"Anyway, it's good that you're out!" Song Jinyu was overjoyed. Ming Ruyi was not only her friend but also Rong Shuang'er's love interest and Zhongli Mingye's imperial uncle.
Regardless of who the real culprit was, the best outcome was that Ming Ruyi was safe. She was no saint. As long as her friends and relatives were okay, that was good enough for her.
Ming Ruyi looked at her with a smile. "You seem to be living quite comfortably..." Seeing her glowing with health, he guessed that Zhongli Mingye must have treated her very well.
"Does he treat you well?"
Suddenly asked this question by Ming Ruyi, Song Jinyu was a bit flustered but still replied with a smile, "Of course he does! Extremely well!" Yes, he treated her extremely well, so well that there was only Zhongli Mingye in her eyes.
Unable to bear the affection shining in her eyes, Ming Ruyi forced a bitter smile. "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."
"By the way!"
Remembering Rong Shuang'er, Song Jinyu said, "Shuang'er came here a few days ago. I think she's really nice."
Ming Ruyi's face turned cold. He knew what Song Jinyu was going to say next. Sighing silently in his heart, did she want to push her onto someone else just because she didn't want her?
"She is nice, but not as nice as you!"
What?
Song Jinyu didn't understand his words. Every flower and every beauty had their own charm. Why compare them?
Ming Ruyi looked at her seriously. "I heard from Shuang'er that you've helped me secretly several times. Why?" He always knew the answer but still wanted to hear Song Jinyu say it with her own mouth.
Maybe, only in this way could he give up completely.
Seeing his solemn expression, Song Jinyu knew that this question must be very important to him. How should she answer him?
"Because we're friends. Of course..." She really regarded Ming Ruyi as a friend.
"You're also Mingye's imperial uncle..."
Sure enough, Ming Ruyi let out a bitter laugh. "Then thank you!"
"Uncle, you're welcome..." The curtain of the Liuyun Pavilion was lifted, and Zhongli Mingye walked in with a chill on him.
He walked to Song Jinyu's side and put his arm around her. "She helped you, of course, for this king's sake. Uncle really has a good mood..."
"Just released from house arrest and already coming to this king's mansion," and he even came when he was not at home. It was really annoying!
Song Jinyu felt a bit embarrassed. After that unpleasant encounter the other day, Zhongli Mingye had been ignoring her.
"This king is here to thank Jinyu." Ming Ruyi's eyes turned cold.
"She's your nephew's wife. Helping you is her duty." His phoenix eyes stared coldly at Ming Ruyi. The atmosphere became tense. Song Jinyu smiled slightly. "I just asked someone to cook some porridge. It's so cold outside. Stay and have some here."
But all she got was Zhongli Mingye's cold look.
Ming Ruyi couldn't stand it anymore. "No, this king still has something to do. I'll leave first!" Just as he turned around, he heard...
"Hiss..."
Zhongli Mingye tightened his grip on her waist slightly. Song Jinyu looked at him accusingly.
Was it really necessary? It was just having porridge together. What a stingy man!
After seeing Ming Ruyi off at the entrance, "Uncle, this king doesn't want there to be a next time!"
"What are you so nervous about? Are you that unconfident?" Ming Ruyi sneered.
"This king hates all those inexplicable men who appear around her!" Zhongli Mingye looked at him coldly. "This king can let you out, and this king can also lock you up again."
"If there's a next time, this king guarantees that you'll spend the rest of your life in the dungeon!"
"Zhongli Mingye, this king is your own uncle!!!"
Back in the study, the porridge was still steaming.
But the person was gone. He felt a warmth in his heart. Just as he was about to go find her, unexpectedly, a message came from the palace. Concubine Xue had an argument with Noble Consort Shu in the imperial garden. After being punished to kneel by Noble Consort Shu, she started to bleed!
The emperor summoned Prince Yu and his wife to enter the palace immediately.
Noble Consort Shu was put under house arrest in the palace. She knelt in front of the Buddha statue, chanting scriptures. She recalled what had just happened. Concubine Xue had grabbed her hand tightly.
She knelt down and cried, "Please spare this concubine, sister. Please spare the imperial prince in this concubine's womb..."
Suddenly, she felt that all this was so unreal.
Having seen the filth in the palace for so long, now the dirty water was splashed on her. Noble Consort Shu felt as if her heart had fallen into an ice cellar. It was a pity that she might have implicated that young couple. Her children... If she didn't still care about Prince Yu and his wife, Noble Consort Shu might have already become a nun.
"Your Majesty, this concubine's child!"
Concubine Xue shouted. The emperor was very shocked. He had had many children, but later there had been no newborns.
Now, if something happened to Concubine Xue's child, it would only mean that as an emperor, he didn't even have the ability to protect his own woman!
Prince Yu and his wife knelt outside, pleading for Noble Consort Shu. Unfortunately, the furious emperor didn't listen at all. Song Jinyu looked up and saw Zhongli Mingye's cold and disgusted face. She knew how tired he was of the intrigues in the palace.
Suddenly, under the cover of her sleeves, she reached out and touched his cold hand.
Feeling that small gesture, Zhongli Mingye felt a warmth in his heart. But seeing her kneeling in the snow with him, his face became even more gloomy.
His mother was locked up, and his beloved wife was kneeling in the cold snow with him.
He clenched his fists tighter. Song Jinyu knew what he was thinking and whispered, "It's okay... When he calms down, it will be fine!"
Concubine Xue knew she was pregnant but still went to the imperial garden to enjoy the snowscape. She must have already thought up a plan!
She had to find an opportunity to feel her pulse and see what the situation was.
Was it for the position of the queen? Concubine Xue was being too hasty!
Not to mention that her background couldn't convince the public. Did she think she could just take advantage of the situation because she was in favor? How ridiculous! Even if there was no Noble Consort Shu or Noble Consort Jia, the emperor would choose a suitable noble girl from the noble families, not her!
After thinking this through, Song Jinyu wasn't panicked anymore.
Soon, Eunuch Li beside the emperor called them up and they went to Concubine Xue's palace together.
Concubine Xue was lying pale in the emperor's arms, her eyes closed and her eyelashes trembling slightly. She wasn't really asleep. "Father, Concubine Xue has really suffered!"
"You still dare to say! Your good mother. I misjudged her!" The emperor was extremely angry. "She actually tried to harm the imperial prince!"
Zhongli Mingye knelt down. "Please investigate clearly, Father. Mother has always been indifferent. How could she try to harm Concubine Xue's fetus? Moreover... she has no reason."
"Reason? Hmph..."
Just as the father and son were arguing, Concubine Xue let out a soft moan, about to wake up. She looked as if she had suffered a great deal. Song Jinyu seized the opportunity and quickly stepped forward. "Concubine Xue, be careful!" She quietly covered Concubine Xue with the quilt and at the same time grabbed her wrist.
So that's how it was! Song Jinyu understood. It was really hateful. Sure enough, it was for the position of the queen. If she had once respected Concubine Xue as a remarkable woman for sacrificing herself to enter the palace for revenge, now, for the sake of climbing to the highest position, she had done such a despicable thing.
Then don't blame her!
However, Song Jinyu suddenly thought that Concubine Xue was also Zhongli Mingye's person! If she exposed her on the spot, would it put Zhongli Mingye in a very passive position?