"Miss Second, you're overstating things," Song Yinghuai said.
Song Yinghuai felt a dense layer of cold sweat breaking out on his back. His gaze kept darting in Caiyu's direction.
He saw the little lass's eyes flickering as she avoided his gaze.
It was obvious that she wasn't going to stand up for him.
Not only would she not speak up for him, but she might have even just specifically complained to Lan Jinxiang about his misdeeds.
Song Yinghuai couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth.
In the past, whenever Caiyu saw him being attacked, she would stand up for him without hesitation, like a mother hen protecting her chicks. Even at the Empress Ma's birthday banquet, she had risked offending Emperor Guangwu just to defend him.
But this time, in the face of an attack from his second sister-in-law, she chose to remain silent.
The contrast between Caiyu's former loving attitude towards him and her current behavior made Song Yinghuai's heart grow increasingly flustered.
He took a deep breath and said sincerely, "Miss Second, don't misunderstand. I regard Yu'er as my wife. How could I ever think of her as a servant?"
"Since Your Highness regards my younger sister as your wife, then I'd like to ask, where did the obvious bruise on her wrist come from?" Lan Jinxiang's voice was sharp and aggressive. "Did you do it?"
The bruise on Caiyu's wrist was so obvious that Lan Jinxiang noticed it at a glance.
But when she asked how it happened, Caiyu stubbornly refused to say.
It was only when Sheng Jiangli asked with a gloomy face if it was Song Yinghuai who did it that she found out that the most beloved little girl of the Lan family had actually become the bed warmer for His Highness the Prince of Yan!
Lan Jinxiang immediately flew into a rage!
Before she could even vent her anger, she learned that her most respected elder sister had become Xiao Rencheng's concubine!
The fiery-tempered Lan Jinxiang was so angry that she almost grabbed a knife to kill someone. But unexpectedly, the two men walked right into her path.
Miss Second of the Lan family was the most independent and opinionated woman in the Lan family. Without hesitation, she started scolding first.
If the glares that Miss Second of the Lan family shot at Song Yinghuai could turn into substance, they would surely pierce him all over.
Looking at the bruise on Caiyu's wrist, Song Yinghuai remembered the misdeeds he had committed last night. His heart ached dully, and he didn't hesitate to admit his guilt.
"Yes, it's my fault. I'm willing to accept any punishment Yu'er gives me. Whether she beats me or scolds me, I'll take it. But I will never let her go with you!"
Lan Jinxiang curled her lips. "That's not up to Your Highness the Prince of Yan. Just now, Your Highness said that you regard my younger sister as your wife. May I ask, is there any wife in the world who doesn't even have the freedom to move?"
"Is there any younger sister in the world who wants to stay with her family for one night, but her husband would stop her?"
"Your Highness the Prince of Yan, I don't think you really regard her as your wife. You just see her as your property!"
"Moreover, you two aren't even married yet. Without the proper matchmaker and marriage certificate, you've already branded my younger sister as your slave. If my younger sister really unfortunately marries you, I'm afraid you'll cut off all her ties with the Lan family in the future. You won't let her go back, won't let her visit, and won't even let her think about it!"
These words made Song Yinghuai's face turn pale. He stood there, stunned.
He really wanted to deny what Lan Jinxiang said.
But he had to admit that his behavior towards Caiyu and Sheng Jiangli was exactly as she described.
Caiyu had also expressed similar thoughts during their several arguments.
Not only did Song Yinghuai not allow Caiyu to get close to Sheng Jiangli, but he couldn't even stand her looking at him or caring about him more.
Song Yinghuai, who had always prided himself on being eloquent, couldn't refute a single word.
Seeing the man standing there pale-faced and silent, Lan Jinxiang felt no sympathy at all. She still sneered.
"Your Highness the Prince of Yan, are you speechless?"
"I'll just ask you, my younger sister doesn't want to go back to the Prince of Yan's Mansion today. Is that okay or not?"
Okay or not?
Under the intense questioning, Song Yinghuai felt a strange taste for the first time, as if he had swallowed all the snake gallbladders in the world. The bitterness was unbearable. He wanted to spit it out but had to swallow it hard.
After a long while, he finally opened his mouth slowly with red eyes. "… Okay."
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately asked, "Yu'er, I'll come to pick you up tomorrow."
Caiyu was startled and instinctively looked at him.
