She waved at Caidie. Caidie leaned over, and Yu Huiyan whispered a few words in her ear.
Caidie nodded and quietly left the Pear Fragrance Garden.
Song Wanchu was naturally afraid of heat. After sitting beside the old lady and listening to a few operas, she was already listless.
With things on her mind, she had no mood to appreciate the wonderful performance on the stage.
But she had to hold on until the end of the show, for she had something to say to the old lady alone.
Liang Yuzhou didn't love her but still clung to her tightly. She was afraid it wouldn't be easy for her to leave.
Seven days later, her uncle would go to the south of the Yangtze River with a merchant caravan. The government had already approved the documents.
With the official clearance papers, it would be very convenient to leave the capital.
She wanted to ask the old lady for the concubine release document in advance and leave with the merchant caravan unnoticed.
After the birthday banquet, Liang Yuzhou would be busy preparing to marry Yu Huiyan. He wouldn't focus on her, and it would be much easier for her to leave.
"Wanchu, are you not feeling well?"
The old lady cast a concerned look at Song Wanchu.
"It's okay. It's just an old ailment."
The old lady knew she had a heart condition and would easily get tired in extreme cold or heat.
"This opera will last for a while. You don't have to force yourself. Go back and rest first. Come back when the birthday peaches are served."
The old lady had always felt sorry for her and understood her.
But Song Wanchu was about to say goodbye to her in advance on her birthday banquet.
A sense of guilt welled up in her heart. Looking at the old lady's kind face, her eyes grew hot.
"Wanchu will take her leave first."
She hadn't been in the Water Rhyme Residence for twenty consecutive days. This small courtyard she had carefully decorated actually seemed a bit strange to her.
Suyue was afraid that Song Wanchu would be thirsty and hot, so she picked up the teapot and was about to make tea when she unexpectedly found the teapot full of water.
"Hey, who is so considerate? The tea was prepared before the young lady even came?"
Song Wanchu murmured, "It must be the old lady."
The old lady's care for her was never just lip - service.
Since she was back, Song Wanchu wanted to do a good job of finishing things up.
"Nanzhi, take my dowry list and check the inventory. Suyue, go and invite aunt here. I want to discuss moving the dowry with her."
"Why do you want to move the dowry for no reason?"
Liang Yuzhou didn't know when he had stood outside the door. He was tall and graceful, noble beyond compare. His sword - shaped eyebrows were slightly raised, and a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes.
Nanzhi and Suyue were startled.
The two girls stood aside like quails, not daring to make a sound.
They were afraid that Liang Yuzhou would suspect something.
Song Wanchu nervously clenched her hands.
Today was a crucial moment for Yu Huiyan to show herself. Why wasn't he with his fiancée but came to her room instead?
Those deep eyes were too perceptive, as if they could see through her completely.
"Nanzhi, Suyue, go ahead and do as I said."
If she took back her words at this moment, it would only arouse Liang Yuzhou's suspicion.
Nanzhi and Suyue quickly lowered their heads guiltily and left the room in a hurry.
Before their footsteps faded away, Song Wanchu was lifted from the couch by a pair of arms.
Liang Yuzhou's strong hand suddenly wrapped around her waist. Through the thin silk clothes, it burned her skin.
The man's aura enveloped her, penetrating every pore. By her ear was his angry interrogation, "What, you haven't collected enough silver for Shi Luohan by selling your fields and lands, and now you want to sell your dowry to make up for it? Song Wanchu, you're really generous to him!"
There was also a hint of mockery in his tone.
Song Wanchu was almost suffocated by his tone. She tried to push him away, struggling several times, but the man's arms were like iron casts. With her strength, she couldn't shake him at all.
Instead, she was out of breath.
"Is it not okay?"
She was ashamed and annoyed, and retorted angrily.
Liang Yuzhou's expression was cold. Without saying a word, he blocked her red lips, punishingly biting and grinding.
Song Wanchu turned her head to avoid him. Her upper body was pressed against the table. Her skirt belt came loose, and his big hand slipped in along the hem of the skirt, grasping her smooth skin.
She was born with fair and delicate skin, which was easy to leave marks. Liang Yuzhou deliberately sucked hard on her neck and collarbone, leaving a series of ambiguous red marks.
"Let go of me!"
There was the old lady's birthday banquet just outside. How could he be so reckless!
She still had to go out to serve the birthday peaches for the old lady later. If she was covered with marks of lovemaking, how could she show her face in front of the old lady!
She was so anxious that her voice was tinged with sobs.
Liang Yuzhou's无名火 was on the verge of breaking out. He pinched her slender waist, and the corners of his eyes were already red. "Song Wanchu, don't forget that I'm your man. You haven't paid back what you owe me. I won't allow you to care about other men!"
Since the moment the crown prince appeared, there had been anger in his heart.
Others thought the crown prince had come to congratulate the old lady on her birthday, but Liang Yuzhou could see through the crown prince's thoughts.
There was a man outside coveting Song Wanchu, and Song Wanchu was thinking about another man in her heart.
In her heart, there was no place for him at all.
The hot caress made Song Wanchu's legs go weak. She let out a sob and tried to gather her strength, then bit hard on his neck.
A sachet was thrown at his well - defined handsome face.
"Here, Liang Yuzhou. Don't say I owe you anymore!"
The moment the sachet fell, Liang Yuzhou caught it.
It was even uglier than the one he had worn before.
He couldn't even tell what pattern was embroidered on the sachet.
But at least she remembered one of his promises.
His mood inexplicably improved a lot. Liang Yuzhou sneered softly, "Your craftsmanship hasn't improved, but your mouth has gotten tougher than before."
He put the ugly sachet in his sleeve, and Song Wanchu was momentarily speechless.
Her gaze uncontrollably fell on his waist.
She really wanted to ask what it meant that he had picked up the sachet she had discarded, worn it for six years, and still kept the antipyretic medicine she had given him inside.
Was it love?
But having been hurt too many times, Song Wanchu didn't dare to be self - indulgent anymore.
Maybe Liang Yuzhou had once been attracted to her, but it was just a man's instinctive reaction to a woman.
She would never be able to rival the childhood friendship between Yu Huiyan and him.
The words that had reached her lips were swallowed back.
The heat Liang Yuzhou had left on her body hadn't faded yet. She was thirsty and dry - mouthed. She picked up the teacup and took a sip.
In a bad mood, even the tea tasted bitter.
Song Wanchu put down the teacup. She didn't want to drink another sip.
Outside the door, Zhou Sheng whispered a reminder, "Second Master, the crown prince is our guest today. We shouldn't be away for too long."
Otherwise, the old lord would scold the second master for being unruly and neglecting the crown prince afterwards.
Liang Yuzhou lowered his head and kissed Song Wanchu's slippery forehead. His hoarse voice vibrated by her ear, "I'll come tonight. Wait for me."
Both his tone and his eyes were seductive.
Song Wanchu told herself to stay calm.
But for some reason, her body became even hotter.
Not long after Liang Yuzhou left, she noticed that something was wrong with her body.