After that, things went unexpectedly smoothly.
Caiyu cooperated like no normal person. She ate whatever was fed to her and took whatever was given.
Even Song Yinghuai wasn't sure if he had overfed her.
He nervously glanced at the large part missing from the bowl.
She had just been heart - broken and physically exhausted. She shouldn't be able to eat that much, right?
He tentatively asked, "… Want more?"
Sure enough, the only answer he got was silence.
Song Yinghuai sighed. Finally, he let go and propped her up half - sitting on the bedside with the quilt, whispering,
"I have some business to attend to outside. I'll be back soon. You stay here obediently and wait for me."
He told the little maid to stay by the bedside, then said to Qingqing, "Come out with me."
Feeling his icy and murderous gaze, Qingqing's heart skipped a beat. Her fingertips gripping the edge of the bowl curled, and she silently walked out.
In the outer courtyard, Song Yinghuai regained his cold expression. His black eyes showed a cold and dangerous light as he coldly said,
"Whose subordinate are you exactly?"
Qingqing knelt down and looked up, insisting, "Your Highness, this slave is from the Vermilion Bird Battalion!"
"Liar!" Song Yinghuai coldly rebuked, "If you were sent by the Emperor, he would never have allowed you to transport the witness who could testify against the Crown Prince into the palace! You can only be someone who has a grudge against the Crown Prince! Come on, whose subordinate are you?"
Qingqing lowered her eyes, gritted her teeth, and finally uttered three words, "Vermilion Bird Battalion…"
"Hehe!" Song Yinghuai let out a very cold laugh, "Ge Qingqing, you're so young but hide things so deeply. You're ambitious and a loyal servant…"
He paused for a moment and said, "I have countless ways to throw you into prison and torture you. I don't believe you won't talk."
The color quickly drained from Qingqing's face.
She certainly knew what a miserable end she would meet if she was really treated as a spy in Song Yinghuai's hands.
"Your Highness, please let this slave serve Sister Caiyu for some more time!" Qingqing pleaded, "This slave never intended to harm her. This slave doesn't know why things turned out like this."
Lv Baiwei's plan was aimed at the Crown Prince.
She had analyzed it, and it was indeed aimed at the Crown Prince.
Why did it end up with Caiyu suffering?
"Your Highness, this slave doesn't know what happened between you two last night, which made Your Highness so angry and Sister Caiyu so desperate." Qingqing said, "But this slave helped Caiyu save the witness because this slave wanted her to get out of the Crown Prince's clutches."
"This slave didn't attend last night's banquet and doesn't know what accident happened between you. But this slave only knows that Sister Caiyu can't take any more blows now."
"If Your Highness wants to arrest this slave and torture this slave in the dungeon, please give this slave some time to accompany Sister Caiyu through this difficult time first!"
After Qingqing finished speaking, she knelt down and kowtowed.
Mentioning Caiyu, Song Yinghuai's hand on the stone table curled into a fist.
At this moment, everything could be put on hold and forgiven for the time being.
Only Caiyu couldn't have any accidents.
Song Yinghuai lowered his eyes. His gaze in the darkness was long and deep. "You can continue to accompany her during this period, but if I find you causing any more trouble, I'll take your life immediately. No one can stop me!"
He stood up and left a cold word, "After Caiyu recovers, find a reason to leave on your own. Consider this my last act of kindness to you."
Hearing this, Qingqing felt as if her heart was being wrung. It was so sour and painful.
It was time to leave…
When Song Yinghuai returned to the bedroom again, he saw Caiyu still in the same position as when he left, half - sitting on the head of the bed.
He quickly strode forward, reached out to help her lie down slowly, and carefully tucked in the quilt for her. "Aren't you tired from sitting like this for so long?"
Seeing that she only closed her eyes slightly, as if she was sleepy, he quickly coaxed, "Go to sleep. I'll stay here and watch you."
Hearing this, Caiyu slowly closed her eyes.
Song Yinghuai was used to taking off his boots and getting into bed, but unexpectedly, as soon as Caiyu sensed someone was about to get into the bed, she immediately opened her eyes and stared at him with big, round eyes.
She seemed very repulsive and vigilant.
Song Yinghuai stopped his action of taking off his boots in mid - air. Slowly, he showed a very soothing smile, put his boots back on, and said, "… I'll just sit and watch."
