"One day, Her Majesty the Queen will surely grow old and lose her charm. Let's see how she can still hold onto the Emperor then!" Qinglian gritted her teeth so hard that the embroidered silk handkerchief in her hand was twisted into a mess. The little maids who heard this looked at each other in dismay. "Aunt Qinglian, you'd better not talk nonsense."
The other little maids scattered like birds and beasts. Only one named Lanyun kindly reminded her.
"Nonsense? Hehe, she's been clinging to the Emperor day in and day out. Sooner or later, the Emperor will get tired of her."
"Haven't you heard the saying? You only see the new lovers laughing while the old ones cry in silence." Her words were clearly quite offensive to Song Ningyue.
"Oh, Aunt Qinglian, you can read?" Mitui's cold voice came from behind her, sending a chill down everyone's spine.
Qinglian gave a cold laugh. "Working beside the Empress Dowager, I have to read scriptures to her!" As the most capable maid beside the Empress Dowager, who could easily punish her?
Even the Queen had to show her some respect for the sake of the Empress Dowager.
"In that case, let's go then!" What a reckless fool! Not long after Yingxiang's death, this Qinglian was already so impatient!
In the imperial garden,
Ningyue was taking care of a Spring Water Crabapple tree. Unexpectedly, Mitui dragged Qinglian over. "Since you're not afraid of death, come and explain yourself to Her Majesty the Queen."
Niaoniao helped Ningyue down from the tree. Qinglian looked at her defiantly. "Your Majesty, Qinglian doesn't know what she's done wrong. I was just dragged here by Aunt Mitui beside you. The Empress Dowager is waiting for me to collect dew for making tea." Although her words were respectful, her expression was rather thought - provoking.
Ningyue knew Mitui wouldn't arrest someone without reason. "What's going on?"
Mitui told Ningyue exactly what Qinglian had said.
Ningyue smiled. "If I grow old and lose my charm, do you think you can stay young forever?"
She looked up at the sky. "I remember you're already twenty - three this year, a few years older than me. If anyone is going to grow old and lose charm, it should be you first."
Qinglian lowered her eyes, confident that Ningyue wouldn't dare to do anything to her. She then stuck out her neck and said, "Your Majesty, you shouldn't monopolize the Emperor's favor. After all,"
"The palace should be more lively with more people!"
Ningyue was too lazy to deal with her and just waved her hand. Mitui was about to take Qinglian away when Qinglian still refused to give up.
"Your Majesty, you don't know what people inside and outside the palace are saying about you!"
Ningyue turned around, showing her royal dignity. "I don't care. Send her off properly. And by the way, send a jade ruyi to the Empress Dowager on my behalf."
She knew this was the Empress Dowager's intention. Even Qinglian's act of sending medicinal cuisine to their bedroom might be a test for her. Now, using Qinglian as an example could intimidate the harem and put an end to the maids' wild thoughts.
However, the reputation of a jealous queen was not something she could afford.
In the future, when history was written, it would surely stain Zhongli Mingye's name. She didn't care about her own reputation, but she couldn't ignore Zhongli Mingye's reputation as an emperor.
Suddenly, she felt a bit depressed. Qinglian never expected that she was just pushed out by the Empress Dowager to be dealt with by Song Ningyue as a way to intimidate the harem.
When Mitui exposed the truth, Qinglian really regretted it!
Some wealth and honor were simply beyond her reach. Song Ningyue's daring to act against her meant that Song Ningyue was the real mistress of the harem.
Even Empress Dowager Shu couldn't overstep.
Closing the memorial, Zhongli Mingye sent people to Tianmen Mountain. "Now that the country is peaceful and the people are at ease, Tianmen Mountain should open its doors widely, recruit students, and establish a medical academy. Medical skills will also be included in the imperial examinations."
"Remember, this honor must be attributed to the Queen."
Many officials took their orders and left, clearly understanding the Emperor's intention.
When Ningyue got the news, it was already evening. "Your Majesty, the Emperor is waiting for you outside the palace."
