"Father, who is this good-looking elder sister?"
He Yi nestled sweetly in the emperor's arms, her eyes fixed on Song Jinyu.
"I'm not worthy of such a title," Song Jinyu quickly replied. She couldn't possibly be the princess's elder sister.
"How is she?"
The emperor was most concerned about his little princess.
"Although the princess has woken up, she is still weak," Song Jinyu answered truthfully. Although the princess's madness had been cured under her treatment, she still needed further acupuncture.
"It will take some time for her to recover."
"In that case, you shall accompany us into the palace!"
The emperor's words shocked many people present. The queen couldn't figure out the emperor's intention, while Zhongli Mingye worried that the palace might not be a suitable place for Song Jinyu.
But Song Jinyu remained calm. She had no intention of entering the palace.
"Your Majesty, the princess is not in a condition to travel," she said.
The emperor frowned, his eyes turning cold. "What do you mean?"
"The princess cannot endure a long journey," Song Jinyu explained briefly, hoping the emperor would understand.
Seeing the emperor lost in thought, Zhongli Mingye stepped forward. "He Yi has just woken up. Why not let her recuperate at my mansion?"
"I will take good care of her."
Zhongli Mingye was afraid that the emperor would really take Song Jinyu back to the capital. Given her personality, who knew what kind of troubles she might encounter in the palace.
The emperor gave him a meaningful look.
At this moment, He Yi opened her eyes wide. "Father, He Yi doesn't want to go back to the capital. I want to play in Liuzhou."
Concubine Jia was worried about the princess, but she had to follow the emperor. Although they were favored by the emperor, the princess's illness was more important.
"In that case, Mingye, take good care of He Yi," the emperor said, granting Zhongli Mingye's request. From then on, Princess He Yi stayed in Liuzhou to recuperate for a month, which made her extremely happy.
Finally, the emperor set off for another place, and Princess He Yi moved from the palace to the Prince Yu's Mansion.
"Fourth brother, Sister Yu said she would take me outside the city today," He Yi said cheerfully. These days, she had been having a great time, and her body was gradually regaining its vitality.
"Are you going?" He Yi leaned over with a smile.
Zhongli Mingye put down the book in his hand and looked at her lovingly. "No!"
"Really not?"
Did he think she was too young to notice? Every day when Song Jinyu came to check on her and give her treatment, he would wait outside. Under the pretext of caring about her condition, he would always find an opportunity to talk to Song Jinyu.
Her fourth brother was a well - known cold - faced prince in the capital. When had he ever been so enthusiastic?
"Really not?" He Yi teased Zhongli Mingye playfully. "The way you look at her, full of tenderness and affection—tsk tsk."
"Nonsense!"
Caught red - handed, Zhongli Mingye glared at her.
"If you don't go, I will!"
He Yi ran away laughing, leaving a sentence behind. "I'll ask her for you."
Ask her? That woman would probably just refuse. These days, he had tried to talk to her, but she had shown no response.
Zhongli Mingye felt a bit annoyed. He couldn't figure out Jinyu's feelings. He was afraid that the imperial edict of marriage might scare her.
In the countryside manor, Princess He Yi was pulled onto an apricot tree by Jinyu.
Jinyu picked a green apricot and put it in the princess's mouth. "Try it?"
He Yi immediately frowned from the sourness.
"Okay! You tricked me again."
"I'll have one too," Jinyu said and took a bite. The sour taste rushed up her nose, and she immediately started sneezing.
The two girls chatted and laughed on the tree.
The servants in the manor prepared a feast in the apricot grove. "In a few days, the apricots will turn red. I'll send some to you," Jinyu said.
These days, Princess He Yi had grown fonder of Jinyu.
She was different from the other young ladies in the capital. She really regarded He Yi as a friend. Not only was she highly skilled in medicine, but she was also lively and interesting.
No wonder, no wonder her fourth brother was so infatuated with her.
"Jinyu?"
"Is my fourth brother a good man?" Princess He Yi asked casually while secretly observing Jinyu's expression.
