As soon as Song Wanchu's back disappeared at the doorway, the old lady heaved a long sigh.
Nanny Qiao had served the old lady for nearly forty years. She was the old lady's closest and most trusted confidant.
She had already guessed what the old lady left unsaid.
"Old lady, it's obvious that the Second Master and the Second Lady have misunderstandings and grudges. The Second Lady was heartbroken by the Second Master and thought he didn't care about her anymore. Why didn't you tell her just now that it was the Second Master who begged you to propose marriage to the Song family back then?"
The old lady's eyes glazed over slightly as she sank into memories, her brows knitted into a knot.
"Don't you think I want to? But even if Wanchu knows, can her broken heart be pieced back together?"
Since Wanchu asked to take away the document allowing concubines, the old lady had been constantly reflecting on whether she should have let Wanchu marry into the family in the first place.
She also blamed herself for not struggling to the end with Princess Jiahe and failing to give Wanchu a proper and legitimate position as the principal wife.
Although the emperor had already tacitly recognized Wanchu as the principal wife, having the title of a "noble concubine" while performing the duties of a principal wife was always embarrassing and made her looked down upon by the high - ranking aristocrats.
It also made some people have improper thoughts.
There was no way to persuade Wanchu.
She really wanted to wake up her muddle - headed grandson with a cane and shout in his ear, "Your wife is about to leave!"
She wondered if he would be in a hurry!
...
In the blink of an eye, it was the Dragon Boat Festival.
In front of the gate of the Princess Mansion, carriages and horses were bustling.
Yu Huiyan was dressed in a bright red brocade dress embroidered with begonias and gold - threaded clouds. Her head was adorned with layers of hairpins, shining brightly in the sun. She was bedecked with jewels and looked extremely noble.
Liang Yuzhou escorted her all the way into the Princess Mansion.
In the crowd, he was the most conspicuous one. His sky - blue long robe was plain in color, but it couldn't conceal his outstanding and elegant temperament. He walked with steady steps, exuding a sharp aura in his elegance.
Yu Huiyan was shy and secretly delighted. Meeting the envious gazes of the noble ladies, she straightened her back even more, trying to look more dignified and graceful.
The rumor in the capital that Liang Yuzhou was going to marry Yu Huiyan had been well - known for a long time.
No one was surprised to see the two of them together.
Behind them, Song Wanchu also got off the carriage with the support of Nanzhi and Suyue.
As if having a premonition, just as Yu Huiyan couldn't help but reach out to hold Liang Yuzhou's arm, he turned back and looked.
A graceful and charming figure came into view.
Song Wanchu was wearing a light purple brocade dress with only a circle of water - wave patterns embroidered on the hem. When she walked, she looked light, lively and charming.
There were not too many decorations on her head. She simply used a jade hairpin of excellent quality to hold up her hair bun, with a gold phoenix inlaid with pearls in the center, which low - keyly demonstrated her status and looked noble and grand.
The noble sons of the aristocratic families were always picky when it came to looking at women, but they all involuntarily focused their gazes on Song Wanchu.
Liang Yuzhou was displeased, feeling as if his own belongings were being coveted.
"You go in with mother first."
He turned to Yu Huiyan and said this, then quickly walked towards Song Wanchu.
Yu Huiyan's arm missed its target. She bit her lips angrily and stared at Song Wanchu with unfriendly eyes.
"Why are you here?"
Song Wanchu was stopped at the gate by Liang Yuzhou.
Judging from his tone, it seemed that he was warning her that as a concubine, she was unworthy of attending such a grand and formal banquet.
"The old lady is not feeling well, so I'm here on her behalf."
Her tone was calm, and so was her look.
"Why didn't you tell me in advance?" Liang Yuzhou became even more annoyed.
His own wife was attending a banquet, but he, her husband, didn't know anything about it!
There was a hint of mockery in Song Wanchu's faint smile. "Even if I told the Second Master, wouldn't you still accompany Miss Yu here? What's the difference between telling you and not telling you?"
The more nonchalant she was, the angrier Liang Yuzhou became, but he didn't even know where to vent his anger.
"Do as you please!"
He turned his head rather abruptly. The jade belt that tied his hair brushed across Song Wanchu's face, and she felt a slight pain in the tip of her nose.
