Suddenly, she felt that the man in front of her was so strange.
Three years ago, she married him full of joy, only to find that there was only Yu Huiyan in his eyes. Her passionate and sincere love was trampled on like mud by him. Her heart was broken, and she sealed away that intense love.
But Liang Yuzhou suddenly said that he had always loved her, and his liking for Yu Huiyan was just an illusion created for others.
He had been planning for her for three years, just to elevate her to a position where no one could easily hurt her.
It was as if she had been in a nightmare for three whole years. When she woke up, she found that everything was peaceful. The expectation of harmonious marital life with Liang Yuzhou when she got married could come true immediately.
Then why, in these three years, had Liang Yuzhou been cold - spoken and sarcastic to her?
A lie repeated a thousand times would not become the truth, but Liang Yuzhou's cold - violence towards her had lasted for three years. No matter how firmly she believed in him, her faith would waver, and she would feel that she was really the one who was not loved.
Which one was the real Liang Yuzhou?
Her slightly cool little hand was held by Liang Yuzhou. In those cold and clear eyes as black as jade, there actually emerged a bit of grievance.
"Does the lady still not believe me?" Liang Yuzhou's eyes darkened slightly.
Was it because she didn't love him that nothing he did could move her?
Was she still thinking about the question Shi Luohan had forced her to answer?
Song Wanchu hesitated, not knowing how to answer. At this time, there was a knock on the tent door.
It was Wen Congbai, accompanied by an imperial physician.
"Second Lady Liang," Wen Congbai greeted politely with a nod. "His Majesty is concerned about Second Master Liang's injury and has specially sent an imperial physician to treat him."
His eyes fell on their clasped hands, and he smiled with pursed lips. Song Wanchu blushed and withdrew her hand.
"Please come in quickly." She welcomed them in. To show her sincere gratitude, she personally brewed tea for them.
After walking out of the tent, she saw Zhou Sheng, Zhou Yan, and Yaoguang standing guard outside.
"Lady, Princess Lingyang hasn't left yet. It's dangerous outside. Second Master has given the order that you should not leave the tent for the time being. Just leave everything to us."
All three of them had swords hanging from their waists, looking serious and vigilant.
Just thinking of that fierce hunting dog, Song Wanchu still had lingering fears.
If the news that Liang Yuzhou wanted to make her the legitimate wife had leaked out earlier, then the one who would have been tied up and fed to the dog by Princess Lingyang would not have been Yu Huiyan.
It was precisely because Princess Lingyang was convinced that Liang Yuzhou loved Yu Huiyan and would ask for an imperial edict for marriage after winning the martial exam that she had gone crazy and wanted to kill Yu Huiyan.
A chill ran down Song Wanchu's spine.
Yu Huiyan was right. She was the target Liang Yuzhou had created over the past three years to deflect disasters for himself.
Yaoguang took the teapot from Song Wanchu's hand. "Lady, let this servant go and get some hot water. You go inside and rest."
So many things had happened all at once, overturning her perception. When she walked, she felt as if she was floating, as if her body and mind were separated.
She didn't know what attitude she should take to face all this.
She couldn't help but mock herself inwardly. In the past, she had loved Liang Yuzhou so humbly, praying for him to take a second look at her. Now that his love was surging like a tide, wrapping her up, she felt at a loss and was almost drowning.
There was a wooden partition in the tent, dividing the space into two halves. Song Wanchu walked towards the inner room. Just as she was about to lift the curtain, she suddenly heard Wen Congbai's voice.
"How about it? Now that your lady knows you've been planning for her for three years, does she look at you differently and show her love for you?"
There was clearly a teasing tone in his voice.
Liang Yuzhou was silent for a moment, then said hoarsely, "She doesn't love me. No matter how much I do, I can't move her."
Song Wanchu's heart was stabbed hard, and her body froze.
Why did Liang Yuzhou think so?
Wasn't her love for him obvious enough?
"Brother, I'm not kidding you. You're suffering because you're not good at expressing yourself," Wen Congbai advised him in the tone of an experienced person. "Have you told her that the two times you played the hero to save the beauty were not coincidences?"
Song Wanchu knew that at the palace banquet three years ago, Liang Yuzhou had drunk the poisoned wine without hesitation even though he knew it was poisonous.
But was it also not a coincidence that they had encountered a gray bear in the valley six years ago?
At that time, she didn't know that she had stepped into a dangerous valley. Did Liang Yuzhou follow her silently and protect her safety?
Why, at that time, the two of them hardly knew each other and had never even had a single private conversation...
Liang Yuzhou was not a meddlesome person, but he had noticed that she had stepped into danger.
Had he loved her earlier and longer than she had imagined?
"Do you think that if I show off those two things in front of Wanchu, she'll love me? That's not love. At most, it's gratitude," Liang Yuzhou's words drifted into Song Wanchu's ears, revealing a faint sense of desolation and loneliness. "There's only her elder brother in her heart."
"Liang Er, Liang Er, you've won the title of the top scorer in the martial exam and snatched the position of the heir. Why don't you understand that women also need to be fought for? In the face of love, your pride is worthless!"
Wen Congbai was a bit angry. He seemed determined to wake Liang Yuzhou up today, and his tone became more and more blunt.
"Yes, Shi Luohan and Song Wanchu are childhood sweethearts. He got a head - start over you and has cared about Song Wanchu longer. It's normal for her to have deep feelings for her elder brother.
In the past three years, you've treated Song Wanchu coldly. Isn't it because you're angry that she promised to marry you but then told the old lady that she already had someone in her heart? You're angry that Song Wanchu was so attentive to you and slept in the same bed with you, but still called Shi Luohan's name in her dreams.
You're not only torturing Song Wanchu, but also yourself!
A real man should try his best to be good to her and make her know your goodness. You've had three years to manage this relationship and make Song Wanchu fall in love with you, but what have you been doing in these three years?"
Wen Congbai laughed, as if mocking Liang Yuzhou's clumsiness. "You've planned to make her the legitimate wife behind everyone's back. Your plan is flawless, and you're so scheming that no one can match you, but you've forgotten to warm the person in front of you.
Your acting was so realistic that everyone believed you were deeply in love with Yu Huiyan, including your lady. Isn't that kind of deliberate coldness shown in front of others a real hurt to Song Wanchu?
If I were her, I wouldn't only not easily believe you, but also not forgive you immediately just because of your three - year long hidden plan!"
It was completely silent both inside and outside the tent.
"I know she won't forgive me immediately. When Shi Luohan asked her if she really wanted to be the heir's wife, she didn't answer. She's hesitating."
The glory of being the mistress of the Duke's Mansion and a first - rank imperial - bestowed lady couldn't tempt her.
She had always been a pure - hearted woman, longing for pure love.
When Shi Luohan asked that question, Song Wanchu's hesitation was like countless needles, piercing into Liang Yuzhou's heart one by one.
It was not until that moment that Liang Yuzhou realized he had lost three years of opportunities.
He had been busy feeling self - pity, angry that Song Wanchu had promised to marry him but then told the old lady that she had someone in her heart, angry that Song Wanchu had been so attentive to him and shared the same bed with him, but still called Shi Luohan's name in her dreams.
He deserved it. It was all his own fault that Wanchu refused to forgive him.