After three days of rain in Shangjing, the clouds finally dispersed and the rain stopped.
However, the sky was still overcast. The streets were littered with fallen leaves and broken branches that had been battered by the torrential rain. The bluestone slabs were wet, emitting a mist of water vapor.
Caiyu always felt that things were not that simple. Ji Ming and Han Fen looked worried.
Although the Empress Dowager Ma was the mother of the nation, her serious illness was a national matter. But it had little to do with people of Han Fen and Ji Ming's status. It shouldn't have made them look so distressed and anxious.
Unless something had happened to Song Yinghuai.
At this thought, Caiyu's heart tightened.
Brother A'li was still locked up in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. If something also happened to the prince, wouldn't all the people she cared about...
However, judging from the way Han Fen and the others behaved, they must have been instructed to keep silent. She couldn't get any information from them.
She thought about finding a way to sneak out again. But as soon as this idea came to her mind, she remembered the earth - shattering quarrel last time. Finally, she learned her lesson. She endured her anxiety and waited in the mansion. She also tried to fish for information:
"Brother Han, how is the Empress Dowager's condition?" Caiyu asked.
Han Fen and Ji Ming were chatting while guarding the courtyard. Hearing this, they glanced at each other.
Han Fen replied reluctantly, "Probably, there's been no improvement yet. The imperial physicians are all diagnosing and treating her!"
Caiyu let out an "oh" and squinted her eyes slightly.
Han Fen and Ji Ming had been guarding the mansion for the past few days. How could he know the situation in the imperial hospital and the palace? It was obvious that he was just fobbing her off.
Caiyu's heart sank even further. She simply said, "Well, I'd like to go out for a walk. It's been raining for three days. I'm getting moldy staying in the room."
She planned to go to the Qi Prince's Mansion on the street to ask about the situation.
Since the Empress Dowager was seriously ill, there must be news in the mansions of the Qi Prince and the Zhou Prince.
Han Fen and Ji Ming panicked even more.
The news that the prince had been punished in the palace was not a secret. Ordinary officials would be fine, but slaves like Caiyu would surely not be approached for idle chats.
But if she met Wen Zilong, or the Qi Prince, or the Zhou Prince... they would definitely let Caiyu know.
"Miss Caiyu, it's just stopped raining. The ground is wet and slippery. Why don't you go out a day later?" Han Fen suggested reluctantly.
Ji Ming also nodded and said, "Yes, yes, it's more suitable to go out tomorrow."
Maybe the prince would be fine by tomorrow!
Seeing this situation, Caiyu was even more certain that something had happened to Song Yinghuai.
Her chest felt stuffy. She couldn't tell if she was sad or angry.
Since arriving in Shangjing, Song Yinghuai had never explained his actions to her.
She knew that she might have caused trouble with her half - guessed ideas and impatient nature. But she didn't know what Song Yinghuai was really up to!
Maybe Song Yinghuai was trying to protect her, so he always wanted to keep things hidden. But she was a person with thoughts and opinions.
She didn't want to be a dodder flower that was only kept in the mansion and never saw the storms.
She never had the right to live a carefree life.
She needed freedom, needed to save her family, and also needed emotional life other than relying on a man.
Song Yinghuai... didn't understand.
Caiyu pursed her lips. Learning from past lessons, she stopped being willful. Instead, she said gently:
"I can take a carriage or a sedan chair. I'll just take a turn around the city and then come back. I just want to get some fresh air."
"The prince has already lifted my house - arrest. I'm free now. You're not going to stop me from going for a walk on the street, are you?"
She wouldn't even step on the ground. Was that okay?
This...
Ji Ming and Han Fen were at their wits' end. They thought Caiyu was really hard to deceive.
Ji Ming swallowed a mouthful of saliva and reluctantly nodded, "Then, I'll go prepare the sedan chair. Please wait a moment, Miss Caiyu."
Ji Ming thought that maybe taking a sedan chair could prevent her from hearing the news.
He told the sedan - chair carriers to walk quickly all the way.
...
Xuanwu Street in Shangjing was bustling and lively.
In a secluded private room of the Hefeng Tower.
Lü Baiwei looked at Song Yinghuai excitedly, her eyes full of surprise. "Xuanyao, you, you really agreed?"
Song Yinghuai took a sip of the green tea. In contrast to Lü Baiwei's excitement, his expression was cold and aloof:
"Yes, I'm willing to fulfill my promise and work with you to get rid of the crown prince."
"After the crown prince's death, I'll ask Mother to make you the crown princess. In the future, Zhu'er will be the crown prince of Daye."
Listening to his words as if he were talking about the weather, Lü Baiwei couldn't control her excitement. Her breathing became rapid, and her face showed a look of nervousness and excitement. Her mouth was agape in shock, and tears were about to well up in her eyes.
