If his sincerity could be trusted, that would truly be wonderful. He could hardly imagine that the Emperor, who was presently inquiring after the Third Prince with concern, still had no idea that his youngest son was kneeling in punishment back at the Prime Minister’s estate. Not only was he kneeling, but he had also taken a beating.
A sudden wave of a guilty conscience welled up, carrying with it a lingering sense of fear, yet he still had to put on a calm front on the surface.
Mei Jinshu expressed his concern: “If Your Majesty misses the Third Prince, this subject can bring him into the palace in the capacity of the Prime Minister’s adopted son to relieve your longing.”
“Your Majesty.” The Empress appeared outside the hall at some unknown point, her expression emotional. She rushed forward to half-kneel by Meng Junxuan’s side, grabbing his arm and pleading, “Please let this concubine see the Third Prince, even if only in the capacity of an outsider.”
“After all, he is the flesh and blood I carried in my womb for ten months, the youngest son I gave birth to with my life on the line. All these years, the Crown Prince has firmly held the position of the East Palace, receiving affection at your and my knees, but…”
Meng Junxuan interrupted her, his gaze carrying a chilling coldness as he said, “Empress, do not do things that easily expose flaws and needlessly multiply your worries. When the twins were born, it was announced to the outside world that the Empress gave birth to a single child. You have endured for so many years, so do not throw a tantrum.”
Throw a tantrum. Jiang Fu opened her eyes wide, filled with shock and heartbreak.
The pain of separation from her flesh and blood for all these years had been glossed over so lightly by a single phrase of throwing a tantrum. Even after giving birth to the legitimate heir, it still could not change a man’s cold indifference toward her!
Unable to change it, she could only stand up with resolute determination, put away her unheeded pitifulness, took two steps back, and said, “What Your Majesty says is true. This concubine and Your Majesty have only one son. Presumably, this concubine was muddled by wine, and I will take my leave first.”
The maid supported the Empress as she left, and the hall grew dead silent, to the point where even a pin dropping could be heard.
Mei Jinshu didn’t even dare to draw a full breath, terrified of having to face questions that were difficult to answer. Knowing that everything in the Emperor’s heart was centered on Meng Xianxue, he desperately wanted to dig a hole and hide inside it.
Meng Junxuan spoke up: “Minister Mei, do you also find the Third Prince pitiful?”
“This subject.” Mei Jinshu was at a loss for words, weighing whether he should put in a few kind words for Meng Xueran, but then dismissing the thought and replying, “This subject cannot empathize, but the Third Prince is living very well at the Prime Minister’s estate. Perhaps everything has its predestined arrangement in the dark.”
Meng Junxuan said, “This is already the best arrangement. Thank you for your hard work, Minister Mei.”
Mei Jinshu said, “This subject will certainly not fail Your Majesty’s trust.”
Walking out of the Imperial Study, his hanging heart finally settled. Now he just needed to bid farewell to Meng Changqi, and he could leave the palace.
Looking up at the sky, the sun had already passed noon. Remembering that there was still a stubborn mule kneeling in punishment back at the Prime Minister’s estate, a wave of irritation rose in his heart as he hurried his steps toward the East Palace.
To be honest, making Meng Xueran kneel in punishment was indeed because he was angry. But since he had already left the estate, nobody would know if the boy cut corners and knelt a little less. Kneeling on bluestone slabs for an entire day was more than most people could endure, and right now it depended entirely on how Meng Xueran handled it.
The East Palace remained exceedingly lively. After the Emperor and Empress left their seats, the palace maids successively released paper kites to pray for blessings for the Crown Prince, competing to see whose kite could fly higher.
“Prime Minister!” Meng Changqi held a paper kite in his hand, handed the string spooling handle to him, and said joyfully, “Would you fly a kite for lonely me?”
Mei Jinshu said, “Very well, Your Highness.”
Meng Changqi lifted the kite and ran forward. The moment he released his grip, Mei Jinshu pulled hard on the string, and the kite soared into the wind.
“Ah, it’s flying so high!”
“As long as Your Highness likes it.”
The late autumn wind carried a wisp of chill. Mei Jinshu was dressed rather thinly, and with the sun setting, it was inevitably somewhat cold. He could have endured it until the end of the birthday banquet, but a thought suddenly crossing his mind prompted him to deliberately fake a sneeze, lightly rubbing the bridge of his nose to conceal it.
