The deeds of Prince Yu and his wife in Liuzhou City spread throughout the Great Xia Dynasty. The common people all praised Prince Yu for his love for the people, and some even witnessed the princess treating the poor and sick people suffering from the epidemic in simple clothes.
People were deeply impressed.
Zhongli Mingye personally went to Tianmen Mountain to seek doctors, going through numerous hardships. Compared with the crown prince, his kindness and benevolence were even more prominent.
Many previously neutral officials in the court also began to look at Prince Yu Zhongli Mingye in a new light because of this incident.
The emperor was very comforted.
Prince Cheng Zhongli Shuoyi was quite jealous. However, even he had to weigh whether he had the courage to stay in Liuzhou City at the risk of being infected with the epidemic.
However, when Prince Yu's carriage arrived outside the city gate, a very embarrassing scene occurred:
The crown prince had arranged for people to block the city gate, not allowing them to enter the capital.
Zhongli Mingye played with the jade ring on his finger, with a half - smile on his face. "Is this the order of the crown prince?"
It was quite interesting!
He scoffed. "I'm bringing my wife back to the capital. Are you sure you want to stop us?"
The city - guarding official was so intimidated by his imposing manner that he stammered, "Your subordinate... is just... following routine procedures!"
Song Jinyu was helpless. Had the crown prince run out of tricks? Earlier, she thought he had become more sensible and knew to take away the imperial physicians to cut off Liuzhou City's support.
Now it seemed that she had thought too much. The crown prince was still as stupid as ever. Right now, humiliating Zhongli Mingye was like slapping the emperor in the face.
After all, the emperor had just rewarded the couple, and they had a very good reputation among the people.
However, Song Jinyu frowned slightly. Was it really that simple? She looked back at Zhongli Mingye. He looked inscrutable, with a half - smile on his face.
Did he arrange this himself? Song Jinyu looked deeply at the man beside her. He was really a scheming one.
Things were probably not that easy!
The city - guarding officials didn't dare to make things too difficult for them. But they did reach out and lift the curtain of the carriage. The most embarrassing thing was that some imperial physicians came and insisted on taking the pulses of Prince Yu and his wife to check if they had been infected with the epidemic.
Once this incident spread, the whole court was in an uproar! The emperor was also stunned. "Rebellious son!" He was so cruel to his own brother, embarrassing Prince Yu in front of the city gate.
He was so angry that he directly overturned the desk and immediately issued an order to confine the crown prince to think about his mistakes. He also scolded the crown prince, "You useless fool!"
For a while, the court was in a great stir. And things were not peaceful in the Eastern Palace either. Zhongli Chengze sat on the chair in a daze.
"They said it was arranged by me?"
"Haha... It's really great!" He had already been deprived of the power to supervise the state earlier. Now, afraid of getting into trouble, he had been resting in his mansion. How could he still influence the city - guarding officials to stage such a play?
The "strange man" had disappeared without a trace for many days.
Zhongli Chengze was a little panicked. He was afraid that an even greater storm was coming.
The emperor held a welcome banquet for Prince Yu and his wife. At the banquet, they were highly regarded. Although the crown prince was confined and didn't come, the crown princess came.
This was very strange. After all, a husband and wife usually accompany each other. But since the crown princess Chen Mingzhu had come, the emperor couldn't send her back in public. After all, the face of the Duke of Fuguogong's Mansion still mattered.
However,
Chen Mingzhu placed a hand on her belly and gave a feigned smile. "Sister - in - law has been married for almost a year. Why haven't you shown any signs of pregnancy yet?" Song Jinyu, who was enjoying her meal, was suddenly named and was a little unaccustomed. Zhongli Mingye gave a doting smile. "Don't worry. After all, it's my child. Does it matter if it comes a little earlier or a little later?"
These words didn't sit well with Chen Mingzhu. What did he mean? The hand on her belly tightened involuntarily.
But on the surface, she remained calm. "Fourth brother really dotes on his wife. Sister - in - law should take good care of her body."
Song Jinyu was helpless. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness the Crown Princess. I will surely take more care and give birth to an heir for the Prince Yu's Mansion as soon as possible."
Chen Mingzhu didn't intend to let her go. She was out of favor with the crown prince, while Song Jinyu still looked radiant. What was most infuriating was that there were no concubines in the Prince Yu's Mansion.
"Although you're not in a hurry, several other princesses have already given birth to princes and princesses. The Prince Yu's Mansion should have an heir as soon as possible."
"Otherwise... Could it be... Ugh!"
She suddenly covered her mouth and pretended to vomit, which made people have wild speculations. Every word she said implied that there was something wrong with Prince Yu or that Song Jinyu was infertile.
Just as Song Jinyu was about to stand up and say something, Zhongli Mingye gently pulled her back. "The Crown Princess is deeply favored by the crown prince. I hope you will give birth to the crown prince's own child soon."
He looked at Xing Jian with a half - smile. Xing Jian understood immediately.
Not long after, the crown princess Chen Mingzhu was shocked to see Chen Feng appear at the door of the main hall. She was so shocked that she didn't even notice that her chopsticks had fallen.
Prince Cheng Zhongli Shuoyi, having watched the show for a long time, naturally understood. "It's quite interesting!"
Zhongli Mingye had repeatedly emphasized the crown prince's own child. Now seeing Chen Mingzhu so flustered, he naturally knew that there must be something abnormal.
The emperor once again publicly praised Zhongli Mingye and Song Jinyu and bestowed many rewards on them.
The crown princess's face turned gloomy.
On the way back, Song Jinyu was a little annoyed. Zhongli Mingye took her to the secret room in the study. "This..."
"As you can see, this is also my study!"
"No wonder I often couldn't find you. You were always in this secret room!" Song Jinyu looked at the secret room with great interest.
Zhongli Mingye looked at her seriously. "Chen Mingzhu's child is not the crown prince's."
" Oh..."
Song Jinyu didn't show much reaction. The royal family was really in a mess.
Zhongli Mingye looked at her amusedly. "You knew it already?"
"No. I just found out. Your words were a bit strange, and when I saw Chen Mingzhu's face, I knew there was something fishy." She said nonchalantly. "However..."
"She is really bold!"
"So... you should be more careful... and stay in the mansion." Zhongli Mingye just found an excuse to keep her in the mansion.
Song Jinyu made a bitter face. "Are you confining me openly?"
He reached out and pinched her face, smiling. "My princess is not for others to look at!" A few days ago, he had sent a letter to invite the King of Zhongzhou back to the capital.
Yanqiu was getting restless. Once the war started, he might go to the battlefield.
He pulled Song Jinyu into his arms. His eyes looked into the distance. "Now, we can only play along with the situation!"
Ming Ruyi was the only royal relative he could trust. With him in charge of the capital, those sneaky villains wouldn't dare to make any moves against the Prince Yu's Mansion, let alone bully Song Jinyu.
Song Jinyu didn't quite understand what he meant yet. She nestled in his familiar and warm embrace, quietly listening to his strong heartbeat.
Chen Mingzhu's words had actually affected her mood.
Yes, they still didn't have a child.
However, she was even more eager to meet the woman who looked very similar to Ouyang Jinse. Unfortunately, Zhong Yuanliu hadn't sent any new news.
Song Jinyu told Zhongli Mingye about this. "Anyway, be more careful."