However, before she could figure things out, Zhongli Mingye picked her up. "I have something to talk to you about..."
"No way!" Song Jinyu panicked. "You... Mmm..."
Taking advantage of the moment when he let go of her, she quickly pushed him away. "I... I'm on my period."
Zhongli Mingye felt helpless. "I actually forgot! Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
As he spoke, he placed his hand on her lower abdomen. "Does this make you feel better?" Looking at his gentle features, Song Jinyu felt extremely content. This was probably what the phrase "peaceful years" meant.
Finally, it was the day of Xing Jian's grand wedding. The Prince Yu's Mansion saw Mi Cui off as the bride. Mi Cui knelt on the ground and looked at Song Jinyu. "Your Highness, this subordinate will still serve you!"
"Alright. Even after you're married, you're still one of mine. I'll increase your allowance later. Live a good life with Xing Jian from now on."
Niao Niao helped Mi Cui up and personally covered her with a red bridal veil. Fang Ai watched coldly. How hypocritical. Saying she was her person, but in the end, she was still married off to the mansion's steward.
If she really had good intentions, she could have found a small official's family for her. Now, letting her be a steward's wife was considered a great favor?
Humph...
Fang Rui noticed that Fang Ai was staring blankly and whispered a reminder, "Hurry up and tidy Mi Cui up!" Only then did Fang Ai reluctantly withdraw her gaze.
Both Xing Jian and Mi Cui were orphans. Zhongli Mingye and Song Jinyu witnessed this happy event and accompanied them with a lot of dowry. The Prince Yu's Mansion was bustling with activity, while the Eastern Palace was cold and desolate. Although the Crown Princess Chen Mingzhu had recovered from her injuries, her marital relationship with the Crown Prince was completely broken.
On the day she was beaten up by the Crown Prince, she just found out that she was pregnant. Naturally, the child was gone!
The wife of the Duke of Fuguo had advised her not to pick on her step - daughter. No matter how ordinary Zhongli Xianya was, her grandfather was the current emperor.
Now, it was too late to regret. Not to mention giving birth to a legitimate son for the Crown Prince, she couldn't even see the Crown Prince. Now, she was just muddling through each day in the Eastern Palace. But today was different.
Whether the Crown Prince Zhongli Chengze was willing or not, he still needed the support of the Duke of Fuguo's Mansion.
So, he still stayed with Chen Mingzhu, showing that the Crown Prince and his wife were getting along much better. However, only Chen Mingzhu knew that the Crown Prince was just putting on a show!
In such a huge Eastern Palace, she felt cold all over. The initial joy had worn off, and now there was only a glimmer of hope left.
Zhongli Xianya had moved out of the Eastern Palace and now often stayed in Concubine Jia's palace. This completely showed the emperor's attitude.
Every time after having intimacy with Zhongli Xianya, the Crown Prince Zhongli Chengze would take a bath. The look of disgust and reluctance on his face made Chen Mingzhu have no more expectations.
She became more and more sad and hopeless.
She had been the apple of the eye in the Duke of Fuguo's Mansion since childhood. Now, not favored by the Crown Prince, she was lonely in the deep palace with no way to relieve her boredom. One day, the guards in the Enyi Hall of the Eastern Palace were changed.
At first, she didn't find anything strange. But when she looked closely, she found that one of the guards was very familiar. Her beautiful eyes widened, and she almost cried out, "It's you!"
Zhaolu and Xiyu were like two door - gods, guarding beside Song Jinyu. When she entered the room, they stood at the door. No one was allowed to enter or leave casually.
Niao Niao was helpless. "Your Highness, what's this?"
"The Prince said that Her Highness drank too much and no one should be allowed to disturb." Zhaolu let Niao Niao in to help Song Jinyu wash up. After taking a bath, Song Jinyu shook her head, not caring at all.
Zhongli Mingye just loved to play some little tricks. It seemed that there were only Niao Niao, Fang Ai, and Fang Rui left by her side. All the others had been replaced by his people.
Was he indirectly controlling her?
Her head was a bit dizzy. She let out a light breath. Song Jinyu leaned on the couch, her mind a bit fuzzy. She was really useless. She had drunk too much again. How many times was this?
Fang Ai saw this and thought that today was a good opportunity. Song Jinyu was drunk and definitely couldn't serve the Prince.
Then the Prince... Wouldn't he have no one to serve him? Just as she was about to go to the study, she saw Zhongli Mingye walking into the bedroom! Fang Ai was a bit disappointed. They were so deeply in love. When would there be a chance for her?
Now Fang Ai was not young. She was a few months older than Fang Rui.
"This glutinous rice wine is sweet and doesn't make people drunk, but you drank a few more cups of pear blossom wine after that." He shook his head and looked at the little drunk cat helplessly. "You're so happy today!"
"Happy about what?"
"Mi Cui got married, and Fang Rui has been betrothed. Cheng Song is almost out of his hard days." How could she not be happy? Although she never thought that a woman finding a suitable husband was the end of happiness.
But now, she had changed her mind. Because after marrying Zhongli Mingye, Song Jinyu felt that she had gained more happiness. So, she also hoped that the people around her could be happy.
"You always worry about others." He gently hugged her, stroked her picturesque eyebrows, and said softly, "From now on, just take care of yourself, okay?"
"No! I still have to take care of you!"
Song Jinyu's beautiful eyes fluttered. She had indeed drunk a lot of wedding wine today. "I'm going to take care of you. I won't allow you to look at other women, and I won't allow you to take concubines or choose side - princesses."
"Just me!"
"I'll cling to you forever!"
Zhongli Mingye couldn't help but laugh. "You're really domineering!"
"Yeah!"
She wrapped her arms around Zhongli Mingye's neck and murmured incoherently before falling asleep, "My Zhongli Mingye can only be mine!"
He lovingly placed her gently on the bed. "Okay, I'll be yours for generations to come." What I've been longing for is just to be clung to by you alone.
Now, I've finally achieved my wish.
Niao Niao looked at Fang Ai with a cold face. "The Prince and Her Highness are together. Naturally, they have things to talk about. What are you going in for?"
"The Prince just came in. This servant wanted to bring him some tea."
"Humph..."
"We won't trouble you with this!" Usually, it was either Niao Niao or Mi Cui who did the job of bringing tea. When did it ever come to Fang Ai?
Seeing that Fang Ai was scolded, Fang Rui pulled her away. "Are you crazy?"
"The Prince and the Princess have a very deep affection. You're just looking for your own death!"
"Don't bother me! I can't just let her monopolize the Prince alone!" Fang Ai was indignant. Fang Rui had also been appointed as a steward in the mansion. Only she and Niao Niao were left.
Fang Ai angrily threw away her handkerchief. "Did they choose Niao Niao as a concubine?"
Fang Rui couldn't stand it anymore. "I know what you're thinking, but this is absolutely impossible."
"Have you forgotten how those first few maids in the mansion died?"
"They asked for it!" Fang Ai thought that since she was by the Princess's side, it must be different. "No matter who we are, we're just maids after all."
"I just don't believe it!"
The next day, Zhongli Mingye got up to go to court.
As soon as he stepped out of the room, he saw Fang Ai waiting on the side. "Your Highness, please have some tea."
These things had always been done by Mi Cui. Now that it was Fang Ai, Zhongli Mingye didn't think much of it and just assumed it was Song Jinyu's arrangement.
And Niao Niao came in right after. She saw Fang Ai constantly giving the Prince amorous glances and felt unhappy. "Fang Ai, the Prince is going to court. There are servants to serve him. You can go down."
After Fang Ai reluctantly left, Niao Niao frowned.
This girl had far - reaching ambitions.