After Song Yinghuai's words fell, the room became extremely gloomy.
Although his words were said casually, everyone keenly sensed that a thick haze shrouded his face. The air around seemed to solidify, making people feel suffocated.
Only Sheng Jiangli seemed to have found something interesting, and the ease on his face grew stronger.
He didn't know Caiyu's background, nor did he know Caiyu's status in Song Yinghuai's heart.
He only thought that now Caiyu was just a maid in the Prince Yan's Mansion. By doing this, he could not only anger Song Yinghuai but also get Caiyu to stay by his side.
It was really killing two birds with one stone.
Suddenly, Jiang Jinyue broke the silence and said to Caiyu, "You should just agree! Aunt's life is at stake. You're just a lowly maid. Besides, if General Sheng takes a fancy to you and makes you a concubine in waiting, it's not asking for your life. What's there to hesitate about..."
"Do you think General Sheng's status is lower than that of my cousin, so you're not willing to agree? My cousin is a noble prince. Even being a concubine in waiting is beyond the reach of a servant girl like you. Why are you so persistent?"
Jiang Jinyue thought she had done a good deed. She had done Sheng Jiangli a favor and also shown her eagerness to save Concubine Yao.
Caiyu looked at Song Yinghuai again, wanting to know his true thoughts.
Meeting Caiyu's gaze, Song Yinghuai gave a gentle smile. The flickering shadows of the fire fell from the wall and danced unsteadily on his face, making it even harder to see his thoughts.
Forget it!
Caiyu suddenly stood up and walked towards Sheng Jiangli.
Everyone in the room suddenly had different expressions!
Jiang Jinyue showed an ecstatic look.
Song Yinghuai's face was as firm as a fortified city wall. His deep eyes stared intently at the enchanting back that resolutely left him and walked towards another man. A playful look flashed in the bottom of his eyes.
He didn't believe that this girl would easily give up her mission.
He wanted to see if Caiyu could deal with Sheng Jiangli.
Zhu Xiao's face changed. "Girl Caiyu! Think it over clearly. Once you leave the prince, you'll never be able to come back!"
Sheng Jiangli looked at the beautiful girl walking towards him, a bright smile appeared on his face. His eyes looking at Song Yinghuai were full of provocation.
So what if he was the Prince Yan?
So what if the Yan Army was brave?
As long as he wanted, Jinshu would be his, and Yanjing would also be his!
Caiyu stopped in front of Sheng Jiangli. She took a deep breath. In Sheng Jiangli's bright smile, she suddenly pulled out a simple and sharp dagger from her sleeve.
The sharp tip of the dagger touched her delicate neck, and a bright red blood bead emerged.
This sudden turn of events made everyone except Song Yinghuai almost pop their eyes out.
Zhu Xiao gasped. "Girl Caiyu..."
The smile on Sheng Jiangli's face disappeared quickly. Worry appeared on his face and he didn't even have time to hide it. "Be careful!"
Jiang Jinyue shouted. "Lan Caiyu! What are you doing?!"
Caiyu held the dagger, with a resolute face, and gave a sad smile to Sheng Jiangli.
"I'm just a lowly maid. I'm the prince's person in life and his ghost in death. If the prince wants to give me away, I dare not disobey. But if I'm allowed to choose, I must be loyal to myself and my master. Now I can only use my humble life to compensate General Sheng."
Sheng Jiangli nervously reached out his hand. "Put the dagger down! Let's talk things over!"
Of course, they had to talk things over.
Caiyu thought: Brother Ali would surely not want her life. She could only use the stratagem of feigning self - injury to force Brother Ali to hand over the Hu merchant and the antidote to Song Yinghuai.
In this way, she could both fulfill her loyalty and solve Song Yinghuai's problem.
A smile slowly appeared on Caiyu's face, like a dying colorful butterfly in winter.
Sheng Jiangli's heart was stabbed hard. Then he heard her gentle voice. "After I die, I only hope that General Sheng, seeing that I've given my life, will exchange the antidote for the prince!"
After saying that, she stabbed the dagger hard at her neck!
Sheng Jiangli's face changed greatly. His handsome face as white as jade lost all its color. He blurted out,
"Wait! I'll exchange for someone else!"
Caiyu's dagger stopped there. A drop of bright red blood flowed down her jade - like neck and wound its way into the collar where it couldn't be seen.
