Aunt asked Song Wanchu to stay for the night.
"Your bedroom is all tidied up."
"Aunt, I need to pay my respects to the old lady early tomorrow to get the release document for concubines."
Although she was about to leave, Song Wanchu didn't want to be impolite to the old lady.
She couldn't just wait for the old lady to send the document to her.
"Wanchu, I'll take you back."
Shi Luohan said and was about to harness the carriage.
Suddenly, Song Wanchu thought of something.
"Brother, it's still early. I'm not in a hurry to leave."
Shi Luohan stared at her, his eyes flickering as if expecting something.
Song Wanchu glanced at the sky where twilight was falling and night was gradually approaching. But the depression in her heart was slowly dissipating.
With Brother around, what did she have to worry about?
"Brother, it's been a long time since you last heard me play the pipa, right? I'll play "Dawn" for you."
At dawn tomorrow, she would embrace a new life.
A gentle and doting smile bloomed on Shi Luohan's face. "Okay."
...
Yu Huiyan was placed by Liang Yuzhou in a quiet mansion to recuperate.
She had completely fallen out of favor with the princess and become a useless pawn.
Unable to marry Liang Yuzhou, Yu Jingnian's dream of climbing up to the Duke's Mansion was shattered. He always had a bad temper with her.
Yu Huiyan's life at home was not easy either.
Madam Feng was good at scheming and good at gauging Yu Jingnian's thoughts. So she came up with a bad idea to marry Yu Huiyan as a second wife to a more than fifty - year - old escort official, so that Yu Rongbai would have an easier time on his exile.
When Yu Huiyan learned that she would have to serve an old man older than her father for the rest of her life, her emotions broke down. She cried and made a scene for three whole days and nights.
But Yu Jingnian was determined to sacrifice her to save his son.
Exile was not a death sentence. As long as he could survive, after a few years when the emperor announced an amnesty, Yu Rongbai could return to the capital safely.
Yu Huiyan knew that if Liang Yuzhou didn't help her this time, her life would be completely ruined.
This time, she didn't just slightly cut her wrist to pretend. Instead, she was determined and hanged herself from the beam.
She gambled her life on Liang Yuzhou's reluctance to let her go.
She won the bet.
Liang Yuzhou rescued her from the cage.
Although Liang Yuzhou had said his final words before, he came like a hero and rescued her. Yu Huiyan's heart started to stir again.
She just wanted to take advantage of Liang Yuzhou's reluctance and firmly tie him down with gratitude.
Princess Jiahe was worried about Yu Huiyan's injury and also worried that the Yu family would find this place and take her away. So she simply stayed in this mansion too.
She personally fed Yu Huiyan medicine every day.
"Aunt, cousin hasn't come to see me for so many days. Is he still angry with me?"
Since Liang Yuzhou had placed her here, he had never come to visit her again. It seemed that he no longer cared about her injury.
There was a deep mark on her neck, like a blood - red centipede lying on it, which was very terrifying.
Her voice was also affected. Her speech was hoarse and weak, like that of an eighty - year - old woman.
Liang Yuzhou just left her alone like this. Yu Huiyan was very panicked.
It must be that bitch Song Wanchu who was using her charm to bewitch cousin every day!
"Don't think too much. Just recuperate well."
Princess Jiahe was convinced that Liang Yuzhou still had feelings for Yu Huiyan. Her tone was very certain. "Your cousin is hard - working. He goes to training early every morning and doesn't return to the mansion until it's dark. He's just waiting to show his skills in the military examination."
"Your cousin will definitely be this year's military champion."
Princess Jiahe looked proud. "When Zhou'er becomes the military champion, the emperor will surely make him the heir of the Duke's Mansion. That Liang Yuzhuan, just like his short - lived mother, is sickly and good at neither literature nor martial arts. What can he use to compete with Zhou'er for the position of the heir?"
The heir, the future successor of the Duke's Mansion. His wife would be the rightful mistress.
A longing light flashed in Yu Huiyan's eyes.
"Huiyan, after this incident, I can see that the person Zhou'er cares about the most is still you."
