After leaving Fuan Hall, Song Wanchu was still in a daze.
The old lady had evidence of Yu Huiyan's poisoning and framing. Her secret negotiation with the princess ended with the princess flying into a rage and canceling the engagement between Liang Yuzhou and Yu Huiyan. It was all so intricately linked.
It was as if an invisible hand was pulling the strings, controlling the development of things.
Throughout the whole incident, Liang Yuzhou was nowhere to be seen, yet his influence was everywhere.
He manipulated things quietly, making everyone his pawn.
As always, he handled things decisively and quickly, minimizing the impact.
Only a few people knew about the evil deeds Yu Huiyan had done.
When her engagement was suddenly called off, the noble families in the capital would speculate and question, but without solid evidence, the rumors would remain just rumors.
After a while, the rumors would naturally die down, and Yu Huiyan would still be the innocent childhood sweetheart.
All the punishment she received was a beating and the temporary cancellation of her engagement.
Liang Yuzhou didn't try his best to make Yu Huiyan pay for her crimes; instead, he tried his best to minimize her punishment.
Sending Yu Rongbai to the Supreme Court of Judicature seemed more like pushing Yu Rongbai to the front as a scapegoat.
And Yu Huiyan, who had used the forbidden drug on her, was even more despicable and vicious. She should also go to jail!
The old lady said that Liang Yuzhou's heart was on her side...
But where was he on her side? He only seemed to avenge her on the surface, but in fact, he still favored Yu Huiyan!
She was the one who had suffered all the harm and grievances. Liang Yuzhou kept saying that he was her husband, and she trusted him so much. But he gave her such an unsatisfactory result.
The pain in her heart spread silently.
She thought that Liang Yuzhou really wanted to make up for her, and her heart, which had been wounded beyond recognition, could grow new flesh...
She was too naive. How could she expect Liang Yuzhou to be ruthless to Yu Huiyan, the woman he had loved for so many years?
She no longer expected Liang Yuzhou's love. She just hoped that she could be treated fairly just once before leaving the Duke's Mansion.
Just once...
The pain in her heart gradually became sharper, accompanied by a strong sense of suffocation.
Song Wanchu's legs went weak from the pain. She staggered and almost fell.
"Miss, why do you look so pale?"
Nanzhi and Suyue quickly supported Song Wanchu. The two girls looked at her anxiously and worriedly.
"Is Miss's heart disease acting up again?"
Suyue was an impatient girl. She couldn't bear to see Song Wanchu the slightest bit uncomfortable. Her little face turned pale with fright, and she was about to run out, "I'll go and call Doctor Shen for Miss!"
"No need. I'm just a bit tired. I'll be fine after a rest."
Song Wanchu didn't want to alarm the old lady because of her illness on the second day back at the Duke's Mansion.
She forced a smile. Her breathing was a bit ragged, and her face was pale. Although the sun was shining brightly, she was sweating cold sweat from the pain.
Nanzhi and Suyue helped her back to Shuiyun Residence.
After taking the medicine, she closed her eyes wearily and fell into a muddled dream.
In the dream, it was Yu Huiyan's proud and crazy face.
She approached her and stabbed her hard in the chest, "Song Wanchu, do you see? Cousin knows that I poisoned you and framed you. So what if you're aggrieved? With cousin protecting me, I don't have to pay any price!"
She let out a shrill laugh, then turned around and threw herself into Liang Yuzhou's arms, kissing his cheek.
Liang Yuzhou responded tenderly. When his black eyes looked at her, there was no trace of warmth left.
"Huiyan can't marry me. She's suffered enough grievances. Song Wanchu, stop making trouble!"
His words were like a sharp sword, piercing her heart.
Song Wanchu woke up from the nightmare with cold tears on her face.
She touched her chest. The pain had lessened, but it was still cold. It was as if although her body had woken up, her heart was still trapped in that unbearable nightmare.
Hearing her get up, Nanzhi came in with a basin of washing water and saw her slightly red eyes.
"Miss..."
