Song Yinghuai remained silent for a long time, his cold eyes fixed intently on the kneeling woman below.
Even he himself couldn't tell whether the emotions welling up inside him were anger or helplessness.
This girl was an excellent liar. It was hard for an ordinary person to tell whether her words were true or false.
But due to various signs, he had already formed his own judgment. Having known Caiyu well, he knew that although she had a fiery temper, she was by no means a trouble - maker.
If she did undermine something, there must be a hidden motive.
Caiyu waited for quite a while but heard no sound above her. Unable to contain her curiosity, she stole a glance upwards and met Song Yinghuai's cold, pitch - black eyes. They were as cold as a deep, frozen pool, sending shivers down her spine. The emotions hidden in the depths of his eyes were unfathomable, making her heart race with unease.
Had she managed to deceive him or not?
Zhu Xiao couldn't stand the strange atmosphere in the room any longer. With Jiang Jinyue standing there like a wooden statue, the situation seemed even weirder. He cleared his throat—
Before he could say a word, Song Yinghuai spoke up calmly, "Get up."
"Your Highness?" Caiyu was stunned. "You... aren't you going to punish this servant?"
Song Yinghuai raised his eyebrows slightly and sized her up. "Where else on your body can withstand a whipping?"
Caiyu's mouth twitched. She lowered her head silently. "It seems... there's nowhere for the time being..."
She wasn't as stupid as Han Fen and the others. When the master offered her a way out, she wouldn't be so foolish as to ask for a beating.
She cherished her life. Even the beating from last night still haunted her.
However, Song Yinghuai continued, "I'll note down the punishment for now. You'll be flogged after your wounds heal."
Caiyu let out a sigh of relief.
It didn't matter if it was noted down. As long as there were no new wounds on top of the old ones for now, she could worry about the future beating later.
Zhu Xiao urged, "The tea in Caiyu's hand is getting cold. Have you warmed it up yet? If it's warm, pour me a cup quickly. I'm dying of thirst!"
Caiyu: …
So they all noticed that she had been secretly warming her hands!
She timidly glanced at Song Yinghuai. Her panicked and apologetic look was enough to melt anyone's heart.
Song Yinghuai turned around and sat back at the table. "Pour the tea."
Caiyu felt a rush of joy. She picked up the teapot and poured tea for the two masters.
Perhaps even she herself didn't realize that as long as Song Yinghuai was around, she could act so recklessly, as if she had committed a murder and could easily brush it off.
Jiang Jinyue stood to the side, feeling that she not only had no status but was even inferior to a servant girl. The anger and frustration in her heart were indescribable.
At this moment, she was extremely nervous and panicked.
She wasn't sure if Song Yinghuai had suspected her.
She was terrified that she would be forced to jump into another lake.
It was better for her to keep a low profile.
Time passed slowly as they sipped their strong tea one cup after another.
Caiyu stole a glance at Song Yinghuai and noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes.
He must have not had a good rest for a long time.
Perhaps due to dealing with the troublesome envoys from the capital, who had already kept him sleepless for days, and then Xiangye's release of the carrier pigeon, which had made him rush back day and night, he looked even more exhausted.
Even so, his sitting posture was as straight as a pine and bamboo, showing no sign of languor.
Putting aside their relationship, Caiyu thought that such a man could surely drive all the women in the world crazy.
When it was deep in the night at the Hour of the Rat, Duoyan Wuliang finally returned.
The news he brought back was far from optimistic.
"The Persian merchant who sold the Half - Moon Poison has disappeared! It is said that he was kidnapped by a group of mysterious people just half an hour before I went to the black market."
"I and my men inquired all around the black market. Currently, only that Persian merchant has the antidote for the Half - Moon Poison. If we want to find the antidote from others, we have to go deep into the Western Regions... But I'm afraid the old princess won't be able to hold on!"
A gloomy atmosphere enveloped the study.
Jiang Jinyue panicked.
Previously, she had been hoping for Concubine Yao's death.
But now she dared not.
After Song Yinghuai had interrogated Zhui'er in Zhaonanxuan, this matter had become intricately linked to her.