The daughter - in - law that Princess Jiahe was most satisfied with was always Yu Huiyan.
Song Wanchu came from a humble family and had a low status. She was simply not presentable.
Yu Huiyan shyly lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth could not help but rise in joy.
"When Zhou'er passes the military examination, I'll ask him to request an imperial edict for marriage from the emperor. I'll marry you into the mansion in a grand way. I'll make those who laughed at you and looked down on you come to curry favor with you!"
Princess Jiahe vowed.
"Cousin always has his own ideas..."
"He already has feelings for you, and you two have a childhood friendship. I'm his mother. He has to listen to me!"
Liang Yuzhou stood quietly outside the door. He heard every word of their conversation clearly.
He casually hooked the corner of his mouth. His eyes were deep, like an unfathomable deep pool.
Princess Jiahe walked out. Seeing Liang Yuzhou, she scolded him. "Why did you come so late? You came but didn't go in to see Huiyan. She misses you every day."
"Mother, where do you get the confidence that I will surely listen to you?"
His words had a double meaning. Princess Jiahe was stunned for a moment.
Did he hear all the words just now?
Seeing the sarcastic expression on his face, Princess Jiahe was a little annoyed. "If you don't marry Huiyan, who do you want to marry? You want to make Song Wanchu your main wife. Don't even think about it. I'll never agree!"
"Mother, how much influence do you think you still have in the Duke's Mansion?"
His tone when talking to Princess Jiahe was still respectful, but his eyes were full of disdain.
Princess Jiahe was annoyed and her face flushed.
She was no different from being divorced now. She couldn't even order a maid around in the Duke's Mansion.
It was okay for others to laugh at her, but even her son was so heartless to stab at her heart!
"I'm your mother. If you don't listen to me, I'll kill myself and make you carry the stigma of being unfilial for the rest of your life!"
Liang Yuzhou sneered faintly. "Mother, you've come to this point. Father is partly responsible, but your stupidity, your ignorance, your badness, and your selfishness are the root causes of your tragedy."
Princess Jiahe had never been scolded so harshly, especially by her son whom she relied on and was proud of.
Her face had turned as red as pig liver.
"What's wrong with Huiyan?"
Liang Yuzhou's eyes became even deeper. "Mother, have you never thought about who led you to Shuiyunju to catch the adulterer and who made you carry the blame all the time?"
Princess Jiahe opened her mouth wide, her expression dull.
She had thought about it. During the days when she was under house arrest, she had wracked her brains.
Liang Yuzhou's words obviously pointed the finger at Huiyan.
"Impossible. Huiyan is kind - hearted. How could she do such a dark and vicious thing?"
Liang Yuzhou thought she was incredibly stupid.
"Mother, you should have a good talk with Huiyan."
After saying that, he left like a gust of wind.
His goal had been achieved. It was meaningless to stay here.
His heart was never on Yu Huiyan.
He exchanged Yu Rongbai's freedom for Qi Yuanjun's release from prison, making others think that he was saving Yu Huiyan.
Princess Lingyang would surely believe it.
Liang Yuzhou had acted so many times in front of her. No matter how much the princess tried to sow discord, she would never believe that the one he really loved was Song Wanchu.
Zhou Sheng was driving the carriage. "Second Master, are we going back to the mansion?"
"Go to the Qi family."
At the gate of the Qi family, Liang Yuzhou saw from afar that the carriage of the Duke's Mansion was parked there.
Before the carriage even stopped, he jumped out and walked quickly forward.
Suddenly, the gate opened and Song Wanchu walked out.
There was a young man beside her.
The man looked down at her, gently reminding her to watch the steps. His eyes and tone were full of doting.
Song Wanchu was smiling at him.
It wasn't a forced smile in front of him, but a relaxed, happy, and heartfelt smile.
She had never shown such a bright and beautiful smile to him.
Her love was indeed given to another man.
Shi Luohan helped Song Wanchu into the carriage.
"Wanchu."
A cold voice came. Shi Luohan suddenly turned his head.
Their eyes met. Before the two men even said a word, the fire of war had already ignited in their eyes.