Inside the palace.
After Nie Xuanlie visited the emperor, he stepped out of the Xuanzheng Hall. Because the emperor's physical condition was not optimistic, but he was afraid that the kings of various places and some courtiers would be rebellious, Xie Chongming secretly instructed Nie Xuanlie to strictly control the court. He came out now, ready to go home. Passing through the nine-curved corridor in the palace, I saw Xie Yaohua standing there slim, leaning sideways and talking to the palace staff.
"Princess Yongning." Nie Xuanlie bowed in a light tone.
Xie Yaohua stopped abruptly and looked back to see Nie Xuanlie, who had been described as thin for many days because he was worried about Meng Qiqi, and his already handsome and resolute face was even thinner, and his outline was even more obvious. Xie Yaohua walked over and held his stove in his palm.
"Looking like you are haggard, why haven't you had a good rest?"
Nie Xuanjie pursed his lips and said nothing.
Xie Yaohua had two snow-colored beaded hairpins sloping up in her bun, and the rolled up temples were embedded with sparkling purple beads. She lowered her head slightly to block the strange color in her eyes, and her tone was a bit regretful: "I know that Laiyi suddenly died, and at such a good age, no one can bear it. But when it comes to grief , Is it the Marquis Changxin who is the most uncomfortable? Don't be sad about it anymore. If we didn't hide it from the emperor, I'm afraid he would be even more sad."
Her words deliberately pointed out the relationship between Sheng Jiayan and Meng Qiqi, and Nie Xuanlie frowned slightly and solemnly said: "The dead are the most important, and the ministers will not discuss it anymore. The princess can now enter the Xuanzheng Hall, and the emperor is Drink medicinal food."
Xie Yaohua didn't leave, she touched the pale crimson gardenia petals on the cuffs of her clothes, her face was slightly embarrassed: "In another month, it will be the day when you and I get married, Xuan Lie, I... I'll call this for now. You say it. If you feel embarrassed or unwilling, I can now tell the emperor to let him take his life back. I don't like being difficult, so I can understand you. "
Nie Xuanlie's words that he wanted to refuse marriage poured into his mouth, and when he looked up, he saw Xie Yaohua's face turned up, and the tip of his nose was flushed red. He must have been waiting for him here for a long time. Her thin body was wrapped in a large Chinese dress, and the bleak winter scene in the garden was reflected in the back, making her look pitiful. It's not that he doesn't know Xie Yaohua's thoughts about him. When the emperor was seriously ill, he issued such an imperial decree to grant marriage, and it was nothing more than entrusting Xie Yaohua to someone trusted by the emperor. He, Nie Xuanlie, was loyal to the emperor and humbled. At this time, it was not his style to resist the decree and disrespect. What's more, Nie Xuanlie didn't say anything polite for bullying Xie Yaohua, a weak woman.
So he could only tighten his face, and then said: "Thank you princess for your understanding, but the imperial decree has been issued, Xuan Lie must be responsible to the end."
Nie Xuanlie cupped his hands, said that there was still something important in the mansion, and left first.
Xie Yaohua looked at his walking back and slowly exhaled.
The palace maid bowed her body and asked, "In a few days, it will be Marquis Changxin's birthday banquet. Will the princess be there? Or it's better for the servants to pick out a few gifts to send."
Xie Yaohua raised her eyebrows, her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly: "Laiyi just passed away. Marquis Changxin has such an interest in hosting a banquet? Didn't you hear him get drunk a few days ago?"
The palace maid said yes, and after thinking about it, she said, "Princess Laiyi has passed away, so Marquis Changxin has to make plans for his future, and he can't be unhappy all day long because of a deceased princess? Now Marquis Changxin is powerful, The birthday banquet is a good opportunity for him to take advantage of Luo's henchmen, and he should not miss this good opportunity."
There was no smile in Xie Yaohua's eyes, her eyes were cold, like the big golden hibiscus flower on her temples, sharp but cold.
"Since this is the case, this princess must be present in person, holding a handful of the majesty of the Marquis of Changxin."
…
Meng Eqi was sitting in the room of Jianjiayuan, clasping his hands tightly together, as if he was extremely nervous.
The girl named Yurun thought she was excited, and persuaded her: "You don't have to be so excited, the Marquis of Changxin is not an ordinary person, but I don't think she will treat us well, just check her body regularly, and see you later. The girl in the building will be better."
Meng Eqi was sitting on the mahogany dripping couch, and the feeling in her heart was indescribable. She took a deep breath and exhaled, comforting herself in her heart.
Shouldn't it be Sheng Jiayan himself? Except on the day of the birthday banquet, you may see him from a distance, and maybe you won't meet him at other times. Zui Qinghou couldn't stay in this place anymore. Meng Eqi thought about it in her heart, and when she returned this time, she would find an opportunity to bid farewell to Li Cailuan.
Just when she was immersed in her own thoughts, a maid's voice suddenly came from outside.
"Master Hou, Miss Li is in this room."
"Understood, you all go down." Sheng Jiayan's chilling voice came, and Meng Eqi immediately felt as if she was electrocuted.
Won't! ? Wouldn't it be so coincidental? ! Did he come by himself
Meng Eqi hurriedly grabbed the goose-yellow veil on the table and wrapped it around. Yurun heard the sound outside and was startled, then quickly reacted, and immediately got up and turned to the outer hall in front of the screen.
