Caiyu thought that Song Yinghuai really had some serious mental problem.
How could there be a man who withdrew at the last moment again and again?
Even the eunuchs in the Eastern Depot didn't have such self - restraint!
At this moment, Caiyu's despair almost reached its peak. With less than a month left, did she still have a chance?
After Song Yinghuai finally calmed his breath, he saw Caiyu lying limply on the bed like a salted fish on a chopping board. His eyebrows twitched involuntarily.
"Are you still lying in my bed and not leaving?"
Caiyu: ... She had left just now, but he had called her back. He had pinned her down on the bed but then done nothing.
Song Yinghuai paused for a moment, his eyes darkening slightly. "I thought you had just recovered from a serious illness and shouldn't engage in strenuous activities. But if you need it, I can reluctantly lend you my fingers..."
Caiyu rolled off the bed in a hurry. "This servant will take her leave now!"
She scurried towards the side hall as fast as an arrow. At this moment, she had completely forgotten the pain in her ankle. Her face was as red as the rosy clouds at sunset.
Who would want to borrow his fingers!
Who would want to borrow his fingers!
Early the next morning, Nanny Li suddenly came to the Lotus Sound Pavilion, bringing with her a pink invitation card.
Nanny Li's old face was cold as ice. She handed the invitation to Caiyu. "This is an invitation from Miss Dong, the fifth daughter of the Commissioner of Revenue Dong's family!"
Dong Yurong?
The prestigious Miss Dong actually wrote an invitation to a servant girl?
Caiyu took it in a daze. On it was written:
"Now the plum blossoms exude a faint fragrance. The Dong family is hosting a grand banquet, with some simple wine prepared. We sincerely hope that relatives and friends will come to the Plum Blossom Villa to drink together."
Nanny Li's words were as sour as lemons. "Now that you're following the prince, you've risen to a high position. You can even attend the Dong family's banquet. I've served the old princess for decades, but I've never received an invitation!"
Caiyu didn't even hear Nanny Li's words. Her mind was full of thoughts about why Dong Yurong would condescend to invite her to the banquet. It simply didn't make sense.
Nanny Li then said, "Miss Dong also asked me to pass on a message. She said that she felt sorry for wronging Miss Caiyu last time at the Great Baoen Temple. So this time, when Lord Dong is hosting the Plum Blossom Banquet, she specially invited Miss Caiyu, the prince, the Abbot Guangzhi, and Miss Jiang to attend together."
Nanny Li paused for a moment, looking at her sharply. "Miss Caiyu, don't be ungrateful, and don't disgrace our Yan Prince's Mansion!"
The cold of early winter was biting, but a touch of spring was replacing the old year, like the beautiful scenery of girls with snow - willow hairpins.
The Commissioner of Revenue Dong's family had a private Plum Blossom Villa on Baihua Mountain on the outskirts of Yanjing.
It almost contained all the rare varieties of plum blossoms.
Pink plum blossoms, cinnabar plum blossoms, red plum blossoms, big red plum blossoms, weeping plum blossoms, green - calyx plum blossoms...
In the depth of winter, all kinds of plum blossoms were in full bloom all over the mountains, a boundless sea of flowers.
Whenever the plum blossoms were at their most gorgeous, Dong Fangzhuo would send out invitations, inviting the major noble families in Yanjing to gather together, enjoy the plum blossoms, drink wine, and compose poems.
By this time, quite a few guests had already arrived at the Plum Blossom Villa. It was a rare opportunity for the male guests and female relatives to have fun together. The whole villa was filled with the sounds of singing and laughter.
Dong Yurong was surrounded by a group of noble ladies chatting.
"I heard that the Prince of Yan will come to the banquet today, Miss Dong. Is the good news between the Dong family and the Song family about to come?"
A noble lady leaned in, her eyes shining with curiosity and envy.
Throughout the Yan region, there were very few women who could match the status of the Prince of Yan, Song Yinghuai.
Even in the whole Doye Kingdom, there were only a few women who could be worthy of the Prince of Yan.
Since Song Yinghuai had lived in his fief for six years, he had never accepted any banquet invitations. Only this time, it was said that he had agreed.
As soon as this news came out, all the noble families in Yanjing were in a frenzy. They tried every means to get an invitation from the Dong family to catch a glimpse of the most powerful prince in their fief.
