"Your Highness, the Prince of Yan!"
"Song Yinghuai!"
Caiyu had never been so eager to rush into that man's arms!
She had even started running forward when a cold dagger blade was placed against her neck.
A sharp pain shot through her delicate skin, forcing Caiyu to stop instinctively.
"Don't move," Dong Yurong hissed, tugging hard at her arm and ducking under the incense table amidst the chaotic crowd. Her voice was laced with panic. "The dagger is smeared with a deadly poison. If you don't want to die, stay still!"
Caiyu, who had wanted to shout out regardless, swallowed back all her cries for help after hearing the threat. Reluctantly, she rolled under the table with Dong Yurong.
Dong Yurong held the dagger steadily against Caiyu's neck.
A gentle breeze blew aside a corner of the curtain. Through the light and shadow, Caiyu saw a tall figure at the grand entrance of the Golden Phoenix Tower, striding in against the light with steady steps.
The man was dressed in a black fox cloak, a stark contrast to his usual elegant and ethereal appearance. His long hair, usually neatly tied up, was slightly covered by a few strands of fringe. The corners of his eyes were slightly raised, and his gaze was sharp and cold, like a leopard hunting in the dark night.
Dong Yurong's hand trembled slightly. Her eyes revealed an uncontrollable excitement, as if countless intense and complex emotions were swirling within.
She had only fallen in love with him, but he had destroyed her family!
What had she done wrong?
Song Yinghuai remained as lofty and unattainable as ever, yet somehow different.
Yes, there was a hint of weariness on his handsome face, bringing his perfect, otherworldly appearance down to earth.
As the man's steps drew closer, Caiyu could only hear her heart pounding wildly.
"Song Yinghuai!"
"Song Yinghuai!"
She had never been so eager to see this man as she was at this moment, like a drowning person in the vast ocean suddenly spotting a lifeboat.
It was at this moment that Caiyu suddenly realized that when in danger, the first person she thought of to save her was Song Yinghuai.
There was no one else in this world who could save her, was there?
Tears welled up in Caiyu's eyes, making them ache. Unfortunately, she couldn't cry out for help now.
Song Yinghuai approached and stood right in front of her, only an arm's length away.
Caiyu could only see his python boots embroidered with gold thread swaying in front of her and hear his voice above her.
"What are you doing?" Song Yinghuai stroked the Buddhist beads on his wrist and stared at the knife in the hand of the leader of the thugs from the Golden Phoenix Tower.
Facing Song Yinghuai's cold eyes, Zhang Yao, the leader of the thugs, felt his legs go weak and his back break out in a cold sweat. He forced himself to calm down and replied,
"R-Reporting to Your Highness, this humble one is a thug here. Just now, a girl escaped from the Golden Phoenix Tower. This humble one... led people to chase after her..."
"Oh?" Song Yinghuai's sharp gaze turned to Zhang Yao, as if scrutinizing something. "When did she escape? Did you catch her?"
"J-Just as Your Highness arrived. We haven't caught her yet..."
Song Yinghuai curled his lips into a smile. There was a hint of weariness on his face, but it couldn't hide his cold and piercing gaze that seemed to see into the depths of people's hearts.
"I didn't see any escaping girl on my way here. Can the girl you mentioned fly over walls?"
Zhang Yao felt a tingling sensation on his scalp and a chill ran down his spine. He secretly cursed his bad luck. "This humble one doesn't know why we didn't run into her. If Your Highness happens to see her, it would be a great help to this humble one."
Song Yinghuai didn't respond to him. Instead, he slowly scanned the Golden Phoenix Tower with his eyes.
This was the last city in Yanjing that hadn't been searched yet.
He had to admit that in the past five days, every time he closed his eyes, Caiyu's face would appear in front of him.
Her face covered in blood, crying out to him, "Your Highness! Save this humble maid... save me!"
The shocking red snow in the alley seemed to be engraved on his heart.
Based on his usual calm analysis, he was 80% sure that Caiyu was still alive.
