On normal days, Song Yinghuai mostly wore plain Buddhist robes in the mansion, exuding an air of detachment from the mundane world, free and unrestrained.
But today when he went out, he wore a jade crown on his head, a jasper pendant on his waist, and a snow - white brocade robe.
His figure appeared even more upright, with a majestic and handsome demeanor.
The late - autumn sunlight shone on his well - defined face, outlining perfect curves. His clear and penetrating eyes were like a glance from an otherworldly divine being under the lone smoke in the desert.
With just a casual sweep of his eyes, the maids along the way pressed their wildly pounding hearts.
Looking at Caiyu again, since it was inconvenient for women to go out, she dressed up as a young man, transforming into a cute young lad.
She had her black hair tied up high, dark pupils, a straight nose, and a pair of slightly heroic eyebrows that seemed to be smiling all the time. Her lively and cheerful energy was almost palpable.
Caiyu often dressed as a man when she was in the Lan family. Now that she finally had such an opportunity again, she couldn't contain her excitement. Like a frisky rabbit, she hopped in front of Song Yinghuai. She tilted her head slightly, and the glinting light bloomed in her eyes.
"Your Highness, how do I look in this outfit?"
Song Yinghuai's vision blurred for a moment. Caiyu's bright red lips were slightly upturned, outlining a handsome young man's appearance. Her smiling eyes were like a pool of spring water, with rippling waves that stirred up rolling waves in his heart.
His mind went blank for a moment, and then he quickly regained his senses. He nodded and praised, "Very good. With a sword, you'll be like a hero riding out of the Yan City in the autumn wind, with a shining bow on your back and a frost - like sword."
Caiyu followed his steps and walked out. Since she could go out of the mansion and see the outside of the Yan City for a rare time, she was less restrained. She even asked with a beaming smile,
"I don't have much monthly allowance. I can't afford a sword. How about Your Highness giving me one?"
Zhu Xiao laughed beside them. "Miss Caiyu, you've got a good idea. You haven't even done a single thing for His Highness, but you're already asking for a reward!"
Han Fen also curled his lips.
Caiyu was immediately at a loss for words.
Thinking back, since she entered the mansion, it seemed that all she had done was bother Song Yinghuai, disrupt his routine, tempt him to break his abstinence and sink, or let him rescue her.
With such thoughts, her request just now seemed rather brazen.
Song Yinghuai glanced at her casually and changed the topic. "Can you ride a horse?"
Caiyu was just about to say that it was easy, but a sudden thought flashed through her mind.
"I can't, Your Highness."
"Since you've changed your identity when going out, you should also change your address."
Caiyu lowered her head obediently and replied, "Yes, Your Highness. This servant remembers."
Song Yinghuai was taking her to inspect his private properties, and the entourage consisted of several men, so there was no carriage prepared.
He flipped onto the horse and reached out his hand to Caiyu. "Come up!"
There was joy hidden in Caiyu's eyes. She replied crisply, stepped onto the stirrup, grabbed Song Yinghuai's hand for leverage, and gracefully landed in his arms. Her perky buttocks rubbed against his abdomen, and she gave him a coquettish look.
Song Yinghuai's hand holding the reins stiffened slightly. He pressed down on her wiggling buttocks and warned in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "Behave yourself!"
Caiyu pouted and left a string of silver - bell - like laughter in the wind.
Seeing that she was in a good mood, Song Yinghuai was even too lazy to expose her little tricks.
Can't ride a horse?
She was so proficient in the way she mounted the horse, showed no fear at all on the horseback, and even had the leisure to flirt. Did she look like a boudoir girl who couldn't ride a horse?
The news that Song Yinghuai was taking Caiyu to inspect his private properties spread like wildfire into the ears of everyone in the Yan Prince's Mansion.
Concubine Yao had a splitting headache. She urged Nanny Li, "Has there been any letter from the Jiang family in Jiaodong?"
Nanny Li said, "It's coming soon. Miss Jiang has already set off from Jiaodong and will arrive in Yan City in a few days."
Only then did Concubine Yao feel relieved. "That's good. After Miss Jiang arrives, we must ask her to find a way to distract Huai'er from that vixen!"
Nanny Li gently massaged Concubine Yao's back and comforted her. "I heard that the Miss Jiangs from the Jiang family are all extremely beautiful, smart, and considerate. In Jiaodong, there are countless young masters from noble families vying for their attention."
