Song Wanchu had long since turned over a new leaf, but she couldn't tell Shen Yuhe about it until she left the Duke's Mansion.
She nodded in agreement. "I'll tell you as soon as I make up my mind."
"Do you really plan to leave?"
Shen Yuhe softened her voice, and her tone was noticeably lighter. "When that day comes, I'll definitely set off some firecrackers in front of the Duke's Mansion to ward off bad luck for you and pave the way for your future!"
Nan Zhi and Su Yue were tickled and covered their mouths with laughter. Song Wanchu couldn't help smiling either.
It wasn't too much of a failure in life to have a friend like Shen Yuhe.
The laughter of the girls enlivened the quiet corner.
A male voice broke the atmosphere. "Sister Yuhe, there you are. I've been looking for you everywhere!"
Wen Congbai gently fanned his folding fan and walked out from behind a tree.
He first nodded respectfully to Song Wanchu. "Madam Liang."
The Wen family and the Shen family were family friends. Wen Congbai was a few years older than Shen Yuhe. When Shen Yuhe was a child, she especially liked to follow him around, constantly calling him "brother."
They were childhood sweethearts, and both families intended to promote their marriage.
But for some reason, Shen Yuhe had become increasingly cold towards Wen Congbai recently.
She didn't even want to follow him around, and sometimes she would even avoid him.
"Mr. Wen." Shen Yuhe nodded indifferently to Wen Congbai. "What do you want?"
Wen Congbai glanced at Song Wanchu and hesitated.
Song Wanchu was sensible and winked at Shen Yuhe. "I see the lotus flowers over there are in full bloom. I'd like to go and have a look."
"Then let's go and have a look together."
Shen Yuhe took her arm and didn't even spare a glance for Wen Congbai.
"Sister Yuhe, could you please stay for a moment? I have something to tell you."
Wen Congbai still looked gentle and elegant on the surface, but he was confused in his heart.
He didn't know what was wrong with this girl. He wasn't a ferocious beast. Why did she avoid him?
"I have nothing to say to you!" Shen Yuhe didn't give Wen Congbai any face at all.
Wen Congbai was both confused and aggrieved. Shen Yuhe simply made it clear. "You and Liang Yuzhou are birds of a feather. Liang Yuzhou is a scumbag, and you're no better!"
She was fully devoted to medicine and never thought about getting married.
Even if she did get married, she couldn't be like Song Wanchu, who thought she had married for love but was coldly hurt by her beloved for three years.
She used to be very fond of Wen Congbai and thought he was a reasonable and gentle gentleman.
It was not until the day she went to the Duke's Mansion to bandage Song Wanchu that she saw Liang Yuzhou only caring about Yu Huiyan, who was a little frightened, while ignoring his own wife.
What was even more infuriating was that he didn't even know that Song Wanchu had taken his heart's blood for him and almost lost her life!
Although she held back from telling Liang Yuzhou, she had already decided that Liang Yuzhou was a heartless scumbag.
After she went back, she told Wen Congbai about this, but Wen Congbai spared no effort to defend Liang Yuzhou, saying that there was a misunderstanding between the two that hadn't been cleared up and that Liang Yuzhou loved Song Wanchu very much.
He also told her not to talk too much in front of Song Wanchu and not to interfere in their affairs.
His attitude disappointed Shen Yuhe greatly. He not only couldn't understand her sympathy for Song Wanchu but was also an indirect accomplice in Liang Yuzhou's harm to Song Wanchu.
Both of them were scumbags!
Wen Congbai was a little flustered. "Yuhe, Madam Liang is still here!"
This girl was too outspoken!
"Even if Liang Yuzhou were here, I'd still say it!"
Song Wanchu felt quite sorry that the two of them were arguing like this because of her.
But Shen Yuhe was a stubborn girl, and she didn't know how to persuade her.
She could only stand there awkwardly.
"Say what?"
A cold voice suddenly reached their ears.