But he just couldn't sleep peacefully or meditate calmly.
He could only search day and night.
Others saw him as calm as ever, but only he knew how angry he was inside.
Big drops of sweat silently rolled down Zhang Yao's back. He followed Song Yinghuai's steps closely and forced a smile.
"It's a rare honor for Your Highness to visit this small town of Fengxian. May I ask if Your Highness is here on official business or for some entertainment?"
Song Yinghuai fixed his gaze on him. "These days, the main city of Yanjing and its eighteen affiliated cities have been searching for the remnants of the Dong family. Everyone in the city knows about it. Why don't you?"
Zhang Yao wished he could slap himself in the face for his stupid mouth!
"This humble one spoke out of turn. Your Highness has always been dedicated to the country and the people. Naturally, you are here on official business! This humble one's stupid mouth deserves to be beaten!"
"This humble one is just used to talking nonsense. I didn't think before I spoke. I hope Your Highness will forgive me..."
Zhang Yao bowed and scraped to apologize. "Your Highness, this Golden Phoenix Tower has always abided by the law. All the people here are registered with the government. They are all honest people from Yandi. The remnants of the Dong family couldn't possibly be here!"
"If they dare to show up here, this humble one and the others will capture them immediately and present them to Your Highness!"
Zhang Yao rambled on, hoping that Song Yinghuai would leave soon.
"What's your position in the Golden Phoenix Tower?" Song Yinghuai changed the subject.
Not only did he change the subject, but he also sat down on a chair, looking quite interested.
His boots were not far in front of Caiyu's fingers.
Caiyu's heart was pounding wildly. Her slender fingers curled and slowly moved forward bit by bit.
She only hoped to touch the surface of Song Yinghuai's boots.
But Dong Yurong was extremely tense at this moment, her attention highly focused on Caiyu. She immediately noticed Caiyu's small movement.
She pressed the dagger on Caiyu's neck slightly harder, almost cutting into her skin.
Caiyu's fingers stopped halfway and couldn't move any further.
Zhang Yao replied bravely, "This humble one is the leader of the thugs here."
"What's the name of the top courtesan in the Golden Phoenix Tower?" Song Yinghuai unconsciously stroked the Buddhist beads again, his expression inscrutable.
With Caiyu's beauty, hiding her in the countryside and dressing her up as a peasant woman would be too eye - catching.
But brothels were a chaotic place full of beautiful women, which would be a good hiding place.
"Her name is Taohong..."
Song Yinghuai seemed to have changed his mind suddenly and became interested in the brothel girls. "Call her here to serve me."
Zhang Yao's face turned ashen. He was in a dilemma.
The prostitutes in the Golden Phoenix Tower knew nothing about what their masters were doing. With Song Yinghuai's sharp insight, wouldn't Taohong be easily tricked into revealing something?
Zhang Yao stammered, "Taohong... Taohong is not feeling well. She may not be convenient to serve Your Highness..."
"It doesn't matter," Song Yinghuai said firmly. "Call her here."
The more Zhang Yao tried to evade, the more suspicious Song Yinghuai became.
Since he entered the door, the owner of the Golden Phoenix Tower hadn't shown up. A thug leader was here pestering him, and there were so many loopholes in his words.
Song Yinghuai could almost be sure that even if Caiyu wasn't here, there must be other shady things going on!
Zhang Yao had no choice but to wave for Taohong to come forward.
Taohong had been completely captivated by Song Yinghuai since he entered the door. Now, as she walked forward, her heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat. Her cheeks were flushed.
Song Yinghuai's gaze was like a torch as he sized her up. He asked casually, "You're truly beautiful. No wonder you're the top courtesan. I wonder how the escaped girl compares to you?"
At this moment, he suspected that the escaped girl Zhang Yao mentioned was Caiyu.
Taohong immediately remembered the amazing glimpse of Caiyu just now. Her eyes couldn't help but glance under the table. Jealously, she said,
"What's she? I'm much better at serving men than she is!"