"Yu'er, I think Prince Yu has special feelings for you," Xiang said to Jin Yu in the carriage.
"Sister-in-law, why are you teasing me?" Life in the prefect's mansion had been peaceful recently, and Xiang was looking better and better. The affection between the sister-in-law and the younger sister-in-law had also grown deeper.
"Look, the rewards keep coming one after another."
"That's just for Father's sake," Jin Yu said, blushing a little at the thought of Prince Yu, Zhongli Mingye. She picked up a handkerchief and pretended to wipe the corner of her mouth.
"No wonder," Xiang said, looking at Jin Yu.
"Who wouldn't like such a charming, intelligent girl?" Jin Yu was shyly flattered by her praise.
Xiang looked at her younger sister-in-law's increasingly delicate and pure features. Her beauty was already beginning to shine through. In a few years, she would surely be a great beauty. Although Jin Yu was still young and had not yet fully developed her charm, she was already extremely graceful.
"Sister-in-law, I haven't even come of age yet!"
"Father-in-law has asked your brother and me to help you choose a good family in Liuzhou. And the prefect of Yuzhou also wants to form an alliance with our family through marriage."
"Ah—" Here we go again! Jin Yu's little face wrinkled like a bitter melon.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate. This was Jin Yu's second visit to the palace. The last time she was almost stung by wasps here. She hoped that nothing embarrassing would happen this time.
Prince Yu, Zhongli Mingye, had not been able to return to the capital for the Mid-Autumn Festival because of the incident at Yanqiu soon after he arrived in Liuzhou. Inviting the Song family was also a way to win over the prefect of Liuzhou.
After the banquet, Zhongli Mingye had a long talk with Song Qinzhou and his son.
Xiang and Jin Yu went to the back garden to enjoy the flowers. The back garden of the palace was quite large. Because of the festival, red lanterns were hung everywhere. The precious chrysanthemums in the garden were in full bloom, adding a touch of elegance to the night.
Xiang went to relieve herself, leaving Jin Yu and Niaoniao alone by the lake.
Jin Yu saw the withered lotus leaves in the middle of the lake, floating in the autumn wind in the dark night. Their huge shadows swayed on the water, making her feel a little lonely. She began to miss her master.
"What are you doing here?" Zhongli Mingye walked along the lake. The autumn night was cool, and the moon was shining brightly. There was a beautiful girl by the lake.
"The subject's daughter pays respects to the prince," Jin Yu said, bowing. Then she subconsciously took a few steps back.
"Am I a flood or a fierce beast?" Zhongli Mingye was dissatisfied with the little girl's reaction.
"The prince is a noble of the royal family. How could you be a beast?" Jin Yu quickly flattered him.
"You're quite good at talking," Prince Yu said, with his hands behind his back, looking at the withered lotus leaves in the middle of the lake thoughtfully.
Can't you stop being so sarcastic? Jin Yu was a little angry.
"I've known you for some time. You can be more at ease with me."
What? Jin Yu thought she had misheard. Be at ease? There was a huge gap in their social status. How could she be at ease with him?
Could she be as close to him as she was to Yan Fei, like siblings?
"The subject's daughter doesn't dare!" Sister-in-law, why aren't you back yet? Jin Yu looked around, but there was still no sign of Xiang.
"The subject's daughter and the prince have a huge gap in status. I don't dare to overstep the mark."
Jin Yu took a deep breath and quietly moved further away from Prince Yu. Zhongli Mingye heard the alienation in her tone and saw that she was getting further away from him. He was both amused and angry.
"Why are you running so far away? I won't eat you!"
"The subject's daughter... The subject's daughter thinks it's windy by the lake," Jin Yu said, afraid of him and wanting to run away quickly.
"I'll take my leave first!"
"Stop!"
Zhongli Mingye was really angry. The wind by the lake was blowing harder, making his clothes flutter. He gradually approached Jin Yu, and a faint smell of wine wafted out.
Good! He's drunk!
Jin Yu raised her hand to her forehead. Is this a drunkard?
Before she could run away, Zhongli Mingye grabbed her.
The man's handsome face got closer and closer. His thin lips parted slightly: "Yu'er, you can't escape."
My Lord, you're really...
Jin Yu put one hand on his chest and suddenly pushed his face away with the other.
Can you just flirt with people when you're drunk? Jin Yu thought angrily. She called the stunned Niaoniao to go find her brother quickly.
Zhongli Mingye was hit hard by her. He knelt on one knee by the lake, half of his body numb. He smiled bitterly at himself for being defenseless against her. He had forgotten that this girl was from Tianmen Mountain. Now that he had been hit, he still couldn't bear to punish her.
When Song Chuyu arrived, he was shocked by his sister.
"Brother, don't say anything. I'll go back to Tianmen Mountain tomorrow," Song Jinyu said, quickly slipping back with Niaoniao. Xiang also went back after she came back from relieving herself.
She couldn't stop laughing in the carriage. Xiang was now sure that Prince Yu must like her younger sister-in-law. Otherwise, based on what happened today, Song Jinyu would never have been able to leave Prince Yu's palace alive.
"Sister-in-law, stop laughing!" Song Jinyu's face turned redder and redder. The ambiguous words of Prince Yu were still ringing in her ears and in her mind: "You can't escape."
The autumn wind was a little intoxicating, and the night was as cool as water. Song Jinyu had completely forgotten her promise to Yan Fei. She sent Niaoniao away.
Lying on the bed alone, her heart was beating fast. She finally felt that a gap had opened in a corner of her heart, and warm light was shining in.
But soon, she closed the gap and fell into a deep sleep. A desolate flute sound accompanied her into a dream.
It was Yan Fei. Although "Warm Spring Wine" didn't have a strong aftertaste, he had drunk three whole jars.
He jumped onto the roof, his back against the endless desolate night. A young man in white played the flute against the moon. The flute sound gradually faded away until dawn.
"Song Jinyu!" Song Chuyu came to Jinxuan Courtyard early in the morning. He had apologized to Prince Yu with his father last night. Fortunately, Prince Yu didn't blame them.
"How could you be so rude!" Song Chuyu looked at his dejected sister. His father had asked him to discipline Jinyu today. But he really felt sorry for her and was afraid that his sister would really be beaten by his father. So he had to go to the front hall with her.
"Yu'er! You have too much of a wild streak from the jianghu," Song Qinzhou said angrily, his beard fluttering.
"In that case, you don't need to go back. I'll write a letter to Miao Yunshen today!"
Jinyu was anxious when she heard this: "Don't, Dad! Daughter didn't do it on purpose."
"He was drunk—"
Actually, in the end, Prince Yu didn't do anything to her.
Hey, did I hit him too hard?
"Silence!"
Song Chuyu looked at his sister. He remembered what Prince Yu had said yesterday: "General Song, don't blame her."
"I was the one who was rude first."
There was not a single word of blame. Instead, he was making excuses for Jinyu. Song Chuyu could see clearly that when Zhongli Mingye talked about Jinyu, his eyes were smiling. The young general seemed to understand something. But he didn't dare to be sure.
"From now on, you'll be confined to Jinxuan Courtyard."
"Dad!" Jinyu's eyes were filled with tears of grievance. Every time, he never asked for the reason. Every time, he blamed her like this.