Especially those unmarried noble ladies, their thoughts were even more complicated.
Did the Prince of Yan's acceptance of the invitation mean that he was ready to re - enter the world of love?
Should the Yan Prince's Mansion start to choose a princess?
Even if the main princess was from the Dong family, there were still side princesses and concubines!
Dong Yurong blushed shyly and gently scolded, "Nonsense. The Prince of Yan is coming to the banquet out of respect for my father's sincere invitations for six years. What does it have to do with me?"
"I think the Prince of Yan is coming for Miss Dong. Otherwise, why didn't he accept the invitation from the Marquis of Yongle for a gathering around the stove? I heard that the eldest daughter of the Shen family, the County Princess Anchang, also wanted to marry the Prince of Yan."
Dong Yurong's four older sisters were all married. Song Yinghuai didn't accept the invitation from the Shen family but came to the Dong family. The meaning was self - evident.
Dong Yurong was secretly delighted.
Actually, she had been a bit anxious these days.
She had gone to the Yan Prince's Mansion for half a month, but she hadn't even seen Song Yinghuai. Every day, she and Jiang Jinyue were competing in front of Princess Yao to be the filial and obedient daughter - in - law.
She was almost sick of seeing Princess Yao's old face.
According to her temper as a young lady, she had smashed a lot of precious porcelain and antiques at home. Just when she was almost at her wit's end, her father had brought her a great piece of news -
For this year's Plum Blossom Banquet, Song Yinghuai had actually agreed immediately!
Of course, she knew that Song Yinghuai wasn't coming to the Plum Blossom Banquet because of her.
But it didn't matter. As long as the others in Yanjing thought so!
As for Song Yinghuai himself... she was determined to win him over today!
Jiang Jinyue was also mingling among the noble ladies. When some people who were curious about the Yan Prince's Mansion saw her, they couldn't help but ask about Song Yinghuai's preferences:
"Miss Jiang, you're the Prince of Yan's cousin. You must be very familiar with each other. Do you know what kind of girls the Prince of Yan likes?"
"Does he like innocent and lovely girls, or charming and beautiful ones? Does he like girls who are proficient in the six arts, or heroic girls who are good at archery and horse - riding?"
Jiang Jinyue's head was about to explode.
She hadn't expected that Caiyu hadn't been gotten rid of, and instead, she had attracted a Dong Yurong...
She was annoyed by these questions but couldn't show her dissatisfaction. She had to force a smile and say:
"I haven't seen my cousin for seven years, so I don't know what kind of girls he likes. However..."
She paused for a moment, her deep and bright eyes flickering with a mysterious light, as if uncertain.
"I saw that my cousin treated his personal maid, Caiyu, differently. I think he might like girls like her..."
Her eyes subtly shifted towards Dong Yurong.
The latter could hardly maintain the smile on her face.
She also thought that Song Yinghuai treated Caiyu differently, so that's why she had invited Caiyu to the banquet today.
Today, she not only wanted to win over Song Yinghuai but also get rid of Caiyu, the most threatening rival, once and for all!
When everyone heard that there was such a maid beside Song Yinghuai, they were both curious and jealous. They couldn't wait to see Song Yinghuai and the strange girl who could attract the Prince of Yan.
At this moment, a loud announcement came from afar:
"His Royal Highness, the Prince of Yan, has arrived!"
He's here?
For a moment, everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
They saw a man striding towards them from afar. From a distance, he was tall and upright, with a graceful and handsome appearance.
Under his dark - blue fox fur cloak was a delicate plain brocade robe. A string of beads as pale as gold was faintly visible at his collar. A golden brocade belt with a unicorn pattern around his waist accentuated his narrow waist. On his head was a simple white jade crown with a vine pattern. His face was as white as jade, his black eyebrows were like swords, and his noble aura was overwhelming.
As he got closer, his extremely deep black eyes were filled with an unfathomable glint. His unparalleled handsomeness was tinged with a mysterious charm.
So this was the rarely - seen Prince of Yan, Song Yinghuai!
Those noble ladies who rarely left their homes had never had the chance to see such a stunning man.
Immediately, they blushed and their hearts raced. Their hearts were filled with longing and they began to daydream.
But in the next moment, their attention was attracted by the woman closely following behind Song Yinghuai!