Qingqing was stunned for a moment. Then the man tapped her on the forehead with a curled finger.
"Forget it. I won't call you my little sidekick anymore. 'Little fool' suits you better!"
Qingqing covered her aching forehead and howled, glaring angrily at Sheng Jiangli.
Sheng Jiangli automatically ignored her hostile gaze and kindly explained,
"If you take the brocade to the Prince's Mansion when the Prince is there, the Prince will surely get jealous... Maybe he'll even beat up that Concubine Lü. Wouldn't that avenge your Sister Caiyu?"
Realization dawned in Qingqing's eyes.
It was indeed a good plan!
But why should it be her who took it?
If she took it and said it was a gift from His Highness the Prince of Yan to Concubine Lü, wouldn't that confirm the rumor that the Prince had given her a gift?
If it got out and Sister Caiyu found out, the Prince wouldn't be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River!
Just now, she had managed to overhear bits and pieces of what Mei Gu and the Prince had said in the main hall.
That old woman had said that Concubine Lü was living in straitened circumstances in the Prince's Mansion and hadn't even bought any clothes for the changing season. Coincidentally, a piece of raindrop silk brocade had been thrown into the Prince's arms.
The Prince, a man, didn't understand fabrics. Besides, Sister Caiyu had bought twenty or thirty different kinds of brocade in one go.
In the Prince's eyes, they were all the same.
So he had simply given the brocade in front of him to Mei Gu.
But if she, a maid from the Prince of Yan's Mansion, took it there herself, it would confirm the rumor of an improper relationship between them.
Sheng Jiangli's plan would not only get Concubine Lü beaten up but also drive a wedge between the Prince and Sister Caiyu.
She had been right to say that this man was insidious, despicable, and shameless!
Qingqing cursed Sheng Jiangli over and over again in her heart. Then, with a beaming face, she said,
"Brother Sheng! It's really a great idea!"
Sheng Jiangli's eyes sparkled, and he also smiled. "Right? I'm smart, aren't I?"
Qingqing gave him a thumbs up. "You're smart. You really deserve to be a great general!"
"Then why aren't you going?"
Qingqing responded and picked up the raindrop silk brocade. After walking a few steps, she stopped. "Brother Sheng, I don't know the way to the Prince's Mansion."
Sheng Jiangli raised his eyebrows.
He had forgotten that Qingqing had just arrived in the capital and it was normal for her not to know the way.
"Fine. I'm free anyway. I'll be kind enough to show you the way!"
Under the bodhi tree, it was cool and quiet. The bees flying in the shade were especially gentle.
When Song Yinghuai walked into the backyard, he saw a lovely and idyllic scene.
Caiyu was sitting under the bodhi tree enjoying the cool. The beauty had a grass root between her lips and was staring round - eyed at the bees.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Caiyu turned her head. Seeing it was Song Yinghuai, she bit her lip.
Song Yinghuai stepped forward and had just opened his mouth to say, "Yuer..."
Caiyu took a step back, curtsied gracefully, and lowered her head respectfully.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Song Yinghuai was immediately speechless. Looking at the stubborn face of the young girl, he didn't know where to start explaining.
Caiyu was also being stubborn. If Song Yinghuai didn't speak, she wouldn't either. She just lowered her head and silently watched the grass on the ground swaying slightly in the wind.
After a long while, Song Yinghuai sighed. "Why are you being so formal?"
Caiyu looked up at him in surprise.
How dare he ask her that?
"Didn't Your Highness say in the main hall just now that I'm unruly?"
Song Yinghuai took a slight breath.
Sure enough, she was still angry about that.
He patiently explained, "There were guests in the mansion. Given your status, we couldn't let the guests laugh at us."
What he really meant was that Mei Gu couldn't be trusted and they couldn't let others catch them with a handle. They still had to put on an act.
But he didn't know how to explain to Caiyu why Mei Gu couldn't be trusted or why Lü Baiwei couldn't be trusted.
After all, this matter was not only long - standing but also involved royal grudges and imperial secrets. He couldn't explain too much to a "maid" at this moment, nor could he let her know the ugly secrets of the royal family.
He could only express it euphemistically, hoping that Caiyu would understand.
