After Zhongli Mingye returned from the post station, from the scene, it seemed that Princess Suoli had been poisoned by a gu poison, which was directly related to those dead maids.
However, all the servants around Princess Suoli were brought from the Gu tribe. Those dead maids were just rough - serving maids. If Princess Suoli died, who would benefit from it?
The crown prince? The situation in the capital was so complicated. Did he really have the leisure for this? Or Prince Cheng? Did he not want Prince Yong to get the support of the Gu tribe, so he wanted to harm Princess Suoli?
The more he thought about it, the more complicated it became. Currently, Princess Suoli was still unconscious. He gave instructions that once Princess Suoli recovered, they should be sent out of the city immediately. Since the murderer was still at large, Princess Suoli must not be in danger again.
This time, he had to come up with a good plan. Otherwise, being scolded was a minor matter. The more serious thing was that Magistrate Song might lose his official position, which would further affect his marriage with Song Jinyu.
Seeing his bad complexion, Qingfeng hesitated and reported the news that Song Jinyu had been confined in the ancestral shrine.
"Confined again?"
He rubbed his forehead helplessly. One problem was not solved yet, and another came up. He had no choice but to go to the magistrate's mansion. After all, Song Jinyu had just returned from the cemetery. Her delicate body could hardly bear the cold in the ancestral shrine!
Moreover, because of what happened yesterday, he had to see her.
Unfortunately, the ideal was beautiful, but the reality was cruel. Magistrate Song refused Prince Yu's request on the grounds that Song Jinyu was confined.
He also said, "Since the emperor has bestowed the marriage, according to the customs of the Xia Dynasty, those who are engaged should not meet before the wedding." His words left Zhongli Mingye smiling bitterly.
He wanted to use his status as a prince to pressure Magistrate Song, but then he thought that he was his future father - in - law. If he was not careful, he would offend Song Jinyu. So Zhongli Mingye had to go to Song Chuyu.
"General Song, Jinyu..."
Song Chuyu was just training the troops in the Huben Camp. "Your Highness, please rest assured. My wife will take good care of her."
Take good care of her? How could one take good care of someone in a place like the ancestral shrine? Zhongli Mingye was dissatisfied. "What I mean is..."
"Father thinks that Yu'er is too bold and acts on her own. Now that she has received the emperor's bestowal of marriage, she will face a more complex environment in the future," Song Chuyu told Prince Yu about Song Qinzhou's concerns.
"Your Highness also knows her character. I'm afraid she will have difficulty shouldering the responsibilities of a princess in the future."
It seemed that Song Jinyu's confinement in the ancestral shrine this time was inevitable.
Seeing that the Song father and son were so determined, Zhongli Mingye didn't say anything more. He had to return to the prince's mansion to think of a way. Before he could come up with a solution, Song Jinyu suddenly fainted in the ancestral shrine!
Song Qinzhou had a splitting headache. Looking at his daughter's pale face, he felt heart - ache. He knew that she did it for the sake of the entire magistrate's mansion. But because of this incident, he didn't want his daughter to keep working so hard.
He hoped that Song Jinyu could be like an ordinary young lady in the boudoir, embroidering, enjoying flowers, playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting every day. Unfortunately, his daughter was becoming more and more capable, comparable to a man.
Just...
Song Jinyu suddenly had a high fever. While in a coma, she kept shouting, "Mother..." Song Qinzhou held his daughter's hand painfully. Mrs. Xiang found a doctor to prescribe medicine, but the high fever didn't subside for a long time!
"Prince Yu is here!"
Steward Song welcomed Zhongli Mingye in. He rushed straight to Song Jinyu's bedside. Seeing that her small face had become even thinner because of the illness, he felt heart - ache. "Call the imperial physician!"
He heard Song Jinyu talking in her sleep. He tightly held her soft hand. "I'm here..."
He didn't know what was in her dream. She frowned anxiously and shed tears with her eyes closed. Suddenly, he leaned over and kissed away the tear at the corner of her eye.
"Don't be afraid!"
This time, he didn't care about the worldly eyes or the so - called taboo between men and women.
Zhongli Mingye stayed by the bedside. After the imperial physician boiled the medicine, he personally fed it to her. Unfortunately, the unconscious girl couldn't swallow the medicine at all.
He took a sip of the medicine and wanted to feed it to her. Unexpectedly, Song Jinyu suddenly opened her eyes. Frightened, he swallowed the medicine with a "gulp".
"Cough... cough..."
Song Jinyu looked at him in bewilderment. Suddenly, she remembered the beautiful girls that day. Angrily, she turned her head and refused to look at him.
Zhongli Mingye coaxed her gently, "Be good... drink the medicine first." This tone and attitude fell into Song Chuyu's eyes as he just entered the room. That powerful and prestigious prince was actually coaxing his younger sister like this?
Seeing that the young girl still ignored him, he said with a bitter smile, "If you don't take the medicine, I'll feed it to you myself."
Hearing this, Song Jinyu's heart skipped a beat. She knew that Zhongli Mingye always kept his words. She had no choice but to get up a little and drink the bitter medicine from his hand.
Micu quickly handed her some preserved fruits to dispel the bitter taste in her mouth.
Signaling the maids and old women to leave, Zhongli Mingye took Song Jinyu's hand. "Don't be angry..." His phoenix eyes flashed with helplessness.
"The two of them were bestowed by the queen."
"I've never been close to them."
Song Jinyu knew that he was explaining. She said angrily, "What does it matter to me?" She still twisted her body and refused to look at him.
He reached out to tuck in the corner of the quilt for her and sat down on one side. Looking at her helplessly, he said, "Of course it matters. I'm still counting on the young lady to manage the prince's mansion for me."
"Whoever wants to manage it can manage it. Humph..."
Just thinking about it made her angry. This man didn't even realize it.
As if seeing through her thoughts, Zhongli Mingye said with a soft smile, "I just realized that you're so cute when you're jealous."
Cute? This was simply hateful! Song Jinyu became even angrier. "After they entered the mansion last year, I placed them in the farthest courtyard in the mansion. I wanted to get rid of them, but I was afraid that the queen would bestow more servants, so I had to keep them."
She actually understood his explanation in her heart. But just seeing other women getting close to Zhongli Mingye made her very angry.
However, Zhongli Mingye held her hand and turned her body back. "It's not worth getting jealous over this!"
What? Song Jinyu tensed up.
Seeing the young girl's eyes wide open, he couldn't help but kiss her. "However, it pleases me very much!"
After a long time, he heard the young girl mutter in the quilt, "Mingye, stay away from them." It would be best if he never talked to them again.
She thought selfishly like this and told him straightforwardly.
Her feelings were unique, and naturally, she hoped that Zhongli Mingye would be the same. If he was half - hearted, her heart might break.
"Okay..."
Not only would he stay away from them, but he would also find an opportunity to send them far away. He would never let Song Jinyu be sad or troubled because of these things.
Looking into her autumn - water - like eyes, Zhongli Mingye stared deeply at her. Song Jinyu gradually let down her guard and relaxed.
The effect of the medicine kicked in, and she fell into a deep sleep.
This time, holding Zhongli Mingye's hand, she felt extremely secure.