Since Liang Yuzhou knew that the Crown Prince had secretly sent her tokens, he should also know that she hadn't hidden the purse under her pillow.
He was just bluffing her earlier!
"Liang Yuzhou, you're so petty!"
His smug face annoyed her. She lifted her leg and kicked out.
In the past, she always thought about constraining herself as a proper wife and had never done anything "overstepping" with Liang Yuzhou.
Kicking one's own husband was quite out of line.
Liang Yuzhou wasn't angry. The moment her foot kicked his thigh, he grabbed her slender white ankle.
Her feet were small. His broad palm could completely wrap around them, and the thin calluses rubbed against Song Wanchu's delicate soles.
Song Wanchu couldn't stand the tickling. She retracted her foot, and her body followed suit, but Liang Yuzhou easily pulled her under his body.
His whole body leaned over, completely enveloping and surrounding her.
Their noses touched, and a faint hint of amorous desire spread.
"That purse wasn't given to you by the Crown Prince. It was Liang Yuchuan being over - smart. He pretended to be a eunuch and tried to act as a go - between for you and the Crown Prince."
Song Wanchu's eyes trembled.
The moment the purse was in her hands, she had had doubts. The Crown Prince was steady and prudent and would never secretly pass her a token in such a solemn occasion.
She always knew that Liang Yuchuan was a hypocrite, but she never thought he would do such a dirty thing just to please the Crown Prince.
No one liked being used. Liang Yuchuan was her elder brother - in - law, yet he wanted to push his sister - in - law into another man's arms. It was so immoral.
Liang Yuzhou carefully observed the changes in Song Wanchu's expression.
"What, you're disappointed it wasn't from the Crown Prince?"
This was clearly a test of her attitude towards the Crown Prince.
She lowered her eyelids. Her long lashes fluttered slightly, and she pursed her lips without saying a word.
Liang Yuzhou's eyes darkened. She hadn't asked the Crown Prince for help, nor had she responded to the Crown Prince's advances.
So, what cards did she have to ensure she could leave the Duke's Mansion?
The arm around her slender waist tightened. The two were pressed tightly together. The moonlight filtered through, casting their intertwined shadows on the screen.
He placed a kiss on Song Wanchu's nose. "The Crown Prince can't take you away. No one can."
...
The next day, after having breakfast with Song Wanchu, Liang Yuzhou held her hand and went to pay respects to the old lady.
The old lady noticed every bit of the change in his attitude towards Wanchu and was very happy.
Without that bitch Yu Huiyan sowing discord, their relationship had indeed improved.
Once the old misunderstandings were cleared up one by one, the couple would surely be inseparable and loving.
After having a cup of tea with the old lady, Liang Yuzhou stood up. "Grandmother, grandson has to go to the training ground for drills. Let Wanchu stay with you and chat for a while."
"Go, go. The imperial military examination is coming soon. I know you're diligent and won't waste a single day."
The old lady waved at him with a smile.
Liang Yuzhou bowed and walked out of the room.
When he reached the door, the old lady called him back. "Your elder brother tripped while walking at night last night. The vines in the back garden wrapped around his neck, and his throat was injured. The doctor said he won't be able to speak for a few days. You should go and see him when you have time."
Although she knew that the old duke favored Liang Yuchuan, the old lady still hoped that the two brothers could get along harmoniously.
"Understood." Liang Yuzhou responded, but his eyes were clearly full of contempt and disdain.
Song Wanchu suddenly realized that Liang Yuchuan didn't trip on his own. It must be that his sneaky behavior had angered Liang Yuzhou and he was beaten up!
She just didn't know if Liang Yuzhou was venting his anger because his woman was used or if he was standing up for her.
Liang Yuzhou's figure flashed and disappeared behind the swaying beaded curtain.
Song Wanchu heard him instruct Yaoguang, who was standing at the door. "Take good care of the lady. Do whatever she tells you. Be diligent."
Yaoguang responded.
She had excellent hearing!
Song Wanchu tightened her grip on her knees. The words she was going to say to the old lady later must not be heard by Yaoguang!
