"Yu'er, it's your fifteenth birthday today!" Xiang pulled her over with a smile and helped her pin a flower in her hair. "Does the prince have any special arrangements?"
Song Jinyu blushed a little. "He said he'd come after he was done with his business, and we'll go watch acrobatics this afternoon..."
"That's great. Let's have a good family gathering today."
In the past few years, Song Jinyu had often been away from home. Her birthday always fell on the Laba Festival, so she hardly ever celebrated it at home. Therefore, Xiang wanted to throw a grand celebration this time.
But Song Jinyu disagreed. "Sister-in-law, I appreciate your kindness, but... I just want to be with our family."
Lin Ziyu had just left not long ago. Who else could she invite? He Yi was in the palace and couldn't get away. What was the point of celebrating her birthday with people she hardly knew?
"Alright..."
"You should dress up nicely today. The clothes the prince sent, I've rarely seen you wear them. Are they not to your liking?" Xiang helped her straighten her outer robe.
The clothes that man sent were of course extremely good. The styles were nice, and the accessories matched perfectly. It was a pity that she often rushed around in the mountains and the countryside, so she rarely had the chance to wear them.
"The set I'm wearing today is the one he sent..."
The young girl's eyes sparkled with affection. Xiang, being a woman of experience, naturally understood.
She sized up Song Jinyu meaningfully and said with a smile, "I'll go prepare then..."
He Yi's gift had been sent a few days ago. They were all jewelry in the palace style. Although they were very delicate, they were rather redundant and complicated.
There was also a personal letter from her. At the end of the letter, there was a drawing of a long - standing pine tree. Song Jinyu understood He Yi's intention and couldn't help but start planning for them.
Cheng Song and the others also gave her gifts. Niaoniao hugged Song Jinyu. "My young lady, you're fifteen years old now."
Since Mi Cui had been with Song Jinyu for half a year, she had gradually submitted to her. Compared with the young ladies from various mansions in the capital, Song Jinyu was neither arrogant nor worldly. She was kind and courageous.
She stepped forward and presented her gift. "May the young lady have many happy returns of the day!"
Song Jinyu looked at them with a smile and thanked them one by one. But in her heart, she started making plans for them. She was never stingy with those who were kind to her.
She left Cheng Song alone and carefully probed his tone. Gradually, she understood that Cheng Song actually had feelings for He Yi, but he just couldn't cross the gap of their social status.
Watching Cheng Song's figure disappear silently, Song Jinyu picked up a pen and started writing a reply to He Yi. There were no words in the letter, but it was a drawing of a squirrel holding a pine nut and putting it on its heart.
Unexpectedly, her painting skills were too poor. She had to crumple it up and throw it aside. Suddenly, she remembered the way Zhongli Mingye painted.
Her gaze shifted to the delicate wintersweet on the dressing table. Normally, wintersweet would bloom in two months, but the flowers she received were in full bloom just right.
That man must have done something to make the wintersweet bloom earlier.
She felt even happier in her heart, as if her heart had been completely occupied by Zhongli Mingye.
After having lunch at home, Zhongli Mingye came to pick up Song Jinyu.
"The wintersweet is really beautiful!"
Song Jinyu's eyes curved into a crescent, smiling brightly at Zhongli Mingye. "I had someone surround the wintersweet with stoves a month ago. A slightly higher temperature would naturally make it bloom earlier." He said it casually and reached out to pull her over.
"I'm glad you like it!"
Of course, she liked it very much. Song Jinyu took out a black fox fur muffler. "My brother gave it to me. I had someone make a muffler for you."
Seeing that she was so concerned about him, Zhongli Mingye couldn't help but step forward and gently kiss her on the forehead. "This is wonderful."
Next March 3rd, Song Jinyu would come of age.
After that, they would get married. He carefully helped her tidy up the stray hairs on her forehead. Zhongli Mingye sighed. "After more than a year, I'm finally going to marry my little fairy home."
Song Jinyu teased him. "There's no such thing as a little fairy. I'm just an ordinary girl." Suddenly, as if she remembered something, "Your Highness, if one day I grow old and haggard, will you..."
