Caiyu was startled for a moment. Then she came to her senses, and a layer of moisture gradually welled up in her eyes.
If only he had said this two years ago!
Now, all the good times had passed.
She had the man she was going to marry. She no longer needed his attention on her.
Caiyu suppressed the sourness in her nose and forced back her tears. Then she said slowly,
"Your Highness, I no longer need your undivided heart... I have Brother Aili now. He has always been devoted to me. I have no reason to leave him and turn back."
No longer needed...
Song Yinghuai's heart gave a tremor. He had to admit, painfully, that he was no match for Sheng Jiangli when it came to love.
He lowered his head to look at her.
He wanted to see clearly if she was telling the truth.
All the way here, she had been with him. He could still feel her concern and worry for him.
How could she just say she didn't want him anymore?
Maybe the night was too dark. Song Yinghuai tried his best but still couldn't see the look in her eyes clearly, nor could he figure out her thoughts. He only felt desperate and sad inside.
His voice trembling, he pleaded in a low voice, "Yuer... It's getting dark outside. The two armies are still fighting. Why don't you stay for one night first and then decide whether to leave tomorrow?"
Just one night?
Caiyu had become immune to Song Yinghuai's delaying tactics. She didn't answer but only tried to pry his fingers off forcefully.
Song Yinghuai didn't budge. He just held onto the luggage tightly, as if it were his last hope.
Caiyu struggled for a long time but finally gave up. She said coldly, "Fine. Since Your Highness won't give it to me, I'll just leave empty - handed!"
With that, she walked towards the door.
Frightened, Song Yinghuai threw the luggage back onto the bed and quickly followed Caiyu, pleading all the way, "Yuer, there are really Southern Army soldiers outside. I'm not lying to you... Please, just stay for one night. Is one night not okay?"
"Just one night. I'll personally escort you across the river tomorrow, Yuer..."
Caiyu walked out without looking back.
She was determined to wait outside Shangjing.
Song Yinghuai followed her closely, not daring to stop her, feeling completely at a loss.
Lan Jinxiang, who had been watching the show for a long time outside, finally sighed. She stepped out from the shadows and blocked Caiyu's way.
"Shuer, it's getting late. Stay for one night!"
Caiyu suddenly stopped. A look of great surprise flashed in her eyes. "… Second Sister?"
Lan Jinxiang gave her an affectionate glare. "You still recognize me as your second sister? You've been hiding for two years as if you were dead. Now you can call me so smoothly!"
"I... I..." Caiyu didn't expect to see Lan Jinxiang here. She forgot about leaving for a moment. Being questioned like this, she suddenly felt extremely guilty. She just mumbled like a kitten, "Second Sister, I've made you sad..."
Lan Jinxiang glanced at Song Yinghuai behind Caiyu and said angrily, "I'm not sad enough. There's someone who's sadder than me."
Caiyu looked back along her gaze and saw Song Yinghuai.
When the other man saw that she finally looked at him, his eyes immediately lit up. He called out softly, "Yuer..."
Caiyu turned her head back again.
Was it only her who was heartless and didn't know how to be sad back then?
The light in Song Yinghuai's eyes, which had just lit up, dimmed again. He stood there silently.
Lan Jinxiang said, "Second Sister has a lot to talk to you. At least stay and have dinner first. It's not as if there's no food at Master Xu's place for you to leave on an empty stomach right after waking up."
Xu Ziyi also smiled gently and persuaded, "Yes. If I let you leave on an empty stomach, your second sister will surely kick me so hard that I won't be able to get out of bed. Miss San wouldn't have the heart to let me be implicated innocently, would you?"
Caiyu pouted. "It's not..."
"If it's not, then that's fine. No matter if you're angry or for other reasons, Second Sister only follows one principle, which is to make others suffer but not herself."
Lan Jinxiang said proudly to Song Yinghuai, "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, what are you standing there for like a wooden stake? Hurry up and prepare something to eat! Don't you see my sister is hungry? All you do is apologize with your mouth all day long. Can't you do something practical and serve her well to show your sincerity?"
Song Yinghuai's Adam's apple rolled. It was the first time he had been scolded so harshly and didn't dare to say a word.
Lan Jinxiang's advice was like a bolt from the blue, waking him up immediately.
