Rebirth: I Became The Villain's Dark Moon Chapter 92: A Dream of the Past - Novel Cool

Chapter 92: A Dream of the Past

Chapter 92: A Dream of the Past

The figure behind the artificial mountain also left.

Meng Qianqian didn't pursue them but instead turned to walk towards Bao Shu.

The little one immediately reached out her tiny arms towards Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian skillfully picked up Bao Shu.

Bao Shu snuggled comfortably in her arms, kicking her little feet playfully.

Lu Yuan coldly hmphed.

Meng Qianqian bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Grand Preceptor."

Lu Yuan nonchalantly acknowledged with a slight sound of acknowledgment.

Meng Qianqian didn't mention that she was there to find Bao Shu, and Lu Yuan didn't inquire why she hadn't attended the banquet but had wandered to this place instead.

Meng Qianqian was just curious—where had Ban Xia and Tan'er gone?

"They went to the feast," Lu Yuan said indifferently.

Meng Qianqian: "..."

The two walked towards the direction of Linde Palace.

Bao Shu had fallen asleep in Meng Qianqian's arms. No wonder the little one, who usually didn't cling to Lu Yuan for cuddles, had asked for a hug. She must have been tired.

Meng Qianqian recounted what had happened in the garden: "The woman was Li Guifei. 'Seven days' and 'on the way' were said by the man. It sounded like he was passing a message to Li Guifei. His voice also sounded familiar, but I can't pinpoint who he is for now. However, he was hit by my silver needle, which is poisoned. Without the antidote, he will surely die within three days."

When they reached the entrance of Linde Palace, Lu Yuan didn't go in but instead called out to Qing Shuang.

Qing Shuang appeared from the shadows and took the sleeping Bao Shu from Meng Qianqian's arms. She followed behind Lu Yuan as they left the palace.

Meng Qianqian thought he had come to attend the banquet and was carrying Bao Shu, naturally walking towards Linde Palace. Apparently, that wasn't the case.

"Hmm, this isn't on the way either," she murmured.

Indeed, Tan'er and Ban Xia were at the feast, seated at the same table as the Zhou family's female relatives. One could only wonder what those two girls had said to Miss Zhou, as she was crying with a mix of happiness and sadness.

Meng Qianqian went to the table where the main contributors to the victory were seated.

Everyone had already reached a consensus—they would never mention that she had once been betrothed, maintaining the same attitude as they had in the past.

As soon as Meng Qianqian sat down, Zhang Feihu said, "Where did you go? Grand Preceptor Lu came just now. It's a pity you weren't there!"

Although there had been a slight hiccup, the welcoming banquet could be considered a success, and everyone was in high spirits.

How could they not be excited? They had just witnessed such a dramatic turn of events.

After the banquet, the young emperor went to the Changchun Palace.

Li Guifei was in her bedroom, appraising the portraits of young ladies from aristocratic families sent by the Imperial Household Department.

"Mother Consort."

"My child, you're here?"

Li Guifei smiled warmly.

Zongzheng Xi approached and glanced at the portraits on the table. "Why didn't Mother Consort attend the banquet? Are you feeling unwell?"

Li Guifei had originally planned to attend the banquet with Madam Wen and the Lu family's female relatives, but she had changed her mind at the last minute and let them go ahead without her.

Li Guifei smiled calmly and said, "Oh, I felt a bit dizzy earlier, so I rested for a while. I'm fine now."

The young emperor asked with concern, "Have you seen the imperial physicians?"

"Yes," Li Guifei replied, placing the three portraits she had selected on top of the stack. She said to her son, "Your Majesty, which of these three young ladies do you favor the most?"

The young emperor frowned, "What do you intend, Mother Consort?"

Li Guifei said, "I want to choose an Empress for you, Your Majesty."

The young emperor was shocked. "Mother Consort, I'm not even fifteen yet!"

Li Guifei spoke earnestly, "That's precisely why I'm making these arrangements. Lu Yuan monopolizes the court, using your young age as an excuse to delay your assumption of power. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, men come of age at twenty. If one is not yet twenty, they can still don the crown and perform the capping ceremony on their wedding day. After your marriage, Lu Yuan will have no more excuses to prevent you from ruling independently!"

The young emperor's gaze swept across the portraits of the three young ladies. "I don't like any of them!"

Li Guifei said, "You can choose one as your Empress first. If you meet someone you like later, you can still bring her into the harem!"

"I'm going to study now," the young emperor said, turning to leave the Changchun Palace.

