At the critical moment, Liang Yuzhou didn't hesitate for a second. He protected Yu Huiyan and jumped off the carriage.
Song Wanchu fell to the ground with a dull thud. She heard the sound of bones dislocating. Cold sweat instantly soaked through her clothes.
The runaway carriage continued to gallop forward. Liang Yuzhou pulled Yu Huiyan to one side, while the broken carriage wall fell heavily on Song Wanchu's back.
Her upper body went numb. The wounds on her back that had just healed split open one by one. Intense pain assailed her. Her vision went black. Her body twitched in pain, and she couldn't utter a single sound.
Liang Yuzhou, on the other hand, protected the screaming and frightened Yu Huiyan behind him. From beginning to end, he didn't even spare a glance at Song Wanchu.
In the face of life and death, she was the one abandoned by her husband.
Song Wanchu spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and fainted.
...
Song Wanchu could no longer distinguish between reality and dream. Countless figures were swaying in front of her. She heard the cries of Nanzhi and Suyue, the scolding of the old lady, and strange voices. It was all so noisy and chaotic. Her head ached terribly.
Sometimes she saw her father's face, sometimes the face of her adopted brother, Shi Luohan, as well as those of her uncle and aunt. Without exception, they all looked anxious and heart - stricken.
Only Liang Yuzhou was nowhere to be seen.
He was so cold - hearted that he didn't even want to appear in her illusions.
The new and old wounds combined. Every breath tugged at the wounds, bringing continuous and dense pain.
Finally, the bedroom gradually quieted down.
Her wounds were inflamed, and she had a high fever. Her face took on an abnormal flush. Her slender body trembled constantly, like a falling flower on the verge of being blown away by the wind.
A warm silk handkerchief was placed on her forehead. Someone was wiping the cold sweat off her face.
The outline in front of her eyes was blurred, but Song Wanchu could tell that it was a tall and straight young man.
Although she couldn't see his expression clearly, his movements were gentle, as if he really cared about her.
The pain and weakness in her body shattered her reserve and dignity. Song Wanchu sobbed softly, "It hurts so much..."
"Don't be afraid. I'm here with you. If it hurts, hold my hand."
The man's palm was broad and strong, and his voice was gentle. It mustn't be Liang Yuzhou.
Liang Yuzhou simply didn't care about her life or death.
It must be her elder brother, Shi Luohan.
"Brother, it hurts so much. I'm so tired. I regret it. I don't want to be with him anymore."
The warmth in Liang Yuzhou's eyes dissipated completely in an instant. A storm was brewing in his deep eyes.
Was this the so - called sincerity towards him that the old lady had mentioned?
Even in a delirious state, she was still mumbling about another man!
And saying she didn't want to be with him?
She had been carried into the Duke's Mansion in a sedan chair with eight bearers and had married him in a formal wedding ceremony. Could she just leave whenever she wanted?
The dazed Song Wanchu was completely unaware of Liang Yuzhou's anger. She was like a broken person, with tears streaming down constantly.
"I took my heart - blood for him and almost lost my life, but he doesn't believe me..."
Liang Yuzhou was annoyed and wanted to leave, but when he heard this murmur in her dream, he couldn't help but stop for a moment.
His gaze followed her fair neck down and landed on her chest.
Even through the thin gauze dress, the hideous scar on her chest was clearly visible.
This scar was not unfamiliar to him. On countless passionate nights, he had caressed it with his fingers and kissed it, but he had never thought to ask about its origin.
Because this scar had been there since their wedding night. Liang Yuzhou had simply assumed that it was a scar left from an injury in her childhood.
He recalled what she had said in the carriage that day.
She had indeed been present at the Mid - Autumn Palace Banquet three years ago.
But the one who had taken the heart - blood for him was clearly...
There was a commotion outside. It seemed that Nanzhi and Suyue were arguing with someone.
"Second Master, our young lady was frightened and her old wounds were aggravated. She's suffering a lot from chest pain right now. Please go and take a look!"
Caidie, Yu Huiyan's maid, was blocked by Nanzhi and Suyue and couldn't enter the room. So she shouted towards the door.
"What are you shouting about? Our young lady is ill and needs to rest. Second Master is taking care of her. Why are you so ill - mannered?"
"What do you mean by manners or not? Our young lady is the apple of Second Master's eye. She's just a concubine. Is she more important than the future mistress of the Duke's Mansion?"
Caidie was very arrogant and didn't put Song Wanchu in her eyes at all.
"Who said our young lady is a concubine? Have you ever seen a concubine getting married with an imperial edict?"
Suyue couldn't bear to hear anyone say that her young lady was a concubine. Like a bristling cat, she grabbed Caidie's arm and pushed her out, "Get out of here!"
Caidie was no match for the two of them and was at a disadvantage. Just as she was about to be driven out of the courtyard gate, she suddenly saw a tall figure at the door. Her eyes lit up, "Second Master, you must uphold justice for this slave. Song Yiniang's maids are so rude!"
Her young lady was a distinguished guest in the Duke's Mansion. As her personal maid, she should naturally be respected!
Seeing Liang Yuzhou looking displeased, Nanzhi and Suyue had no choice but to let go of Caidie.
Without looking back, Liang Yuzhou strode towards the direction of Fragrant Snow Pavilion.
Caidie gave Nanzhi and Suyue a smug look and trotted after him.
Suyue stamped her foot angrily, "Miss Yu is clearly unharmed. She's just feigning illness to take Second Master away!"
"Let him go. Our young lady doesn't care," Nanzhi said indifferently, as she was used to this kind of thing.
If his heart wasn't with their young lady, there was no use trying to keep him.
The two of them went back into the room and gently covered Song Wanchu with the quilt.
She still frowned in her sleep, looking very uncomfortable. There was a teardrop at the corner of her eye.
She had been briefly conscious just now and had mistaken Liang Yuzhou for Shi Luohan. Nanzhi still felt a bit guilty about that.
But as soon as he heard that Yu Huiyan was in trouble, he left immediately without leaving a trace of tenderness.
Even that little bit of guilt in Song Wanchu's heart disappeared.
The more heartless he was, the more decisive she would be when she left. No longing, no entanglement. It was for the best.
...
When Liang Yuzhou arrived at the Fragrant Snow Pavilion, Yu Huiyan was lying on the couch, pale - faced and covering her chest. She looked like a frightened fawn, extremely pitiful.
"Cousin!"
As soon as Yu Huiyan saw Liang Yuzhou, she tremblingly reached out her hand, looking eager for comfort.
Liang Yuzhou stopped at the bedroom door and asked Shen Yuhe, who was organizing the medicine chest, "Doctor Shen, is Huiyan's condition serious?"
Shen Yuhe was the granddaughter of Shen Heqing, the chief of the Imperial Hospital. She was a well - known gynecological expert in the capital and often visited noble families to treat the ladies and wives.
She glanced at the sickly Yu Huiyan and said impatiently, "It's nothing serious. She was just frightened. She'll be fine after two days of rest."
She had originally been invited by the old lady to treat Song Wanchu. But as soon as she entered the gate of the Duke's Mansion, she was intercepted by the people of Princess Jiahe. They insisted that she come to see Yu Huiyan first, saying that her condition was more urgent.
Was being a bit frightened even considered an illness?
Shen Yuhe was worried about the seriously injured Song Wanchu and motioned for the maid carrying the medicine chest to follow her.
When she reached the door, Liang Yuzhou caught up with her. "She had a serious chest injury before and often suffers from chest pain. Is there any medicine to cure it?"
Shen Yuhe was a bit confused. "What serious injury? She's in perfect health!"