In the courtyard on the top of Merlin Villa, the perennial snow had dyed the winding wooden railings a bone - chilling white. There were long corridors, old verandas, red tiles and grey walls.
Scattered plum trees were inlaid in the boundless expanse of white. The lush pale - yellow flower buds on the treetops added a touch of vitality to the whole world.
Caiyu looked in the direction of the sound. Vaguely, there were two figures conversing at the end of the long corridor. It seemed they were talking about the "Prince".
In the entire Yanjing, there were quite a number of marquises and earls, but there was only one prince, Song Yinghuai. Caiyu immediately became vigilant.
She tiptoed closer. The voices became clear. It was a maid talking to a man dressed as a servant.
Cuihuan took a small paper package from the servant.
The man said, "This aphrodisiac, Huanling Powder, is extremely rare. I asked a martial - artist to obtain it from an important figure of the Hehuan Sect. When mixed in tea, it's colorless and odorless. Even those with high internal strength won't be able to detect it."
"Once one is drugged, even the Eighteen Arhats and Buddha Sakyamuni would be tempted into the mortal world."
Cuihuan said delightedly, "That's great. This is exactly the kind of drug Miss wants. Once the Prince of Yan drinks it, he will surely spend the night with Miss today. By then, he won't have a choice but to marry Miss."
Caiyu suddenly understood.
So Dong Yurong had such thoughts about Song Yinghuai today!
Caiyu watched as Cuihuan poured the powder into the teapot on the stone table beside her. She intended to inform Song Yinghuai.
But as she lifted her foot, she suddenly changed her mind.
Rarely did someone dare to take the risk of beheading to drug Song Yinghuai with a real aphrodisiac, a first - rate one in the martial world. Such a great opportunity, she couldn't let it slip.
She just needed to keep an eye on Song Yinghuai's behavior, then intercept him halfway and lead him to another room...
Once Caiyu made up her mind, she immediately pretended to be deaf and dumb and watched Cuihuan's back leave. She followed closely behind until the place where the men's and women's seats were separated, then she returned to the women's seating area.
Dong Yurong had changed into a new vermilion embroidered shawl. Even the eye - catching six - phoenix hairpin on her head had been replaced with an auspicious hairpin.
She seemed a bit anxious at the moment. She didn't even have the mood to tease Caiyu. She kept looking towards the men's seating area. When Guan Ning talked to her, she just responded absent - mindedly.
Caiyu's eyes flickered slightly. She knew exactly what Dong Yurong was up to. She also needed to keep an eye on the men's seating area!
Song Yinghuai was sitting upright at the head of the men's seating area. Countless veiled looks were cast at him from the women's seating area.
He was always vigilant and could detect all the looks directed at him, but he just didn't bother to respond.
However, he suddenly felt two intense looks that were impossible to ignore. The burning feeling was almost enough to pierce through his body.
He couldn't help but frown slightly. He picked up the teacup in his hand, and as he raised his eyes slightly, his fingers holding the cup paused.
He saw that the two burning looks were from Dong Yurong and unexpectedly -
Caiyu?
Song Yinghuai was well - aware of Dong Yurong's feelings for him. Just now, Dong Fangzhuo sitting beside him had hinted at it several times.
But why was Caiyu looking at him so intently at this moment?
Based on his understanding of Caiyu, whenever this girl stared at him with determination, she was always up to something.
Song Yinghuai sipped the famous tea calmly. The gentle voice of the maid came to his ear:
"Your Highness, the teacup is empty. Let this maid refill it for you."
Cuihuan brought a newly brewed cup of Queshe tea and refilled Song Yinghuai's cup, then respectfully stepped back.
"Your Highness, this Queshe Huangyang tea from Guizhou is a top - grade new product this year. It was a gift from the Prince of Runan. It's extremely precious. I usually don't even dare to take it out for tea - tasting."
Seeing that Song Yinghuai didn't drink for a long time and receiving Dong Yurong's anxious look, Dong Fangzhuo said with a smile:
"I specifically saved it for Your Highness to taste. Let's see how this tea shaped like a sparrow's tongue tastes."
Song Yinghuai withdrew his scrutinizing look and lowered his head to smell the tea.
He had to admit that the tea Dong Fangzhuo took out was really good.
The tea soup was clear, the aroma was high - pitched, and the tea fragrance was pure.
