The glazed tiles of the imperial city sparkled with a golden glow in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The ancient and solemn palaces were ablaze with excitement because of a grand awards banquet. The air was filled with a blend of joy and solemnity.
Caiyu was escorted into the palace by Han Fen.
This was her second time entering the palace since she became Lan Caiyu.
If her first time was filled with excitement and curiosity, this time, she felt a mix of anticipation and fear.
"Where's the prince?" In this state of mind, her first reaction was to hope that Song Yinghuai would be by her side.
Only by his side could she find the strength to face the major events that were about to unfold.
Only by seeing him could she immediately witness his reaction to the shocking news she was about to announce.
Han Fen tilted his mouth, gesturing for her to look behind. "You're about to enter the palace. The prince canceled his social engagements with other ministers early on and is waiting for you in the imperial garden."
Caiyu turned around and saw the tall figure of the man standing right behind her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Your Highness!" Caiyu was in a good mood tonight. Breaking away from her usual coldness on Qixia Mountain, an excited smile appeared on her face, which also lifted Song Yinghuai's spirits.
The anxiety that had hung over him all day finally eased a bit.
However, he didn't show his happiness on his face. He still remembered that Caiyu had spent another night alone on the mountain with Sheng Jiangli.
He gave Caiyu a casual glance and noticed that she seemed more energetic than usual. He felt a twinge of jealousy.
Hadn't she just spent a day with Sheng Jiangli? Why did she seem happier than when she was with him?
Was there really nothing going on between the two of them?
He gritted his teeth and asked in a deep voice, "What was wrong with you yesterday?"
Caiyu felt a twinge of guilt. Her excited expression faded a bit, and she stammered, "... Well, it's just that my monthly period came..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt that Song Yinghuai's expression had changed. The air turned cold and heavy.
The man's dark eyes darkened, and the jealousy he had just suppressed threatened to resurface.
What monthly period?
Wasn't her monthly period just half a month ago?
Caiyu knew she was in trouble.
How could she forget that Song Yinghuai remembered her monthly cycle!
For a moment, she stood there, staring blankly at Song Yinghuai.
Song Yinghuai clenched his fists by his side and frowned. "Lan Caiyu, have you gotten used to lying?"
Facing the man's piercing and knowing gaze, Caiyu swallowed nervously.
She didn't want to lie either.
After tonight, she wouldn't have to weave any more lies.
Once the crown prince fell, her younger brother was rescued, and the Lan family's name was cleared...
As long as she got through tonight, she would never lie to him again, okay?
She would tell him that she remembered the lotus flower she gave him when she was six years old and that she remembered seeing him off from the city wall that day.
She also wanted to ask him when he would pay back the candied haws he owed her.
So, please let her be willful just one more time!
Caiyu's eyes flickered. Biting her lips, she said boldly, "Yes, it's because I was tired on the mountain and in a bad mood, so my monthly cycle got messed up..."
Song Yinghuai was taken aback.
Could the monthly cycle really get messed up?
He had no idea!
So had he wrongly accused this girl?
Recalling what happened on the mountain, this girl, as a woman, had been assigned by him to do the most difficult and tiring jobs, like building walls in the front temple and then serving Lu Baiwei, whom she disliked, in the back temple...
Looking at her lowered head, the excitement on her face just now seemed to have been doused by a bucket of cold water because of his attitude.
She looked dejected and listless.
Song Yinghuai suddenly felt extremely guilty.
He had been too harsh and neglectful of her these days.
Even her monthly cycle had been messed up because of him. No wonder she had been in so much pain yesterday that she didn't want to go down the mountain.
The man looked at Caiyu. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. Finally, he softened his tone and said gently, "... I've neglected your well - being. When we get back, I'll have someone take care of you. Take good care of yourself. Don't overwork, and don't go to strange places to cause trouble anymore."
For every word Song Yinghuai said, Caiyu nodded obediently.
After so long, they seemed to have returned to the way they were when they first met.
