Song Yinghuai watched her icy cold face from afar, his eyes dark and gloomy.
At this moment, the ice that enveloped Caiyu and the thorns that emerged from her skin, was this her true self?
Whether it was the charming and sweet smile, the coquettish and alluring appearance, the obedient and docile manner, or the stubborn and spirited attitude on normal days.
All those Caiyus were fake.
Only the woman who now stood among the crowd, under the Buddha's light, yet seemed so alone and helpless, was the real Caiyu.
Seeing her in such a state, Song Yinghuai inexplicably thought of himself.
People all said that the Prince of Yan was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. He was a royal noble from birth, and was also a genius. He was invincible in leading the army to fight and had achieved numerous victories. At a young age, he had become the God of War of the Great Ye.
But who would know that his birth was just a stepping - stone for the Crown Prince.
His father deliberately cultivated him just to find a loyal and good general for the Crown Prince.
In front of the emperor and the Crown Prince, he had no right to make his own decisions.
The emperor had been extremely strict with him since childhood, almost to the point of being demanding. He was sent to the army for training when he was young.
Although it was called training, he faced near - death experiences every time. He was sent to the front line of the battlefield. After fighting bloody battles, he also had to deal with the underhanded tricks of the Crown Prince.
It was only because the ignorant Crown Prince couldn't understand the emperor's intentions. He always thought that Song Yinghuai was deeply favored by the emperor and was the biggest obstacle to his ascension to the throne.
The glory in front of people and the bitterness behind the scenes were beyond the comprehension of even his biological mother, Concubine Yao.
Everyone envied him, but only he secretly licked his wounds in solitude. It seemed that... he was even worse off than Caiyu.
At least this girl could still throw a tantrum now.
Facing Caiyu's cold face, Song Yinghuai stared at her for a while, and finally said coldly, "A mere maid, getting angry and refusing treatment just because the master scolded you a few words. Do you want everyone to think that the Prince of Yan's Mansion is unfair in handling affairs?"
Caiyu's heart skipped a beat. She keenly sensed Song Yinghuai's hidden anger.
It was only because she was extremely heart - broken that she showed her true self, but she had no right to be angry.
Caiyu quickly knelt down. "This maid wouldn't dare. This maid just thought that the abbot's ointment and time were precious and not worth wasting on this maid. This maid has tough skin. Just applying some medicine casually will do. Please, master, check into this."
Tough skin?
Song Yinghuai's fingertips hidden in his wide sleeves twitched slightly.
He had caressed every inch of her smooth and delicate skin. He knew exactly which part was rough and which part was tender.
Concubine Yao looked at Caiyu with a headache.
This maid was so unwise. Yinghuai had even invited Abbot Guangzhi to stop her, yet she still dared to act coquettishly!
She said unhappily, "If she wants to apply the medicine herself, then so be it. There's no reason for the master to beg her to apply the medicine!"
In her perception, it didn't matter whether the maid was wronged or accidentally killed.
They were just like dogs in the Prince of Yan's Mansion.
Song Yinghuai had specially invited Abbot Guangzhi for her, which was already a great blessing.
She rubbed her aching forehead and bypassed Song Yinghuai to drive Caiyu away. "Get out! Hurry up and get out! If you don't want to be treated, then just rot and get out!"
Caiyu responded in a low voice and slowly backed out step by step.
The winter sun at noon was still cold. The heavy snow sprinkled on her slender and straight back, outlining a breathtakingly beautiful picture.
The farce at the Great Baoen Temple was like a speck of dust buried by the snow. As the snow got deeper, it had long been buried without a trace, and no one mentioned it anymore.
Xiangye stroked Caiyu's bandaged hands and said with lingering fear, "Fortunately, there was the ointment that Abbot Guangzhi sent you. Otherwise, your hands would really have rotted..."
She remembered the day Caiyu came back. The blisters on her hands had burst one by one due to abrasion. Her entire back of the hand was covered with sticky and shiny liquid. The ulcerated parts showed the red and raw flesh, which looked like freshly cut tender meat. It was really shocking.
Moreover, her ankle had swollen up like a bun again due to repeated torture.
