Song Yinghuai's voice seemed to be squeezed out between his teeth, low and hoarse like the swirling undercurrent at the bottom of a cold lake. It made Caiyu shiver involuntarily.
She hurriedly pushed Sheng Jiangli away and heard the teasing chuckle above her head. A hint of annoyance flashed across her face.
She finally understood that she had fallen into Sheng Jiangli's trick.
It was the same when they were kids. Brother A Li and she had been childhood sweethearts, but he always outwitted her.
This time, she was tricked again.
Caiyu stiffly turned around.
An angry scowl appeared on Song Yinghuai's usually calm face, and several sharp glints flashed in his eyes.
She felt a hidden anger that seemed to swallow them up in an instant.
"My lord," Caiyu quickly summoned all her acting skills the moment she slowly turned around.
When facing Song Yinghuai, her eyes were already filled with mist.
Tears instantly hung on her long eyelashes, making her look as fresh as a lotus emerging from water. The tears seemed reluctant to leave her fair skin and lingered there.
Caiyu let out a sob and pointed at Sheng Jiangli. "My lord, General Sheng threatened and molested this servant. He said if I didn't hug him, he would throw me into the lake. I don't want to die..."
Her shoulders trembled as she let out broken sobs.
So he wants to set a trap... She can do it too.
Song Yinghuai: ...
Song Yinghuai's eyelids twitched slightly. He calmly watched Caiyu's performance, his slender fingers rubbing the Buddhist beads on his wrist.
Although her acting was quite fake, it miraculously dissipated some of his anger.
Sheng Jiangli: ... Goodness, Sister Shu'er is still as fond of setting people up as when she was a kid.
However, when he saw Caiyu's big, innocent eyes blinking, Sheng Jiangli suddenly couldn't deny it.
Well, it's just taking the blame.
Sheng Jiangli cleared his throat and admitted with a nonchalant look on his face.
"Cough! Miss Caiyu is extremely beautiful, shining like spring flowers, and has an innocent and lively personality. I fell in love with her at first sight and couldn't help but tease and hug her... Well, a gentleman is always fond of a fair lady. Your Highness the Prince of Yan is also a man. You should understand, right?"
"She's just a little maid. I just hugged her. Your Highness shouldn't mind, right?"
Caiyu: ...
She just wanted to frame Sheng Jiangli, but she didn't expect this guy to admit it so brazenly.
Song Yinghuai let out a cold laugh and said domineeringly, "Although she's just a maid, my things and my people are off - limits to anyone without my permission."
He slightly lifted his eyes and said to Caiyu, "Come here."
Caiyu immediately ran towards Song Yinghuai and said with a flattering smile, "My lord is out today too. Do you have any orders?"
Today is really an unlucky day.
She just came out to pick up something and bumped into two shrewd men.
Fortunately, the letter was swallowed by the lake. Otherwise, she couldn't have kept it a secret alone.
Song Yinghuai pursed his lips slightly and glanced at Sheng Jiangli.
This Commander of the Hu Cavalry was blocked by his men when he tried to approach his houseboat earlier. Now he got close to Caiyu first...
And this girl!
Don't think that just because she acts pitiful and frames someone, he'll be deceived.
Song Yinghuai nodded slightly, his heroic eyebrows raising. He pointed at Miaoyi and Yunling who had just caught up behind him.
"I do have something for you." There was a hint of revenge in his tone. "You're responsible for taking good care of these two girls."
Caiyu was stunned for a moment and her eyes fell on the two out - of - breath girls.
When Xiangye mentioned these two girls this morning, she didn't feel anything special.
Before she entered the mansion, she already knew that Song Yinghuai had always been under the watchful eyes of others, and various forces were sending beautiful women into his mansion.
But Nanny Yu also said that those beautiful women either mysteriously disappeared or died in internal strife. None of them could last more than a month in the Prince of Yan's mansion.
So when Xiangye mentioned these two girls, she didn't take it seriously.