Knowing what she wanted to say, Zhongli Mingye tapped her little nose. "If I grow old, please don't dislike me, my love."
"Haha..."
She was amused by his words. Looking at Zhongli Mingye carefully, "Mingye..., I..."
"Hmm?"
She suddenly felt shy. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't say them. "..."
Zhongli Mingye looked at her with a smile. "What on earth do you want to say?"
She lowered her head, and her voice became softer and softer. "I..." Her eyes darted around, and then suddenly became firm. "I have feelings for you!" Determined, she wanted Zhongli Mingye to know her feelings clearly. Otherwise, he would always get himself into trouble because of others.
Many years later, whenever Zhongli Mingye thought of this moment, he could never forget the beauty of it. He heard the most beautiful voice in the world. The girl he loved deeply, such a shy girl, firmly told him, "I have feelings for you!"
The surprise came so suddenly that Zhongli Mingye was a little dazed. Seeing her smiling brightly,
he reached out and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly, shielding her from the cold wind behind. It seemed that only the two of them were left in the world.
He saw a firework explode in the sky.
"I remember there were fireworks in the capital on the Qixi Festival!" Song Jinyu recalled the days they spent in the mansion in the capital.
She became even more excited. Zhongli Mingye remembered that she said on that day that she would only wear the wedding dress for him. That had coaxed him into preparing the wedding dress.
He couldn't help but look at Song Jinyu carefully. She was the most precious treasure in the world, the only irreplaceable treasure in his heart.
These fireworks had been prepared by him three months in advance, just to celebrate Song Jinyu's fifteenth birthday. Zhongli Mingye hugged Song Jinyu and stood on the highest place in the Yu Prince's Mansion.
Watching the fireworks bloom, time seemed even more beautiful.
As it got darker, a few snowflakes fell from the sky. More and more snowflakes fell, getting heavier and heavier. He opened an umbrella and gently held it over her head. "This is so nice..."
Song Jinyu reached out her hand to catch the floating snowflakes. A look of joy appeared on her small face. The two of them walked hand in hand all the way to the General's Mansion. They didn't feel cold at all. But when they saw Ouyang Jinse, Song Jinyu's body visibly stiffened.
Ouyang Jinse had been waiting at the General's Mansion for several hours before he finally saw her. A sinister look flashed in his fox - like eyes. He sized up the two of them. Suddenly, he bowed to the Yu Prince.
He had originally just come to wait for Song Jinyu, but unexpectedly, he waited for the Yu Prince and Song Jinyu. The hand that was holding Song Jinyu tightened. Zhongli Mingye took a step forward. "If Palace Master Ouyang is here to celebrate Jinyu's birthday, I'll accept your kindness on her behalf." There was a cold look in his phoenix - like eyes. Ouyang Jinse had repeatedly touched his bottom line. If it weren't for the protection of the crown prince, he would have been a dead man long ago.
"Little Goldfish, you don't look up to this palace. Instead, you've climbed up to the royal family." Ouyang Jinse felt a sharp pain in his heart. This was clearly his Song Jinyu, but now, she was going to become someone else's princess.
Song Jinyu didn't say a word. Zhongli Mingye said coldly, "If the palace master has nothing else to do, please leave. The prince and Jinyu have important matters to attend to."
After saying that, he pulled Song Jinyu's hand and walked towards the General's Mansion. As they passed by, he slightly turned his head. "The prince is really blessed to have Jinyu as his wife."
Song Jinyu, who had been silent all along, was amused by his words. She added, "If climbing up to power means meeting Mingye, then let people say I'm climbing up to the royal family!" What did reputation matter? Did she, Song Jinyu, care?
Seeing them singing in harmony, Ouyang Jinse couldn't help but clench his fists. "I haven't congratulated you yet. Happy birthday."
One should not strike a smiling face. Song Jinyu's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you!"
She said a simple "Thank you!"
From then on, she drew a clear line with Ouyang Jinse. Zhongli Mingye was extremely happy to be coaxed by her words. He accompanied her all the way to Mingjin Pavilion and was reluctant to leave.