The undercurrent between the two women finally converged on Liang Yuzhou, the man with absolute say.
One was Song Wanchu, the other was Yu Huiyan. Who would be his wife and who would be his concubine?
Everyone seemed to be experiencing a thrilling adventure. They all held their breaths, waiting for Liang Yuzhou to express his stance.
The old lady tightened Song Wanchu's slightly cold hand. It was both a comfort and a show of support.
She always believed that all the misunderstandings between the two could be cleared up. Liang Yuzhou had feelings for Wanchu. He wouldn't let Wanchu lose face in front of all the prominent families in the capital.
As long as he firmly admitted that Wanchu was his wife, she, an old woman, would spare no effort, even sacrificing the face of the Liang and Ji families, to keep Wanchu and properly elevate her status.
When Liang Yuzhou became the heir apparent, Wanchu would be the noble first - rank imperial - bestowed lady.
Receiving the imperial bestowal was the supreme honor for a woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it was also the greatest compensation the Duke's Mansion could offer Wanchu.
Moreover, the laws of the Great Zhou stipulated that once a woman was bestowed the title, her husband's family was not allowed to divorce her for any reason, nor demote her from wife to concubine.
By then, neither Yu Huiyan nor the overbearing Princess Lingyang could separate the two again!
Thinking of Song Hengyi's tragic death because of her useless and muddle - headed son, the old lady felt a surge of guilt in her heart.
She was even more eager to hear what Liang Yuzhou would say.
More nervous than the old lady was Yu Huiyan.
She constantly tugged at the hem of her skirt, and her palms were full of sticky sweat.
As long as Liang Yuzhou publicly admitted that Song Wanchu was just a concubine, even if he had to say so under the coercion of the Princess Royal, her position would be secure.
It didn't matter that her cousin didn't love her or trust her now. As long as she became her cousin's legal wife, she would have plenty of time to develop feelings with him.
The love and trust that belonged to her, she would take them all back!
Song Wanchu, who should have had expectations, looked the most calm.
Having been hurt too many times, she had learned not to have any expectations of him.
The scorching sun was burning, but it seemed not to reach Liang Yuzhou. His face grew colder and colder.
His silence was agonizing. The Princess Royal's face darkened bit by bit, and there was also a hidden anger between the old lady's eyebrows.
Song Wanchu smiled self - deprecatingly. Why did everyone eagerly await the answer? His silence was the best answer.
Not speaking didn't mean he had no stance.
He didn't care about her dignity. He just didn't want to spoil the old lady's happy day.
Liang Yuzhou's eyes seemed to casually glance at Song Wanchu.
Song Wanchu hung her head, looking dejected, as if all this had nothing to do with her.
"Liang Er, does this question need so much consideration?"
The Princess Royal forced a smile. She gave Song Wanchu a fierce look, with a hidden killing intent in her eyes.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here!"
A shrill voice suddenly broke the tense silence.
The eunuch Xiao Anzi led the way. The Crown Prince walked in briskly. He wore a smile on his face, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes. The huge courtyard was filled with an invisible aura of power.
Everyone was shocked. They quickly left their seats and knelt down on one knee.
Just as the old lady was about to kneel, the Crown Prince made a gesture as if to help her up. Xiao Anzi was quick - witted and supported the old lady's arm.
"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we failed to greet you from afar!"
The Duke never expected that the Crown Prince would come to the birthday celebration in person.
In previous years, the Emperor would send a senior eunuch by his side to deliver gifts, which was already a great honor.
It was the first time for the Crown Prince to step into the gate of the Duke's Mansion.
The Duke felt extremely honored, but he also secretly sweated.
The Princess Royal was also here today. This aunt - nephew pair had a false cordiality but real animosity. Once they met, they would fight openly and secretly.
"Duke Jin, you don't need to be so polite. It's the old lady's birthday today. I'm here to convey the wishes of the Emperor and the Empress."
The Crown Prince waved his hand, and two eunuchs behind him carried in a jade Avalokitesvara as tall as a person.
It was entirely translucent, with a kind expression, emitting a noble and solemn luster.
"Thank you for Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince's concern. I'm extremely grateful."
The old lady had seen many ups and downs, but she still thought the Crown Prince's gift was too precious.
"Aunt is also here." The Crown Prince nodded slightly to the Princess Royal and bowed as a junior.
The Crown Prince's arrival interrupted her interrogation of Liang Yuzhou. She failed to make Liang Yuzhou publicly acknowledge Yu Huiyan's identity.
