Meng Xilan's outfit today was gorgeous and dignified, and she walked gently all the way, attracting a lot of amazement and jealousy.

The Queen Mother was looking forward to her coming back, and when she saw her, her eyes were slightly red.

Meng Xilan solemnly straightened her clothes, and then knelt on her knees and kowtowed to say goodbye: "Erchen asked the queen mother to say goodbye, Erchen is back." After speaking, she kowtowed to the Queen Mother three times, and when she looked up again, she was already in tears.

Seeing her so respectful and docile, the Queen Mother couldn't help but be moved, and helped her up with tears in her eyes: "Good boy, let the mourning family take a look......"

The two faced each other with tears, but they really looked like a mother and daughter.

In the past few days, Meng Xilan's food, clothing, housing and transportation have all been carefully taken care of by her family, she eats exquisitely at home, sleeps comfortably, and looks good.

Queen Su was beside her, her eyes were faint and cold, she stared at Meng Xilan carefully, and said secretly in her heart: I haven't seen her for a few days, how does this girl look like a different person. Who is this coquettish dress for? Is it just to make the Queen Mother happy? There are already many women in the palace, too many to count, but every time I see a woman as delicate as a flower and a bone, I still feel uncomfortable, and suddenly, I feel a little hostile to Meng Xilan.

Zhou Youning hugged Meng Xilan like a coquettish child, and cried: "Sister...... Sister ......"

Seeing that she was so excited, Meng Xilan just smiled slightly, and gently patted her back to comfort her. There are so many rumors in the palace, it is estimated that few people will really believe that she can come back safe and sound.

As her eyes wandered, Meng Xilan met Murong Qiao's bright eyes, only to see that she raised the corners of her mouth slightly to herself, and smiled very meaningfully.

Meng Xilan came back, and Cining Palace suddenly became lively, and the rewards of the emperor and the ladies of the palace were sent one after another, and the straight people were dazzled.

Zhu Lu and Zhu Qing were busy, coming in for a while, going out for a while, Gao Fuli commanded a few little eunuchs to move the boxes with a sharp voice, a big camphor wood box, which contained either an antique vase or silk silk.

Mama Kong held the detailed list, stood beside Meng Xilan, and reported one by one: "Qixia Palace, Li Jieyu Niangniang, send two pieces of Hangzhou silk and Su satin." Zhong Cui Palace, Zheng Zhaoyi's mother, gave a South China Sea pearl necklace. Wanfu Palace, Concubine Ning, give a red agate bracelet, a pair of gold-inlaid jade earrings, and a pure gold Maitreya Buddha ......"

Meng Xilan supported her head with one hand, listened and watched casually, and only after hearing Concubine Ning's name did she secretly care: "Concubine Ning has given so many gifts?" ”

Mama Kong said with a smile: "Back to the master, Concubine Ning Niangniang has already sent someone to send it once before you return to the palace, and today I sent someone to send it again, a total of two times before and after, and the gift is quite rich." To be honest, the old slave has been on an errand in the palace for so long, and he has never seen Concubine Ning treat anyone so kindly. ”

Meng Xilan nodded slightly, obviously knowing what to expect. Zhou Youlin returned to the palace one step ahead of her, and Murong Qiao saw that her baby son was safe and sound, so he naturally thought about her, the nominal princess.

When Mama Kong finished reading the etiquette sheet one by one, her voice was dry.

Meng Xilan looked at the thick gift list, her eyes were unwavering, everything was good, but it was something she didn't need. She asked Zhuqing to put away the detailed list, and called Gao Welfare over: "You go and prepare a sedan chair." ”

Gao Fuli was so busy that he was sweating, and nodded in response: "Where is the master going?" ”

"Mingde Palace." Meng Xilan lightly spit out these three words. She has been thinking about Chu Jingwen in her heart, and she knows that she is not having a good time now.

Before this, Meng Xilan had only been to Mingde Palace once, and she went with the Queen Mother to visit the poisoned Zhou Youping. And this time, she was alone.

Mingde Palace seems to be doing everything as usual, and the palace people are doing things in a proper manner, but when the tip of Gao Fu's nose moves, he still notices that something is wrong.

"Master, do you smell it? How can there be a sandalwood fragrance in the prince's palace? ”

Meng Xilan was slightly surprised when she heard this.

Wan Xiaotian greeted him from afar, and saluted Meng Xilan to say goodbye: "The slave greets Her Royal Highness the princess, the princess is a thousand years old." ”

Meng Xilan held Gao Fuli's arm, stepped off the sedan chair, raised her hand and said, "Get up, I'm here to see the crown princess today, and I ask my father-in-law to pass it on my behalf." ”

Meng Xilan and Chu Jingwen had a relationship, Wan Xiaotian had already heard about it, and hurriedly bowed down and replied: "The slave understands, but Your Highness, please go to the side hall to drink tea and rest first, and the slave will go to the Buddha Hall to invite the mother to come out." ”

Gao Fuli raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this: "The side hall ...... The princess is honorable, and the main hall of Cining Palace is next to the Queen Mother, why can she only go to the side hall when she arrives at Mingde Palace? ”

If it was left in the past, Gao Fuli definitely didn't have the courage to pick this reason, but now it is different from the past, his master is gaining power, and his waist can be straightened.

