Song Wanchu walked to the dressing table, took out a rosewood box, unlocked it, took out a stack of silver notes and handed them to Suyue.
"This is five hundred taels of silver. When Steward Yang comes in three days, you secretly give it to him and tell him that I have a batch of idle items taking up too much space. I want to send them back to my natal family. After the carriage unloads the goods at the Duke's Mansion, please ask him to drive and direct the servants to make a trip to my uncle's house."
Steward Yang was from the Duke's Mansion, in charge of the eight - hundred - mu farmland and over a hundred households in the suburbs of the capital.
Before Song Wanchu married into the Duke's Mansion, the farmland had suffered consecutive years of poor harvests. Not only could it not supply grains and vegetables to the Duke's Mansion, but the over - hundred households didn't even have enough to eat. Steward Yang had worried so much that his hair had turned white.
Later, Song Wanchu went to the farmland in person and carried out bold reforms. The farmland abandoned low - yield rice and red rice and switched to drought - resistant and high - yield sorghum and corn. They also set aside a piece of land to grow seasonal fruits and vegetables, diverted water from Qing Shuiwan into canals, and raised fish, shrimps, and ducks in the canals. The next year, there was a great harvest.
Steward Yang was extremely grateful to Song Wanchu. His wife was also very shrewd. She took Suyue as her god - daughter to get closer to Song Wanchu.
Because of this relationship, Song Wanchu trusted Steward Yang very much. Whenever she asked him to do something, he always did it perfectly.
She also specifically told Suyue, "Tell Steward Yang that he doesn't need to make the delivery during the day. They travel a long way into the city under the scorching sun. By the time they unload the goods, it's already noon. The Duke's Mansion will invite them to have a meal. After the meal, they can rest for two hours. It's not too late to deliver the items to my uncle's house after dark."
Suyue listened attentively and kept her mistress's words firmly in mind.
She understood that her mistress was afraid that if the ten carriages made a grand delivery to her uncle's house during the day, it would be too eye - catching.
"One more thing. If anyone asks, tell Steward Yang to say that I'm rewarding him and the servants with some items and they're taking them out of the city."
After a pause, she added, "Say this to everyone without exception."
Song Wanchu was worried that Liang Yuzhou might notice something and become suspicious.
She took another two - hundred - tael silver note from the box. "Suyue, give this two - hundred tael to the chief steward of the storeroom. When the servants go to the storeroom to move things, he'll know what to do."
Suyue took it and felt that the burden on her shoulders was especially heavy.
Her mistress finally no longer had any expectations for the second master. This time, she was really determined to leave!
In the afternoon, large dark clouds gathered in the sky, covering the capital.
In a private room of the Starry Pavilion.
Hearing that Yu Huiyan hadn't been truly punished by Liang Yuzhou, Wen was furious and slapped the table.
"Liang Yuzhou coaxed you to stay in the Duke's Mansion, saying that he'd seek justice for you. Is this how he treats you?"
Wen looked at Song Wanchu. In just one day, she had become haggard and pale, like a begonia flower about to wither in the autumn wind and frost.
She hugged Song Wanchu in her arms. Her mistress was so thin that it seemed a gust of wind could blow her away.
Wen kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief, full of remorse.
"If I had known this, I should have taken you away! If Liang Yuzhou likes that venomous woman so much, let him ask the Princess to cancel the decision and agree to their marriage!"
Yu Huiyan's dream of marrying into the Duke's Mansion was shattered, becoming a big joke in the capital.
People speculated that it was the County Princess Jiahe who was so vicious that she framed her daughter - in - law and staged a non - existent "adultery" arrest, which angered the old lady and implicated Yu Huiyan, who was raised by the County Princess Jiahe.
The Princess still had to give the old lady face, so she had to cancel the marriage.
Liang Yuzhou's protection worked. No one would have thought that the County Princess Jiahe had taken the blame for Yu Huiyan.
Song Wanchu nestled into Wen's arms, acting like a little girl coquettishly.
"Aunt, this kind of life will end soon. I've already arranged for all my dowries to be sent back home in three days."