But Song Yinghuai specifically came to her about the arrangement of these two girls. This was different.
Caiyu was a bit dazed at this moment, as if she had misheard and didn't understand Song Yinghuai's words.
Song Yinghuai even added specifically, "You must take good care of them."
It seemed that they were special and he valued them very much.
A strange, sour feeling suddenly spread in her heart, like ants gently biting.
She couldn't tell where it felt blocked and uncomfortable.
It was hard to breathe.
After Song Yinghuai finished speaking, it was dead silent by Yanlan Lake.
The people standing there all fell silent. Only their gentle breathing could be heard.
Song Yinghuai's eyes scanned her body, as if trying to see through her.
This girl had embarrassed him several times. Did she think he was a clay Buddha?
A flash of anger crossed Sheng Jiangli's eyes. Although he liked to tease Caiyu and use her to annoy Song Yinghuai, he didn't like it when Song Yinghuai used other women to make Caiyu jealous.
No way!
"Your Highness the Prince of Yan, you..."
"I obey, my lord," Caiyu took a deep breath and interrupted Sheng Jiangli. A bright smile reappeared on her face. "These two girls must be the ones sent to the mansion by Lord Huang yesterday. I'm Caiyu, this servant. Greetings to you two girls."
When Miaoyi and Yunling saw Caiyu, a look of admiration flashed across their faces. Then they glanced at each other and quickly reacted, bowing gracefully to Caiyu.
"I'm Miaoyi."
"I'm Yunling."
"We pay our respects to Sister Caiyu."
Caiyu smiled and secretly glanced at Song Yinghuai's cold face. She said meaningfully,
"You two girls belong to the lord. I'm just a servant. I don't deserve to be called sister. From now on, you two girls can just call me Caiyu."
Song Yinghuai's fingers holding the Buddhist beads curled slightly, and he also looked at Caiyu.
This girl was full of resentment in her words.
Was this... jealousy?
Yunling was young and arrogant. She immediately replied bluntly, "Okay, Miss Caiyu. We'll leave our daily arrangements to you from now on."
It sounded as if she really regarded herself as Song Yinghuai's favorite concubine.
The key was that Song Yinghuai didn't scold or deny it. He just stood there coldly.
Miaoyi originally wanted to stop Yunling's impulsive words, but when she saw that Song Yinghuai didn't scold them, she was delighted and gently continued,
"That's good. Miss Caiyu is the lord's personal maid, so you must be able to handle everything. Sister Yunling and I got our skirts wet while boating with the lord today. We're feeling uncomfortable now."
By saying this, she was trying to see if Song Yinghuai would really let them order Caiyu around.
As a result, Song Yinghuai really remained indifferent, as if he didn't plan to help Caiyu.
Miaoyi's eyes flashed.
Before entering the mansion, she heard from the people sent by Huang Shan that the lord doted on this maid named Caiyu. But now it seemed that he didn't dote on her as much as the rumors said!
Maybe it was because she and Yunling came, and the lord's attention had shifted.
Men were always fond of the new and tired of the old.
She and Yunling were no less beautiful than this maid in front of them. The Prince of Yan was a powerful man, and there were countless women eager to throw themselves at him. It was normal that he had gotten tired of one woman after several months.
Caiyu's smile remained on her face, but she was complaining in her heart.
Miaoyi didn't directly order her, but her words about the wet clothes had a hidden meaning.
Firstly, it was to show off their status with the lord. They were now qualified to accompany the lord boating.
Secondly, it was an indirect order for her to find a way to solve their problem.
This woman was really scheming, not like Jiang Jinyue who just charged straight ahead.
Caiyu pursed her lips and said, "The lord has entrusted me with the management of two shops. There's a silk shop among them. The fabrics there are of high quality, and it's just nearby. How about I take you two girls there to make two new dresses?"
She calmly looked at Song Yinghuai. "It can be regarded as the lord's welcome gift to you two girls. What do you think?"