That look made Song Yinghuai's heart sink suddenly.
There was neither surprise nor anger in her eyes, but fear.
The "snake gallbladder" he had just swallowed seemed to burst in his mouth again.
Yu'er... was actually afraid to go back with him?
Just thinking that Caiyu was now afraid of him, Song Yinghuai couldn't help but clench his fists tightly. He suppressed the emotions in his heart, and his clear voice was tinged with a hint of bitterness.
"I'll come again tomorrow."
As Caiyu watched Song Yinghuai's back as he left, she inexplicably felt that it looked a bit heavy.
She slightly parted her red lips. She was a bit impulsive to call out to him, but in the end, she still didn't make a sound.
Forget it.
Just as her second sister had scolded just now.
Maybe... they were just destined to be apart!
After Song Yinghuai left, Lan Jinxiang wanted to take Lan Jinqin away.
Lan Jinqin hesitated for a moment. She glanced at the man's gloomy and handsome face, but still couldn't resist the desire to catch up with her second sister. She decided to follow.
Xiao Rencheng stepped in front of the two women.
He lowered his eyes and looked at the woman's delicate face.
She lowered her head because of avoidance. She didn't dare to look directly at Xiao Rencheng and didn't dare to speak.
So Xiao Rencheng spoke first. "Madam, I just want to ask one thing. Are you going there to visit your relatives or are you not coming back?"
Lan Jinqin pursed her lips. A look of entanglement flashed across her face. She didn't know how to answer.
She wasn't unaware of how considerate Xiao Rencheng had been to her these days.
She didn't understand what about her had attracted him.
But she knew that there was no possibility between them.
Although Xiao Rencheng came from a humble background, he was now a high-ranking court official and a close minister to the emperor. He held great power.
And she was a woman who had been married once.
Although it wasn't unheard of for a woman to remarry after a divorce, it was still not as good as a virgin.
Which close minister to the emperor would marry a woman who had been married twice?
Moreover, her former husband was Wen Zilong, a colleague of Xiao Rencheng and also a high-ranking court official.
If Emperor Guangwu found out, he would surely be extremely angry.
This was just one reason.
In addition, the Xiao family had only one male heir for three generations. There were few people in the family, and only his mother in the countryside hadn't been brought to the capital yet.
The old lady had originally planned to move to the capital to enjoy the happiness of having grandchildren when Xiao Rencheng got married and established his career.
But her body had suffered from uterine cold since the year when she was designed by Wen Zilong and fell into the water after encountering bandits.
She was already weak, and after that heavy blow, her condition worsened.
Not only could she not give him a child, but the doctor said that she might not live as long as an ordinary person.
It was better for her not to drag him down.
Seeing that she didn't say a word, Xiao Rencheng didn't urge her. As usual, he just patiently waited for her to speak when she wanted to.
After a long time, Lan Jinxiang finally couldn't bear it anymore. "Elder sister, the official posthouse is only two streets away from Wutong Courtyard. Moreover, I'm going to stay in the capital for quite a few days. If you leave and then miss it, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to move back."
"Am I a tiger? If you don't want to go back to Tartary with me, do you think I'll kidnap you?"
Lan Jinqin blushed. "You're so aggressive as soon as you open your mouth... Alright, alright. Then I'll go to the official posthouse with you first. I haven't seen you for many years, and I have a lot of things I want to ask you!"
Lan Jinxiang happily hugged Lan Jinqin's arm. "I knew it! How could your second sister's status be lower than this dog man? Let's go, let's go!"
She looked at Xiao Rencheng provocatively, indicating for him to get out of the way.
Xiao Rencheng chuckled and said to Caiyu, "Miss Third also plans to go to the official posthouse?"
Caiyu hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
She also wanted to hear about her second sister's experiences over the years, so she wanted to go to the official posthouse.
Xiao Rencheng's gaze then swept over Sheng Jiangli and Xu Ziyi.
Needless to say, Xu Ziyi would surely go to the official posthouse to accompany them.
Sheng Jiangli also stroked his chin and chuckled. "Sorry, but this general also wants to rent a room in the official posthouse. I'll leave Wutong Courtyard for Lord Xiao. It's spacious and bright here."
Xiao Rencheng said, "What a coincidence. I find this place too empty. I also want to go to the official posthouse to have some fun. Let's all go together!"