Early the next morning, Song Jinyu received some news. A new beauty had been bestowed a title in the palace the previous day. She was the younger sister of Concubine Qing, born from the same parents. Although the entire harem congratulated the emperor on his new conquest, they secretly mocked Concubine Qing for failing to send her sister to Prince Yu and then offering her to the emperor instead.
Heyi scoffed, "These scheming people only know how to play dirty tricks." Her mother had seen clearly that the emperor had been lured there by Concubine Qing the previous day.
"Thankfully, nothing too serious happened..."
Her beautiful eyes turned cold. With a moment's thought, she knew that the scheme the previous night had been set for Zhongli Mingye.
Currently, he was the most prominent prince in the Great Xia Dynasty. Any discerning person knew what it meant to enter Prince Yu's mansion at this time.
Afraid that Song Jinyu might be overthinking, Heyi smiled and said, "Come on, don't worry. Fourth Brother isn't that kind of person." She was truly envious. Among all the royal families in the capital, which mansion didn't have multiple wives and concubines? But Prince Yu's mansion was the simplest.
Rumors had it that the Princess of Prince Yu was extremely jealous. But in Heyi's opinion, rather than saying that Song Jinyu didn't want other women in the mansion, it was more likely that Zhongli Mingye only had eyes for Song Jinyu. He loved her to the core and couldn't bear to see her the slightest bit unhappy.
Song Jinyu wasn't overthinking. She just thought that the repeated disruptions in the palace showed the emperor's incompetence.
Concubine Qing was furious!
Two sisters serving the same man? Fine. Prince Yu hadn't been drunk at all, and she had personally sent her sister to the emperor's bed.
"Crash!" She swept all the rewards on the table to the ground. "Servants!"
"Send them to Beauty Li!"
Gritting her silver teeth, her eyes were filled with hatred. She felt a slight fear when she thought of the Li family. Li Zixuan was the last legitimate daughter of the Li family.
Originally, she was supposed to be the side concubine of Prince Yu. Now, she had become a beauty in the emperor's harem. She feared that the family would be in an uproar!
The emperor was extremely happy. Having just obtained a new beauty, he was reluctant to part with her delicate white skin.
Li Zixuan had gone from panic at the beginning to calmness now. It was mostly due to the emperor's efforts. But... compared to the young and handsome Prince Yu, the aging emperor was hardly a good match.
Where was her sister?
Beauty Xuan! Li Zixuan couldn't accept it, but it had become a reality.
"Yao'er's astrological signs and destiny are exactly the same as mine back then!" The emperor doted on Zhongli Wenyao very much. The conclusion of the imperial astrologer made the emperor extremely happy. Concubine Qin, who had become much more docile, just smiled and joked, "The servants all say that the emperor is looking more and more energetic. Maybe it's because of the young prince."
"I think it must be because the court and the harem are stable," Concubine Qin added.
The emperor was in a very good mood today. "At the court, there are Ye'er, Prime Minister Ling, and the new Minister of Revenue, Song Qinzhou. He's not bad either."
Hearing this, Concubine Qin's eyes dimmed. She quietly agreed, "Prime Minister Ling is indeed an honest official, dedicated to the government."
"He's a good man, but he spoils his daughter too much..." Remembering Ling Yufei's past deeds, the emperor had some complaints about Prime Minister Ling.
Fortunately, his political achievements were outstanding, so the emperor didn't say much.
Concubine Qin coaxed the emperor, "Prime Minister Ling's good achievements are also due to the emperor's guidance."
"Now that Yao'er's astrological signs match yours, he will surely share your worries in the future."
For a moment, Concubine Qin and the emperor were chatting happily. They didn't notice a young eunuch around the corner.
Zhongli Mingye gently lifted those fair and delicate feet and caressed them carefully. Song Jinyu blushed. "Let Niaoniao do it..."
"I'll do it!"
His movements were as smooth as flowing clouds. It was as if he was creating a painting. In no time, her pink toenails were neatly trimmed.
His phoenix eyes were smiling as he looked at her. "We've been married for so long, and you're still so easily embarrassed..." Song Jinyu supported her belly. The lunch she had just eaten made her feel a bit full.
She had originally planned to move around, but she felt sleepy. Just now, she had dozed off in the Liuyun Pavilion.
Zhongli Mingye found some tools and trimmed her toenails. Fortunately, no one saw it. Otherwise, those people would be shocked!
He found a comfortable position and wrapped his arms around her. Zhongli Mingye placed his hand on her belly. "Was he well - behaved today?"
"Yes. He moved a lot this morning. Maybe he's going to sleep now."
"Father - in - law is taking up his new position. I've made all the arrangements. I think everything will go smoothly for him." Song Jinyu turned to her side. "Was it your idea?"
Zhongli Mingye tapped her nose. "No. Father has valued father - in - law for a long time."
"Father - in - law just preferred a quiet life. Because of you, he agreed to serve the court."
Song Jinyu knew that her father didn't really care about official positions. Now that he had become the Minister of Revenue, the status of the entire Song family had risen.
Three years had passed in a flash, and many things had happened. Fortunately, the people who loved her were by her side, and the person she loved had also come to her.
All of this had been arranged by this man.
Song Jinyu didn't believe that the emperor would value her father.
If it weren't for Zhongli Mingye, her father might never have become the Minister of Revenue in his entire life. But he didn't say it out loud, and she pretended not to know.
She reached out and stroked his eyebrows. "Mingye... Have you chosen a name?"
"Yunjing."
"Today, Yunjing is beautiful. The green water and autumn mountains are bright." Song Jinyu blurted out. "You're so lazy. You just randomly picked a poem to fool me!"
He caught her delicate hand and suppressed the charming thoughts in his heart. Zhongli Mingye leaned close to her ear. "The bright autumn mountains are just the wonderful time when I first met you."
So that's what it meant?
Happiness welled up in her heart. Suddenly, she looked up and met his phoenix eyes. She raised her head and kissed the corner of his lips.
Her breath gently landed in his arms. Zhongli Mingye wasn't satisfied with this simple intimacy. He laid her on the soft sheepskin blanket and kissed her deeply. Since she had become pregnant, they hadn't been together. Although they slept in the same bed at night, Zhongli Mingye was very careful.
He would rather take a bath than hurt her in the slightest. Although the imperial doctor had said that the fetus was stable and there was no major problem.
Suddenly, he was startled when he felt a kick on her highly bulging belly.
Seeing him startled, Song Jinyu burst out laughing. "Look at you. You're so easily shocked!"
"Maybe he's awake!"
Zhongli Mingye looked at the belly warningly. "You'd better be well - behaved, or I'll spank you." He said seriously, as if the fetus could understand.
Suppressing his thoughts, he looked at Song Jinyu menacingly and gritted his teeth. She was so scared that she didn't dare to laugh anymore. After a long time, he whispered in her pink ear, "You wait for me. I'll get it all back with interest sooner or later!"
She trembled slightly under his gaze.
She had seen this man's determination. She could foresee how miserable she would be tortured after giving birth.
He gently pecked her red lips. "Don't be afraid. I'll treat you well."
She playfully hit him. "You always like to scare me..." Leaning against his arms, a shy blush suddenly crept up her face.
"Actually..."
She also wanted him. After all... Hearing her words, his phoenix eyes gradually widened. He looked at her strangely until the girl in his arms stopped moving.
"Really?"