Song Wanchu looked utterly bewildered.
Nanzhi and Suyue exchanged a knowing glance.
Both girls felt a bit awkward, as if on the same wavelength.
"It wasn't that often. It was just after the master passed away and when you first married into the Duke's Mansion and had been waiting for Young Master Shi's letter for so long. We heard you talk in your sleep more often during that period."
Song Wanchu's body stiffened.
During the days when she first married into the Duke's Mansion, she was full of guilt towards her elder brother. The fact that he didn't write to her made her even more certain that he was angry with her.
In her dreams, her elder brother often appeared, his back turned to her, looking lonely and dejected. She wanted to chase after him and sincerely apologize, telling him not to wait for her anymore.
But every time she reached out and touched his shoulder, his figure would disperse like smoke and then reappear far, far away from her. The look in his eyes as he stared at her was full of resentment.
She could only shout again and again, "Brother, I'm sorry..."
Every time, she would wake up from this dream in tears.
If she had known about her habit of talking in her sleep three months earlier, she would have tried her best to explain it to Liang Yuzhou.
Although she felt guilty towards her elder brother, this guilt was only related to breaking the marriage contract and had nothing to do with romantic feelings.
But now, it was no longer necessary.
For three years of marriage, she and Liang Yuzhou had always been in different worlds even when sharing the same bed.
A bitter feeling welled up in her heart. Even if she explained, what difference would it make? Liang Yuzhou wouldn't believe her, nor would he care.
Song Wanchu tried hard to ignore the pain in her heart brought up by this memory.
"Nanzhi, Suyue, go and prepare some paper money and fruits. Later, I want to visit Father."
The summer heat was unbearable. The sun in the early morning was already powerful enough, and by noon, it could even burn people's skin.
Song Wanchu was sensitive to heat. She waited until the sun was setting and the temperature had dropped a bit before she set off for the Eastern Suburb Cemetery with paper money, fruits, and tools for tomb repair.
The grass grew fast in summer, and it was time to tidy up Father's tomb.
"Miss, look! Someone has come to pay respects to the master!"
Suyue had sharp eyes. Before they even reached the tomb, she saw the offerings placed in front of the tombstone.
There were also traces of burned paper money.
Nanzhi also noticed, "Miss, the master's tomb has been trimmed. It's neat and tidy, without a single weed!"
Song Wanchu's gaze fixed on the incense burner in the middle of the offerings.
The three sticks of incense in it had just burned out.
It took more than two hours for this kind of incense to burn out. That meant someone had come to pay respects to Father under the scorching mid - day sun today.
Who could it be?
Father had no brothers. When he was an official in the court, he was so upright and unyielding, a pure and honest official without any political cliques. He had very few close friends.
"Could it be that Uncle or Aunt sent someone here?"
Nanzhi made a reasonable guess.
Song Wanchu slowly shook her head. "If it was Uncle or Aunt, they would have definitely informed me in advance. Aunt saw us leaving with the tomb - repair tools today. If she had sent someone to trim the tomb, she would have reminded us."
It had been the same in previous years. Many times when she came to pay respects and repair the tomb, she found that it had already been taken care of.
At that time, since she was in the Duke's Mansion, she thought it was Uncle or Aunt who had come to pay respects.
Now it seemed that might not be the case.
For three years, there had always been someone who had been sincerely paying respects to Father.
Song Wanchu couldn't figure out who it was for the moment, but she silently said thank you in her heart.
Thank you for still remembering that Father was a hero who sacrificed his life for the country.
...
On the way back to the city, Song Wanchu and the two girls were extremely hot, covered in sticky sweat.
"Let's go to Cuining Tower and have a cup of iced tea before going back."
Suyue perked up. "The pickled plum in the Cuining Tower is the most delicious and refreshing."
The little girl was almost drooling.
On the way to Cuining Tower, the Qi family's carriage was following a long procession.
Wherever the procession passed, Song Wanchu heard people whispering.
