The old lady gently shook her head and suddenly smiled. "She's no match for you. If she could recognize this, she should back out in time."
Song Wanchu was extremely certain that Yu Huiyan wouldn't.
She had already taken ninety - nine steps forward. Only one step away from attaining the supreme glory, the very thing she yearned for most. How could she give up so easily?
...
Back at Shuiyun Residence.
Nan Zhi let out a long sigh of relief. Her legs were still trembling slightly.
"Miss, you must never gamble with your own body like this again!"
Heaven knew how nervous she had been when the miss had a heart attack. Her heart had almost jumped out of her throat!
With a "bang", the main door of Shuiyun Residence was kicked open.
Yu Huiyan's face was contorted with anger. "Song Wanchu, I knew it was your trick. You despicable wretch! Do you think that as a lowly concubine, you can defeat me with such means?"
The way she was fuming in rage resembled a defeated rooster, enraged but only capable of impotent squawking.
"Speaking of despicableness, who can rival you?" Song Wanchu scoffed. "Can you even count the dirty deeds you've done, Miss Yu?"
"Don't spout nonsense!" Yu Huiyan's face paled slightly.
Song Wanchu grabbed her wrist. "Come on, go with me to see Princess Jiahe. Since you claim to be upright and unafraid of shadows, I'll expose everything in front of Princess Jiahe!"
"You - let go of me!" Yu Huiyan forcefully shook off her hand and clearly panicked. "No matter what you say, aunt won't believe you."
Song Wanchu smiled calmly, which made Yu Huiyan's mouth go dry.
She hated the calm look on Song Wanchu's face, as if she was completely at her mercy.
"Slut, do you think you can keep gloating for long? The Eldest Princess wants you dead - "
"Slap!"
Song Wanchu raised her arm and slapped Yu Huiyan across the face.
Half of Yu Huiyan's face went numb, and her head was buzzing.
A great sense of humiliation welled up in her heart. She was the future mistress of the Duke's Mansion, yet she had been slapped by a lowly concubine!
"How dare you hit me?"
"Are you some precious, fragile item that can't be hit?"
Yu Huiyan covered her swollen cheek and glared at Song Wanchu in shame and anger.
A fierce killing aura emanated from Song Wanchu, completely different from the weak girl who used to shed silent tears.
Yu Huiyan was momentarily intimidated and didn't dare to move.
The door opened again. A tall, dark figure fell on Song Wanchu, overlapping with her shadow.
Liang Yuzhou stood at the door. His jet - black eyes, like black jade, were fixed on her face, emitting a cold glint.
"Cousin, Sister Wanchu had a heart attack. I kindly came to see her, but she hit me without asking why..."
Yu Huiyan's fierce expression instantly turned into one of grievance and pity. She went limp as if all the strength had been drained from her body. She sobbed and tried to throw herself into Liang Yuzhou's arms.
"What's wrong with you, Miss Yu? Let this servant help you!"
Yaoguang was quick - witted and stretched out her arm to block the tottering Yu Huiyan.
Liang Yuzhou walked straight towards Song Wanchu. Song Wanchu's raised arm hadn't had time to come down yet.
He must have seen her slap Yu Huiyan.
She had hit the woman he cared about most.
Liang Yuzhou held the hand that had hit someone and rubbed it slightly.
"Didn't you have a heart attack? I think you have quite a bit of strength when hitting someone."
Song Wanchu sneered. Sure enough, he was going to start blaming her.
Hearing the reproach in Liang Yuzhou's tone, Yu Huiyan felt secretly happy. She cried even more sorrowfully and added fuel to the fire. "I heard that cousin is going to marry me as his main wife. Wanchu is jealous and taking it out on me. Cousin, I won't argue with Sister Wanchu. As a main wife, the most important thing is to be magnanimous and tolerate concubines..."
"If you're not feeling well, go back and rest." Liang Yuzhou interrupted her. His tone was neither cold nor warm.
His expression was unfathomable, and it was impossible to tell if he was angry.
Yu Huiyan was stunned. Her heart started beating rapidly.