Song Yinghuai's fingertips hidden in his sleeve suddenly curled up. His eyes were dark and fierce.
That blood bead just flowed over the newly - healed scar on her neck, stabbing his eyes painfully.
Sheng Jiangli gritted his teeth tightly. The corners of his eyes were red from being forced. His handsome face was a pale purple color. He clenched his fists tightly, as if a huge fire was spreading in his chest.
He saw a faint look of relief on Caiyu's face and suddenly understood.
His foster sister was really a scheming one!
She was cruel to herself and also to him.
She even used her life to bet on his defeat!
"Is what General Sheng said true?" Caiyu bit her lip and asked uncertainly.
Sheng Jiangli met her sly eyes like a mountain elf. Suddenly, he seemed to be back nine years ago. The cute and mischievous Third Miss Lan came to life in front of him.
Lan Jinshu...
She really hadn't changed at all.
Sheng Jiangli smiled self - deprecatingly and didn't say anything more. He just ordered someone to push the Hu merchant over, and Zhu Xiao grabbed him.
"The antidote for Half - Moon!" Zhu Xiao grabbed the Hu merchant and stared at him menacingly.
The Hu merchant mumbled something and took out a bottle of medicine from his bosom.
Zhu Xiao looked at Song Yinghuai, and the latter nodded slightly.
Zhu Xiao put the medicine in his pocket and went out to the Wanxiang Hall to look for the Great Master Guangzhi.
"Put the dagger down." Sheng Jiangli said to Caiyu.
Now that the antidote had been obtained, Caiyu naturally wouldn't be stubborn anymore. She obediently put down the dagger and turned around to walk gracefully towards Song Yinghuai. "Your Highness."
Her back was resolute when she faced away from Sheng Jiangli, and her expression was full of yearning when she faced Song Yinghuai.
People who didn't know her would really be deceived by her appearance at this moment.
Little liar!
Song Yinghuai sneered coldly in his heart. He reached out his hand and gently stroked the wound on Caiyu's neck in a soothing way. Then the corner of his lips curled up in a cold arc.
"General Sheng, the Buddha said: Desires are boundless, but everything should be done in moderation. One should know when to stop."
Sheng Jiangli's face looked embarrassed. The veins on the back of his hands bulged.
Jiang Jinyue had just let out a sigh of relief and was thinking of saying something to ease the atmosphere. Then she saw the Hu merchant point at her like he had discovered a new continent and said in broken Chinese,
"Oh! Miss Jiang!"
The expression on Jiang Jinyue's face immediately froze. Then panic ran through her limbs. A sense of foreboding hit her heart. "Who are you? I don't know you!"
But the Hu merchant said, "I'm Sailimu! You and your maid came to the black market to buy Half - Moon from me a few days ago. Don't you remember?"
Jiang Jinyue was crazy. "Nonsense! I've never been to the Biansha Black Market! Don't frame me!"
She nervously looked at Song Yinghuai. "Cousin, this man must have been instigated by someone to frame me! Don't believe his words. The Biansha Black Market is 120 li away from the Prince Yan's Mansion. How could I, a well - bred young lady, go to such a place?"
Sheng Jiangli had already regained his nonchalant look. Hearing this, he said "Oh" and asked with a smiling face,
"This Hu merchant was caught by me. If you say someone instigated him to frame you, then it should be me... But I've never met Miss Jiang before. I can't think of a reason for me to frame you."
Jiang Jinyue felt as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a fly. She pointed at Caiyu and stammered in accusation. "You, you did it for her..."
Caiyu said coldly, "Be careful with your words, Miss. I've only met General Sheng for the first time. Although I was sent to the general's room, the general is a gentleman and has never touched me. I have no private relationship with him. Why would he frame you for me?"
Jiang Jinyue couldn't catch her breath. She couldn't argue with Caiyu at all. Then she turned to look at Song Yinghuai and kept shouting for injustice.
"Cousin, Yue'er is wronged..."
But at this moment, Song Yinghuai seemed to be on the same side. He slightly raised his eyebrows and smiled coldly.
"Cousin has only come to Yanjing for the first time in seven years. You claim to be a well - bred young lady, but you know that the Biansha Black Market is 120 li away from the Prince Yan's Mansion. Cousin really has a good memory!"