A flicker of guilt flashed across Princess Jiahe's eyes.
Originally, she planned to come here secretly behind the back of the old duke and the old lady to take back the betrothal gifts.
This betrothal gift couldn't be sent back to the Duke's Mansion.
Instead, it would be sent to the Yu Family to serve as Huiyan's dowry.
A generous dowry would make Huiyan's wedding more magnificent and decent.
Then she would warn Song Wanchu not to spread the word everywhere.
She knew this kind of thing was rather disgraceful.
But for Huiyan's sake, she had no other choice!
She stiffened her neck and blustered, "It's my idea, and also Zhou'er's and the master's!"
Something inside Song Wanchu seemed to shatter completely.
Sure enough, Liang Yuzhou not only refused to give her the slightest bit of love but also was stingy enough to take back the betrothal gifts he had given her before.
It was because he thought she was unworthy that he gave Princess Jiahe the confidence to come and ask for the betrothal gifts.
Indeed, how could he allow her to surpass his beloved cousin?
"Thank you, Princess, for making this special trip. I'll return all the 268 carts of betrothal gifts, 500 mu of farmland, and 5,000 taels of silver that the Duke's Mansion gave me back then."
Song Wanchu let out a self - deprecating smile. She suddenly felt that the document of releasing her from concubinage was really redundant.
Before the three - year term was up, Liang Yuzhou couldn't wait to sever his relationship with her and drive her away.
These betrothal gifts had been stored in her uncle's house, untouched.
She originally planned to return all the betrothal gifts to the Duke's Mansion after getting the document of releasing her from concubinage.
It was better to do it earlier.
When she left, she would have no attachments.
Wen was always decisive and never dilly - dallying.
Immediately, she ordered the maids and servants to carry out all the well - preserved betrothal gifts from the warehouse.
The Qi Family was wealthy, with more money than they could spend. None of the betrothal gifts from the Duke's Mansion had been opened.
After a while, the accountant brought over the silver note for 5,000 taels and the deed for 500 mu of farmland.
Song Wanchu calmly handed them to Princess Jiahe.
Princess Jiahe snatched them, as if afraid that the stack of papers would fly away, and hurriedly stuffed them into her sleeve.
This time it was Wen's turn to let out a contemptuous laugh.
What a so - called royal relative! She looked like she had never seen money before!
There were too many betrothal gifts, and Princess Jiahe had only brought a few maids and grannies with her. She couldn't take them all away at once.
Wen thought it over carefully. "Your Highness doesn't need to worry. I'll send people to deliver the betrothal gifts back to your mansion."
Princess Jiahe's face tightened. "No, no. Leave them here for now. I'll send someone to pick them up later!"
She wanted to call someone from the Yu Family to move the betrothal gifts away.
Anyway, they couldn't be sent back to the Duke's Mansion!
Princess Jiahe's words and deeds didn't match, and her eyes were furtive. Song Wanchu couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.
Since she dared to come and ask for the betrothal gifts so openly, why was she afraid to send them back to the Duke's Mansion openly?
Could it be...
Princess Jiahe had always been shallow - minded. Song Wanchu had lived under the same roof with her for three years and knew her temperament very well.
She quickly guessed what was on Princess Jiahe's mind.
"Your Highness, as the saying goes, 'see a thing through to the end'. The betrothal gifts should go back where they came from. Aunt has arranged people to help you send them, which will save you the trouble of arranging manpower. Isn't that good?"
"I've said I'll send someone to move them myself!"
Princess Jiahe seemed to have had her plan exposed and was extremely annoyed.
The more guilty she felt, the louder she would speak.
This just confirmed Song Wanchu's suspicion.
It seemed that these betrothal gifts of hers would, with a simple transformation, become Yu Huiyan's dowry.
Liang Yuzhou really went to great lengths. Since Yu Huiyan wasn't decent enough, Liang Yuzhou tried every means to make her so.
Song Wanchu couldn't help but sneer in her heart. Why?
