With great effort, she wriggled out of his embrace and threw a handful of knockout powder at him.
The man plopped down on the ground in an undignified manner. Song Jinyu stroked her lips that had been kissed by him. They ached and felt numb.
She kicked Zhongli Mingye angrily. Hearing his muffled groan, she thought of his injury for her sake and couldn't bear to strike him anymore.
Now, how could she drag this man to Tianmen Mountain by herself?
Song Jinyu's face scrunched up in distress.
Zhongli Mingye!
She was so furious! Since she met him, she had constantly been on the verge of losing her temper.
She took off her cloak and managed to pull Zhongli Mingye onto it, tying him up securely. With great difficulty, she dragged him northward. What a pity for that fine white fox fur cloak!
Finally, she made it through the bamboo forest. "Phew!" Jinyu was drenched in sweat from exhaustion.
She reached the back of Tianmen Mountain, where her secret base was located. Jinyu dragged Zhongli Mingye inside with ease.
This base was where she and Yan Fei had refined secret medicines. Usually, servants would come to clean it, so it was very clean and tidy.
Song Jinyu let out a sigh of relief. She had finally survived. With great effort, she carried Zhongli Mingye onto the couch and covered him with a quilt.
She hadn't figured out how to face him when he woke up. After what had happened between them, it was bound to be a bit awkward. Thinking of what had just happened, Jinyu's mind was in turmoil, filled with mixed emotions.
Looking at Zhongli Mingye again, her state of mind was different.
She went to start a fire first. She'd cook some porridge.
There was an argument in the Jinshui Palace. Lady Jinhua was determined to deny everything. Just by looking at her expression, Du Zhouli knew that this woman was as ruthless as ever.
"The Jinshui Palace has never had any enmity with Tianmen Mountain," he stood up, and a glint of light shot out from his turbid cross - eyes.
"Why did you surround and attack the disciple under the sect master?"
"Surround and attack? Who does she think she is? How dare she make such a claim! This palace mistress disdains to do such a thing," Lady Jinhua refused to admit it.
"What about the leader of the black - clothed men who called your young palace mistress 'young master' one after another? Does that not count either?"
"The words of the dead naturally don't count!" Lady Jinhua picked up her teacup and took a sip gracefully.
Since she returned that day, Lady Jinhua had heard that Ouyang Jinse had actually appeared on the scene.
She was so angry that she locked Ouyang Jinse in the torture chamber.
Later, feeling sorry for him because he refused to eat or drink, she let him out. Who would have thought that he would directly attack and kill the remaining high - level martial artists who had survived that day.
Now, Lady Jinhua and her son were at odds with each other. The Jinshui Palace had also suffered a great loss of strength because of this. She was extremely angry. And now, Tianmen Mountain had actually sent an entire hall of people to surround her.
Du Zhouli suddenly laughed. This woman's vision was so limited. "Little Eleven is growing more and more like Qiu Shuixin," he said casually.
This seemingly innocent remark made Lady Jinhua's face turn pale.
"What did you say?"
Du Zhouli didn't say anything else and strolled away.
The situation in the Jinshui Palace remained at a stalemate that day.
Tianmen Mountain didn't need to do anything. Just showing their strength was enough to make the Jinshui Palace lose face.
In the Prince Yu's Mansion, Zhongli Mingye's shadow guards received the news that the crown prince would soon come to Liuzhou City to inspect the people's livelihood on behalf of the emperor.
Upon hearing this news, Xing Jian, the former leader of the shadow guards and now the butler, couldn't help but feel anxious. He had sent out shadow guards to search for the prince's whereabouts in the past few days, but there was still no news. In order to appease the officials in Liuzhou City, he had to spread the news that the prince was seriously ill and needed to rest.
Xing Jian guarded the Prince Yu's Mansion and refused all officials' visits.
However, the palace still got the news. The crown prince's visit was not a friendly one. They needed to find the prince quickly.
The porridge on the stove was bubbling, and the fragrance of the rice was getting stronger. Jinyu was sitting on the threshold, lost in thought for some time.
