Unfortunately, Caiyu underestimated Song Yinghuai's hearing.
Song Yinghuai had been on the battlefield for many years. He could tell the number and distance of the enemy troops just by the sound of horse hooves from dozens of miles away, and even estimate the time they would arrive.
Caiyu's footsteps as she entered the room from outside didn't come from afar. The sound of her steps started right outside the Quiet Spring.
This was enough to prove that she had been waiting outside the Quiet Spring long before, just waiting to watch the show and see him punish Bailu.
Such petty tricks had been played over and over again. Did she think he was blind?
Bailu was detestable, but Caiyu also needed a good lesson!
Song Yinghuai glanced around at everyone and said coldly, "Since I asked the emperor to lift my ban, I've always been lenient towards those in the mansion. But I never thought I've indulged you all to be so bold. Lately, people have been sneaking into the Quiet Spring one after another. Do you all think I'm dead?"
Everyone bowed their heads, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Among the maids and servants here, many had followed Song Yinghuai from the capital to Yan for many years.
After all these years, it was the first time they had seen Song Yinghuai so furious. His anger was like a violent storm.
Caiyu was also startled by his furious appearance.
Although there had been endless rumors about the God of War, since she entered the mansion and came into contact with Song Yinghuai, she had never felt such overwhelming pressure descending on her heart as she did today.
The solemn and killing air lingered over everyone's heads for a long time, making it hard to breathe.
Song Yinghuai's gaze rested on Caiyu's face. With a cold face, he said, "Caiyu, as the head maid of the Lotus Sound Pavilion, I entrusted all the affairs in the pavilion to you. But you let the people under you sneak into the Quiet Spring again and again. Is this how you manage things?"
Caiyu choked on a breath and couldn't say a word in defense.
Chunxi had sneaked into the Quiet Spring right after she entered the pavilion. It wasn't her fault.
But she was the one who knew it was wrong and still did it. She was the second one to enter the Quiet Spring.
And Bailu had even been hinted by her to enter.
Was Song Yinghuai so furious today because he had discovered her petty tricks?
Was he just using this as an excuse?
Even though she knew this, Caiyu still felt a bit wronged.
How could she control Bailu? Bailu had the old princess as her backer, while she had to compromise for the sake of her family. They were both head maids and restricted each other. How could she control her?
However, since the master was furious, she could only obey, "My lord, it's the maid's fault for not managing well. Please punish the maid."
Seeing her so docile and submissive at this moment, lowering her head and admitting her mistakes, Song Yinghuai inexplicably felt a surge of anger. He only said coldly:
"Bailu, as a head maid, didn't set a good example for the maids below. Instead, she knew it was wrong and still did it. Give her five strokes of the cane."
Bailu, who was kneeling on the ground, was struck by lightning. She just kept kowtowing, "The maid knows her mistake. Please spare the maid, my lord!"
Song Yinghuai came from the military. This cane was not an ordinary wooden board in a mansion, but a military cane.
It was twice as thick as an ordinary stick and was an iron-wood mace. With a body like hers, one stroke would make her flesh and blood blurred.
Bailu was almost scared out of her wits. She crawled two steps on her knees and lay at Song Yinghuai's feet, pleading bitterly, "My lord, for the sake of the maid being raised by the old princess, please show mercy just this once..."
Song Yinghuai kept a cold face and said nothing. Instead, he moved his feet two steps away to avoid Bailu's tears and snot from getting on his feet.
Bailu's heart instantly turned cold.
The lord really had no affection for her at all!
Han Fen waved his hand, and two servants stepped forward to drag Bailu out of the yard and tie her to a bench.
The next moment, everyone in the yard heard a shrill scream.
The sound was long and lingered in the sky above the Lotus Sound Pavilion for a long time, shaking everyone's hearts.
Han Fen had served Song Yinghuai for a long time and knew what his master intended. So after the first stroke, he didn't strike the second one for a long time.
It was just to let everyone listen to this miserable scream for a longer time to intimidate them.
