Song Yinghuai's decision shocked everyone.
Caiyu blurted out, "My lord, why?"
Why was Maid Mei only lightly handed back to Lü Baiwei for disposal, while Qingqing had to receive such a severe punishment?
Xu Buyue also looked at Song Yinghuai in surprise, not understanding his decision.
Only Sheng Jiangli's eyes flickered slightly. He seemed to be deep in thought and said nothing.
It seemed that the Prince of Yan had the same thought as him. He thought that this Qingqing had begun to show her dangerous nature and didn't want to keep her by Caiyu's side any longer.
Qingqing was so excited that she almost jumped up. "My lord! Since it's supposed to be an equal punishment for both sides, why is the punishment for this servant so different from Maid Mei's?"
A cold light shot out from Song Yinghuai's pitch - black eyes. Qingqing instantly felt a bone - chilling cold. He said slowly, "You know it yourself."
Qingqing had tried to kill Maid Mei. But now he was cooperating with Lü Baiwei. Even though Maid Mei was annoying, she couldn't meet with any accident at this time.
Qingqing had hindered his plan, so he had to send her away.
He didn't expose the truth because Caiyu valued Qingqing too much.
In the capital, Caiyu only had this one close friend. If she knew that this friend was actually a scheming spy, she would surely be deeply hurt.
It was better for him to be the bad guy. He would send Qingqing away first. As for what happened later, he would make a long - term plan after this plague was over.
Qingqing couldn't help shivering and silently lowered her head. Her heart was pounding wildly.
The Prince of Yan... had he seen that she had tried to kill Maid Mei in the water?
But—
When she raised her eyes again, her eye circles were still red.
She had wanted to kill Maid Mei, but she had no intention of harming Caiyu.
She had been unrestrained since childhood. Although she had spied on a lot of information for Lü Baiwei to repay a kindness, she didn't want to be controlled by others.
Especially Maid Mei, that snobbish old slave. She had disliked her for a long time.
Today she had been too harsh, but it was because Maid Mei had deliberately provoked and slandered Caiyu.
She had been overcome by a sudden urge to kill...
She silently loosened her fingertips that were on Caiyu's back. She only raised her eyes to look at Sheng Jiangli one more time.
If she couldn't hide it from the Prince of Yan, she probably couldn't hide it from Sheng Jiangli either.
But she still held on to a glimmer of hope, hoping that Sheng Jiangli would have pity on her.
She really had no intention of harming Caiyu.
When Sheng Jiangli met the little girl's extremely sad eyes, his heart suddenly tightened.
Then, he coldly turned his gaze away.
He had always been hard - hearted. Except for Caiyu, no one could influence his stance.
Seeing Sheng Jiangli like this, Qingqing's eyes became even more dim.
She quietly moved her feet and stepped back a little to one side. She walked out from behind Caiyu, lowered her head, and said in a voice as thin as a broken string:
"This servant will accept the punishment."
The little girl's voice was like a wronged meow. It made Sheng Jiangli turn his head again. Looking at her lowered head, his expression was tangled.
This naughty girl...
She must be doing it on purpose to arouse his pity.
Han Fen had already approached Qingqing and was about to take her away for punishment.
But Caiyu got anxious. She stepped in front of Qingqing like a little beast protecting its cubs. She glared at Han Fen fiercely and said, "How dare you!"
Han Fen swallowed hard and helplessly turned to look at Song Yinghuai.
He really didn't dare.
Caiyu looked at Song Yinghuai. Her heart was densely filled with pain. "My lord, this servant wants an explanation."
"If both Qingqing and Maid Mei have made mistakes and should be punished, this servant has nothing to say."
"But my lord is only punishing Qingqing. This servant is not convinced!"
Song Yinghuai's eyes were as black as lacquer, full of coldness. There was not a trace of warmth in his eyebrows. He only coldly retorted:
"Are you going to argue with me again like you did last time in the mansion to protect that little girl?"
Mentioning that little girl, a sudden chill slowly climbed up Caiyu's back.
That faint fragrance of ink seemed to waft into her nose again.