Although she had carefully planned for a long time and shifted all the blame onto Zhui'er.
But anyway, as Zhui'er's mistress, she was hard to absolve of the blame.
If Song Yinghuai were to take his anger out on her, just thinking about this man's ruthless methods made her shiver.
"Cousin, Yue'er really didn't know anything! Yue'er didn't know that Zhui'er would do such a thing. What should we do now? Will Auntie die? Yue'er doesn't want Auntie to die..." Jiang Jinyue cried in a panic.
Her chattering and annoying voice echoed in the study like a sparrow's, but it only made her look even more ridiculous.
Zhu Xiao took a big bite of the green bean cake Caiyu had brought. "When the old princess was in a critical condition before, Miss Jiang didn't seem to be this anxious. Now she's really in a hurry."
Jiang Jinyue wiped the real tears from her eyes, completely flustered.
She was really in a hurry now!
If Concubine Yao couldn't be saved, who would plead for her?
Zhu Xiao paced back and forth a couple of times, then looked at Song Yinghuai. "What should we do now? Wuliang, you're so unreliable. You can't even handle a simple task of finding someone. How about I go out and look for them?"
Duoyan Wuliang: …
Song Yinghuai sat at the table, his expression calm. His fingers tapped lightly on the table.
Caiyu had already noticed that this was Song Yinghuai's habit when he was thinking.
"Did you find out where the group of kidnappers came from?"
Duoyan Wuliang replied, "They covered their faces. But according to the Persian merchant's young servant, those people were tall, had accents from the Western Regions, and had a strong smell of blood on them. They seemed like desert bandits."
Caiyu couldn't help but interject, "They can't be desert bandits."
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to her.
Duoyan Wuliang was stunned for a moment and then asked, "Why not?"
Caiyu said, "Biansha is at the border between the two countries. Although it's a place full of all kinds of people, there are often troops from both countries patrolling. Desert bandits are not only wanted criminals in Daye but also in the Western Regions. They are like thorns in the eyes of both countries. Their activity range is at least two hundred miles deep into the desert beyond Biansha. Moreover..."
Caiyu paused for a moment and continued, "If they were desert bandits, how could they just simply cover their faces? It is rumored that they are extremely cruel. They would kill anyone, regardless of age or gender, in their path. But just now, Chief Duoyan said that the Persian merchant's young servant is still alive. So they can't be desert bandits."
Duoyan Wuliang nodded. "I think Miss Caiyu makes a lot of sense. But who on earth are they? Why is it so coincidental that they kidnapped the merchant just when we were about to look for him?"
Caiyu was a bit confused when asked. "I don't know, either. But..."
Her eyes secretly turned to the man sitting at the table.
Maybe he already had a plan.
Song Yinghuai hadn't participated in their discussion. He had been closing his eyes and rubbing the Buddhist beads on his wrist.
His black hair glowed faintly under the lamp. Due to his hasty return, a few strands of hair were scattered on his cold and handsome face.
He heard every word the others said clearly.
The Persian merchant, the smell of blood, the masked Persians.
Who else could be the ones who were now active in Biansha, had such skills, and could kidnap the merchant before him?
A faint, cold smile flashed across Song Yinghuai's lips.
Zhu Xiao couldn't hold back any longer. "Your Highness, should I go out and investigate again? I'm sure I can find out faster than this smelly Duoyan!"
Song Yinghuai opened his eyes and smiled calmly. "No need. They will send the man here."
Everyone:? ?
Song Yinghuai didn't explain further. He just casually picked up a Buddhist scripture from the table and started reading.
Zhu Xiao looked at Caiyu, who shook her head.
Even Caiyu found it hard to fathom Song Yinghuai's thoughts.
It was almost dawn, and Zhu Xiao was getting impatient.
Once dawn broke, Concubine Yao's time was running out, and the envoys from the capital would also enter the mansion.
Chaos, great chaos...
Jiang Jinyue had been standing for a whole night. Coupled with her fear and anxiety, her face was pale, and she was on the verge of fainting.
Caiyu was also starting to lose her composure.
Was it really true that someone would send the Persian merchant here as Song Yinghuai said?