She winked at Nanzhi. "I suddenly want to eat the date - paste cloud cake from Xunxiangji. You and Yaoguang go and buy some. Buy a lot so that the old lady can also have a taste."
Nanzhi immediately understood and dragged Yaoguang away.
The old lady smiled lovingly. "On such a hot day, there's no need to send your maids out. Just send a fast - footed young servant to buy it."
"They rarely get a chance to go out. Young girls like to see the colorful world outside. Let them go."
Song Wanchu casually told a lie.
The old lady nodded with a smile.
She leaned back on the soft pillow, looking relaxed and happy.
"The champion of the imperial military examination must be Zhou'er. Wanchu, when he gets the title and is named the heir of the duke, you'll also be named a titled lady. You should take good care of your health. Have a baby with Zhou'er in a year or two. It's best if the first one is a girl. I don't have a daughter, and my sons haven't given me any granddaughters. At my age, I'm just looking forward to having a cute little girl by my side..."
Song Wanchu felt very uncomfortable. It was as if there was a stone stuck in her throat. Her chest felt full, and her eyes were hot.
The old lady was envisioning their happy future with a smile in the corner of her eyes when she suddenly saw Song Wanchu kneel on the ground.
The red - sandalwood Buddhist beads that had been making a happy clinking sound in her hand just a moment ago fell to the ground with a "pop".
"Wanchu, you..."
Song Wanchu kowtowed three times. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Grandmother, please forgive me. Please forgive Wanchu for not being able to serve you by your side."
"Wanchu, you still want to leave. Why?"
She thought that the misunderstandings between the two had gradually been cleared up.
The way Zhou'er looked at Wanchu was clearly full of affection.
"Grandmother, the three - year period is almost over. I haven't been able to make the second master fall in love with me. Isn't that the meaning of that divorce letter?"
Her uncle and aunt had thought far - reaching for her. They couldn't bear to see her trapped in the inner courtyard for the rest of her life, smiling forcedly while guarding a man who didn't love her.
"No, Wanchu, you misunderstood. Zhou'er likes you. It was him who begged me back then..."
Two tears quietly slid down from the corners of Song Wanchu's eyes. She shook her head self - deprecatingly and tried to maintain a smile on her face. "Grandmother, it was the second master who said it himself. He doesn't love me."
"Did Zhou'er... say such a thing?"
He just never said the four words "I don't love you".
But in the past three years, his coldness towards her, his unjustified protection and indulgence of Yu Huiyan, his embarrassing her in front of everyone again and again for Yu Huiyan, his verbal sarcasm about her not knowing her place, and the times he left with Yu Huiyan on his arm, leaving her alone in the crowd to be slandered and laughed at by rumors...
Every time she thought about it, it was a pain deep in her bones.
She didn't want to live such a life anymore.
The price she had paid for loving this man was too high.
She would repay the kindness she owed him in other ways.
She wouldn't stay by his side anymore.
"Please grant my wish, Grandmother."
She kowtowed again, as if it was her last bit of guilt and farewell to the old lady.
The old lady's lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face.
It was as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out.
If Wanchu left, the Duke's Mansion would never be able to marry such a good mistress again...
"Grandmother, to be honest, I had all my dowry taken away last night."
Song Wanchu showed her determination.
Her heart began to ache faintly again. It was her heart reminding her that the past wounds could never be healed, and she must never look back.
The old lady let out a long sigh.
"The divorce letter needs to be stamped with the seal of the Duke's Mansion to be truly valid. You go back first and come back to get it after dinner."
The seal of the Duke's Mansion was in the hands of the clan elder of the Liang family. The old lady had to go and get it herself.
Song Wanchu's tears fell heavily, but her heart felt lighter.
The old lady was willing to let her go.
...
In the evening, Liang Yuzhou came back.
As usual, Yaoguang reported to him under the big locust tree in the back garden.
"This morning, the lady was talking to the old lady and sent me away. I'm useless. I couldn't find out what the lady and the old lady talked about."
Liang Yuzhou's expression was cold.
What words, what secrets did Song Wanchu have that she couldn't let him, her husband, hear?