It was well past sunrise when Song Jinyu finally opened her eyes. She didn't move but just stared at the simple and elegant carvings on the bed canopy, her mind a blank.
Ah...
Countless fragments flashed through her mind. She gently placed her hand on her chest.
It was said that wine was the matchmaker for lust, but she hadn't drunk any yesterday. Why... Why... had she done such things!
Fortunately, Zhongli Mingye had to attend the morning court. Otherwise, Song Jinyu might have fainted from shame at this moment.
Feeling uncomfortable below, she embarrassedly called Niaoniao in. "Go... prepare scented bath water!"
Taking a bath so early in the morning? Niaoniao went out with a suppressed smile to prepare it. These two had been circling around each other for almost two years before finally consummating their marriage.
That smile made Song Jinyu blush even more!
Niaoniao sincerely hoped that Song Jinyu would be happy. Now seeing that she had finally let down her guard, Niaoniao was overjoyed. For a loving couple like them, it wouldn't be long before there might be a new addition to the Prince Yu's Mansion.
In the court, everything was as peaceful as before.
However, those with discerning eyes would notice that the Prince Yu was especially high - spirited today. The originally cold - faced man now had a spring - like look on his face. After the court, he even strode out of the palace, breaking his usual image of being a composed young man.
Several court officials shook their heads. Recently, the Prince Yu had rarely concerned himself with court affairs and only focused on pleasing his charming wife.
The officials who were originally in the Prince Yu's camp remained calm.
Chen Jiacai, the Duke of Fuguo, looked thoughtfully at the back of the Prince Yu. His eldest daughter was about to come of age. Since several princes already had their principal wives, it would be a disgrace to the family if she were to be a concubine.
After much thought, with the decline of the Shen family and the critically ill Crown Princess,
Although the Duke of Fuguo had a high reputation in recent years, his influence was waning. As the head of the Chen family, Chen Jiacai had to make a decision to ensure the family's prosperity for the next few decades.
Song Jinyu was sitting in the Liuyun Pavilion, looking at the storybooks that He Yi had sent earlier. However, she couldn't read a single word.
A faint joy welled up in her heart. She finally realized that Zhongli Mingye was an irreplaceable person.
"What are you doing here?" A clear voice interrupted her thoughts.
Zhongli Mingye walked closer, smiling at her. The storybook suddenly fell to the ground. "I just finished breakfast and had nothing to do, so I found some storybooks."
"You're really at ease. You've kept this king restless for several hours."
What?
Song Jinyu lowered her head and dared not look at him. She naturally understood what he meant. Suddenly, she felt him getting closer. "During the court, this king's mind was full of you. What should I do?"
Previously, he had only heard that the "gentle trap" could make people indulge and lose themselves. Now, Zhongli Mingye finally understood that he had also fallen into this "gentle trap".
Song Jinyu gently pushed him and chided, "Nonsense..." Her eyes became even more gentle, which made Zhongli Mingye's heart flutter.
He pulled her into his arms. "This king is serious." Looking at the slightly withered lotus leaves in the lake, he said, "You are with me morning and night, and you will be with me for this whole life."
The tender words seemed endless. Song Jinyu was sweet in her heart and hugged him tightly. Wasn't she the same?
She raised her head in his arms. Her beautiful eyes were shining with a captivating luster, and her heart and eyes were full of him. "Me too..."
"My lord, His Majesty has ordered you to enter the palace immediately!"
Qingfeng's voice interrupted the two who were snuggling together.
Song Jinyu held his hand. "Go quickly. I'm going out of the city to offer incense at the Xiangguo Temple today."
"Wait for this king to come back and go together?" Zhongli Mingye didn't want to be separated for a single moment.
She gave him a coquettish look. "You! Go quickly..."
After seeing him off, Song Jinyu asked Niaoniao and Micui to pack their things. Now that her great revenge had been avenged, it was time to go to the temple to offer a stick of incense for her master and Yan Fei.
Just as Niaoniao was about to hand her the lit incense, Ji Qinglin was also offering incense.
Out of the corner of her eye, Song Jinyu saw him. "Senior Brother Ji!"