He quickly stepped forward and gently tugged at Caiyu's sleeve. He said with a smile, "Yuer, I'll take you to the dining hall first. I'll go and prepare the food right away. Have something to eat first and then think about it, okay?"
With Lan Jinxiang around, most of Caiyu's attention was diverted.
Her second sister had always been the most domineering at home. She didn't dare to be presumptuous, so she immediately agreed.
Seeing that Caiyu was willing to stay for dinner first, Song Yinghuai finally let out a sigh of relief, feeling as if his back was soaked in cold sweat.
When Xu Ziyi passed by him, he whispered, "You owe me one. The Mingyue Silver Building you opened in Pengcheng..."
"Thank you, Master Xu. I'll tell Ji Ming to transfer the house deed to your name immediately."
A smile spread in Xu Ziyi's eyes.
It was the first time he had seen Song Yinghuai so humble. He enjoyed it very much and also planned to take the opportunity to squeeze him some more.
After getting the benefits, he pretended to give advice seriously, "Can you cook? Let me tell you, if you cook by yourself, you'll definitely leave a good impression on Miss San again."
Cook?
Song Yinghuai had joined the army since he was a teenager. In times of urgent military situations, he sometimes had to act alone. It was impossible to have a chef with him all the time. He did know a little about cooking.
He frowned, feeling a bit embarrassed. "… But what I cook doesn't taste good."
"Whether it tastes good or not is not important. What's important is to let Miss San see your change. You can condescend to do anything for her, serve her to eat and sleep. Do you understand?"
When it came to this, Xu Ziyi was the perfect example.
Song Yinghuai suddenly understood. "Thank you for the advice. I'll go right away!"
An hour later.
Lan Jinxiang pulled Caiyu and asked her about everything that had happened in the past two years.
Song Yinghuai walked in with a tray and arranged the dishes on it one by one.
There were bamboo - shoot chicken and goose, stewed game, fried mutton intestines, yellow - sparrow meat...
It couldn't be said to be a feast of color, aroma, and taste, but in the eyes of the hungry Caiyu, it was quite tempting.
The maids behind him also placed the staple food and soup one by one.
Lan Jinxiang clapped her hands and said, "Sister, eat first! Don't starve yourself too much."
Song Yinghuai sat down naturally. Then he heard Lan Jinxiang suddenly start coughing.
He looked at her blankly and saw Xu Ziyi beside her winking at him desperately.
Song Yinghuai's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know what he had done wrong again and stood up involuntarily.
Only then did Lan Jinxiang's expression soften. She said, "When my sister served you back then, could she just sit and eat with you so casually?"
Song Yinghuai opened his mouth. "At first, it was Yuer who served me."
He immediately understood and quickly stood behind Caiyu to serve her food attentively.
Lan Jinxiang glanced at Xu Ziyi, who was watching the show.
When the latter met the cold look in the woman's eyes, he was startled. He immediately kept picking food into her bowl and said with a smile, "Xiang'er, eat. Try this. It was cooked by His Highness himself. The cooking skills may be just so - so, but the intention is there..."
Caiyu held the bowl in shock and looked at Lan Jinxiang.
So her second sister had such tricks!
No wonder Master Xu was so obediently disciplined, while she had been hurt all over when dealing with Song Yinghuai.
Lan Jinxiang urged the stunned Caiyu to pick up her chopsticks. "Sister, try it."
Caiyu picked up a piece of bamboo - shoot chicken and goose and put it into her mouth, chewing it carefully.
Song Yinghuai, who was standing behind her, looked at her nervously and couldn't help asking, "Yuer, is it okay?"
Although cooking was not the first time for him, in the past, he had only roasted some meat casually in the wild during military marches when it was necessary.
Cooking like this with such care, and even specially asking the chef from the Xu Mansion to teach him on - site, was the first time.
Caiyu tasted the dish. Actually... it was okay.
But she didn't want to say so.
She kept Song Yinghuai on tenterhooks, and the sweat on his forehead oozed out again.
Lan Jinxiang was very worried.
His Highness, the Prince of Yan, was usually very smart. Why was he so dull in front of her sister?
She couldn't stand it anymore and reminded her, "Sister, if it doesn't taste good, let him cook it again tomorrow. After a few more tries, you'll surely be satisfied."
How stupid!
Wasn't this an opportunity for her to stay longer?