It was truly a miserable sight.
As soon as Caiyu came back, she went to Xiangye's side - room to sleep. She had a high fever and was in a coma for three days and three nights.
Xiangye was so anxious that she didn't know what to do. She didn't dare to approach Song Yinghuai easily, so she had to secretly find that Guard Han who had blocked her hand with his sword before.
Fortunately, Han Fen was enthusiastic. He quickly took out a bottle of miraculous burn ointment from his bosom, saying that it was a gift from Abbot Guangzhi, and carefully explained how to use it.
During the days when Caiyu had a high fever, Han Fen often appeared and disappeared mysteriously in the side - room.
Sometimes he would carry a jar of antipyretic medicine made by Abbot Guangzhi, sometimes he would take out a pile of replacement bandages, sometimes he would bring the delicate rice porridge carefully made by the mansion's chef, and he would also busy himself fetching well water for Xiangye...
Only then did Caiyu quickly reduce her fever and wake up.
After Caiyu woke up, Xiangye chattered to her about Han Fen's actions in the past few days, and said mysteriously:
"Sister Caiyu, according to my observations in the past few days, Guard Han must be in love with you."
Caiyu spat out a mouthful of the medicine from her mouth and stared at Xiangye with wide - open eyes.
"Where did you draw this conclusion from?"
Xiangye said naively, "He is so enthusiastic towards you. After seeing you were sick, he took such good care of you, even more enthusiastic than me. If a man doesn't have feelings for a woman, how could he do such things?"
Caiyu's mouth twitched.
"You said... that the ointment was brought by Guard Han on behalf of Abbot Guangzhi?"
"Yes."
Caiyu lowered her eyes to hide the glint in them.
If Abbot Guangzhi wanted to give the medicine, it should be given to Song Yinghuai!
How could the medicine be in Han Fen's hands?
Han Fen was Song Yinghuai's personal guard and always followed him closely.
Yet in the past three days, he had been so idle that he would stay in the side - room for half a day.
Xiangye was still sighing in admiration. "Sister Caiyu, I know that the prince is an outstanding man. The last time he went out on a patrol, how many girls were attracted to him..."
"Miss Dong has been coming to the mansion to visit the old princess every day during the three days you were in a coma. And that cousin girl, they have been competing for the old princess's favor every day in front of the old princess. Since they are like this, it's not surprising that you admire the prince."
Caiyu: …
"But what's our status? How can we marry into the prince's family?"
"Even to be the prince's chambermaid, one has to be carefully selected by the old princess and raised under her for many years for observation, like Sister Bailu. It's extremely difficult for you to be favored by the prince..."
Caiyu thought to herself: It's difficult, but it's not impossible. There were several times when she almost managed to capture Song Yinghuai.
Xiangye said, "I think you should change your mind."
Caiyu turned to look at her. "What's your idea?"
Xiangye: "Capture Guard Han! Although he doesn't have the noble status of the prince, he is also a flag - officer in the army, an eighth - rank military official. For us maids, it's still a high - flying marriage."
Caiyu: …
"If Guard Han marries you, you can still see the prince every day in the future. Guard Han is so good to you and will surely not let you suffer any grievances. Sister Caiyu, we should lower our sights a bit!"
Caiyu was silent for a while, then replied with a wry smile, "Okay."
Xiangye thought she had persuaded Caiyu and happily packed up the bandages, ointment, and scissors on the table.
Caiyu suddenly said, "Xiangye, since I can't do any work these days anyway, please find me a piece of jade - cutting sand. I'll do something else to pass the time."
Xiangye didn't suspect anything and nodded in agreement.
At the time of Shen, Han Fen came. He brought a pack of wild duck meat from the tea - snack shop on West Street that Xiangye had been talking about for a long time.
Xiangye immediately drooled. "Thank you, Guard Han. This maid hasn't eaten meat for a long time, wuwuwu..."
Han Fen scratched his head and grinned.
Xiangye enthusiastically and mysteriously pushed Han Fen into Caiyu's bedroom. "Guard Han, Sister Caiyu woke up this morning. Go and see her quickly. She's making a bracelet for you!"
Han Fen: ? ?