As Lu Meng had anticipated, the situation had indeed escalated.
Amidst the clamor of a crowd bustling about and chattering noisily, Lu Meng was carried off to some unknown palace hall.
Then the imperial physician arrived, yet even he failed to detect that she was feigning unconsciousness. However, compared to her previous state of severe blood and qi deficiency two months prior, her condition had improved significantly—after all, she hadn’t been drinking red bean porridge for nothing. The tonic’s effects on replenishing blood and qi were remarkable. Thus, after taking her pulse for a long while, the physician settled on a carefully ambiguous diagnosis.
"The side consort is suffering from extreme fright and distress."
After prescribing a sedative, Lu Meng was tended to by her maids and left to lie flat in this unfamiliar palace chamber.
Bliss. Though the bed wasn’t particularly soft, it was far better than having to get up and deal with the plot. Staying here, unseen by others, was pure luxury!
Besides, her earlier acting had exhausted her—more so than pedaling an imaginary bicycle in midair.
Fortunately, the outcome was satisfying. Xiang Yunhe had been saved, and the eunuchs who had tormented the male supporting character wouldn’t be able to harass him during his recovery as they had in the original storyline.
Yes, in the original plot, the female lead had rescued Xiang Yunhe and even shielded him with all her might. But since he was merely an insignificant palace eunuch, easily crushed underfoot, what good could come from offending a master?
This time, however, was different. This wasn’t about the "tragic heroine" protecting some lowly eunuch.
Instead, it was about the pitiful side consort of Prince Jian'an, who had been chased and harassed by the arrogant daughter of the Minister of Revenue. By sheer misfortune, she had stumbled upon Consort Jia falsely accusing and brutally punishing a servant, leaving her so terrified that she vomited and collapsed on the spot.
As for the rumors of her "spitting blood," they might add a dramatic flourish. The incident now involved the daughter of the Minister of Revenue and a crowd of noblewomen who had witnessed the scene.
No matter who tried to pin the blame—even if the biased Empress Dowager herself intervened—it wouldn’t land on Lu Meng’s head.
After reviewing the events and confirming there were no oversights, Lu Meng drank her sedative and drifted into peaceful slumber.
What Lu Meng didn’t know was that while the incident had escalated, it hadn’t spiraled out of control.
This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was organized by Wu Linyue’s mother, Lady Qu—also known as Consort Duan Su, one of Emperor Yan'an’s favored consorts.
Though she hadn’t been named empress, she shared authority over the inner palace with the Empress Dowager, jointly holding the phoenix seal.
Moreover, the Empress Dowager had recently provoked the emperor’s displeasure by mistreating her grandson’s wife. Thus, even though she loved putting on airs, she had been keeping a low profile lately.
As a result, the responsibility for hosting the noblewomen in the palace fell solely on Consort Duan Su.
When such a major disturbance arose, implicating Consort Jia, Consort Duan Su refrained from seizing the opportunity to attack. Instead, she helped suppress the matter.
Consort Jia was the birth mother of the second prince, Wu Linzhou—someone even Wu Linxuan wasn’t eager to antagonize for the time being.
So when Lu Meng awoke, the palace wasn’t in chaos because of her. On the contrary, everything was serene, with everyone anticipating the evening’s Mid-Autumn banquet, where ruler and subjects would revel together.
By the time Lu Meng roused, the sky outside had darkened. A few candles illuminated her chamber, casting a soft but sufficient glow.
Stretching lazily, she opened her eyes—only to jolt upright in shock when she spotted someone sitting by her bed!
Her eyes widened like glass marbles, a scream trapped in her throat as she scrambled to the far corner of the bed, staring dumbfounded at the figure.
Who was this? Where were her maids?!
The person at her bedside was a woman, yet her attire was masculine, devoid of hairpins and jewels save for a single white jade hairpin.
Her posture was as straight as a young poplar. Lu Meng’s mind raced before she scrutinized the woman’s features, eventually recognizing a faint familiarity—like looking into a mirror.
Thankfully, when terrified, Lu Meng couldn’t scream. And when flustered, she tended to stay silent.
Though she had a guess about the woman’s identity, she wasn’t entirely certain. So she pretended to still be drowsy, stifling a yawn and conveniently squeezing out a couple of tears.
The woman rose from the bedside and said gently, "Yinyin, did I scare you?"
Yinyin.
Lu Meng froze momentarily before lightning struck her mind.
That name was familiar!
In the original novel’s plot, after the male lead and female lead endured their tormented love-hate relationship, whenever he was overcome with passion, he would murmur "Yinyin"—the childhood name of the female lead, Zhangsun Lumeng.
A woman as upright and spirited as a poplar, calling her by this tender nickname—who else could it be?
"Elder Sister!"
Lu Meng launched herself from the corner of the bed like a rabbit, throwing her arms around her body’s elder sister, Zhangsun Xianyun.
The moment she embraced her, Lu Meng realized this was no ordinary woman—there wasn’t a soft spot on her. Her body was hard all over, her shoulders as solid as Wu Linxuan’s. She was probably pure muscle!
Good heavens!
