On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, it was the Qixi Festival.
The capital city was extremely bustling, with people coming and going in an endless stream and carriages and horses clogging the streets. On this day, many lovers would pray to the Weaver Girl in the sky for a happy marriage when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl had their “meeting on the Magpie Bridge” on the Qixi night. Moreover, many young women would give delicate purses to the men they admired.
Zhongli Mingye returned from the palace early. He had made an appointment with several princes to gather at the Moonlight Tower.
“What are you...?”
He glanced sideways at Song Jinyu, who was dressed like a noble young master in the capital, and was quite dissatisfied. It was the Qixi Festival today. “Why aren't you wearing women's clothes?” How could they go out for a stroll and shopping together like this?
Song Jinyu spread her hands helplessly and looked at her outfit from side to side. There was nothing wrong with it. “You only told me to dress up as a page boy, so I only brought some men's clothes.”
Zhongli Mingye raised his hand and rubbed his forehead. It was indeed his own problem. Although she looked good like this, he still felt a bit awkward. Niaoniao said with a soft smile, “Young Master Song, you'll surely captivate countless young ladies when you go out like this!”
Hearing Niaoniao's words, Song Jinyu immediately became elated. “Come on, dear sister. I'll show you the sights of the capital city.” After saying that, she was about to put her arm around Niaoniao's slender waist.
Zhongli Mingye helplessly pulled her over. “It'll just be you and me tonight...”
Song Jinyu made a face at Niaoniao helplessly and was then pulled away. She left Mitui, Niaoniao, and Chengsong to enjoy themselves on their own.
“Your Highness, people will misunderstand that you have a fondness for men like this!” Song Jinyu, the “young master,” broke free from his hand dissatisfiedly. Standing together with Zhongli Mingye, they were like a jade-like young master and a beautiful young man.
Some young girls who were just beginning to have romantic feelings flocked over. They shyly threw purses into Song Jinyu's arms and then ran away with charming smiles. They left behind the “young master,” who stood there stunned in the sky full of fireworks. Zhongli Mingye beside her was both angry and amused.
The two of them followed the crowd in the direction of the Moonlight Tower. As they walked, they looked around. The bustling capital city made Song Jinyu extremely happy. From time to time, some young girls would deliberately pass by them and stuff purses into Song Jinyu's arms.
In a short while, she had already received more than a dozen purses. “Oh? Light blue, crimson, and jade-like...?”
She glanced at Zhongli Mingye and saw that he didn't receive any. She laughed and said, “You're not bad-looking anyway. Why doesn't anyone give you a purse?” The other person looked at her helplessly. Why didn't anyone give him a purse? One look from him had already made those bold young girls back away. She, on the other hand, was happily accepting purses without realizing how many times the person beside her had already rejected others.
At this moment, they happened to pass by a bridge.
Standing on the high bridge and looking back, there were fireworks exploding. In the inky sky, it was as if flowers were blooming, bright and charming.
“Why don't you sew a purse for this king?”
Zhongli Mingye looked at the night sky with a dazed look in his eyes. His tone was a bit plaintive and... reproachful.
Song Jinyu lowered her head and said embarrassedly, “I've never learned needlework since I was a child. If you want one, let Niaoniao sew one for you. How about that?”
“...”
Zhongli Mingye was instantly furious.
“What about your wedding dress when you get married in the future?” She always acted as if she didn't take him seriously. It was really infuriating.
“Let the people in the prince's mansion make it... Anyway, it's for you to see.” After saying this carelessly, Song Jinyu didn't even notice what she had said.
But it made Zhongli Mingye's mind in a complete mess. “Anyway, it's for you to see.” He looked down at the young girl. Her petite body was adorned with a deep blue ribbon that tied up her long hair. Her smiling face was like a flower, and her pure eyes made his heart skip a beat. He couldn't control his emotions and wanted to kiss her right there on the bridge, in public.
However, before he could kiss her, the young girl suddenly jumped up. “Wow! Look... Ming Ruyi!!”
Her head bumped into Zhongli Mingye's chin. “Ouch...” He gave a fierce look at Ming Ruyi, who was still in the crowd not far away.
