The old lady herself was more inclined to the second idea.
Their whole family owed Wan Chu. The position of the principal wife was what she deserved.
She would also help Zhou become the heir apparent. In this way, Wan Chu could be conferred the title of a first-rank imperial concubine.
Although the old lady felt that doing all this was still far from enough, it was the best she could offer to Wan Chu.
"But the princess's intention is to make Yu Huiyan the principal wife." The old duke thought this method was feasible, but still worried about the princess's dissatisfaction.
"To put it bluntly, the relationship between the Duke's Mansion and the princess is a game. Although she holds the chips, our family is not to be trifled with! If each side takes a step back, there will be peace. Each should leave some leeway. The princess won't fail to understand this principle!"
The old lady didn't see how much the princess liked Yu Huiyan. It was nothing more than the princess's assumption that Zhou was in love with her and regarded her as a pawn to win over the Duke's Mansion.
Letting her be a concubine was already the greatest concession the old lady could make.
When the old duke walked out of the Hall of Peace and Happiness, he still frowned.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse that night. For some reason, he always felt that the lantern in the servant's hand was not bright enough. The road ahead was pitch-black and he couldn't see the end.
He stumbled along the way, feeling even more irritable.
As soon as he returned to his bedroom, Liang Yuchuan came.
"Father."
"Chuan'er, it's so late. You don't need to come to pay your respects. Go back and rest quickly."
Liang Yuchuan's eyes immediately fell on the swollen forehead of the old duke.
"Father, I've brought some ointment for reducing swelling and dissipating stasis. Let your son apply it for you. You have to go to court tomorrow. Your appearance must not be damaged."
A warm current surged in the old duke's heart. His son was always so considerate.
He was much better than his ice-cold younger brother.
Sometimes the old duke would complain to God why the son he didn't like was born so outstanding.
If it was Chuan'er who was both civilly and militarily talented and favored by the emperor, how perfect that would be!
Liang Yuchuan personally applied the medicine to the old duke. Seeing his father's furrowed brows, he rolled his eyes.
"Father, your son has an idea. It can neither offend the princess nor fail to win over the crown prince."
"What idea?"
The old duke's eyes lit up instantly. What he was most worried about at the moment was that if they appeased the princess, they might secretly offend the crown prince. He couldn't balance the two major forces.
"The key to this matter lies in whether Song Wanchu will stay or leave."
Liang Yuchuan lowered his voice to the minimum. Almost only the two of them could hear him. "Song Wanchu seems weak, but in fact, her character is just like her father's. She is determined and strong-willed. She will never tolerate sharing a husband with Yu Huiyan. If Yu Huiyan marries the second younger brother, Song Wanchu will never compromise and continue to stay in the Duke's Mansion."
"With the imperial edict of the betrothal, the Duke's Mansion is not a place where she can come and go as she pleases!"
"The crown prince has always been in love with Wanchu. Before Song Wanchu was going to marry the second younger brother, he even went to the Song Mansion to propose marriage."
"Is what you said true?"
The old duke was shocked. His mood changed from depression to relief in an instant. If that was really the case, as long as they sent Song Wanchu to the crown prince, the current dilemma could be perfectly solved!
"Chuan'er, you're really smart!"
The old duke thought this idea was excellent and was even more satisfied with Liang Yuchuan.
Although praised, Liang Yuchuan became even more modest.
"Father, your son is sure that when Yu Huiyan gets married, Song Wanchu will surely ask for a release letter. After she leaves, we'll just do her a favor and send her to the crown prince. As a remarried woman, she can still climb up to the crown prince. Presumably, Song Wanchu will also be extremely grateful to us."
The old duke had already approved this idea in his heart.
Since Liang Yuzhou was also not interested in bringing Song Wanchu back, he might as well write a release letter now.
"Someone, go and call that good-for-nothing second son here. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him!"
"Father, there's no need to bother. I've been waiting for a long time."
The door of the old duke's bedroom was kicked open by Liang Yuzhou.
A sudden gust of wind blew on that quiet summer night. The candle flames flickered on and off, making people dizzy.
The old duke and Liang Yuchuan both covered their eyes with their sleeves involuntarily.
It was at this moment that they heard the sound of drawing a sword.
The bright blade flashed from Liang Yuzhou's waist and stopped fiercely at Liang Yuchuan's neck.
"Rebellious son, what are you doing? How dare you hurt your elder brother?"
The old duke roared. The veins on his forehead bulged, as if blood was about to burst out.
But he didn't dare to act rashly. When Liang Yuzhou got angry, he didn't recognize anyone. The old duke was afraid that he would really hurt Liang Yuchuan.