Cousin thought she was also not feeling well because of a heart attack. It seemed that he didn't suspect that it wasn't her who had offered her heart - blood.
Yu Huiyan trembled and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for your concern, cousin. I'll go back first."
She was afraid that she would reveal her true self if she stayed any longer.
As soon as Yu Huiyan left, Yaoguang pulled Nan Zhi and Su Yue out of the room and closed the door.
Liang Yuzhou's face gradually darkened.
Suddenly, Song Wanchu's feet left the ground. She was picked up by Liang Yuzhou and placed on the couch.
"Song Wanchu, who told you to play smart in front of the old lady? Don't you know that the old lady hates being used the most?"
His handsome face was tightly drawn.
Song Wanchu suddenly laughed. The news had spread to his ears so quickly. His first reaction wasn't to suspect Yu Huiyan but to blame and mock her.
"Does the Second Master mean that only Yu Huiyan is allowed to use tricks to harm me, ruin my reputation, and take my life, while I should just sit back and do nothing?"
Liang Yuzhou's face was cold. There was a shadow in his pitch - black eyes.
He pinched Song Wanchu's chin, and his fingertips rubbed against her red lips.
"This mouth of yours is more suitable for doing other things."
He grabbed the back of Song Wanchu's neck and lowered his head to kiss her lips. He lingered and teased until the woman in his arms trembled and let out soft whimpers.
The temperature of his breath gradually became scorching. He hugged her tightly, gasping slightly.
Song Wanchu's delicate earlobe was sucked into his mouth. A tingling numbness spread from the sensitive tip of her ear to her whole body.
"No, I'm not fit for this today..."
Liang Yuzhou's hand wandered to her chest and grasped it.
His fingers made Song Wanchu's breathing go haywire. The unfinished words turned into suppressed moans.
Liang Yuzhou laughed wickedly in her ear. "Where has the strength you had when hitting someone gone?"
Song Wanchu's eyelashes were wet. Her body was shaking uncontrollably, soft as a pool of spring water.
"I don't need you to protect yourself in such a dangerous way. Do you understand?"
Song Wanchu laughed self - deprecatingly and looked at Liang Yuzhou with wet eyes.
"If I don't protect myself, should I count on the Second Master to protect me?"
"Haven't I protected you?" Liang Yuzhou's lips were tightly drawn.
"As long as Yu Huiyan is around, I'll always be the Second Master's second choice, won't I?" Song Wanchu retorted.
Liang Yuzhou said in a deep voice, "You don't need to compare with her!"
"Is it unnecessary, or in the Second Master's eyes, I'm not qualified to compare with her?"
Song Wanchu's eyes were red. "She's your future main wife, and I'm a concubine. Her status will always be above mine. But I won't be constantly oppressed by her. I'll fight against her until I die!"
If she was doomed to be a concubine in this life, she would never degrade herself.
Even more, she would be the one to draw the sword first!
Liang Yuzhou closed his eyes and softened his voice. "I won't let that happen."
Song Wanchu was stunned. What did Liang Yuzhou mean?
There was a knock on the door. It was Yaoguang's voice from outside. "Second Master, Sister Qiao Ying is here. She said the old lady wants you to go there."
Dinner was laid out in Fuan Hall.
"Zhou'er, it's been a long time since you accompanied me for a meal. Sit down and have a good meal with me," the old lady said calmly.
"Call Wanchu here. We husband and wife will accompany you for dinner."
Hearing the words "husband and wife", the old lady raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"No need. I'm afraid Wanchu will be upset if she hears some things."
Liang Yuzhou helped the old lady sit down and then sat on her right - hand side.
He took the chopsticks handed over by Qiao Ying, pursed his lips, and asked, "What does the old lady want to say to grandson?"
"I gave Wanchu the letter of releasing the concubine. If Wanchu wants to leave, you shouldn't stop her!"
"Does the old lady want to see grandson die alone?"
"You deserve to die alone! Wait - " The old lady suddenly stopped. "What do you mean? You don't want to marry Yu Huiyan?"