Before she knew it, night had fallen. Zhongli Mingye woke up.
He quietly walked up to Song Jinyu. Their eyes met. The firewood in the stove crackled, and the moonlight outside was bright.
Song Jinyu didn't look at him anymore. She averted her gaze first. "The porridge is ready."
"I was rude first," Zhongli Mingye broke the awkward atmosphere and said loudly with his back to Song Jinyu.
There was a faint smile on his lips. "However, I don't regret it at all."
Regret what! Song Jinyu blushed again.
He remembered everything. Humph! What a shameless man.
Song Jinyu hurriedly hid in the house to eat the porridge, leaving a bowl for Zhongli Mingye.
There was some noise in the yard. Song Jinyu looked nervous, while Zhongli Mingye walked out calmly.
It turned out that Yan Fei had arrived!
"Senior Brother Yan!" Song Jinyu was so excited that she was about to rush to Yan Fei's side when suddenly Zhongli Mingye grabbed her hand.
"What are you doing?"
"I guessed you'd come here," Yan Fei stepped forward without hesitation. He had been suffering these days.
First, he traced their steps to the dilapidated house where they had briefly stayed, and only then did he confirm that Jinyu was still alive.
Yan Fei knew that Jinyu was as familiar with the terrain here as he was. He guessed that she would pass through the bamboo forest and return to Tianmen Mountain from the back.
Following their trail, he traveled day and night without rest, just to see her as soon as possible.
Now that he saw her safe and sound, not seriously injured, he finally felt at ease.
"Yan Fei, this is Prince Yu," Yan Fei bowed slightly and then only looked at his junior sister.
Jinyu talked with Yan Fei excitedly, getting happier and happier.
"Sure enough, those who give birth to me are my parents, and those who understand me are Yan Fei!" She didn't notice at all that the Prince Yu's face was getting darker and darker.
Yan Fei continued, "I just sent out a signal whistle. I'm sure someone from the mountain will come to pick us up!" He looked at the girl's shining eyes lovingly.
"Great!" Song Jinyu got excited. She felt like a cat.
In her excitement, she slapped Zhongli Mingye on the shoulder. "Your Highness, smile!"
"After a narrow escape, there must be good fortune!"
Zhongli Mingye gave her a calm look and picked up the bowl of porridge to drink. Seeing that he ignored her, Jinyu took back her hand awkwardly.
Then she went to talk to Yan Fei again.
Sure enough, as Yan Fei had said, many people came down from the mountain to pick up the three of them and left the "secret base" together.
Song Jinyu murmured to herself, "I've finally made it through."
Yan Fei gently tapped her on the head. "You! Master has been extremely worried." He wanted to say that these days he had been unable to eat or drink. He had searched all the way, fearing that he would only find her corpse. Now that he saw her lively and kicking, the joy in his heart couldn't be hidden.
Back on the mountain, Miao Yunshen finally saw his little disciple. Seeing that she had lost a lot of weight, he wanted to scold her but couldn't say a word. Song Jinyu supported her master and walked into the room together. Wen Sirong and Yan Fei waited outside.
Miao Yunshen's eyes fell on the extraordinary - looking strange man. The black robe with cloud patterns was not something ordinary people could wear, and the purple - gold crown was exclusive to people of high status. It seemed that his identity must be extraordinary.
"Master, this is Prince Yu," Song Jinyu introduced Zhongli Mingye's identity in front of her master.
Miao Yunshen led everyone to pay their respects to Prince Yu. Although he was puzzled about how Little Eleven had ended up with him, he didn't show it on his face. He would find out when there was no one around.
"Your Highness's visit has brought luster to Tianmen Mountain," he said.
"It's okay. I happened to meet Jinyu. I'm very grateful to the sect master for rescuing me," Zhongli Mingye's eyes showed a hint of aloofness, but his gaze towards Song Jinyu was full of tenderness.
Seeing that it was already late at night, Miao Yunshen didn't ask any questions. He had someone prepare guest rooms for them to rest well.