"I've never heard that today is his birthday?"
Mi Cui came in to arrange her hair. "This... Don't you know?" She was really not concerned about the prince! Niao Niao also looked at her curiously.
"I..."
She had been back at Tianmen Mountain at this time last year. How could she have known anything!
"Cough... Then you should prepare a gift for the prince," Mi Cui reminded her.
He... didn't even want to talk to her right now! Song Jinyu felt a bit awkward. When they met this morning, he just gave her a cold look.
He didn't even bother to say a word.
Was he angry that she had made a fool of herself by getting drunk in the Liuyun Pavilion that day? Song Jinyu didn't understand. She sat on the couch with a long face.
What did Zhongli Mingye want as a gift?
Want...? Song Jinyu lowered her head. Then, an idea came to her. How about cooking a bowl of longevity noodles?
She was very distressed. No one had told her earlier.
It was too hasty to prepare a birthday gift now. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she blushed. She whispered, "Where is the wedding dress from our big wedding?"
Zhongli Mingye was on leave today. He didn't make a big fuss. The palace only sent down the usual birthday gifts.
He found a quiet place and silently drank wine on the Bright Moon Terrace.
"You look really good like this!" Niao Niao exclaimed. "This red dress makes your skin look as smooth and fair as jade." Mi Cui laughed. "Why did you decide to wear this red dress today?"
"Just trying a different style," Song Jinyu said as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had a light makeup on, with a bit of rouge on her cheeks.
"Where's the prince?"
"Xing Jian said he's on the Bright Moon Terrace."
It was strange. Why didn't the prince's mansion hold a banquet today? After all, he was a prince!
As if seeing her confusion, Mi Cui said, "The prince has ordered not to make a big deal out of it this year. After all, the emperor has just recovered from his illness."
"Oh..."
As the sky was getting dark, red lanterns were lit up everywhere in the garden. The osmanthus trees swayed gracefully in the breeze. A red - dressed woman walked through the trees, carrying a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
She stepped onto the ancient wooden steps. Even though she walked lightly, her steps still made a crisp sound.
Zhongli Mingye was sitting in a corner. He had been watching her since she walked through the garden, taking sips of the fine wine in his hand from time to time. His phoenix - like eyes were filled with obsession. The moonlight shone through the pearl curtain, illuminating his jade - like face. He was gradually getting tipsy.
"What are you doing here?"
Song Jinyu saw that his eyes were still looking outside and asked softly.
After a long time, she heard Zhongli Mingye say, "No matter what I do, I can never gain your trust, right?" He felt a bit bitter for no reason.
"..."
She put down the bowl of longevity noodles in her hand. She lowered her eyes, thinking about what to say.
"After my mother passed away when I was six, I suffered from aphasia. It was Master and Yan Fei who accompanied me all the time, treated me, and helped me overcome my psychological barriers."
"That's how I became the Song Jinyu you see today."
Her tone was calm, as if she was talking about someone else's story. "Yan Fei was an orphan. Master took pity on him and raised him under his wing."
"Master said that when he picked him up, a spring swallow was flying from the south. So he named him Yan Fei!"
Zhongli Mingye had never heard her talk about her past. So he stopped drinking and quietly listened to her story.
Song Jinyu slowly told him about her experiences at Tianmen Mountain.
As the night deepened, the moon was still bright. The cuckoos were chirping, and the crickets were singing a few times.
"For this kindness, I will surely avenge them," she vowed. "At all costs!" Touched by her sincerity, Zhongli Mingye looked at her thoughtfully. "I understand!"
She walked closer to him and stroked his familiar face. "In my heart, they are my closest family."
"Ouyang Jinsè also grew up with me." That's why she was sad.
She sighed and looked deeply into those familiar and beautiful phoenix - like eyes. Suddenly, she lifted the corners of her lips.
"You are different."
At this moment, she finally admitted that Zhongli Mingye was different. He was her only lover.
Zhongli Mingye looked at her intently with his blurred eyes. "It would be great if you often said such things."
"Oh?"
He smelled the faint fragrance of osmanthus on her body. A certain desire welled up in his heart. Song Jinyu looked at the wine pot in his hand and smiled. "Is this wine good?"
He shook the wine pot. There was no sound. Seeing the eagerness in her eyes, Zhongli Mingye said helplessly, "It's a pity there's no more!"
"But I want to drink it..."
Her charming voice echoed in the dark night. Under the hazy moonlight, the beautiful woman leaned over and kissed him.
The man widened his eyes. Just as he came to his senses, Song Jinyu let him go and laughed. "Well... I can drink it like this too!"
Her beautiful eyes were shining, and the night became even more ambiguous. Her blushing and extremely beautiful face touched the man's heart. "Do you know what you're doing?" His voice was slightly hoarse, and his throat moved.
He finally stood up and blocked Song Jinyu's way in an absolutely controlling posture.
"This wine is just too strong." It's not suitable for a girl.
She trembled slightly. The charming girl was enveloped by his overbearing aura. Zhongli Mingye hugged her tightly and kissed her deeply until the girl in his arms was out of breath.
"My... the noodles I made myself... will get cold!" Song Jinyu shyly hid in his arms and only then remembered the longevity noodles she had made for Zhongli Mingye today.
"I don't want to eat noodles now!!!"
Zhongli Mingye picked her up horizontally and strode away from the Bright Moon Terrace.
Concubine Shu sat up. Today was the 21st birthday of the fourth prince. As his mother, she could only send some symbolic gifts.
She wondered if the newly - wedded couple was living a smooth and peaceful life.
Now, she was no longer as carefree as before. She just hoped that the emperor would remember their past affection and ensure their stable life.
Unable to fall asleep anymore, Concubine Shu got up and went to the Buddha to chant scriptures.
Ji Qinglin found an excuse and coaxed Shen Shulan out for a meeting.
"Shulan, is it true?"
"I've been pregnant for two months. Lord Ji, you..." Shen Shulan was the illegitimate daughter of Grand Tutor Shen. Since the beginning of this year, she and Ji Qinglin had fallen in love and privately promised to marry each other.
However, Grand Tutor Shen had a deep prejudice against Ji Qinglin. Because of their different political stances, he didn't agree to the marriage.
Now, the Shen family had been demoted to commoners. Shen Shulan was even more worried and uneasy.
Ji Qinglin hugged Shen Shulan expressionlessly. "Don't worry. I will never let you down." He would treat her and her whole Shen family well!
Hearing his words, Shen Shulan felt relieved. The Shen family had committed a crime and been demoted to commoners. She was afraid that she was no longer worthy of him. Unfortunately, she didn't see the sinister look in the man's eyes above her.
She only loved Ji Qinglin whole - heartedly. Later, whenever she thought of this moment, Shen Shulan would hate her own naivety. In the world of men, women were never the most important.
Unfortunately, how could those who had fallen into the trap of sweet words care about that?