Wan Xiaotian's face changed slightly, he glanced at Gao Fuli, and said with disdain in his heart: Hey, the stinky boy who hasn't grown up yet, he actually dares to put up a fight in front of Lao Tzu, I really don't know what to do! If it weren't for Princess Wenning's presence, he would have to reward him with a big ear with his own hands.

"Yes, the minion is ill-conceived...... Your Royal Highness, please move to the main hall. ”

As soon as Wan Xiaotian finished speaking, Meng Xilan waved her hand: "No need, please take my father-in-law to the Buddha Hall directly." ”

She didn't care about that cup of tea, what she cared about was Chu Jingwen.

Wan Xiaotian was slightly stunned, only to feel that the master and servant were troublesome enough, so he simply stopped talking and obediently led Meng Xilan through the corner gate to the Buddha Hall.

The further she went, the stronger the smell of sandalwood became, and Meng Xilan couldn't help but frown.

What kind of character Chu Jingwen is, she knows best, with her frank and hearty character, how can she sit in front of the hall for a long time and serve the Buddha with a pure heart......

In the deserted courtyard, the flowers and trees are bleak, and only two or three palace maids are holding bamboo brooms in the courtyard and sweeping the ground slowly. It's obviously a pretty season when spring flowers bloom, but there is a decay of late autumn here.

Meng Xilan's heart sank again, the appearance of Mingde Palace was gorgeous and extravagant, but she didn't expect that there was such a quiet and deserted place inside, could it be that Chu Jingwen didn't live here?

"Father-in-law Wan, the crown princess usually does Buddhist things here?"

"Huh? Yes...... Back to His Royal Highness, Niangniang didn't like extravagance, and she was devoted to Buddha, so she chose such a place. Wan Xiaotian replied lightly.

The crown princess was born with a strange temper, and since she fell out with the prince, she has often lived here, only guarding the Buddha statue and Buddha for a long time.

Meng Xilan knew that there must be other reasons for this, but she didn't want to ask him anymore, if she wanted to ask, she would also ask Chu Jingwen.

"Your Highness later, the servant will first inform Niangniang...... "Wan Xiaotian doesn't like this place the most, but I feel that the floor tiles here are cooler than other places."

Meng Xilan waited under the corridor, and Gao Fuli stepped forward at the right time: "Master, the crown princess has been in the palace for less than a month, but she wants to live in this kind of place...... Falling out of favor so quickly? ”

Everyone in the palace was saying that the crown princess was a great beauty, and since she was a beauty, she shouldn't be snubbed by the prince.

Meng Xilan glanced at him: "Don't talk too much." You'll wait outside later, and I'll just go in alone. ”

"Yes, the minion understands." Gao Fuli retracted his voice and stood still obediently.

Suddenly, the wooden door creaked open, and Wan Xiaotian stood up with a smile on his face: "Your Highness, Niangniang is invited." ”

There was a faint puff of smoke behind him, and the light inside was dim, and only a vague figure could be seen.

Meng Xilan lifted the corner of her skirt and stepped into the house, and as soon as she stood still, she heard Chu Jingwen's voice: "Father-in-law, you go out first." ”

Wan Xiaotian answered, bowed and retreated, and reflexively closed the door.

When the door was closed, the light in the hall dimmed, and only the dim candle flame remained.

Meng Xilan took two steps forward, looked at the person kneeling in front of the Buddha by the dim candlelight, and called out loudly: "Jingwen." ”

Her back moved slightly, but she didn't get up, didn't look back, and said, "You finally came back safely." ”

She knew that Zhou Youping's trick would not succeed. Although she didn't know what Zhou Youping was doing, she always believed that her good friend Meng Xilan would definitely come back safely.

"Silent ...... Are you going to turn around? Let me see you, we haven't seen each other in a long time. Meng Xilan watched her kneeling there without moving, and suddenly her heart was a little blocked.

Chu Jingwen hesitated slightly, then slowly got up and said to her, "What do I have to look at." ”

Meng Xilan walked over and took her hand, and found that her hands were cold, and her face was so thin that they were sunken, and those eyes, which were always clever and flashing, were now like being covered with a layer of gray, dull and dull, without any lustre.

"Jingwen ......" Meng Xilan was speechless in her heart, and continued to call her name.

What's going on? Why did she become so haggard and gloomy......

Meng Xilan looked at her with pity, holding her hand tightly, wanting to warm her up.

Chu Jingwen smiled suddenly, her smile was very dark, and a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes: "Xilan, have I changed?" It becomes unsightly. ”

Meng Xilan's tone was slightly excited: "You know you're not happy, but even if you're unhappy, you can't suffer yourself like this." Jingwen, I'm back, you don't have to stay up with such a person. ”

Chu Jingwen looked down at the hand she was holding, shook her head and said, "No, Xilan, only in this way can I not feel bitter, and only in this way can I survive." ”

Instead of staying by Zhou Youping's side all day long, she would rather always be with the Green Lantern Ancient Buddha.

When Meng Xilan heard this, her eyes couldn't help but turn red: "Did the prince bully you?" ”

Speaking of the crown prince, Chu Jingwen's body instinctively tensed a little: "Don't mention him to me, I will feel dirty...... Very dirty......"

He was obviously her husband, but she still felt that he was dirty, even a word he said, every breath he spit out was dirty.