Three years ago, when Wan Chu learned that the old lady had proposed a marriage between her and Liang Yuzhou, she specially came to the Duke's Mansion to express her gratitude.
The two had a long and in - depth conversation. The old lady remembered that at first, Wan Chu had rejected this marriage.
Her reason was that her father had sacrificed his life for the country, and she asked the old duke not to feel overly guilty. She also said that her family status was too low to be the mistress of the Duke's Mansion.
Moreover, she didn't want to come between Liang Yuzhou and Yu Huiyan and be pointed at and criticized.
The old lady knew these were just superficial reasons.
She asked, "You don't want to marry Zhou'er. Do you have someone you like?"
Wan Chu was stunned for a moment and said yes.
Unexpectedly, Liang Yuzhou overheard this.
How could he accept that the girl he had been longing for had someone else in her heart?
The old lady understood his knot and tried to persuade him earnestly, "This is not a reason for you to neglect and wrong Wan Chu! In the past three years, Wan Chu has been whole - hearted towards you. She has not had any lingering connection with her old love. She almost lost her life for you. Isn't that enough to prove her love for you?"
A sarcastic smile curled up on Liang Yuzhou's lips. "Really?"
Then what about those letters and precious gifts constantly sent from the south of the Yangtze River?
In those letters, the sender showed concern in every detail. Although love was never explicitly mentioned, every word was filled with it!
And although Song Wanchu was gentle and considerate to him on the surface, there was always a trace of loss hidden in her eyes.
It seemed as if she was reluctant but had to accept the reality of marrying him.
Even in her dreams, she would shed tears and murmur again and again, "Brother, I'm sorry..."
Moreover, even when she was sleeping, she would hide that man's letters under her pillow like treasures.
So what was he in her heart?
The old lady was silent for a long time. In the not - so - bright candlelight, most of Liang Yuzhou's body was hidden in the shadow. With all his wounds, he looked even more cold, proud and stubborn.
She couldn't persuade him anymore.
The original intention was to create a perfect couple, but unexpectedly, the two had become a resentful couple.
Thinking of what she had done three years ago, the old lady felt remorseful.
After Wan Chu told her that she had someone she liked, the old lady couldn't help but find out about the man Wan Chu liked.
It turned out to be her adoptive brother. They had grown up together as childhood sweethearts.
The two had also had a verbal engagement.
After struggling for a long time in her heart, for the happiness of her grandson, the old lady did the only immoral thing in her life.
She met Shi Luohan alone and promised him many benefits on the condition that he leave Song Wanchu.
Shi Luohan's attitude was very firm. He had already regarded Wanchu as his future wife and would never fail to live up to his adoptive father's trust and abandon Wanchu.
The old lady then meanly lied, saying that Wanchu had already agreed to marry Shi Luohan.
It took Shi Luohan a long time to come back to his senses from the shock.
When he left, he was in a daze.
A few days later, he主动 found the old lady and agreed to leave Wanchu on the condition that the old lady's natal family help him clear the obstacles and open a security escort agency in the south of the Yangtze River.
The old lady's natal family was a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River. They had extensive influence both in the officialdom and in the jianghu. Shi Luohan's request was so simple that it could be fulfilled with just a single word.
Both parties had abided by the agreement, but the old lady never expected that Liang Yuzhou would overhear Wan Chu's words about having someone she liked.
That was the first time Liang Yuzhou had actively shown his affection for a woman, but his pride and self - esteem were crushed by Wan Chu's words.
He had been awkward for three years and had neglected Wan Chu for three years.
The old lady felt that maybe she was really wrong.
When Liang Yuzhou came out of the Fuan Hall, he suddenly saw a lantern moving towards him in the distance.
"Second brother."
It was Liang Yuchuan. With a gentle smile on his face, he took out a box of blood - activating and stasis - removing powder from his sleeve and handed it to him.
"Your injuries are more serious than mine. Take it and use it."
Seeing that Liang Yuzhou didn't even stretch out his hand and there was no trace of warmth in his eyes, he wasn't embarrassed either. He pulled Liang Yuzhou's arm and put the ointment in his palm.
