"Ms. Song, what a coincidence. Do you have something to talk to Cousin about?"
After three years apart, she still looked as innocent and pure as ever.
The tone of her speech sounded just like that of a proper mistress of the house.
Nan Zhi said seriously, "Miss Yu, the old lady has given instructions. Our young mistress is named a concubine but is actually a wife. You should address her as 'Madam'!"
Su Yue also chimed in, "Miss Yu is a relative. It's appropriate to call her 'cousin-in-law'."
Yu Huiyan looked at Liang Yuzhou timidly, as if she had done something wrong. "I'm sorry. I know your status is special. I asked Cousin on the way here, and he said I could call you Ms. Song."
Liang Yuzhou gave Song Wanchu a cold glance. "It's just a form of address. You don't see each other often, so it doesn't matter."
Song Wanchu's heart ached as if being pricked by needles.
Everyone in the capital knew that the title of "honorable concubine" bestowed on her by the emperor was just to give Princess Jiahe a way out and to shut her up.
In fact, she got married through the proper rituals of the three letters and six etiquettes, with matchmakers arranged. She was carried into the Duke's Mansion in a sedan chair borne by eight bearers.
The old lady allowed her to wear her hair in a proper bun, dress in bright red, and enter through the main gate, just like a proper wife.
But so what if she had a grand wedding? Liang Yuzhou never regarded her as his wife.
It seemed just a form of address, but in fact, it reflected his attitude.
In his heart, the only proper wife was Yu Huiyan.
Song Wanchu concealed the sadness and disappointment in her eyes and gave Yu Huiyan a generous smile.
Seeing that she didn't mind, Liang Yuzhou's eyes showed a bit of warmth.
"Do you have something to say?"
Song Wanchu said, "I'd like to have a few words with Lord Liang alone."
Liang Yuzhou glanced at Yu Huiyan. "It's okay. Huiyan is not an outsider."
Yu Huiyan looked at Song Wanchu curiously.
Song Wanchu felt desolate in her heart. With Yu Huiyan around, was he even too stingy to give her a chance to talk alone?
She didn't want to lose her dignity in front of Yu Huiyan. Straightening her back, she said, "My birthday is in three days. I'd like to invite Lord Liang to visit the Shuiyun Residence."
Liang Yuzhou paused in the act of taking off his cloak. His gaze on Song Wanchu was unfathomable.
Song Wanchu nervously awaited his reply.
After a moment of silence, Yu Huiyan broke the silence. Looking at Song Wanchu apologetically, she said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Song. I didn't know your birthday was in three days. My welcome banquet is set for that day."
Song Wanchu's heart felt as if it was being tightly grasped by a ruthless hand.
Silent pain and humiliation spread through her blood. Unwillingly, she asked, "It's just a short visit and a few words. It won't take Lord Liang much time."
She had already been so humble, but Liang Yuzhou showed disdain on his face, with a hint of impatience between his brows.
"Your birthday is not as important as Huiyan's welcome banquet."
Yu Huiyan kept repeating, "I'm sorry, Ms. Song."
Song Wanchu found her voice extremely harsh.
Liang Yuzhou's cold attitude was like an invisible sword, mercilessly piercing through her clothes, leaving her bloody and naked in the street.
Shame, grievance, and bitterness welled up in her heart all at once. Song Wanchu had to turn around quickly so that Liang Yuzhou wouldn't see her crying in a state of distress.
She had never won against Yu Huiyan. Why should she humiliate herself?
"I won't bother Lord Liang and Miss Yu to catch up."
She swallowed the bitter tears and walked out of the study step by step with difficulty.
Liang Yuzhou frowned as he watched Song Wanchu walking away.
Her back was graceful and slender, like a begonia flower that had been battered by the storm, unable to bear any more blows.
Every step she took away from him seemed to take all her strength.
Yu Huiyan looked at Liang Yuzhou uneasily. "Cousin, did I do something wrong? How about I change the date of the welcome banquet? I don't mind."
