The glacial gaze from above felt almost tangible.
Caiyu clung to Song Yinghuai's trouser legs with her mud - smeared hands. Her small face, spattered with mud, was pressed tightly against his leg muscles. She didn't dare to look up at all.
Qingqing was stuck halfway in the dog - hole, unable to move forward or backward. Stuttering, she said, "P...P...Prince..."
Song Yinghuai looked down at his immaculate moon - white robe, now ruined by Caiyu. His fury flared up again.
"Han Fen! Take her back! Tell Ning Shi to strengthen the guard. If anyone lets her out again, they'll receive fifty army canes themselves!"
Song Yinghuai yanked his leg hard.
Caiyu hugged his leg desperately, not letting him go. She accused, "Prince! If you won't let this servant plead for mercy, can't I find my own way?"
"Heh!" Song Yinghuai's heart grew colder with each word. "You've really gone to great lengths for Sheng Jiangli. You're even willing to crawl through a dog - hole. Who would believe there's nothing between you two?"
He showed no more mercy and pulled his leg free.
Caiyu missed her hold and fell onto the grass. Her palms stung sharply.
Song Yinghuai's gaze landed on the streak of bright red oozing from the grass. His hand at his side suddenly clenched into a fist.
Then, he paused slightly, turned around, and strode away without looking back.
The light in Caiyu's eyes dimmed little by little, like a rose in the afterglow, withering silently, leaving only a calm of changing colors.
Han Fen, Ning Shi and the others finally took Caiyu back to the room and repaired the dog - hole.
The walls of the Yan Prince's Mansion now seemed like towering mountains pressing on Caiyu's heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
Seeing Caiyu's dejected look, Qingqing gritted her teeth and turned to leave, but was stopped by Ning Shi.
"What? You're stopping me too?" Qingqing demanded aggressively with her hands on her hips. "The prince only ordered Sister Caiyu to be confined. He didn't say the same for me. Why are you stopping me?"
Ning Shi took two steps back after being scolded.
It seemed... she was right.
He silently stepped aside.
Qingqing snorted and stormed out of the Yan Prince's Mansion.
Since Caiyu couldn't get out, she had to try on her own.
The prison of the Ministry of Justice was not easy to enter, but Qingqing showed her Vermilion Bird Token and walked in as if there was no one around.
The gloomy and putrid smell in the prison made her wrinkle her nose.
Qingqing followed the jailer inside. From afar, she heard voices from the cell:
"Checkmate!"
"Double - ghost Attack!"
"General!"
Qingqing rushed to the cell door curiously. There she saw Sheng Jiangli and Xiao Rencheng sitting cross - legged on the straw pile. In the middle was a makeshift chessboard made of stones chipped from the prison wall.
The two were playing Chinese chess.
Qingqing was instantly speechless.
These two didn't seem worried at all.
"Brother Sheng." Qingqing grabbed the cell door and called out.
Sheng Jiangli lazily turned his head and looked up. Then he hooked his lips and smiled, "You little rascal. What are you doing in a place like this?"
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Qingqing suddenly felt so angry that her teeth itched.
She and Caiyu were as anxious as ants on a hot pan outside. Caiyu had even offended the prince because of this, and the conflict between them had intensified.
He, on the other hand, was sitting in the prison playing chess!
"I'm here to see if you're dead!" Qingqing was so angry that she wanted to rush in and bite him.
Sheng Jiangli threw the stone in his hand, stood up, and walked to the cell door. Looking at her through the iron bars, a charming smile appeared on his face:
"Almost. After Lord Xu reports to the emperor in court tomorrow, I guess I'll be dead soon. Why are you in such a hurry... It's only one day away."
Qingqing blurted out, "I'm not in a hurry. I don't want you to die!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Sheng Jiangli let out a low, teasing laugh from his throat.
Qingqing realized she had been tricked and quickly shut up. She glared at him angrily.
Xiao Rencheng, sitting on the straw pile, looked at the two of them and his eyes showed a look of sudden realization.
