Caiyu dragged her long blade and sprinted frantically into the dark alley.
The way back to the Prince Yan's Mansion ahead was blocked by the black - clad men. To the left and right, after crossing a few streets, there were civilian houses.
However, with such a group of ruthless killers, if she ran towards the civilian houses, it would only bring doom to the innocent.
She had no choice but to run backward, towards the way to meet up with Nanny Yu's people!
The wind on this wintry night in the twelfth lunar month was bone - chilling, mixed with a thick stench of blood, lashing at Caiyu's face.
Her face was as pale as paper. Her eyes were bloodshot. She gasped for breath, desperately holding back her sobs.
Her hand gripping the long blade trembled nervously. There were large patches of blood on her face, which had dried up after being blown by the wind.
Her mind was a blur of confusion. Tears and blood blurred her vision, making it hard for her to see the road ahead.
There were shouts in her ears, and the sound of footsteps was getting closer.
A dozen or so black shadows gathered on the long street, blocking all the intersections. Caiyu suddenly stopped running. The white mist from her heavy breathing billowed in front of her eyes. She felt as if the earth was shaking, and an empty sense of fear enveloped her.
She wiped away the tears and blood that obscured her vision and watched as the black - clad men lunged at her viciously...
...
When Han Fen returned to the kitchen, the offering ceremony hadn't started yet. Zhu Xiao was still circling around the offering trays, and from time to time, he would take a sip of the sacrificial wine poured by the servants.
Han Fen couldn't help complaining, "General Zhu, you're the first person in history to compete with the Kitchen God for food."
Zhu Xiao saw him go out with a bag of maltose candy for the Kitchen God and come back empty - handed. He sneered, "You're the first person in history to use the Kitchen God's maltose candy to court a beauty."
"You..." Han Fen blushed. Knowing he couldn't out - argue Zhu Xiao, he simply stopped talking and only asked, "Where's the prince?"
Zhu Xiao pointed to the inner room. "There's the smell of wine outside. He refused to sit with me. He insisted on going inside to meditate and chant scriptures until the right time."
Han Fen hesitated for a moment, then took out a paper - cut figurine from his sleeve and waved to Zhu Xiao.
Zhu Xiao put down his wine cup and leaned over.
Han Fen unfolded the small red paper figurine in his hand and whispered, "See? This is the paper - cut figurine of the prince cut by Miss Caiyu!"
Zhu Xiao's eyes lit up. He immediately snatched it and looked at it from all angles, beaming with joy. "Haha! Haha! That girl has a crush on the prince! I've always said that our prince is a celestial being. As long as he treats people kindly, which woman wouldn't be attracted to him..."
"Stop looking! The paper - cut is fragile!" Han Fen was anxious to see Zhu Xiao so carried away. He reached out to grab it. "Give it back quickly! I'm taking it to the prince!"
Zhu Xiao was in a playful mood. He held the paper figurine high and used his light - body technique to jump onto the roof beam. "Prince, come out quickly! A girl has sent you a gift!"
The door of the inner room burst open, and Song Yinghuai's tall and slender figure appeared at the door.
He was dressed in a long bamboo - green robe, with light - gold tassels elegantly outlining two flowing clouds on the cuffs.
His tall figure stood in the cold wind. His long and slender fingers shot a Buddhist bead towards Zhu Xiao on the roof beam.
Zhu Xiao, who was usually very agile, failed to dodge in time. He let out a cry and fell from the roof beam!
"Boom!" There was a loud noise.
Zhu Xiao's bulky body crashed heavily to the ground.
A puff of dust rose, and a small red paper figurine fluttered in the air, then gently landed in Song Yinghuai's hand.
Song Yinghuai looked at the small figurine in his palm.
It was cut with a handsome face, distinct features, and delicate eyebrows and eyes.
From this paper figurine, one could tell that the person who cut it was skillful and dedicated.
A faint smile curved Song Yinghuai's cold lips. He seemed to see the girl who had huddled with the other maids in the out - building last night, cutting paper by candlelight.
Cut paper to give to loved ones, silver hairpins adorned with phoenixes. Leaves emerge from the golden scissors, flowers are new under the jade fingers.
Zhu Xiao got up from the ground, craned his neck to look at it for a while, and asked, "This paper figurine... looks just like the prince, but the eyes... are cut a bit too wide open. The prince's peach - blossom eyes are clearly full of affection. How could they be so cold and wrathful?"
He patted Song Yinghuai on the shoulder. "So you're so fierce in her heart!"
