Early in the morning, Song Jinyu got up a bit earlier than Princess Heyi.
While she was strolling in the prince's mansion garden, Steward Xingjian came over. "Greetings to Miss Song!" Xingjian saw Zhongli Mingye in a much better mood last night. Sure enough, only Miss Song had a way.
Song Jinyu was quite familiar with him. "Miss, ever since the prince heard the news that you encountered a flash flood, he has been unable to eat or sleep well and has been anxious day and night."
"First, he searched all the mountains high and low, and then he found an excuse to come to the capital on purpose just to confirm your safety." Xingjian thought it necessary for Song Jinyu to know everything Zhongli Mingye had done for her.
"The prince rode his horse for three days and three nights to get to the capital."
No wonder he looked so unwell that day. "Thank you for telling me this..."
"Alas..."
She was a bit worried. Thinking of the heavy responsibility on her shoulders and Zhongli Mingye's affection, she couldn't help hesitating.
They were originally on two different paths. Was it right or wrong for them to be in such an ambiguous entanglement now?
The garden was full of blooming flowers, their fragrance filling the air.
A shadow fell over her eyebrows, and she sank into endless confusion.
Under the sun, someone shielded her from the heat. She looked up and saw Zhongli Mingye. His phoenix eyes were filled with a smile, and his sword-shaped eyebrows softened, showing only tenderness.
"Heyi couldn't find you. So you've come to the garden," he said as he reached out to pick a petal from her hair.
Looking at him, Song Jinyu had so many things to say, but the words got stuck in her throat.
Regarding Tianmen Mountain, she couldn't trust anyone easily. Zhongli Mingye saw the struggle in her eyes and felt a pang of pain.
However, he would never let go.
The news that Princess Heyi had taken Song Jinyu to stay in Prince Yu's Mansion overnight reached the ears of the King of Zhongzhou. Ming Ruyi's folding fan swayed slower and slower, and finally snapped shut. "Let's go..."
"Your Highness, you haven't had your breakfast yet."
By the time he arrived at Prince Yu's Mansion, Song Jinyu and the others were long gone. They had gone shopping together. The capital was much more prosperous than Liuzhou.
Song Jinyu and Princess Heyi were chatting merrily, while Zhongli Mingye behind them looked at them dotingly. Heyi winked at him, and Zhongli Mingye smiled. "No matter what you want today, Your Brother will buy it for you."
Hearing this, Heyi jumped up happily.
Song Jinyu laughed at her. "You're really a child."
Zhongli Mingye thought to himself: You're not even as good as a child. A child would know my feelings.
Just as they passed by, a pair of venomous eyes stared at them from the second floor of a nearby inn. "Song Jinyu, I'll make sure you never leave the capital alive!"
Shen Yingyun squeezed her handkerchief tightly, her teeth almost grinding to pieces. The maid beside her trembled in fear.
In the Crown Prince's Mansion, the Crown Princess had just finished her confinement. Lying listlessly on the beauty's couch, she still remembered that day when she had exhausted all her strength to give birth to a stillborn baby, a fully formed baby boy. The queen blamed her for being useless, and the crown prince showed no pity for her. Among the people from the Grand Tutor's Mansion, only her mother had sent some tonics, while her father hadn't even asked a single word.
To the Grand Tutor's Mansion, she was probably a useless pawn now.
"Heh..." A strange sound came from her throat. It was Shen Yingyun, her own younger sister.
For the sake of wealth and glory, she had dared to harm her and cause her to lose her child. The Crown Princess's heart was as dead as ashes. The person who had harmed her was not one of the concubines or maidservants in the Eastern Palace, but her own younger sister.
The Crown Princess struggled to sit up weakly. "Where's the crown prince?" The maid beside her replied, "The crown prince has gone to the Moonlight Tower."
It must be those dancing girls again. Fine, fine. He was never a good man anyway.
"Her Majesty the Queen is here."
When the queen heard the news of the Crown Princess's miscarriage, she was extremely disappointed. When she learned that it was a fully formed male fetus, she was so angry that she almost fainted. If it weren't for the crown prince's protection of Shen Yingyun, the queen would surely have thrown her into the cold palace.
"My lady, your child is unfilial." With that, tears welled up in her eyes. The Crown Princess knew how to play the weak. If she wanted to rise again, she needed to rely on the queen's power.
The queen, being an experienced woman, said, "You should take good care of your health. You will always be the mistress of the Crown Prince's Mansion."
These words reassured the Crown Princess.
Not long after, this news reached Shen Yingyun's ears. She smiled faintly. "A dead person can still be the mistress of the Eastern Palace?"
She whispered to the servant beside her, "Pass the news that the Crown Princess has damaged her health to the queen."
"Yes."
Looking at her own belly, she frowned, worried. She had served the crown prince many times every month. Why couldn't she get pregnant?
The maid beside her sneered disdainfully.
Shen Yingyun only wanted to harm the Crown Princess, but she didn't realize that she had fallen into a trap long ago.
She sent the servants away and said towards the darkness, "Are you all ready?"
Several dark shadows left after receiving the order. These people were all the dead soldiers raised by the Grand Tutor's Mansion. Since the Crown Princess's miscarriage, her father had gradually taken a fancy to her.
Song Jinyu, the prison in the capital will be your burial place!
Concubine Shu finally met Song Jinyu today.
She had long heard that Princess Heyi had invited her to the capital for a visit. Now that she saw this girl, who was so delicate and transparent, she immediately took a great fancy to her.
Zhongli Mingye was afraid that his mother would scare Song Jinyu, so he was also accompanying them in the palace.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Highness the Concubine."
This bastard had brought her to Concubine Shu's palace without saying a word, and Heyi had even tricked her. In her heart, she wished she could rub these two on the ground.
But on the surface, she looked gentle and submissive.
Concubine Shu asked her a lot of questions, such as what books she read at home and how she managed the household. Song Jinyu answered generously, looking like a gentle and virtuous young lady from an official's family. Concubine Shu liked her very much.
Zhongli Mingye was very proud. He couldn't hide the smile on his lips. Concubine Shu looked at the two of them and was very satisfied. She was a gentle person and hoped that her children could also be happy and fulfilled.
Thinking of this, she took off the jade bracelet on her hand, pulled Song Jinyu's hand, and put it on for her. "Good child, I like you."
What? Could she refuse?
Song Jinyu was thinking secretly and looked at Zhongli Mingye accusingly. The man pretended not to see and just chatted with his mother, but there was a smile in the corner of his eye.
Humph! He was so dark - hearted.
Heyi quietly touched her hand,
pouted, and said with a smile, "Concubine Shu is so partial. She only rewards Sister Jinyu. Heyi doesn't get anything."
Concubine Shu laughed at her and said that she would prepare a generous dowry for her when she grew up.
For a moment, there was a happy atmosphere in Concubine Shu's palace. When they were about to leave, Concubine Shu told her son to take good care of Song Jinyu. After all, she hadn't come of age yet.
Zhongli Mingye agreed with a smile. His eyes glanced at Song Jinyu, and the girl's face became redder and redder. She just wanted to find a hole to hide in.