My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 135 Mid-Autumn Festival
Mu Yan blushed and said, "Caiyun and Yunfeng are all excellent girls. I myself come from a humble background, so naturally I would not look down on these girls. But... I am not thinking about getting married right now."

Seeing Mu Yan's blushing face, Lu Jinshi understood why Princess Yongjia had tried to tease him earlier.

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "That's true. When Senior Brother passes the imperial examination next year, he will surely find a better match."

Mu Yan said, "I'm sorry, Junior Sister."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "Please don't say that. I just think you are reliable, and I want to give my sisters a good place to go. If you find another partner, it would be a blessing for that girl."

With Mu Yan's talent, it won't be difficult for him to pass the imperial examination next spring.

"Jinshi." Rong Yi walked to Lu Jinshi's side, a hint of jealousy in his voice. "What were you talking about with your senior brother?"

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "I was just talking to my senior brother about arranging a marriage for him."

When Xiao Rou'er saw Rong Yi, she was a little scared and hid in Mu Yan's arms.

Mu Yan said, "Seventh Prince, this child seems a little afraid of you, so I'll take her to find her mother first."

Rong Yi hummed in agreement.

After watching Mu Yan leave, Lu Jinshi said to Rong Yi, "I did do something foolish. I didn't think of Caiyun and Yunfeng as my maids. I wanted to introduce them to Senior Brother Mu, thinking that he would definitely pass the imperial examination next spring. But I don't know if Senior Brother Mu will think that I looked down on him and that's why I was arranging a match for him and his maids?"

Rong Yi smiled and said, "Senior Brother Mu is not that kind of person. He is focused on academic research and does not have such strong class prejudices. His refusal to act as a matchmaker may have other reasons."

Rong Yi took Lu Jinshi's hand and led her into the courtyard, where they drank and made merry with the other students.

By the time they returned to the palace, it was already dusk.

Lu Jinshi was slightly drunk, but not very drunk. He looked up at the full moon in the sky and said, "It's Mid-Autumn Festival again."

“Every Mid-Autumn Festival in the past, my mother would feel down and look towards Chang’an. I know that my mother also has many relatives in Chang’an whom she wants to reunite with.”

"Now, it's my turn to look to the southeast."

Rong Yi held Lu Jinshi's hand tightly. He knew that Lu Jinshi was still regretting it. "Father and Mother will soon come to Chang'an to reunite with us."

Lu Jinshi said, "I hope so."

Lu Jinshi said, "I've forgotten all about the Mid-Autumn Festivals I celebrated in Chang'an before. Are the Mid-Autumn Festivals in Chang'an lively?"

"It's lively, very lively. After the banquet for the imperial relatives tomorrow, there will be fireworks, sky lanterns, moon worship, river lanterns, and wishes. There will be no curfew in Chang'an tomorrow, so the people in the city can play until late at night."

After listening to Rong Yi's description, Lu Jinshi also felt a strong longing for it.

The two returned to Jade Palace before the palace gates were locked.

Zhang'er had already fallen asleep, so Rong Yi handed Zhang'er to the wet nurse and then pulled Lu Jinshi into the bedroom.

Lu Jinshi looked at Rong Yi's hand and recalled that she said with a slightly flushed face, "You mustn't be silly today! There are palace banquets tomorrow for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I also have to talk with the Empress Dowager and the ladies of the clan. I'll be very busy."

Rong Yi smiled and said, "I won't be fooling around today, after all, tomorrow is indeed a very important day."

Lu Jinshi didn't trust Rong Yi at first and was wary of him at all times, but Rong Yi was indeed quite well-behaved tonight.
-
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the morning was filled with clear skies and crisp autumn air.

Early in the morning, many noblewomen and wives of noble families came to pay their respects to Empress Rong.

Lu Jinshi accompanied Empress Rong as she received the wives and noblewomen of the imperial clan, exchanging a few pleasantries occasionally.

After Princess Yongjia arrived, Lu Jinshi accompanied her to Shou Kang Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. On the way, Princess Yongjia whispered to Lu Jinshi, "Congratulations, Seventh Sister-in-law, on becoming the top scholar."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "Sister, congratulations to you too."

Princess Yongjia said, "I knew that Xiaoqi was good at his studies, but I never expected that he would actually get the title of Jieyuan. It is truly a cause for celebration."

The two chatted and laughed as they entered the Shou Kang Palace.

Inside Shou Kang Palace, Prince Jin and his wife, along with Qi Li, were already there.

"The emperor's grandmother, the emperor's brother, the emperor's sister-in-law."

"Aunt, Seventh Aunt."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Yongjia, this pregnancy is very precious. It's best to avoid moving around too much. You've suffered a lot to have this baby."

Princess Yongjia smiled and said, "Grandmother, don't worry, your granddaughter knows what she's doing."

The Empress Dowager said, "It's so late, why hasn't Qingyun arrived yet? Qingyun's mother is nowhere to be seen either. Usually, she's the first one to arrive at palace banquets."

Prince Jin said slowly, "Grandmother, my sister Qingyun is still traveling with the Princess Consort these past few days."

The Empress Dowager frowned and said, "It's not like they didn't even send me a letter on the Mid-Autumn Festival."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Prince Jin and said, "You've never lied before. Tell me the truth, has something happened to Qingyun?"

Prince Jin said, "Grandmother, Qingyun is perfectly fine, how could something have happened to her?"

The Empress Dowager looked at Lu Jinshi and Princess Yongjia and said, "You two, tell me the truth. It's been almost three months since I've seen Qingyun, and there hasn't even been a letter from her. Has something really happened to her?"

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "Grandmother, what could possibly have happened to Cousin Qingyun? She was probably having so much fun that she forgot to write to you."

Yongjia said, "Yes, yes, Grandmother..."

Seeing the expressions on Yongjia and Prince Jin's faces, the Empress Dowager summoned Qi Li and said, "Little Li'er, tell your great-grandmother what happened to Aunt Qingyun?"

Qi Li tilted her head and said, "Aunt Qingyun was lying in the little house, wearing a white flower..."

The Empress Dowager looked at Prince Jin and said, "Tell me the truth now."

Everyone present knelt down in a group.

Prince Jin said in a low voice, "Grandmother, my sister Qingyun committed suicide three months ago because she falsely accused my sister Yongjia of plotting against my stepmother. She has passed away."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager shook her head and said, "How could Qingyun plot against Wanniang and falsely accuse Yongjia?"

A hint of guilt flashed across the Prince of Jin's face as he said, "Please accept my condolences, Grandmother."

Lu Jinshi knelt to one side, seeing the guilt flash across Prince Jin's face. So, did Prince Jin also know the truth about Qingyun's death?
Seeing the guilt and regret on Prince Jin's face... so Prince Jin also knew that Qingyun had been used, right?
The Empress Dowager sat down in her chair, clenched her fists, and tapped the armrest of the chair, saying, "I knew Qingyun must have had some trouble. You all thought I was confused, and you kept it from me at all times!"

Lu Jinshi stood up and walked to the Empress Dowager's side, saying, "Grandmother, Father ordered people to keep this matter from you because he didn't want you to be too sad and ruin your health."

Princess Yongjia also walked to the Empress Dowager's side and said, "It's such a pity that Sister Qingyun is gone. I don't believe she would kill someone and frame me."

The Empress Dowager said, "Qingyun wouldn't do that. How could she kill someone? There must be some hidden story behind this!"

Lu Jinshi looked at Prince Jin and said, "Grandmother, rest assured, the Seventh Prince and I will definitely find out the real culprit and give Qingyun justice."