The Hidden Beauty

Chapter 42 His heart can be punished
“Don’t trust those you employ, and ignore those you doubt.”

Lu Zheng chewed on this sentence and glanced at Meng Tingzhou's face: "Brother, what you told me before, I really think it's risky. But because of what my sister-in-law said, I decided to give it a try."

Meng Tingzhou glanced at him coldly and said, "No regrets in making a move. Think carefully about it."

Lu Zheng held Lu Jin's hand tighter: "Things are different now, I should think long-term."

Meng Tingzhou sneered: "Pretentious!"

The carriage first stopped at the gate of the Governor's Mansion and then went to the Lu Mansion.

Meng Tingzhou and Jiang Shiwan walked side by side. The moonlight shone down, casting two shadows, one high and one low, on the ground.

Meng Tingzhou held the lantern in his left hand. Jiang Shiwan stumbled a bit, so he took her hand and walked away: "Although we got through today safely, it was still a bit risky after all."

"Leaving aside the Duke's Mansion, the eldest princess is the emperor's biological sister after all. If something goes wrong, it will be a big deal." He seemed unhappy. "When did you tell Song Huaizhi?"

In the darkness, Jiang Shiwan sighed, "Except Lu Jin, I didn't tell anyone in advance."

Meng Tingzhou paused: "So, Song Huaizhi also found out about it at the last minute?"

"When I rushed there after hearing the news, I just asked him to bring someone back to the Governor's Mansion."

"The last time you were drugged, it almost caused a disaster. You should know that the princess doesn't like you to be too close to Song Huaizhi."

Since Song Huaizhi came to Beijing, she has been inseparable from him several times. This made Meng Tingzhou very unhappy, but he could do nothing about this woman.

"I just paid back the princess for the drugging she did last time." She spoke slowly, "Everyone must pay the price for what they have done."

"We ordinary people should be like this, and emperors and princesses who are the best among humans should be like this even more."

Thinking about the day she was drugged, she found it hard to imagine what she would have gone through if the person she met hadn't been Song Huaizhi.

Meng Tingzhou seemed to sense her anger, clenched his hands, and whispered: "But in the end, the benefits did not go to outsiders, which is a blessing in disguise."

Ever since the two of them had a falling out over Jiang Shinian's matter, she had never been nice to him again. The joy of that day lingered in his mind for a long time.

Jiang Shiwan was neither angry nor annoyed, as if what he said had nothing to do with him.

Meng Tingzhou stopped smiling and gradually became depressed.

When he reached the bedroom door, he heard Ah You crying. Jiang Shiwan pulled his hand away and walked in quicken his pace.

The maid helped her wash her hands, and after she wiped them clean, she couldn't wait to hold the child in her arms: "Ayou, be good."

Then she gave him a kiss on the face.

Seeing how much she cherished the child, the nurse was naturally happy: "In the evening, the little prince began to whimper, but now he is quiet immediately when Madam holds him in her arms. It seems that he misses Madam."

After sending the maid away, Jiang Shiwan turned around and held the child in his arms, starting to satisfy his appetite.

"Ayou, mother misses you too."

When the maid saw Meng Tingzhou was about to speak and salute, he raised his hand to stop her.

Looking at her back, an imperceptible bitterness flashed across his eyes.

Fortunately, there is Ayou between them, otherwise, she would rather die than escape from here.

Ayou, Ayou, I hope your existence can make your mother forgive me soon.

The next morning, everyone saw Shen Bian walking in front, followed by Shen Yunqi who was kneeling behind him. The two of them knelt all the way from Dongxi Gate to the court.

Before the emperor came to court, he had heard about the princess's stay at the Duke's Mansion, and had even prepared a decree to demote her, but he had not expected Shen Bian to come so early to apologize. The commotion was so big that it must have taken a lot of thought.

After the court session, the emperor left Meng Tingzhou alone and said, "I heard that you were also at the Duke's Mansion last night. You should know that the princess was frightened."

Meng Ting just didn't comment: "Mr. Shen seemed drunk last night and disturbed the princess. Fortunately, Commander Song was there, which made the princess feel much more at ease."

"Jinxi and I were born from the same father and mother, and the relationship between us is deep. She previously hinted from the Queen that she intends to summon Song Huaizhi to be her husband. What do you think, my dear?"

At that moment, Meng Tingzhou understood why the emperor left him alone.

He wanted to know how he viewed his strong rival Song Huaizhi. Did he agree with him becoming a royal consort and losing his power, or something else?
Meng Tingzhou looked calm and bowed with both hands: "The princess is interested in Commander Song, it can be said that she is not attentive, but..."

"Just what..." "It's just that Commander Song has great strategies, but I'm afraid that he won't be able to use his talents as a royal consort."

The emperor had not expected him to analyze Song Huaizhi so bluntly, and was slightly surprised: "My dear, do you agree that Song Huaizhi should continue to pursue a career in government?"

Meng Tingzhou bowed his head humbly: "The princess is a daughter of a rich family, and your majesty is naturally cautious about her marriage. Commander Song is a talented young man, and with such a talent, your majesty will be like a tiger with wings. I dare not make any rash remarks on the choice of the one or the other, and I hope your majesty will make the final decision."

The emperor looked at him deeply for a long time. The young man who was once full of vigor and vitality eventually became a shrewd and powerful official.

He sighed slightly, "When I first ascended the throne, the enemy invaded the border repeatedly. I used all my strength to support you in fighting the enemy. Now the border is temporarily peaceful, but there are constant disasters inside. The children of the noble families are not worth using. I am attacked from all sides. It is very difficult to sit on the throne."

"My dear, I need more talented people like you around me, such as Song Huaizhi and Wang Su. I also need to rectify the chaos of aristocratic families banding together and plundering the people."

Meng Tingzhou probably guessed the emperor's decision, and immediately bowed his head: "I swear to be loyal to the emperor until death, and I will obey your orders."

The emperor turned his back and seemed to have made a big decision: "You go back."

Meng Tingzhou looked up at the emperor, feeling a myriad of emotions in his heart.

Once upon a time, the young emperor and the fledgling soldiers all had a heart to defend their country and support the country, but as time went by, suspicion and vigilance created a chasm between them.

Never go back.

The emperor issued an edict, ordering Princess Jinxi to choose an auspicious day to marry Shen Yunqi, and Shen Yunqi became the emperor's consort.

The whole city was shocked.

The eldest princess refused to accept the order and rushed into the Jiade Hall to ask to see the emperor regardless of the impoliteness, but was stopped outside the hall.

The eunuch in charge felt distressed when he saw the princess kneeling there, but he still passed on the emperor's order: "The emperor has a severe headache and will not see anyone. The emperor said that after the princess gets married, she can bring her husband to the palace to express her gratitude."

The princess stared at the tightly closed palace door and stood up slowly: "For the sake of your kingdom, you have forced me into a desperate situation, brother, you are so cruel, aren't you afraid of God's punishment!"

"Princess, be careful with your words!"

The eldest princess took a few steps back and then ran away suddenly.

Under the rain, the princess was soaked. She stood in front of Song Huaizhi, who was wearing armor. He looked up at her, and her eyelashes were wet: "Will you be my consort?"

Song Huaizhi pursed his lips tightly and looked at this gifted girl.

In her eyes, this might be the most humble moment in her life.

But he and Jiang Shiwan were not even qualified to talk about love.

In order to survive, they can only keep moving forward, regardless of the consequences.

(End of this chapter)