Caiyu's clear and pitch - black eyes reflected the dancing flames. She had never been so excited as to pour out her words in such a rapid fire.
"I don't know what kind of relationship Lady Lü and the prince had before. Nor do I want to know," Caiyu said.
"But let me put it bluntly. Even if Lady Lü had that kind of relationship with the prince before she got married, she is now married."
"She is married to the current Crown Prince! Auntie, what do you mean by bringing up their past relationship?"
"Do you still want the married concubine of the Crown Prince to have something to do with the prince?"
Aunt Mei's face changed. "I..."
"Auntie, have you ever asked if the Crown Prince minds when you bring up their past relationship?"
Aunt Mei stammered, "You..."
"Our prince is still single and a man. Normally, if a woman tries to get close to him, it won't do him any harm," Caiyu said venomously. "But the prince has always been self - disciplined and can't tolerate those women with ulterior motives around him. Not to mention a married woman approaching him. Even a beautiful and unmarried girl, the prince wouldn't even bother to take a second look."
Aunt Mei's lips trembled. "You, you, you..."
"The prince put me by his side to serve him, and that's to help him get rid of these reckless women who don't know their place!"
"If Auntie came to the Prince of Yan's Mansion this time just to ask for a bolt of brocade, I think you'd better go to the Brocade Pavilion. Pay a large deposit, and when the next batch of fabric arrives, the shopkeeper will surely reserve it for you..."
"Or, if you mention the name of the Crown Prince, I'm sure as long as you do, the shopkeeper wouldn't dare not show respect. Unless Lady Lü has a low status in the Crown Prince's mansion and everyone in the capital knows it, even a small Brocade Pavilion doesn't take Lady Lü seriously?"
Aunt Mei was so angry that her chest heaved violently. She looked like she was about to faint.
How could there be such a venomous - tongued woman in the world?
Why did the Crown Prince send such a woman to the Prince of Yan's territory to get close to the Prince of Yan?
No, if she always talked like this, how could the Prince of Yan tolerate her instead of killing her?
Ji Ming held back his laughter and quickly supported Aunt Mei's swaying arm. "Aunt Mei, please forgive us. Miss Caiyu has always been straightforward and speaks her mind. Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart. Calm down."
Aunt Mei got even angrier.
What did he mean by "speaking her mind"?
Did it mean that Caiyu's words just now were reasonable?
Caiyu had just insinuated that Lady Lü had a low status in the Crown Prince's mansion. Did Ji Ming think it was right?
Just as Aunt Mei was about to open her mouth to vent her anger, she heard Song Yinghuai's cold voice from the door:
"What's all the commotion inside?"
The Prince of Yan!
The Prince of Yan was finally back!
Aunt Mei suddenly stood up from the chair, pushed Ji Ming aside, and rushed to the door.
The tall figure of the man had just stepped over the threshold of the main hall.
"Your Highness!" Aunt Mei rushed forward and saluted. "I'm Mei, your humble servant. Greetings to Your Highness!"
Song Yinghuai lowered his eyes and looked at the woman kneeling in front of him.
In contrast to Aunt Mei's excited expression, Song Yinghuai's face was calm.
He stood at the door, glanced at Caiyu standing inside, and frowned slightly.
Why did it seem that this girl was pouting in anger?
Caiyu stood stubbornly in the room, hugging the bolt of Yusi brocade. Her gorgeous cheeks were flushed with anger as she stared directly at Song Yinghuai.
She didn't know why she was so angry.
Anyway, she was just angry.
Song Yinghuai raised his eyebrows, surprised.
She seemed to be in a good mood when they were shopping on the street just now.
He then looked at Aunt Mei. His sharp eyes quickly scanned between Aunt Mei and Caiyu, and his lips tightened.
Maybe... there was some conflict between Aunt Mei and Caiyu.
Song Yinghuai pursed his lips, nodded, and said, "Aunt Mei, it's been years. No need for the formalities."
"Your Highness still remembers me," Aunt Mei said with tears in her eyes. "I knew Your Highness would remember me and the eldest young lady!"
Song Yinghuai's steps into the room paused slightly. After a moment of thought, he still asked:
"How is... my junior sister?"
Caiyu also tightened her lips.
Junior sister...?
