Han Fen walked in from outside, looking hesitant to speak.
Zhu Xiao couldn't help scolding, "What's wrong? Can't take a dump?"
"You're the one who can't take a dump!" Han Fen glared at him angrily and then said to Song Yinghuai, "Your Highness, just now a message came from Lianyin Pavilion. Miss Caiyu was taken by Nanny Li to Wanxiang Hall for interrogation."
Hearing this, Song Yinghuai's eyes flickered slightly, and a hint of anger flashed across his face. "Such a trivial matter as a maid being taken by Mother for interrogation is worth you coming in to interrupt our discussion of state affairs? How have I taught you on weekdays?"
Han Fen lowered his head and murmured in defense, "Your subordinate knows the gravity of the situation, but Taoyao went to Wanxiang Hall and asserted to the old princess that... that Your Highness has already taken Miss Caiyu..."
Zhu Xiao stared with wide eyes and looked at Song Yinghuai. "Really? Impossible. If you've touched her, how could you still..."
"Ridiculous!" Song Yinghuai threw the Buddhist beads on the table. His clear voice was filled with suppressed anger. "Who gave the people in the mansion the audacity to make wild speculations about the master's affairs?"
Han Fen said, "Your subordinate also knows that Taoyao is talking nonsense, but the old princess and others don't know Your Highness's physical condition, so they naturally believed Taoyao's words. Even the Eastern Depot spies hiding around heard Taoyao's shouting and started making unfounded speculations."
"Your subordinate has just intercepted three carrier pigeons of the spies above the Prince Yan's Mansion. If we don't clarify this matter in time and the news reaches the capital, the Crown Prince will surely take the opportunity to accuse Your Highness of pretending to be a Buddhist and convict you of deceiving the emperor."
Zhang Ce frowned. "So, these maids should not have been allowed to serve in the inner courtyard of Lianyin Pavilion. Where there are women, there are gossips!"
Zhu Xiao said, "Brother, don't say that. Your Highness is young and full of vigor. If he never touches women, his place will rust..."
Song Yinghuai interrupted Zhu Xiao's garrulous talk. "Where is the envoy from the capital on his way to Yanjing according to Master Guangzhi?"
Zhang Ce frowned and said, "He should have arrived in Yanjing these days, but for some reason, the envoy made a big detour and went to Qin first. It seems that he will go from Qin to Jin and then enter Yanjing."
Zhu Xiao couldn't help but interrupt again. "Does the envoy enjoy himself all the way?"
The envoy from the capital represents the emperor and the Crown Prince. His status is special, equivalent to an imperial envoy with the imperial sword. Wherever he goes, whether it's the feudal lords or the local officials, they all give him a grand reception.
Not only are there fine wines and beautiful women to accompany him, but he can also amass a fortune all the way.
One envoy from the capital can cost millions of the people's hard - earned money.
Zhu Xiao's words made everyone present show looks of disdain.
Song Yinghuai's jawline was cold and hard, and his whole body was filled with a murderous anger. "The foundation of the Great Ye is being corroded by these parasites!"
...
After they talked for a while, Zhang Ce left.
When Song Yinghuai walked out of the secret room, Han Fen caught another carrier pigeon.
Song Yinghuai took the note on the carrier pigeon's leg and unfolded it. It read:
"The Prince of Yan has broken his abstinence. The witness is Lan Caiyu."
The note was crumpled into a ball in Song Yinghuai's hand and instantly turned into powder.
After a moment of thought, Song Yinghuai finally went to Wanxiang Hall.
When he stepped into Wanxiang Hall, the little maid guarding the door actually ran inside as soon as she saw someone.
"Stop!" Song Yinghuai shouted coldly and stopped the little maid. "Don't you see the master coming? How has the mansion taught you the rules?"
The little maid quickly knelt down and lowered her head. "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was in a hurry to go to the toilet just now, so I didn't notice Your Highness coming."
Han Fen kicked her to the ground. "The servants' toilet is outside. What are you running into the main hall for!"
He drew his sword and put it across the little maid's neck. The little maid let out a scream and burst into tears.
Song Yinghuai's eyes were deep and extremely dangerous. "Tell the truth and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, I'll have Ji Ming drag you out and beat you to death!"
"Your Highness, please spare my life!" The little maid cried loudly. "I'll tell you. It was the old princess who told me to guard here. She said that if I saw Your Highness, I should go in and report immediately!"
