After learning the ins and outs of Fang'ai's disappearance that night, Song Jinyu sighed, "What shall we do now?" She didn't even notice that Zhongli Mingye had already beaten the culprit to death.
"It's so boring!"
Maybe because she had been so well - protected by him, she had become lazier and let down her guard against those people.
Now, Zhongli Mingye had replaced all of her maids except Niaoniao. They were all his people.
Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
Before she could take action, he had cleared away all the troubles for her.
The news of Fang'ai's disappearance gradually spread in the prince's mansion. The maids and servants below became more cautious. Everyone said that if a maid was caught trying to climb into the prince's bed by the princess, she might still have a chance to live. But if she fell into the prince's hands, there would be no trace of her left. Don't be fooled by the prince's tenderness towards the princess. He was still the famous cold - faced prince in the capital.
The maids who had such thoughts gradually gave them up. The whole Yu Prince's Mansion became much more harmonious, and no one dared to think about climbing into the prince's bed anymore.
The Yu Prince and his wife maintained a great understanding. He didn't say, and she didn't ask.
Today, the couple went to the palace to visit Concubine Shu. Just after dinner, they saw Heyi running towards them. "Fourth brother came to the palace without even telling Heyi."
Her eyes flitted around, and when she saw Song Jinyu, she said, "Jinyu..."
"Call her sister - in - law!"
Zhongli Mingye attached great importance to the way people addressed Song Jinyu. He always wanted to prove their relationship. Heyi was helpless. "I've always called her Jinyu!"
"She's your sister - in - law!"
Song Jinyu was helpless. "Come on... Don't be so fussy about such small things." Concubine Shu almost choked on her tea. She never knew her son could be so ridiculous.
This made Concubine Shu like Song Jinyu even more. If the couple lived in harmony, her son would become more cheerful.
Children who grew up in the palace gradually hid their true feelings because of all the intrigues. Now Zhongli Mingye smiled more than before. As a mother, she was happy to see this.
"What do you want from me?" Heyi looked around to make sure no one was there, then whispered, "I saw the Crown Princess flirting with a man the other day!"
"Nonsense!" There were so many eyes in the Eastern Palace. How could she be so bold?
"If even you could see them flirting, wouldn't the Crown Prince have noticed it long ago?"
Heyi got anxious. "I saw it by accident!"
"Just keep it to yourself and don't tell anyone else!" Song Jinyu said seriously. "The palace is already a complicated place. You need to control your temper."
"Otherwise... You might be in danger one day!" Song Jinyu tapped her on the head. She wasn't scaring her. Gossiping about others was okay, but involving the current Crown Prince was a serious matter. After all, there was never a shortage of princesses in the palace. Heyi was just favored because of Concubine Jia, and others gave her some leeway.
Heyi stuck out her tongue and made a face. "Okay..."
Although Song Jinyu had warned Heyi, she took this matter to heart. The Crown Princess was the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion. Logically, she shouldn't have done such a despicable thing.
On the way home, she mentioned this to Zhongli Mingye, but he didn't seem to care. "If the Crown Prince doesn't care, we don't need to worry about it for him."
Song Jinyu always felt something was wrong. "You still need to look into it... If Heyi really saw it, and it fell into the hands of someone with a hidden agenda, it might cause unnecessary trouble."
"Okay!"
A calculating look flashed in his phoenix eyes. Zhongli Mingye already had a plan in mind. An old lover? A little fire was needed!
"Zhongzhou Prince's Mansion!"
Rong Shuang'er was riding by when her eyes became a little absent - minded.
She hadn't seen Ming Ruyi since that day. He really didn't like her. Since he knew that Song Jinyu was out of reach, why did he still act so affectionate?
Just as she was about to leave, she unexpectedly heard the porter of the mansion talking.
"Have you heard? The prince saved a singing girl recently."
"Tsk tsk... That girl is really charming... with almond - shaped eyes... and fair and delicate skin." The burly porter said disdainfully, "Who knows if she appeared in front of our prince on purpose."
