After several days of recuperation, Song Jinyu finally recovered significantly. Zhongli Mingye had been busy investigating the mastermind behind Princess Soli's case these days and managed to visit her a few times.
Song Jinyu originally wanted to get involved in this matter, but Song Qinzhou strictly forbade her to intervene. So she had to give up the idea. With nothing else to do and concerned about her master's health, she suddenly wanted to return to Tianmen Mountain.
However, before she could act, Princess Soli suddenly requested to meet Song Jinyu.
"The princess has indeed recovered... but she is still a bit weak. She needs proper recuperation," Song Jinyu said as she took away the handkerchief she had used to feel Princess Soli's pulse and then went to write a prescription.
Seeing her bustling around, Princess Soli smiled and asked, "Why haven't I seen your maid?"
"She was seriously injured while searching for the medicinal ingredient for the princess a few days ago and is recuperating in the mansion." After finishing her work, Song Jinyu sat beside the princess and chatted with her casually.
Previously, she had only read in storybooks that princesses were of noble birth and held a high status. But after getting to know Heyi and Soli, she gradually felt more sympathy for them. Although they were born into the royal family and enjoyed endless wealth and honor, they had no say in their marriage. It didn't seem very meaningful. Heyi had almost been sent to the Woguo Kingdom in the South Sea, and Soli was about to marry Prince Yong, a man she had never met.
Just like Yu Duanya, no matter how arrogant she was, she was ultimately just a pawn for her father's power struggle.
"The dance you performed that day was really beautiful," Song Jinyu said.
She liked the natural and unpretentious grassland dances. They were filled with the breath of freedom. "I'll invite you to the grassland someday. Everyone in our tribe can sing and dance!"
"The horse - head fiddle, mare's milk wine, and dried meat are all wonderful!" Princess Soli's eyes sparkled as she talked about her hometown. But the sparkle gradually faded. "Maybe I'll never be able to return to the grassland in my lifetime."
"..."
"The delicacies in the Central Plains are also very delicate. The crab - roe crystal steamed buns are especially delicious," Song Jinyu blushed involuntarily as she remembered the buns Zhongli Mingye had fed her that day. Thinking of that man, her heart was filled with sweetness.
Not knowing how to comfort her, Song Jinyu thought that if she married Zhongli Mingye in the future, Princess Soli would be her sister - in - law. What a complicated relationship!
After leaving the post station, Song Jinyu saw Zhongli Mingye's carriage at a glance. Qingfeng stepped forward to greet her and led her into the carriage.
Zhongli Mingye looked at her with a smile. "Let's go..."
"Where to?"
"You'll know when we get there!" Seeing his mysterious look, Song Jinyu sat down on the other side of the carriage huffily. But her little temper didn't last long. Zhongli Mingye pulled her into his arms. "Let me see if you've gained some weight."
"Hey... you!"
Before long, the carriage stopped in front of a manor. Zhongli Mingye carried Song Jinyu out of the carriage. "This is..."
"My manor."
"You promised to take me to eat fresh honeycombs last time. You broke your promise. It's been so long!"
"..."
Was she complaining? It seemed that he had really forgotten about this.
Zhongli Mingye took her hand and walked up the hillside. The weather was very fine, and there was a stream flowing through the mountain valley.
She broke free from his hand and ran to the stream. She stretched out her hand to let the water flow through her palm. It tickled. Song Jinyu was in a great mood as she lay beside the stream, closed her eyes, and hummed a song. Butterflies fluttered among the small flowers beside her from time to time.
He sat down beside her. "What song is this?"
"Spring Water Ding - Dong."
Not far away, the beekeeper had just collected the beehives. "Let's go and have a look!"
The crystal - clear honeycombs sparkled in the sun and were still covered with bees. It was the first time for both of them to see bees making honey. They were like two children who had just tasted sugar for the first time. They were very happy. They asked the beekeeper to brush away the bees and cut off a piece of honeycomb.
They put it in their mouths and chewed. "It's so delicious!"
Seeing her smiling with curved eyes, Zhongli Mingye felt much better. He remembered the first time Song Jinyu attended a banquet at the Prince Yu's Mansion. Her clothes had attracted poisonous bees. At that time, he had just been a little interested in her, but he had never expected to fall so deeply in love with her one day.
"I thought you'd be afraid of bees,"
"Of course not..."
Song Jinyu held a piece of crystal - clear honeycomb, faced it to the sun, and slowly put it into her mouth. "It smells so good!"
After the beekeeper left,
The young girl in yellow had just eaten a piece of honeycomb. The sweet fragrance of honey lingered in her mouth. She smiled innocently. She hadn't been so carefree for a long time.
Feeling that there seemed to be some honey on her lips, she reached out to wipe it off. Suddenly, Zhongli Mingye pulled her into his arms. Their eyes met. She was like a frightened rabbit but also extremely excited.
Suddenly, his face gradually enlarged in front of her.
He kissed her so boldly that her heart went numb. She soon surrendered and indulged in the wonderful moment.
After a long time,
He let go of Song Jinyu, who was dizzy from the kiss. Her face was blushing shyly. Zhongli Mingye smiled and held her in his arms as if she were a precious treasure. "It would be great if we could live like this forever!"
"Yeah!"
By the time they returned from the mountain, it was already dark. After separating from Zhongli Mingye, Song Jinyu went straight to see Niaoniao and Cheng Song and checked their injuries. Seeing that they were recovering well, she was relieved.
The next day, news came from the capital that Magistrate Song had been dismissed.
The whole Liuzhou City was shocked! After all, Magistrate Song had just received an imperial commendation. His sudden dismissal made people unable to figure out what the capital was up to.
Zhongli Mingye naturally knew that there must be something fishy about this.
However, it was more important to wait and see for the moment. Now the emperor had rebuked Magistrate Song and dismissed him because of Princess Soli's assassination attempt. It was also a warning to himself.
After hearing the news, Song Jinyu went to the study to see her father.
Unexpectedly, her father was very calm and showed no sign of disappointment after being dismissed.
"Since I took office, I've been diligent and conscientious. I've done nothing wrong to heaven and earth, nor to the common people," Song Qinzhou said.
He could see clearly that being dismissed from office at this time and staying away from the power struggle might not be a bad thing. So after receiving the news, he calmly practiced calligraphy in the study.
Seeing that her father was so open - minded, Song Jinyu didn't try to persuade him anymore.
The news of Magistrate Song's dismissal reached the He family. He Shuyi was overjoyed. "Dismissed? The Song family is nothing special after all."
Song Wangqiu was happy at first, but then she couldn't smile anymore. Because this meant that she had lost her only support.
Strangely enough, although the emperor had dismissed Magistrate Song, he didn't mention anything about the marriage between Song Jinyu and Prince Yu. So Zhongli Mingye could still calmly wait for things to develop.