Besides being his first love, they were also master - apprentice siblings?
Ji Ming coughed lightly. Looking at Caiyu's murderous look, he felt a headache.
Although he had left the Prince of Yan's Mansion early to inspect the family's properties across the country, he had learned a lot about Caiyu from his correspondence with Han Fen.
This girl was not easy to deal with!
Aunt Mei was completely unaware of Caiyu's murderous look. When Song Yinghuai asked, her eyes immediately turned red.
There was an obvious layer of mist in her eyes, but there was also a faint smile on her face. She replied cheerfully:
"Thank you for Your Highness's concern. The eldest young lady is doing well in the Crown Prince's mansion, and so is the young master."
Caiyu almost snorted from her nose.
Look at this Aunt Mei.
She said everything was fine, but the tears in her eyes were for show?
Saying it was good while crying. Was she afraid others couldn't tell that she was forcing a smile?
Song Yinghuai had good hearing and heard Caiyu's snort.
He slightly raised his eyes and looked at Caiyu again. When the girl met his gaze, she angrily turned her head away.
Song Yinghuai sat down, looked at Caiyu, and said nothing, just raising his eyebrows.
Caiyu naturally knew what Song Yinghuai was waiting for.
He was waiting for her to serve him tea!
She just wouldn't do it!
She was having a tantrum today and wouldn't act submissive in front of Aunt Mei.
Caiyu pretended not to understand and just stood there motionless.
Song Yinghuai gritted his teeth slightly, and his eyebrows twitched.
After all, they had just arrived in the capital. They had to put on a good show.
If it got out that he couldn't control his servants and reached the palace, what if the emperor was dissatisfied with Caiyu? What if the queen's impression of Caiyu turned bad?
This was not Yanjing. There were wolves all around him here. A single mistake could lead to a bloodbath.
"Has no one taught you that when there are guests at home, you should serve them tea?" Song Yinghuai coldly reminded Caiyu, who was looking at him.
Caiyu was stunned and looked at Song Yinghuai as if she didn't understand.
It had been a long time since Song Yinghuai had talked to her in such a master - like tone.
Since they left Yanjing, they had endured hardships on the road, sharing meals and lodging. Caiyu had almost forgotten.
Song Yinghuai was the master.
Suddenly putting on the master's airs, Caiyu then remembered that she was just a low - status servant.
This realization instantly made her eyes turn red. She pouted angrily and dejectedly, hugging the bolt of Yusi brocade in her hands. Her feet felt like they weighed a thousand pounds and she just couldn't lift them.
Hearing this, Aunt Mei's previous depression disappeared. She raised her chin proudly and looked at Caiyu, with a domineering smile on her face.
She knew it!
The Prince of Yan treated her young lady differently!
Ji Ming saw that the situation was not good. He quickly stepped forward, took the Yusi brocade from Caiyu's hands, and pushed her gently, whispering:
"Be patient. The guest is here. I'll hold the brocade for you. Go and pour the tea quickly. Don't anger the prince."
Caiyu mechanically let go of her hand and stepped forward to make tea for Song Yinghuai and Aunt Mei.
When the tea was handed to Aunt Mei, Caiyu even heard a disdainful snort from Aunt Mei's throat.
Caiyu tightened her fingers holding the teacup and said with a straight face, "Please have some tea."
She didn't even bother to address Aunt Mei by name!
Song Yinghuai reached out and rubbed his eyebrows imperceptibly.
Aunt Mei happily sipped her tea and said to Song Yinghuai:
"The eldest young lady heard that Your Highness has come to the capital. She misses you very much. But with her current status, it's not convenient for her to visit. So she sent me here quickly to see an old acquaintance and, by the way..."
Caiyu was standing beside Song Yinghuai. She watched as Aunt Mei took out a small pouch from her bosom. The pouch was embroidered with a cloud - rising pattern and a black ink lotus, obviously embroidered for a man.
There seemed to be something inside the pouch.
Aunt Mei secretly glanced at Caiyu and deliberately took out the thing from the pouch - it was actually a personal seal.
Aunt Mei took it out in the right direction, and the words on the seal were facing Caiyu.
Caiyu's face changed.
The four seal characters "Song Xuanyao Seal" in seal script brightly came into her view!