Caiyu's words made Miaoyi and Yunling's expressions change slightly.
Caiyu deliberately mentioned that she was in charge of the industries under the prince's name.
A woman who could manage the prince's industries was by no means comparable to the two of them, who served the prince with their beauty.
The prince was a man and rarely concerned himself with the affairs of the inner residence. He had clearly entrusted the inner residence to Caiyu. Now, she was acting as the mistress of the household.
From now on, all their food and clothing would depend on Caiyu's mood. If they wanted to provoke her, they had to think twice.
Sheng Jiangli raised his hand to hide the smile on his lips.
Shuer had always been sharp - tongued and had never lost an argument since childhood.
Yunling's eyes instantly filled with a hint of mist. She boldly tugged at Song Yinghuai's sleeve and shook it gently.
"Your Highness... So you've been making Miss Caiyu work so hard! You only let us sisters accompany you on the lake for fun, while Miss Caiyu is busy with all kinds of things. She's so beautiful. If she has to rush around like this every day, won't her delicate face be ruined soon?"
Previously, Yunling didn't dare to act coquettishly in front of Song Yinghuai. But seeing that Song Yinghuai seemed to be indulging her and Miaoyi in targeting Caiyu, she became bolder.
Song Yinghuai gave her a deep look and suddenly smiled. "What do you want?"
Yunling said, "How about giving the two shops of Miss Caiyu to me and Sister Miaoyi to manage? Miss Caiyu can just take care of the internal affairs. As for the external affairs, Sister Miaoyi and I have learned how to check accounts before. We're sure we can manage them well."
Song Yinghuai looked at her without saying a word. There was still a faint smile on his lips, but his expression was much darker and colder than before.
Yunling felt a tremor in her heart. Her fingers involuntarily let go of Song Yinghuai's sleeve.
Miaoyi sensed something was wrong and quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. "Your Highness, please forgive us. Yunling is young and doesn't know any better. She doesn't know anything about checking accounts! She's just curious about what the shops look like..."
Yunling nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, I'm just curious."
She quickly changed the topic. "Didn't Miss Caiyu say she would take us to make new clothes? Your Highness, can Sister Miaoyi and I go now?"
The gentle wind blew across Song Yinghuai's eyebrows. "Go ahead. Caiyu has good taste. The clothes she chooses for you will surely be the best."
Miaoyi curled her fingers hidden in her sleeves.
Did the prince mean that they shouldn't have their own opinions and should just follow Caiyu's arrangements?
It seemed that she had really underestimated Caiyu!
This woman was truly special in the prince's heart.
She quickly replied respectfully, then pulled Yunling and followed Caiyu away first.
Only Song Yinghuai and Sheng Jiangli were left by the Yan Nan Lake.
Song Yinghuai no longer concealed his killing intent. His gaze was as sharp as a knife, stabbing directly at Sheng Jiangli. In his sharp eyes, there seemed to be the cold - fanged dragon of bloodthirsty origin emerging.
"General Sheng has been trying to use Caiyu to provoke me. What's your intention?"
Song Yinghuai got straight to the point. "Do you want to disrupt Yanjing and take advantage of the chaos?"
Sheng Jiangli had just picked up a reed root by the lake to play with. In his bright star - like eyes, there was a glint of cunning as he said:
"I once heard a Buddhist story. The wind was blowing and the flag was fluttering. One monk said it was the wind moving, and another said it was the flag moving. They argued incessantly. Huineng stepped forward and said, 'It's neither the wind nor the flag that's moving. It's the human heart that's moving.'"
"If Miss Caiyu means nothing to Your Highness, whether I hug or kiss her, at most I'm like the wind and she's like the flag. As long as Your Highness's heart doesn't move, whatever I do, how can it stir up any waves?"
"General Sheng is quite right." Song Yinghuai didn't seem to be hit by his words. He nodded calmly. "As long as my heart doesn't move, what does it matter if some clowns jump around?"
"Yanjing City won't be in turmoil because of a few clowns... But if Kaiping is in turmoil, I wonder if General Sheng's heart will move?"
Sheng Jiangli's hand playing with the reed root paused. He looked at Song Yinghuai suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
He had a bad feeling in his heart.