“Are you cold?” Meng Changqi asked with concern. “Shangli, fetch the cloud-patterned heavy cloak sent from the neighboring kingdom.”
Mei Jinshu politely declined: “How could this subject wear Your Highness’s personal items? This action is improper.”
Meng Changqi said, “It is too long, and I have no use for it right now anyway. Bestowing it upon the Prime Minister is just like borrowing flowers to present to Buddha. Besides, if you truly catch a cold because of attending the East Palace birthday banquet, I would feel terribly guilty in my heart.”
Shangli retrieved the snow-white, thick, windproof cloud-patterned heavy cloak from the hall and helped Mei Jinshu tie it on. It was embroidered with lifelike auspicious clouds in silver thread, featuring soft, fluffy rabbit fur at the collar, making it exceptionally warm.
“Mn, it fits surprisingly well.” Meng Changqi inquired, “I wonder when I’ll be able to eat food from outside the palace again? Injing likes it very much, too.”
Mei Jinshu said, “What does Her Royal Highness the Princess like?”
Meng Changqi said, “Tanghulu.”
Mei Jinshu let out a soft chuckle and said, “I will definitely bring some next time.”
Suddenly, an arm slung over his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw it was a wine-drunken Wu Jingfei. Mei Jinshu dodged and brushed his hand away; even a light touch made him feel as though his own existence had been dirtied.
Meng Shaolin also walked over and asked curiously, “Huh? How come we don’t see that ugly creature from the Prime Minister’s estate?”
Wu Jingfei looked him up and down, wearing a leering expression as he teased, “Lord Mei looks exceptionally pleasing to the eye today. Usually so stern and unsmiling, but if you actually look closely…”
“General Wu, please mind your words inside the East Palace!” Mei Jinshu gave him a sidelong glance, then turned to Meng Changqi and said, “Your Highness, there are matters at my estate, so I must take my leave first.”
Seeing that Wu Jingfei was deliberately looking for trouble, Meng Changqi immediately agreed: “Go carefully.”
“Hey? Why are you leaving?” Wu Jingfei still wanted to chase after him, but was called back by Meng Changqi: “General Wu, I hear you enjoy fine wine. I have a jar of exceptional liquor to gift you.”
“Er.” Wu Jingfei halted his steps, a flash of reluctance crossing his face as he bowed in thanks, “This subject thanks His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
Meng Changqi said, “No need for formalities. Finish drinking before you leave.”
Prime Minister’s Estate
Meng Xueran was kneeling on the ground, his double knees aching and swollen, his complexion deathly pale. He was already swaying on his feet, yet seeing that night was falling, he still stubbornly refused to get up.
The food delivered to him had grown cold and been reheated again and again, untouched. The servants couldn’t persuade him, so they could only keep bringing new portions.
Night gradually enshrouded the grounds. Kneeling until dark was something he had clearly accomplished, yet Meng Xueran still had not waited for Mei Jinshu to return. A sharp soreness pierced his heart, and he stubbornly continued waiting in place.
Was Meng Changqi really that important? Just how much affection did he warrant to be treated with such deep devotion? He made humble guesses in his heart, silently praying that Mei Jinshu could show a little bit of favoritism and spare a fraction more attention for him.
Seeing his lips chapped and his complexion haggard, Mei Eleven brought over a cup of hot tea, placed it before him, and persuaded him: “Night has fallen, and the time is up. Get up quickly, Young Master.”
“No.” Meng Xueran shook his head. No one knew what he was clinging to so stubbornly.
Mei Eleven said, “My lord went to the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet and has not yet returned. Presumably, he has been delayed by trivial matters at the East Palace, or perhaps he is still enjoying himself. If something were to happen to you, this subordinate would have no way to answer to my lord.”
Meng Xueran said, “It is fine. You can go back first.”
Mei Eleven said, “It grows cold at night; you will fall ill!”
“I am fine. I can definitely hold on!” Suddenly, Meng Xueran’s vision drifted and his head grew dizzy. Pressing his hands against the ground, he dry-heaved; he had starved for too long and now felt an irrepressible urge to vomit.
