After leaving the Fragrant Snow Pavilion, Song Wanchu tactfully withdrew her hand from Liang Yuzhou's palm.
The softness in his hand suddenly vanished. Liang Yuzhou gave her a cold, sidelong glance, then turned around and left, leaving her only a resentful back view.
Song Wanchu didn't know what had annoyed him this time, but she didn't want to go to great lengths to placate him anymore.
The two went their separate ways, becoming strangers.
When she reached the back garden, Song Wanchu saw Granny Gao feeding the dog with the osmanthus cakes she had made early in the morning.
Seeing her, Granny Gao disdainfully rolled her eyes. "Concubine Song, the mistress said these osmanthus cakes are too sweet and cloying. They don't suit her taste and are only fit for the dog."
Suyue was so angry that her eyes turned red. "How can you waste my mistress's good intentions like this!"
Song Wanchu tugged at her sleeve. "Let's go."
Since the Princess Jiahe insisted on humiliating her, she could also take back her kindness to the princess.
Back in the Water Rhyme Residence, the stewards' wives and maids filled the yard, waiting for instructions.
Song Wanchu told the stewards' wives, "From now on, the rations for the mistress's quarters will be given according to the original standards of the Duke's Mansion. There will be no extra additions."
The Princess Jiahe was used to a life of luxury and dissipation. But after her father, the aged and honest prince, passed away, her maternal family gradually declined.
Her elder sister, the Princess Jialing, was the eldest legitimate daughter. Her marriage almost emptied the prince's mansion.
By the time it was her turn, her dowry was pitifully small.
The Duke's Mansion advocated frugality, and the rations for each courtyard were limited, which couldn't satisfy the Princess Jiahe's appetite at all.
Over the years, it had been Song Wanchu who had been using her dowry to support her and maintain her glamour and dignity.
She was willing to do so before out of love for someone else.
In fact, the Princess Jiahe never deserved it.
...
Liang Yuzhou was in an inexplicably bad mood today.
When Zhou Yan served him tea, he was so intimidated by Liang Yuzhou's cold stare that he felt a chill run down his spine.
"Zhou Yan, you're really getting better and better at handling things!"
Zhou Yan was utterly confused. What was wrong with the second master? He had been in a foul mood ever since he came out of the mistress's courtyard.
Just now, when passing by the back garden, the dog that was eating the osmanthus cakes had even been kicked twice by the second master.
Zhou Yan felt wronged. "Second master, what did I do wrong?"
"Forfeit your monthly allowance for a year!"
Zhou Yan's elder brother, Zhou Sheng, came in and pulled him aside. "Don't hover in front of the second master."
Under the eaves, Zhou Yan's eyes were clear but naive. "Brother, I didn't provoke the second master."
Zhou Sheng had served Liang Yuzhou for more than a decade and knew his temper like the back of his hand. Naturally, he also knew what Liang Yuzhou was angry about.
"Who told you to take it upon yourself to send the birthday gift for the mistress to the princess?"
Zhou Yan defended himself. "The second master told me to deal with it as I saw fit. We're not greedy for money. I thought sending it to the princess could promote their mother - son relationship."
Everyone in the Duke's Mansion knew that Liang Yuzhou was estranged from his mother.
"Presumptuous fool!" Zhou Sheng slapped Zhou Yan hard on the back of the head. "You gave the agate bracelet to the princess. The princess gave it to Miss Yu, and Miss Yu just happened to show it off to the mistress! Where are you doing a good deed? You're stabbing the mistress in the heart!"
Zhou Yan was startled. "I'll go and explain it to the mistress right away!"
"Explain what? Explain why the second master threw away the mistress's birthday gift?" Zhou Sheng looked at him disdainfully. "Go somewhere cool and stay there!"
The rift between the second master and the mistress had been there for almost three years. How could it be explained away with just a few words!
Liang Yuzhou listened to the conversation between the two brothers, feeling even more irritable. He held a military book in his hand but couldn't read a single word.