However, he had overlooked the fact that when a woman was jealous, her reason and intelligence were not always online.
So his words took on a different meaning in Caiyu's ears.
A self - deprecating smile appeared on Caiyu's lips. "Your Highness doesn't need to always remind me of my status. I remember it clearly. I'm just of lowly status."
Song Yinghuai frowned. "Nonsense."
How had it become him reminding her of her status?
Not to mention now, even when Caiyu had first entered the mansion, with her temper of a young lady, if he had really restricted her with the status of a maid, she would have died many times over.
Only now did Song Yinghuai understand why Caiyu always unconsciously showed her spoiled nature and didn't act like a maid at all.
Perhaps...
She was the Miss Lan he had been looking for!
At this thought, Song Yinghuai's voice softened even more. "I didn't mean for you to remember your status. I'll find a way about your maid status..."
"Your Highness doesn't need to go to any trouble." Caiyu coldly interrupted him. "I'll remember from now on to abide by my station and never let others laugh at the Prince of Yan's Mansion!"
"Yuer!"
Caiyu was already quick - tongued, and now that she was angry with jealousy, her words were even more caustic.
Song Yinghuai was not a poor speaker, but he couldn't argue with Caiyu like that. He couldn't bear to quarrel with the woman he liked, so Caiyu's words soon made him see stars with anger.
However, what could he do with the spoiled maid he had indulged?
Song Yinghuai gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and swallowed his frustration. His voice was calm and conciliatory.
"You've been tired these days. Don't be so busy. The scenery in the capital is beautiful in late spring and early summer, different from the bitter cold in Yanjing. You can invite a few maids from the mansion to go out and have a look around. Buy whatever you like. Let Ji Ming give you the silver. Maybe you'll feel better."
His idea was good. He was giving a maid the treatment of a young lady. She didn't have to do any work and could just play and shop.
Surely she would understand that she wasn't just a maid to him?
"Your Highness wants me to go out. I'll obey." Caiyu replied non - committally, her gaze falling on the sachet in Song Yinghuai's hand.
The sachet with the ink lotus pattern must have been made by Lü Baiwei.
Wasn't it just that his first love had come to him, and now someone was caring for him and taking care of his life?
He didn't need her anymore!
Look how tightly he was holding that sachet, like it was a treasure.
It probably still held their former promises!
Caiyu thought sourly.
Song Yinghuai felt that Caiyu had been misinterpreting his meaning today, but he didn't know how to change her mind.
He was good at leading troops in battles, but he lacked experience in coaxing women and understanding their thoughts.
He got another rebuff from Caiyu and could only say awkwardly, "I know you're close to Qingqing, but Qingqing's identity is questionable. You should stay away from her for the time being. When you go out to play, just let the other maids bought by Ning Shi and Ji Ming accompany you."
Last time, Sheng Jiangli's arm acupoints had been immobilized by silver needles. Although he had returned too late to see what had happened, he had deduced the general process.
Song Yinghuai lowered his eyes, a shadow covering them.
That Qingqing was probably not simple.
He just didn't know who had sent her as a spy and why she had come to approach Caiyu instead of him.
However, since Qingqing had once saved Caiyu and his secret guard, he couldn't act rashly without concrete evidence.
After all, Caiyu was clear - cut in her love and hate. If he randomly arrested Qingqing, this young girl would probably turn the Prince of Yan's Mansion upside down.
Caiyu's eyes flashed. It was not clear whether she had taken Song Yinghuai's advice to heart or not, but she retorted angrily,
"I came to the capital alone. Xiang Ye and the others aren't with me. I finally found a close playmate, but Your Highness won't let me be with her. What else can I do? I might as well just lie in the mansion and sleep!"
She didn't have to do any personal tasks anymore, and her playmate had been taken away.
Caiyu felt extremely empty.
Song Yinghuai's eyebrows twitched. "I didn't say you couldn't. There are other people in the mansion..."
"I don't like the others." Caiyu asked maliciously. "Or, can I ask Brother Ji to accompany me to play?"
Song Yinghuai immediately refused without thinking. "No!"
Caiyu sneered. "This is not allowed, that is forbidden... I'll go find General Sheng to accompany me!"