Caiyu got lost. In the vast Changchun Palace, she walked further and further off - track, but didn't meet a single soul.
Empress Ma was always thrifty. She used servants and resources according to her means, so there weren't many people in the palace.
At this moment, the palace servants were busy cleaning the halls. The small path Caiyu was on hadn't been attended to yet.
Finally, she faintly heard voices in the distance. Caiyu was overjoyed and quickened her steps to ask for directions. However, the voice from behind the flower bushes sounded like the sinister tone of Prince Song Chengyuan.
Caiyu's heart skipped a beat. She quickly calmed her breathing, slowly approached, gently pushed aside the flower branches, and peeked over.
Just then, Song Yinghuai's deep voice came:
"Your Highness the Crown Prince likes to humiliate this younger brother. I'll bear it. But if Your Highness harms her, just try and see if you can still keep your position as the Crown Prince."
Caiyu tightened her grip on the flower branches in front of her. Her heart sank.
Who was Song Yinghuai arguing for?
Who did the Crown Prince want to harm?
A corner of a pine - colored skirt was flickering between the flower bushes and Song Chengyuan's body.
Caiyu tried her best to crane her neck to see clearly who the woman was that could make Song Yinghuai so angry and defend her so desperately.
Was it... Lü Baiwei?
Song Yinghuai's words were almost treasonous.
But Song Chengyuan didn't get angry.
He was in a good mood now.
Because he thought he had blackmailed Song Yinghuai, and the threat just now was just a bluff.
A laugh came from Song Chengyuan's mouth, in a sarcastic tone:
"How dare I humiliate you, Fourth Brother? I'm just discussing with you. Fourth Brother, you might as well consider..."
"Oh, right. Now that the river water rises in early summer, I'm going to hold a banquet on a wine boat on the Qinhuai River the day after tomorrow. Fourth Brother, go there first. At that time, accompany me for a drink. Since you came to the capital this time, as an elder brother, I haven't had the chance to give you a welcome gift. I'll give it to you the day after tomorrow."
Just thinking that the gift he was going to give the day after tomorrow would make Song Yinghuai lose face, a crazy look appeared on his face:
"Fourth Brother, you must come...
"I've prepared a famous courtesan for you to drink and have fun with. Hehe."
After saying that, he grabbed Lü Baiwei's hair.
Lü Baiwei let out a miserable scream. Covering her hair, she stumbled forward following Song Chengyuan's steps, still shouting:
"Xuanyao, Xuanyao..."
A gust of wind blew, and many petals on the flower bushes were swept up by the wind. They swirled in the air and then fluttered down.
Caiyu straightened up and quietly looked at the man more than ten steps away from her.
Song Yinghuai had his back to Caiyu, with his hands behind his back.
His tall figure cast a long shadow in the sunlight, stretching far away.
The sun was shining brightly, but his back looked a bit desolate.
His gaze was even more desolate as he watched Song Chengyuan and Lü Baiwei walking away.
Lü Baiwei's sobs gradually faded away in the air.
Caiyu bit her lips tightly, swallowing all the bitterness and anger in her heart.
It was Lü Baiwei.
Sure enough, it was Lü Baiwei!
For Lü Baiwei, he didn't hesitate to confront the Crown Prince openly.
The passion of last night and this morning was like the petals scattered by the wind in the air, floating everywhere.
There were only some traces of illusions left.
Caiyu's fingers trembled, and she broke the flower branch in front of her, making a slight sound.
Song Yinghuai suddenly turned around, his eyes as sharp as knives, his thin lips coldly opening, "Who?"
Caiyu took a deep breath, forcing back the emotions in her eyes. She slowly walked out from behind the flower bushes.
"Your Highness, it's this servant," she hooked her lips, with joy in her eyes. "This servant got lost and couldn't find the way out of the Changchun Palace. Fortunately, I met Your Highness."
Seeing it was Caiyu, Song Yinghuai's expression immediately softened.
He strode forward to greet her and said gently, "When did you arrive?"
Recently, being disturbed by numerous affairs, he hadn't been able to notice the surrounding movements in time.
Caiyu wanted to say that she just happened to see him standing up for Lü Baiwei.