Song Yinghuai put the small paper figurine into his sleeve and said calmly, "The wrathful Vajra subdues the four demons, while the compassionate Bodhisattva shows mercy to all sentient beings."
Zhu Xiao was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "So that's the reason! That girl has a different perspective from others. Everyone says that the prince is compassionate as a Buddhist, but they don't know that your lifelong ambition is not to save all sentient beings, but to kill all evil demons and heretics!"
"Only this girl understands you!"
Song Yinghuai rubbed the Vajra Bodhi Buddhist beads on his wrist and asked, "Where is she?"
Han Fen said, "Xiang Ye said that Miss Caiyu went out early this morning to the shop to check the accounts and distribute the silver."
Zhu Xiao looked at the sky. "It's already the Xushi hour. She should have been back long ago, right?"
On normal days, Caiyu would only need one day to go out to check the accounts and would return before the Youshi hour. She would stop by the small kitchen to see the meals prepared by Xiang Ye and the others.
Now it was already a quarter past the Xushi hour, and it had been night for a long time. It was two or three hours later than her normal return time. But today, everyone in the mansion was busy cutting window - decorations and doing spring cleaning.
Everyone knew that Song Yinghuai wouldn't dine in the pavilion today. He would surely accompany the old princess and that cousin. So, no one even bothered to cook in the small kitchen. They just had a few bites casually. Therefore, no one thought it was strange that Caiyu hadn't come back yet.
Even Xiang Ye thought that Caiyu might have just chatted with the shop assistants for too long.
Han Fen was taken aback. "Well... I just went to the Lianyin Pavilion. She still hasn't come back. Maybe she saw something interesting on the street and got delayed."
Zhu Xiao frowned. "After the prince offers sacrifices to the Kitchen God, someone needs to serve him in the Lianyin Pavilion for the night. It's the Little New Year today. There aren't many people on the street, and few shops are open. There's no way she could be delayed by something interesting. Even the usually congested Fucheng Street can't be blocked. What could have delayed her?"
Zhu Xiao's words cast a shadow over them, shattering the previous tranquility and harmony.
Song Yinghuai pondered for a moment. "Recently, the remnants of Dong Fangzhuo have been causing chaos in Yanjing. The magistrate of Yanjing has been ineffective in his investigation and hasn't been able to catch the culprits for many days."
The magistrate of Yanjing, Guan Baishan, used to be one of Dong Fangzhuo's men. He switched sides and defected to Song Yinghuai when he saw which way the wind was blowing.
Han Fen was shocked. "Your Highness, this subordinate will immediately send someone to meet up with Miss Caiyu!"
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the door.
Jiang Jinyue supported Concubine Yao and walked in. She smiled and said, "Cousin, Aunt said that the time is almost up. She wants to guard the offering ceremony outside!"
Jiang Jinyue looked at Song Yinghuai nervously.
Everyone was extremely busy today, and no one should have noticed the maids in the Lianyin Pavilion. But by chance, Han Fen went back to the Lianyin Pavilion. Zui'er, who had been keeping an eye on this, quickly reported it to Jiang Jinyue.
Jiang Jinyue was afraid that something might go wrong, so she quickly brought Concubine Yao here.
Men don't worship the Moon, and women don't offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God.
Concubine Yao didn't plan to come at first, but Jiang Jinyue said that she wanted to see the differences between the offering ceremonies in Yandi and Jiaodong, so she came along.
Concubine Yao said, "You just go ahead and kneel to offer sacrifices. We'll just stand outside the offering table and watch the fun."
Song Yinghuai paused for a moment. His pupils looking at Jiang Jinyue were cold, as if he could see through everything.
Jiang Jinyue unconsciously tightened her grip on Concubine Yao's arm and forced a smile. "Cousin, the time is up."
The hourglass stopped at a quarter past the Haishi hour.
In the end, Song Yinghuai averted his eyes and simply replied. He strode towards the offering table, took the three incense sticks, and bowed to the statue.
"Namah Kitchen God Bodhisattva. Three incense sticks, a cup of green tea, and some candies are offered. May you report good deeds in Heaven and protect peace on Earth. Song Yinghuai, the Lord of Yanjing, with the courtesy name Xuanyao, prays that the Bodhisattva will always protect the peace of my family, ensure safe travels, and protect the people of Yandi to have a peaceful and prosperous year ahead!"
In a flicker of fire, the portrait of the Kitchen God turned into green smoke in the raging flames and slowly rose into the sky.
Song Yinghuai straightened up, turned around, and said seriously to Concubine Yao, "Mother, the remnants of the traitor Dong are causing chaos in the city. I won't accompany you to roast tea around the stove today."