Liang Yuzhou expressionlessly brushed off her hand and said in a cold tone, "Mother, you'd better go to bed early."
"You must think of a way!"
The Princess of Jiahe shouted at his back.
Liang Yuzhou came to the Water Rhyme Residence. The once charming small courtyard had become cold and desolate. Only two old women were guarding the gate.
He pushed open the door and slowly walked to Song Wanchu's couch.
His fingers glided across the smooth silk quilt. The touch was warm and moist, just like her skin, fragrant in his hand.
But the person had been gone for many days. There was no longer her scent on the quilt and pillow.
Liang Yuzhou closed his eyes, and a picture slowly unfolded in his mind.
In the mountain depression in early spring, it was still quite cold. The branches showed no sign of turning green. The just - thawed stream carried ice blocks that hadn't completely melted and rushed forward.
A girl of twelve or thirteen years old suddenly rode into the picture on a small white horse. She was wearing a peach - pink riding suit, with a rosy complexion and almond - shaped eyes. Her small, charming fox - like eyes fluttered, and with a sweet smile, she was more charming than the spring scenery.
She dismounted the horse, bent down, and watched the fish in the stream with great interest. She was completely unaware that a gray bear that had just woken up from hibernation was hungry and looking for food. Having found a delicious prey, it was eyeing her menacingly.
When she finally sensed the heavy breathing behind her, the gray bear was less than a zhang away from her.
She pretended to be calm, but her small face had already lost all color. The somewhat sharp Ziyun Sword at her waist was no different from a fire - poker in front of the huge and fierce gray bear.
Liang Yuzhou was lying in ambush in the grass not far away. He nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring to its full extent in one breath.
Just as the gray bear pounced on her with claws outstretched, a whistling arrow shot towards the bear from behind her ear.
The arrowhead sank deeply into the bear's eye. After a deafening howl, the huge beast fled in a hurry.
Only then did Liang Yuzhou slowly walk out of the grass. The sun was shining brightly. The little girl looked up at him with clear and admiring eyes.
"Thank you, Young Master Liang, for saving me! Otherwise, I would have become the gray bear's delicious meal today!"
Her voice was clear, mellow, and melodious. On closer listening, there was still a tremor of relief after a narrow escape.
A certain string in Liang Yuzhou's heart was gently plucked.
Looking at the little girl's innocent and admiring eyes, he suddenly had the urge to tease her.
"How are you going to thank me? I don't accept just verbal thanks!"
"The Second Young Master of the Duke's Mansion, what could he possibly lack..."
The little girl's face flushed red. She nervously pinched her belt, as if talking to him and also to herself.
It was quite a surprise to Liang Yuzhou that she actually recognized him.
He raised his eyebrows slightly. "How do you know I don't lack anything?"
The little girl asked sincerely, "What do you want?"
Liang Yuzhou leaned slightly towards the little girl. The little girl blinked her watery eyes and became even more nervous.
His voice lowered slightly, and he asked suggestively, "What can you give me?"
"Do you lack a wife? I can marry you!"
Suddenly, the wind in the mountain depression stopped, and the gurgling sound of the stream disappeared. In Liang Yuzhou's ears, only Song Wanchu's voice echoed again and again.
He gently curled his lips.
"Song Wanchu, I've remembered your words. I don't like liars."
Suddenly, Song Wanchu's shy face disappeared, and the scene changed. Just as he was about to step into the Hall of Peace and Blessing, he heard the old lady's voice from inside the room.
"You don't want to marry Yuzhou. Do you have a sweetheart?"
Song Wanchu said yes.
It was she who had said she would marry him.
He patiently and restlessly waited for her to grow up, but she already had a sweetheart.
Her sweetheart wasn't him. She had lied to him.
In the darkness, Liang Yuzhou opened his eyes silently.
Early the next morning, Liang Yuzhou asked Zhou Sheng, "How much silver do I still have in the Yuntai Bank?"
Zhou Sheng was stunned for a moment before replying, "We gave the lady 50,000 taels of silver some time ago. There's less than 20,000 taels left."
This silver was the reward from the emperor when the Second Master followed the old Duke to suppress the bandits and beheaded the bandit leader.
Unlike other aristocratic sons who lived a life of debauchery and squandered money, he had hardly touched this reward for several years.
