After Qingqing tucked Caiyu in, her eyes flashed, and then she backed out.
Unexpectedly, Song Yinghuai was sitting alone at the stone table outside the hall, sipping tea. He seemed to be waiting for her on purpose.
Qingqing's heart skipped a beat, but she still walked over. "My lord, Sister Caiyu has gone to bed."
Song Yinghuai nodded and then said coldly, "You went to the Crown Prince's Mansion with General Sheng today?"
Qingqing's breath caught in her throat.
Did the Prince of Yan have people watching the Crown Prince's Mansion, or were there his people following her?
Qingqing rolled her eyes and nodded readily. "My lord, I did go. General Sheng wanted to use that bolt of rain - silk brocade to drive a wedge between you and Sister Caiyu, but I didn't let him succeed. I even took revenge for Sister Caiyu!"
Song Yinghuai gave a soft laugh, making it hard to tell whether he was satisfied or disdainful.
Qingqing nervously watched Song Yinghuai's inscrutable profile. She pinched her fingers and continued, "My lord, that bolt of rain - silk brocade... was specially chosen by Sister Caiyu for you to make summer clothes."
Sure enough, Song Yinghuai's expression changed. He suddenly looked up, frowning. "What did you say?"
The rain - silk brocade was specially chosen by Caiyu for him?
But he had casually given it to Maid Mei to take to Lü Baiwei to make a dress.
Qingqing said, "The rain - silk brocade is a rare treasure from Sichuan. The shopkeeper of the Brocade Pavilion said that there was only one bolt newly brought to the capital this year. Sister Caiyu liked it so much that she immediately thought it was most suitable for you. She said that the only bolt should naturally be matched with a person as noble and peerless as you."
"But Maid Mei beside Concubine Lü took advantage of your ignorance of such things and coaxed you into giving it away casually. I couldn't stand it, so I joined General Sheng and caused some trouble in the Crown Prince's Mansion..."
Song Yinghuai took a sip of the green tea. The steam from the tea covered the annoyed expression on his face.
Qingqing had intended to divert Song Yinghuai's attention by bringing up the matter of the rain - silk brocade, but unexpectedly, she couldn't see his expression clearly.
For a moment, she felt even more nervous.
This Prince of Yan was really hard to deal with, even more unpredictable than General Sheng.
Song Yinghuai put down the teacup and held it in his hand. A sneer escaped from his throat. "I'll remember the matter of the rain - silk brocade, but the part about Caiyu saying that the only bolt should be matched with a person as noble and peerless as me... you made that up, didn't you?"
That girl only flattered him when she annoyed him or needed something from him.
On normal days, she would only needle him like she did today.
Praising him like this in front of others was not her style.
Qingqing's eyes flickered. "Yes... I made it up. I just wanted you and Sister Caiyu to be happy!"
"Bang!"
Song Yinghuai slammed the cup on the stone table. The clear sound startled Qingqing, and she quickly looked at him.
The man's face darkened, with a dangerous aura like a storm was coming:
"I allow Caiyu to play her little tricks in front of me, but not everyone can imitate the ugly and make a fool of themselves."
"You're very smart. You've been hovering around Caiyu and sticking to General Sheng. You act as if you have nothing to do with me, but you always imitate Caiyu... tell me, who sent you?"
Facing Song Yinghuai's intimidating aura, Qingqing felt a chill run through her veins for a moment.
She knelt down and pleaded her innocence. "My lord, please see clearly. I'm just a daughter of an ordinary family. You and Sister Caiyu saw me in Pengcheng back then!"
Song Yinghuai sneered. "Would a daughter of an ordinary family know how to use silver needles?
"The silver needle in General Sheng's arm when he brought you into the mansion last time was from you, right? I heard that General Sheng was tricked by you again when you went to the Crown Prince's Mansion today."
He moved his hand away from the table, and there was a shiny silver needle in front of him.
"My man picked it up on the ground."
When General Sheng was secretly attacked in the arm last time, Song Yinghuai didn't see it with his own eyes, so he had already secretly sent someone to keep an eye on Qingqing.
So this time, the person who was secretly watching retrieved the evidence.
Qingqing was in a daze.
