Dong Fangzhuo had a good plan. Song Yinghuai was about to be affected by the drug. With Dong Yurong by his side, such a proactive beauty, not only Song Yinghuai but even the Buddha would be tempted!
However, Song Yinghuai refused, saying, "No need. I feel a bit stuffy. I'd like to go out alone to get some fresh air."
Dong Fangzhuo didn't insist. He just stared deeply at Song Yinghuai's straight back as he walked away.
It didn't matter. Just because Song Yinghuai didn't want company didn't mean Dong Yurong wouldn't follow him.
He winked at the female guests' seats. Dong Yurong was overjoyed at the sight. She quickly got up and chased after Song Yinghuai.
Master Guangzhi said, "Amitabha. I've drunk too much tea. I need to go relieve myself."
After saying that, he also got up and left his seat.
When Caiyu saw Dong Yurong leave, she quickly got up and left as well.
However, just as she stood up, Ping'er came towards her with a wine cup in hand and bumped into her.
The wine spilled all over the front of her clothes.
"Oops! I'm so sorry, Miss Caiyu!" Ping'er exclaimed regretfully. "I was wrong that day at the Great Beneficence Temple. But now that the two families are on good terms, we may work for the same master in the future. I came to offer you a drink as an apology, but I accidentally bumped into you and soiled your clothes. This..."
"It's okay." Caiyu was eager to chase after someone and had no intention of getting entangled with Ping'er. She tried to bypass her and leave.
At this moment, Song Yinghuai's figure was barely visible. In such a vast plum forest and mountain area, once a figure disappeared, it would be very difficult to find the person.
She couldn't just let Dong Yurong succeed, could she?
But Ping'er blocked her way and refused to leave. "Miss Caiyu, let me take you downstairs to change your clothes."
"No need." Caiyu refused harshly and took a step to leave.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Jinyue said coldly, "Caiyu! How are you handling things? The maids in my cousin's mansion are so ill - mannered. You don't take others' toasts seriously, and you also refuse when someone invites you to change your clothes. People who don't know might think you're the mistress of the Yanwang Mansion!"
She didn't know that Dong Yurong was going to make a move on Song Yinghuai today, but Dong Yurong had discussed with her to cooperate and make a move on Caiyu.
So when Ping'er's invitation was of no use, she immediately spoke up, putting pressure on Caiyu as a half - mistress:
"Hurry up and change your clothes. It's so improper to walk around with such a large wet patch on your chest!"
"Miss Cousin!" Caiyu still wanted to say something, but during this back - and - forth exchange, Song Yinghuai had disappeared.
She immediately felt deflated. It would be difficult to find Song Yinghuai for a while!
However, she believed in Song Yinghuai's self - control. He wouldn't lose his mind for a while. Even when facing Dong Yurong, Song Yinghuai wouldn't be so desperate.
Helplessly, she could only reply, "This servant obeys."
—
Thick snow hung on the strong branches of the plum trees. The red flowers, brown branches, and white snow made a beautiful picture.
As soon as Song Yinghuai entered the plum forest, he noticed someone following him.
He glanced sideways and saw a corner of a bright red skirt with floral patterns.
It was exactly the dress Dong Yurong was wearing just now.
A drop of sweat ran down his forehead, and his eyes were cold.
This aphrodisiac was stronger than he expected. His internal strength couldn't suppress it.
The top priority now was to get rid of Dong Yurong first and then meet up with Master Guangzhi.
He quickened his pace and leaped a few times in the plum forest.
The heavy snow was falling like a thick fog, and the red plum petals were fluttering. In his eyes, it even seemed a bit lustful. He took a deep breath and forced down the desire churning in his lower abdomen, then walked towards a secluded place.
Dong Yurong, who was following in the dark, was stunned.
She didn't expect Song Yinghuai to disappear in front of her for no reason. She was just a weak woman. How could she have thought of this?
In a fit of anger, she shouted at the Dong family's secret guards hidden in the plum forest:
"Are you all dead! Hurry up and find the person for this young lady!"
