"Your Highness, I'm sorry to intrude," Liang Yuzhou said as he walked gracefully towards the table and bowed to the Princess.
His appearance slightly eased the awkwardness of the Princess and the others.
"I have something to talk to my wife, Song Wanchu. Could Your Highness allow her to leave the table for a while?"
The Princess nodded before he even finished speaking.
If Song Wanchu stayed any longer, God knows what else this crazy woman might say! That matter must never reach Liang Yuzhou's ears!
A sarcastic smile played on Song Wanchu's lips.
She had known Liang Yuzhou was here not long after the banquet started. His gaze was so intense that she couldn't ignore him.
When she was publicly humiliated and belittled by the Princess and the County Princess of Jiahe, he said nothing. But as soon as his beloved cousin was in an embarrassing situation, he immediately stepped in to save the day.
The County Princess of Jiahe was right. Liang Yuzhou really did have Yu Huiyan on his mind all the time.
Her heart, numb from the pain, no longer felt any hurt, only endless irony.
In the rockery of the Princess's mansion, there was a secluded cave. The top of the rockery was hollow. At noon, sunlight shone in, creating a contrast of light and darkness.
As they entered the rockery, the noise from outside faded, but their emotions intensified.
Liang Yuzhou looked at Song Wanchu. She stood in the bright light, her black hair and red lips, and her eyes full of vitality. She was a far cry from her sickly appearance before.
She looked like a victorious female general who had conquered all her enemies.
Before the banquet was even half over, Song Wanchu had already exposed the Princess's schemes, made the County Princess of Jiahe lose face, and even subtly mocked Yu Huiyan.
How come he never noticed before that his wife could be so imposing?
Song Wanchu was waiting for Liang Yuzhou to scold her, but the first thing he said was, "Why did you lie?"
If there was anyone here who could expose her lie, it was Liang Yuzhou.
The scars on her knees were long gone.
Shen Yuhe was a skilled doctor. She had prepared a special ointment for Song Wanchu, and after half a month of application, the scars had disappeared.
But Song Wanchu didn't think she had lied. Those scars had really existed.
The humiliation and torment she had suffered at the hands of the Princess were also true.
Liang Yuzhou couldn't see her grievances, only her lie.
Those who were not loved had even the slightest lie told for self - protection magnified into a moral issue by him.
"It's called using all means necessary in war," Song Wanchu retorted. "You saw the Princess's reaction. Three years ago, I really didn't use my father's sacrifice to get the imperial edict to marry into the Duke's mansion. Can't you trust me just this once, Second Master?"
She was innocent, and she wanted to leave cleanly.
She could accept that Liang Yuzhou had never loved her, but she couldn't accept that in his heart, she was a dirty and scheming woman full of lies.
Liang Yuzhou seemed even more unhappy after hearing her words.
He stood on the dark side, his tall figure swallowed by the darkness. His eyes were even more profound, like the deep sea, impossible to fathom.
"Then who did you originally plan to marry? Your elder brother or the Crown Prince?"
The sudden question, filled with anger, left Song Wanchu stunned. She didn't know how to answer at all.
Her reaction was seen by Liang Yuzhou as annoyance at being exposed.
He grabbed her arm forcefully and dragged her to the dark side.
Liang Yuzhou pinned her against the rock wall. The wall of the rockery was not very smooth. The newly - grown wound on her back was rubbed against the uneven surface, causing a painful and itchy sensation.
He lifted her chin and pressed slightly with his fingers.
"Song Wanchu, I never knew you were so good at attracting men!"
Coming from Liang Yuzhou, her husband of three years, these words were like a slut - shaming. It was more humiliating to Song Wanchu than being slapped in the face in public!
In a fit of rage, she said recklessly, "I'm neither a proper wife nor a concubine. I'm just taking up the name of the mistress of the Duke's mansion, which is an obstacle to your marriage to a proper wife, Second Master. Since you think I'm a promiscuous woman, why don't you divorce me now? It'll be good for both of us!"
Perhaps because Song Wanchu had never spoken so fiercely in front of him, when Liang Yuzhou heard the word "divorce", a vein on his forehead throbbed, showing his anger.
His long fingers suddenly clasped around her snow - white neck. The calloused hands from years of martial arts training scraped against her delicate skin.
"Song Wanchu, do you think the Duke's mansion is not high enough for you, so you want to climb onto the Crown Prince's branch?"
Song Wanchu was engulfed by his anger. Her slender neck seemed so vulnerable in his hand, as if it could be broken with a slight squeeze.
Three years of whole - hearted devotion had been trampled into the mud by him. In the end, she was still mocked and had her character insulted!
"Liang Yuzhou, is this really what I am in your heart?"
Suddenly, there was a hint of warmth on his palm.
Trapped in the darkness, Song Wanchu swallowed her sobs silently.
Outside the rockery, the sun was shining brightly, and there were laughter and joy. But she was trapped in the abyss of humiliation, once again hurt to the core by the person closest to her.
Her chin was lifted again, and a warm kiss landed on her lips. Song Wanchu was shocked, her mind going blank.
Her whole body was in a state of surrender. Liang Yuzhou forcefully pried open her lips and teeth, seizing her breath. The kiss was long and lingering.
The smell of alcohol passed into her mouth. Song Wanchu thought he must be drunk.
Otherwise, how could he do something so irrational?
Liang Yuzhou gently bit her small ear, his voice hoarse. "Look clearly. I'm your man, and I'll be yours for life!"
Song Wanchu couldn't feel much love in his words, only a strong sense of possessiveness.
He didn't like his things being coveted, and people were no exception.
Before she knew it, he had squeezed between her legs. His powerful body showed a ready - to - attack state.
"Liang Yuzhou, you're crazy!"
This was the Princess's mansion!
There were all important guests outside, and this place was not completely secluded...
She struggled in panic.
There was a natural strength gap between men and women. Moreover, Liang Yuzhou was strong and healthy. He easily trapped her in his arms.
She was like a helpless little rabbit under a tiger's claws.
"Stay away from the Crown Prince," Liang Yuzhou gasped, his voice full of warning. "Don't forget, you're already married. No matter how high the branch is, you can't climb it. You'll be mine for life!"
He kissed her again, as if to prove that only he had this privilege.
Song Wanchu was too exhausted to argue with him anymore.
Amidst the endless bitterness, there was a hint of relief.
If it weren't for that letter of releasing the concubine, she would be trapped in the Duke's mansion for the rest of her life.
Watching him and Yu Huiyan be a loving couple, her ridiculous affection would only serve to highlight Liang Yuzhou's love for Yu Huiyan.
Fortunately, in forty - three days, she would be able to completely break free from this cage.
There were footsteps outside the rockery, and Yu Huiyan's soft voice came. "Cousin, are you in there?"