Like the people of the capital, early in the morning, Mei Zijin silently appeared on the streets of the capital with Yun'er, and accompanied the coffins of Shui Qingqing and Princess Wuning all the way out of the city to the cemetery.

The grief-stricken Shui Qingqing didn't know this.

She carried her mother's coffin along the long street, and then out of the city and out of the city......

Along the way, she couldn't see passers-by pointing at her, let alone hearing all kinds of ugly words, and her mind was full of the scene of her escorting her mother back to Beijing seven days ago......

At that time, although her mother was dying, she could still lean on her arms and listen to her babbling words, but now she is lying in a cold and dark coffin, and will be buried forever......

Along the way, Shui Qingqing held her mother's coffin, as if holding her mother's hand, and was with her mother, but her mother did not leave her.

However, when she arrived at the cemetery, the moment the coffin left her hand and was put into the grave, Shui Qingqing felt that her whole heart was hollowed out all of a sudden, and the heart-rending separation and grief made her miserable, and she desperately pulled the coffin and refused to let go, and finally fainted in grief......

When she woke up again, she had returned to the main courtyard of the White Mansion.

It was dark outside, but in the distance it was brightly lit, and through the walls, I could even hear the noise of the streets.

Xiaoxi came in with the boiled medicine, fed her to drink, and brought her a bowl of Lantern Festival, and said softly: "Miss, today is the Lantern Festival, Miss should have a scene when you eat a bowl of Lantern Festival!" ”

After listening to Xiaoxi's words, Shui Qingqing realized that today was the Lantern Festival.

Looking at the Lantern Festival balls in the bowl that signaled a beautiful reunion, Shui Qingqing couldn't help but think of her mother who had just been buried, and tears fell into the bowl in front of her again.

At this moment, the subordinates outside came to report that His Royal Highness had sent something over.

Today is the Lantern Festival, and the palace also has a grand banquet, Li You accompanied Emperor Jin Ming and Empress Chen in the palace for the festival, but carefully sent someone to Shui Qingqing to send the imperial Lantern Festival in the palace, as well as exquisite and beautiful lanterns.

Looking at the things sent by Li You, Xiao Xi said with relief: "Miss, Your Royal Highness is really as careful as dust, and she always remembers Miss in her heart, even if she is in the palace, she will not forget to send things to Miss." Miss, you see, this glass lantern is different from what the people sell, it's so good-looking, it's better to accompany the slave to accompany the lady to carry the lantern to the garden to relax! ”

Shui Qingqing looked at the colorful glass lantern in front of her, although she was grateful for Li You's intentions, but her expression was sorrowful, and she didn't have any interest at all, and said in a deep voice: "Xiaoxi, you heard everything I said to Queen Chen that day." In the future, you will not say such things again. ”

Xiaoxi looked stunned, but the next moment he responded with guilt.

Looking at her appearance, Shui Qingqing said: "Today's festival, you carry the lamp and go to the garden with other maids, I won't go." ”

She didn't go, Xiaoxi left with confidence.

Xiao Xi saw that she hadn't touched the Lantern Festival before, so she scooped up the colorful Lantern Festival sent by Li You again, and said, "Miss, I heard that this is the Lantern Festival made by the imperial dining room in the palace, and it is also a reward from the emperor to the third ...... Miss give it a try. ”

Shui Qingqing doesn't know the taste of food, at this moment, for her, what kind of delicacies from the mountains and seas are chewing wax in her mouth.

But looking at Xiaoxi's hopeful face, she didn't want to disappoint her, so she swallowed one, and the rest was rewarded to Xiaoxi and the other maids in the main courtyard.

After Xiaoxi packed up her things and went down, Shui Qingqing looked at the lanterns sent by Li You in front of her in a daze, and couldn't help but think of the situation on Chinese New Year's Eve, when she and Mei Zijin bought lanterns for Yun'er on the street together, and a trace of sweetness welled up in her heart, but more sad.

She thought silently, today's banquet in the palace, Mei Zijin is definitely going to go, I don't know where Yun'er is now?

He is still so young, Mei Zijin will definitely not take him to the banquet, so he must stay in the house to celebrate the festival with the old lady.

I don't know if the old lady took him out to see the lanterns, and I don't know if the lanterns she gave him are still there? Will it light up today......

Thinking of this, how much Shui Qingqing wanted to go to the Hou Mansion to take a sneak peek at Yun'er, and also wanted to ...... Meet Mei Zijin.

