It was already evening when Song Wanchu returned to the Water Rhyme Residence.
The kitchen had sent a whole table of dishes, but Song Wanchu had no appetite at all.
She was physically and mentally exhausted, but still mustered up the energy and told Suyue, "Go and get my dowry list."
Suyue was a bit confused. "Why do you want to look at the dowry list at this time, miss?"
Nanzhi, who was two years older than her, tapped her on the head. "You're so silly! That Yu girl has gone too far. Do you think our miss will keep on enduring?"
Only then did Suyue suddenly realize. The miss was going to check her belongings and leave as soon as possible!
The little girl quickened her steps.
Just as Song Wanchu opened the dowry list, she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door. Liang Yuzhou had actually come.
She calmly hid the dowry list in her sleeve.
Liang Yuzhou looked at the full table of uneaten dishes. "Why haven't you touched a single bite? Were you waiting for me?"
His tone was light and casual, as if the man who had scolded her for lying in the carriage and left without a backward glance was not him.
"No," Song Wanchu replied indifferently.
"Then why are all these the dishes I like?"
Song Wanchu was at a loss for words.
She used to look forward so much to having meals with Liang Yuzhou and had racked her brains to study his taste.
Gradually, all the dishes on the table had become the ones Liang Yuzhou liked.
Liang Yuzhou put his arm around her slender waist and pulled her onto his lap.
He had been practicing martial arts all year round, so his muscles were well - built. Even through several layers of clothes, Song Wanchu could feel the strength of his thighs.
She felt a bit uncomfortable and tried to struggle free, but was held even tighter.
Facing this handsome face that made all the young ladies in the capital swoon, Song Wanchu was a bit dazed.
He was always like this. When he was cold, he treated her like a stranger. When he was in a good mood, he regarded her as a treasure.
It was as if she was just a doll whose feelings didn't need to be considered.
She firmly broke free from his embrace. "I won't do this anymore."
Liang Yuzhou frowned slightly. "Won't do what anymore?"
"I won't cook a whole table of your favorite dishes and wait stupidly for a whole day."
She no longer wanted to hold on to unrealistic fantasies, serve him and hope for his response.
After saying that, regardless of Liang Yuzhou's stunned expression, she walked around the screen and entered the inner room.
Liang Yuzhou quickly followed and pulled her into his arms. He tightened his arm around her waist, with a bit of overbearing determination.
He rested his chin on her forehead. His warm breath sprayed on her face, spreading a slight tickling sensation.
"Are you unhappy? I'll stay with you tonight," Liang Yuzhou coaxed softly.
The overlapping shadows of the two were reflected on the screen, looking like mandarin ducks cuddling each other, showing deep affection.
It was quite ironic.
Song Wanchu had been deceived again and again by his pretended affectionate look.
Liang Yuzhou smelled a bit of alcohol. He gently kissed her cheek, and his breath gradually became hot.
It was a signal of arousal.
To be honest, he was quite appealing in bed.
He was well - endowed, had good stamina, and also took her feelings into consideration.
But Song Wanchu smelled the perfume on him and remembered the way Yu Huiyan had leaned on him.
She not only couldn't get aroused at all, but also felt a bit nauseous.
She pushed Liang Yuzhou away and saw a flash of anger in his eyes.
"Song Wanchu, are you out of your mind today?"
Liang Yuzhou's face was full of annoyance at being rejected, as if he was scolding her for being ungrateful when he had condescended to coax her.
Did he think that with just one or two insincere words of consolation, he could warm her already cold heart?
Song Wanchu took a few steps back, bowed respectfully, but her tone was colder than ever. "The second master left Miss Yu's welcome banquet today. Miss Yu must be heart - broken. Why don't you go and comfort her?"
Liang Yuzhou's elegant eyebrows were like covered with frost, looking extremely cold.
"Don't talk nonsense. Be careful not to damage Huiyan's reputation."
Song Wanchu couldn't hold back anymore and let out a sarcastic laugh.
"The storytellers in the teahouse have been telling the love story of you two in such a sensational way. If you have the ability, go and shut them up! All the young masters and ladies who were there today praised you two as a perfect match. Why didn't you remind them not to damage Miss Yu's reputation? Can you do whatever you want while others can't even do a little?"
Song Wanchu's voice was already trembling.
She also wanted to question him. When those people outside had used the most vicious words to insult her and mock her for taking advantage of kindness and usurping someone else's place, had he ever thought of protecting her reputation?
She was the one sleeping beside him!
But he didn't even want to believe her explanation!
All her resentment turned into silent bitterness and was forcibly swallowed by her.
Forget it. Since she had already decided to leave, what was the use of saying these things?
Her aggressive appearance was completely different from her usual gentle and obedient self.
Liang Yuzhou was stunned for a long time. Finally, with a dark face, he turned around and left.
"Pa—"
As soon as he went out, he casually threw something into the hands of his guard, Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan took a closer look. "Second master, isn't this the birthday gift you were going to give to the mistress?"
It was a top - grade agate bracelet. The color was bright red, which was both festive and had a good meaning.
Liang Yuzhou sneered. "She doesn't deserve it!"
Zhou Yan was puzzled. Didn't the second master buy this for the mistress himself? This thing worth a thousand taels of silver felt hot in his hands!
"What about this bracelet then…"
"Whatever. Do whatever you want with it!"
Zhou Yan murmured in his heart. Why are you taking your anger out on me just because you had a quarrel with the mistress?
After much thought, he asked a maid to send the agate bracelet to the hands of the Princess Jiahe, saying that it was a gift from the second master to his mother.
Not long after Liang Yuzhou left, Song Wanchu came out of the inner room. The corners of her eyes were still a bit red and wet.
She calmly took out the dowry list and continued to look at it, as if nothing had happened.
Her maternal grandfather's family was a wealthy merchant in the south of the Yangtze River. The dowry for her mother was extremely generous. Her mother had passed away when she was ten years old, and the industries left behind were temporarily managed by her uncle.
When she got married that year, she was welcomed into the Duke's Mansion as the principal wife. In order to give her some status, her uncle had added a large sum of money to her dowry besides her mother's. There were a total of 288 palanquins of dowry and a red bridal procession that stretched for fifty li. The grand occasion was unprecedented.
There was simply too much dowry to be checked in one night. Song Wanchu first sorted out the land properties and shops.
Such immovable properties would be inconvenient to manage after she went to the south of the Yangtze River, so she had to sell them as soon as possible.
But as a woman in the inner courtyard, it was not appropriate for her to negotiate such transactions in person.
She had to discuss it with her uncle and aunt in the long run.
Early the next morning, Song Wanchu went to pay respects to the old lady as usual.
The old lady pulled her to sit beside her and suddenly asked, "Yesterday was your nineteenth birthday. Did Zhou'er give you a birthday gift?"
Song Wanchu was silent.
She had been married to him for three years and was clear about every important date related to Liang Yuzhou. But Liang Yuzhou didn't even remember her birthday.
How could he give her a birthday gift?
Suddenly, she saw the beaded curtain being lifted. Liang Yuzhou and Yu Huiyan walked in side by side, looking like a loving couple.
"Paying respects to the old lady."
Yu Huiyan casually pushed back a few strands of hair, revealing a section of her wrist.
Song Wanchu was shocked to see that there was a bright red agate bracelet on her wrist.
It was originally a bright and festive color, but it deeply stabbed her eyes.