The tall and thin one whispered, "But the prince took her as his concubine last night." Boom! Rong Shuang'er didn't listen anymore. She felt her mind go blank.
She smiled bitterly. It seemed that in Ming Ruyi's eyes, she was not even as good as a singing girl.
The scandal of the Zhongzhou Prince's Mansion unexpectedly became more and more intense. Song Jinyu and Heyi looked at each other. What would Rong Shuang'er do now?
The newly - taken - in Xiaotao looked so pitiful that it really made men want to protect her. And her white mourning clothes made her skin look like snow. As the saying goes: To look charming, wear mourning clothes.
Ming Ruyi, the Zhongzhou Prince, even brought her to the royal banquet openly. This caused everyone to talk about it, and Rong Shuang'er's face turned pale.
"Xiaotao?"
Rong Shuang'er took a closer look and found that the woman was so familiar. She was once her maid! Because she had tried to seduce the Duke and become his concubine, she was driven out by Rong Shuang'er. Now... she had become the concubine of the Zhongzhou Prince.
This was just too absurd! Rong Shuang'er hid her pain and silently drank her wine without saying a word.
Song Jinyu looked at Xiaotao flattering Ming Ruyi with a glass of wine thoughtfully. She was a bit confused. Xiaotao's looks were not as good as those singing girls in the music workshops in Yezhou. How did she catch Ming Ruyi's eye?
Seeing Rong Shuang'er in a low mood, Heyi went to invite her over first. Song Jinyu told Zhongli Mingye and then left too.
"Jinyu... Xiaotao was once my maid!" Rong Shuang'er opened her eyes wide in disbelief. "So, your uncle took in your maid?"
Just thinking about it made Rong Shuang'er feel disgusted.
Song Jinyu was also a bit puzzled. Ming Ruyi didn't choose the noble daughter of the Duke's Mansion but a maid of ordinary looks. Was he trying to reject Rong Shuang'er in this way?
Just as they were discussing, Xiaotao unexpectedly slipped out of the banquet. "This servant pays respects to the young lady!" Although her words were respectful, the pride on her face couldn't be hidden.
"Whose maid are you?"
Heyi didn't like her. This maid was too high - profile. Xiaotao thought she was favored by Ming Ruyi and was very confident. But seeing the noble - looking people in front of her, she didn't dare to be too presumptuous.
"This servant is the concubine of the Zhongzhou Prince's Mansion." The word "concubine" stabbed at Rong Shuang'er's heart. She hid her unhappiness and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, Xiaotao blocked her way. "Young lady, do you still remember when you drove this servant out?"
"Now, this servant can attend the royal banquet with you."
"Slap!"
Before she could finish speaking, Heyi's slap landed on her face. "What a low - life thing. How dare you talk to the young lady of the Duke's Mansion like this?"
Xiaotao covered her face. "You, you..." Her eyes were full of tears. She couldn't believe it. She wanted to fight back, but she wasn't stupid. All the people present today were royal relatives. She couldn't afford to offend any of them.
After she ran away crying, Song Jinyu looked at this scene coldly. "Don't you think she's deliberately provoking us?"
"Back then, it was me who drove her out..." Rong Shuang'er briefly told them about Xiaotao's attempt to seduce the Duke. Heyi was already very angry.
"We should tell your uncle!"
Song Jinyu smiled slightly. "Your uncle is infatuated with her now. He won't care about these things." Most men would fall for this kind of thing.
When they returned to the banquet, Ming Ruyi was still holding Xiaotao's hand and drinking. Rong Shuang'er's face was ashen, and she could hardly contain her anger.
But Song Jinyu's words still rang in her ears, "Ming Ruyi is always tricky. Ordinary methods won't work on him."
"Just watch the show!"
Actually, Song Jinyu wasn't sure either. After all, Zhongli Mingye really liked her gentle side. Especially now, he even secretly stuffed a plum into her hand under the table.
Then he said to her seriously, "My love, just enjoy your food and drink!"