Since the words that the masked assassin said to him in the mourning hall that night, Shui Qingqing had a lot of worries and questions in her heart and wanted to ask Mei Zijin in person.

She wanted to know how he was going in his investigation of Bai Lingwei's framing of herself?

Will he break his promise to her for the sake of the Hou Mansion, as the mask assassin said, and even frame Yun'er to protect the Hou Mansion......

At this moment, Xiaoxi ran in from outside with a surprised face, and said happily to Tongshui Qingqing: "Miss, I just heard that Aunt Bai was locked up in the firewood room by Hou Ye in the Hou Mansion. And Xia Chan and Mama Jin were also imprisoned in the dungeon by Hou Ye - Aunt Yang is so anxious to hide in the house and cry now. ”

Hearing this, Shui Qingqing's heart sank-

Could it be that Mei Zijin has found evidence that Bai Lingwei framed herself?

If so, why didn't he give Yun'er back to himself.

Shui Qingqing asked Xiaoxi anxiously: "Why did Master Hou lock her up in the firewood room?" What did Bai Lingwei do? ”

Xiaoxi said: "I heard that it was Aunt Bai who found out that Aunt Bai framed Aunt Tang's miscarriage, and locked her in the firewood room and waited for her to fall!" ”

Shui Qingqing was slightly stunned in her heart, she didn't expect her guess to be right, it was really Bai Lingwei who killed the child in Tang Wanqing's belly......

Remembering that when she was in the Hou Mansion before, Bai Lingwei framed and bullied Shui Qingqing, Xiao Xi relieved her hatred and said: "Miss, I heard everyone say that this time I am afraid that Aunt Bai will be retired from the Hou Mansion." It's really deserved, who let her bully the young lady so much in the Hou Mansion before-However, what makes everyone feel strange is that the Hou Ye has been locking Bai Lingwei in the firewood room, but he has not given her a letter of resignation and kicked her out. It seems that there is something to be done yet......"

Shui Qingqing's expression was solemn - of course, there is something that is not over, because Mei Zijin's real purpose is to investigate Yun'er's life experience.

It's just that Shui Qingqing can't understand that since Bai Lingwei confessed to causing Tang Wanqing's miscarriage, why didn't she recruit her to rob her child......

The more she thought about it, the more doubts Shui Qingqing had in her heart, and the more she wanted to see Mei Zijin and ask him clearly in person.

Xiaoxi looked at her description carefully, and said cautiously: "Miss, the slave maid also heard about something......

Looking at Xiaoxi's unspeakable appearance, Shui Qingqing asked curiously, "What's the matter?" ”

Xiaoxi lowered her head and said softly: "I heard that Mrs. Hou is choosing a wife for Master Hou......"

Hearing this, Shui Qingqing's expression was stagnant, and her heart was empty-

She remembered that not long ago, Mei Zijin personally told her that he would be responsible for her.

A man is willing to be responsible for a woman, that is, he is willing to marry her and be with her for the rest of his life......

And now, he is finally going to take a wife.

Shui Qingqing's heart was bitter, she was really delusional, even if he was willing to marry her, with her identity at the time, she was at most a concubine and an aunt, how could she expect to become the only wife in his life?

Her heart was tight, and Shui Qingqing said softly with a hard throat: "The Hou Mansion is also quite old, and it is indeed time to marry a wife to take charge of the back house...... Do you know which girl you have decided? ”

Looking at her obviously dim eyes, Xiaoxi felt heartache for her.

She thought, her own young lady has pushed off the marriage with the third prince, but on the Hou Ye's side, people are going to marry a wife, so what will she do in the future?

Xiaoxi shook his head and said, "This is still undecided...... However, since it is the Dingguo Marquis Mansion to marry a wife, I am afraid that the noble girl circle in the capital will be shaken again......"

Silently looking at the brightness of the sky, Shui Qingqing sighed quietly in her heart, and she didn't know which woman had such a good fortune to grow old with him......

Then she thought that since Mei Zijin was going to marry a wife, Yun'er was afraid that it would be better if she received her as soon as possible......

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, Shui Qingqing looked at Xiao Xi, who also looked tired, thinking that these days, she was also working hard to take care of herself, so she asked her to go back to her room to rest.

After Xiaoxi left, Shui Qingqing was also about to go to bed to rest, but at this time, the porter brought her a lantern.