"Father has been persuaded by me. You've been stubborn since childhood. Haven't you received enough whippings? For the sake of father and the Duke's Mansion, be less willful. Just follow father's words and marry cousin."
His soft - spoken and earnest exhortation made him seem like a good elder brother.
"If you care so much about the dignity of the Duke's Mansion, why don't you marry her and make father happy?"
Liang Yuzhou was just such a person. Everyone praised his elder brother as gentle as jade and a modest gentleman, but he just didn't like him and never gave him a good look.
Liang Yuchuan wasn't angry either. There was a meaningful look in his smile. "You haven't married a main wife in these years, nor have you made Wanchu the main wife. Do you plan to leave the position of the main wife vacant forever? Or do you have a better candidate?"
"What, big brother is very concerned about who I marry?"
Liang Yuzhou raised his eyebrows and retorted. "Are you afraid that if I marry a woman from a powerful family, with the support of her relatives, I will be more confident to compete with you for the position of the heir?"
Liang Yuchuan still smiled gently, but his back unconsciously tensed up. "You are more outstanding than me. Even the emperor praises you. The position of the heir is yours for sure."
Liang Yuzhou curled his lips disdainfully. His neck was a bit itchy. He touched a hand of fresh blood but casually took out a handkerchief to wipe it off.
"Since big brother is so kind, why don't you persuade father to give the position of the heir to me? He listens to your advice the most, doesn't he?"
Liang Yuchuan's smile flickered. The emotion in his eyes was unclear, but he didn't say anything more.
Liang Yuzhou sneered and in front of him, threw the box of ointment into the grass.
...
Song Wanchu felt very comfortable staying at her mother's home.
She didn't have to get up early to deal with a group of stewards, didn't have to handle the big and small matters of the Duke's Mansion, didn't have to face the unreasonable刁难 of the Princess Jiahe, and didn't have to see Yu Huiyan and Liang Yuzhou being affectionate.
The maids and servants in the family called her "Miss" one by one, as if she was still that bright and cheerful little girl who hadn't gotten married.
There were still thirty - eight days until she could get the document to be released as a concubine.
The days became more relaxed.
Her body was getting better day by day. In the long and hot summer days, Mrs. Wen was afraid that she would be bored at home, so she excitedly dragged her to the Green Poplar Shade to enjoy the cool.
The Green Poplar Shade used to be a royal garden. Due to frequent border wars in the previous years and the empty national treasury, it had been neglected and almost abandoned. Later, the richest merchant in the capital bought this garden with a single stroke and built teahouses and theaters in it, turning it into a summer resort.
This was also the favorite place for a group of noble ladies and young ladies.
The Green Poplar Shade was crossed by a river called the Clear Water Bay. The pavilions built along the river were the best places to escape the heat.
Mrs. Wen knew that Song Wanchu was afraid of water, so she specially chose a pavilion far from the river.
"Aunt, let's just stay by the river. It's cooler by the river and the view is also better."
Mrs. Wen was surprised.
But seeing Song Wanchu standing calmly on the river bank, the river water rippling and wetting the edge of her skirt, she didn't show the slightest bit of fear.
Song Wanchu was no longer afraid of water.
In the most desperate moment, she jumped into the lake to prove her innocence and found that the most terrifying thing was not the water, but Liang Yuzhou's endless harm.
She left that humble soul that loved Liang Yuzhou more than herself at the bottom of the lake. After coming ashore, she had been reborn.
For the rest of her life, she would still care about many people, but she would no longer care about Liang Yuzhou.
Sitting in the pavilion by the river, Mrs. Wen was a little worried at first and kept observing Song Wanchu's expression. Seeing that a bright smile always hung on her face, she finally felt relieved.
Mrs. Wen was gratified and couldn't help crying with joy.
Her niece had finally escaped from that cage of love.
Not far away, the gossiping discussions of several young ladies floated into the ears of Song Wanchu and Mrs. Wen along with the sound of the flowing water.