Help Xu Buyue pursue the Prince of Yan...
Qingqing was stunned for a long time. Suddenly, a rebellious smile appeared on her face. "Why should I agree to you? Even if I don't, once Brother Sheng gets out, he'll surely look for Sister Caiyu. She'll definitely know I'm still in the Ministry of Justice prison, and then she'll surely find a way to rescue me!"
She wasn't Sheng Jiangli, the prince's romantic rival.
As long as Sister Caiyu said a word and pleaded with the prince, she didn't believe she couldn't get out!
Why should she cooperate with that old fox Xu Ziyi?
Xu Ziyi let out a soft chuckle. "You're a smart girl, calm and rational. But perhaps it's because Sheng Jiangli has been protecting you in the prison these days, so you haven't had the chance to experience the darkness of Daye's prisons..."
He leaned closer to Qingqing sinisterly. "In the Ministry of Justice, I have a hundred ways to make you disappear without a trace... in an instant."
Qingqing looked at his well - defined handsome face and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
The little girl's lips began to tremble. "You... you, you, you. Don't you follow the law?"
"The law?" Xu Ziyi scoffed. "In the Ministry of Justice, I am the law. If I want you dead, you won't live until midnight... Think carefully. Even if Sheng Jiangli finds Caiyu to rescue you, how much time will pass in between? You would have died a hundred times over."
Qingqing let out a wail and burst into tears, as if she had been scared out of her wits. "I don't want to die! You're a bad person!"
"I don't necessarily have to kill you..." Xu Ziyi threatened her slowly. "Agree to my conditions, and you can walk out of here unscathed right away. You can even continue to pursue your beloved. How about it?"
"Why do you insist on the princess marrying the Prince of Yan? The prince will never like the princess!" Qingqing shouted unwillingly.
Xu Ziyi let out a soft chuckle.
Indeed, Song Yinghuai had promised that even if the Xu family's daughter didn't marry into the Prince of Yan's mansion, he would still protect the Xu family.
But how many good men were there in the world?
After they returned from Mulan Mountain Hunting Ground, he noticed that his younger sister often propped her chin on the window sill in a daze. Even when she went to the military camp, she seemed uninterested.
Later, when the Prince of Yan knelt outside the Chengde Hall to be punished, his younger sister was so anxious that she begged him to go to Yangzhou with her to invite their father to the capital.
It was obvious that she was in love.
As an elder brother, he naturally wished for his younger sister to fulfill her wish. Moreover, who wouldn't be happy to have a man like Song Yinghuai as a son - in - law?
He wasn't plotting anything bad. He just wanted to create more opportunities for his younger sister.
Liking someone and pursuing someone was that person's right.
As for whether it would be successful in the end, that was fate.
Xu Ziyi's expression was open and honest. "Whether he likes my younger sister or not is his business. But as an elder brother, I must strive for opportunities for my younger sister. My Xu family's daughter is so outstanding. Isn't the Prince of Yan even a little bit tempted?"
Qingqing was a bit impressed by his straightforwardness.
It was a pity...
"Your straightforwardness is admirable, Lord Xu. But a servant doesn't serve two masters. It's impossible for me to help another woman snatch the man my Sister Caiyu loves while keeping it from her!"
Hearing this, Xu Ziyi raised his eyebrows in surprise.
He didn't expect a girl under sixteen to have such integrity.
Putting aside his own self - interest, he admired this girl.
But was he the kind of person who would give up easily?
Xu Ziyi curled his lips again and further coerced and tempted her. "For Caiyu's sake, are you even willing to give up Sheng Jiangli?"
Qingqing frowned and suddenly turned her head, looking at him warily. "What do you mean? What does this have to do with Brother Sheng and me?"
Xu Ziyi snorted and suddenly said, "The Vermilion Bird Token."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Qingqing's face changed. She looked at him suspiciously.
Xu Ziyi saw all the expressions on her face and chuckled. "I've said that the Ministry of Justice is mine. When you first entered the Ministry of Justice prison and showed the Vermilion Bird Token, someone had already reported to me. You're a member of the Vermilion Bird Camp."