"That's good. The most urgent thing is to get the concubine - release document from the old lady in advance. In six days, your uncle will go to the south of the Yangtze River with the caravan. The official document has been approved. It'll be perfect for you to go with your uncle."
If she couldn't leave this time, Song Wanchu would have to apply for a travel permit from the government again.
The travel permit couldn't be obtained immediately. It might take ten days to half a month at the shortest, or one to two months at the longest.
Delays might cause changes. Song Wanchu didn't want to wait any longer.
"Aunt, I know."
Wen gently stroked her hair and smiled gratifyingly, looking forward to Wanchu regaining her freedom and becoming the bright, cheerful, and carefree girl again.
"Your elder brother has been waiting for you in the south of the Yangtze River for several months. Although he hasn't sent a letter these days, he must be looking forward to seeing you!"
Song Wanchu blushed quietly. During the time she lived in her natal family, she had written two letters to her elder brother, but he hadn't replied.
Maybe he was busy escorting caravans. It didn't matter.
Her elder brother was the person who loved her the most in the world.
When they met, she had so much to say to him.
She wanted to apologize to him sincerely and play the pipa for him every day, playing his favorite tune, "Dawn".
The dawn of her world was finally coming...
Song Wanchu parted ways with her aunt at the entrance of the Starry Pavilion.
The thick clouds on the horizon had covered the sun. It was dark and thunder rumbled faintly. It was about to rain.
"Miss, let's go back quickly."
Nanzhi was worried that it would pour soon. Her mistress was in poor health and couldn't get wet again.
Just as she was about to get into the carriage, a gentle voice came from behind.
"Sister - in - law, wait a moment."
It was Liang Yuchuan. Song Wanchu was very surprised.
According to seniority, Liang Yuchuan was her elder brother - in - law. In public, they should avoid suspicion. Even when they met, they should lower their heads and avoid eye contact.
Song Wanchu lowered her eyes and looked at her toes. "Brother, do you need something?"
"It's a small matter. I'd like to trouble sister - in - law."
Liang Yuchuan was gentle and polite. "I want to buy the date - paste cloud cake from Xunxiangji. But the shopkeeper said that there's only the last one left. It'll only be sold to others if you don't buy it when the shop is about to close in the evening. This date - paste cloud cake is very hard to buy. I'm buying it to give to someone. Sister - in - law, what do you think..."
Song Wanchu understood what Liang Yuchuan meant.
He wanted her to buy the last date - paste cloud cake.
But a question arose in her mind. Everyone said that the date - paste cloud cake from Xunxiangji was hard to buy, but she could always buy it.
It turned out that the shopkeeper had deliberately reserved one for her every day.
Although she was a regular customer of Xunxiangji, she didn't deserve such special treatment from the shopkeeper.
What Liang Yuchuan asked for wasn't difficult. It was just right for her to ask the shopkeeper.
Song Wanchu's and Liang Yuchuan's carriages arrived at Xunxiangji one after another.
As soon as the shopkeeper saw her, he warmly greeted her with a bright smile.
"Madam Liang, why did you come in person today? The date - paste cloud cake has been packed. I'll go and get it for you right away."
Song Wanchu wasn't short of money and was happy to support Xunxiangji's business. She also bought several other kinds of snacks.
Nanzhi handed the packed date - paste cloud cake to Liang Yuchuan. Liang Yuchuan was very grateful and joked, "I didn't expect sister - in - law to be more well - received here than I, the eldest son of the Duke's Mansion."
Song Wanchu gave a faint smile.
Liang Yuchuan casually glanced at the private room inside and curved his lips. "Sister - in - law, I'll leave first."
Song Wanchu was just about to ask the shopkeeper why he was willing to reserve the date - paste cloud cake for her every day.
Before she could speak, the door of the private room behind the counter opened.
"Wanchu."
The Crown Prince walked towards her slowly.
Song Wanchu's heart tightened. She curtsied and said, "Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince stared at her deeply. His Adam's apple rolled a few times, but he said nothing. Then he turned around and walked back into the private room.
But the door was left open.
Did he want her to go in?
Song Wanchu's heart skipped a beat.
She was a married woman, and the Crown Prince was of extremely noble and special status.
Being alone with him was a very dangerous thing!