A month passed in a blink of an eye. The Crown Prince neither said he was satisfied nor dissatisfied.
Ning Yue felt that those familiar feelings in her heart were growing stronger.
She didn't know how to express these feelings. Every time she met him, her heart would flutter for no reason.
After tonight, she would leave the Prince Yu's Mansion. She had just lulled Little Yuanbao to sleep. Ning Yue thought of saying goodbye to Zhongli Mingye.
She went to the study but found it empty.
There was also no one on the Bright Moon Terrace. Maybe he had gone to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion.
She searched all the way but found no one. Until she reached the medicine garden in the back yard of the mansion... There he was, watering several Starry Herbs. "Starry Herbs can only be watered at night... Does Your Highness also understand herbs?"
Zhongli Mingye looked up and put down the ladle. Even when he was doing something as ordinary as this, Ning Yue still thought he looked extremely good - looking. "It's she who understands..."
She, that must be Song Jinyu. A slight pang of jealousy welled up in Ning Yue's heart. So far, all the opportunities for her to get in touch with Zhongli Mingye were because of that woman.
Zhongli Mingye wiped his hands dry, then grabbed her. "Accompany this prince for a drink?" Drinking made Ning Yue feel uncomfortable. She... remembered the last time they had drunk and ended up drunk on the Bright Moon Terrace.
It was really embarrassing.
"No... Ning Yue can't hold her liquor well."
"You don't have to drink. Anyway, you'll be leaving tomorrow." His phoenix - like eyes were so gentle that they could drown someone. She had no choice but to follow his wishes.
Ning Yue saw that he didn't use a cup but directly picked up the wine pot. "It's so easy to get drunk like this?"
"I've long since become hard to get drunk. No matter how much I drink, the wound in my heart will never heal..." The Crown Prince answered irrelevantly. Ning Yue felt a bit sad. "Is it because of the late Crown Princess?"
Hearing Ning Yue take the initiative to mention Song Jinyu for the first time, a glint of interest flashed in his phoenix - like eyes. "Yes, that heartless woman left our father and son alone for so long."
"I wonder how carefree she is?"
He took a sip of wine and glanced at Ning Yue from the corner of his eye. As expected, she showed some reaction. Suddenly, he leaned forward and handed the wine cup to Ning Yue. "Come..."
Ning Yue was in a daze. Seeing the furrowed brows under those phoenix - like eyes, she instinctively reached out and smoothed them. "These eyebrows look so much less good with so much sorrow."
She casually took the wine cup.
One cup after another, Ning Yue didn't know how many cups she had drunk. She just felt extremely sad. "You really love her to the core... Then why did you let her fall into danger?"
Zhongli Mingye lowered his head to hide the pain in his eyes. "Yes, this prince hates himself to death." That day, he would rather have died himself than let Song Jinyu sacrifice herself.
But just as he thought, Song Jinyu also didn't want him to die. So... she committed suicide. The moment she jumped, Zhongli Mingye felt that the world had lost all its color.
Now, she had come back again. But she had lost her memory. Zhongli Mingye sighed at the twists and turns of fate but was also grateful for its gifts.
Looking at Ning Yue, he suddenly smiled. Now that Ning Yue talked about Song Jinyu, did it mean that she had feelings for him?
On the spur of the moment, he had a naughty thought. "Ning Yue... This prince thinks he's no worse than Xiao Xueyi. Would you like to... stay by this prince's side?"
Although Ning Yue was drunk, she was still clear - headed. "Your Highness, if you want to get out of the pain of losing your wife, you can't be with Ning Yue."
She still cared about the implication of being a substitute.
Zhongli Mingye suddenly laughed. Didn't she understand after this whole month? He reached out and grabbed Ning Yue. "You've never been anyone's substitute. You're just a person who has lost her memory."
"You're the person this prince Zhongli Mingye has been seeking all his life."
Ning Yue's eyes darted around. In her clear eyes, there was a glimmer of innocent light. Her red lips curled up slightly, and a smile appeared on her cheeks.
Suddenly, she felt a pang in her heart, and a bitter taste welled up in her mouth. She just sat down silently, not daring to look at Zhongli Mingye anymore. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to control herself.