Moreover, Bailu was a young girl. If he struck in a quick succession like a sudden downpour, she might not be able to catch her breath and die.
Bailu's intermittent groans came from outside the yard, stabbing everyone's hearts with dense pain and fear.
Suddenly, the groan suddenly rose and soared into the sky.
The people kneeling on the ground almost jumped up in shock. Taoyao and the others were already scared to tears.
This must be the second stroke!
After a while, the third shrill scream rang out.
This time, even Caiyu's face turned pale.
According to this situation, would she be the next one to be beaten?
The military cane was all too familiar to her.
In the past, when she secretly went to the military camp, she had also seen her father and brother holding the cane. After the soldiers were punished, their thighs and buttocks were all bloody, and they couldn't get out of bed for half a month.
Not to mention them, weak girls like them?
Song Yinghuai was always paying attention to Caiyu. Seeing her expression gradually turn from calm to pale, he finally felt satisfied.
When Han Fen struck again, everyone couldn't hear the screams anymore. It seemed that Bailu had fainted from the pain.
The people lying in the yard let out soft sobs, afraid that the disaster would fall on their own heads.
"My lord, the punishment is over." Han Fen walked in from outside, gasping for breath. A few drops of sweat fell from his head.
This job was really not easy.
The master was furious, so the military cane couldn't be struck lightly. If it was too light, it wouldn't have a deterrent effect, and the lord would definitely take his anger out on him.
It also couldn't be struck too hard. If he struck too hard and disabled or killed a beautiful girl, it would be hard to explain to the old princess.
So as the executor, he had to control the strength, which was even more tiring than spanking those soldiers in the military camp.
Song Yinghuai snorted coldly. He knew that this subordinate of his was being very gentle with the strokes, getting lighter with each one. He was really good at being opportunistic.
He wouldn't expose him but instead ordered, "Bailu has committed a serious mistake. I can't keep her in the Lotus Sound Pavilion. Order someone to carry her back to the Evening Fragrance Hall and send her back to mother for disposal."
Caiyu slightly raised her eyebrows.
She had finally managed to drive Bailu out of the Lotus Sound Pavilion. In this way, the person monitoring her was gone, and it would be much more convenient for her to act.
Even if she couldn't avoid the next punishment today, it was still worth it.
Song Yinghuai looked at her expression and vaguely saw a trace of joy in it. He suddenly realized.
This girl had this in mind all along!
Using someone else's hand to kill was a very clever move!
As smart as he was, he had accidentally stumbled in front of Caiyu and become the weapon in her hand to kill someone!
It was really detestable!
He turned around and sat down. His anger was still hard to subdue. "Bring the ruler!"
Han Fen had just wiped the sweat off his forehead. When he heard Song Yinghuai's even colder voice, he secretly thought it was bad.
Why was there still a punishment?
He didn't dare to slack off and rushed to the Discipline Hall to get the ruler. On the way, he grabbed a servant and told him to quickly go find Zhu Xiao.
In a short while, Han Fen handed the ruler to Song Yinghuai.
Song Yinghuai weighed it in his hand and gave Han Fen a cold look.
This subordinate of his was really good at being gentle with the girls. He had gone to get the lightest bamboo ruler.
Han Fen kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, silently standing aside with his head down, thinking secretly:
The commotion in the Lotus Sound Pavilion had already alerted the spies from the Eastern Depot lurking around.
If the lord punished too severely in his anger and showed too much killing intent, it would be inappropriate if it aroused the suspicion of the spies.
He was being loyal to his master, not being opportunistic.
Song Yinghuai lowered his eyes and looked at Caiyu and the others kneeling in a row. He said, "The five of you, one didn't manage well, and the other four abetted the evildoer. Each of you should be punished with ten strokes of the ruler as a warning. Does anyone have any objections?"
"Please spare our lives, my lord!" Taoyao and the others cried bitterly. "The maids still have to do their work. After these ten strokes, how can the maids do anything? Please show mercy, my lord!"
Caiyu wasn't afraid. She stretched out her hand and placed it flat in the air, with a calm and determined face:
"The maid accepts the punishment."