When she first married into the family, her uncle and aunt asked the old lady for a document allowing her to leave the family as a concubine.
The old lady promised that if Song Wanchu still couldn't make Liang Yuzhou fall in love with her within three years, she would be allowed to leave.
There was no need for Liang Yuzhou's consent.
There were less than three months left until the three - year deadline.
She was sent back to the Jinning Duke's Mansion. The first person to come and see her was the old lady.
Seeing her pale and weak appearance, the old lady felt both heartache and anger. "Where is that bastard Liang Yuzhou? His wife is so badly injured. Where is he?"
Qiaoying, the old lady's head maid, hesitated for a moment before whispering back, "Just now, the mistress called the second master and said they were discussing a welcome banquet for Miss Yu."
Song Wanchu gave a self - mocking smile. The bloody wounds on her body ached even more.
The old lady was furious. "Call him here for me. Tell him that if he dares not come, I'll go and fetch him myself. Let's see if he can bear it!"
Qiaoying quickly left. Before long, Liang Yuzhou walked in with steady steps.
His gaze first fell on Song Wanchu's pale face.
Song Wanchu quietly shifted her gaze away.
Liang Yuzhou was slightly annoyed but pretended to be nonchalant. "Does the old lady want to see me?"
The old lady frowned and forcefully pulled his hand and placed it on Song Wanchu's hand.
"After Wanchu recovers from her injury, it's time for you two to have a child."
Song Wanchu understood the old lady's intention.
The old lady didn't like Yu Huiyan and firmly opposed Liang Yuzhou marrying her. She was determined to make Song Wanchu the legal wife.
In this dynasty, a noble concubine could be promoted to the legal wife, but only if she had a child.
Since she had a miscarriage two years ago, her health had not been very good.
It was already after the Spring Equinox, but she still felt cold all the time, with cold hands and feet every day.
Suddenly, her hand was wrapped in that broad and warm palm. She looked up and met Liang Yuzhou's playful smile: "Do you like boys or girls?"
At first hearing, it seemed as if the two were deeply in love.
She had once been confused by his occasional tenderness, but now she had seen clearly.
Liang Yuzhou was just putting on an act in front of the old lady.
No matter how whole - heartedly she treated him, she could never match Yu Huiyan's position in his heart.
The bitterness welling up in her heart was forcefully suppressed. She gave Liang Yuzhou a gentle smile: "I don't like either."
The smile on Liang Yuzhou's lips disappeared instantly.
The old lady was surprised. "Wanchu, what are you talking about?"
"If it's a boy, he'll be like the second master. If it's a girl, she'll be like me. Life is full of disappointments. It's better not to have children."
Song Wanchu said these words seemingly calmly, but her heart was being cut like a knife.
As soon as she finished speaking, Liang Yuzhou left with a cold face, flinging his sleeves.
The sound of the beaded curtain crashing was like a hammer hitting Song Wanchu's heart.
She took a deep breath until the hot tears in her eyes were forced back. Then she looked up and quietly at the old lady.
The old lady seemed to understand something and sighed deeply. "Wanchu, are you still determined to leave?"
"Old lady, the three - year agreement is almost up. I've already sent someone to inform my uncle and aunt that I'm willing to go to the south of the Yangtze River to manage the property left by my mother."
The old lady held Song Wanchu's hand tightly. "Wanchu, you've really suffered these three years."
The corners of Song Wanchu's eyes quietly turned red.
There was nothing to complain about. This marriage was forced on Liang Yuzhou. It should be him who felt wronged.
The old lady was extremely reluctant to part with her and solemnly promised her, "Wanchu, you're the only granddaughter - in - law I recognize. As long as I'm alive for a day, that Yu girl will never be able to enter the Duke's Mansion! Think it over again. Don't be in a hurry to leave, okay?"
Looking at the kind and gentle face of the old lady, although Song Wanchu had made up her mind, she still couldn't bear to reject the old lady to her face.
Seeing her silently lowering her head, the old lady thought she had agreed and showed a relieved smile.
"You just focus on recovering from your injury. Don't think about anything else."
She patted Song Wanchu's hand, left a pile of tonics, and then left.
After changing the dressing, the torn wound on her back still hurt unbearably. Song Wanchu could only lie on the bed. The slightest movement would make her break out in a cold sweat.
Nanzhi was wiping the sweat off her forehead when the door was suddenly kicked open. Liang Yuzhou walked in angrily.
He grabbed the clothes on Song Wanchu's chest and forcefully lifted her up.
His powerful arms made her body look even more weak and soft.
The wound on her back was suddenly pulled and split open again, oozing fresh blood.
Song Wanchu trembled all over in pain, her face as pale as snow. She looked at him in shock.
Liang Yuzhou opened his mouth and questioned, "What did you say to the old lady? Does the Duke's Mansion depend on your word? You even try to stop the welcome banquet!"
It took Song Wanchu a while to figure out why he was angry.
It must be that the old lady didn't allow him to hold a welcome banquet for Yu Huiyan in the Duke's Mansion.
From his perspective, it was indeed very likely that she was the one behind it.
Song Wanchu's chest felt like it was filled with bitter sea water.
She was the unloved one. She deserved to bear such misunderstandings and grievances.
Seeing the large bloodstains on Song Wanchu's back, Nanzhi was so heart - broken that she almost cried.
Not caring about the rules anymore, she shouted to defend her mistress, "Second master, the mistress didn't say anything! Miss Yu was able to return to the capital because our mistress risked her life. How could you treat our mistress like this!"
Liang Yuzhou let go of his hand. Song Wanchu, like a broken fallen flower, slumped weakly on the bed.
Meeting those calm and lifeless eyes, his heart inexplicably felt irritated.
"Song Wanchu, you'd better remember your status. Don't meddle in things you shouldn't."
He came like a gust of wind and left like a gust of wind, leaving Song Wanchu with nothing but injuries all over her body.
For seven consecutive days, Liang Yuzhou didn't step into the Shuiyun Residence again.
Nanzhi and Suyue were Song Wanchu's dowry maids. With their careful care, she could barely get out of bed and walk.
Seeing her depressed every day, Nanzhi and Suyue racked their brains to say something to cheer her up.
"Miss, it will be your birthday in three days. Uncle and Aunt sent someone early in the morning to say that they've prepared a big gift for you. It must be something rare!"
Song Wanchu listened quietly and tore off today's date on the almanac.
There were still eighty - three days.
"I won't go back home for my birthday this year."
Nanzhi and Suyue were both very surprised.
Since she married into the Duke's Mansion, she had always celebrated her birthday at her uncle's house.
She knew her place. No matter how grand a banquet was held in the Duke's Mansion, if Liang Yuzhou didn't come, it would only be a laughingstock for the nobles in the capital.
But this year would be the last birthday she would spend in the Duke's Mansion.
Her hand gently touched her chest, where there was a scar left from a palace banquet three years ago.
She wanted to explain some misunderstandings clearly in person so that she could leave without any regrets.
"Nanzhi, Suyue, let's go to the study to find the second master."
At the door of the study, Song Wanchu bumped into Liang Yuzhou. He looked haggard, as if he had just returned from a long journey.
Behind him, there stood a woman in red.
His childhood sweetheart, Yu Huiyan.