"Your Highness, Xueyi cannot agree to this," Xiao Xueyi said with his eyes closed. No one could see the schemes hidden in his eyes. Although he needed the help of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince might not necessarily be the next emperor.
The Crown Prince, Zhongli Chengze, suddenly burst into laughter. "Do you look down on this prince?"
Xiao Xueyi replied, "The master of Tianmen Mountain has a certain connection with the current emperor. I'm unable to fulfill your wish."
The Crown Prince's face turned ashen with anger, but he was helpless. Lately, his suspicion had been growing. On the one hand, he relied on these martial - arts forces to consolidate his position as the Crown Prince. On the other hand, he was on guard against the other princes.
Now, the Jinshui Palace had fully defected to him, but Tianmen Mountain still remained under the emperor's influence. If he couldn't bring down Tianmen Mountain, the emperor might still live a long life. This was unacceptable to him. Now that Tingran Pavilion refused to follow his orders, it naturally aroused his suspicion.
After the Crown Prince left, Xiao Xueyi had someone wheel him out of the courtyard. Gazing at the star - filled sky, it was time to choose a new partner. Zhongli Chengze was simply too stupid!
Princess Heyi took Song Jinyu to plead with the emperor and then slipped out of the palace gate.
"I heard that there are many theater troupes from the Southern Border today," Princess Heyi said.
There were monkey shows, fire - swallowing acts, and even people breaking stones on their chests. They happily ran forward in the street with the crowd.
Ming Ruyi walked out, looking suave as he waved his folding fan.
Many women cast admiring glances at him. Some bold ones even threw their handkerchiefs at him. This scene caught Song Jinyu's and Princess Heyi's eyes, and Ming Ruyi looked quite proud. However, not long after, he was surrounded by a few young dandies.
"What a pretty young lad. Which brothel are you from?" one of the young men in purple said as he reached out his chubby hand to touch Ming Ruyi's face. Normally, Ming Ruyi could have dodged, but because he saw Song Jinyu and the others, he was caught off guard and was molested by the scoundrel. He could no longer look proud.
Song Jinyu burst into laughter when she saw a man touching him.
Ming Ruyi, not only did women like him, but he could also attract men? Princess Heyi tried hard to hold back her laughter to save her uncle's face. But it was just too funny. "Haha!"
The man in purple let out a scream. Ming Ruyi had broken his hand.
"Wow, so ruthless!" Song Jinyu swallowed hard and decided that she must never offend Ming Ruyi.
Ming Ruyi saw her trying hard not to laugh. Her beautiful eyes were full of amusement.
"Is it that funny?" he asked.
"Um... No, no... Puhaha!" She couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Princess Heyi beside her couldn't hold back either. The two women laughed on the street, and Ming Ruyi's face grew darker and darker.
" cough—"
It took them a long time to stop laughing.
Song Jinyu patted him on the shoulder seriously. "Ming Ruyi, I'm feeling inferior. As a woman, I don't have as much charm as you."
"Do you want to try? Hmm—"
Ming Ruyi's eyes were as sharp as knives. Song Jinyu didn't dare to be presumptuous anymore. She suddenly remembered that Zhongli Mingye had told her to stay away from the Prince of Zhongzhou. Immediately, she straightened her face, bowed, and said, "Your humble servant pays respects to the Prince of Zhongzhou."
Ming Ruyi was very confused. Why did she suddenly act like a different person?
The three of them decided to go to the Mingyue Tower first. As they walked, they looked around. Song Jinyu was very excited. The capital was truly under the emperor's feet. It was not only stable but also very prosperous.
Princess Heyi had given her a lot of gold leaves, which were just enough to buy some interesting things. Speaking of the gold leaves, Zhongli Mingye had also given her a box yesterday and didn't allow her to decline.
Now, Song Jinyu was quite wealthy.
She was rummaging through the stalls when suddenly there was chaos in front. Many people rushed towards them. Ming Ruyi's face tightened, and he quickly protected Song Jinyu.
Princess Heyi was separated from them by the crowd. "Princess!" Song Jinyu broke free from Ming Ruyi and ran to Princess Heyi's side. She grabbed her hand. At this moment, their attention was distracted, and no one noticed a person slowly approaching them.