Bad memories instantly flooded her mind.
A lump formed in her throat and a stabbing pain welled up in her chest. It was as if her chest was tightly blocked by cotton wool. Her breathing lost its rhythm. She looked at him with red eyes and couldn't say a word.
How could he... mention this again?
Didn't he know that she actually cared a lot about this?
These days, she had been telling herself that it was all in the past.
Don't mention it. No one should mention it.
She had forgotten that humiliation, and he should forget their argument. They could just start over.
But it seemed that they couldn't start over.
After that incident, there seemed to be a thicker barrier between them.
One thing after another came one after another. Not only did they not have the opportunity to forget the argument, but the misunderstanding and suspicion had also deepened.
And he actually mentioned that incident again.
Song Yinghuai's words made Sheng Jiangli narrow his eyes slightly. His black eyes scanned back and forth between them.
What exactly had happened between these two when he was in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment?
Why did Sister Shu'er's face suddenly look so ugly, as if she was about to faint?
Caiyu trembled her lips and retorted, "My lord... are you really going to scold this servant again like last time?"
Song Yinghuai's breath suddenly caught in his throat. He couldn't say a word for a long time.
Her retort meant that she was going to stick to her own opinion.
Even if she was caught having drawings and words on her back again, she would still protect Qingqing.
Thinking of the cold war between Caiyu and himself after that incident, he felt extremely uncomfortable.
Song Yinghuai looked at her for a long time. Meeting her stubborn eyes, he couldn't make a decision for a long time.
At this moment, the atmosphere became extremely silent and stalemate.
The river behind the mountain made the sound of surging water.
Maid Mei was sitting on the ground wrapped in a cloak.
Song Yinghuai was probably deliberately using this as an opportunity to punish her. He didn't order anyone to send her back to the back temple immediately. So she had to shiver in the mountain wind in her cold, wet clothes under the cloak.
Xu Buyue felt that even when Song Yinghuai and Caiyu were arguing, there didn't seem to be room for a third person between them. She seemed to have nothing to say.
As for Qingqing, she always kept her head down. Her small body was hidden in the darkness, looking even thinner and more pitiful.
Suddenly, Sheng Jiangli finally broke the silence:
"Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, Qingqing was brought here by this general. As a soldier under this general, she disguised herself as a man, fought, and caused trouble... It's all because this general didn't discipline her strictly enough."
"This general will take her ten lashes. As for her, this general will personally send her down the mountain after receiving the punishment!"
"Brother Sheng!"
"General Sheng!"
As soon as Sheng Jiangli's voice fell, Qingqing and Caiyu's voices sounded at the same time. They looked at him in shock.
"Brother Sheng! I don't want you to take the punishment for me!" Qingqing became excited. "I'll accept the punishment myself!"
She just wanted Sheng Jiangli to feel sorry for her, but she didn't want him to be whipped in her place.
"General Sheng, I also disagree. My lord's handling is unfair. I won't allow anyone to receive this punishment!" Caiyu was also anxious.
Why should it end up with Sheng Jiangli bearing the final consequence?
But Sheng Jiangli intended to get it over with quickly. He simply turned around and urged Song Yinghuai:
"Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, it's urgent to control the plague. We don't need to waste too much time on this fight between two women..."
"Whether they object or make a fuss, women just talk too much. They're so indecisive. It's better for us men to be more straightforward. Let's just do what we should do and ignore them."
This way, he could spare Qingqing the physical pain and also give Song Yinghuai a way out.
Song Yinghuai looked deeply at Sheng Jiangli. He no longer paid attention to Qingqing and Caiyu's fierce opposition. He simply nodded and said, "I owe you one... Han Fen!"
Han Fen immediately stepped forward. Sheng Jiangli walked with his head held high and strode towards the training ground of Qixia Temple.
He didn't look like a man going to receive punishment at all. Instead, he looked like a man who had just won a battle.
Qingqing watched his back as he walked away without looking back. She burst into tears and chased after him at once.
He was going to take the punishment for her!
He was going to personally send her down the mountain...
Brother Sheng, wait for me...