Wen Congbai was immediately rendered speechless.
Wen Congbai was also aware of the matter Shen Yuhe had mentioned.
The friendship between the two girls had been forged over that ginseng root worth three thousand taels.
Wen Congbai understood Shen Yuhe's desire to stand up for Song Wanchu.
However, the complicated relationship between Liang Yuzhou and Song Wanchu was not something that could be easily explained.
Even he, Liang Yuzhou's closest friend, only knew a fraction of the whole story.
Shen Yuhe had a simple personality and a fiery temper. Wen Congbai didn't want her to get involved and end up getting hurt.
If she accidentally offended the wrong person, the consequences would be unimaginable!
But Shen Yuhe didn't appreciate his concern and was too lazy to understand Wen Congbai's good intentions.
The carriage drove away from the Princess Dowager's mansion, leaving Wen Congbai behind. His two legs were no match for the carriage's four horses. He could only watch the carriage's retreating figure and sigh.
When he turned around, he saw Liang Yuzhou standing not far away.
The sunlight was bright and blinding, but it seemed to avoid him.
He was enveloped in an aura of deep melancholy.
Wen Congbai wasn't sure how much of Shen Yuhe's words Liang Yuzhou had heard, but he felt a bit awkward for him.
There weren't many people who dared to scold Liang Yuzhou, and even fewer who could do it so harshly.
"Ahem, well," Wen Congbai forced a smile, "your wife's carriage isn't going in the direction of the Duke's mansion."
People who didn't know Song Wanchu often heard that she was ungrateful, a home - wrecker, greedy for wealth, and a skilled manipulator. But Wen Congbai knew that she was actually gentle and virtuous.
This time, she had been truly heartbroken and had willfully returned to her parents' home.
Seeing Liang Yuzhou standing still, Wen Congbai wanted to persuade him to chase after her quickly. Maybe he could coax her back on the way.
If people found out that Second Master Liang of the Duke's mansion had made his wife so angry that she had returned to her parents' home, it would be a laughingstock for the Duke's mansion.
But before he could speak, Zhou Sheng came running with the horse.
Liang Yuzhou took the reins, swung his long leg over the saddle, and mounted the horse with ease.
Wen Congbai let out a sigh of relief, thinking that Liang Yuzhou wasn't completely stupid.
Leaving the Princess Dowager's mansion, the road to Song Wanchu's uncle's house passed through a long and bustling street, so the horse couldn't go very fast.
Zhou Sheng noticed Liang Yuzhou's impatience and suggested, "Second Master, let's take a shortcut."
Just as Liang Yuzhou was about to turn the horse around, he saw a magnificent carriage approaching from the front. The carriage was made of golden nanmu, with carvings of five - clawed dragons on the walls, and even the carriage curtains were made of priceless brocade.
The carriage stopped, and a young eunuch respectfully lifted the curtain. The Crown Prince sat upright, exuding the aura of a future emperor.
"Second Young Master Liang, wait. I have something to say."
"Your Highness, please speak."
Liang Yuzhou dismounted and bowed with his hands clasped. Although he seemed respectful, the Crown Prince clearly saw a flash of hostility in his eyes.
The Crown Prince leaned forward slightly, getting closer, but still maintaining a condescending posture.
"I saw with my own eyes that Yu Huiyan fell down by herself."
His tone was calm, as if he were talking about something ordinary, but there was a storm brewing in Liang Yuzhou's eyes.
He knew that Liang Yuzhou wasn't stupid and might have already seen through Yu Huiyan's tricks.
But his words were like a bombshell, more powerful than slapping Liang Yuzhou in the face in public.
The Crown Prince admired Liang Yuzhou's expression at that moment. No matter how well he hid his regret, it couldn't escape the Crown Prince's eyes.
"Liang Yuzhou, although I've stayed out of this matter, I feel sorry for Wanchu. When she was wrongly accused and couldn't defend herself, the husband who should have supported her the most instead protected the woman who slandered and framed her. Her heart must be broken into a million pieces.