"The prince has been practicing Buddhism in the mansion for a long time and has had little contact with women. Suddenly, a vixen like this appears. Even a holy monk wouldn't be able to resist. But it will be different when Miss Jiang arrives. Men are always fond of the new and tired of the old. Miss Jiang is beautiful, kind - hearted, generous, and from a noble family. Which man wouldn't like her? The prince will surely forget all about that vixen when he sees her!"
Concubine Yao closed her eyes and nodded repeatedly. "You're right... Alas, if it weren't for Huai'er delaying his marriage during these years of practicing Buddhism and this vixen showing up, the position of the Princess of Yan wouldn't have to be given to the Jiang family!"
Although the Jiang family in Jiaodong was also a noble family, compared with Song Yinghuai, who was a royal relative, held heavy military power, and had his own fief, their status was still far lower.
But when comparing the Jiang family with a low - status servant girl like Caiyu, Concubine Yao could still tell the difference.
——
Song Yinghuai had countless private properties under his name, spread all over the Great Ye Empire. Not to mention the public ones, even the hidden ones were innumerable.
Just in Yan City alone, there were more than forty properties, covering various industries such as farms, horse ranches, money houses, pawnshops, gambling houses, clothing and silk stores, and rouge and powder shops.
Song Yinghuai chose more than a dozen properties that were not related to military secrets and took Caiyu to inspect them.
After inspecting more than a dozen private properties, Caiyu was shocked by the wealth of the Prince of Yan.
Although Caiyu also came from a noble family, even at the peak of the Lan family's glory, it had never been as wealthy as the Prince of Yan.
Although she didn't manage the Lan family's properties, she roughly knew that the Lan family only had about twenty or thirty properties.
She wasn't stupid. The properties Song Yinghuai chose were of little significance and had nothing to do with military affairs. They were just small businesses that earned a little money to support the mansion.
After inspecting more than a dozen properties in an afternoon, it was soon evening when the lanterns were just lit. Caiyu felt extremely hungry.
At this time, on the main street of Yan City, Xuanwu Street, there were colorful lanterns everywhere, and the sound of flutes filled the air.
In the food area in the west, there were all kinds of delicious food, including roasted meats, marinated dishes, steamed and fried snacks. Tea stalls and taverns were criss - crossed on the streets, and the aroma of various foods filled the air.
Seeing that she had lost the excitement she had when they first came out and that her face was always turning to the west, with her small nose twitching, Song Yinghuai knew that she was hungry.
"I still have a teahouse on the east side of Xuanwu Street. Let's go there and sit down." Song Yinghuai said.
Unexpectedly, Caiyu grabbed his arm that was holding the reins and turned to look at him with pleading eyes. "Your Highness, can we go and eat marinated stew?"
Song Yinghuai:...
Han Fen couldn't help scolding beside them. "How presumptuous! Your Highness has such a noble status. How can he go and eat marinated stew on the street!"
But Zhu Xiao said, "Oh! Marinated stew is good. I'm craving meat. Your teahouse only has tea and snacks. They can't fill my stomach."
Han Fen rolled his eyes angrily. "General Zhu! His Highness is a Buddhist practitioner. How dare you put those internal organs of marinated stew in front of His Highness?"
Caiyu thought to herself: This was a rare opportunity to come to the mortal world with this high - ranking prince who seemed to be detached from the mortal world. How could she not find a way to let him taste the beauty of the mortal world again?
She said with a beaming smile, "There are many kinds of food on the west side of Xuanwu Street. I'll eat marinated stew, and Your Highness can eat other snacks."
Before Song Yinghuai could say anything, Caiyu interrupted him again. "This whole Yan City is under Your Highness's governance. Your Highness rarely goes out. Why do you only go to your own properties? Don't you want to see how the people under your rule are living?"
"The current emperor and the crown prince take time every year to travel among the people and inspect the people's livelihood. There's no reason why Your Highness wouldn't, right?"
Song Yinghuai's eyebrows twitched.
In name, the emperor and the crown prince were inspecting the people's livelihood, but in fact, they were just wasting money and resources. They were just satisfying their own desire to play and enjoy the worship of the people.
However, he couldn't say this. Instead, he had to praise Caiyu for her good analogy.
Song Yinghuai hooked his lips in a half - hearted smile. "What a glib tongue! Then I'll follow your suggestion. Let's go to the west street."