The name "Xianyun" (lit. "delicate cloud") couldn’t be more misleading. This wasn’t some wispy cloud—this was a thunderhead!
A storm cloud looming overhead—yahoo!
Zhangsun Xianyun instinctively caught her sister but stiffened in surprise. Lu Meng had younger siblings from her parents’ remarriages, and they all adored her.
Children flocked to her like puppies, clinging to her whenever she visited.
So, projecting her own experiences, Lu Meng assumed sisters in this world would be just as affectionate—especially since Xiuyun and Xiuli had mentioned how much Zhangsun Xianyun doted on the female lead.
What Lu Meng didn’t know was that sisterly love in ancient times was expressed differently. Moreover, Zhangsun Lumeng had been a traditional and demure woman.
She had always disapproved of Zhangsun Xianyun going to war, believing it unbefitting of a woman. She had repeatedly urged her elder sister to stay off the battlefield, focus on her health, and bear Feng Beiyi a child—that, she insisted, was a woman’s true duty.
Only with children could a woman secure her husband’s lasting affection.
Thus, while Zhangsun Lumeng and Zhangsun Xianyun cared deeply for each other from afar, in person, they often found themselves at odds.
They had never shared a loving embrace like this.
The last time Zhangsun Xianyun had held her sister so tightly was when Zhangsun Lumeng was a child. Once she turned eight or nine, she began acting like a prim little adult, refusing to be hugged.
This embrace, after nearly a decade, brought tears to the eyes of Zhangsun Xianyun—a woman who hadn’t shed a single tear even when her leg was broken on the battlefield.
Unaware that she had "broken character," Lu Meng chirped happily, "Elder Sister, you’re finally back! Yinyin missed you so much! You weren’t even here for my wedding..."
She accepted the nickname "Yinyin" without resistance—after all, she was Zhangsun Lumeng now.
Zhangsun Xianyun slowly wrapped her arms around her long-lost sister.
She didn’t find her sister’s behavior odd in the slightest. To her, this was simply growth.
Rushing over after hearing about her sister’s collapse, Zhangsun Xianyun had watched her sleep for a full hour. She had assumed her sister’s initial reaction upon waking was fear.
But it turned out to be joy.
"Yinyin," Zhangsun Xianyun stroked Lu Meng's hair, which had lost all its hairpins and ornaments during sleep, her heart softening as if filled with a bundle of soft fur.
"Elder Sister," Lu Meng secretly felt Zhangsun Xianyun's biceps, her heart brimming with envy and awe.
Wow, wow, wow!
A muscular beauty!
Yet she didn’t look bulky at all—truly the epitome of "elegant in clothes, toned underneath"!
And this was her sister—her sister!
Lu Meng had never had an elder sister before, and now she was the one being treated like a younger sister. She clung to Zhangsun Xianyun, nestling into her embrace, suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of security.
This was the first time since her transmigration that someone had made her feel so safe.
Thus, Lu Meng became even more "delicately shy," refusing to let go of Zhangsun Xianyun and even tempted to check if she had abs.
"I heard that Ao Bingxia, the arrogant daughter of the Minister of Works, caused trouble for you?" Zhangsun Xianyun said. "Don’t worry. Later at the banquet, I’ll make sure she explains herself and apologizes to you."
Hearing this, Lu Meng nearly teared up.
Look! Just look!
This was what a sister was—a real sister!
Zhangsun Xianyun was now the wife and deputy general of Feng Beiyi, the General of the Southern Garrison. She was the first woman in the history of the Western Wu Kingdom to receive a military title, a position Feng Beiyi had fought for tirelessly, even sacrificing his own merits to secure it.
In truth, Zhangsun Xianyun could have been made a full general, but since appointing a female general was already groundbreaking, and the couple didn’t want to be separated, they settled for the deputy position.
Incompetent people rising to power only bring trouble to others like them.
But with Zhangsun Xianyun’s status and military achievements, someone like Ao Bingxia, who relied on her father’s influence to act high and mighty, wouldn’t dare even breathe in her presence.
Lu Meng rested her head against Zhangsun Xianyun’s strong arm and said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Elder Sister is so good to me."
Zhangsun Xianyun’s lips twitched, and she coughed lightly, unable to handle her younger sister’s affectionate whining.
Lu Meng knew when to stop and quickly changed the subject. "Elder Sister, you really don’t need to intervene. Ao Bingxia is just bitter because she couldn’t win Prince Jian'an’s affection and took it out on me."
"She didn’t gain anything from it anyway. You’ve just returned to the capital, and as a controversial female general, it’s best not to provoke court officials over me."
In fact, during the chaos, Lu Meng had managed to kick Ao Bingxia and slap her.
These words made Zhangsun Xianyun’s eyes redden again.
Her little sister… had actually learned to think of others.
"Yinyin," Zhangsun Xianyun said, "you’ve grown up. If Mother could see how capable you’ve become, she would be so proud."
Lu Meng’s eyebrows twitched at the mention of "Mother," and she hurriedly steered the conversation away.
Holding Zhangsun Xianyun’s hand, she said, "Elder Sister, I’ve come to terms with the past over the years."