Zhou Sheng secretly guessed that perhaps the Princess of Jiahe had complained to him last night that the betrothal gift for Miss Yu was too little, and the Second Master was going to use this money to prepare the betrothal gift.
It seemed that the Second Master had accepted this marriage.
Was there really going to be a new mistress in the Duke's Mansion?
Zhou Sheng felt quite uncomfortable.
...
The news that Yu Huiyan was going to marry into the Duke's Mansion had spread all over the streets and alleys.
There were also rumors that Yu Huiyan was kind - hearted. She couldn't bear to see Song Wanchu in an embarrassing position, so she specially asked the Princess Royal to keep Song Wanchu's title of noble concubine. She was willing to be sisters with Song Wanchu.
The Princess of Jiahe believed this rumor without a doubt.
Yu Huiyan's "self - sacrifice" made her feel even more pity for this sensible and magnanimous niece.
The old lady had ordered that Yu Huiyan was not allowed to enter the Duke's Mansion. Although the Princess of Jiahe was dissatisfied, she didn't dare to go against the old lady. She could only complain privately.
She called Yu Huiyan to the Starry Pavilion and asked how the preparations for the wedding were going.
Yu Huiyan blushed shyly at the question. Her face was red, glowing with the luster of happiness.
"How's the dowry preparation? You're the eldest legitimate daughter of the Yu Family. You must get married in a grand manner. This is not only to console your deceased mother's soul but also to fulfill one of your aunt's wishes!"
Yu Huiyan's face darkened slightly. There seemed to be tears glistening in her eyes. "Father has just been reinstated. He's short of money. The step - mother is in charge of the family finances. She's not willing to spend money on my dowry. She said she wants to save it for my two younger sisters..."
The Princess of Jiahe was immediately unhappy when she heard this. "Your step - mother really has a good plan! She's just a noble concubine who has been promoted. She really thinks she's the mistress! Her daughters are nothing! A concubine - born daughter still wants to take your dowry. I'll go and argue with her!"
The betrothal gift from the Duke's Mansion was already not much. If the dowry was also little, wouldn't her niece lose face on both sides?
Wasn't it obvious to tell the world that her natal family didn't value her and the Duke's Mansion was even more perfunctory?
After Huiyan married Yuzhou, wouldn't she be suppressed by that bitch Song Wanchu?
A dark glint flashed in Yu Huiyan's eyes. She seemed to be very embarrassed as she said, "Father means that the Yu Family will only accept half of the betrothal gift from the Duke's Mansion. The other half will be taken away by me to make a good impression."
When the Princess of Jiahe heard this, she realized that the Yu Family was eagerly looking forward to the Duke's Mansion giving more betrothal gifts!
But the betrothal gift from the Duke's Mansion was really not presentable.
It was even half less than that of a concubine. It was really absurd!
Seeing the Princess of Jiahe's long face, Yu Huiyan had a bad premonition in her heart.
Aunt was the kind of person who loved to show off. But now, when it came to the betrothal gift, she was silent!
It must be because the betrothal gift was too little to be mentioned!
Back then, when Song Wanchu married into the Duke's Mansion, an eight - palanquin wedding was used. With a wave of the old lady's hand, there were 268 palanquins of betrothal gifts alone, not counting the silver, fields, and shops...
What was she inferior to Song Wanchu?
Jealousy burned in her heart, but on the surface, Yu Huiyan remained gentle and sensible.
She bit her lips, pulled the Princess of Jiahe's hand, and said submissively and obediently, "Aunt, don't worry about me. Huiyan doesn't care about the amount of the betrothal gift. As long as I can marry cousin, I'm already very satisfied."
As she spoke, big tears welled up in her eyes and rushed out one after another. "Even if my status in the Duke's Mansion is lower than Song Wanchu's in the future, I can bear it. Even if I'm laughed at by others for the fact that the legitimate wife is not as decent as the concubine when I go out, I can bear it..."
The Princess of Jiahe felt both sad and pity. She hugged Yu Huiyan tightly. "You're the most beloved treasure of your aunt. How can your aunt let you suffer such grievances?"
"I don't want to make aunt embarrassed."
Yu Huiyan sobbed, looking extremely pitiful. "I also know that the Duke's Mansion is a big family with many expenses. Except for Song Wanchu, every other family member is living a tight life. Forget it."
Just thinking of Song Wanchu's great wealth, hatred welled up in the Princess of Jiahe's heart.