Song Wanchu was dejected and shook her head.
Brother must be looking forward to seeing her, otherwise why would he personally choose a mansion for her?
But he hadn't written to her for three years. His actions were truly contradictory.
"Wanchu, I know you girls are shy, but Luo Han is not an outsider. It's fair to say you're childhood sweethearts. Why don't you write a letter to Luo Han first and explain things to him? You're like siblings. There's no need to be estranged."
Song Wanchu took the advice and immediately asked Nan Zhi to fetch paper and a brush. After writing the letter, she asked her aunt to send it out.
Mrs. Wen happily took the letter and left.
...
Liang Yuzhou came to Shuiyun Residence in the evening. He saw at a glance that the peony flower pot was casually tossed into a corner of the yard.
This type of peony was much more delicate than ordinary ones. It couldn't stand wind or sun, and now it looked wilted.
Did Song Wanchu really make up her mind not to accept his gifts anymore?
When he entered the room, Song Wanchu just casually greeted him as "Second Master" and then never looked at him again.
"If Second Master has nothing urgent, please leave. This concubine wants to rest."
In the past, she used to eagerly await his arrival. Now she just wanted him to leave quickly.
"Who said there's nothing urgent?" Liang Yuzhou's face darkened. "It's time to apply medicine."
"No need for Second Master's trouble. I've already applied it."
Facing Liang Yuzhou's skeptical look, Song Wanchu pulled down a bit of the collar on her shoulder to show the brand - new gauze.
She was naturally charming and coquettish, and this action inadvertently exuded a seductive charm.
Liang Yuzhou's phoenix eyes swept across her fair shoulder and darkened imperceptibly.
"Second Master has seen. Can you rest assured now?"
"I haven't had dinner yet."
He kept a straight face and spoke in a stiff tone, seemingly angry that Song Wanchu wanted him to leave.
Song Wanchu had to suppress her impatience and called Su Yue, "Tell the small kitchen to serve dinner."
Shuiyun Residence was well - off, and the dishes were exquisitely prepared and delicious.
It was a rule that whether it was a wife or a concubine, they had to accompany their husband during meals.
In the past, when Liang Yuzhou had dinner at Shuiyun Residence, Song Wanchu would always attend to him attentively, chattering non - stop and full of energy. But now she just sat quietly on one side, occasionally reaching out to pick up a chopstick of food and chewing it slowly, as if she had no appetite.
Liang Yuzhou was not used to Song Wanchu's quietness.
After taking a few bites, just as Song Wanchu was about to put down her chopsticks, a bowl of sour bamboo shoot and shrimp ball soup was placed in front of her.
"This is your favorite soup. It'll whet your appetite. Drink more."
Liang Yuzhou actually remembered her taste?
"What, do I need to feed you?"
The man across from her slightly curled his lips, looking half - smiling. He raised his sword - shaped eyebrows, and his tone was inexplicably seductive.
Song Wanchu was still in a daze and hadn't come to her senses.
Liang Yuzhou really picked up the soup bowl, scooped up a shrimp ball with a small spoon, and brought it to her mouth.
"Cousin! Wuwuwu, why are you here!"
The brief moment of warmth was suddenly shattered by Yu Huiyan's sudden sobbing.
She was crying with red and swollen eyes. Stumbling, she threw herself into Liang Yuzhou's arms.
"Cousin, something terrible has happened. My brother has been arrested by the Court of Judicial Review!"
With a "clang" sound, Liang Yuzhou's arm trembled, and all the soup spilled onto Song Wanchu's thigh.
The scalding temperature caused a piercing pain. She suddenly stood up. The sudden movement tugged at the wound on her back.
The tearing pain spread throughout her body. It felt as if the wound was being constantly pricked by countless needles. The pain made her break out in a cold sweat.
Liang Yuzhou's eyes had long lost their warmth. He stared at her menacingly and furiously.
"Was it you who did this?"
This cold and stern rebuke was more destructive than all the previous pains combined.
Song Wanchu thought that bowl of soup was a rare show of tenderness from him. She never expected it to be a blade stabbing at her!
Yu Huiyan lifted her head from Liang Yuzhou's arms. With a "thud", she knelt in front of Song Wanchu, grabbed her thigh, and shook it violently.
"Aunt Song, I know you hate me and resent me for stealing cousin's favor. I'm sorry. I'll kowtow to you. As long as you can spare my brother, I'm willing to do anything you ask. Please, torture me instead of hurting my family!"
Song Wanchu, who was already unsteady on her feet due to the pain, was shaken even more violently. The pain intensified. The wound on her back burst open, oozing fresh blood that quickly soaked through the gauze.
Nan Zhi and Su Yue quickly stepped forward to pull Yu Huiyan, this dangerous person, away. But Liang Yuzhou stepped in front and protected Yu Huiyan behind him.
Whether intentionally or not, when Yu Huiyan got up, her hand happened to push Song Wanchu.
Fortunately, Nan Zhi and Su Yue were quick - witted and caught her, so she managed to steady herself.
"Song Wanchu, didn't I say this matter was over? Who told you to investigate on your own!"
Song Wanchu's heart was suddenly tightened.
It turned out that he had long known that Yu Rongbai was the mastermind behind the carriage - crashing incident.
But he still ignored the pain she suffered in this accident and chose to let it go.
When it came to things related to Yu Huiyan, his heart was always biased.
Tears welled up uncontrollably, stronger than any feeling of being abandoned by Liang Yuzhou before.
She opened her bloodless lips and choked out, "If it were Miss Yu who was injured, would Second Master still choose to let it go?"
The only response she got was Liang Yuzhou's angry silence.
Silence meant acquiescence.
She already knew the answer, so why was she still expecting something?
"You're different from Huiyan."
After the suffocating silence, Liang Yuzhou's stiff reply dealt another heavy blow to her.
Two stubborn lines of tears finally fell in despair.
Song Wanchu allowed herself to shed silent tears, but after a moment, she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and her tone was colder and harder than ever.
"The Court of Judicial Review has already obtained evidence that Yu Rongbai instigated others to do something evil. I must make him pay for his crimes with his blood."
Yu Huiyan sobbed softly and almost clung to Liang Yuzhou.
"Brother was beaten up by a group of gangsters a few days ago. His back is full of wounds, and his feet are still swollen. Now he's been arrested and taken to that gloomy and terrifying place, the Court of Judicial Review. Who knows if he'll survive!
Aunt Song, I know you're angry, but you only suffered a minor injury. If something happens to my brother, have you ever thought about what will happen to my father and our whole family!"
"Is Miss Yu admitting that Yu Rongbai is the mastermind?"
Yu Huiyan was shocked and angry. She couldn't believe that Song Wanchu had so accurately caught the flaw in her words. Her face instantly turned pale.
Her first reaction was to look at Liang Yuzhou.
The silent man's face was as cold as water, but the storm brewing in his eyes could be glimpsed.
Yu Huiyan was extremely nervous. Her sobs gradually turned into soft whimpers. "Brother might have been confused for a moment. If Aunt Song is willing to show mercy, I'll definitely persuade him well and make sure he won't do such stupid things again."
It was the same old routine as before. First, she cleared herself of all blame, then she showed proper weakness to present her sensible and kind - hearted image.
When she cried, she looked so delicate and frail that any man would feel heartache for her.
Especially Liang Yuzhou, who loved her deeply.
The man only looked at her with heartache and didn't have the slightest bit of doubt.
Song Wanchu sneered. "Just a little persuasion with no price to pay. So my injury was for nothing?"
"Will you ever stop? This matter has nothing to do with Huiyan. She's been constantly apologizing. What else do you want?"