Song Yinghuai's eyes became even colder. "What is Mother doing inside?"
"The old princess is subjecting Caiyu to the 'Paper Mask Punishment'. She was afraid that Your Highness would come and stop her, so..."
A gust of wind blew past the little maid, and Song Yinghuai's figure had already landed far inside Wanxiang Hall.
Han Fen put away his sword, shocked. "This is a torture invented by the Eastern Depot spies for important court criminals. It's not allowed to be used privately among the people. You..."
The so - called "Paper Mask Punishment" is to cover a person's face with mulberry bark paper and then spray water on it. After the mulberry bark paper gets wet, it sticks tightly to the person's face, cutting off the air. After covering five layers like this, the person will suffocate to death.
The person subjected to the "Paper Mask Punishment" has a intact body and won't leave any marks.
In the eyes of the executioner, it seems like a great amnesty for the criminal.
But in the eyes of the common people and the person being punished, it's extremely inhumane!
When Song Yinghuai arrived at the main hall, he just heard Nanny Li sternly order, "Put on the fifth sheet!"
A servant trembled as he picked up a sheet of mulberry bark paper and covered it on Caiyu, who was tied to a long bench and lying on her back. He murmured in a low voice:
"Miss Caiyu, miss... Don't come after me if you become a ghost. I really don't want to do this..."
The woman lying on the bench didn't move at all. There was even no sign of her chest rising and falling.
Just as the fifth sheet of mulberry bark paper was about to be covered, a Buddhist bead shot in like a sharp blade from outside, passed through the thin paper and hit the servant's wrist!
The servant let out a scream. Looking in the direction of the sound, his voice suddenly rose:
"Y - Y - Your Highness!"
Everyone was shocked and looked in the direction of the voice.
The falling leaves fluttered behind Song Yinghuai. The early morning sun cast a faint golden light, shining on his moon - white Buddhist robe.
He floated over from afar. His plain clothes made his face look as handsome as jade and his lips as red as blood. Although he was rushing here, he gave people a noble and cold feeling like floating clouds and shooting stars.
Princess Yao looked at him sternly as he walked up the steps and strode into the main hall. "Huai'er, you came just in time."
Song Yinghuai stood beside the long bench where Caiyu was lying and glanced at her face.
The water - soaked paper showed an earth - yellow color. He waved his wide sleeve, and the paper floated off Caiyu's face under the drive of his internal force, revealing a faintly purple face.
Han Fen, who came in later, gasped.
This was a look of suffocation. Was there still any hope of saving her at this point?
When Song Yinghuai saw Caiyu's face, his pupils shrank slightly. He stretched out two fingers and pressed on her Zhongfu, Futu and Tiantu acupoints.
His majestic internal force poured into Caiyu's chest like a clear spring, and finally slid to the Qihui acupoint. He pressed hard on it.
The person on the bench straightened her chest, and her breathing gradually became audible.
Princess Yao angrily watched Song Yinghuai rescue Caiyu and questioned him, "For a little maid, you want to disobey your mother?"
Song Yinghuai ordered Han Fen to step forward and untie Caiyu. He looked up at Princess Yao, his voice calm:
"Mother, on my way to Wanxiang Hall, I've already intercepted four carrier pigeons of the spies lurking around the mansion that were sent to the capital."
Princess Yao's face changed. "What do you mean?"
Song Yinghuai's gaze turned to Taoyao. "Do you know what the punishment is for slandering the master?"
Taoyao was so scared that she knelt down again. "Your Highness, I didn't..."
"Didn't?" Song Yinghuai tightened his lips, his gaze fierce and intimidating. "Because of your wild accusations and spreading rumors everywhere in the mansion, the Eastern Depot spies have spread false information and almost sent the news back to the capital!"
Taoyao's face turned as pale as paper. She shook her head desperately with tears in her eyes. "I don't know, I don't know... But last night I saw Caiyu clearly taking the blood - stained bedding to wash secretly..."
Song Yinghuai asked Princess Yao, "Did Caiyu explain?"
Princess Yao's eyes flickered slightly. "She said it was her menstrual period, but..."
"But what?" Song Yinghuai pointed at Caiyu's arm, which was exposed after her outer clothes were stripped off. "Her virginity mole is still there. Mother must have seen it too."
Princess Yao said, "This..."