Taking a small sip, he felt the taste was mellow, fresh and sweet, with a long aftertaste.
"Good tea." Song Yinghuai gave a brief comment and said no more.
The next moment, he felt that the two looks from the women's seating area were almost burning through his body.
He tightened his grip on the teacup, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
This tea...
Seemed to be all right.
But there was obviously no reason for Dong Yurong to stare at him like this for no reason.
A bad thought quietly arose in Song Yinghuai's mind.
Dong Fangzhuo didn't mind Song Yinghuai's brief comment at all. It seemed that with the words "good tea", he was already satisfied. He burst out laughing:
"One flower, one leaf, one world; one tea, one thought, one peaceful mind. I've heard that Your Highness cultivates Buddhism and loves tea. Coincidentally, I've always followed Your Highness's example and also love Buddhism and tea. I just don't know what the relationship between Buddhism and tea is?"
Dong Fangzhuo was stalling for time and also urging Song Yinghuai to finish the tea in his hand.
You should know that the man in front of him was the famous God of War in Daye. He was extremely determined and had practiced Buddhism for six years. One cup of tea was not enough to make him lose his composure.
Song Yinghuai concealed the dark light in his eyes and calmly continued to drink slowly. He replied slowly:
"Tea can also lead to enlightenment."
"It is said that after Bodhidharma meditated for nine years, he couldn't open his eyelids when he left the cave. So he tore them off and threw them on the ground. Then a dwarf tree grew. His disciples picked the leaves from the tree and brewed them into tea. They unexpectedly found that this tea was extremely miraculous. It could keep those in meditation clear - minded and conscious, enabling them to understand the true meaning of Buddhism more thoroughly."
"This is the origin of 'Zen and tea are one'."
"Life is transient, but the fragrance of tea lingers. Half of it is the fragrance of tea, half of it is time. It has a quiet and powerful force."
Song Yinghuai felt a sudden flame rising in his lower abdomen, and his body temperature was constantly rising.
The five fingers holding the wine cup tightened slightly. He closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them the next moment, his eyes were bone - chillingly cold. Everyone present suddenly felt an inexplicable chill all over their bodies.
It was an icy chill that couldn't be concealed even by his scorching body at the moment.
Dong Fangzhuo stared at Song Yinghuai. Seeing that he remained calm, he couldn't be sure when the drug would take effect. So he wanted to say something else.
But Song Yinghuai put down the teacup and said, "Master Guangzhi, among Buddhist disciples, when drinking tea, they should remain silent, be calm and at peace, be focused and gain wisdom, and then gain enlightenment. Is there such a saying?"
How dare they use such despicable means on him!
Song Yinghuai couldn't suppress his killing intent at the moment.
That Dong Yurong was just fine, but Caiyu...
Judging from that girl's expression, she must have learned from somewhere that Dong Yurong was going to plot against him. But instead of warning him, she chose to watch from the sidelines.
Maybe... she was even planning to intercept him halfway?
Dong Fangzhuo was abruptly interrupted. He had no choice but to shut up uninterestingly, and a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.
In recent years, the emperor had been obsessed with the art of longevity in Taoism, and gradually handed over the affairs of the court to the crown prince.
However, Concubine Dong was on bad terms with the queen, the crown prince's mother. He couldn't rely on the crown prince, so he had to choose Song Yinghuai, the Prince of Yan.
If the emperor were still in his prime, he wouldn't bother to deal with Song Yinghuai!
In the current situation, he could only join hands with Song Yinghuai first, bring down the crown prince, and then plan for the future!
Master Guangzhi, who had been sitting on the other side of Song Yinghuai, recited a Buddhist mantra when asked:
"Amitabha!"
"Your Highness is quite right. Life is like tea. When it floats, be calm; when it sinks, be indifferent. One should be silent and savor it carefully!"
Song Yinghuai propped his head up with one hand, curved his eyes, half - closed them, allowing his cheeks to turn red and take on a charming look:
"Master's words are excellent. I've benefited a lot. But just drinking tea seems a bit monotonous. When will the plum - viewing start?"
Seeing that Song Yinghuai was finally affected by the drug, Dong Fangzhuo couldn't help but be overjoyed:
"Soon! If Your Highness feels bored here, how about I ask my daughter to accompany Your Highness down to enjoy the scenery first?"