At first hearing, his words seemed like a very reliable promise.
Yu Jingnian's eyes lit up.
The father, who should have been immersed in grief over his son's death, couldn't hide the smile in his eyes.
Once Liang Yuzhou passed the military imperial examination and became the top scorer, he would gain fame and be conferred the title of the heir. Sooner or later, the Duke's Mansion would be his.
If Huiyan married him, the Yu family would gain another powerful backer.
His look towards Yu Huiyan became a bit more loving.
Yu Huiyan's hand trembled with excitement, and the handkerchief she was using to wipe her tears fell to the ground.
Looking at Liang Yuzhou's extremely handsome face, she was so excited that she couldn't control her trembling.
Song Wanchu, cousin will always love me the most. What can you compete with me for?
"Huiyan, you're still injured, and you've been crying in front of the memorial tablet for a long time. Your body can't take it. Go back and rest for now."
Yu Jingnian suddenly became very protective of this daughter.
Princess Jiahe quickly echoed, "Yes, yes, yes. Huiyan can't overwork herself. She'll need a lot of energy on her wedding day. Go and rest to gather strength."
Looking around, the entire Yu family was dressed in white. A funeral should have been a solemn and sad occasion, but the people standing in front of the memorial tablet were wearing mourning clothes and excitedly discussing a marriage.
It seemed as if everyone had forgotten that Yu Rongbai was lying in the coffin.
Liang Yuzhou coldly watched this family and sarcastically twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Zhou'er, go and accompany Huiyan back to her room to rest. Persuade her not to be too sad."
Princess Jiahe kept encouraging him.
Liang Yuzhou said indifferently, "Mother, I'm an outsider in the Yu family. It's inappropriate for me to enter Huiyan's room."
After saying this, he turned around and left.
"You're going to be Huiyan's husband in the future. Why are you so old - fashioned!"
Princess Jiahe's face darkened a bit.
"It's okay, aunt. Don't blame cousin. He's just such a person," Yu Huiyan shyly defended Liang Yuzhou. "It's his nobility and propriety that I like about him."
Princess Jiahe smiled and tapped her on the head. "Oh, you're not even married yet, and you're already protecting him!"
After the seventh - day memorial service for Yu Rongbai, the news spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.
The second young master of the Duke's Mansion, Liang Yuzhou, would request the emperor's permission to marry Yu Huiyan as his principal wife after passing the military imperial examination.
For a while, the old stories of their childhood sweethearts, deep affection, Liang Yuzhou's long - distance help, and Yu Huiyan's devotion for love became the most popular stories among storytellers.
The news soon reached Princess Lingyang's ears.
At the same time, another piece of news also reached her.
In order to marry Yu Huiyan, Liang Yuzhou thought Song Wanchu, with the title of noble concubine, was an eyesore. Afraid that Yu Huiyan's status as the principal wife would be threatened, while the old lady was away on a Buddhist pilgrimage, he moved Song Wanchu out of the Duke's Mansion and placed her in a small courtyard, treating her as a mistress.
Putting the two pieces of news together, Princess Lingyang was even more convinced that the person Liang Yuzhou truly loved was Yu Huiyan.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, it had always been a tradition for the emperor to bestow marriages on the top scorers of the civil and military imperial examinations.
Promising young talents were sought after by noble families. Everyone wanted their daughters to marry a man with both family background and talent. Many noble families that had influence in front of the emperor would closely watch the top scorers.
If the top scorer didn't have a beloved one, the noble families would rush to introduce their daughters, hoping to quickly seize the top scorer and ask the emperor to bestow the marriage.
On the military imperial examination field, Liang Yuzhou would surely be the most shining military top scorer.
Once he requested to marry Yu Huiyan, Yu Huiyan would be the woman standing on the highest glory stage with him.
She would enjoy the glory and the envy of the noble ladies in the capital.
Thinking of this, Princess Lingyang's teeth were almost gritted to pieces!
That hateful old woman, the Grand Princess, had repeatedly induced her to believe that Liang Yuzhou loved Song Wanchu, which made her hesitate and test all the time, failing to get rid of Yu Huiyan in time!