Liang Yuzhou held the sword steadily. His eyes were more dangerous than the sharp blade. His deep black eyes looked down at Liang Yuchuan with indescribable hatred on his face.
He looked exactly like the old duke when facing the Princess Jiahe.
"Liang Yuchuan, I'm not dead yet. You're not qualified to arrange my wife's future!"
His tone was cold and suppressed anger. With each word he said, the blade sank deeper into Liang Yuchuan's neck.
Liang Yuchuan felt the slippery and sticky feeling on his neck. His body trembled slightly, but he tried his best to remain calm.
"Second younger brother, Wanchu has been staying in her natal family for a long time. Obviously, she doesn't want to come back. The betrothal gifts have also been returned in full. The marriage relationship between the Liang and Song families will be declared invalid as long as there is a written document. What are you still insisting on?"
"Which word your elder brother said is wrong?"
Seeing Liang Yuchuan bleeding, the old duke's heart ached as if it was dripping blood. He glared at Liang Yuzhou angrily and roared, "Why don't you think about the Duke's Mansion at all?"
Liang Yuzhou sneered. His powerful and intimidating aura even startled the old duke.
"Are all the people in the Duke's Mansion dead? Do I have to maintain the dignity of the family all by myself? Since Liang Yuchuan cares so much about the Duke's Mansion, why doesn't he marry Yu Huiyan?"
The father and son fell into a tacit silence.
Liang Yuzhou's eyes became even deeper and colder. Upon closer inspection, there was also a hint of injury hidden in them.
The mocking arc of his lips became even bigger. "Well, when it comes to sacrifice, you just push me out. When there are benefits to be gained, you jump out. Liang Yuchuan, you're so hypocritical. The kind of person I despise the most is you!"
"Shut up, rebellious son!"
Before Liang Yuchuan could react to this sentence, the old duke flew into a rage. "Since you don't like Yu Huiyan, why do you let the rumors spread outside that you're childhood sweethearts and deeply in love? Also, you don't want to make Wanchu the principal wife. Who on earth do you want to give the position of the principal wife to?"
After all, he was afraid that Liang Yuzhou would marry the Princess Lingyang and block Liang Yuchuan's way to become the heir apparent.
After all, he had an innate advantage over Liang Yuchuan. The Princess Lingyang was infatuated with him and even threatened that if anyone other than her became Liang Yuzhou's principal wife, the wedding day would be her death day!
"Father is afraid that I'll snatch the position of the heir apparent from Liang Yuchuan?"
Liang Yuzhou simply made the matter clear.
The old duke's face froze. The muscles on his cheeks twitched.
He saw the contemptuous mockery in Liang Yuzhou's eyes.
"Father, don't worry. I will definitely fight for it."
He withdrew the sword from Liang Yuchuan's neck and made a beautiful sword flower.
The sword returned to its scabbard, and he had already left the room.
On that stuffy summer night, both the father and the son were covered in cold sweat.
...
Song Wanchu dreamed of her father again.
Her father took her horseback riding on the grassland, galloping freely.
"Wanchu, look. Beyond this mountain is the Pingsha Pass. There's an endless desert there and a magnificent setting sun over the long river. Once you cross this mountain, you'll know how vast the world is and how magnificent our Great Zhou's territory is!"
Song Wanchu stretched her neck and looked at the mountain longingly.
In the blink of an eye, her father disappeared from her side. His figure suddenly appeared on the mountaintop. He was holding a long spear and looking into the distance.
"Father, wait for me!" Song Wanchu wanted to catch up.
The howling wind brought her father's deep and powerful voice.
"Wanchu, go back. Your father is going to defend the Pingsha Pass and protect the territory of Great Zhou."
Song Wanchu didn't even have time to say goodbye to her father properly. She kept chasing and chasing. She almost reached the horizon, but still couldn't catch up with her father.
"Father, I'll wait for you to return in triumph!"
The dream changed. Everything was white. People were crying inside and outside the mourning hall.
Song Wanchu stared blankly at her father in the coffin. He was full of wounds and his flesh and blood were in a mess. Only the long spear was tightly held in his hand and would never be separated from him again.
Her father's heroic spirit would always stay in the Pingsha Pass.
"Daddy!"
Song Wanchu woke up from her sobs. Her pillow was already soaked with tears.
The door was hurriedly pushed open. Nan Zhi and Su Yue rushed to her couch in a hurry.
"Did the young lady dream of the master again?"
Song Wanchu was stunned. "How do you know?"
"The young lady has been talking in her sleep."
"Talking in my sleep? Do I often talk in my sleep?"