Her enraged appearance was like a raging flood, threatening to engulf Song Wanchu.
Song Wanchu hung her head silently. The princess was in a towering rage and looking for someone to vent her anger on. Arguing for herself at this moment would only add fuel to the fire.
"A concubine is just a concubine. Since Yu Huiyan can't be the mistress of the Duke's Mansion, you'll never be elevated to that position either!"
The princess's confident tone gave Song Wanchu a slight twinge in her heart.
She let out a self - mocking smile in her heart.
Liang Yuzhou had once promised to elevate her to the main wife's position once he became the heir. But even if it was made public, few people in the world would believe it.
His coldness and aversion towards her, as well as his care and protection for Yu Huiyan, were just too obvious.
The princess also thought that she had no chance of being elevated.
But she no longer cared about the title.
The words that used to humiliate her had long lost their power.
She looked calm, which made the princess even more annoyed, as if she had punched a bale of cotton.
She was kneeling while the princess was standing. The princess's shadow loomed over her like a dark cloud.
The princess pinched her pointed chin and lifted it up. She was sizing Song Wanchu up like a piece of merchandise. "Song Wanchu, you're really cheap. Liang Yuzhou's heart has always been with Huiyan. You're just a plaything for him to vent his desires. All he's infatuated with is your fairly beautiful face."
The force on her hand grew stronger. Song Wanchu winced in pain and frowned in隐忍.
"Beauty will fade one day. When you grow old and haggard, do you think Liang Yuzhou will even glance at you? With his status and power, there will be countless women around him in the future, each one fresher and more delicate than the last. And you, a worthless concubine, will end up dying in the inner courtyard. Tsk tsk, even I feel sorry for you."
The princess's face drew closer to hers, and an invisible pressure rushed towards her.
Song Wanchu had to force herself to stare into those terrifying eyes. Even though it was midsummer, a chill ran down her spine.
"Staying by a man who doesn't love you won't lead to any future. Instead of waiting to see your tragic life unfold, why don't I help you find another way out?"
Song Wanchu knew this was the princess's usual tactic. First, she would belittle you to the dust, then throw you a straw at the right moment, give you a little sweetness, and make you work for her.
"Your face is so beautiful that not only men but even I can't bear to let it go. Even the Crown Prince was smitten with you at first sight."
The princess's brightly - painted red nails lightly scraped across her face, sending a shiver down Song Wanchu's spine.
"Song Wanchu, you're very lucky. So far, you're the only woman who has caught the Crown Prince's eye.
Although your family background is low, being a concubine beside the Crown Prince is still an honor for you.
When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, you'll have a chance to be named a noble lady. With the Crown Prince's affection for you, you'll surely receive boundless favor. Given time, it's even possible for you to be named a consort.
There are very few women who can get close to the Crown Prince. But I can help you.
I don't ask for much. As long as you can win the Crown Prince's heart, just remember my kindness."
The only way to get Song Wanchu away from Liang Yuzhou was to offer her a higher - status man to cling to.
No woman in the world could resist the temptation of becoming the future emperor's woman.
The princess thought Song Wanchu was no exception.
She had originally planned to approach the Crown Prince, but who knew that the Crown Prince was an ungrateful wretch. He not only didn't appreciate her but also mocked her for being immoral.
He wanted to follow the principle of "a gentleman loves beauty in a proper way". Then let him be a saint.
But what if Song Wanchu took the initiative to approach the Crown Prince?
Could he still resist?
In the face of a beauty like Song Wanchu, his sense of morality was just a joke!
The princess was confident that Song Wanchu would be tempted.
Song Wanchu looked calm, and her clear eyes showed no ripples.
"I know my own limitations and dare not trouble Your Highness to honor me."
The refusal couldn't be more obvious.
The princess's expression instantly turned cold and angry.
Although Song Wanchu looked calm on the surface, her curled palms were already full of sticky sweat.
There was still the Crown Prince's purse hidden in her belt. If the princess found out...
It would be iron - clad evidence of her affair with the Crown Prince. The princess would surely seize this point to coerce and induce her.
She must never let the princess catch even the slightest handle on her.
The princess didn't expect Song Wanchu to be so upright and to refuse so straightforwardly.
Song Wanchu had always been by Liang Yuzhou's side, and it was very difficult for the princess to plant her own people around him.
Although the princess held the handle of Liang Xuguang, Liang Xuguang cared about his face and reputation and regarded the honor of the Duke's Mansion as extremely important, so he was easy to control.
But the Duke's Mansion would eventually belong to Liang Yuzhou. He was very different from his father. He was talented, proud, and noble, and he was not easy to control, neither soft nor hard methods would work on him.
Yu Huiyan was useless now. She had to find another woman, even if it was just a chambermaid for Liang Yuzhou.
There had to be someone by Liang Yuzhou's side who could speak for her.
If she could win over Liang Yuzhou, then the Duke's Mansion and she could rely on each other. Even the Crown Prince would have to be in awe of them.
Song Wanchu, leave or die!
Since she didn't know what was good for her...
The princess looked down at that stunning face haughtily, and casually lifted her eyelids. "A helpless orphan girl dares to challenge me? If you don't take the way out I offer you, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
She glared with wide - open eyes and her eyebrows shot up. A killing intent was clearly revealed.
At the palace banquet three years ago, she had wanted to kill Song Wanchu through Yu Huiyan's hand, but who knew that Liang Yuzhou had drunk that cup of wine!
"Do you think Liang Yuzhou can save you once and then save you a second time?"
Song Wanchu's body trembled. She clenched her hands tightly, and her heart was in turmoil!
What did the princess mean?
Liang Yuzhou had indeed saved her from a grizzly bear once, but only the two of them knew about this. The princess couldn't possibly know.
Then the only answer was that Liang Yuzhou had saved her another time!
When?
She didn't even know about it!
The words Liang Yuzhou had said when he rescued her from the water flashed through her mind.
"Song Wanchu, you owe me a life..."
Her heart was in a mess, beating chaotically without rhythm.
Seeing Song Wanchu's slightly pale face, the princess thought she was scared.
The princess curled her lips proudly and softened her tone a bit. "Compared to losing your life, isn't the first option better?"
She waited for Song Wanchu's answer, but Song Wanchu was desperately trying to recall when Liang Yuzhou had saved her.
The two people, whose thoughts were on different tracks, both fell silent for a moment.
Until the eunuch's voice came from outside.
"Your Highness, the memorial ceremony has ended."
The princess called in the maids to serve her.
"Song Wanchu, I'll hold a night banquet at my mansion in seven days. By then, live or die, I'll wait for your answer."