Liang Yuzhou, the owner of the voice, didn't know when he had stood behind them. He looked in Song Wanchu's direction, his expression calm, but there was a glint of sharpness in his eyes.
Song Wanchu tightened her hand hidden in her sleeve. Her heart was pounding. Wasn't he supposed to be protecting Yu Huiyan?
When did he quietly follow her?
How much of her conversation with Shen Yuhe had he heard?
Would he be suspicious?
But one thing was quite certain for Song Wanchu. She mustn't let him know that she was planning to leave.
She mustn't let him know about the existence of the letter of release either.
Liang Yuzhou didn't love her, but it didn't stop his possessiveness.
He was a calm and rational man. He had given his love to Yu Huiyan. For her, it was just a physical interest.
He obviously wasn't tired of her body yet. How could he let her go so easily?
Shen Yuhe met Liang Yuzhou's cold eyes without any fear. "I'm saying that you're blind and deaf, believing one - sided words, and squandering Wanchu's true feelings. You're not good enough for her!"
The cold glint in Liang Yuzhou's eyes became even sharper. A sense of oppression came over, and the air around them suddenly thinned.
"I won't accept unfounded slander."
"Who's slandering you?" Shen Yuhe bravely confronted him. "If you weren't blind, how could you not see the scar on Wanchu's chest? Do you know how much heart's blood needs to be taken to leave such a deep scar? Your life was saved by Wanchu -"
"Yuhe!" Wen Congbai didn't care about the propriety between men and women. He pulled Shen Yuhe away from Song Wanchu and blocked her sight with his body.
He turned his back to Liang Yuzhou and mouthed a warning to Shen Yuhe. "Stop talking!"
This girl really didn't know the importance of things!
How dare she say such things in the Princess's Mansion!
Wasn't this slapping the Princess in the face?
Liang Yuzhou wasn't without suspicion about who had taken the heart's blood for him.
The incident had happened in the Princess's Mansion three years ago. The Princess had told him in person that it was Yu Huiyan who had taken the heart's blood and saved his life.
Even if Liang Yuzhou had doubts in his heart, he couldn't openly question the Princess. That would be a challenge to the royal dignity.
He could only investigate bit by bit, carefully guarding against being discovered by the Princess.
He also had his own difficulties!
Shen Yuhe read the anxiety and worry in Wen Congbai's eyes. Although she was angry, she knew what was at stake.
The words on the tip of her tongue had to be swallowed back. Song Wanchu had already offended the Princess during the banquet. She couldn't push Song Wanchu over the cliff.
Liang Yuzhou only heard half of the words. His sword - shaped eyebrows knitted tightly together. He didn't say a word, just gave Song Wanchu a deep look and then turned away.
Walking around the winding corridor, he met Aunt Fang at a corner.
Aunt Fang used to be the chief maid of the Empress Dowager.
Before the Empress Dowager's death, she was most worried about the Princess, her only daughter. So she sent Aunt Fang, her most trusted and capable maid, to serve the Princess.
Aunt Fang was now the most respected servant in the Princess's Mansion. Even the Princess had to show her some respect.
Liang Yuzhou knew that she was a wise and reasonable person. She had advised and restrained the Princess many times, which was why the Princess hadn't done anything too outrageous.
When he was a child, he entered the palace to be a companion to the princes. The Empress Dowager liked him and often called him and the other princes to play in front of her. He had received a lot of care from Aunt Fang.
Aunt Fang's brother was framed and imprisoned. It was he who had found out the truth and cleared her brother's name.
She was extremely grateful to Liang Yuzhou, and Liang Yuzhou also trusted her enough.
"The Princess is enthusiastically arranging the marriage for the Second Master Liang. Why is the main character here?"
Aunt Fang asked with a smile.
"I have something to ask you, Aunt Fang."
Liang Yuzhou got straight to the point. "Did you see with your own eyes three years ago that Huiyan took the heart's blood?"