Guangzhi let out a soft sigh and continued,
"Secondly, during my recent pilgrimage, I traveled from Yan to Lu, then to Jin, Qin, Zhou, Chu, and Xiang, and finally reached the capital. Along the way, I witnessed the people living in abject poverty, suffering from natural disasters and man - made calamities. Complaints filled the air, and both Heaven and the people were angry."
Song Yinghuai's eyes were filled with disgust as he coldly said, "In recent years, the crown prince has taken on more and more state affairs. There are his followers both in the court and in the various prefectures. It's a pity that the crown prince is blinded by his lust for power and has no regard for the common people. His followers are all mediocre. They even form cliques and oppress the people. They don't care about the lives of the world's people at all!"
"Exactly," Master Guangzhi nodded. "The crown prince's faction acts against the will of the people. Our Buddha is merciful. When the prince stayed at the Great Baoen Temple, he touched the golden lotus, and the flower that had not bloomed for three years suddenly blossomed. The prince is the one who can save the people and redeem the commoners."
Song Yinghuai's eyes flashed, and he smiled faintly. "Really? But it has been six years now. Not only have I failed to redeem the people, but also..."
He couldn't even save the weak woman who had once helped him.
All he could do was chant scriptures and pray for her day and night, hoping that she would be reborn into a good family in her next life.
"Your Highness is being too modest," Guangzhi smiled. "I heard on my journey that the prince's five great generals have once again blocked the Sixteen Yan - Yun Tribes outside the border. If it weren't for the inability to cross the border for a counter - attack, those Sixteen Yan - Yun Tribes would probably have been flattened by the prince's iron cavalry long ago. This is a great merit in saving the people of the Great Ye state from the abyss of suffering."
Song Yinghuai waved his hand. "I'll find a way to eliminate the Sixteen Yan - Yun Tribes sooner or later. What's the other thing?"
"Thirdly, under the pretext of begging for alms, I traveled among the various prefectures and noticed that the vassal kings are secretly smelting iron. There are more horse - breeding farms in the folk than in previous years. Does Your Highness know their intention?"
Song Yinghuai sneered even more this time. "They all want to rebel. They sure have a lot of nerve."
Guangzhi said, "They do want to rebel, but none of them dare to take the lead. They are just waiting for someone to make the first move."
Song Yinghuai raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Han Bei, standing beside him, foolishly blurted out, "Waiting for whom?"
"Waiting for your prince," Guangzhi put his hands together. "Your Highness, I see that your love star is in motion. Whether it's a good or a bad relationship depends on your decision. All the prefectures are waiting for the prince to enter the mortal world first so that they can take the opportunity to disrupt the situation and divide the territory for their own governance. Your Highness should act with caution."
"Your Highness, there are many spies in the mansion. I'd better not stay long. Farewell!"
Master Guangzhi left in a hurry. Song Yinghuai sat on the Buddhist chair, closing his eyes in meditation.
Before he knew it, Caiyu's extremely beautiful face appeared in his mind again.
Those eyes, as misty as the West Lake, were so similar to the little girl in his memory, as if a drop of ink had dripped into the lake and spread out.
Han Bei stood behind him, not daring to breathe loudly.
Whenever the third miss of the Lan family was mentioned, the prince was in a bad mood.
At this moment, Caiyu walked back to the back - wing room wearing Song Yinghuai's Buddhist robe. Along the way, she was seen by countless servants and maids.
Sui'er angrily threw away the broom in her hand and spat. "Bah! Fox spirit! I'm going to tell the old princess!"
Caiyu ignored her and walked into her maid's room. She took off the Buddhist robe, revealing her delicate and soft body.
She wasn't afraid of Sui'er's accusation. In fact, she was afraid that Sui'er wouldn't do it.
If no one accused her, how could Concubine Yao make things difficult for her? And if Concubine Yao didn't make things difficult for her, how could Song Yinghuai come to her rescue like a hero?
The woman who taught her once said that men were born with a hero complex and would pity the weak.
The more pitiful she was, the easier it would be for her to gain a man's pity.
From pity comes love, from love comes worry, and from love comes fear.
A man's love and worry would come gradually.
Sure enough, Concubine Yao's summons came as expected.
When Caiyu walked out of the Lianyin Pavilion, Sui'er and the others behind her showed gloating expressions.