Mei Jinshu carried the faint scent of wine. When he stepped down from the carriage, his cheeks held a slight flush, and the breeze made him much more sober.
The servants were already waiting at the entrance. They hurried over to the carriage and said in a panic, “My lord, why did you only return now! The Young Master has been kneeling until this very moment, and no matter who tries to persuade him, he refuses to get up.”
“What?” Mei Jinshu’s heart tightened as he strode into the estate. “This living ancestor was purely sent to plague me.”
A blurry reflection appeared in Meng Xueran’s vision, and his body listed to the side, about to collapse. Suddenly, he was caught in a familiar, warm embrace. The refreshing scent of cold plum blossoms wafted into his lungs. His hands grabbed wildly in the air, his fingertips scraping across Mei Jinshu’s cheek and pulling off his purple brow-center pendant.
Mei Jinshu asked, “Why didn’t anyone send the Young Master back to the Plum Quarters?”
Mei Eleven said, “This subordinate truly could not persuade him. Please punish me, my lord.”
Mei Jinshu said, “If you couldn’t persuade him, you should have tied him back! If he won’t eat, pour it straight down his throat. Do I have to teach you everything?”
“Ahem.” Ye Ting murmured softly into his ear, “Master, this is the Prime Minister’s estate, not the Ministry of Punishments.”
“Never mind. Have the kitchens boil a bowl of light congee.” Mei Jinshu picked up the unconscious Meng Xueran, walked toward the Plum Quarters, and ordered charcoal fires to be lit for warmth, terrified that he might fall ill.
Placing him onto the bed, Mei Jinshu casually reached out to pull down his trousers, wanting to see if his kneecaps were completely ruined.
Meng Xueran instinctively grabbed his waistband and shook his head, saying, “Don’t.” He felt extremely ashamed, his voice hoarse and resistant.
Mei Jinshu said, “Now you know shame? Why did you commit wrongdoing in the first place?”
“I was too impulsive and harbored jealousy.” Meng Xueran faced his own mistake directly; in truth, he was simply begging for forgiveness all along. “I shouldn’t have destroyed that sword. From now on, I will never destroy anything given to Meng Changqi again.”
“I know I was wrong.”
“Actually, I figured it out long ago. Whatever Meng Changqi has, I might not have. But whatever I have, you will definitely share some with Meng Changqi.”
“Am I right?”
“Tch, so sour.” Taking advantage of the fact that the boy wasn’t paying attention, Mei Jinshu forcefully yanked his trousers down. Seeing that his knees were swollen and purple-black bruising had already spread up his legs, he thought to himself that this fellow was truly a peerless stubborn mule. If he hadn’t returned for the whole night, the boy probably would have knelt himself to death right there on the spot.
The estate had miraculous medicinal balms left behind by Meng Xianxue, blood-circulating and bruise-dissolving remedies concocted by a divine doctor who had accompanied them in the military camp for a long time, along with various other elixirs. He instructed Ye Ting to fetch the ointment and personally applied the medicine for him.
Meng Xueran was moved beyond words. The moment he opened his mouth to speak, a sharp pain made him gasp audibly for breath.
Mei Jinshu pressed firmly against his legs with his fingertips, confirming several times over. Seeing his pained expression, he let out a sigh of relief and said, “As long as it hurts, there is still saving him.”
“Thank you, adoptive father, for applying my medicine.” As the ointment generated warmth, the agonizing pain in Meng Xueran’s kneecaps eased slightly. Leaning limply against the soft pillows, he felt not a single shred of regret.
Sure enough, he still cares about me. Adoptive father is just all bark and no bite; he won’t truly leave me to fend for myself.
A steaming bowl of congee was brought in. Mei Eleven offered it forward and said, “Young Master, eat a little.”
Mei Jinshu picked up the bowl, shoved it straight into Meng Xueran’s hands, and said with a huff, “Who knows who was just about to faint from hunger? Eat up quickly, and don’t let Eleven’s care go to waste.”
“Yes.” Meng Xueran held the bowl and obediently ate.
By the time the commotion settled late into the night, Mei Jinshu’s eyes were bloodshot. Standing up, he said wearily, “Get some proper rest.”
Meng Xueran tugged at the corner of his cloak and whispered, “Adoptive father, can you stay and accompany me tonight?”