Hiding the doubts in her heart, Song Jinyu picked up the cup, looking a bit unnatural. He Yi whispered to her, "He is really good - looking, but compared to the Imperial Uncle and the Fourth Brother, he lacks a bit of charm."
"You were even captivated!"
"I wasn't looking at him. I just thought this young master from Suzhou bears a strong resemblance to an old acquaintance."
Since they were all sitting at the ladies' seats, Ling Yuxuan overheard their conversation. After learning about Ji Yeliu's identity, she suddenly felt that she had a chance.
However, she clearly saw that among the many women at the table, her appearance was not outstanding. She was just a petite and charming girl at best, not to mention that she was just a concubine - born daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Otherwise, why didn't the young master from Suzhou even look at her?
Ji Yeliu himself was a well - known talented scholar in Suzhou. During the banquet, he frequently talked about the interesting anecdotes of Suzhou City, which won the admiration of everyone. Ling Yuxuan became even more infatuated and kept interrupting to show off her talents.
Seeing that Ling Yuxuan had drunk a few more cups of wine, Rong Shuang'er kindly advised her to go to the guest room to rest together. Unexpectedly, Ling Yuxuan gave her a disdainful look. "I think what the young master from Suzhou said is extremely good."
Song Jinyu and He Yi exchanged a look, shook their heads, and then left. Before leaving, Song Jinyu told Rong Shuang'er, "You have to keep an eye on your cousin... We don't want him to find a wife in the capital."
"Exactly. Look at Ling Yuxuan. Her eyes are almost glued to him."
Rong Shuang'er forced a smile. "Alas!"
In spring, the pear blossom wine was at its mellowest. Song Jinyu drank a bit too much. She walked into the garden. The swing was just idle at the moment. She watched the peonies in full bloom, sobering up while enjoying the flowers.
He Yi had drunk even more and went to the guest room to rest first.
Niaoniao shielded her from the spring sun. Song Jinyu gently leaned on the swing and slowly swayed. She remembered that before her wedding, it was also such a swing. She originally wanted to break off the engagement.
But that swing still sent her into his arms. Those phoenix - like eyes were really captivating.
Suddenly, she thought of Yan Fei again and couldn't help touching her chest. It had been a year. How was Yan Fei?
She was very happy. If Yan Fei were still alive, how wonderful it would be!
"Your Highness the Princess, you're really in high spirits."
A strange yet familiar voice came from behind.
Before she knew it, Ji Yeliu had already stood behind her. Niaoniao and Micui immediately stood in front of Song Jinyu to protect her.
"The peonies are blooming beautifully, so I've been looking at them for a while."
Ji Yeliu rarely saw a woman who could make him lose his composure, so he wanted to talk to her more. Unfortunately, the maids around the princess were guarding her tightly, so he had to give up the idea.
Not only these two maids, but there were also two more not far away. It was obvious that they were good at martial arts. Presumably, this princess must be deeply loved by Prince Yu.
This scene fell into Ling Yuxuan's eyes, and jealousy and hatred welled up in her heart instantly.
"She's already married and still acts like this!"
Song Jinyu came to her senses. This man looked like Yan Fei, but he wasn't Yan Fei. Without saying another word, she left the garden directly, leaving Ji Yeliu feeling dejected.
After sending He Yi back to the palace first, Song Jinyu was about to leave the palace gate when she happened to meet Zhongli Mingye. "What a coincidence!"
"It's not a coincidence. If I hadn't come, I'm afraid the princess would have lost her soul."
He lifted his robe and immediately got into the carriage. Then he looked at her with a cold face...
Opening her mouth, Song Jinyu had no idea what he was talking about.
"The young master from Suzhou, a peerless gentleman?" The sarcasm in his words made Song Jinyu a bit uncomfortable. How did he know about this?
No, there was no reason for her to feel guilty.
Everyone has an appreciation for beauty. Moreover, she hadn't done anything out of line. Immediately, she straightened her back, looked into those phoenix - like eyes, reached out to pull him over, and said, "But in my opinion, you... are better."
Just as she was about to lean forward and kiss him, unexpectedly, Zhongli Mingye pushed her away. "..." She awkwardly moved a bit further away and felt that the carriage was really cold.
Until they returned to the mansion, Zhongli Mingye didn't want to talk to Song Jinyu. Song Jinyu had never been treated so coldly by him before, and she felt extremely aggrieved.
"Humph..."
If you ignore me, I don't want to talk to you either!
Although she thought so, she still cared about Zhongli Mingye. Seeing her pacing back and forth in the bedroom and unable to fall asleep, Niaoniao urged her, "Your Highness the Princess, go and see the prince..."
There was no one in the study. What was there to see?
In the middle of the night, there were one or two chirps of cuckoos, and the moonlight shone down.
Song Jinyu heard a sobbing sound of the zither and couldn't stay still any longer. She walked through the forest of flowering crabapple trees and was covered in their fragrance.
Following the sound of the zither, she stepped onto a small bridge and walked into the Liuyun Pavilion.
Zhongli Mingye was burning incense and playing the zither. In the night, he looked extremely elegant.
When the piece ended, the incense had also burned out.
She sat bare - footed beside him. She had come in a hurry, only wearing an inner shirt and throwing on a cloak before following the sound of the zither.
Stopping the zither, Zhongli Mingye picked up her delicate feet with both hands and put them in his arms to warm them. "Mingye..."
She knew why he was angry, but at that time, it was really out of her control. Even she herself hadn't expected to meet someone who looked almost exactly like Yan Fei there.
"He looks very much like Yan Fei, doesn't he?"
"Yes!" This was the reason for her loss of composure, but it also made Zhongli Mingye feel even more unhappy.
Gently letting go of her feet, he stood up and was about to leave, but his robe was grabbed by the woman.
"I..."
Bending down to look at her, his eyes were filled with a misty look, with indescribable emotions. Her delicate chin was slightly raised.
Under such a gaze now, Zhongli Mingye bent down...
When Song Jinyu woke up, she didn't know when she had returned to the room. Zhongli Mingye was nowhere to be seen.
Micui came in to serve her to wash and dress. "The prince said that starting from today, you'll be under house arrest for three months."
Under house arrest? Song Jinyu was immediately furious!
This man... was being overly jealous. Moreover, hadn't she made up for it last night? Didn't she go to the Liuyun Pavilion against her will because... The more she thought about it, the more ashamed and angry she became.
"Where's the prince!"
"He went out early in the morning..."
Good for you, Zhongli Mingye. You go out to have fun while keeping me under house arrest!