"Your mother was very close to a woman before she got married," said the silver-masked young master, swirling a flagon of wine in the private room of the tavern.
"Who is the woman?" Jin Yu, dressed in men's clothing, sat at the tea table, showing no interest in the sumptuous dishes on the table.
After running away from home and then returning that day, Prince Yu came to the door in person the next day to explain things on Jin Yu's behalf. Due to face, Song Qinzhou had no choice but to lift Jin Yu's house arrest. However, he asked her to stay at home for a few more days to cultivate her mind and nature.
"Yidou Chun."
Jin Yu widened her eyes. "What?"
The silver-masked young master smiled. "As the name suggests, this wine is so mellow that your throat has to tremble before you can swallow it."
It's not answering the question!
"Who is that woman?" Jin Yu stared at him with her big eyes round in impatience.
"Try it first," the man poured a full cup for Jin Yu. The clear wine sloshed slightly. Jin Yu had no choice but to drink it. It was indeed as mellow as he said. It must be a precious wine worth a fortune.
"That woman was the second daughter of the leader of a Miao tribe back then. Later, she married Ouyang Long, the master of the Golden Water Palace."
Lady Jinhua, Ouyang Jinsè's mother, and now the master of the Golden Water Palace!
Ouyang Jinsè?!!!
Jin Yu could hardly believe it. The Miao poison, Lady Jinhua, her mother's friend...
All these formed a circle.
If it was really Lady Jinhua who poisoned her mother,
then it was suspicious that there had been no stir about her mother's death all these years.
Why did she kill her mother?
One was a Miao princess, and the other was a well - bred young lady from Liuzhou City. Logically, they shouldn't have any intersection.
Seeing her lost in thought, the masked young master tapped her head with his silver chopsticks.
"Let's eat first!"
Jin Yu was dissatisfied that he interrupted her train of thought. She rolled a cute little white eye, looking extremely lively.
"Thank you!"
"It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning. But you actually trust me so much!"
"Three signal smokes and three promises. You're a real man. I don't think you'll go back on your word," Jin Yu said calmly, looking at the masked young master. Now she was becoming more and more reliant on him.
"Humph—" So his promises were only worth getting some information.
Suddenly, he stood up and got closer to Jin Yu. "If you're willing to get closer to me, I'll fulfill any promise for you." His charming eyes scrutinized Jin Yu's face.
"Get out of here!" Jin Yu reached out and pushed away the cold mask. She was quite uncomfortable with this sudden intimacy and had no choice but to push him away.
"I can handle it myself," she declined the silver - masked young master's invitation.
After leaving the tavern, Song Jinyu was in a daze in the bustling crowd on the street. She wasn't completely unmoved. Now, if she wanted to get information about Lady Jinhua, no one was more suitable than Ouyang Jinsè.
When she returned to the mansion and just changed her clothes, a maid from Jinxuan Courtyard came to report that the young mistress of the He family was here to see her.
When Xiang first saw Song Wangqiu, she hardly recognized her. She had only been married for a little over half a month, but she had lost a lot of weight. Although the He family wasn't as prestigious as the prefect's mansion, it was the wealthiest family in Liuzhou City. Logically, she shouldn't be in such a sorry state.
"Greetings, sister - in - law!"
Accompanied by Niaoniao, Jin Yu came to Zhuxuan Courtyard. Song Wangqiu, the young mistress of the He family, was already seated.
Seeing Song Jinyu in a simple yet elegant outfit that couldn't hide her beautiful and noble aura, Song Wangqiu endured her jealousy.
"Madam He, what brings you here today?" Jin Yu didn't want to be polite to her at all.
If it weren't for her sister - in - law's invitation, she would even think it was a waste of time to be perfunctory.
"Sister, I know I've done a lot of wrong things in the past," Song Wangqiu put on a delicate and fragile look, trying to gain their sympathy.