Suddenly, clusters of snow fell, and the branches of the plum trees made a series of continuous, soft and dull breaking sounds.
—
"Miss Caiyu, please." Ping'er led Caiyu through a winding path to a secluded warm pavilion. "You can rest here for a while. I'll go get some clothes for you to change into."
After saying that, Ping'er wanted to leave on her own, but Caiyu always felt something was wrong.
Ping'er said she would take her to her own room to change clothes, but this room was clearly a secluded and long - unoccupied warm pavilion.
There was no one around. It didn't look like a maid's room at all.
Her natural vigilance made Caiyu suddenly stand up and also prepare to leave.
Seeing this, Ping'er actually turned back and followed Caiyu step by step:
"Where are you going? It's snowing heavily outside, and it's freezing cold. You'd better just stay here!"
Caiyu said, "I feel a bit stuffy in this warm pavilion. I'd like to go out and get some fresh air."
"Stuffy?" A concerned look appeared on Ping'er's face. "Then let me help you lie down on the couch. I'll take off your outer clothes for you to get some air."
In just a few words, Caiyu really felt stuffy.
Not only was her body getting hot and her breathing rapid, but she also thought Ping'er's over - attentive behavior was extremely strange.
Her mind suddenly became alert.
This feeling... was so similar to the reaction she had last time when Song Yinghuai forced her to drink the "tonic" soup!
A sense of fear instantly welled up in her heart.
She thought that Dong Yurong's invitation to the plum - viewing banquet was just to embarrass her, so she only focused on Dong Yurong's plan to make a move on Song Yinghuai.
She didn't expect that Dong Yurong, who had only met her once and had no deep - seated hatred, would actually plot against her like this!
Seeing that Ping'er actually reached out to take off her clothes and shoes, Caiyu resolutely refused:
"No. I'll just go out and get some fresh air. You just go and get the clothes back quickly."
After saying that, she continued to walk outside the room.
Unexpectedly, Ping'er's face changed slightly, and she blocked her way. "Where do you think you're going? I've said it's windy and snowy outside!"
Anyone would be able to sense something was wrong when someone directly blocked the way.
Coupled with the familiar feeling of heat in her body, Caiyu guessed that there must be some aphrodisiac incense burning in this room.
She secretly gritted her teeth, and a cold light flashed in her eyes. "Get out of the way!"
Her eyes suddenly became extremely cold, clear as autumn water and cold as black ice. The cold killing intent was actually the same as Song Yinghuai's.
Ping'er was so scared that her legs went weak. "You... You... I can't get out of the way..."
Before she could finish speaking, Caiyu suddenly raised her arm. In the blink of an eye, she pulled out the silver plum hairpin with a sharp and glinting tip from her hair bun and mercilessly swiped it across Ping'er's throat!
Ping'er was completely unprepared. She only felt a flash of silver light in front of her eyes, and a trace of warmth flowed out of her throat.
She touched it blankly, looked down at the bright red on her palm, and her pupils suddenly dilated. "You..."
Then her eyes closed, and she fell to the ground softly.
Caiyu was a bit at a loss.
She didn't know if she had killed Ping'er with that swipe.
But she was just a maid. She didn't dare to commit a murder casually.
Her scalp went numb, and she instantly lost all her strength. Even the arm holding the silver hairpin was shaking.
Looking at Ping'er lying motionless on the ground, Caiyu gasped for breath. Her mind was quickly thinking about how to explain Ping'er's situation if she ran out.
The Dong family was powerful. Dong Yurong had the intention of plotting against her. She would never give her a chance to defend herself.
Just when she was at a loss, the window of the warm pavilion made a soft sound and was pushed open from the outside.
Caiyu was startled. She quickly tightened her grip on the hairpin and stared at the movement of the window.
A tall and slender figure jumped in from the outside.
This scene was so familiar to Caiyu. Wasn't it the same when they first met?
After all the twists and turns, the two of them had actually returned to their past path.
As soon as Song Yinghuai jumped into the warm pavilion, he noticed that there was someone in the room.
He glanced coldly and met the eyes of the person in the room. Then he was also stunned.