Although the Tingtao Courtyard was far from the main courtyard, it was a charming one.
Rockeries and strange stones were scattered about, pavilions and towers were exquisitely built, and clear springs gurgled. In the past two days, Caiyu had taken great pains to move a bunch of evergreen plants into the courtyard.
When Song Yinghuai strode into the courtyard gate, he saw rare flowers and strange herbs blooming around the water. There was even the chirping of insects at the end of winter.
Song Yinghuai sneered inwardly. She really had put a lot of effort into it!
To send him to another woman's bed, this girl had gone to great lengths.
Faint sounds of string and woodwind instruments and a woman's soft singing came from inside the courtyard, melodious and charming.
If it were an ordinary man, he would have been completely infatuated. But Song Yinghuai's anger was as surging as the boundless sea.
The little maid guarding the courtyard saw Song Yinghuai and hurriedly ran into the inner hall to report, "Miss, miss... The prince is here!"
Immediately afterwards, a series of light and rapid footsteps came.
Miaoyi and Yunling rushed out at once. There was a glint of excitement in both of their eyes.
They didn't expect that this Caiyu was really willing to send the prince here!
"Your Highness!"
The two women fluttered towards him like two butterflies, circling around Song Yinghuai.
"Your Highness hasn't come to see this concubine and Sister Yunling for the past two days. Sister missed Your Highness so much that she cried last night," Miaoyi said softly.
Yunling timely let a mist of tears well up in her eyes. She truly looked so pitiful that one couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
Han Fen, who was following behind with his head down, didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Couldn't they see the prince's anger?
Song Yinghuai suddenly stopped. Han Fen and Caiyu, who were closely following behind, also braked in a hurry.
Song Yinghuai glared coldly at Caiyu. "I'm here to enjoy myself with the beauties. What are you doing here?"
His voice was firm and resounding.
Han Fen was so shocked that he raised his head. The prince couldn't be serious, could he?
The two women glanced at each other and a surprised look appeared on their faces.
She must have offended the prince, right?
This was really a good opportunity!
Caiyu was stunned for a moment. To avoid provoking the prince, she silently lowered her head, answered obediently, and was about to step back.
Unexpectedly, Song Yinghuai's angry voice rang out again. "Stay outside the door and listen carefully to how I have fun!"
Caiyu's heart was pricked. Her fingers in front of her body curled tightly.
Song Yinghuai entered the spacious main room with the two women and slammed the door shut in front of her!
Han Fen scratched his head. Should he go in or stay outside the door and eavesdrop like Caiyu?
After a while, Han Fen leaped and disappeared among the tiles.
Caiyu stood there in a daze for a long time. It seemed as if a huge rock was pressing on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. The feeling of suffocation gradually became heavier, and she could hardly stand.
She leaned against the door, swayed her body twice, and slowly sat down, hugging her knees and blinking.
It seemed that something was wrong.
Clearly, she had come to the Prince Yan's Mansion to complete a mission.
Clearly, she had tried every means to make Song Yinghuai break his abstinence in order to save her family.
Clearly, she had exhausted all her tricks but still couldn't offer herself. Now, seeing that Song Yinghuai showed a little interest in these two women, at least he was special to them. For this reason, he had specifically told her to make good arrangements.
She was just taking a chance and trying again. If she couldn't do it, then she would use others. Anyway, as long as she got the result.
But...
---
Sheng Jiangli bent over slightly and supported the wall as he returned to the Ruixue Tower. There was a bitter smile on his face.
Little Sister Shu'er really had a heavy hand. The amount of croton was enough to knock out an ox.
Suobude was waiting outside the door. When he saw Sheng Jiangli like this, he was extremely surprised. "General, what's wrong with you?"
Sheng Jiangli waved his hand, pushed open the door, and collapsed onto the soft couch. He said weakly, "I'm fine. What do you want from me?"
Suobude stepped forward and said, "Our people have already deployed troops at several important roads in Yanjing. When the envoy announces the imperial edict tomorrow, as long as the Prince Yan tries to escape, we can capture him immediately!"
