In the pitch - black night, Foreman Yang felt two burning gazes behind him, like torches that could pierce through his chest and peer into his innermost thoughts.
Liang Yuzhou stopped in front of Foreman Yang. With his cold and clear eyebrows, he exuded a mountain - like sense of oppression.
He didn't say a word, yet a thin layer of cold sweat had already broken out on Foreman Yang's back.
Just as the saying goes, what you fear the most is what will come!
"Sir, I'm at your command."
Liang Yuzhou's eyes swept over the carriages one by one. Each was fully loaded.
"The carriages were full when you came. Why are they still full when you're leaving?"
"Madam showed compassion for us farmers. She not only gave us rewards but also some furniture and ornaments. Madam said these were all old items of hers. It would be a pity to just let them sit there, so she told us to take them back and distribute them among the families."
Foreman Yang bent slightly. When mentioning Song Wanchu, his attitude was respectful and pious. "We country folks have never seen such nice things. Distributing them among the families allows us to share in Madam's blessings."
The things were packed in rough wooden boxes, which indeed didn't seem to contain anything very valuable.
"Foreman Yang is not young. Isn't it tiring to travel at night? Why not stay in the city for a day and return to the suburban farmstead at dawn?"
Liang Yuzhou was subtly hinting that traveling secretly at night might mean they were transporting something shady.
Especially something they didn't want him to know what was inside the boxes?
Cold sweat also broke out on Foreman Yang's forehead. He lowered his eyelids and didn't dare to look into Liang Yuzhou's eyes.
But his tone remained steady. "The men who came out with me all have families. They're afraid their wives, children, and elders will worry, so they want to get out of the city as soon as possible."
His excuse was flawless.
"In that case, hurry on your way then."
Liang Yuzhou withdrew his gaze. His face remained expressionless, showing no sign of emotional change.
He reached out his hand, and Zhou Sheng, who was standing behind him, stepped forward and handed over a stack of silver notes.
"You've had a hard time coming into the city. Take this silver to buy some wine."
Foreman Yang was trembling. Those few light - weighted pieces of paper seemed to weigh a thousand pounds in his eyes.
"We've already received Madam's rewards and gifts. We don't dare to let you spend any more money, sir!"
"Take it. Madam and I are one. What I give is what she gives."
Foreman Yang had no reason to refuse. He thanked Liang Yuzhou profusely, took the silver notes, and led the convoy on their way.
Liang Yuzhou watched the long convoy. His eyes blended with the night, churning like thick ink.
"Zhou Sheng."
"Yes, sir."
"Follow them and see where they're taking those things."
An hour later, Zhou Sheng returned to report.
"Sir, I followed the convoy for twenty miles. They did take the things out of the city and headed towards the suburban farmstead."
Liang Yuzhou narrowed his phoenix - like eyes. "My wife sure knows how to win people over."
It wasn't until the convoy returned to the farmstead and the wooden boxes were carried into the warehouse that the heavy stone in Foreman Yang's heart finally settled.
Fortunately, Madam was smart. She had asked Suyue to teach him a set of words to deal with Sir Liang's interrogation and changed the destination of the convoy from the Qi family's place to the farmstead temporarily.
If Sir Liang had really become suspicious and sent someone to follow the convoy, and found that they had taken all the things to the Qi family...
All their careful planning would have been in vain!
...
Song Wanchu had already blown out the candles in her room, but she had no trace of drowsiness.
She stared absent - mindedly at the bed curtains.
In the past, if Liang Yuzhou didn't come to her room to spend the night, she would let her mind wander, wondering where he had gone and if she had annoyed him again.
But now, when Liang Yuzhou didn't come, Song Wanchu actually felt relaxed and relieved.
The bedroom door was gently pushed open. Suyue tiptoed to the couch. Just as she was about to speak, Song Wanchu hissed and pointed out of the window.
It meant to be careful of eavesdroppers.
Suyue smiled. "Don't worry, miss. Nanzhi is keeping watch outside, and Yaoguang is already asleep in the room."
Only then did Song Wanchu start to speak louder. "Have all the things been sent out?"
"Don't worry, miss. Luming followed them all the way out of the city. Apart from being questioned by Sir Liang at the back door of the duke's mansion, nothing unexpected happened."
Song Wanchu's heart skipped a beat. "Didn't Liang Yuzhou become suspicious?"
Liang Yuzhou was a very sensitive and suspicious person with extremely sharp insight.
"Not really. He has never really cared about you. I guess he was just asking casually."
Suyue curled her lips. "I'm afraid even if we moved the things right under his nose, he wouldn't ask a single question."
Song Wanchu shook her head lightly. Liang Yuzhou had already sensed her intention to leave. He was keeping a close eye on her and had even arranged spies.
"From now on, we need to be extra careful in what we say and do. We won't be in the duke's mansion for much longer."
She planned to ask the old lady for the divorce letter tomorrow.
In four more days, she could leave with her uncle's merchant caravan for the south of the Yangtze River.
She still owed her elder brother a long - overdue apology.
"It was a close call tonight. You can sleep peacefully now, miss."
Suyue let out a long sigh of relief.
The miss was finally going to turn the corner.
Song Wanchu's restless heart gradually calmed down, and drowsiness began to creep over her.
Suddenly, she heard Nanzhi's flustered voice outside the door. "The miss is already asleep. Why are you here at this hour, sir?"
When Liang Yuzhou entered the room, Song Wanchu was lying facing the wall, and Suyue had covered her with a thin quilt.
The sound of footsteps drew closer. Song Wanchu didn't move a muscle, as if she were really asleep.
"You may leave."
Liang Yuzhou told Suyue.
Suyue was worried that the miss would be tormented by him again. She couldn't help but say, "Sir, Doctor Shen said the miss needs to take good care of her body these days..."
Liang Yuzhou raised his sword - shaped eyebrows slightly, and the corners of his eyes carried a hint of coldness. Suyue was still very afraid of him. She dared not say more and left the room with a pout and a sulky face.
Liang Yuzhou took off his clothes and lay down beside Song Wanchu. He put his long arm around her waist, and his warm and solid chest pressed against her back.
Song Wanchu was just pretending to sleep. Her body was tense. When touched by his body heat, she couldn't help but flinch.
She made up her mind to ignore Liang Yuzhou and tried hard to keep her eyes closed.
A hand reached under her neck and rummaged around under her pillow, as if looking for something.
The little bit of drowsiness she had left instantly disappeared. She rolled over irritably and glared at Liang Yuzhou. "What are you doing?"
Her pouting look added a touch of liveliness to her peerless beauty. Liang Yuzhou quite liked her occasional little temper.
There should always be a bit of fun between husband and wife.
He wasn't angry. With a smile of unknown meaning on his lips, he said, "I thought you would hide the Crown Prince's token under your pillow like you did with the letter from Shi Luohan, treasuring it like a precious thing."
Song Wanchu's mind went blank for a moment. She sat up abruptly and stared at Liang Yuzhou in horror.
Did he know everything?
"How could I possibly hide such a thing under my pillow?"
Wasn't this kind of behavior the same as announcing to everyone that she was having an affair?
As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw the curve of Liang Yuzhou's lips widen. On his cold and noble face, a rare sly smile appeared.
Song Wanchu's mind went blank again.