The candlewick in the bedroom "snapped" and fell.
The silence of the night was broken by the sudden sound of the door closing.
Zhongli Mingye laid Song Jinyu on the bed. Her breathing quickened slightly, and her eyes flickered with shyness. She dared not look at him.
The man's phoenix eyes were fixed on the woman ambiguously, on her dazzling red dress.
"You usually don't like dark colors. Why... today..." His throat moved slightly, and the agitation in his heart could no longer be suppressed.
Song Jinyu nervously pressed her hands against his chest and murmured, "I... I only have this one red dress."
The only red dress was the wedding dress from their wedding day! It was the wedding dress Zhongli Mingye gave her, their unique wedding dress.
If Zhongli Mingye didn't understand her meaning at this moment, the woman beneath him might die of shame and anger. He lowered his head and gently pecked her red lips, smiling, "You've really gone to great lengths!"
It was really hard for such a shy person to do something so bold.
"Ah?"
She opened her beautiful eyes and watched the man's handsome face gradually enlarge. Song Jinyu let down her guard and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He kissed her beautiful eyebrows, eyes, ears, and delicate lips.
Suddenly, his eyes stopped at a glistening object on her chest.
It was a jade carving strung on a green jade bead chain, which was "him".
Feeling his burning gaze, Song Jinyu shyly covered her chest. "So Jinyu, you..." There were so many surprises today that filled his whole heart.
"This gift really suits my taste!"
The thick night bent the golden camellias in the yard. In the bedroom, behind the red curtains, there was no longer any loneliness. Outside the window, the cicadas were dying, listless, while the crickets were chirping merrily.
Mi Cui watched as Prince Yu carried Song Jinyu into the room. She let out a soft chuckle and told the others not to disturb them.
The couple had finally achieved their happy ending. She took a pot of wine and climbed onto the biggest osmanthus tree in the garden. She raised the wine to the moon hidden in the clouds and started drinking.
Not long after, she felt the branches of the osmanthus tree tremble slightly. She turned around and saw Xing Jian climbing up.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
Xing Jian snatched the wine pot from her hand and tilted his head back to take a big gulp. "The night is so beautiful. I'm here to keep you company!"
Mi Cui looked deeply at him. "Xing Jian... you..."
She gradually lowered her head. Even though she was usually carefree, at this moment, in the fragrance of the osmanthus tree, she fell silent. She just listened to Xing Jian beside her playing a clear flute.
Her heart was gradually filled by the person beside her.
"Is everything arranged?" In the night, a tall figure asked in the forest.
"Of course it's all arranged!" The black - clothed man knelt there.
"Good! Not a single person in the Shen family can be left alive!"
The ruthless figure cut through the night like a sword coated with venom.
"What about Shen Shulan?" The black - clothed man had some concerns. "I'll handle her... personally!" There was not a trace of hesitation in his words, only boundless hatred.
Many candlewicks had fallen. Inside the red curtains, it gradually became quiet, but the passion remained undiminished.
The two hugged each other tightly and fell asleep. Zhongli Mingye turned to look at the person in his arms sleeping soundly. He picked up the green jade bead chain with his finger and examined it carefully.
His thoughts drifted back to the past. When did she start wearing it? Was it in Yanqiu?
The more he thought about it, the happier he became. He planted a kiss on her smooth forehead.
Song Jinyu felt a slight discomfort all over her body. As she opened her beautiful eyes, she saw Zhongli Mingye looking at her with a satisfied expression.
Suddenly, she blushed and slowly moved her head out of his embrace, hiding under the brocade quilt. She tried hard to calm her flustered breathing and was at a loss.
Seeing her so shy, Zhongli Mingye reached out and pulled off the brocade quilt. "What are you hiding for?"
"I'm not..."
Unfortunately, Zhongli Mingye was determined not to let her off.
He played with the green jade bead chain on her delicate neck and watched as the woman's face turned redder and redder.
"What are you doing?"
The position where the green jade bead chain hung was simply too alluring! Zhongli Mingye's eyes darkened, and he soon showed Song Jinyu what he was going to do with his actions!
"Hey... you... um!"
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
Ming Ruyi walked on the official road with a jumbled mind. At present, the emperor's attitude was ambiguous. Although Zhongli Chengze had been deposed in the court, the emperor had not announced it to the world.
There were many disputes in the court now. Both Zhongli Shuoyi and Zhongli Mingye were candidates for the next crown prince. But... Zhongli Mingye suddenly gave up many forces in the court.
She couldn't understand his thoughts. Many people said that Prince Yu loved beauty more than the world. Ming Ruyi didn't believe it. The peaceful life of her and her mother in the future depended entirely on the next emperor.
Recalling the past, the emperor's brothers had all died in the struggle for the crown prince. Ming Ruyi was only a few years old at that time. As the son of the empress dowager, he posed less of a threat to the emperor.
He luckily escaped that bloody struggle.
And now, thirty years later, the current emperor was bestowing the same fate on his sons.
A sarcastic smile curled up on his lips. It was good... to be in such a stalemate.
It was obvious that the crown prince was losing power, and Zhongli Shuoyi and Zhongli Mingye's families were the most powerful. But... after the previous dispute, Zhongli Shuoyi was like a frightened rabbit, trembling and no longer as high - spirited as before.
Rong Shuang'er was also sleepless tonight. She had been very troubled recently. What bothered her was that her heart was in a complete mess! Duke Rong was worried about the empress,
but she didn't take it seriously.
After all, it was the Zhongli family's business. What did it have to do with them, the imperial relatives? It would be better to sit back and watch the tigers fight!
Duke Rong had started arranging for people to introduce suitors to her again, hoping that she could get married before she turned nineteen.
"Get married? Isn't it just that Duke Rong wants to use my marriage as a deal?" She really didn't have much affection for this father.
Rong Shuang'er remembered the old single prince who had been rude to her during the day. She couldn't help but touch her chest, where her heart was pounding like a deer.
Looking at the first glimmer of light in the east, she made up her mind! No matter what, she would make her own decision. She immediately decided that after dawn,
she would go and talk to Ming Ruyi. Anyway, his reputation was bad, and hers was also in jeopardy.
Why not just make do with each other?