Song Yinghuai didn't say a word. Seeing her follow up, he started walking forward again.
This time, Caiyu noticed that he had obviously slowed down his pace, and she could barely keep up.
She lowered her head and snickered. The pain on her back didn't seem so bad.
The setting sun cast their shadows obliquely on the ground, one in front of the other.
Before they knew it, the two shadows intertwined.
The wind was still and silent, and the sweet - scented osmanthus wafted its fragrance.
As soon as Caiyu entered the Lianyin Pavilion, she automatically headed towards the servants' side - room. But just as she turned her steps, she heard Song Yinghuai's cold voice:
"Where are you going?"
Caiyu was stunned. "Your Highness, this servant is going back to her room!"
Song Yinghuai stared at her, making her feel confused.
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something. "Your Highness, this servant is so injured that she's afraid she can't serve Your Highness during your bath."
Song Yinghuai slightly raised his eyebrows. "Is the injury that serious?"
If he hadn't asked, it would have been fine. Once he did, Caiyu blinked her big, watery eyes coquettishly, looking extremely pitiful as she stared at him innocently with a soft voice:
"Or, Your Highness, why don't you take a look yourself?"
She pretended to lift up her outer robe.
Suddenly, a big hand pressed on the small hand that was tugging at her shoulder. Song Yinghuai's gaze landed on her exposed shoulder.
Her skin was as white as fresh snow, smooth and delicate, and there was a faint fragrance of the sophora - bean soap that he was familiar with.
Song Yinghuai's eyes darkened. "You used my soap?"
As a prince, even though he practiced Buddhism to cultivate his mind, his noble air was hard to change.
He would never use an item a second time, let alone give it to a servant.
Did Caiyu think he was so kind - hearted that he wouldn't do anything to her for such audacity?
Caiyu glanced at her exposed shoulder, pursed her lips, and a sly smile flashed in her eyes:
"This servant wouldn't dare. It must have gotten on me when I was scrubbing Your Highness's back."
"Humph!" Song Yinghuai sneered, but there was no real smile in his eyes.
How could scrubbing his back get the soap on her shoulder?
But before he could get angry, tears welled up in Caiyu's eyes, looking as if they were about to fall at any moment. She said softly, "Your Highness, this servant's back hurts."
Song Yinghuai felt that the anger that had just risen in him was extinguished with a "puff" under the unshed tears in her eyes.
"Follow me."
Caiyu looked at the man's tall back in confusion.
She really was in so much pain that she could hardly stand, so she deliberately angered him in the hope that he would let her go back and lie down. But unexpectedly, he wouldn't let her off.
Helpless, Caiyu followed him slowly into Song Yinghuai's bedroom.
Although she was a senior maid, she had never had the chance to enter the master's bedroom before going to the hot - spring pool, and then was summoned by Concubine Yao before she could.
This was the first time Caiyu had entered Song Yinghuai's bedroom.
The bedroom was as spacious and luxurious as the ones in the imperial palace.
The beams were made of sandalwood from the top of the clouds, the lamps were made of crystal and jade, the curtains were made of pearls. A six - foot - wide agarwood bed was hung with a precious silk canopy embroidered with golden - thread lotuses sprinkled with pearls all over. When the wind blew, the silk fluttered, making one feel as if they were in a sea of illusions. On the couch, there was a green - jade pillow filled with fragrant herbs, a soft silk mat, and a quilt made of stacked silk with jade - belt patterns.
Outside the main bedroom, there was a side - room separated by an arched door.
Seeing such luxurious furnishings, Caiyu couldn't help but feel contemptuous. This was the bedroom of a prince who had practiced Buddhism and simplicity for years.
If it were other princes, how debauched they must be.
No wonder her father once said that the power of the princes was too great. Inside their fiefs, they were like false emperors. People in various places only obeyed the princes' orders and ignored the imperial court's. Sooner or later, the emperor would have the idea of weakening the power of the princes.
Thinking of her father, Caiyu couldn't help but look sad.
She didn't know how her exiled family in Hainan was doing now. Were her father, mother, elder brother, and second sister in good health?