"He has helped me many times and even saved my life," Jinyu said, putting down her chopsticks. Thinking of that person, she felt a bit confused. These days, she had been going to his mansion to check on the princess's condition. Every time she met him, she felt a bit embarrassed.
"Fourth brother never does anything unnecessary," He Yi said, looking at Jinyu playfully.
"I think you two are a perfect match."
"Princess, if you say so, I'll get angry," Jinyu said shyly. She knew very well that Zhongli Mingye's feelings for her were more than just interest. His repeated help must have had a purpose.
"I'm the daughter of the magistrate Song and know a bit of medicine. I'm probably useful to him."
Jinyu's words couldn't convince Princess He Yi, nor could they convince herself.
Princess He Yi looked at her seriously. "That day when you were treating me, my fourth brother told Father that if you failed, he would take all the responsibility."
The woman across from her suddenly lowered her head. Did he really do that? Her heart was in a mess again.
After lunch, the two girls wandered around the apricot grove for a long time and picked a lot of green apricots.
They looked at each other, and there was a hint of mischief in their eyes.
"I think fourth brother has never eaten these green apricots," He Yi said.
So, in the evening, Zhongli Mingye received a basket of green apricots.
He really had never eaten them. He Yi said they were picked by Song Jinyu herself.
He took a bite, and the sour juice immediately gushed out. He silently ate the whole apricot and felt his teeth getting softer.
It was so sour!
That night, Song Jinyu had a dream.
In the dream,
Zhongli Mingye was wearing a mask. He asked her, "The apricots are so sour. When can I eat the sweet ones?"
Then he reached out his hand to touch her face.
There was the sour smell of green apricots mixed with a refreshing fragrance. Suddenly, she felt her nose itchy. She waved her hand, but she grabbed... a human hand!
She was so scared that she almost screamed. When she opened her eyes, she saw the Masked Gentleman who had not appeared for a long time.
He covered her mouth and looked at her playfully, ignoring the accusation in her eyes.
"You are becoming more and more presumptuous!" Song Jinyu wrapped herself in the quilt, wondering how Niaoniao was.
This man could ignore the guards of the Song Mansion, Cheng Song and Niaoniao, at night.
He must be extremely skilled in martial arts!
"Long time no see. You've been having a wonderful time," the Masked Gentleman said, sitting casually at the table. The moonlight was dim, and his face was unclear.
"What does my life have to do with you?"
"Eh?"
The Masked Gentleman suddenly became a bit arrogant. "Is this how you treat the messenger?"
After tidying herself up, Jinyu got out of bed. She walked gracefully towards the Masked Gentleman. Suddenly, the sleeve arrow was activated. A thin needle silently flew past his face and hit the beam.
"If you do this again, don't blame me for being rude!"
Staring at the Masked Gentleman, her voice was soft but firm.
The moonlight shone down. The stubborn girl was defending her dignity in a subtle way. At this moment, the Masked Gentleman re - evaluated Song Jinyu. She was really...
"Ouyang Jinsè has a special relationship with the crown prince," he said, turning his back.
"The Golden Water Palace will not be willing to be inferior to others." These few words revealed the intention of the Golden Water Palace.
"Thank you!" Song Jinyu blushed slightly. She thought this man was just teasing her, but she didn't expect him to be a messenger.
"I'm really sad,"
The Masked Gentleman got closer to her. "You, a young woman, are so on guard against me."
Thinking about it, he had never harmed her. Every time he appeared, he either helped her or comforted her. Although she didn't know his background, compared with some of her family members, this man seemed to be reliable.
She really didn't know whether the appearance of the Masked Gentleman was a good or bad thing for her.
Song Jinyu relaxed and yawned. "Do you have anything else? If not, I'll go to sleep!"
"Let's sleep together," the Masked Gentleman joked and was about to lie down. Jinyu took out a long needle and wiped it on her sleeve.
"You're asking for it! You can try," she said.
The Masked Gentleman straightened up helplessly, gave her a half - smiling look, and then jumped out of the window.
Before leaving, he closed the window for her to keep out the wind.
When Song Jinyu went out, she found that Niaoniao had been hit with a sleeping acupoint.
Who on earth was this man?