Ask yourself, how has Wanchu treated you, and when have you ever trusted her?
To be honest, you're excellent, capable of great things, and a good cousin.
But you're a terrible husband.
If you can't protect Wanchu, that's bad enough, but to add more pain to her is unforgivable."
The gentle summer breeze blew past Liang Yuzhou's ears, carrying the Crown Prince's sarcasm, and it felt like needles stabbing him.
The Crown Prince said some more, but Liang Yuzhou wasn't listening anymore.
Hearing the name "Wanchu" from the Crown Prince's mouth was like a sharp knife, stirring up the blood in his veins.
His blood - rushed brain made him feel an unprecedented impulse. He clenched his fists tighter and tighter, wanting to punch that handsome face.
"Du Yong was right. Wanchu marrying you is like a pearl being covered in dust. You dislike her, abandon her, and don't cherish her. You might as well let her go and fulfill your deep love for Yu Huiyan."
In an instant, a layer of ice formed in Liang Yuzhou's eyes, cold and menacing. It was hard to tell what emotions were hidden beneath.
"Your Highness seems to be overly concerned about my family affairs."
He used all his self - control to suppress his emotions and didn't gnash his teeth at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince gave a leisurely smile, tinged with mockery.
"From the moment Wanchu married into the Duke's mansion with the imperial edict of marriage, your marriage has ceased to be just a family matter."
He left it at that. Liang Yuzhou would figure out the implications on his own.
The carriage curtain was lowered, and the luxurious golden nanmu carriage drove away.
Inside the carriage, the usually smart little eunuch Anzi couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, if you care about Miss Song so much, why didn't you tell what you saw before Miss Song jumped into the lake?"
Although he was young, he had served the Crown Prince for seven or eight years.
No one knew better than him how much the Crown Prince liked Miss Song.
Miss Song's portrait was still hidden beside the Crown Prince's bed.
When Miss Song was framed and jumped into the lake to prove her innocence, the Crown Prince was filled with murderous intent.
"Silly boy!"
The Crown Prince gently tapped Anzi's head with his folding fan. "Do you think I didn't want to? My aunt is not someone to be trifled with. I had already annoyed her by standing up for Wanchu and scolding her steward.
Auntie had just proposed a marriage between Yu Huiyan and Liang Yuzhou. If I had publicly accused Yu Huiyan of lying, wouldn't that have been another slap in the face for my aunt?"
Anzi suddenly had an epiphany. "Your Highness is so thoughtful."
The Crown Prince looked at his bright yellow imperial robe. Although he wore the symbols of power and wealth, there was a hint of helplessness and sadness in his eyes.
As the future emperor, his every move had far - reaching consequences. He had to consider so many things that he was often restricted and couldn't save Wanchu from harm at the first moment.
"Then why didn't Your Highness tell Second Master Liang that it was Miss Song who gave him her heart's blood?"
The Crown Prince had heard the whole conversation between Song Wanchu and Yu Huiyan by the lake.
It was only then that he found out that it was actually Song Wanchu who had sacrificed her heart's blood to save Liang Yuzhou's life.
His aunt's ability to fabricate lies was truly remarkable.
Anzi felt sorry for Song Wanchu. He thought that if Miss Song had agreed to marry the Crown Prince back then, how glorious and dignified she would be now!
"It's best if Liang Yuzhou always believes that it was Yu Huiyan who gave him her heart's blood. Only by marrying her can he show his deep affection."
A glint of cunning flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes. Anzi's big, bright eyes twinkled a few times, and he immediately understood what the Crown Prince was thinking.
Liang Yuzhou waited until the Crown Prince's carriage was out of sight before mounting his horse again.
But he suddenly turned the horse around and headed in the direction of the Princess Dowager's mansion.
Zhou Sheng was puzzled. "Second Master, aren't we going to chase after the mistress?"