Princess Jiahe left the Qi Family in a hurry. Before leaving, she repeatedly told them not to move the betrothal gifts.
"Aunt, please arrange people to send the betrothal gifts. Also, sending betrothal gifts is supposed to be a joyous occasion. Although we're sending them back, we can't neglect the etiquette. Arrange a wedding band to send the betrothal gifts back to the Duke's Mansion in a lively way."
Wen gave her a knowing smile and tapped her on the head with her finger. "You're getting more and more naughty as you grow up!"
...
"Second Master, look. Isn't that Madam's carriage?"
Liang Yuzhou had just withdrawn some money from Yuntai Bank and was about to reach the Qi Family's gate.
Zhou Sheng, who was sitting outside the carriage, noticed that Princess Jiahe's carriage had just left the Qi Family.
Liang Yuzhou lifted the curtain and looked in the direction where the carriage was leaving. His thin lips tightened slightly.
"Madam never liked the Second Madam. What is she doing at the Second Madam's natal family?"
Zhou Sheng was completely puzzled.
"Follow her and find out."
Liang Yuzhou jumped off the carriage. Instead of entering through the main gate, he skillfully climbed over the high wall and rushed straight to Song Wanchu's boudoir.
Song Wanchu wasn't in the room.
The room was very quiet. Liang Yuzhou walked softly to her couch.
His eyes accurately spotted the letter Shi Luohan had written to her, still treasured by her and hidden under the pillow.
Jealousy welled up inside Liang Yuzhou.
He stuffed the thick stack of silver notes under the pillow, on top of the letter.
...
In the evening, Rongchang Street suddenly became bustling.
A long procession walked out of the Qi Family, carrying boxes of betrothal gifts. Behind them was a wedding band. The joyous wedding music echoed through the street and drifted into the high walls of every household.
Rongchang Street was the busiest street in the capital. The people living on both sides were either high - ranking officials in the court or wealthy merchants. Naturally, such a big commotion outside attracted a lot of people to come and have a look.
"It's strange. There's no one in the Qi Family getting married. Where are they sending the betrothal gifts?"
"It seems to be in the direction of the Duke's Mansion!"
The onlookers were confused for a moment.
"I heard that Princess Jiahe went to the Second Madam's natal family to ask for the betrothal gifts today. It seems that the Qi Family is returning all the betrothal gifts from back then!"
"Why are they returning the betrothal gifts all of a sudden? Has the Second Madam been divorced by the Second Master?"
"No, no. The Second Master's childhood sweetheart is going to marry Miss Yu. Princess Jiahe thought the betrothal gifts for Miss Yu were too meager and not decent enough, so she asked for the betrothal gifts that were given to the Second Madam back then!"
For a moment, everyone let out an "oh" of sudden realization.
Everyone's expression was rather complicated.
Princess Jiahe had really shamed the Duke's Mansion!
Rongchang Street was already in an uproar. The news that Princess Jiahe had asked Song Wanchu for the betrothal gifts and intended to give them to Yu Huiyan as her dowry spread like wildfire.
People were talking about it everywhere on the streets.
After a busy day, Song Wanchu was a little tired but also very happy.
Princess Jiahe was as vicious as a snake. She deserved to be punished long ago.
When she returned to her bedroom, she took a nice bath.
After changing into her nightgown and lying on the couch, she suddenly saw the thick stack of silver notes stuffed under the pillow.
Her heart suddenly sank from the sky, and all her good mood vanished!
Suddenly, the window was pushed open forcefully, and Liang Yuzhou appeared in front of her like lightning.
His handsome face was full of anger, and his eyes were bottomless.
"Song Wanchu, what do you mean?"
Song Wanchu was stunned for a moment and then understood.
He was blaming her for returning the betrothal gifts so ostentatiously, which had implicated Yu Huiyan and made people point fingers at her!
No one cared more about Yu Huiyan's reputation than he did.
She raised her eyes and looked into his eyes, which were pitch - black, surging with cold waves.
"Liang Yuzhou, this is exactly what I want to ask you. What do you mean!"