"So what?" Qingqing calmly retorted. "The Vermilion Bird Camp is subordinate to the emperor. It's just an intelligence organization, not some evil cult. Don't try to threaten me with my identity in the Vermilion Bird Camp!"
"Indeed, you haven't done anything bad. But a man is innocent, yet he may be punished for possessing a jade." Xu Ziyi said casually. "Although Sheng Jiangli seems casual and amiable and doesn't care about anything, in fact, people like him care the most about being toyed with by others in their bones."
"You concealed your identity and got close to him and the woman he loves the most..." Xu Ziyi raised his eyebrows. "What do you think his reaction will be if I tell him your identity?"
Qingqing's face visibly paled.
What would his reaction be?
What other reaction could there be?
He would really tell her to get out!
He would never look at her again.
Qingqing scratched the prison door, wiped away her tears, and her expression turned cold and fierce. "I agree to you."
She paused and emphasized, "But let's make it clear first. I'll just create some good opportunities for them. If you want me to do something to harm Sister Caiyu, I'll never agree!"
Xu Ziyi showed a satisfied smile. "It's a deal."
The clouds drifted slowly. The sun was setting in the west. The afterglow gradually faded, and the stars dotted the night sky.
Caiyu walked aimlessly on the street. Her graceful but lonely figure was out of place with the prosperous scenery of the capital.
These days, Song Yinghuai was always elusive. It was rare to meet him, and she didn't know what he was busy with.
That was fine. When she was really bored, she would go out on the street, but she had run into Song Yinghuai and Lü Baiwei together twice.
The first time she met them in the Hefeng Tower, she could still proudly raise her head and argue with Lü Baiwei.
But the second time?
The second time, she stood still on the spot, looking at their backs standing side by side. Then she went up to say hello.
The third time, she didn't even have the courage to say hello. She just watched the two of them sitting in the pavilion by the canal.
Lü Baiwei was smiling charmingly, her face full of radiance. Song Yinghuai's tall back was facing her, and she couldn't see his expression.
But she thought he should be very happy!
Happier than when he was with her.
Because when he was with her, she would only make him pound the table and roar.
She watched them for as long as they sat.
Then, like a possessed person, she went out on the street every day, hoping to run into them again.
Sure enough, she saw them for the fourth time.
That time, she met them in a tailor - shop.
Lü Baiwei was trying on the newly - launched Xiangyun silk for autumn inside. From time to time, she would turn around and look at Song Yinghuai, who was standing not far away with his hands behind his back, as if asking for his opinion on whether it looked good or not.
Song Yinghuai would also nod from time to time in response to her question, looking exactly like a husband accompanying his wife to choose a favorite gift.
Suddenly, a sharp pain hit her chest, as if a dagger was carving deeply and heavily on her heart, causing blood to spurt out.
Caiyu pressed her chest hard. Standing at the other end of the street, she watched the "perfect couple" in the tailor - shop, bending over and gasping for breath. Big tears rolled down her face.
It attracted the attention of passers - by, who all turned their heads to look.
Caiyu thought that after the last argument, she had learned to be calm and rational. But what was going on with these repeated encounters?
Song Yinghuai said he had something to discuss with Lü Baiwei, so he made an appointment with her. But was it always like this?
What kind of business required meeting again and again, constantly doing things that only lovers would do?
Caiyu silently wiped away her tears. By chance, she saw that the outer dress made of Yusi brocade on her body was wet with tears. She couldn't help but let out a desolate scoff.
Hehe!
She remembered that this Yusi brocade was a gift that Song Yinghuai had specially asked Empress Ma for to compensate her.
She didn't expect that in less than three months, his attention had shifted to another woman.
No wonder the nanny in Yangzhou had once said that men were always fickle!
She had just jumped in headfirst!
She really was bringing disaster upon herself!
Caiyu was immersed in memories and wandered aimlessly on the street like a soulless person. Suddenly, a wall of a man blocked her way.