He paused for a moment, and a confused look appeared on his face again. "General, the number of our people deployed at those important roads is too small, isn't it? And why is there no movement from the Five Armies Camp at all? Our people replaced them easily, and they didn't even notice. Their alertness is too low. Could there be a trick?"
Sheng Jiangli nodded and praised, "You're really smart. There is indeed a trick. They noticed it long ago. They just let us mess around."
Suobude's honest face suddenly changed color. "What? They noticed it long ago! Then how shall we act?"
Sheng Jiangli reached out and rubbed his aching forehead. He sighed and said, "What action? Huang Shan will die tomorrow. The troops of the Yan Army may be surrounding Yanjing inside and out..."
Sweat instantly soaked through Suobude's back. The nine - foot - tall barbarian warrior's face turned deathly pale. "General... Then, shall we rescue Lord Huang tomorrow?"
"What's there for me to rescue about a eunuch who bullies the common people?" Sheng Jiangli sat up straight, took a drink from the teapot, and only then did he feel better. "Moreover, the Yan Army has a large number of troops. We'll be struggling to save ourselves. Who has the time to care about his life or death?"
Suobude stood there stupidly for a while. He was still too shocked by this news to think. "General, are you sure Lord Huang will die tomorrow? How did you figure it out? Did you see the Ox - Head and Horse - Face standing behind him?"
"Hiss..." Sheng Jiangli looked at Suobude worriedly and felt that he was really worried to death. "The Prince Yan came back early today. He must have finished his arrangements. He was too lazy to deal with Huang Shan, so he just left.
The imperial edict must have been in his hands. It's the right time to take action.
Once Huang Shan dies and a new envoy enters the capital to announce the imperial edict again, even if they use the same enthusiasm as when the previous dynasty sent lychees to the imperial concubine, it will still take nearly a month. By then, the troops of the Yan Army will have already been deployed properly.
They can attack the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun on the outside and defend against the secret arrows of the Crown Prince on the inside.
Maybe... Song Yinghuai still has some tricks that he doesn't know about, such as destroying a few more copper mines, silver mines, iron mines, and grain stores of the Crown Prince...
In short, a large number of the Crown Prince's subordinates will be implicated. Daye is probably going to be in chaos.
Suobude was a rough man. He only half - understood.
But he always trusted Sheng Jiangli and thought that his general was always right in his calculations.
He just didn't understand why his general didn't seem to be very interested in arresting people this time when he entered the pass. Instead, he seemed to be very enthusiastic about flirting with young ladies.
Suobude asked blankly, "If so, then why did we deploy those troops at the important roads?"
Sheng Jiangli said, "To show them to the people of the Prince Yan! Oh, right. How's the progress of the secret tunnel that we asked people to dig quickly?"
"It's dug through." Suobude was also very puzzled about this. "General, instead of focusing on sending people to guard the important roads, you spent a lot of effort digging a secret tunnel. What's the purpose?"
"To escape!" Sheng Jiangli said tiredly. "Deploying troops at the important roads is just to confuse the enemy. Digging the tunnel is my real business. Once Huang Shan dies, will Song Yinghuai let my Huqi Camp stay? It's time to escape!"
The Crown Prince had ordered him to enter the pass to arrest people, and he had no choice but to obey.
The Crown Prince naively thought that he could make Song Yinghuai submit with just an imperial edict, but he wasn't so naive.
Since he entered the pass, he had been digging the secret tunnel.
He just had to wait for Song Yinghuai to take action against Huang Shan, and then he would lead his people out of the pass through the secret tunnel.
By then, he could just say that the enemy was too strong and he was outnumbered. He had managed to escape with his life.
What could the Crown Prince do to him?
It's just...
Sheng Jiangli's eyes darkened, and his fingers holding the teacup curled tightly.
It's just that he had finally reunited with Shu'er, and now he was going to be separated from her again.
He didn't know if the girl would be willing to leave with him when he asked her tomorrow.