Only then did Caiyu close her eyes again. Probably really exhausted from the day's events, she soon fell into a deep sleep.
But Song Yinghuai couldn't fall asleep.
He stared at Caiyu's sleeping face, thinking about whether he should secretly get into bed and rest for a while.
However, as soon as he moved, Caiyu turned over, as if she was very uneasy.
He had no choice but to sit by the bedside and watch over her all night.
The next day, when Ji Ming led the little maid in to serve, he saw Song Yinghuai looking haggard, as if he hadn't slept all night. He couldn't help but feel sympathetic.
He had already told the Prince that he couldn't outlast Miss Caiyu, but he had to make things difficult for himself.
"Your Highness, let Qingqing and the others serve you and go down to rest for a while."
Song Yinghuai turned his head and saw that Caiyu had already opened her eyes. Her complexion was much better than yesterday, but he himself was more haggard than Caiyu.
He nodded and gave Caiyu a few instructions.
It was like talking to the air. Helpless, Song Yinghuai had to leave.
As he walked, he told Ji Ming to invite Song Yongzhen and Song Boming, those two fun guys, to amuse Caiyu.
On the last day of August in the 33rd year of Daye, the Tatar envoys arrived in Shangjing as scheduled.
All the citizens of the city flocked to watch. The main city of Daye was filled with fluttering flags and the sounds of drums and music.
The Tatar envoy group slowly entered the city under the guidance of the officers and soldiers.
On both sides of the road, the citizens craned their necks, whispering to each other, curiously sizing up the Tatars who had been at war with Daye for decades.
The Tatar color guard was dressed in gorgeous clothes and riding on tall horses, looking solemn.
In the middle of the team, the camels carrying precious gifts walked with steady steps.
On the city tower, the officials of Daye stood solemnly, their eyes fixed on the slowly advancing team.
No one knew what the future held for this meeting.
The autumn wind suddenly blew up, lifting the gorgeous curtain of the carriage in the middle of the convoy, revealing a stunningly beautiful woman's face.
Xu Ziyi, who was standing on the city tower, suddenly shrank his pupils. His eyes were fixed on that face, and his jaw tightened.
No one noticed that the Minister of Justice of Daye had lost control. His heart was surging like a raging sea.
Lan Jinxiang…
It was really her!
As if sensing something, the woman sitting in the gorgeous carriage looked up from behind the curtain. Her eyes met Xu Ziyi's in the air.
A fierce spark was sparked.
Lan Jinxiang suddenly curled her red lips and gave Xu Ziyi a sweet smile.
A beautiful woman's smile could topple a city.
The citizens and officials on both sides of the road in Daye felt dizzy and almost drunk in the dimple of the new Tatar beauty.
Xiao Rencheng and Song Yinghuai glanced at each other. Looking at the blood - surging pupils of Xu Ziyi, they sighed silently in their hearts.
Second Master, you can't escape!
On both sides of the street, Lan Jinqin, who had been coaxed by her maid to come out and watch the excitement, staggered. She was almost stunned by the huge surprise.
Second Sister…?
In the Prince Yan's Mansion, Song Yongzhen and Song Boming took turns performing two shadow - puppet shows until they were hoarse.
Seeing that Caiyu was still listless and silent, Song Yongzhen was discouraged. He put the shadow puppets back on the stage, sat down beside Caiyu, and sighed,
"Beauty! What's wrong with you?"
"It's only been one night. How did things get like this between you and Brother Four?"
"If you're like this, Brother Four will be crazy with worry."
Caiyu's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly turned her gaze away.
How could she answer Song Yongzhen's question?
Didn't Song Yinghuai want her to be a docile and obedient dodder flower that just stayed in the mansion quietly without causing any trouble?
Shouldn't Song Yinghuai be happy with this situation?
Song Boming said, "Miss Caiyu, the Tatar envoys are entering the city today. All the citizens of the city have gone out to watch the excitement. How about we take you to have a look too?"
Song Yongzhen's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! Let's go and watch the excitement. Watching the excitement will lift your mood. Maybe you'll be interested in talking!"
Caiyu wasn't interested. God knows if Song Yinghuai would think too much if she went out with Song Yongzhen and the others!
But unable to withstand the persistence of the two fun guys, Caiyu was stuffed into the sedan chair and taken to Xuanwu Street…