These days, the imperial bodyguards had been investigating the Kaiping copper mine and the crown prince's private coin - minting.
Coincidentally, he had seen Ji Qian leave the painted boat when he came to inquire for news today.
Could it be...
The broken light reflected from the lake fell into Song Yinghuai's eyes, making his well - defined face look sharp, magnificent, and shocking:
"Rather than competing with me for women here and wandering around in Yanjing, General Sheng might as well take some time to go back and check on your own industries... If you're in time, you might still be able to save a bit."
Damn it!
They really had destroyed the crown prince's copper mine!
Sheng Jiangli stuffed the reed into his mouth and chewed it hard. There was no sign of panic on his face, but he suddenly said:
"Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, how about we make a deal?"
This time, Song Yinghuai was a bit surprised. "General Sheng isn't in a hurry to send a message back to save your mines and connections. You still have the mood to talk about a deal with me here?"
Sheng Jiangli grinned. "That mine was just discovered in Kaiping. I'm neither responsible for mining nor coin - minting. My Hu cavalry just turned a blind eye and got some benefits by the way. You've destroyed the crown prince's people and industries. It's not me who will hold a grudge against you... Why should I be in a hurry?"
These words were really heartless, as if he and the crown prince weren't on the same boat.
"Moreover, since Your Highness dares to say it, what's the use of my sending a message back? You'll just intercept the testimony and drag me into this... Your Highness is really good at scheming. Fortunately, I also like to scheme against others on weekdays, or I would really have fallen into Your Highness's trap."
Song Yinghuai raised his eyebrows. His expression became profound, and his gaze was extremely cold, like the biting cold of ice.
This Sheng Jiangli had become the commander of the Hu cavalry in Kaiping at a young age. When he was loyal to the emperor, he could also be recruited by the crown prince. He was really good at playing both sides.
He was indeed not an ordinary person.
Song Yinghuai said with a gentle smile, "What kind of deal does General Sheng want to make?"
Sheng Jiangli spat out the reed in his mouth and said, "Your Highness, do you like beautiful women? You give Caiyu to me, and I'll trade two charming beauties for her. How about it?"
Song Yinghuai:...
"Pointless." Song Yinghuai uttered two words and turned to leave.
But Sheng Jiangli refused to let it go. He leaped forward and landed in front of Song Yinghuai. His expression was unusually serious:
"I'm not joking with you. I fell in love with Miss Caiyu at first sight and became even more infatuated the second time I saw her. I just want her... Didn't Your Highness just say that you won't be attracted to her? But I am. She's just a maid. You give her to me, and I'll trade you some more beautiful ones."
Song Yinghuai's voice turned a bit sinister. "Get out of the way."
Sheng Jiangli bargained. "Five beautiful women for Caiyu... You can choose from Huji women, Tartar women, or women from Daye. It's up to you."
"Are you looking for death?"
"Five aren't enough? A dozen. If a dozen aren't enough, then two dozen." Sheng Jiangli insisted on negotiating. "Your Lianyin Pavilion is big, but don't be too greedy. For women, just the right amount is good. Otherwise, you'll be indulging in debauchery."
His mouth was really mean.
Especially when he kept using Caiyu as a bargaining chip.
Song Yinghuai finally couldn't hold back. He launched a palm strike at Sheng Jiangli with his profound internal strength!
In an instant, huge waves rose on the Yan Nan Lake. The roaring sound of the water was continuous. Dead branches and leaves flew everywhere on the shore, and it was like a rainstorm was falling from the sky above the lake.
The two fought fiercely. The common people far away on the shore were so frightened that they quickly retreated.
Finally, a brown Buddhist bead shot through the flying water mist like lightning.
"Smack!"
It hit Sheng Jiangli's lips!
Sheng Jiangli's sexy thin lips quickly swelled up. He hissed and covered his mouth as he quickly bounced back to the shore:
"Stop fighting! We're all colleagues loyal to the court. Why do we have to fight so hard?"
Song Yinghuai gracefully landed from the air. The wind blew his long robe, making the world around him look even colder and more solemn.
He stared coldly at Sheng Jiangli. "Want to trade for Caiyu? Sure. Trade all the women of the Sixteen Yan and Yun Tribes for her."