Caiyu's words made both Song Yinghuai and Sheng Jiangli change their expressions.
Song Yinghuai finally threw down the wine cup in his hand. The force was so great that the table trembled. His voice was filled with uncontrollable anger as he roared,
"What are you making a fuss about? What kind of beauty do you think you are? Those women around others are all..."
They were all charming prostitutes from the Qinhuai River!
A dull pain throbbed at Song Yinghuai's temple. His vision was a bit blurry, but he still managed to suppress the harsh words on the tip of his tongue. He just gritted his teeth and asked,
"Who do you think you are?"
Song Chengyuan was a madman. He asked all the beautiful women to dance. It must not be just for pleasure.
He wondered whether this was to humiliate himself or Caiyu.
This girl was even rushing headlong into the trap.
Song Yinghuai took a deep breath, enduring the headache, and said, "No one in my Prince Yan's Mansion needs to suffer such humiliation. Go back!"
If this humiliation had to be endured, he would endure it.
Caiyu glared at Song Yinghuai with red - rimmed eyes, then glanced at the scumbag Wen Zilong.
When they weren't arguing, everything was fine. When he coaxed her humbly, he would say sweet words.
But once he got angry, he would be dissolute outside and look down on the women from brothels.
Who was it that had once mentioned her background as a thin horse from Yangzhou?
"I'm from the background of a thin horse from Yangzhou. What's the difference between me and the women around these lords?"
"If your Highness looks down on me, then why are you sitting here tonight? Not only are you surrounded by women, but you're also flirting with them. Aren't you afraid of lowering your own status?"
"You..." Song Yinghuai was instantly overwhelmed by a wave of anger. He lowered his eyes and stared at the table. Suppressed by anger and grievance, he lost control. His breathing became rapid, and his handsome profile tightened into a sharp line.
If it weren't for the matter of Young Master Lan, why would he have been forced by the Crown Prince to board this boat?
If it weren't for making Xu Buyue give up on her own, why would he have pretended to be in a relationship with Lü Baiwei and damaged his own image?
Surrounded by women?
The two top courtesans around him hadn't even gotten close to him. But her!
She was whispering to Sheng Jiangli and let Sheng Jiangli hold her hand!
Didn't she have any sense of propriety?
Or did she always think of Sheng Jiangli as her fiancé in her heart, which was why she was so close to him?
Caiyu had no idea that her identity and Sheng Jiangli's identity had already been exposed to Song Yinghuai.
She felt a pang in her heart when she saw the eye contact between Song Yinghuai and Lü Baiwei.
Hearing Wen Zilong's filthy words slandering her eldest sister just now made her so angry that she lost her mind.
At this moment, whoever tried to stop her was her enemy.
She would attack anyone without discrimination.
Were the master and the servant arguing from afar?
A flash of delight flashed across Lü Baiwei's eyes. She spoke softly to persuade,
"Xuanyao, don't be angry. It's just performing to liven up the atmosphere in front of the lords. It's a common thing at banquets in the past."
Song Chengyuan was enjoying the show. Clapping his hands, he laughed, "That's right! Whether it's the Spring Banquet or the Chrysanthemum - viewing Banquet in the past, the noble ladies in the capital would specially prepare performances for the lords to watch!"
Could it be the same?
At palace banquets or banquets in the upper - class noble circles, those who performed were noble ladies.
It was proper talent.
But tonight, these were all charming prostitutes, singing lewd and lascivious songs.
There was a difference between classes.
Lü Baiwei and Song Chengyuan were obviously twisting the concept.
Caiyu sneered, "Oh, if Concubine Lü can dance, why can't I?"
"Am I more noble than Concubine Lü?"
Even Sheng Jiangli couldn't stand these angry words.
"Sister Caiyu..." Sheng Jiangli said.
"Even General Sheng wants to scold me?" Caiyu didn't wait for him to finish. She suddenly turned her head. The accumulated anger in her heart flared up, and her cheeks flushed red with anger. "Does General Sheng also think that I'm not even worthy of performing a dance?"
Facing the furious expression of the girl, Sheng Jiangli swallowed hard and swallowed back the words of persuasion on the tip of his tongue. He smiled and said,
"No, I was just wondering what dance Sister Caiyu wants to dance. I'll play the accompaniment. I'll play it myself!"
Forget it, forget it.
Let her make a fuss if she wants.
With him and Song Yinghuai here, how could they let her be wronged?
If someone had to be wronged, it would be Song Yinghuai.
Song Chengyuan covered his mouth and giggled. He was so happy that he even looked favorably on Lü Baiwei. He dragged her over and pinched her a few times,
"Good! I've known General Sheng for so long, but this is the first time I've seen the talent of the Commander!"
