The old duke was so angry that his eyebrows almost jumped off his face. He roared in shame and annoyance, "Nonsense, pure nonsense! Do you think your father is a lecherous man?"
He considered himself a clean - handed official in the court, a man of moral integrity. He had never visited any brothels in his life. Apart from his two wives, he only had one concubine.
There was only one reason for taking this concubine. The woman resembled his late wife by about sixty percent. Keeping her by his side could soothe his longing for his late wife.
Now that he was over fifty, if he were to take in the concubines - in - waiting intended for his son, he would surely be laughed at by everyone in the court!
How disgraceful!
"You must take them away. If you don't want to take them as concubines, keep them as maids," the old duke said.
"You brought them in. Whatever they are to be, it has nothing to do with me," Liang Yuzhou replied coldly. "Father, I have to go to the training ground for drills. I take my leave."
"You..."
Before the old duke could finish his words, Liang Yuzhou's tall figure had disappeared outside the door.
He was left with these two hot - potatoes!
The two beautiful girls looked at the old duke aggrievedly, at a loss and looking blank.
The old duke was extremely vexed!
"Paying respects to Father. What troubles you, Father?"
Just as Liang Yuzhou left, Liang Yuchuan came in to pay his respects.
The old duke's knitted brows relaxed a bit when he saw his eldest son.
Liang Yuchuan's eyes swept over the two beautiful girls and he immediately understood what was going on.
"Father, how about this? Sister - in - law has been in charge of the household for three years and has handled all matters properly. Since the princess sent these girls to the second brother, it's only natural that sister - in - law should arrange for them. I'm sure sister - in - law is kind - hearted and sensible. She will surely persuade the second brother to take them as concubines."
The old duke's eyes lit up.
"Chuan'er, you know how to relieve your father's worries. Servants, take them to Shuiyun Residence and hand them over to the mistress of the household for arrangement!"
Women's affairs should be handled by women!
Liang Yuchuan then attentively ground the ink for the old duke.
"Chuan'er, the military examination is only a month away. Why haven't I seen you training?"
The old duke asked. He had to admit that in terms of martial arts training, Zhou'er was much more diligent than Chuan'er.
Liang Yuchuan showed a pained expression. His eyes were full of guilt and helplessness.
"Father, you know about me. I was born a month prematurely. I'm weak and sickly. I can't compare with the second brother who is strong and fit. I'm afraid I have no chance in the military examination."
The old duke felt heart - ache. Thinking of his late wife, his heart softened.
He didn't want Liang Yuchuan to take the military examination route, but he had failed to pass the imperial examination for ten consecutive years and had no official title.
Apart from being the eldest legitimate son, he could hardly find any reason to ask the emperor to make Liang Yuchuan the heir of the dukedom.
He also knew clearly that only a capable and courageous son like Liang Yuzhou could inherit the Duke's Mansion and carry on its glory for another hundred years.
But he felt sorry for his late wife.
As the military examination was approaching day by day, he became more and more conflicted.
"Father, your son knows that the second brother is more capable than I am. He is determined to get the position of the heir. I won't compete with him. You don't have to feel guilty about this," Liang Yuchuan comforted the old duke. "It's my own incompetence. From now on, I'm willing to keep a low profile and live under the second brother."
The old duke felt even more uncomfortable.
Liang Yuchuan observed his father's expression, not missing any subtle change on his face.
Just when the old duke looked full of shame, he added fuel to the fire.
"Father, there's just one thing. I hope you can persuade the second brother not to oppose the princess again and again because of Song Wanchu.
The princess sent these girls as an overture of friendship. I'm sure the princess also believes that the second brother will shine in the military examination and the position of the heir is surely his.
The princess wants to win over the second brother in order to combine her power with the military strength of the Duke's Mansion so as to gain an invincible position in the court. But the second brother is so stubborn and confronts the princess. Once he angers the princess, a fight between the two families will surely end in a lose - lose situation!"
The old duke was suddenly enlightened!
He knew Liang Yuzhou's character best. He was high - minded, proud and unyielding. It was absolutely impossible for him to bow to the princess!
He couldn't just watch the century - old glory of the Duke's Mansion be destroyed by this unfilial son!
...
"Miss, the master sent two girls and asks you to arrange for them," Nanzhi and Suyue came into the room to report, looking disgusted.
A steward's wife brought the two beautiful girls into the courtyard of Shuiyun Residence.
"Why don't you pay your respects to our mistress?"
The two beautiful girls swayed their waists and curtsied in a coquettish voice. Every frown and smile of theirs was full of charm.
"I'm Xiwei," one said.
"I'm Siyuan," the other said.
"Paying respects to the mistress."
Song Wanchu looked calm. She had long expected the princess to play this trick.
Forcing her to drink the poisoned wine was also to make her leave Liang Yuzhou completely or even disappear forever.
Only in this way would Liang Yuzhou turn his attention to the girls arranged by the princess.
Suyue glared at the two beautiful girls with disgust and whispered, "Trying to imitate the beauty but only making a fool of oneself!"
"The Luoshuang Courtyard beside the second master's study is still empty. Clean it up for them to live in," Song Wanchu ordered the steward's wife. "You go and pick the servants yourself. Choose smart and capable ones. Each of them should have two personal maids by their side, four maids to do the cleaning outside and four rough - working women to run errands and pass messages."
Xiwei and Siyuan looked at Song Wanchu in surprise.
Rumors had it that she was extremely jealous. Although she wasn't in the good graces of the second master and her status wasn't high, she still managed the entire Duke's Mansion and didn't allow any concubines - in - waiting around the second master.
For the past three years, she was the only woman around the second master, neither a proper wife nor a concubine.
Originally, the second master was going to marry Miss Yu, his childhood sweetheart, but Song Wanchu had meddled and ruined the good marriage.
They had been prepared to be neglected, threatened and disciplined.
But Song Wanchu's attitude towards them didn't show any sign of jealousy.
The princess had told them to take advantage of Song Wanchu's jealousy, fight with her openly and secretly, and spread rumors about her from time to time.
But Song Wanchu's arrangements were so considerate that they had no reason or opportunity to spread rumors.
Song Wanchu gave the steward's wife a reward and also gave the two beautiful girls valuable jewelry and silverware.
"The second master will go to the study first when he returns to the mansion. You two will serve him in the study tonight. The second master has a light taste and likes fresh vegetables. He doesn't drink. The tea should be about thirty percent strong," Song Wanchu instructed the two girls one by one, her heart completely calm.
She had carefully remembered every detail about Liang Yuzhou, as if it was engraved in her bones.
Once upon a time, she didn't dare to think about how painful and sad she would be if there was another woman beside Liang Yuzhou.
But now that it had happened, she didn't feel any heart - ache.
...
In the evening, the sky was filled with the afterglow of the setting sun.
Song Wanchu was sitting on a small couch by the window, looking listless.
Her uncle had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice for more than half a month.
If they couldn't reverse the verdict, her uncle would face five years in prison.
But she had reached a dead end and couldn't do anything to help.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open with a "bang", as if with anger.
"Song Wanchu, what do you mean?"