In the Prince Yu's Mansion, on the Moon - viewing Terrace.
Song Ningyue was in high spirits. This place was truly unforgettable. She recalled the first time they met again. She and Zhongli Mingye had gotten drunk here for a whole night.
Just as she was enjoying the scenery with great enthusiasm, a firework exploded in the inky sky not far away.
Before she could react, one firework after another bloomed with beautiful colors. She looked at the distance in surprise and then turned back to give Zhongli Mingye a sweet smile.
Suddenly, she felt that these fireworks were very familiar. It was as if something had exploded in her heart!
They had once shared weal and woe and depended on each other for life and death at the foot of Huangshan Cliff;
Not long after, she had burned the Golden Water Palace, and Zhongli Mingye had taken her on his horse;
The scene changed, and they were on a bridge in the capital. Fireworks were going off one after another. "Anyway, the wedding dress is for you to see!"
Later, she and Zhongli Mingye had returned to the mansion and kissed passionately in the simple and elegant bedroom.
Gradually, tears welled up in Ningyue's eyes.
There was also that delicate jade carving, one of her and one of him.
Later, something happened at Tianmen Mountain, and they had faced all the difficulties together. Until that day, Ouyang Jinse had forced Zhongli Mingye to commit suicide to save her.
He was so stupid. The whole world was at his feet. His throne was secure, but for Song Jinyu, he had stabbed the dagger into his chest without hesitation.
She remembered. Her name was Song Jinyu. She was the legitimate daughter of the Song family. Her father was Song Qinzhou, her elder brother was Song Chuyu, and there was also her sister - in - law, the Xiang family, and her nephew, Lingyu...
It wasn't just them. Ningyue shed tears. She was also the little Shiyi on Tianmen Mountain. Yan Fei, that proud and bright young man,
And Ouyang Jinse, the one who had forced her to jump into the river and commit suicide.
Zhongli Mingye was extremely flustered when he saw her crying so sadly. He had originally thought she was just overly excited, but now it seemed she was heart - broken.
Ningyue hugged him and sobbed non - stop. How could she have forgotten? To see her earlier, Zhongli Mingye had traveled thousands of miles in the snow - covered night. During the crisis at Tianmen Mountain, he had always been by her side. What on earth did she, Song Jinyu, do to deserve such whole - hearted love and care from Zhongli Mingye in this lifetime?
Yes, she was Song Jinyu.
"Mingye! Mingye! Mingye!" She kept calling his name, completely out of control.
Zhongli Mingye panicked and clumsily tried to comfort her. Seeing that she wouldn't stop crying, he had no choice but to kiss her lips. Their lips and tongues intertwined,
Until the emotionally broken woman finally calmed down.
However, something seemed wrong. Usually, she always addressed him as "Your Majesty" or "the Emperor", but today she had called him by his name repeatedly.
Zhongli Mingye grabbed her tightly. Waves of shock rose in his phoenix - like eyes. Her tearful eyes said it all. She remembered,
She finally remembered the past, remembered all the beautiful memories they had shared!
Zhongli Mingye was overjoyed and shed tears.
For so many days, although he had been very content. As long as Song Jinyu was still alive and by his side, he was satisfied.
But there was still a little regret in his heart.
The wonderful memories between them,
If only he knew about them, he would just grow old like this.
Now, by some strange coincidence, Song Jinyu remembered everything. He lowered his head and kissed her delicate red lips. As their eyes met,
The love between them was as deep as the sea. When did it all start? Maybe it was on Tianmen Mountain when that cute and mischievous girl saved him.
Fate had quietly arrived,
And they had gradually fallen into it, unable to tell who had fallen in love first. Song Jinyu had long understood her own feelings. Although she knew she was burdened with the future of Tianmen Mountain, she still let herself fall into this love affair.
And Zhongli Mingye was even more determined. He had directly bound Song Jinyu with a royal marriage decree,
And would never let go!