The moment she saw the lantern, Shui Qingqing's expression froze, and her eyes suddenly turned red.

The lantern that Xiao Xiao sent her was the lantern that Mei Zigen gave her on Chinese New Year's Eve before.

When she was kicked out of the Hou Mansion before, all her thoughts were discouraged, and she left all the things that Mei Zijin gave her in Tingsheng Courtyard, and this lantern was also left......

Therefore, you don't have to think about it to know that the lantern must have been sent by Mei Zijin.

Shui Qingqing took the lantern in a daze, and the little guy said again: "Miss, the person who sent the lantern has a message for the little one to tell Miss." said that he asked the eldest lady to carry the lantern to the back garden for a walk and relax. ”

Shui Qingqing's heart was shocked, she already understood something, and immediately carried the lantern to the back garden.

The back garden of Baifu is just behind the main courtyard, which is actually the inner flower courtyard of the main courtyard.

As soon as Shui Qingqing arrived in the backyard, she saw Mei Zijin waiting there.

Under the moonlight, Mei Zijin was dressed in a purple brocade dress, with a long jade body, holding the lantern she gave him and Yun'er in her hand, and holding Yun'er she was missing in her arms.

Looking at everything in front of her, Shui Qingqing couldn't believe her eyes.

At this hour, shouldn't he be in the palace for a banquet? How did it come here?

Seeing that she was stunned on the spot, Mei Zijin walked over to her with Yun'er in her arms, handed Yun'er into her arms, her eyes fell on her emaciated face, and said lightly: "Today's Lantern Festival, I will bring Yun'er over to accompany you for the festival." ”

Mei Zijin knew that today was not only the Lantern Festival, but also the day of Princess Wuning's burial, at this time, Shui Qingqing must be very painful, if she was accompanied by Yun'er, she would definitely be much better, so she came out of the palace banquet in advance, took the lanterns that Yun'er bought with them, and came to Baifu to find Shui Qingqing.

When Mei Zijin put Yun'er into her arms, the loneliness, loss, and grief in Shui Qingqing's heart all dissipated in an instant, and all that was left was happiness and satisfaction.

After revealing Yun'er's true life experience with Mei Zijin, Shui Qingqing no longer had to hide her love for Yun'er in her heart, and couldn't help but kiss him several times on his cute little face, if it wasn't for Mei Zijin looking at her, she would be reluctant to stop.

Seeing that Shui Qingqing couldn't put down Yun'er, Mei Zijin actually had a trace of sour vinegar in her heart.

He smiled bitterly in his heart, he didn't expect that one day, he Mei Zijin would be jealous of a milk doll.

And thinking that at the palace banquet just now, Emperor Jin Ming mentioned her marriage to the third prince, Mei Zijin's heart was even more uncomfortable.

I'm afraid that when she marries into the Three Princes' Mansion, it will be impossible for him to come to her like today......

With grief in his heart, he turned around, and Mei Zijin walked forward with a lantern.

Shui Qingqing thought of her previous worries and questions, and hurriedly hugged Yun'er to follow.

She asked straight to the point: "I heard that Master Hou has found out that Bai Lingwei framed Aunt Tang for having a miscarriage, so can she confess to Yun'er's life experience?" ”

Mei Zijin expected her to ask, and said coldly: "She probably also expected that the trouble she caused was too big, and she has been resisting death and denying it - it's a pity that the Jin lady who framed you at the beginning is gone, if she is here, she is the most powerful witness, enough to prove the evil things Bai Lingwei did to you." ”

Shui Qingqing's heart trembled, she was afraid that her identity would be discovered by Mama Jin and Bai Lingwei, but the mask assassin helped her dispose of Aunt Jin.

Thinking about it now, Mei Zijin's words are right, but Aunt Jin is the key person in this matter, but she should have left her life in the first place......

Thinking of the mask assassin, Shui Qingqing couldn't help but think of the worry in her heart, and hesitated: "Yun'er is the prince of the Hou Mansion of the Imperial Seal, if Bai Lingwei confesses to the crime in the future, is the Hou Ye really willing to return Yun'er to me?" ”

After that, she couldn't help hugging Yun'er and looked at Mei Zijin with a nervous expression.

Looking at the doubt and worry in her eyes, how could Mei Zijin not guess what she was thinking, her heart ached, and she couldn't help but say coldly: "Do you suspect that I am afraid of the emperor's punishment and dare not take responsibility?" ”

"I'm not suspicious of you, but this matter concerns the entire Hou Mansion...... The person who harmed me was Bai Lingwei, but I didn't want to let the entire Hou Mansion be convicted because of her......"

