Liang Yuzhou showed up surprisingly fast, as if he had long anticipated that the Wen family would come to Song Wanchu for help.
His expression was calm as he stared intently at Song Wanchu.
Song Wanchu hesitated, not knowing how to broach the subject of asking for help.
She had originally planned to leave in the next day or two.
To owe him another favor on the verge of departure...
Although the Wen family had many grievances against Liang Yuzhou, her mind was preoccupied with Qi Yuanjun (her uncle's full name) in prison. Afraid of putting Wanchu in a difficult position and feeling embarrassed to ask directly, she lowered her stance and said, "It's Wanchu's uncle..."
After a brief and to - the - point description, Liang Yuzhou's face darkened, his eyes turning cold.
"Apparently, Wanchu's uncle has been set up. Not only was he backstabbed by his long - time partner, but several officials from the Ministry of Revenue also insisted that he should bear the joint liability. If we don't quickly find evidence to prove that Wanchu's uncle was completely unaware of the salt - hoarding incident, he will be unjustly accused."
Thinking of Qi Yuanjun suffering in prison, the Wen family's tears welled up again, and her attitude became even more earnest. "Second Master, you have influence in the Supreme Court. Could you please lend a helping hand to Wanchu's uncle?"
In terms of seniority, the Wen family was Liang Yuzhou's elder, yet she addressed him as "Second Master" one after another, almost in a pleading tone. Song Wanchu felt very uncomfortable.
But she also knew Liang Yuzhou well. He was cold - hearted towards her, and his attitude towards her family was no better.
Moreover, he hated it most when relatives or acquaintances used his name to do things, and he was even more annoyed by those who came to him for favors.
"Auntie, there's no need to be so polite. Since he's Wanchu's uncle, he's my uncle too. As family members sharing weal and woe, how could I stand by and do nothing?"
Song Wanchu thought she was hallucinating.
She stared at Liang Yuzhou in disbelief.
Liang Yuzhou took her hand. Her small hand, which had been sweating due to panic, was now wrapped in his broad palm.
An inexplicable sense of security.
"I'll take you and Auntie to the Supreme Court."
On the way, the Wen family was extremely anxious. Although the carriage was moving as fast as it could, she still kept wringing her handkerchief with her fingers and peeping out of the window from time to time.
Song Wanchu sat beside Liang Yuzhou. He was as steady as a mountain, and the hand he held had become dry and warm.
Somehow, her panicked heart found a place to rest, and she caught a glimmer of light in the darkness.
When the carriage passed by the Starry Pavilion and was about to turn in the direction of the Supreme Court.
"Thud!" It sounded as if someone had bumped into the carriage wall.
A woman's crying came from outside: "Second Master, is that you, Second Master? Please save my young lady. She - she cut her wrist and tried to commit suicide in the Starry Pavilion!"
It was Cai Die's voice.
The Wen family frowned abruptly, annoyance written all over her face.
Song Wanchu felt the hand that had been holding hers stiffen for a moment.
Then he quickly let go of her and lifted the carriage curtain.
Cai Die was kneeling in front of the carriage, sobbing out of breath. Her skirt was dotted with bloodstains.
"What's going on?"
Liang Yuzhou's aura suddenly turned cold and solemn.
Cai Die cried and said, "Second Master, my young lady met Princess Lingyang in the Starry Pavilion. The princess and a group of young ladies sneered at her, saying that she could never turn from a hill - chicken into a phoenix, and that you, Second Master, no longer cared about her. They even said that even if she died in front of you, you wouldn't even give her a second look...
My young lady argued with them a few times, and then the princess told two maids to press her face to the ground, strip off her clothes, and pour ice - cold water into her mouth. My young lady has a strong temper and couldn't bear such humiliation, so she cut her wrist right in front of Princess Lingyang!"
"If she cut her wrist, go find a doctor. Second Master is not a doctor. Can he stop the bleeding or heal her wound when he goes?"
The Wen family was very impatient. Time was already tight. If they couldn't see Shi Jinglu tonight, who knew how many more changes would occur in prison?
How many people had entered the Supreme Court and died in prison before even waiting for their sentencing!
Liang Yuzhou's eyes grew darker, his brows knitted together. Song Wanchu could clearly feel his tension.
Her face had already turned a bit pale.
A strong premonition told her that Liang Yuzhou would abandon her once again.
"Is Princess Lingyang still there?" Liang Yuzhou asked.
"Second Master, Princess Lingyang has detained my young lady. Seeing that my young lady is bleeding non - stop, she sent this servant out to invite you. If you don't go, she'll just let my young lady bleed to death. Second Master, please. My young lady's life is in your hands! Please go and see my young lady for the sake of your childhood friendship with her!"
Cai Die was sobbing uncontrollably. She smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt to show Liang Yuzhou the sporadic bloodstains on it. "Second Master, look. This is all my young lady's blood. She already has a heart disease. When she slashed herself, the blood spurted out. If you don't go, my young lady really won't be able to hold on!"
When Liang Yuzhou was listening to Cai Die's crying, his back was turned to Song Wanchu.
He didn't even want to look back at her. With a long stride, he got out of the carriage nimbly and gracefully.
"Liang Yuzhou!"
Song Wanchu grabbed his sleeve.
She had never won his heart, nor had she ever been able to keep him by her side. She had always known her place.
She didn't know if it was because she was too greedy for the little bit of security he had given her or if she was just unwilling to see his cold back as he left at the moment of departure. She tightened her grip on his sleeve.
"Although Princess Lingyang is willful and spoiled, she won't be so cruel as to watch Yu Huiyan die..."
"Madam, please have mercy. My young lady's life is hanging by a thread. Please stop pestering Second Master. As long as my young lady can survive, this servant is willing to come to your side and let you scold and beat me as you like!"
Song Wanchu clung to Liang Yuzhou's sleeve and refused to let go. Her lips were trembling, and her eyes were gradually turning red.
Liang Yuzhou's eyes were cold.
Suddenly, she laughed, her face looking both gorgeous and desolate.
"You'll always choose her, won't you, Liang Yuzhou?"
Two streams of clear tears rolled down. "You asked me to promise that I would never leave you, but I'm always the one being abandoned, aren't I?"
The feelings deeply rooted in her heart couldn't be uprooted. Even though she had decided not to keep her promise and leave him forever, when faced with his abandonment once again and watching him rush towards Yu Huiyan, her heart still felt like it was being cut by a knife.
"Liang Yuzhou, what did you promise Wanchu in the Water Rhyme Residence?"
The Wen family angrily questioned, "Everyone in the capital knows that Yu Huiyan failed to marry you and has become a laughingstock. If she really couldn't bear the ridicule, she would have killed herself long ago. Why would she cut her wrist at such a crucial moment when Wanchu's uncle is in trouble? She's just playing a trick to deceive you. Can't you see it?"
Liang Yuzhou took a deep look at Song Wanchu.
There were many complex emotions in his eyes, but there was no apology or regret.
In Song Wanchu's tear - blurred vision, his figure quickly disappeared into the twilight.
Cai Die got up and followed, deliberately turning back to give Song Wanchu a smug look.
After Liang Yuzhou left, the carriage was enveloped in darkness and silence.
The Wen family panicked again. While wiping Song Wanchu's tears, she shed her own and said, "What should we do? What on earth should we do..."