Liang Yuzhou's deep eyes glanced over Yu Huiyan's face, and his voice was gentle.
"My business with her has nothing to do with you."
...
In the blink of an eye, it was three days later.
The old lady suddenly got in the mood and asked Song Wanchu to accompany her to stroll in the street.
As they walked, they came to the Starry Sky Restaurant.
"I heard they have some new dishes here, and everyone praises the taste. Let's go and try them."
The old lady pulled Song Wanchu to go in.
Song Wanchu declined委婉ly, "Old lady, you may not be used to the food outside. How about we go home and I'll cook for you?"
The old lady didn't allow a welcome banquet for Yu Huiyan in the Duke's Mansion, so Liang Yuzhou had rented out the Starry Sky Restaurant.
He also invited many young masters and ladies from the capital.
Presumably, there was laughter and fun inside at this moment.
If she and the old lady suddenly showed up and spoiled the fun, Liang Yuzhou would surely blame her.
She didn't want to make a fool of herself.
The old lady smiled, hinting at something. "What? Others can go, but we can't?"
Finally, Song Wanchu was pulled in by the old lady.
As soon as they entered, she saw Yu Huiyan's body softly leaning against Liang Yuzhou's, looking extremely shy.
The scene was a bit glaring.
But there were praises all around.
"Lord Liang and Miss Yu are really a perfect match, a couple made in heaven."
"Now that Miss Yu has returned to the capital, is Second Young Master Liang already preparing to marry Miss Yu?"
Liang Yuzhou smiled but didn't say a word, looking lazy and casual.
He had never shown such a gentle and relaxed attitude in front of Song Wanchu.
Yu Huiyan personally poured wine for Liang Yuzhou and looked at him affectionately. "Cousin, thank you for always caring about me during these three years when I was away from the capital. Especially two years ago in winter, when it was snowing so heavily, you still traveled a long way to send me charcoal in person."
Her soft voice sounded like a thunderbolt in Song Wanchu's ears!
It was like a basin of ice water was poured over her head. Her body was cold to the bone from the inside out.
The bloody memories were dug out. She would never forget how cold that winter was.
That day, while the old lady was out, Princess Jiahe deliberately made things difficult for her and asked her to stand in a proper posture.
She stood from morning till night. The goose - feather snow piled up at her feet until it covered her calves.
She was cold and tired and fainted in the snow.
When she was carried away, there was a large, glaring patch of red in the snow.
It was not until a month after her miscarriage that Liang Yuzhou returned to the Duke's Mansion.
The old lady slapped him twice and asked him where he had been, that he couldn't even protect his wife and child.
Liang Yuzhou always pursed his thin lips and said nothing.
It turned out that when she was at her most desperate and heart - broken, he had gone to Hengzhou to send charcoal to Yu Huiyan.
The life of his own flesh and blood was not as important as the comfort of his beloved!
Song Wanchu's heart was completely cold and utterly disappointed.
The old lady was even more furious, and her angry shout pierced through the laughter and jokes. "Liang Yuzhou, how could the Duke's Mansion give birth to such a heartless person!"
The laughter and banter suddenly stopped.
All the young masters and ladies present were the old lady's juniors, and they all stood up to pay their respects.
The old lady's grandfather was a founding hero, and her father was a high - ranking official guarding the border. She herself was a first - rank imperial - appointed lady and had great influence in front of the emperor.
With her high status and the intimidating aura when she was serious, no one dared to speak for a moment.
Liang Yuzhou pushed away the wine that Yu Huiyan had brought to his lips. Seeing Song Wanchu with red eyes, on the verge of collapsing, as if she had suffered a great blow, he couldn't help but frown.
The old lady walked up to Liang Yuzhou and tapped her walking stick hard.
"Don't you owe Wanchu an explanation for what happened two years ago?"
Liang Yuzhou met Song Wanchu's tearful eyes and said indifferently, "You've heard it all. There's nothing to explain."