As the sky gradually darkened, the clattering of horseshoes echoed ceaselessly on the road. After passing through several streets and crossing two bridges, they finally arrived at the prefect's mansion.
Lin Yijun dismounted first and fetched a small embroidered stool for Song Jinyu. After Niaoniao got off the carriage, she helped Song Jinyu down. Seeing Lin Yijun waiting obediently outside, Song Jinyu smiled at him and said, "Mr. Lin, would you like to come in for some tea?"
Lin Yijun bowed with his hands clasped and replied, "No need. I'll visit your mansion another day." With that, he mounted his horse and galloped away. Before leaving, the blush on his face extended all the way to the tips of his ears.
Niaoniao laughed and said, "This Mr. Lin is really interesting. He blushes like anything when talking to the young lady."
Song Jinyu also smiled and then turned to enter the mansion.
This scene caught the eye of a man not far away. The man tightly grasped the jade statue in his hand. Frost covered his handsome and elegant face, and a murderous look welled up in his phoenix eyes. Qingfeng saw that Miss Song had already entered the mansion, but the prince didn't go to look for her. Just as he was about to ask, the prince said, "Return to the mansion!" His voice was filled with a chilling air. Qingfeng stole a sidelong glance and wondered if the prince was angry. Immediately, he drove the carriage back to the prince's mansion.
The next day, at noon, the carriage of Princess Duanya arrived in front of the Prince Yu's Mansion. Zhongli Mingye welcomed her in person. They hadn't seen each other for four years. Inside the carriage, Yu Duanya twisted her handkerchief into a mess.
"Your Highness, the prince has come to welcome you in person!" The voice of the maid Chuntao made Yu Duanya's heart blossom.
"Thank you for your trouble, Prince..."
Zhongli Mingye welcomed Yu Duanya into the mansion and ordered people to take good care of her. They had lunch together.
"Brother Mingye, Duanya is really happy..." Yu Duanya looked up at him. The man who had haunted her dreams now exuded even more heroic and extraordinary qualities.
Zhongli Mingye elegantly served her some dishes and said, "Your Highness, don't be polite. These are the special dishes of Liuzhou."
"Thank you, Brother Mingye!" Seeing him serve the dishes for her personally, Yu Duanya was even more certain of her feelings for him.
During the lunch, both of them had their own thoughts. "You should rest well first. I'll take you to the riverside for a stroll tomorrow." After saying this, Zhongli Mingye got up and left. Yu Duanya watched his back with reluctant eyes, and her heart softened a little.
Lin Ziyu rushed to the prefect Song's mansion and shouted, "Jinyu..."
Song Jinyu was checking the accounts sent from the manor at that moment. "What's up?"
"Well, my family's ship will arrive in Liuzhou tomorrow."
"Your family?"
Seeing that she didn't understand, Lin Ziyu said, "Hey, my elder brother has always been doing the family business."
"My ancestors were engaged in river and sea trade, and my grandfather's generation has been doing it all along."
Lin Ziyu leaned closer to her and said, "It's just that my father joined the army. So my grandfather had to hand over the business to my elder brother."
Song Jinyu wasn't interested in the history of the Lin family. "Hmm..."
"My elder brother is not engaged yet." Lin Ziyu liked Song Jinyu. She thought her elder brother was also very outstanding. Although his family background couldn't match that of the prefect's mansion, his family was simple without the messy things of a big family, which was just suitable for Song Jinyu's personality.
Yesterday, she asked Lin Yijun about it. As soon as she asked, his face turned red. He was not as straightforward as when doing business in the market at all. Lin Ziyu understood that her elder brother might have fallen in love with Song Jinyu at first sight.
Song Jinyu gave her a strange look. What did it matter to her that her elder brother was not engaged?
"Let's go! Hurry up and have a look. The big ship by the riverside has brought a lot of good goods." Lin Ziyu pulled Song Jinyu's hand and shouted while running, "Pick whatever you like... My elder brother said that you can choose freely from all the goods on the ship!"
What, your elder brother? "Hey, slow down." Song Jinyu was pulled onto the carriage by Lin Ziyu and they galloped to the riverside.
When they arrived at the riverside, Lin Yijun was already waiting there. When he saw Song Jinyu coming, he was very happy in his heart, but he was too shy to talk to her too much. Only his eyes revealed his emotions.
Lin Ziyu chattered away to Song Jinyu. In the distance, many ships were gradually approaching. They were getting closer and closer. "Look..."
"That's our family's ship."
Song Jinyu was also infected by her and became happy. She followed Lin Ziyu and ran forward. Just when passing by Qingli Zhai, she seemed to remember something and subconsciously looked up.
The window of Qingli Zhai facing the riverside was open. A beautiful and charming young girl was smiling and looking up, talking to a man. The girl gave a charming smile, and the man's eyes hid tenderness and a hint of detachment.
However, the next moment, as if seeing something, the man's eyes instantly froze and he stared straight at the riverside.
The people in Qingli Zhai were Zhongli Mingye and Yu Duanya. Qingli Zhai was originally his property, so he took a short rest there.
Unexpectedly, he happened to see Song Jinyu and Lin Yijun beside her.
It's him again!
Zhongli Mingye tightly grasped the window sill. When Song Jinyu's eyes met his, he couldn't control his anger and... jealousy at all!
When Song Jinyu clearly saw the face of the young girl beside him, the smile on her face disappeared. She tightly grabbed Lin Ziyu and continued running forward. Lin Yijun also ran away in their direction.
Yu Duanya didn't know what was wrong with Zhongli Mingye. He suddenly stopped talking. She followed his gaze but only saw a few figures running past. With a puzzled heart, she sat down and poured a cup of tea for Zhongli Mingye.
Song Jinyu saw the big ship dock. Lin Ziyu excitedly pulled her and picked out a lot of fashionable jewelry from the capital. Song Jinyu was absent - minded and simply chose a few hairpins and then stopped.
Lin Ziyu thought she was too shy to choose, so she chose a few good jade bracelets for her. When they returned, it was already dark. The Lin siblings sent her home and then had dinner at the Song's mansion. During the dinner, Song Qinzhou asked Lin Yijun a few more questions. He seemed to be very satisfied with the young master of the Lin family.
After the Lin siblings left the Song's mansion, Song Jinyu was very tired and sat in her room. She told Niaoniao to go out and just wanted to be alone.
Who was that girl?
The young girl was naturally beautiful, as bright as the autumn moon. Although she looked sickly and delicate, she was like Xizi holding her heart. She was really a beauty...
That night, the girl's eyebrows and eyes, as well as that man's faint smile, kept haunting her mind.
Zhongli Mingye was a bit out of control at the moment. He couldn't even tolerate the men around her. The way Lin Yijun looked at her almost made him lose control on the spot.
"Qingfeng, prepare gifts."
He would visit the Song's mansion to see her tomorrow. After only a few days' absence, she dared to be with other men.