In the past three years, she had witnessed how many times Miss had been hurt by the Second Master's indifference. Every time Miss woke up from a dream, her eyes were always red from crying.
Miss was so happy living at her mother's house. She shouldn't have come back.
Seeing Nanzhi's sad and dejected look, Song Wanchu instead comforted her, "It's too hot. I sweated all over my face after sleeping. Don't think too much. Bring the washing water here."
Nanzhi remained silent, quietly with red eyes.
The washing water reflected Song Wanchu's face, pale and haggard.
She forced herself to cheer up, "I'm a bit hungry. Ask the kitchen to bring the food up."
The dishes were delicate. Since it was the height of summer, there were fewer hot dishes and more cold dishes, which were crispy and delicious.
Song Wanchu had no appetite. She picked up two pieces of pickled radish and ate them in small bites.
The cook came in and served a bowl of sour bamboo shoot and shrimp ball soup and a bowl of chilled hawthorn and white fungus soup.
Song Wanchu was surprised, "I didn't ask the kitchen for these two dishes."
The cook smiled and said, "Madam, the Second Master specifically told me to make them for you. The Second Master also specifically instructed that the sour bamboo shoot and shrimp ball soup should be served warm. If you find the hot dishes too greasy, you can drink a bowl of hawthorn and white fungus soup to relieve the greasiness and cool off."
Just as she was speaking, Liang Yuzhou walked into the room with steady steps and sat down next to Song Wanchu.
He served the soup for Song Wanchu himself.
"The sour bamboo shoot and shrimp ball soup. It's your favorite."
The soup was still slightly steaming. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Song Wanchu's thigh.
The last time, Liang Yuzhou had also served her a bowl of soup like this.
Just when she was extremely surprised and touched, Yu Huiyan burst in and cried, accusing her of sending Yu Rongbai to the Supreme Court of Judicature.
Liang Yuzhou only cared about comforting Yu Huiyan, and that bowl of hot soup was all spilled on her thigh.
"I don't like it anymore."
As she spoke, Song Wanchu could feel the muscles in her thigh trembling as if they had a memory, reminding her of how unforgettable the pain had been at that time.
How could she possibly drink this bowl of soup?
Liang Yuzhou's pupils contracted slightly, and countless emotions surged in his eyes.
There was an awkward silence. He quietly moved the bowl of soup aside.
"Didn't the Master call the Second Master for something? Why did the Second Master come so soon?"
Actually, it wasn't that soon. From the time Liang Yuzhou left Fuan Hall until he came to Shuiyun Residence at noon, two hours had passed.
Song Wanchu had even taken a nap.
She said this to subtly tell him that she didn't really want to have dinner with him.
Whether Liang Yuzhou didn't catch her implication or was just pretending to be stupid, he said, "It's nothing important. What could be more important than having dinner with you?"
Song Wanchu knew Liang Yuzhou well. He was always a man of few words, with a cold and reserved personality. He wasn't very good at pleasing women.
It was really rare for him to say such a flattering thing.
Maybe it was because the Liang Yuzhou in the dream was so coldly real. Although the man in front of her was smiling, Song Wanchu felt that he was deliberately pretending.
He was insincerely "making up" for her.
Song Wanchu didn't hide her low mood, and Liang Yuzhou sensed the gloomy atmosphere at the dinner table.
His eyes fell on her hair bun. His gaze darkened slightly, "I think you look better with a proper hair bun."
This was the first time he had seen Song Wanchu with a side hair bun.
She had excellent facial bone structure, perfect facial proportions, and her eyebrows and eyes were grand and graceful. She was charming yet elegant.
The old lady had once said that the mistress of a noble family should look like Wanchu.
Actually, she looked good in any hairstyle, but Liang Yuzhou was used to seeing her with a proper hair bun.
Song Wanchu gave a self - mocking smile, "A proper hair bun is for the main wife. I'm just a concubine. The Second Master has reminded me many times to recognize my own status. I dare not overstep."
Her cold eyes and nonchalant tone stabbed at Liang Yuzhou's heart, causing a dull pain.