That person was smiling happily and waving his fan cheerfully at Song Jinyu.
“Hey... This Ming Ruyi is really a playboy among men!” Song Jinyu murmured to herself, which annoyed the man beside her. His face instantly darkened, and he pulled her away from the bridge.
“Hey! Why don't you wait for me?” Ming Ruyi was dissatisfied. Why was this person so overbearing? Was it not okay to say hello to Song Jinyu?
When they arrived at the Moonlight Tower, the Prince of Cheng and his princess, as well as the Prince of Yong, were already sitting in the private room on the top floor waiting for them.
When Zhongli Mingye pulled Song Jinyu in, Yu Duanya gave her a smile as a greeting. She hadn't heard the news of Song Jinyu's arrival in the capital, so when she saw her dressed in men's clothes, she was a bit dazed. Seeing the Prince of Yu's doting on her, this scene deeply stabbed at her heart.
“Princess, are you not feeling well?” The Prince of Cheng's gaze fell on her ugly face and he asked with concern.
Yu Duanya quickly collected her emotions and said, “I'm fine, Your Highness!”
The Prince of Cheng and the Prince of Yong also recognized Song Jinyu dressed in men's clothes. They just thought that Zhongli Mingye had such a preference.
When Ming Ruyi came in, he immediately questioned the Prince of Yu. “Why didn't you wait for this king?” The other person didn't even bother to look up and replied indifferently, “Uncle Huang has a new concubine. I guess your legs are weak and you walk too slowly!” These words made Song Jinyu look at Ming Ruyi curiously. “Concubine?”
The other two princes understood the meaning behind the words and burst into laughter, asking the Prince of Yu to offer a toast to Ming Ruyi. Otherwise, the King of Zhongzhou would surely punish him today.
Song Jinyu shook her head. This Ming Ruyi was really a philanderer. Zhongli Mingye looked at Ming Ruyi proudly. Let you keep staring at this king's woman.
Ming Ruyi was furious and took a big gulp of wine. He didn't calm down until the dishes were served.
Zhongli Mingye thoughtfully picked up a piece of sweet and sour fish for Song Jinyu. “Try this. It's a specialty of the Moonlight Tower.”
Unexpectedly, she immediately picked it up and put it back.
“I don't like fish. There are too many bones. It's too troublesome!”
Yu Duanya watched their interaction with her own eyes and couldn't help but smile bitterly. How many young ladies in the capital city hoped to gain the favor and love of the Prince of Yu, but only Song Jinyu didn't care.
Had they become so intimate?
Hearing her complain like this, Zhongli Mingye wasn't the least bit impatient. He let out a soft laugh. He slowly picked out the bones from the fish with his chopsticks until he was sure there were no more bones in the whole piece of fish.
Then he picked it up and gave it to her again. “There are no bones now.”
The doting in his tone stunned the several princes who were having dinner. Yu Duanya felt bitter in her heart. She had always thought that the Prince of Yu was cold and heartless. He just didn't love. Thinking of this, she had no choice but to drink wine to cover up her unhappiness. Suddenly, there was a piece of fish in the plate in front of her.
The words of the Prince of Cheng fell into her ears. “Eat some fish. It's good for your health.” For a moment, she was flustered. Yu Duanya was a bit at a loss. Didn't he say that they should “respect each other like guests”? Why? Why...
The Prince of Cheng had already seen the bitterness in her heart early on, but he didn't care. Who didn't have a beloved in their heart? It was just a passing fancy. As long as the person was by his side, he wasn't afraid that her heart wouldn't come back.
After eating that piece of fish, Song Jinyu exclaimed, “Delicious...”
She looked at Zhongli Mingye with bright eyes and saw his slender fingers holding the chopsticks as he carefully picked out the fish bones for her. Suddenly, she felt that her heart was in a complete mess, chaotic and beating more and more violently. “Whew...” She couldn't look anymore. She turned her head and saw Ming Ruyi looking at her with a mischievous smile.
What are you looking at!
In order to cover up her shyness, she had no choice but to take small sips of rice wine. Without realizing it, she had drunk quite a lot. Her face was flushed red, and she was faintly drunk.