"Miss Yu really knows how to make a grand show. She was laughed at yesterday because of the matter that Princess Jiahe wanted to use her betrothal gifts as her dowry. But today, the Princess Dowager has added to her dowry."
"The Princess Dowager is really generous. I just counted. There are exactly a hundred loads!"
"I heard that Second Master Liang was afraid that Miss Yu would be laughed at and lose face, so he went to ask the Princess Dowager, the matchmaker, to intervene. It was for Second Master Liang's sake that the Princess Dowager added to Miss Yu's dowry!"
"Second Master Liang is really considerate of Miss Yu!"
These words floated into Song Wanchu's ears one after another.
Like waves, they crashed violently against the wall of her heart.
It was Song Wanchu's own idea to return the betrothal gifts with fanfare.
It was also she who sent people to spread the news that Princess Jiahe wanted to use her betrothal gifts as Yu Huiyan's dowry.
She just wanted Yu Huiyan to taste the feeling of being laughed at.
But she had laughed too soon.
How could Liang Yuzhou allow Yu Huiyan to be laughed at and criticized?
The person he held dear in his heart must be protected with all his might.
Such a cold and proud person was willing to beg the Princess Dowager to save Yu Huiyan's reputation.
It seemed that in the end, it was Yu Huiyan who had the last laugh.
By the time they reached Cuining Tower, Song Wanchu had lost her appetite for iced tea and pickled plums.
Even Suyue, who was usually a glutton, hardly touched the iced tea and snacks in front of her.
"It's getting late, Miss. Let's go back," Nanzhi said.
Everyone in Cuining Tower was talking about the marriage of Liang Yuzhou and Yu Huiyan. For others, it was just a story for after - dinner chats, but for Song Wanchu, it was like an inescapable curse.
"Let's go. When it's hot in the future, we'd better go out less."
As they walked out of the private room, they saw the Princess Dowager walking in, followed by more than twenty servants, making quite a commotion.
Walking beside her was Yu Huiyan.
From being laughed at by everyone to finally getting her revenge, the pride on her face was almost overflowing.
"What bad luck! Why did we run into her!"
Suyue whispered angrily. "What a narrow path for enemies!"
"Aunt Song, what a coincidence! You're here too?"
Yu Huiyan greeted Song Wanchu with a smile.
There was a standard smile on her face, looking innocent and enthusiastic, as if there was no grudge between them.
Song Wanchu gently raised her eyebrows. If she remembered correctly, Yu Huiyan hadn't called her "Aunt Song" since the day of the Dragon Boat Festival banquet when her attempt to frame Song Wanchu was exposed.
Today, she said it very smoothly, with a condescending tone, as if reminding Song Wanchu that as the future mistress of the Duke's Mansion, she had the most right to call her like this.
"A snob getting a taste of success!" Suyue gritted her teeth and whispered a curse.
Yu Huiyan was looking forward to seeing the ashamed and angry expression on Song Wanchu's face, but Song Wanchu just gave her a calm glance.
There was no emotion in her eyes.
It was like hitting cotton with her fist.
Didn't Song Wanchu care about the title the most? Why didn't she show any reaction at all? How boring!
"I pay my respects to the Princess Dowager."
Song Wanchu knelt down in a standard bow towards the Princess Dowager.
The Princess Dowager looked down at her coldly, her eyes venomous, as if they were nails that could nail Song Wanchu to the ground.
If she didn't give the order, Song Wanchu would have to keep kneeling.
Yu Huiyan, who had been frustrated just now, was in a better mood. Standing with the Princess Dowager, Song Wanchu was also kneeling in front of her.
It was extremely satisfying!
"Song Wanchu, why do you smell like incense ash? It's so choking!"
Song Wanchu felt as if she had been pushed to the edge of a cliff. Her heart tightened into a knot.
At the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, she publicly refuted the rumors and pointed out that the Princess Dowager had spread rumors three years ago to slander her reputation.
The Princess Dowager had lost face and held a grudge. She wouldn't let it go until she had her revenge.
Today, it would be very difficult for Song Wanchu to get away unscathed.