Suddenly, a knife was thrust hard at Princess Heyi's back.
Out of the corner of her eye, Song Jinyu saw this and without thinking, she pushed Princess Heyi away. The knife with a strange blue glow stabbed into her back!
Ming Ruyi's folding fan hit the attacker, knocking him to the ground, but the knife still injured Song Jinyu!
"Jinyu—" Princess Heyi was scared silly. Blood soaked through Song Jinyu's clothes.
Not far away, Zhongli Mingye saw this and felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.
He stepped on the crowd, injuring many passers - by in the process. He flew to her side like a madman. They had originally made an appointment to go shopping today, but he had been delayed by something.
Princess Heyi cried loudly. Song Jinyu gradually fell into a coma. She seemed to hear Zhongli Mingye's voice and also seemed to hear Ming Ruyi's voice.
Zhongli Mingye picked up Song Jinyu like a madman. He wished he could tear the attacker into pieces. But before he could do anything, the attacker took poison and killed himself.
Seeing Song Jinyu in a comatose state, Niaoniao knew she was poisoned. She quickly gave her a common antidote pill. Princess Heyi was trembling with fear. She had seen with her own eyes that Song Jinyu had pushed her away, and this scene would never be forgotten.
The lights were bright in the Prince Yu's Mansion.
The imperial doctors in the palace were all desperately treating Song Jinyu. Because of the Prince Yu and the Prince of Zhongzhou's order, if they couldn't cure this girl, they would be beheaded.
"How is she?" Zhongli Mingye maintained his last bit of rationality, but his clenched fists betrayed his emotions.
The imperial doctor said nervously, "The girl is poisoned, but the knife didn't hit a vital part." Fortunately, she had taken the antidote pill in time, or the highly poisonous substance would surely have taken her life.
"Your Highness, the girl's life is out of danger, but the poison is too strong. It will take some time for her to wake up." Or she might never wake up.
Ming Ruyi stopped waving his fan. "Investigate!"
On the soft couch in the bedroom, Song Jinyu's face was pale, and her breathing was weak. Zhongli Mingye closed his eyes to dispel the sense of powerlessness.
The charming and lively girl was now like a lifeless person. He sat beside her and took the handkerchief from Niaoniao. He gently wiped her face.
"Please, don't leave me!"
Zhongli Mingye recalled the scene during the day when she fell. His heart was breaking.
Since their first meeting, Song Jinyu had been treating others. She had saved Zhongli Mingye, Princess Heyi, and even Yu Duanya, who had harmed her, by curing her deficiency.
Now, she was lying here, silent, neither crying nor laughing.
Zhongli Mingye picked up her hand. It was slender and fair, like tofu. If she woke up, she might scold him for taking advantage of her.
He remembered that she had said yesterday, "The first man I thought was good - looking is you!" And there was that blooming rose. The gorgeous rose was just like her smiling face.
He covered his heart. It was in great pain. He thought he must be crazy. He even wanted to follow her.
Yes, he just liked to be with her all the time. He wanted her to have him in her heart and never be separated from her again.
He sat there for the whole night.
The emperor received the news in the palace and was extremely angry! He ordered a thorough investigation. And Princess Heyi, who had been saved by Song Jinyu at the cost of her life, was crying like a tearful mess in front of the emperor. "Father - emperor, if it weren't for Sister Jinyu, your daughter would never have seen you again!"
Hearing this, the emperor hugged Princess Heyi in his arms. "I will reward her!" That girl was truly brave. Now that her life was uncertain, it was really a pity.
The emperor took the princess to the Prince Yu's Mansion to visit Song Jinyu. When Princess Heyi saw that she hadn't woken up, she couldn't help crying. Ming Ruyi was doing his best to track down the murderer and get justice for her.
He had come several times but was sent back by Zhongli Mingye. "Uncle, after all, there should be a proper distance between men and women."
Zhongli Mingye's eyes showed a terrifying look. The strong possessiveness in his eyes showed Ming Ruyi his determination.
Ming Ruyi was indignant. "A proper distance between men and women? What about you?"
Aren't you a man too?