Consort in such good spirits today?”
“Your Majesty, the flowers in the Imperial Garden are blooming splendidly. Your subject thought it would be a pity to enjoy them alone, so I invited the officials’ wives to come admire them.”
“Your Majesty, look at that pot of Twin Lotus Peony—how beautiful it is!”
Consort Wang pointed to the flowerpot before her and smiled.
Xiao Xingyuan nodded, then directly sat in the seat Consort Wang had just occupied: “All rise!”
Everyone stood and returned to their seats.
Meng Yanzhi quietly stepped back, yielding her position.
Xiao Xingyuan glanced at Meng Yanzhi, somewhat curious: “Who is this?”
“Your Majesty, this is the Crown Prince’s savior, the Eldest Young Lady of the Meng family, Meng Yanzhi.” Consort Wang took Meng Yanzhi’s hand, smiling cheerfully at Xiao Xingyuan with a guileless expression.
In truth, she had always been carefree by nature. In all her years in the palace, her greatest expenditure had been on food and drink.
Xiao Xingyuan’s gaze fell upon Meng Yanzhi as he spoke coolly: “The Eldest Young Lady of the Meng family, the Crown Prince’s savior? Lift your head—let me have a good look.”
Meng Yanzhi quickly knelt on the ground and performed a proper bow.
“This humble daughter, Meng Yanzhi of the Meng family, pays respects to Your Majesty!”
Xiao Xingyuan stared directly at the top of her head and spoke coldly: “Raise your head. Let this emperor have a good look at you.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Yanzhi felt the voice sounded strangely familiar. Hesitantly, she slowly lifted her head. When her eyes met Xiao Xingyuan’s indifferent gaze, her expression immediately changed—this… this was him!
That night—it had been him!
Meng Yanzhi was so shocked that she collapsed onto the ground.
“What? Why are you so flustered?”
Xiao Xingyuan found her reaction somewhat amusing.
“This humble daughter has never before beheld the imperial countenance and was truly frightened. I apologize for my discourtesy.”
Meng Yanzhi hurriedly knelt properly and responded with utmost decorum.
Oh?
Xiao Xingyuan had expected Meng Yanzhi to appear wronged, weeping and sniveling, begging for recognition.
But he never imagined she would completely deny any connection?
Don’t panic, don’t panic!
Since he’s the emperor, that’s actually perfect—he definitely wouldn’t remember her!
Meng Yanzhi repeatedly comforted herself internally, desperately pinching her hand to prevent herself from revealing any clues in front of Xiao Xingyuan.
Seeing Meng Yanzhi’s anxious state, Xiao Ce quickly stepped forward and knelt before Xiao Xingyuan: “Father, the eldest Miss Meng has never entered the palace before. I beg Your Majesty not to hold it against her.”
“Oh?”
Xiao Xingyuan glanced at Xiao Ce, smiled slightly, then waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough, everyone may rise.”
“Since you’re all here to admire the flowers, you may continue to do so properly.”
With a sweep of Xiao Xingyuan’s hand, the entire crowd breathed a sigh of relief.
Meng Yanzhi’s legs were so weak that despite great effort, she couldn’t stand up.
Noticing this, Xiao Ce quickly grasped Meng Yanzhi’s arm and lifted her upright, both amused and exasperated: “Why are you so timid?”
“I was scared,” Meng Yanzhi whispered pitifully to Xiao Ce before losing her balance and collapsing into his arms.
Xiao Ce instinctively supported her waist and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Meanwhile, Consort Wang tugged at Xiao Xingyuan’s sleeve and whispered: “Your Majesty’s majesty is truly overwhelming. Look how you’ve frightened this young girl!”
Xiao Xingyuan pinched her cheek, enjoying its plump texture.
“Then why aren’t you afraid of this emperor?”
Consort Wang blushed and lightly swatted his arm: “Your Majesty!”
Observing their interaction, Meng Yanzhi relaxed slightly. Fearful of being recognized, she obediently withdrew and quietly walked to Meng’s Mother’s side to sit down.
“Didn’t I instruct you at home? Why are you so ill-mannered?” Meng’s Mother frowned displeasedly, staring coldly at her: “I think you’re deliberately trying to show off.”
Consort Wang ate a grape, then raised an eyebrow at the other noble ladies and said cheerfully: “This concubine has long heard that the young ladies of the capital are accomplished in lute, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Why don’t we all enjoy some entertainment?”
“Miss Meng’s lute skills are truly exceptional!” Miss Lin suddenly spoke up.
All eyes turned toward Meng Yanzhi.
The one with exceptional lute skills wasn’t Meng Yanzhi, but Meng Anxian.
Miss Lin’s sudden remark was precisely meant to embarrass Meng Yanzhi—what right did this country bumpkin have to gain the emperor’s attention?
Hearing this, Xiao Ce immediately looked at Meng Yanzhi: “Young Lady, you can play the qin?”
Meng Yanzhi knew very well that if she said she couldn’t, she would be disgracing the Meng family. From then on, she would probably never be able to hold her head up among these noble ladies. Miss Lin was clearly doing this on purpose.