Looking at Liang Yuzhou's obviously angry back, Suyue couldn't help but mutter, "Why is the Second Master showing his temper to the young lady here? This is right in front of the main gate of the Princess Mansion. If others see it, the young lady will be laughed at again!"
"Stop talking." Nanzhi whispered.
As long as Yu Huiyan was around, she would always be the one who was abandoned.
Many noble families in the capital regarded her as a joke and topic for after - dinner conversations. Song Wanchu no longer cared about being laughed at.
Her reputation had ceased to exist the moment she married Liang Yuzhou.
Nanzhi handed the invitation to the steward of the Princess Mansion.
The steward didn't even bother to open it. He looked down at Song Wanchu with a haughty look.
His arrogant appearance made Song Wanchu think of a pug that stood on its front paws and barked fiercely, trying to attack people.
"I'm sorry, Concubine Song. Today the Princess Mansion is hosting a formal banquet. The princess has already given instructions that concubines are not allowed to attend."
He deliberately emphasized the word "concubine".
"Open your eyes wide and take a good look. Our young lady is here on behalf of the old lady of the Duke's Mansion!"
Suyue was indignant and thrust the invitation in front of the steward's face.
Hearing about the old lady, the steward didn't dare to be too disrespectful, but he still forced a smile.
"If Concubine Song insists on going in, it's not impossible. There's a side door over there. It's the entrance for the maids and servants of our mansion. You can just slip in through that door quietly."
Even Yu Huiyan, who hadn't even married into the Duke's Mansion yet, could swagger in through the main gate, but the princess had instructed the steward to make her use the side door. This was a blatant humiliation to her.
Song Wanchu really didn't expect the trouble to come so soon.
She would definitely not suffer such humiliation. Just as she was about to teach this overbearing steward a lesson, she saw him bend his old back. Every wrinkle on his face showed flattery as he looked at the man behind Song Wanchu.
"Paying respects to the Crown Prince!"
Song Wanchu was stunned for a moment and quickly knelt down.
The man in the bright yellow dragon - robe in her line of sight lifted his arm slightly. "Second Lady Liang, rise."
Hearing the Crown Prince address Song Wanchu like this, the steward who was kneeling on the ground changed his expression drastically. A drop of cold sweat slid down his nose.
Song Wanchu just slightly raised her head. After their eyes met for a moment, she lowered her head.
The man who was always as gentle as jade looked at the steward with a look as cold as ice and as sharp as a blade.
"Dog slave, what did you call Second Lady Liang just now?"
The steward trembled with fear. The angle at which he bent his back showed his trepidation. "N - nothing, Your Highness. You must have misheard."
"Your Highness, he called our young lady 'concubine' and told her to go in through the side door!"
Suyue was quick - tongued and wasn't afraid even in front of the Crown Prince.
"What are you talking nonsense about, you little maid?" the steward roared angrily.
"What I heard is exactly the same as what Suyue said. Am I also talking nonsense?"
The gentle voice suddenly rose several tones, adding a sense of oppression. The steward was no longer just kneeling, but lying prostrate on the ground, extremely frightened.
"The whole capital knows that Second Lady Liang entered the Duke's Mansion with the three - letter and six - ritual marriage procedure and was carried in by an eight - sedan chair. She entered the palace banquet through the main gate. Could it be that you have more power than the emperor and can make her use the side door?"
The steward didn't dare to argue anymore. His back trembled and his thin summer clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
"Your servant knows his mistake. Please spare my life, Your Highness!"
"Drag him out and give him thirty strokes of the rod. Considering that you've served my aunt for more than thirty years, I'll spare your dog's life."
The man was dragged away, but his pleas for mercy could still be heard.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Song Wanchu curtsied, with a respectful but not obsequious attitude.
After the previous anger subsided, the Crown Prince smiled with a slight curve of his lips. "There's no need to be so polite between us."
Song Wanchu stepped aside to make way for the Crown Prince. Only after the Crown Prince walked towards the male guests' area did she step into the Princess Mansion.
Suddenly, the Crown Prince looked back. Caught off guard, she didn't have time to withdraw her gaze, and their eyes met.
The distance was too far for her to hear what the Crown Prince said, but she understood his lip - reading.
He was calling her Wanchu!