Finally, finally...
He agreed!
She never expected that after all these twists and turns, he would actually agree.
These days, after Song Chengyuan returned to the mansion, he had boasted for a long time about the major events that had happened in the palace and used them to sneer at her.
She never expected that this turn of events would actually be the key for Song Yinghuai to change his mind!
Lü Baiwei took a deep breath and tried her best to suppress her excitement. She said:
"Xuanyao, thank you, thank you..."
She knew it was very difficult to get him to agree. It wasn't just because he wanted to repay the kindness of the Empress Dowager Ma. Once the crown prince died and Song Xiuzhu became the crown prince, his plan to seize the throne would be ruined.
It was so difficult for a man to give up the throne that was almost within his grasp!
The difficulty was no less than an ordinary person trying to become an immortal.
Song Yinghuai's eyebrows were cold. "There's no need to thank me. We're just cooperating for mutual benefit."
"What are your conditions, Xuanyao?" Lü Baiwei wasn't stupid. For Song Yinghuai to agree to go against the oath of the Empress Dowager Ma and kill the crown prince, he must have some conditions.
Song Yinghuai tightened his grip on the teacup and said in a deep voice:
"You must be useful by the crown prince's side. Before the crown prince dies, find out where Young Master Lan is hiding for me."
"After Zhu'er ascends the throne, you only need to do one thing for me - rehabilitate the Lan family."
"In the future, I'll do my best to assist Zhu'er in becoming a wise ruler. I'll eliminate all obstacles at the border and pacify all internal rebellions in the vassal states, so that he can be an emperor in a peaceful and prosperous era."
It wasn't that he couldn't seize the throne himself.
But since he was going to break his promise to the Empress Dowager Ma, he didn't dare to forget her nurturing kindness. After the crown prince's death, to console the Empress Dowager Ma, he was willing to give up his plan to seize the throne and support Song Chengyuan's own son to the throne.
In this way, it could be regarded as his compensation for this agreement.
It was just for the matter of the Lan family?
Lü Baiwei couldn't believe her ears.
He was giving up the competition for the throne just for Caiyu's matter?
Looking at the man's determined and handsome face, at this moment, Lü Baiwei couldn't tell whether she envied or was jealous of Caiyu.
She also wanted Song Xuanyao to make such selfless dedication to her!
Why wasn't this kind of doting directed at her?
But in the end, in her heart, the desire for power outweighed love.
Lü Baiwei readily agreed. "Don't worry. As long as Zhu'er ascends the throne, the case of the Lan family will be settled. The truth will surely come to light!"
"In that case, I just hope that Lady Lü will remember today's agreement. I, Song, thank you in advance."
...
Caiyu took a turn around the street in the sedan chair. She found that the common people were behaving as usual, and there was no imperial edict on the bulletin board at the city gate calling for famous doctors from all over the country.
The guards, generals, and the maids and eunuchs going in and out at the foot of the imperial city also looked very calm.
She felt more at ease.
Presumably, the Empress Dowager Ma was fine, and nothing had happened to Song Yinghuai either.
Otherwise, there would surely be some abnormal behavior.
Maybe she had over - thought.
Once she relaxed, her appetite, which she had lost in the past few days, came back. She lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and saw that the Hefeng Tower was right in front.
"Manager Ji, I'm hungry." Caiyu leaned out and shouted to Ji Ming outside.
Ji Ming looked up at the sign of the Hefeng Tower and hesitated, "Miss Caiyu, why don't we go back to the mansion? I'll ask the servants to prepare food."
There were so many people in the restaurant, and the walls had ears. What if...
But now that Caiyu was at ease, she didn't care about hearing any news, nor did she have the mind to inquire. She had just been feeling bored these days, and suddenly felt hungry. Her stomach was growling.
"Let's just eat at the Hefeng Tower." Caiyu pouted and acted coquettishly. "I'm so hungry. I can't wait to get back to the mansion. Brother Ji, I'm really starving!"
Who could resist this kind of coquetry!
Ji Ming was called "brother", and he immediately nodded. "Okay, okay, the Hefeng Tower it is!"
Caiyu happily got off the sedan chair and walked into the building.
To avoid the crowds and gossips, Ji Ming asked for a private room on the second floor.
Who would have thought that just as they reached the corner of the second floor, they saw two people walking downstairs hand in hand.
The man was tall and straight, with a graceful and elegant figure.
The woman was wearing a silver - threaded embroidered hundred - flower dress, looking charming, gentle, and elegant like a lotus flower.
Ji Ming was stunned.
Wasn't this the prince and Lü Baiwei...?