"Sure enough, a beauty's words work!"
"I have to say, you two are really a perfect match."
"Hurry up! Hurry up!"
Song Chengyuan urged repeatedly. Looking at Song Yinghuai, his eyes were full of provocation. "Fourth brother, don't be so stingy. This time, it's not me who is making things difficult for her. It's her own choice."
Song Yinghuai stared blankly at Caiyu for a moment. He knelt in front of the table, his back straight and stiff.
The anger in his heart was surging, accompanied by a cold sneer at himself.
Let her make a fuss.
Let her make a fuss.
If she wanted to make a fuss, then let her.
For Lan Jinshu, he, Song Yinghuai, had already retreated again and again. He didn't know how many steps he had retreated.
He had already retreated to the point of having no bottom line.
Song Yinghuai slightly lowered his eyes. His long eyelashes covered the disappointed and lonely look in his eyes. His voice returned to its indifferent tone,
"Insolent servant, if you want to make a fuss, then go ahead."
After tonight, everyone in the capital would know.
His weakness, Song Yinghuai's, was Lan Caiyu.
The noble Prince Yan couldn't even order the servant in his mansion.
Sure enough, there was a knowing sneer in everyone's eyes.
Caiyu was stunned by Song Yinghuai's suddenly indifferent attitude. Then a feeling of suffocation welled up in her heart.
It slowly spread from her heart, blocking her chest and throat.
It made it hard for her to breathe.
It was clearly him who had secretly come out to have fun.
His old and new lovers were all here.
She hadn't even settled the score with him yet!
What about the Song Yinghuai who was supposed to belong only to her?
Caiyu blinked her sore eyes, forcing back the tears that were almost falling. She turned to Sheng Jiangli and said,
"General Sheng, I'd like to dance a sword dance called "March of the Generals"."
Sheng Jiangli was shocked. He slightly raised his eyes, and a complex look flashed in them. His heart was filled with mixed feelings.
This piece...
It was a song he had casually sung before leaving the Lan Mansion when his mind was in a mess. He couldn't bear the parting and tossed and turned sleeplessly.
That night, as a young man, he danced with his sword, venting his grievances.
The little girl sat on the stone bench, shaking her head and cheering, not knowing at all that the parting was about to come.
"General Sheng?" Caiyu called out again when she saw him in a daze.
Sheng Jiangli then gathered his thoughts, shaking off the melancholy just now. He nodded with a smile,
"This piece is not well - known, but it's really suitable for Sister Caiyu."
Hating evil and always taking revenge.
Sheng Jiangli stood up and scanned the musical instruments.
He didn't choose any traditional musical instruments of the Great Ye like the guzheng or pipa. Instead, he chose a hudusi placed in the corner.
Sheng Jiangli picked up the musical instrument that was neither a guqin nor a pipa. He smiled and said,
"Forgive me, everyone. I've been living outside the pass for a long time, so I'm more familiar with the musical instruments of the Tatars and the Hu people. So please bear with it!"
This hudusi looked like a pipa and a huqin. It was not commonly seen in the Great Ye, and few people played it, so everyone was full of curiosity and expectation.
Sheng Jiangli plucked the strings and adjusted a few notes casually, indicating that he was ready for Caiyu.
There was another round of laughter around the banquet. Everyone was now looking forward to seeing how Caiyu would make a fool of herself.
She was just a servant girl. At most, she had a stunning face. How good could her dancing be?
Especially...
The dance she had chosen was a sword dance that most women couldn't perform!
A mocking smile played on Lü Baiwei's lips.
This self - important servant girl had chosen such a difficult sword dance in an attempt to take a shortcut.
She was going to see later if Caiyu would make a fool of herself!
Caiyu turned around and gave a cold and charming smile to the crowd full of mockery. With a flick of her sleeve, she walked straight to the open space between the two rows of seats.
They all thought she was overestimating herself.
But she was the daughter of a general's family. After three years in Yangzhou, she might not have learned other things well, but the dance of wielding swords and knives was as natural to her as a fish in water!
When Caiyu walked past Song Yinghuai, a sharp and precious sword twirled out from Song Yinghuai's wrist and was presented in front of her.
Caiyu stared blankly at the man's tense face.
Song Yinghuai said coldly, "Isn't it a sword dance?"
Angry as he was, he noticed that the girl had glanced at Wen Zilong several times and chosen a sword dance.
Xiang Zhuang wields his sword with intent on Liu Bang.
What kind of person was Song Yinghuai? Couldn't he guess what she wanted to do?