Song Wanchu spent the whole day in anticipation and nervousness.
She was finally going to get the document of releasing a concubine. Amidst her joy, there was also a faint, indescribable emotion.
Scenes of the past three years with Liang Yuzhou kept flashing through her mind. The pain he had inflicted on her was deeply engraved in her heart. There had been occasional tender moments, but they vanished in a flash, like an illusion.
Their relationship had neither a good beginning nor a good end.
She had not only broken her promise but was also about to leave Liang Yuzhou without a farewell.
From then on, they would be separated by the ends of the earth and never see each other again.
"Miss, I've inquired. The old lady has gone to the clan elder's place and hasn't come back yet."
Nanzhi returned, carrying the sweltering heat of the day.
Song Wanchu told her to sit down and have a bowl of chilled waxberry juice. "Right, it can't be that fast."
The two could talk freely because Suyue had sent Yaoguang out on the pretext of buying rouge and powder.
To prevent Yaoguang from eavesdropping, the two girls took turns standing guard outside the door.
It felt like a long time had passed since Song Wanchu returned from Fu'an Hall, but the big sun outside told her that only two hours had passed.
Time had never been so hard to bear.
"Miss, how about I accompany you to do something to pass the time?"
Nanzhi fetched the needlework basket and picked out several pieces of beautiful brocade.
"Let's embroider a sachet. When we meet Young Master Shi, we'll give it to him. He'll surely be very happy."
Song Wanchu absent - mindedly watched Nanzhi sorting through the patterns and comparing them on the brocade.
She should have been full of anticipation to meet her elder brother after three years, but at this moment, her mind was filled with Liang Yuzhou's figure.
And his words echoed in her mind, "Song Wanchu, you'll never leave me in your lifetime."
"Nanzhi, there's an unfinished nightgown in the third drawer of the cabinet. Please take it out."
Nanzhi's hand paused while picking patterns, and there was confusion in her eyes. "Miss, we're about to leave. Why are you still making something for the Second Master..."
That nightgown was made by Song Wanchu. She had measured Liang Yuzhou's size inch by inch with her hands and sewn it stitch by stitch.
The material of the nightgown was extremely precious rain - silk brocade. One bolt of it was worth a hundred taels of gold. Even a noble family like the Duke's Mansion could hardly afford it easily.
The rain - silk brocade was very delicate. If one's hands were a bit rough, they would damage the texture of the fabric. Every time Song Wanchu picked up the nightgown, she would soak her hands in rose water first and then apply a fragrant balm made of more than a dozen precious spices to make her hands soft before threading the needle on the rain - silk brocade.
This nightgown was originally intended as a birthday gift for Liang Yuzhou.
A nightgown was different from ordinary clothes. It was to be worn next to the skin, and only a wife could rightfully make a nightgown for her husband.
Every stitch of this nightgown was infused with Song Wanchu's deep love.
However, since Yu Huiyan returned to the capital, Liang Yuzhou had repeatedly cooled her enthusiasm and ignored her. She had finally made up her mind to leave, and the nightgown had been lying in the cabinet for almost three months.
Song Wanchu wanted to finish this nightgown.
It was a farewell gift for Liang Yuzhou.
Liang Yuzhou didn't like complicated and fancy patterns. Song Wanchu embroidered asparagus ferns on the nightgown. They were lush, straight, thin, and full of integrity, just like Liang Yuzhou's character.
Before she knew it, the sun had tilted to the west.
After sewing the last stitch, Nanzhi entered the room again, her face beaming with excitement. "Miss, the old lady is back!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her fingertips.
The needle pricked Song Wanchu's finger, and a bead of blood rolled down and dropped on the just - embroidered asparagus fern.
Among the green leaves, it was like a red flower suddenly blooming, charming yet tinged with a touch of sadness.
"Take the gift for the old lady. Let's go to Fu'an Hall."
...
The old lady stared at the bright red seal on the document of releasing a concubine. Her eyes were moist, and her heart was filled with an indescribable emptiness and loss.
She was from a military family. Since childhood, she had been bold, straightforward, and decisive in everything she did. She had never been indecisive for decades.
But at this moment, she hesitated.
The candle flame was dancing in front of her. If she were to burn the document of releasing a concubine regardless...
It would shatter all of Wanchu's hopes.
These days, she had tried to convince herself that the relationship between Zhou'er and Wanchu would improve and everything would get better.
But she knew it was just self - deception.
Since returning to the Duke's Mansion, Wanchu had been forcing a smile at every moment. How could she not see it?
She wanted to keep Wanchu, but she also wanted Wanchu to find true happiness.
Even if she couldn't be her granddaughter - in - law, she should still be a bright and charming woman.
Nanny Qiao came over. "Old lady, the Second Lady has come to pay her respects."
The old lady closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"Let Wanchu come in."
Song Wanchu accompanied the old lady for some refreshments, but both of them could tell that neither had an appetite.
The moment of final farewell was sad and agonizing.
"Old lady, this is a little token of my appreciation."
Song Wanchu held a delicate brocade box and knelt in front of the old lady on one knee.
The brocade box was open, and inside was a string of red sandalwood Buddhist beads. They were polished smooth and round, with a soft luster, and a faint fragrance could be smelled.
They were more precious than the ones the old lady usually wore.
"Old lady, this string of Buddhist beads was a relic of my grandmother. A high - ranking monk blessed it. The beads were soaked in spices and can soothe the nerves."
Song Wanchu picked up the Buddhist beads and was about to put them on the old lady.
"Since it's a relic of your grandmother, you should keep it as a memento. Such a precious gift, I can't accept it."
The old lady was surprised and touched, and quickly waved her hand.
Song Wanchu insisted. "Old lady, Wanchu knows that you've always been good to me. In my heart, you're just like my grandmother."
The tears that the old lady had been holding back finally flowed out.
Wanchu, what a kind and grateful girl.
It was a pity that her fate with Zhou'er had come to an end.
Although she was extremely reluctant, the old lady knew that it was time to take out the document of releasing a concubine.
Her outstretched hand trembled a little. "Good child, take it."
The old lady's voice was very soft.
Song Wanchu looked up, and the white hair at the old lady's temples stabbed her eyes painfully.
She suddenly realized that in the past three years, the old lady had aged a lot...
Her hand had already reached out and touched a corner of the document of releasing a concubine.
Her heart was pounding so fast that it seemed to fly out of her chest.
Qiaoying suddenly shouted into the room, "The Second Master is here!"
The old lady's pupils dilated, and she quickly retracted her hand and put the document of releasing a concubine back into her sleeve.
The sound of the beaded curtain being pushed aside came from her ear, and a tall, dark shadow fell on Song Wanchu's face.
"What sad thing have you two thought of? Both of you are crying like this?"
As Liang Yuzhou joked, his eyes were fixed on her. His eyebrows were cold, and his eyes were sharp.
He was smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Song Wanchu felt that her heart was about to stop.
Liang Yuzhou had always been the most hard - working one on the training ground. It was far from the time for him to return to the mansion at this hour.
Did he already start to suspect something?
"Why are you back so early today?"
After all, the old lady had experienced many ups and downs. Compared with Song Wanchu's nervousness and confusion, she quickly composed herself.
"I suddenly remembered that I haven't had dinner with Wanchu for a long time, so I came back earlier."
Liang Yuzhou answered the old lady's question, but his gaze still stayed on Song Wanchu.
That look was mixed with questions, inquisitiveness, and other emotions that Song Wanchu couldn't understand.
"Old lady, you two look so mysterious. Do you have some secret to discuss behind my back?"