"Just get to the point," Jin Yu was impatient. She had been very kind to the Second Madam's family! But now they were still as annoying as dog - skin plasters. It seemed she was still too kind - hearted.
A hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes, but it didn't show on her face.
"I'm pregnant. I beg sister to check my pulse for safety," Song Wangqiu cursed Jin Yu in her heart. She wondered who she was showing this cold attitude to.
"My medical skills are not that good. Please find a doctor, Madam He," Song Jinyu was no longer patient.
"Wangqiu, you're being unreasonable," Xiang picked up a cup of tea, her tone full of contempt.
"Yuer hasn't gotten married yet. How can she check the pregnancy pulse for a married woman?"
"We're sisters. And sister has studied medicine on Tianmen Mountain," Song Wangqiu said in a sarcastic tone, looking at them.
"Let Steward Song invite a doctor to go back to the He family with you," Jin Yu didn't want to talk to her anymore and was about to get up and leave.
"Sister! Don't be too complacent," Song Wangqiu was so angry that she clenched her fists.
"My servant saw sister having an improper meeting with a man," she finally blurted it out.
Goodness! An improper meeting? So this was where she was waiting for her!
"Presumptuous!" Xiang was furious.
"Do you think Jinyu would be as shameless as you?"
Song Wangqiu blurted it out in a fit of anger. "My servant saw her meeting a man in a private room of the tavern. If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning."
Jin Yu looked at her as if she were a curious object.
She shook her head and left.
Song Wangqiu was so angry that she grabbed Jin Yu.
Unable to dodge in time, Jin Yu had to struggle free from her entanglement. Unexpectedly, Song Wangqiu covered her stomach and fell to the ground.
"It hurts! It hurts!"
Xiang was so angry that she closed her eyes. At this moment, she regretted letting this woman into the mansion because of that little bit of affection.
"Sister, even if you're jealous of me, you shouldn't be so cruel," Song Wangqiu on the ground cried out in "pain".
The little maid beside her was also putting on a show.
At this time, Song Qinzhou and Song Chuyu heard Song Wangqiu's cries and entered Zhuxuan Courtyard.
Song Wangqiu shouted, "Uncle, save me! Sister wants to kill me."
Xiang was so angry that she wanted to sew her mouth shut.
"I just saw sister drinking and having fun with a man in a private room of the tavern and wanted to remind her," Song Wangqiu said with tears in her eyes, exposing the matter to Song Qinzhou.
Hearing this, Song Chuyu wanted to beat Song Wangqiu to death.
The aura of killing from years of war on the battlefield suddenly emerged, making Song Wangqiu on the ground tremble slightly.
"Shut up!"
Song Qinzhou looked at Song Jinyu and Xiang with a gloomy face.
Xiang wanted to explain something, but Song Qinzhou waved his hand and directly asked the steward to invite a doctor. He also arranged for Song Wangqiu to stay in the guest room.
In the study, the Song father and children were silent.
"After she's stable, send someone to take her back to the He family," Song Qinzhou said in a deep voice.
"Also, inform the He family that she has nothing to do with the prefect's mansion anymore."
"Yes, father."
To deal with someone who didn't know the limits, extreme measures were needed.
Song Wangqiu never expected that today's show not only didn't make Song Jinyu suffer but also got herself in trouble.
From then on, the prefect's mansion would no longer be her shield.
"Yuer! Is what Wangqiu said true or false?" Song Qinzhou asked with a gloomy face. He had been an official for decades and attached great importance to his reputation.
"I was drinking with my senior brother Yan Fei in the tavern that day. Prince Yu was also there," Jin Yu didn't know which time Song Wangqiu was talking about, so she only mentioned drinking with Yan Fei.
"You're almost of marriageable age," Song Qinzhou's gaze penetrated the treasure cabinet as if he could see the painting of Autumn Water Heart hanging in the inner room.
"The world is full of insidious and cunning people. You must be more careful in the future."
Song Jinyu was very surprised. Her father didn't seem to blame her.
Maybe her father understood her.