Ji Qinglin looked at her with a smile. A strange light flashed in his eyes. There was even a hint of evil on his originally upright face. "Little Junior Sister... No, now you're the Princess."
"I haven't seen you for a long time!" Song Jinyu had been married into the capital for a few months and hadn't seen Ji Qinglin.
It was because after Ji Qinglin went down the mountain that year, he had no more contact with Tianmen Mountain.
Now, seeing him again, Song Jinyu was extremely happy.
Ji Qinglin didn't come just to offer incense today. One stick of incense ago, Shen Shulan was watching him in the back courtyard of the Xiangguo Temple. Her eyes gradually widened, and she looked utterly shocked:
"Ji Lang, what did you say?"
"It was also on such a day. My father's concubine, my aunt, who was pregnant, jumped into the river in the fire."
His tone was frighteningly calm. Shen Shulan stared blankly at him.
"It was your good father who led people to hunt her down. My whole Ji family was wiped out!"
Not even sparing a pregnant woman, the Shen family deserved to die!
Ji Qinglin suddenly burst into laughter. "I've been waiting for this day for a full ten years!" He looked coldly at Shen Shulan. "Your Shen family's crimes are too numerous to record!"
Shen Shulan sadly realized that he had only approached her to take revenge! Realizing this, she suddenly understood that Ji Qinglin had never loved her.
Why had the young and promising fifth - rank official taken a fancy to the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family and even been willing to be intimate with her before marriage.
It was all a trap!
She stroked her belly where the little life was less than three months old. She had originally hoped that Ji Qinglin would go to the Shen family to propose marriage. Even if the Shen family had been demoted to commoners, Shen Shulan still harbored the fantasy that even being Ji Qinglin's concubine would be good!
But... now seeing the hatred in that man's eyes, she knew that it was all impossible!
"Do you want to jump by yourself, or should I push you down?" His cold voice was like a poisonous snake spitting out its forked tongue.
Just a few days ago, they had been so affectionate, but today she had been lured to the Xiangguo Temple by him.
Looking at him with tears in her eyes, "Ji Lang..."
Shen Shulan looked at him resolutely. The words stuck in her throat could no longer be spoken. She took a leap and fell down the slope.
Ten years!
Ji Qinglin closed his eyes.
He wanted the Shen family to pay for their blood debts in blood! The scene of his pregnant aunt jumping into the river ten years ago had deeply affected Ji Qinglin, so ten years later, he wanted this scene to be re - enacted!
Ji Qinglin talked with Song Jinyu in the main hall for a few words. He knew a bit about what was going on at Tianmen Mountain. They also offered incense together!
Today he was offering incense for his family who had died ten years ago and also mourning Shen Shulan who had just "died".
After they parted in the main hall, Song Jinyu went to the back courtyard of the Xiangguo Temple to rest.
She offered the sincerely copied "Sutra of the Earth Treasury Bodhisattva". In the bamboo forest in the back courtyard, Song Jinyu saw a spot of fresh blood on the ground.
She wondered where it came from. There were also bloodstains on the bamboo leaves.
Maybe someone was injured? Filled with doubts, she walked in. Micui and Niaoniao accompanied her. After walking for about the time it took to burn a stick of incense,
Suddenly, they came to an open area, which was a slope. A young girl was supporting a woman with her eyes tightly closed. "What's going on with you all..."
Song Jinyu saw that the woman was covered in blood under her body. She quickly stepped forward. "I've seen the Princess..."
So they knew her? The young girl in front of her seemed familiar. There was a heroic look between her eyebrows, showing a bright and straightforward character.
"I'm Rong Shuang'er!"
So she was the well - known eldest miss of the Duke of Rongguo's Mansion. Song Jinyu saw that the woman she was supporting was barely breathing.
She quickly gave the woman a pill.
"This pill can keep her awake for a short while. Hurry back to the back courtyard!" Song Jinyu asked Micui to carry the woman on her back.
A group of people returned to the back courtyard of the Xiangguo Temple together.
Rong Shuang'er was very cautious. "This woman is the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family... Please keep it a secret, Princess."
The Shen family? She was actually the younger sister of Shen Yingyun!