After being angry for a while, Qingqing still turned to the main topic worriedly. "Sister Caiyu wanted to come herself, but the prince locked her up..."
"That bastard Song Yinghuai!" Sheng Jiangli cursed.
Qingqing continued, "Sister Caiyu came up with an idea. She wants to know if you have any handle on the crown prince. She's willing to negotiate with the crown prince on your behalf."
After Qingqing's words, Xiao Rencheng's ears perked up.
As the Left Censor - in - Chief of the Censorate, the handle on the crown prince... was such an alluring piece of evidence for him.
Sheng Jiangli stood inside the cell. His long eyelashes half - covered his deep eyes. The arc of his raised eye - ends showed a bit of coldness and thoughtfulness. He stared intently at Qingqing's face without saying a word.
Qingqing's heart was pounding like a drum. She tried her best to keep a calm face and looked into Sheng Jiangli's eyes with a sincere look.
After a while, she heard Sheng Jiangli's lazy voice:
"No. If I had something to threaten the crown prince, why would I be out in the frontier, fighting with real swords and guns?"
Qingqing's heart sank gradually. A look of disappointment flashed across her face. Then tears welled up in her eyes:
"Then, is there anything else I can do to save you?"
Seeing her pouting, trying hard not to cry, but her shoulders twitching slightly, indicating her real anxiety, Sheng Jiangli's cold heart couldn't help but ache.
He took another step forward, got close to the iron bars, and reached out his big hand to ruffle her hair.
This time, he didn't scold the little girl or play tricks on her. Instead, he asked seriously, "Why are you crying? Don't you have any confidence in me?"
The man's rare tenderness was like a stone thrown into a crack in a seal, instantly shattering Qingqing's shaky shield.
The little girl suddenly squatted on the ground, covering her head and crying loudly.
Big tears kept falling on the prison floor, wetting a large area in front of her.
Xiao Rencheng couldn't bear it anymore and urged Sheng Jiangli, "Hey! Comfort her! She's crying so sadly..."
Sheng Jiangli turned to him, blinked his eyes, and looked blank. "Can't you tell I was just comforting her? But she cried even harder."
Xiao Rencheng's mouth twitched wildly. "I really doubt that your title of 'Charming General of the Frontier' was self - proclaimed."
Sheng Jiangli actually nodded seriously and admitted, "It was really self - boasting. I'm actually still a virgin."
Xiao Rencheng: "…Get lost… Forget it. Try to comfort her again. Her crying is giving me a headache."
Sheng Jiangli chuckled and squatted down along the iron bars. He reached out his finger.
He poked through the iron bars and lifted the little girl's tear - stained face.
The little girl's chin was held by his finger, but her head kept sinking down. She just wouldn't look up, only making low, stifled sobs, like a helpless child, extremely lonely.
Sheng Jiangli's slightly rough fingertips wiped randomly on her face and said, "Stop crying. Don't worry. I won't die."
"You're lying to me." Qingqing accused. "I know you've never valued your life. For Sister Caiyu, you'll value it even less."
Sheng Jiangli scoffed, "You make it sound like you know me well... If I didn't value my life, I would've died countless times in the frontier. If I didn't value my life, I'd just end up here. Who would stand up for Caiyu when she's bullied in the future? I value my life the most. So you don't need to worry. I'll get out safely."
Qingqing widened her eyes and examined his expression. Seeing his serious look, something she had never seen before, she finally wavered:
"Really?"
"Really." The man's finger caressed her face, leaving rough marks. "If I end up here this time, you can be as angry as you want. I promise I won't talk back."
Qingqing couldn't help but burst out laughing. "If you're dead, even if I scold you, do you still have the ability to talk back?"
He was really so unserious!
But the worries in her heart were diluted by Sheng Jiangli's joking.
Maybe he really had a plan in mind, which was why he entered the prison!
After leaving the Ministry of Justice, Qingqing didn't return to the Yan Prince's Mansion.
She wiped the tears from her face. The childish look on her face disappeared, replaced by a fierce expression.
With a solemn face, she walked quickly towards the Crown Prince's Mansion...