Caiyu smiled faintly and said to Ji Ming, who had come in person, "Chief Steward Ji, today I caught a maid named Chunxi from the outer courtyard sneaking into the prince's Pure Spring. Please punish her with a beating and sell her according to the rules."
Ji Ming was stunned for a moment and then calmly replied, "In that case, I will surely handle it impartially."
He suddenly felt respect for Caiyu in his heart.
Caiyu must have known why she was being summoned, but instead of being afraid, she calmly handled the internal affairs.
This kind of calmness was beyond the reach of an ordinary maid.
No wonder the prince had such a discerning eye. He had broken a six - year - long rule and chosen her as the chief maid at first sight.
Sui'er and the others were all shocked and felt a sense of fear.
Chunxi... was going to be sold just because of Caiyu's words?
They had been living freely in the Lianyin Pavilion without the supervision of a chief maid for several years. This was the first time they had experienced what it was like to be suppressed.
As soon as Caiyu entered the Wanxiang Hall with Ji Ming, Concubine Yao's face was filled with anger. Nanny Li beside her shouted,
"Slut! Kneel down!"
...
"Your Highness, Ji Ming's man is asking to see you in the Lianyin Pavilion," Zhu Xiao carelessly pushed open the door of the secret room and walked in.
Song Yinghuai didn't open his eyes and calmly asked, "What does he want with me?"
Zhu Xiao plopped down on the Buddhist chair. "Oh, when I came, I saw that new little maid of yours being taken to the old princess's place for questioning. I guess he's here to pass on the news."
He laughed heartily. "This guy usually looks so business - like. I didn't expect him to pass on the news privately today. Rare! I told you that even heroes have a weakness for beautiful women."
Han Bei rolled his eyes. "General Zhu, stop talking. The prince is in a bad mood."
Zhu Xiao pouted and picked up the offering fruit on the table to eat. Han Bei held his forehead.
Fortunately, the prince wasn't a stickler for formalities. Otherwise, just because of General Zhu's carefree manner, he would have been beheaded long ago.
Song Yinghuai didn't even lift his eyelids. "Since she insisted on going out wearing my Buddhist robe, she should bear the consequences."
The fruit in Zhu Xiao's mouth fell out, and his eyes widened like two copper bells. "W - wearing your Buddhist robe... You, you..."
Song Yinghuai felt annoyed in his heart. Ignoring Zhu Xiao's shocked questioning, he just instructed Han Bei,
"Go and get the string of South Red Agate Buddhist beads from the room next to mine."
Han Bei turned around and left.
Zhu Xiao was insistent. "Your Highness, please tell me. That maid wore your clothes? You've always been clean and noble. How could you give your clothes to a maid? What on earth is going on?"
Song Yinghuai looked at him and sighed. "Lao Zhu..."
Zhu Xiao pricked up his ears.
Song Yinghuai said, "The Buddha said, it cannot be said."
Zhu Xiao: "..."
Han Bei brought back the agate Buddhist beads. Song Yinghuai took the beads and sat like a person in meditation, whispering something.
Zhu Xiao felt quite bored. He stood up and asked Han Bei, "What spell is the prince chanting?"
Han Bei replied, "The Heart - Cleansing Spell."
Zhu Xiao burst out laughing. "I thought the prince was really free from desires."
Laughing wildly, he left. Song Yinghuai suddenly snapped the Buddhist beads.
The red beads scattered all over the ground.
Han Bei was startled and quickly bent down to pick them up.
Song Yinghuai stood up. "Don't pick them up. Gain and loss are up to fate. Be open - minded and you'll be at peace."
Han Bei straightened up and watched his departing back, shouting after him, "Your Highness, where are you going?"
The Wanxiang Hall.
As soon as Song Yinghuai stepped into the courtyard, he heard the whistling sound of bamboo sticks cutting through the air, followed by the dull sound of flesh being beaten.
The woman's suppressed groans instantly stabbed at his eardrums.
Nanny Li questioned, "Tell me! Who sent you to approach the prince?"
Caiyu gasped and gritted her teeth, enduring the severe pain on her back as she replied,
"Your maid is innocent. I really got my clothes wet because I slipped into the pool while serving the prince's bath... The prince was kind enough to give me his clothes to go out. Please, the old princess, investigate clearly!"
"Still dare to quibble!" Concubine Yao roared. "Beat her until she tells the truth!"