"Greet the Lord Hou." Yurun's voice.
"Well -" Sheng Jiayan still said coldly: "Go down."
Yurun was a little embarrassed. She glanced at the head and said bravely: "Master Hou, our girl Li's voice has been broken these days. If you want to ask anything, the servants had better be present and help her back. You once."
After she finished, she quickly glanced at Chang Xinhou. But Sheng Jiayan's eyes were as cold as a knife's edge, and Yurun was a little heartbroken at this sight.
Sheng Jiayan's displeased expression gradually climbed to the corners of his eyes and brows. Due to his coercion, Yurun really had no choice but to bless his body: "The servant went out first."
She glanced at the back of the barrier uneasily, bit her lip and went out to close the door.
Meng Qiqi seemed to hear no other sound at this time, but could only hear his heartbeat speeding up with Sheng Jiayan's approaching footsteps.
She tried her best to restrain her trembling, and she also deliberately behaved calmly.
Sheng Jiayan came to the table, sat opposite Meng Qiqi, and looked at Meng Qiqi with his palm resting on his head.
Meng Eqi raised her neck and seemed to be calmly looking at him.
The two were silent for a while.
After a while, Sheng Jiayan knocked on the table and said lazily, "Aren't you going to greet this marquis?"
Meng Qiqi was taken aback. How could she have forgotten about this? Ordinary shepherds should be very afraid and respectful when they see Sheng Jiayan, how could she sit here steadily like her.
She got up hastily, ready to salute. Sheng Jiayan stopped her, and tapped the teapot with his fingertips: "Come here for a cup of tea."
Meng Qiqi stabilized her mind and walked over to pick up the teapot step by step. Chengbi's tea flowed down the spout, and the hot air spread between him and her. Sheng Jiayan's eyes also followed the fog, which seemed extremely hazy. Meng Qiqi was in a trance, and even saw a snicker in his eyes. But after shaking her head again, she still had the indifferent expression of ice and snow, as if it was all her illusion.
Meng Eqi held the teacup in both hands, and lowered her head slowly, waiting for him to take it.
Sheng Jiayan didn't answer, and his eyes glanced at the jade bracelet on her wrist. He stretched out his hand to hold Meng Eqi's wrist, but stopped abruptly, turning his palm to take the cup of hot tea.
Sheng Jiayan took a slow sip before putting it back on the table.
"I hear your voice is broken," he asked.
Meng Qiqi didn't know what his intention was, so he could only slowly nod his head.
"I can't talk anymore, or I can't even sing Qu'er." He got up and walked to the writing desk on the side: "If you can't, then write it down."
Meng Qiqi went over, picked up the wolf and sucked up the ink, ready to write her answer on the rice paper. But the tip of her pen was suspended above the rice paper and suddenly stopped, Meng Eqi lowered her head, her beautiful eyes slightly widened in panic.
Sheng Jiayan knew her handwriting, and her handwriting belonged to Sheng Jiayan's church. As long as she wrote it, wouldn't it be exposed
Meng Qiqi saw Sheng Jiayan squinting his long and narrow eyes.
Nearly missed his way...
So Meng Eqi drew three crosses on the rice paper with a pen, Sheng Jiayan frowned: "What do you mean?"
Meng Eqi pointed to his throat and to his pen.
Three forks, meaning—
If you don't talk, you can't sing or write.
"..." Sheng Jiayan actually understood.
"In that case," Sheng Jiayan raised a pair of cold eyes: "Take off directly."
Meng Eqi's eyes widened in an instant, as if surprised.
"What? Don't you know?" Sheng Jiayan walked over slowly, sticking close to her, the breaths of the two met, and he said, "Why did the Houfu choose a clean woman, you don't know. Is it?"
Meng Qi was shaking like chaff.
At this moment, Sheng Jiayan suddenly touched her wrist, and even more touched the raised scar.
He pulled Meng Eqi's hand up, almost pressed it against her and asked, "It's such a coincidence that your wrist has also been injured? Miss Li."
Meng Qiqi couldn't take it any longer, and suddenly pushed Sheng Jiayan away, turned around and flew towards the open window. She had just climbed up the window and was about to jump out of the window to escape, but found that the yard was already surrounded by guards!
Meng Eqi stepped back again and again and bumped into Sheng Jiayan's chest.
Sheng Jiayan pressed against her and pushed to the wall step by step. Meng Qiqi leaned against the wall behind her back, and was imprisoned by Sheng Jiayan within his arm.
Sheng Jiayan's almost hoarse and low voice: "Since he's not dead, why don't you come to me? You even want to run away when you see me, do you think it's funny—"
"Meng Qiqi?"
Meng Eqi was dismantled at this time, and he knew that he could not escape, but he was not so afraid, but looked back at him calmly, with a firm tone: "Meng Eqi died that autumn night, and Lord Hou is still looking for him. What is she doing?"
Sheng Jiayan's eyes lit up with anger: "Why? Do you still think that I was behind all this? I secretly plotted power and didn't tell you anything in order to protect you. These are used by those who are interested. Do you think I'm plotting against you? Meng Eqi, do you think my affection for you is fake, am I joking?"