However, the words that came out of her mouth were, "Just now I heard a woman crying, so I followed the sound."
She looked at the almost disappearing figures in the distance. "Who was that just now?"
Song Yinghuai blocked her sight. "Just a palace servant scolded by her master. Don't worry about her."
He didn't want Caiyu to get too close to the Crown Prince.
But Caiyu keenly felt that Song Yinghuai didn't want her to see that it was Lü Baiwei.
Her heart ached even more. She nodded dryly. "Oh."
Song Yinghuai noticed her abnormality and looked at her suspiciously. "You seem a bit tired."
Yes, she was tired.
But it was heart - tired.
She had tried several times to negotiate with the Crown Prince to inquire about the young prince, but always encountered setbacks.
Now there was also Lü Baiwei in the middle.
Caiyu felt so uncomfortable that she could hardly breathe, but still gritted her teeth.
Anyway, Lü Baiwei was married.
The man in front of her was hers.
Caiyu calmed down, hooked her lips with a faint smile. Her gentle eyes became clear, and she said coquettishly, "I'm tired. This servant has walked for an hour, and my feet hurt."
Song Yinghuai's eyes flashed, and the corners of his lips twitched slightly. "Go and sit in the pavilion for a while."
After saying that, he started walking.
Just as he passed by Caiyu, a pair of snake - like arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
Song Yinghuai stopped, without turning his head, but there was a smile in his eyes. "What?"
Caiyu pressed her face against his thick back. The warm breath of his skin came, and she immediately felt much more at ease.
"This servant can't walk anymore," she emphasized again, swaying while clinging to his waist. "Your Highness, carry this servant on your back."
Her plump breasts pressed against the man's back.
Even with her back to him, Caiyu could hear the sound of him swallowing saliva.
Song Yinghuai's palm covered the back of her hand on his abdomen. His voice was deep and hoarse. "You little rascal. How can a master carry a servant on his back?"
Although he said so, his wrist still turned over, and his waist bent down slightly.
It was an obvious hint for her to jump on.
Caiyu giggled. She pushed off with her toes and lightly jumped onto the man's back.
Song Yinghuai supported her and warned, "Jump off by yourself when there are people around later."
Caiyu swayed her feet. A catalpa petal fell on her embroidered shoes, trembling on the tip of the shoe, about to fall but not. "Your Highness, you should choose a place where there are no people!"
Song Yinghuai tightened his arms and responded. Then he walked towards an empty place as she wished.
The faint fragrance of the woman was lingering around him, making his head feel dizzy.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem. He just had to use his inner strength to pay attention to whether there were people coming.
However, the next moment, a small hand as tender as tofu reached up to Song Yinghuai's Adam's apple and stroked it up and down.
She had wanted to tease him like this since she heard the sound of him swallowing.
Song Yinghuai's steps faltered. He almost fell and couldn't help pinching her buttocks hard. "Stop making trouble."
She knew that he was vulnerable in front of her, but suddenly wickedly provoked him.
Caiyu pouted and withdrew her hand. She shrank on his back without saying a word.
She seemed to be angry because of Song Yinghuai's words just now.
Song Yinghuai walked a few more steps. Noticing that the person on his back was as quiet as a mouse, and he couldn't see the little girl's expression from the side.
He softened his tone and patiently explained, "It's inappropriate to indulge in passion in the open in the Changchun Palace during the day."
Caiyu suddenly kicked up, her body rising higher. She leaned over his shoulder.
She bit Song Yinghuai's earlobe hard and said fiercely, "Okay, not in the open. Then Your Highness should go back to the Yongle Hall quickly."
Song Yinghuai was stunned. The pain and itch on his earlobe spread densely.
Since coming to the capital, Caiyu had never been so proactive.
What was wrong with her today?
He lowered his eyes, remembering that Caiyu had just tentatively asked who the person who left was.
He seemed to understand something.
After all, he still couldn't hide it from her.
Moreover, she seemed to have misunderstood.
This little girl thought that he had something shady with Lü Baiwei.
Feeling insecure, she was eager to prove.
A gentle and indulgent smile appeared on the man's lips. He replied again:
"Okay, let's go back to the Yongle Hall."