She propped her dizzy head up with her fair hand. Zhongli Mingye wasn't in any better state. He was completely drunk and still trying to pour more wine into his mouth.
Ning Yue smiled and snatched the wine pot from his hand. But she herself couldn't stand steadily. Zhongli Mingye hugged her. He whispered in her ear, "Do you really have to leave?"
Her cheeks were burning. She felt that there must be something wrong with the wine today. Before she could answer, she was picked up horizontally by Zhongli Mingye.
There was no moon tonight. After the spring snow, the winter plum blossoms bloomed a bit late.
As soon as he put Ning Yue down, the woman's cheeks were flushed, and she mumbled something. Suddenly, a few crystal - clear teardrops rolled down from her closed eyes. "What should I do? I'm so sad..."
"Sad about what?" Zhongli Mingye's eyes were clear, as if he had never been drunk.
"I... I feel that you're very familiar... But I can't remember... Every time I try to think about the past," Ning Yue turned over, looking extremely distressed. "I'll pass out from the pain."
"Little Yuanbao is so cute. I like him so much... He calls me mother..." The alcohol was getting to her head. She opened her beautiful eyes and looked at Zhongli Mingye seriously. Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "What should I do? I... seem to... have different feelings for you. But... where does this familiarity come from?"
Zhongli Mingye's phoenix - like eyes narrowed slightly. "Then let me make you even more familiar, okay?" Looking at those familiar red lips, the suppressed desire welled up in him.
He had wanted this for so long, from the moment they reunited until now. He had wanted her every day, almost going crazy with longing.
Ning Yue's wet eyes were like those of a newborn fawn. It made Zhongli Mingye kiss her fiercely.
They lingered all night.
Early the next morning, Ning Yue opened her eyes. She vaguely felt sore and numb all over. She rubbed her dizzy head. Finally, she remembered that she had drunk with Zhongli Mingye last night.
And then...
Ah! What had she done? Last night... they had returned to the room... and then...
She hugged the quilt tightly. Ning Yue didn't know what to say. Niaoniao and Micui came in to serve her. Their meaningful looks...
It made Ning Yue unbearable.
Finally, she ran away. She just wanted to return to the Moonlight Tower and lock herself in the room. She didn't want to see anyone.
The stewards and maidservants looked at each other in dismay. Jingran knocked on the door, but there was no response.
Xiao Xueyi, who was under house arrest, looked thoughtfully at the closed door.
Not long after, the Crown Prince returned from court. Upon learning that Ning Yue had left the mansion, he sneered. "After spending a night with this prince, does she think she can just run away?"
Immediately, he led his men to the Moonlight Tower!
When he reached the second floor, Jingran had already received instructions. "Your Highness, Miss Ning Yue is not in the Moonlight Tower..."
"..." Zhongli Mingye didn't care.
"Ning Yue, if you don't open the door, this prince will tear down your Moonlight Tower!" He gave a playful smile and scanned the crowd. "I'll make public what happened last night!"
Hearing about last night's incident, Ning Yue trembled... He really dared!
Immediately, she had no choice but to open the door. Zhongli Mingye walked in. The style of this room was as delicate as Song Jinyu's in the past.
"What are you hiding for?" He had just returned from court. Originally, he had planned to go and comfort the beauty.
He didn't expect that the beauty would have run away.
Ning Yue blushed and didn't dare to look at him. "Ning Yue was reckless last night..." She was about to say something else when suddenly she fell into a warm embrace. "I'll take responsibility."
Take responsibility? She... Before Ning Yue could say anything else, her red lips were fiercely kissed.
After a long time, Zhongli Mingye let her go. "Wait for this prince to come back!" As soon as he finished speaking, he rushed away in a hurry.
Not long after, there was suddenly a hubbub outside the Moonlight Tower.
Prime Minister Song himself came forward to welcome back his second daughter, Song Ning Yue, who had been recuperating. For a moment, everyone in the Moonlight Tower was stunned!
Miss Ning Yue was actually the legitimate second daughter of Prime Minister Song?