"Are these all the materials on the concubines in the palace?"
Song Jinyu was sitting in the study. Since their marriage, she rarely came to this room. After all, Zhongli Mingye always dealt with official business here.
San City was his fiefdom, and numerous important matters required his personal attention.
At this moment, there was such a document on his desk. Had he not had the time to show it to her?
The queen had passed away, and now they had to keep vigil. Taking a break to return to the mansion, she still couldn't stop thinking about Ming Ruyi. After all, Rong Shuang'er's tears were truly heart - wrenching. That once valiant and heroic woman was now shedding tears in worry.
Sighing, she began to read the document carefully.
Most of the concubines seemed to have no issues. However, in the past two years, many civilian women had entered the palace. Among them, Concubine Xue's background was particularly prominent.
She was sent from the Tingran Pavilion.
And Xiao Xueyi... Song Jinyu still remembered her encounter with Zhongli Mingye in Yanqiu. A sense of unease welled up in her.
After much thought, she decided to investigate Concubine Xue. "Qing Feng, go and look into Concubine Xue," she ordered.
"If possible, ask the shadow guards to get detailed information about her family background."
"Yes, my lady!"
Upon receiving Qing Feng's report, Zhongli Mingye, who was keeping vigil in the palace, frowned. He underestimated her after all. He had to return to the mansion. Just as he entered, he saw Song Jinyu in the study, poring over the materials. A bitter smile crossed his face. It was all due to his indulgence.
"Let this matter end here. Don't dig any deeper... During the national mourning period, things are rather complicated."
"..."
Was he afraid that the investigation would lead to Concubine Xue? So, Concubine Xue was indeed his arrangement...
Seeing that she ignored him, he tried to persuade her gently, "Concubine Xue has no reason to do this."
"Really? But what if that stunning maid is her younger sister?"
She stood up and looked seriously at Zhongli Mingye. "If anyone dares to harm my brother, I will spend my whole life seeking justice for him." So, if that stunning maid was really Concubine Xue's family member, the queen's death would be easily explained.
Zhongli Mingye stepped forward and grabbed her. "I've told you to stop!"
"If it's about Ming Ruyi, you don't have to worry."
"I will clear his name." As expected, Song Jinyu's heart sank. He knew! Maybe he had known Concubine Xue's story for a long time. After all, she was sent into the palace from the Tingran Pavilion.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
After a long while, Song Jinyu urged him to return to the palace. After Zhongli Mingye left, she gradually understood.
Zhongli Mingye was not wrong. On this path, as long as the goal was achieved, the means didn't matter. And what had Ming Ruyi done wrong?
He just wanted to live a good life. Was his mistake being born into the royal family?
Since that was the case, she would stop investigating Concubine Xue. But Zhongli Mingye couldn't stop her from clearing Ming Ruyi's name, could he?
Rong Shuang'er came again. She was the queen's niece. With the queen's death, the future of the Rong family was now clear. "Father is extremely heart - broken..." She looked nonchalant. "It may not necessarily be a bad thing."
Song Jinyu looked at her thoughtfully. "Shuang'er, do you really like Ming Ruyi?"
"Of course, I do." Otherwise, why would she risk entering the prison again and again?
"But marrying into the royal family may not be the right choice."
"Look at the queen, and the two crown princesses."
And look at herself. Now, she was involuntarily involved in these events. There was no denying that Song Jinyu loved Zhongli Mingye.
But if possible, she would rather return to Liuzhou City with Zhongli Mingye and live a simple life behind closed doors.
Rong Shuang'er looked at her strangely. "Do you regret marrying into the royal family?" The prince and princess of Yu were so deeply in love. Yet, Song Jinyu said that marrying into the royal family was not a good choice.
Song Jinyu's gaze was far - reaching.
"Of course not."
What did she have to regret? This was her own choice. Moreover, Zhongli Mingye was an irreplaceable person. It was just that as a prince, there were many restrictions. "The royal family is complicated. It's difficult for simple - minded people to survive there."
Even a powerful queen like her was killed. The deep palace was truly a place that devoured people without leaving a trace.
Zhongli Mingye's prohibition on her investigation was both a form of protection and a form of precaution. For some reason, she felt dejected. This mood affected her judgment.
Rong Shuang'er couldn't stand it anymore. "I think you're really heartless!"
"Everyone in the noble families of the capital has seen how the prince treats you." This woman was truly heartless. "Among all the royal families in the Great Xia Dynasty, which mansion doesn't have concubines? Only you are an exception."
"Why did he go to so much trouble?"
"Because the prince sent those two concubines back home, the imperial censor has already impeached him!"
"And you! You don't even appreciate it. Instead, you say such strange things." Thinking of Ming Ruyi, she couldn't help but envy Song Jinyu.
The more she got to know her, the more she understood.
He Yi had once said that the woman who had caught Ming Ruyi's eye was Song Jinyu. At first, Rong Shuang'er was a bit jealous. But knowing that the prince and princess of Yu were deeply in love, she thought that Song Jinyu probably didn't even know about Ming Ruyi's feelings.
Song Jinyu felt a bit disappointed. "I understand, of course." Rong Shuang'er's words made her feel even more sorry for Zhongli Mingye.
Rong Shuang'er's eyes showed a hint of loneliness. Compared to Song Jinyu, she was inferior in every way. No wonder he was so infatuated with her.
This sense of loss didn't last long. Song Jinyu pulled her to analyze the evidence for Ming Ruyi's exoneration.
"Don't be anxious. The prince has already warned the prison. He won't suffer anymore." Seeing Rong Shuang'er in a low mood, Song Jinyu comforted her.
"It's just... we need to think this through carefully." Since Zhongli Mingye didn't want her to investigate Concubine Xue, fine, she wouldn't.
But it didn't stop her from clearing Ming Ruyi's name.
Half a day later, Rong Shuang'er left the Prince Yu's Mansion. She looked up at the sky. No wonder the Prince of Zhongzhou and the Prince of Yu both loved Song Jinyu. She was truly an extraordinary woman.
When she was only panicking and sad, Song Jinyu could quickly calm down, analyze all the possibilities, and try to exonerate Ming Ruyi.
She was truly a remarkable woman.
Song Jinyu was very calm.
"If we can't find the murderer, we'll find another way. We don't care who the real culprit is. We just need to prove that Ming Ruyi is innocent."
After seeing Rong Shuang'er off, she entered the palace again.
It had been a long time since the vigil started. She wondered if the servants in the palace were taking good care of everyone.
During the national mourning period, no meat was allowed.
Song Jinyu found some wild mushrooms, added dried bean curd sticks and dried tofu, and cooked some porridge. Only after seeing him drink it properly did she feel relieved. "My love, have a bite too..." Zhongli Mingye held the spoon up to her red lips. He wouldn't eat until she took a bite.
Looking into those familiar phoenix - like eyes,
"You..." She had no choice but to take a bite. They finished the whole bowl of porridge together.
"You should go back later." Zhongli Mingye didn't want her to suffer through the vigil. She wasn't the crown princess. There was no need for her to put on a show.
But Song Jinyu thought differently. Rong Shuang'er's words reminded her that Zhongli Mingye had been impeached by the imperial censor for her sake. So, she could also do something for him.
So, with a "heavy" heart, she knelt down with Chen Mingzhu and Yu Duanya.