Song Yinghuai took a blue - and - white porcelain bottle with streaky patterns from a display shelf. Seeing her standing stupidly in front of his big bed, he couldn't help but tap his finger on the head of the bed.
Caiyu came back to her senses and looked at the porcelain bottle in front of her.
Song Yinghuai said gently, "This is high - quality golden - wound medicine. It can not only stop bleeding and relieve pain but also disinfect and remove scars. Take it back and apply it every day. You'll get better soon."
"This servant doesn't dare to use the master's things." Caiyu slightly bent her knees to decline symbolically. In fact, she was trying to test him again by retreating.
Looking at Song Yinghuai's cold and indifferent face, her mind was full of thoughts.
Had her plan to arouse his pity succeeded or failed?
Song Yinghuai was actually amused by her words. "You don't dare? What don't you dare to do?"
"You dare to seduce your master, lie in front of the old princess, and use your master's things without permission... Now that I'm giving you this medicine as a reward, you don't dare to accept it?"
"Caiyu!"
With no prying eyes in the Lianyin Pavilion, Song Yinghuai put away his gentle and cold side and showed his sharp killing intent. He reached out and pinched her delicate chin. His words were as cold as ice:
"Overacting isn't cute."
Caiyu's heart almost stopped beating, and her blood seemed to flow backwards.
She really... had failed again.
Seeing the look of fear on her face, Song Yinghuai suddenly felt a small prick in his heart. The coldness dissipated, and he returned to his usual gentle self.
"Go. Apply the medicine in time to avoid leaving scars."
Caiyu tightened her grip on the porcelain bottle in her hand. Finally, she understood that Song Yinghuai clearly knew her purpose but still allowed her to act like a clown in front of him.
He was like an audience watching a play. When she performed well, he would give her a few smiles and even participate in the play with her.
If her performance didn't meet his expectations, he would stop the show at any time or even kill her and make her disappear completely.
In Song Yinghuai's eyes, she was like a puppet on a string, living only according to his mood.
Her white teeth bit down hard on her red lips, and she didn't even notice when they were bitten through.
A sense of helpless sadness welled up in Caiyu's heart.
What should she do to make this man lower his guard a little and let her get closer?
What should she do to give her family a chance for a retrial and clear their grievances?
Thinking of this, Caiyu couldn't help but blurt out sadly:
"I was originally a free soul in this world, but now I'm not free. Thank you, Your Highness, for the medicine. This servant will definitely apply it well."
She would follow his instructions, heal her wound, and then come back for another battle!
Song Yinghuai suddenly turned around and looked at the slender back that was hurriedly leaving in surprise. A small piece seemed to shatter in his usually cold eyes.
Early the next morning.
Nanny Li entered the Lianyin Pavilion. Bailu came with four junior maids and wanted to pay respects to Song Yinghuai.
But Song Yinghuai just told Han Fen to arrange things casually and then went to the meditation room to meditate. He seemed completely indifferent.
Bailu was a little disappointed. She had once been a potential concubine - in - waiting for Song Yinghuai selected by Concubine Yao and had been trained by Concubine Yao's side.
It was a pity that Song Yinghuai had voluntarily asked the emperor to practice Buddhism and be confined six years ago, and her chance was gone.
But she never gave up. She had been waiting for the day when Song Yinghuai would re - enter the mortal world. So she had been obedient in front of Concubine Yao and was deeply loved by her master.
This time, Concubine Yao finally sent her to the Lianyin Pavilion.
Even if she couldn't become the Prince of Yan's woman, just being able to stay by his side would make her satisfied.
It didn't matter. She was already the senior maid in the Lianyin Pavilion. From now on, she would have plenty of opportunities to serve him closely. There was no need to rush.
Nanny Li seemed to have taken a reassurance pill.
Since Song Yinghuai let her do as she pleased, it meant that in his eyes, Caiyu wasn't that important.
It seemed that the old princess had been overly worried.
But now that she was here, she had to teach Caiyu a good lesson and let her understand the rules of being a servant in the Prince of Yan's mansion!
Nanny Li told Taoyao, one of the junior maids brought by Bailu, "Go and call Caiyu out!"