"Oh, he's leaving just like that? That child!" Li Guifei sighed. Then, as if she had just remembered something, she called out, "Attendant, what happened at today's banquet?"

"

...

Meng Qianqian had not seen the Wang family at the banquet today, and only upon inquiring did she learn that Madam Wang was unwell. It seemed to be quite serious, as Wang, the Imperial Inspector, had not attended court for several days and had been keeping his wife company at home.

Madam Wang was the first friend Meng Qianqian made in the capital, and she decided to pay her a visit.

Madam Wang had told her that she could visit anytime.

And so, Meng Qianqian went straight to their door.

As soon as she stated her identity, a servant eagerly invited her in, saying, "My lady has been asking about you for days, Meng Qianqian. Every few days, she asks if you have come by, and even if you just passed by from a distance, we would still have to invite you to our mansion!"

She had left in a hurry that day and hadn't had a chance to send word to Madam Wang, not realizing that she had been worried for so long.

In the main room of the main courtyard, she saw Wang, the Imperial Inspector, coaxing Madam Wang to drink her medicine.

"After I finish this bowl, I'm going to smash the medicine jar and never make this again!"

"You said the same thing three days ago! Wang Daniu! Do your colleagues know how much you go back on your word?"

Meng Qianqian couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter.

Wang, the Imperial Inspector, and Madam Wang both looked towards the door.

Upon seeing that it was Meng Qianqian, embarrassment spread across the inspector's face.

But Madam Wang was delighted. "Qianqian!"

"Madam," Meng Qianqian said as she entered the room and greeted the inspector with a bow. "Sir Wang."

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat, the inspector said, "This medicine..."

Madam Wang picked up the bowl of medicine and downed it in one go.

"You two chat first. I'll go out for a walk."

With that, the inspector left in all seriousness.

Madam Wang's eyes lit up at Meng Qianqian's attire for the day. She didn't find it inappropriate at all but rather thought it made her look valiant and spirited.

Madam Wang wanted to hold her hand but suddenly remembered that she was ill and might pass on her sickness, so she withdrew her hand and asked, "Qianqian, where have you been these days?"

Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "I went out to take care of some matters, and I apologize for worrying you. I heard that you were unwell, so I came to see you, Madam. Do you mind if I take your pulse?"

"You know medicine?" Madam Wang asked as she readily offered her wrist.

"I've learned a little," Meng Qianqian said as she placed three fingers on Madam Wang's pulse. "Your liver fire has invaded your lungs, which is caused by the liver failing to disperse and the qi turning into fire. Have you encountered something upsetting lately, Madam?"

Madam Wang looked at her with admiration. "You're incredible."

Then, she frowned and shared the source of her distress.

It was then that Meng Qianqian learned that Madam Wang had a daughter, a year younger than her, who was of marriageable age. Through a matchmaker, the wife of one of the inspector's colleagues, a marriage had been arranged with the second son of the Pingyang Marquis.

Initially, both parties had agreed, and the Eight Characters had been matched, but who would have thought that the Marquis's wife would suddenly call off the marriage? Instead, she went to the Lu family to propose a marriage for her own son, requesting to marry Lu Linglong, the eldest daughter of the Lu family.

This had infuriated Madam Wang.

Meng Qianqian said, "I haven't heard anything from the Lu family."

Madam Wang frowned. "Has the Lu family come looking for you again?"

Meng Qianqian thought for a moment and told her about what had happened at the victory banquet, omitting the part about her being Meng Xiaojiu. She only mentioned that Lu Xingzhou had scolded a woman for entering the men's seating area.

It wasn't that she was deliberately concealing it, but who would boast about themselves?

It was simply embarrassing.

Upon hearing that the Lu family had lost so much face at the banquet, Madam Wang immediately felt much better. However, she lamented the fact that she didn't have a son, or else she would have definitely proposed a marriage to that Meng Xiaojiu!

Meng Qianqian stayed at the Wang mansion for half an hour. By the time she left, the sky had completely darkened.

Tan'er and Ban Xia had spent the entire day playing in the palace and were so tired that they fell asleep with their heads resting on each other.

Meng Qianqian covered them with a cloak and then leaned against the pillow and fell asleep herself.

She had a dream. In it, there was a boundless fire, people screaming, and a man wearing a bamboo hat. He drew his sword and killed her younger brother, who was not yet seven years old.

"Hurry up and find him! We still have to get back to the capital!"

He kicked her little brother's tiny body aside, and the firelight illuminated the back of his hand, revealing a blood-red pigeon tattoo.

(End of Chapter)

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