Wasn't it said that Song Yinghuai only brought some personal guards into the capital?
She had interacted with Ning Shi and the others. She knew General Sheng's skills, and she felt at ease with General Sheng by her side.
If Ning Shi and the others were following, General Sheng would definitely notice.
How could there be someone else following?
Qingqing's heart sank, filled with uneasiness.
It seemed that although the Prince of Yan had been far away in Yanjing all these years, no one could figure out how many secret forces he had planted in the capital.
No wonder he dared to enter the capital with just a dozen personal guards.
Song Yinghuai looked down at her shifting and guilty expression and sneered secretly.
Did they all think that after eating a vegetarian diet for a few years, he had really become a soft - hearted person?
He pinched the silver needle, his voice slow and dangerous. "Who is your master? Caiyu likes you. I don't want to hurt her feelings, so I've let you play around under her nose for a few days. Don't worry. If you dare to harm her, I'll kill you on the spot!"
Song Yinghuai wasn't very worried that Qingqing would use force.
This girl's martial arts foundation was very weak. In a one - on - one fight, she was even weaker than Caiyu.
But this girl was good at using silver - needle darts, which was hard to guard against.
When Qingqing saw the silver needle, she knew she couldn't hide it anymore. She pursed her lips and said, "My lord, I did stay in the mansion on purpose, but I have no intention of harming Sister Caiyu..."
Qingqing took a deep breath and said, "I was sent by the Emperor!"
Song Yinghuai narrowed his eyes slightly, and the corner of his lips curled up in a half - smile. "Oh?"
Qingqing said, "The Emperor actually hopes that you will enter the mortal world earlier. After learning that there is a girl you like by your side, he sent me to check the situation... My lord, I won't do any harm to Sister Caiyu or the Prince of Yan's Mansion. Please rest assured."
She then continued, "Please don't drive me away. After all, I'm the Emperor's person!"
After Qingqing finished speaking, the courtyard was silent for a long time.
Song Yinghuai's knuckles tapped rhythmically on the stone table.
His eyes were like the winter night sky, cold and filled with a mysterious and chilling aura that made people shiver.
Qingqing didn't know if her explanation could persuade Song Yinghuai.
She could only wait.
After a long time, Song Yinghuai's cold voice rang out again. "You've made up your mind to use the Emperor as a shield. You know I can question anyone, but I can't go to the Emperor to verify, right?"
Qingqing kowtowed. "I wouldn't dare! What I said is the truth."
She took out a brass token from her bosom. There was a phoenix engraved on it.
Song Yinghuai's gaze fell on the token, and his pupils shrank slightly. "The Phoenix?"
Qingqing nodded. "I'm a dead - soldier of the Phoenix Camp, the Emperor's secret guards. My lord, seeing this token, you should be at ease now, right?"
There were four secret - guard camps beside Emperor Guangwu, namely the Azure Dragon, the Black Tortoise, the White Tiger, and the Phoenix.
The dead - soldiers in the Phoenix Camp were all women.
With this token in hand, it couldn't be fake.
Song Yinghuai took another sip of tea. "Get up!"
Qingqing let out a sigh of relief and stood up, waiting on the side.
Song Yinghuai said, "Since you were sent by the Emperor to persuade me to enter the court and serve earlier, let's make a deal."
"My lord, please speak."
The corner of Song Yinghuai's mouth curled up slightly. He said casually, "You continue to pester General Sheng and keep an eye on him. Keep an eye on the deal between him and the Crown Prince."
"In return, I won't drive you away and will let you complete your mission smoothly. How about it?"
Qingqing pursed her lips and smiled. "My lord is really good at negotiating. I have to collect information for you and even sacrifice my charm. I have to go to great lengths just to get the qualification to stay in the mansion."
"I guess, my lord will enter the mortal world soon. Even without my help, you will fulfill the Emperor's wish."
Song Yinghuai also smiled. "You can choose not to accept and go back to the camp right away, but I'm not sure if the Emperor will believe your speculation just now... I heard that those who fail to complete their tasks in the four secret - guard camps will surely die."
Qingqing's face froze. She secretly cursed Song Yinghuai for being heartless. "... Deal."