Just like the day when he went to her home to propose marriage four years ago.
Song Wanchu had no idea when she had caught the Crown Prince's eye. She was confused and terrified.
Her father was just a sixth - rank military official, and their family background was humble. For someone of her birth, it would have been a great blessing to be a concubine of the Crown Prince. But the Crown Prince had offered her the position of a secondary consort.
Such sudden wealth and honor could easily cloud one's mind. Fortunately, her father was sober - minded enough to decline the marriage proposal politely.
The Crown Prince was not angry. He came secretly and left secretly. No one knew about it.
This way, he not only saved the royal family's face but also protected her reputation.
Song Wanchu was grateful to him and always held him in high respect.
But his glance back just now and the silent call of her boudoir name...
Song Wanchu's heart began to pound erratically.
All that was left in her mind were four words: Keep at a respectful distance!
As soon as the main banquet started, everyone noticed that the Princess Royal seemed to be in a bad mood.
No one dared to ask or persuade her. After all, this Princess Royal was a prominent figure.
She and the current Emperor were born of the same mother. Since childhood, she had been doted on and was extremely arrogant.
She was fond of handsome men and had never married. The Emperor had built a magnificent mansion for her beside the palace.
Even though she was over fifty, she still kept more than twenty male favorites and led a life of debauchery.
Most of the aristocratic families in the capital had to pay attention to her mood.
So when she was unhappy, the atmosphere of the banquet became rather oppressive.
On the other side of a rockery, in the men's area, it was a completely different scene.
The Crown Prince was sitting in the main seat. The young aristocrats below were seated in order of their titles.
Liang Yuzhou was sitting in the first seat on the left - hand side of the Crown Prince.
Not long after the banquet started, Du Yong, the legitimate son of the Marquis of Yongning, arrived late. He casually apologized to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was not angry. He told Du Yong to sit down and joked, "I'm afraid all your thoughts are on the ladies' area next door. You're actually early today."
Du Yong was well - known for his love of beautiful women. He felt no shame and didn't try to hide it. He smiled frankly.
"There's nothing much to see. There are countless noble ladies in the capital, but all of them together can't compare to Song Wanchu's grace. It's a pity that she married the wrong man. A pearl has been covered in dust!"
Liang Yuzhou, who had just picked up his wine cup, found the wine tasted sour in his mouth.
With a "click", he put down the cup gently but firmly. There was a cold glint of anger in his dark eyes.
"Master Du, I suppose your ribs don't hurt anymore?"
His words were sharp, like a blade, cutting through the lively atmosphere.
Du Yong was the type who never learned his lesson. With a playful smile on his face, he said, "From what Master Liang said, it seems you care a great deal about your wife. But why didn't you step forward when Song Wanchu was being bullied by the steward?"
Liang Yuzhou was slightly stunned.
Du Yong curled his lips and became even more complacent. "Song Wanchu was stopped at the door. The steward kept calling her 'concubine' and told her to enter through the side door. If the Crown Prince hadn't shown up in time to help, Lady Liang would surely have been laughed at today. May I ask, where were you at that time, Master Liang?"
"Master Du, watch your words."
The Crown Prince seemed to be warning Du Yong, but his tone was gentle and without much pressure.
He elegantly picked up his wine cup and took a sip. He found the wine mellow and to his taste.
Encouraged, Du Yong raised his voice a few degrees: "Everyone saw it. Master Liang was busy being lovey - dovey with his little cousin!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone felt two cold glares from the left side of the Crown Prince shooting at Du Yong, filled with a strong killing intent.
"Master Du seems to be very interested in my family affairs?"
Du Yong raised his eyebrows disdainfully: "I'm not interested in you or your little cousin."
Liang Yuzhou clenched his fists tightly. His face was so gloomy that it seemed to block out the bright May sun.
Wen Congbai was two seats away from Liang Yuzhou. Since his arms weren't long enough, he kept winking at Liang Yuzhou, telling him not to be impulsive!
What was wrong with him recently? Whenever it came to something related to Song Wanchu, he would become inexplicably irritable!
He was completely unlike the calm and steady Master Liang he usually was!
Seeing that the two were on the verge of conflict, the Crown Prince stepped in to mediate: "Master Du was just joking. Master Liang, don't take it to heart."
Liang Yuzhou's deep gaze turned to the Crown Prince. "Your Highness the Crown Prince doesn't seem to be the type who likes to meddle in other people's business."
There was a hidden meaning in his words.
The Crown Prince naturally heard the sarcasm but wasn't angry. He smiled gently: "Wanchu married you by the Emperor's order. He has already implicitly recognized that although Wanchu has the name of a concubine, she is actually a wife. I helped her to maintain the dignity of the royal family."
His words were impeccable.
Liang Yuzhou raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp. Only Wen Congbai, from the side, saw a flash of cruelty in his eyes.
The wine tasted even more sour in his mouth. It wrapped around his tongue and eroded his heart as it went down his throat.
Looking at the table full of delicious food, Liang Yuzhou lost all his appetite.
"Please excuse me."
He stood up, bowed to the Crown Prince, and then left in a hurry.
The anger in his chest was ignited by the increasingly scorching sun, almost burning away his reason.
At this moment, he just wanted to find Song Wanchu and ask her when she had gotten involved with the Crown Prince!
Just as he stopped at the rockery, he heard the voice of the Princess Royal from the ladies' area: "Jiahe, your Yu Zhou is not young anymore. It's time for him to marry a proper wife."
The atmosphere became delicate. Everyone's eyes turned to Song Wanchu, full of mockery, curiosity, and schadenfreude.
Everyone was waiting to watch a good show.
From Liang Yuzhou's perspective, Song Wanchu, sitting in the last seat, was like a lonely boat in the boundless sea, facing the storm alone.
She still sat upright, her back straight. She didn't bend even a bit under the people's derision and malice.
The Princess Royal and the County Princess Jiahe exchanged a look and smiled knowingly.
She waved Yu Huiyan over, took her hand, and looked at her carefully. Then she smiled and said, "If I were to say who in the capital is worthy of Master Liang, I think it's only Huiyan."
Yu Huiyan blushed with shyness at the praise. She tried to be reserved in front of others but couldn't hide her joy.
"Exactly!" The County Princess Jiahe quickly agreed. "They've been close since childhood. Yu Zhou has always been thinking about Huiyan. Even during those three years when Huiyan was in Hengzhou, Yu Zhou's heart wasn't captured by some seductive woman. He still missed Huiyan.
Such a deep affection is stronger than gold. It can't be destroyed by some low - class woman who tries to climb up the social ladder!"
These words were no different from calling Song Wanchu a fox spirit to her face.
Liang Yuzhou listened silently. The words from his mother's mouth seemed to pierce his ears painfully.
But Song Wanchu seemed used to it. She remained calm and composed.
His eyebrows furrowed deeply. His heart seemed to fall into a bottomless abyss, constantly sinking, sinking.
"Song Wanchu?"
The Princess Royal raised her voice deliberately, as if she were calling the roll. Her tone was full of contempt, like a deliberate humiliation.
It made everyone focus their attention on Song Wanchu again.