Caiyu was surprisingly obedient, which soothed Song Yinghuai's anxious heart.
At this moment, the central square of the imperial garden, filled with colorful flowers, was already filled with sumptuous feasts. On the golden dragon throne, the five - clawed golden dragon seemed to soar into the sky.
The ministers of the Prince of Yan's faction, such as Xiao Rencheng and Xiang Fengzhu, wore happy expressions on their faces.
In contrast, the members of the crown prince's faction looked dejected.
Led by Wen Zilong, they all looked as defeated as roosters that had lost a fight.
Wen Zilong found Xiao Rencheng's smug look extremely annoying. He raised his wine cup and walked over to provoke him. "Congratulations, Lord Xiao, on taking in a new beauty. Are you satisfied with Miss Lan?"
Hearing this, Xiao Rencheng's sharp eyes instantly turned as cold as knives. His gaze landed on Wen Zilong like a physical force, almost piercing him all over. "What new beauty? She's my fiancée. I cherish her like a precious gem. Unlike some people who only treat pearls like fish eyes and let the bright pearls be covered in dust!"
Since they were in the imperial garden, Xiao Rencheng had been very polite and didn't utter any swear words. But Wen Zilong was still as stubborn as ever. Unwilling to let go of the fact that his woman had been taken away, he sneered defiantly:
"I heard that Lord Xiao has hidden my ex - wife, who was cast off by me, in the Wutong Courtyard like a precious pearl..."
He raised his voice and laughed mockingly. "I didn't know that Lord Xiao has a preference for married women. No wonder you're over thirty and still unmarried. So you've been waiting for the cast - off shoes I've discarded!"
"Ah!" As soon as Wen Zilong finished speaking, he was knocked to the ground. The wine in his hand spilled all over his head!
Wen Zilong fell to the ground and shouted in embarrassment, attracting everyone's attention.
Caiyu stood in front of him, pretending to be flustered. "S - sorry, this slave deserves to die! This slave has offended your lordship!"
Her eyes were like fire as she stared at Wen Zilong.
Scumbag!
Wasn't the last lesson enough for him? His mouth was like a cesspool, and every word that came out of it stank!
How could such a person be in the court?
Miss Lan!
When Wen Zilong saw Caiyu, he immediately lost his temper, just like a dud firecracker.
He remembered the time when his hair was shaved bald at the banquet on the wine boat. A chill suddenly ran down his spine.
Although Caiyu was his former younger sister - in - law and he had controlled her for a few years, he knew very well that Caiyu was no longer under his control.
That day, the Prince of Yan had publicly announced in front of the crown prince that he had taken Caiyu!
Although Caiyu was just a slave now, he couldn't afford to offend her!
Wen Zilong swallowed hard and waved away Caiyu's outstretched hand. He said grudgingly,
"A magnanimous person doesn't bother with a petty one. I... forgive you!"
"Thank you, Lord Wen, for your magnanimity!" Caiyu said with a smile. "Lord Wen is truly the most magnanimous man in Daye. He can even let his wife go to another man. How could he bother with a little slave like me?"
As soon as Caiyu finished speaking, whispers of laughter erupted around them.
Wen Zilong's face turned red and then white. He glared at Caiyu in embarrassment and anger. "This little slave has a sharp tongue!"
"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Wen. This slave is really flattered to receive such high praise from the Minister of War." Caiyu shamelessly accepted Wen Zilong's "compliment."
Wen Zilong was so angry with Caiyu's sharp tongue that he was about to burst. He wanted to make things difficult for her, but the Prince of Yan was standing not far away, glaring at them.
Forget it.
Wen Zilong, a coward, admitted defeat and quickly asked the palace servants to lead him away to change his official robe.
Who would have thought that just as he was about to step out of the imperial garden, the shrill voice of Eunuch Cen suddenly rang out:
"His Majesty is here!"
The entire imperial garden fell silent instantly. All eyes were focused on the figure in the dragon - robe.
As Emperor Guangwu walked forward with steady steps, Caiyu could hear her heart beating clearly.