The Princess Royal was very unhappy. She forced a smile at the Crown Prince, but her eyes were still cold.
The Crown Prince's eyes gently swept over Song Wanchu, and his surprise was hard to hide.
Among the brightly - dressed noble ladies and young misses, she was as elegant as an ink - wash painting, pleasing to the eye.
The Princess Royal curled her lips, and her gaze became even more venomous.
The Crown Prince's arrival broke the previous tense situation. The birthday banquet, which had been like a stagnant pool, became lively again.
After the grand feast, everyone moved to the Pear Fragrance Garden. The gongs and drums sounded, and the actress on the stage began to sing the birthday - congratulatory song in a soft voice.
The Crown Prince and the Princess Royal were the most honored guests and were arranged at the same table.
The actress's singing was gentle and elegant, and her figure was charming, but the Crown Prince's attention was not on the stage at all.
"You came to congratulate that old woman on her birthday in person just to take another look at Song Wanchu. Your Highness the Crown Prince is really condescending."
The Princess Royal picked up the teacup in front of her, blew away the floating foam, and said half - smilingly, "Song Wanchu doesn't know about this infatuation of yours. I feel sorry for you on your behalf."
She just realized that at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet last time, the Crown Prince changed his mind to attend only after he learned that Song Wanchu was on the guest list.
The Crown Prince really couldn't forget his old feelings for Song Wanchu.
In that case, she was willing to follow Liang Xuguang's (the Duke's full name) suggestion and do a favor by offering Song Wanchu to the Crown Prince.
The Princess Royal couldn't wish for a better thing if she could ease her relationship with the Crown Prince by using a woman.
Presumably, the Crown Prince would be grateful to her and stop confronting her everywhere.
Thinking of this, the smile on her face became even more affectionate, like a real aunt who cared about the Crown Prince.
"Liang Er will soon marry Huiyan. Song Wanchu's identity is really awkward. She'll be wronged if she leaves and humiliated if she stays. I'm worried about her situation."
The Crown Prince's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"I know she's your regret. Now that she has nowhere to go, it's a good opportunity for you to play the hero and save the beauty."
The Princess Royal leaned forward slightly, thinking she understood the Crown Prince's mind very well. "Although she was betrothed to Liang Yuzhou by the Emperor's decree, she's always just a concubine. She doesn't have the status of a legal wife. To put it bluntly, she's just a thing that can be bought and sold.
If you like her, aunt will give her to you. Whether you want her as a concubine or make her a side princess, at least you can give her a better destination. She will surely be extremely grateful to you and be devoted to you from then on. What do you think?"
"She's a person, not a thing. She can't be bought, sold, or given away at will."
The smile on the Crown Prince's face disappeared. His tone was still polite, but his young and gentle face was full of dignity. Even the Princess Royal noticed the change in his aura.
"I like her because it's a man's instinctive admiration for an excellent and lovely woman. It doesn't mean I'm willing to get her by such dirty and despicable means."
The four words "dirty and despicable" were no different from scolding the Princess Royal to her face.
The muscles on the Princess Royal's face twisted ferociously.
The Crown Prince didn't care about her anger at all. Previously in the Princess Royal's mansion, he would more or less take this aunt's face into consideration.
But she constantly belittled Song Wanchu, which stepped on his bottom line.
This wasn't the Princess Royal's territory, so why should he care about her dignity?
"Aunt, you can do anything to achieve your goal, but I'm different from you. I have a moral bottom line."
He wouldn't give up on Song Wanchu, but he would wait patiently, wait for Song Wanchu to walk out of the Duke's Mansion cleanly, shed all the identities related to Liang Yuzhou, and become herself again.
The Princess Royal's face was as black as charcoal.
This was clearly scolding her for having no morals!
The Crown Prince's wings were gradually growing. He already had the aura of ruling the world.
When he ascended the throne, would he still tolerate her, his aunt?
The secret conversation between the two was overheard by Yu Huiyan, who had been on guard.
The Crown Prince's respect and care for Song Wanchu made her jealousy burn fiercely.
Why? Song Wanchu, a lowly concubine about to be kicked out of the Duke's Mansion, could gain the favor of the Crown Prince?
He was the most noble man in the world after the Emperor!
Song Wanchu didn't deserve it.
What she wanted to see was Song Wanchu being driven out of the Duke's Mansion, being pointed at and scolded by thousands of people, and living worse than a stray dog.
Instead of climbing onto a higher branch and outshining her!
She couldn't wait any longer. She must completely destroy Song Wanchu today!