With a "snap", the delicate fruit plate broke under Princess Lingyang's feet, and her noble brocade shoes trampled the scattered pastries into a mess.
"Princess, Thunder is full!"
A big black dog happily pounced into Princess Lingyang's arms.
It was as big as an adult man, with fierce eyes and a mouthful of fangs. It had just eaten five chickens, and the smell of blood still lingered in its mouth.
"Thunder, my good boy!"
Princess Lingyang rubbed the big dog's head, her eyes full of affection.
She looked ahead, and her eyes became fierce again.
Does Yu Huiyan think she can definitely marry Liang Yuzhou?
Then let her day of glory become her day of death!
...
Lady Wen was so angry that she skipped dinner.
She didn't leave with Wanchu that day because she was afraid that if the entire Qi family left all at once, it would arouse Liang Yuzhou's suspicion.
Who would have thought that Liang Yuzhou already knew that Wanchu had got the concubine - release letter.
At the dinner table were only her and Shi Luohan. Qi Yuanjun had gone south, and Wanchu was imprisoned by Liang Yuzhou somewhere.
Wanchu had already been so sad and desperate that she couldn't escape Liang Yuzhou's clutches and was forced to promise to never leave that cold - hearted man.
Now, there was news that Liang Yuzhou would request to marry Yu Huiyan after the military imperial examination!
Wanchu's heart must be broken into pieces again!
Lady Wen covered her face and cried, "The Liang family is a noble and educated family. How could there be such a domineering and barbaric man like Liang Yuzhou!"
Shi Luohan's face was clouded. His eyes were blood - red, and his fists were clenched tightly. The whitening knuckles revealed his strong hatred.
If Wanchu was tortured by Liang Yuzhou any longer, she wouldn't be able to survive.
He must rescue Wanchu from Liang Yuzhou's hands!
Lady Wen couldn't sit still. She stamped her foot and made up her mind. "I'm going to talk to the old lady! Her grandson has done such excessive things to Wanchu. Does she care? I don't believe that there's no one in the world who can subdue Liang Yuzhou!"
Shi Luohan slowly shook his head. "The old lady is on a Buddhist pilgrimage at the Jingchan Temple in Nanshan. It's almost like she's in seclusion. What Liang Yuzhou does may not reach the old lady's ears."
The old duke was even less reliable.
Lady Wen's tears flowed more violently. "My poor Wanchu. What did she do wrong to suffer such humiliation!"
Anger violently hit Shi Luohan's chest. He hated himself for not having the ability to protect the woman he loved most.
He also hated Liang Yuzhou for taking Wanchu's love but trampling that precious feeling into nothing.
"Wanchu did make a mistake. She shouldn't have fallen in love with Liang Yuzhou," Lady Wen said, feeling even more sad. Song Wanchu was being watched by a group of unfamiliar people. She wanted to sit beside her niece, hold her, and comfort her, but she couldn't.
"Damn Liang Yuzhou. Where on earth has he hidden my Wanchu?"
Yu Rongbai had just died. Although the Ministry of Justice had closed the case and the Yu family didn't suspect anything, Shi Luohan was a cautious man and didn't go out during this sensitive period.
But he was constantly worried about Wanchu. He missed her day and night, wanting to see her and take her away.
The capital was so big. He couldn't just wander around the city like a headless fly.
Nanzhi and Suyue stood aside, silently wiping their tears.
"We miss the young lady, and she must miss us too," Suyue said with teary eyes.
Their young lady had been pampered since childhood, and her daily life had a routine. Without her and Nanzhi by her side, with only a bunch of people who didn't know the young lady well around her, how uncomfortable the young lady must be!
Suyue's words made Nanzhi think of something.
"Xunxiangji," she suddenly said three words. Everyone in the room looked at her in confusion.
"If the young lady doesn't buy the date - paste cloud cake during the day, the boss of Xunxiangji will keep the last piece until just before closing. Only after confirming that the young lady won't come will he sell the cake," Nanzhi murmured to herself.
"I understand," Shi Luohan suddenly stood up.
He knew how to find out where Wanchu was living.