She carefully chose her words, vague enough to allow flexibility—much like a physician diagnosing a "minor chill."
"I was immature back then, but from now on, I won’t let Elder Sister worry about me," Lu Meng said, lowering her head with feigned melancholy. "Elder Sister, let’s not dwell on the past. I only want to hear about your life these years—how have you and Brother-in-law been?"
Zhangsun Xianyun’s face was filled with both pride and heartache, her resolve to stand up for her younger sister only strengthening.
How dare some spoiled young miss, coveting another woman’s husband, provoke her sister!
"We’ve been well," Zhangsun Xianyun said. "Once we leave the palace, I’ll tell you everything. You must also share your experiences these years."
Lu Meng nodded with a smile.
"Change your clothes and freshen up," Zhangsun Xianyun said. "The Mid-Autumn Banquet is about to begin."
When she had fainted earlier, Lu Meng had secretly hoped she could skip the banquet by feigning illness.
But it seemed fate had other plans—the banquet, held in the evening for moon-viewing, couldn’t be avoided.
Reluctantly, Lu Meng called her maids to help her dress and do her makeup, carefully avoiding topics she knew nothing about while chatting with Zhangsun Xianyun.
The sisters got along harmoniously, and Xiuyun and Xiuli were equally delighted.
Once Lu Meng was fully adorned, Zhangsun Xianyun was unexpectedly summoned by Consort Duan Su’s messenger.
This was rather strange, but Lu Meng wasn’t familiar with most of the relationships in this world.
She didn’t know that Consort Duan Su was Wu Linyue’s birth mother or that she was in charge of hosting the female guests at the Mid-Autumn Banquet.
She assumed Zhangsun Xianyun might be acquainted with Consort Duan Su—or perhaps the consort was simply curious about the female general.
Alternatively, since the General of the Southern Garrison and his wife had returned to the capital for an imperial reward, the emperor might have taken a special interest in Zhangsun Xianyun.
Thus, Lu Meng parted ways with her sister, following palace attendants with Xiuyun, Xiuli, and Xin Ya to the banquet seating for female guests.
The night was clear, the moon bright and the stars sparse. The lanterns carried by the two palace maids ahead were dimmer than the moonlight.
Lu Meng trailed behind them for a while but still heard no signs of a lively gathering. Was the banquet venue really this far?
She thought of asking Xin Ya, but when she turned around, Xin Ya—who had been right beside her—had vanished without a trace!
A more carefree person might assume Xin Ya had stepped away for some reason—after all, she was familiar with the palace. Perhaps she’d gone to relieve herself? Xin Ya didn’t usually report every little thing to Lu Meng.
But…
But!
The attendants were leading her deeper into isolation, into darkness—and she was the female lead of a tragic novel, damn it!
For a tragic heroine, stepping outside was like entering a battlefield from hell.
As they approached a large lotus pond, Lu Meng grabbed her two maids and bolted!
Xiuyun and Xiuli cried out in shock, alerting the lantern-bearing attendants, who immediately gave chase. Then, from the shadows, several more figures emerged, silencing and dragging her maids away!
Cold sweat drenched Lu Meng.
She opened her mouth to scream for help—but at that very moment, no sound came out!
The system promptly reminded her: "The dialogue timer has expired. You must first recite the initial lines to Prince Jian'an before you can speak normally."
Lu Meng cursed inwardly.
Footsteps approached, and she spun around to see two unfamiliar palace servants advancing toward her.
Her mind raced, but she couldn’t recall which part of the plot this was.
Meanwhile, at the banquet, as the festivities were about to begin, Zhangsun Xianyun—finally released by Consort Duan Su—couldn’t find her sister anywhere.
When she questioned the attendants, none had any answers.
At the same time, Consort Duan Su and Consort Jia exchanged a subtle glance and smiled.
Teaching a lowly-born concubine a lesson was nothing. Consort Jia had learned from her son that this woman had the audacity to compete with him for something he cherished, even causing a scene that nearly reached the emperor’s ears.
Consort Jia was certain this side concubine of Prince Jian'an was acting under his orders. She believed Prince Jian'an, with his treacherous ambitions, had sent this woman to provoke them—and he needed to be taught a lesson.
Soon, the disappearance of Prince Jian'an’s concubine became a commotion. At the Mid-Autumn Banquet, the court officials and their families were seated close, separated only by ornate screens in the grand courtyard—maintaining propriety while fostering a lively atmosphere.
It was also convenient for moon viewing.
Thus, when the womenfolk couldn’t find someone and began making a fuss, the men soon heard about it as well.
Wu Linxuan had already heard at noon that his concubine had fainted from fright. He wasn’t even surprised. Last time, when the Empress Dowager had given her a hard time, she had deliberately pretended to faint. This time, she might have done the same—fainting to avoid causing him trouble. It was just as well.
However, that evening, just as the banquet had begun and before he could even settle into his seat, Chen Yuan informed him, "Lady Meng is missing."
Wu Linxuan’s handsome brows furrowed deeply.
"Missing?"
Where could she have gone?