...
After a busy morning, Song Wanchu finally changed her clothes. A young servant came to the courtyard gate to deliver a message, saying that the carriage was ready.
According to the rules, concubines were not allowed to go out casually, and they were not qualified to return to their natal families. But her situation was special. The old lady had given her the same treatment as the legitimate wife. She could return to her natal family once a month on the eighth day, and she could enter through the main gate.
When she reached the gate and was about to get into the carriage, she suddenly saw Liang Yuzhou walking towards her.
Song Wanchu looked at him in confusion.
"Aren't you going back to your natal family? Why aren't you getting in the carriage?"
Was Liang Yuzhou going to accompany her?
Didn't he remember what he had said yesterday?
She coldly refused. "I don't dare to waste the second master's time. I'm not the second master's legitimate wife. I'm not worthy."
Liang Yuzhou's face darkened, and his thin lips tightened.
"What, are you hiding a lover in your family, afraid of being caught by me?"
His words were brainless and unreasonable. Song Wanchu was so angry that she retorted, "Wouldn't it be better to be caught by the second master? Then the second master would have a legitimate reason to drive me away!"
As soon as the words fell, she felt desolate. She was neither a wife nor a concubine. She wasn't even worthy of the words "divorce".
But since she married Liang Yuzhou, she had managed the Duke's Mansion in an orderly manner. There was also an imperial edict of marriage above them. It wasn't so easy for Liang Yuzhou to bypass her and marry Yu Huiyan.
Her leaving on her own initiative could also help him reduce some resistance.
Liang Yuzhou inexplicably became childish. "If there really is a lover, I'll catch him today!"
After saying that, he lifted his robe and was about to get into the carriage.
"Cousin."
Yu Huiyan walked over like a willow swaying in the wind, showing a shy and bright smile to Liang Yuzhou.
"Cousin, are you going out with Concubine Song?"
"What's the matter?" Liang Yuzhou asked.
Yu Huiyan glanced at Song Wanchu and said hesitantly, "It's not a big deal. It's just that my father is on leave today. I want cousin to accompany me home. Father said he wants to thank cousin in person."
Her father had been demoted for embezzlement three years ago, falling from a third - rank official in the capital to a sixth - rank local official. Not long ago, Liang Yuzhou had interceded for him, and Yu Jingnian had been reinstated.
Liang Yuzhou didn't even blink an eye and immediately agreed. "Okay, I'll ask someone to prepare the carriage."
Song Wanchu thought to herself that, as expected, only Yu Huiyan could make him change his mind instantly.
Yu Huiyan was overjoyed. She then showed an apologetic look to Song Wanchu. "I'm sorry, Concubine Song. You don't mind cousin accompanying me home, do you?"
It seemed respectful, but in fact, it was like stabbing a knife into her heart.
Song Wanchu showed a generous and decent smile. "Of course not. Accompanying Miss Yu home is the second master's duty."
She regretted even more her decision to leave.
These words sounded harsh to Liang Yuzhou's ears, and he couldn't help frowning.
But Song Wanchu had already got into the carriage. The carriage had gone a long way, and the curtain had never been lifted.
Yu Huiyan seemed a little regretful and said cautiously, "Cousin, did I say something wrong? Concubine Song seems unhappy."
Liang Yuzhou's eyes gradually turned cold, and his voice was also devoid of warmth. "Don't bother about her."
"Cousin, don't worry. I think I can get along peacefully with Concubine Song."
Yu Huiyan's tone was just like that of a kind - hearted and magnanimous legitimate wife. "If she behaves herself, I'm willing to serve cousin with her."
She looked at Liang Yuzhou with a shy and timid look, expecting his reply.
Liang Yuzhou was silent for a long time. He just stared at Yu Huiyan with his deep and bright eyes, making her heart pound.
His gaze shifted to her wrist. The bright red agate bracelet was especially eye - catching even on a cloudy day.
"The color of this bracelet doesn't suit you. Don't wear it anymore."