In the former Crown Prince's mansion, the people from the Duke Protector's mansion were sitting in the front hall. The Duke Protector stared coldly at the former Crown Prince, Zhongli Chengze. In just a few days since he was deposed from the position of Crown Prince, he had become much more dispirited. If it weren't for the Duke Protector's mansion still caring about Chen Mingzhu, Zhongli Chengze's days would surely have been even more difficult.
The atmosphere in the front hall was cold and tense, while in the bedroom, although a charcoal brazier was lit, the room was still not warm. Fortunately, the silver-thread charcoal sent by the Duke Protector's mansion was burned in greater quantity, finally warming up the delivery room.
Chen Mingzhu's shrill screams disturbed those in the front hall. Although Zhongli Chengze didn't have much affection for Chen Mingzhu, he was a bit panicked at this moment. If anything happened to her, the Duke Protector's mansion would surely not let him off easily.
Jinyu, who was waiting on him by his side, watched coldly without saying a word. "Your Grace, the eldest young lady has given birth to a young master," finally, the continuous shrill screams stopped. "Both mother and child are safe!"
What was going on? Zhongli Chengze looked at Jinyu. Didn't they say that Chen Mingzhu's child wouldn't be born safely?
Jinyu quickly understood. It seemed that Chen Mingzhu didn't trust the Crown Prince at all. Whose child this was didn't matter. What mattered was his identity.
The shrewd look in the eyes of the people from the Duke Protector's mansion seemed to be calculating something. When the young master appeared, Zhongli Chengze's eyes turned red with rage. This child! He wasn't his...
Because every prince of the Zhongli family had a special birthmark. This child didn't have it!
Sure enough, she had still betrayed him. Thinking of this, Zhongli Chengze was filled with hatred. The legitimate son he had been longing for for so long was actually someone else's child.
But this wasn't the time to turn hostile. The people from the Duke Protector's mansion were all here. Forcing himself to endure his anger, he stared coldly at the woman on the bed and the guard, Chen Feng, who was standing at the door. The two of them were openly flirting with each other. Did they really think he was a cuckold! Just thinking that such a despicable thing had happened right under his nose, Zhongli Chengze's blood boiled with anger. Fortunately, Jinyu reminded him in time, preventing a greater disaster from happening.
It wasn't until the Duke Protector left that he quickly walked into Chen Mingzhu's room, intending to attack. Unexpectedly, Jinyu stopped him. "Don't be hasty. This child will still be of great use."
At the birthday banquet of the Minister of Works' mansion, Song Jinyu was full and a bit bored. She chatted idly with Lady Leng. Rong Shuang'er wasn't here today either, and the other officials' wives were just on polite terms. Their constant flattery really exhausted her.
Just as she was chatting and laughing with Lady Leng, she suddenly saw Zhongli Mingye walk in. All the ladies and young misses were captivated. They only heard the prince say, "The princess always likes to take a nap in the afternoon... It's time now... This king will take you back."
All the ladies and young misses looked at each other in dismay and could only watch helplessly as the slightly tired Song Jinyu was helped up. Zhongli Mingye took her over naturally, and the charming princess seemed to be used to it.
Lady Leng smiled and said, "It's this humble woman's fault. I forgot that Your Highness is pregnant."
Song Jinyu smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm just a bit tired. This princess will leave first. You all continue."
After saying that, the couple left hand in hand. Lady Wang had been on pins and needles throughout. Due to her status, whether Song Jinyu talked to her or not, it couldn't be considered impolite. But this was Lady Wang's first appearance in the noble circle of the capital. Everyone gave face to the prime minister, but Song Jinyu didn't say a single word to her from beginning to end.
The families of officials were used to judging people by their status. Since she had offended the Princess of Yu Prince, the other officials' wives ignored her even more.
"Um, sleepy..."
As soon as she got into the carriage, the pregnant Song Jinyu clumsily curled herself up in his arms, rubbed against him, found a comfortable position, and fell asleep, which made Zhongli Mingye laugh and cry. He held her more firmly, lowered his head, and kissed her fair and tender forehead. Seeing that the rain outside was gradually getting denser, he told Qingfeng to drive the carriage more steadily.
The girl in his arms was sleeping soundly. Her picturesque eyebrows had gained a bit more charm. Her smooth forehead was like a precious jade.
By the time they reached the prince's mansion, she was still sleeping soundly. Zhongli Mingye carried her back and gently laid her down. Then he lay down with her in his arms. Only by her side could he feel at ease and relaxed.
When Chen Mingzhu regained consciousness, she saw Zhongli Chengze's murderous gaze. Frightened, she hid under the covers. Then, worried about the child, she remembered that the child had been taken back by the Duke Protector's mansion.
She was the former Crown Princess, but the child was innocent. The Duke Protector's mansion was worried about the child. The former Crown Prince's palace was too cold and desolate. So after asking the emperor for permission, the emperor agreed.
"This child isn't mine, is he!" It wasn't a question but a statement. Chen Mingzhu stared blankly at him and suddenly shed tears. "Zhongli Chengze, you're really a bastard!"
But then she couldn't say anything more because Zhongli Chengze grabbed her. "You deserve to die!"
"Hehe..."
But before he could continue his attack, an arrow pierced through the window screen and shot straight onto the bed. Frightened, the former Crown Prince Zhongli Chengze quickly let go of Chen Mingzhu.
There was no more movement outside the window. Zhongli Chengze calmed down. "I'll spare your worthless life for now!" Jinyu was right. If it weren't for the Duke Protector's mansion, he, the former Crown Prince, wouldn't even be able to survive.
After Prime Minister Ling returned to his mansion, he confined Lady Wang and never mentioned the matter again. He only called Ling Yuchen over.
"Chen'er, now you're the legitimate eldest son of the prime minister's mansion."
"How about this father arranging a marriage for you?"
Ling Yuchen didn't dare to disobey his father's order. He only said, "I'll leave it to father to decide!" Today, the Yu Prince had openly humiliated him. Did he think he was certain to get the throne?
A calculating light shone in his hawk-like eyes. The Yu Prince had refused to marry his daughter, and the lives of his two daughters had indirectly been lost because of him.
Now, Prime Minister Ling had to make other plans.
The eldest daughter of the emperor, Princess Heyi, had grown up. Earlier, the emperor had wanted to arrange a marriage for Ling Yuchen, but the scandal of the Ling family's daughter had affected the emperor.
Now, Princess Heyi's mother was Concubine Jia, and it was possible for her to rise even higher in the future. Did the Yu Prince really think the throne was secure?
How ridiculous! As long as the emperor was still on the throne, he would always be just the Yu Prince!
The former Crown Prince was tortured by Chen Mingzhu and the child to the point of being neither human nor ghost, but he couldn't kill them. Jinyu had repeatedly told him that this child was very useful.
Chen Mingzhu had survived by a lucky chance, but her body was in a terrible state. In order to torture Chen Feng, Zhongli Chengze had tortured her crazily.
Chen Feng, due to his status, could only issue warnings but couldn't protect Chen Mingzhu. Late at night, he went to the Yu Prince's mansion.
"Please, Your Highness! Give Mingzhu a chance to live!"
This time, Chen Feng knelt willingly at the feet of the Yu Prince, Zhongli Mingye. "What does the former Crown Prince want with this child?"
Zhongli Mingye knew very well that this elder brother of his still wasn't willing to give up!
The little woman behind him was sleeping soundly. Her body was gradually getting a bit bulky, so she was sleeping uncomfortably. Zhongli Mingye thought for a long time before he realized that Song Jinyu needed to hold something to sleep soundly.
So he was willing to be her "pillow".