Looking at the pain in Mei Zijin's eyes, Shui Qingqing knew that her distrust of him had hurt him, and hurriedly explained to him repeatedly, and it was difficult to hide her worry about him in her eyes.

Mei Zijin turned around and looked at her fixedly, her deep eyes flashed brightly, knowing that she didn't want to involve the Hou Mansion, she couldn't help but feel tenderness in her heart, and said slowly: "Don't worry, I have been fighting for the Great Jin Dynasty for decades, opening up territory and expanding territory for the Great Jin Dynasty, I believe that the emperor can forgive the Hou Mansion this time because of my military achievements over the years." ”

"So, you don't need to worry - I promise you what I promise, and I won't break my word!"

Mei Zijin's words were like a reassuring pill that made Shui Qingqing's long-standing worries let go, and her sad face couldn't help relaxing.

But Mei Zijin was worried about her.

His eyes dimmed, and he said in a muffled voice: "At today's palace banquet, the emperor mentioned your marriage contract with the Third Highness...... If Yun'er's life experience is exposed, how will you explain to His Royal Highness? ”

How could the royal family marry a woman who had given birth to a child as a princess, or even a future crown princess and queen!

Shui Qingqing's face turned white, and she smiled miserably: "There is no impermeable wall in the world, Yun'er's life experience will eventually fall in the daylight, and it is impossible to hide it if you want to, so I have told Queen Chen to dissolve the marriage contract with the Third Highness——"

Hearing this, Mei Zijin's eyes lit up completely, and his always calm and clear voice trembled with excitement: "You...... I really don't want to marry Li You?! ”

Shui Qingqing looked at Yun'er in her arms with a satisfied face, and said indifferently: "How can I be worthy of the name of the third princess with such a background-and in my heart, whether it is the position of the queen or the princess, it is not as good as my Yun'er." I just want to be with him and raise him well, and I don't think about anything else......"

The bright moonlight and the bright light of the lantern in her hand illuminated Shui Qingqing's delicate eyebrows and eyes vividly, her black and white clear eyes flashed with a strange light, and the strong maternal love on her face made Mei Zijin even more moved.

She looked at Yun'er in her arms who was gradually closing her eyes and was about to fall asleep, but he looked at her stupidly and was reluctant to turn her eyes......

Shui Qingqing raised her eyes to look at Mei Zijin, her charming and moving fox eyes seemed to be hazy with a layer of mist, and pleaded: "Master Hou, after I ask the emperor to dissolve the marriage contract, Lord Hou will return Yun'er to me, okay?" ”

She thought that Yun'er was not a child of the Hou Mansion in the first place, and he was about to marry a wife, and his wives and concubines would give him his own children, so whether it was his father's love or the position of the son, Yun'er should no longer occupy it......

Listening to her words, Mei Zijin's heart was sour, and her eyes couldn't help but look at Yun'er, who was already asleep in her arms, thinking that in the near future, he couldn't see Yun'er, and he couldn't use Yun'er to see her again, Mei Zijin felt unbearable pain in his heart.

In this way, he finally gritted his teeth and asked the question buried deep in his heart!

Looking at her earnestly, Mei Zijin gritted her teeth to suppress the panic in her heart, and said in a deep voice: "Who is Yun'er's biological father?" Why did he let you come to the capital alone with your child to look for relatives? Now...... And where is he? ”

Since hearing Shui Qingqing tell him that Yun'er is her child, Mei Zijin was so shocked that she couldn't believe it, but on the other hand, she thought that since Yun'er is her son, who is Yun'er's biological father? Why did that man let her come to the capital alone to look for relatives, and why did she never mention him?

These questions were buried deep in Mei Zijin's heart, and every time he thought of it, while he was curious, he began to hate Yun'er's biological father......

Hearing Mei Zijin abruptly ask about Yun'er's biological father, Shui Qingqing's whole body trembled violently, her eyes dodged in a panic, and her face turned even pale.

She hugged Yun'er and took two steps back, leaning weakly on the branch behind her, her eyes looked at Mei Zijin who was looking at her for a moment in a panic, her lips trembled, and she said with difficulty: "Why did Master Hou suddenly ask about this ......?"

Now that the words have been asked, Mei Zijin must figure it out, so that he can have a glimmer of hope......

Is this a difficult question to answer? You know, when Yun'er comes back to you, the others will ask—"

So, who is Yun'er's father? Why is it that you have always been alone, and I have never heard you mention him......"

In the face of Mei Zijin's approaching step by step, the unbearable and humiliation that Shui Qingqing buried deep in her heart came to her heart again, as if everything she had once unbearable was red. was naked by him, which made her so ashamed that she was embarrassed, and she was even more desolate......

In a panic, she said with red eyes and trembling: "He...... He's no longer alive......"

As soon as these words came out, Mei Zijin was stunned, and looked at her with a trace of unbearability.

No wonder, no wonder she has a soft appearance, but her heart is as hard as a chime, and her eyes are full of vicissitudes and heavy sadness.

Just imagine, a woman has no husband and has nothing to rely on to come to a foreign land to find relatives, but in the end she was framed, her son was robbed, she was sunk in the lake, fate is so unfair to her, her heart has already been wounded......

Feeling that Mei Zijin's eyes had been staring at him earnestly, Shui Qingqing felt hurt in her heart, and she was even more ashamed, and she had no shame to stay in front of him anymore.

She reluctantly returned Yun'er to Mei Zijin's hands, so she smiled indifferently and said, "Thank you Hou Ye for bringing Yun'er to accompany me for the holiday." It's not early, Yun'er also fell asleep, and asked Hou Ye to help me take care of him temporarily, I will take him back to me soon, I won't trouble Hou Ye anymore, and thank you Hou Ye for your sincere ...... to him."

Mei Zijin reached out to hug Yun'er, but held her in his arms.

"Lord Hou......"

Shui Qingqing was shocked by his sudden move, but she couldn't break free of his embrace.

Mei Zijin couldn't tell what it was like, but when he learned that Yun'er's biological father was no longer alive, he was relieved.

Because, in this way, he can take care of their mother and son with confidence......

He took Yun'er and Shui Qingqing into his arms, hugged them tightly, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, buried his head in Shui Qingqing's neck, and said in a muffled voice: "Do you believe in my sincerity to Yun'er?" Even if you tell me that he is not my son, instead of disliking him, I am even more reluctant to give him back, and I don't want to give him back to you! ”

"Lord Hou......"

Shui Qingqing struggled to push Mei Zijin's hands away, she couldn't believe what she heard, and she was even more shocked when she heard that he refused to return Yun'er to herself!

"I want to continue to be Yun'er's father!"

Mei Zijin's deep eyes seem to have fallen into thousands of stars, shining brightly and intoxicating.

And the firm and doting smile on his handsome face made Shui Qingqing's heart palpitate even more......

"Since you don't want to marry the third prince, and Yun'er's biological father is no longer there, let Benhou take care of your mother and son—I said I would be responsible for you. So I will marry you as a wife, so that you and Yun'er, and me, the three of us will never have to be separated again! ”

Mei Zijin's words seemed to inject hope and bright light into Shui Qingqing's dark heart, opening the knot in her heart that had been lingering and tangling, and blooming beautiful and moving flowers......

Yes, if she marries him, Yun'er will naturally become her own son, and no one will know her unbearable past, Yun'er is still the son of the world, and the Hou Mansion will no longer have to bear the great crime of bullying the king.

In this way, all the troubles and entanglements are solved!

Is...... It's wonderful!

Mei Zijin hugged Shui Qingqing tightly into his arms again, and said movingly: "I said, even if it is the end of the road, I will take you over with me - as long as you believe in me, I can do anything for you!" ”

Shui Qingqing's whole body was so excited that she trembled, and tears rolled down-

She didn't know if she would be able to find a man like Mei Zijin worthy of her love in her life.

But she knew that she must not find a man like Mei Zijin who loved her and loved her children......

In this way, she is even more determined to break the marriage contract with Li You!

She said in a trembling voice: "Tomorrow, I will go to the palace and tell the emperor to dissolve the marriage contract...... I don't want to be the wife of the Hou Ye, even if it's a concubine, I'm willing. I just want to ask for a perfect method - for the rest of my life, I can not only see Hou Ye every day, but also guard Yun'er! ”

Mei Zijin's heart fluttered, her eyebrows and eyes flew, and she smiled with satisfaction: "Don't be afraid, I will accompany you into the palace tomorrow." ”

However, on the second day, before Shui Qingqing entered the palace to face the saint, the holy decree of marriage had arrived in Baifu......