And she had actually married the son of her father's murderer twice.
Her heart constricted violently. All the strength seemed to be drained from her body. She slumped to the ground on her knees, her hands clutching tightly at her chest.
It felt as if her chest had been sliced open by a sharp blade, and her internal organs were churning, torn to pieces.
In her mind, the words Liang Yuzhou had said to her, those tender and affectionate promises, echoed over and over again.
— I've only liked you from beginning to end.
— Life would be meaningless without you.
— I won't lie to you again.
Wanchu, Wanchu, my lady...
Tears welled up like a broken dam, rolling down violently.
She had been blind and foolish, played in the palm of Liang Yuzhou's lies. She was a complete fool!
How could he have hidden the cause of her father's death? That was her father!
Her heart was pounding violently, accompanied by dull pain. Song Wanchu was breathing rapidly, her face deathly pale. The autumn wind was so cold on her body, yet she was drenched in cold sweat.
"Miss!"
Nanzhi and Suyue quickly helped Song Wanchu up, but her legs were so weak that she didn't even have the strength to take a single step.
Shi Luohan pursed his lips tightly and picked Song Wanchu up in his arms.
In the carriage, Nanzhi took out a tranquility pill and gave it to Song Wanchu.
The medicine took effect quickly. Song Wanchu's gasping eased, and the sharp pain in her chest also lessened. But her body was still shivering with cold. She stared straight ahead, her eyes empty.
She seemed to have lost her soul.
Outside the carriage, Shi Luohan's face was as cold as ice.
Han Cheng looked guilty. "Did my words stimulate Niece Wanchu?"
Shi Luohan handed him a bag of silver. "Thank you, Uncle Han, for telling the truth. It has helped my sister and me see the true face of the Duke's Mansion clearly."
He sneered sarcastically. "What a brave and skilled general. He's just a fraud and a murderer!"
Han Cheng pushed his hand away. "I told the truth just to clear my conscience. I don't care about these worldly possessions like money."
He turned to leave, his back hunched and his steps faltering.
Shi Luohan insisted on stuffing the silver into his hand. "Uncle Han, even without you saying, I know that you dare not return to the capital because you're the only survivor of that bloody battle. You're afraid of revenge from the old Duke."
Han Cheng lowered his head and fell silent.
He gave a helpless bitter smile. "The Duke's Mansion has been a noble family for a hundred years, controlling one-third of the military power in the country. Even if this matter is reported to the Emperor, Liang Xuguang will only lose a little face. But I'm just a nobody. It would be easier for Liang Xuguang to kill me than to crush an ant."
"Take this silver. Go thirty li east along the official road. There's an Inn of Peace and Safety. Tell the innkeeper my name, and he'll take you in."
Han Cheng looked flattered. "Thank you, Young Master Shi, for your generosity. If there's anything you need me to do, just let me know."
Shi Luohan nodded.
Of course, he would need him.
He wanted to meet the Crown Prince and report this matter directly to the Emperor through the Crown Prince.
He wanted to expose the scandals the Duke's Mansion had been covering up.
He wanted the entire Duke's Mansion to kneel in front of his father's tomb to atone for their sins!
...
Song Wanchu didn't know how she got home.
She was in a daze. Shi Luohan carried her off the carriage and all the way back to her boudoir.
"Madam, you're back. Second Master ordered me to bring your wedding dress and headdress."
Yaoguang greeted her cheerfully, but then she saw Song Wanchu in Shi Luohan's arms.
She glared at Shi Luohan discontentedly, her eyes full of hostility. "Young Master Shi, although Madam is your sister, as her elder brother, it's not appropriate for you to be so intimate with her, is it?"
She knew that Second Master's worries were justified.
Shi Luohan was just a wild beast eyeing Madam covetously, seizing every opportunity to get close to her.
"Wanchu had a heart attack and can't walk. As her elder brother, it's my responsibility to take care of her."
At first glance, Song Wanchu was nestled in Shi Luohan's arms, her eyes red and her whole body listless.
Yaoguang thought it was strange but didn't think much of it.
It was inevitable to cry when paying respects to one's father.
Yaoguang blocked Shi Luohan and wouldn't let him enter the boudoir. "Young Master Shi, you can stop here. I'm strong enough to carry Madam."
Shi Luohan stared at her coldly. "This is my home. It's not up to you, a little maid, to dictate."
Yaoguang stood her ground. "Young Master Shi is not suitable to enter Madam's boudoir!"
Shi Luohan's eyes were terrifyingly cold. "I'd like to see how you're going to stop me."
Yaoguang's eyes suddenly turned fierce.
Seeing that the two were on the verge of a fight, Nanzhi and Suyue quickly stepped forward with smiles on their faces and dragged Yaoguang out of the yard, one on each side.
"Sister Yaoguang, our tea is fragrant and our cakes are sweet. You've never tasted them before since it's your first time here. Come on, today we'll treat you!"
"But Madam..."
Yaoguang couldn't do anything to Nanzhi and Suyue. She was pushed and pulled away by the two.
Inside the room, there were three brocade trays on the table. In order, there was a phoenix crown, a veil embroidered with the words "a harmonious union for a hundred years" in gold thread, and the wedding dress she had embroidered herself.
The red light was dazzling, filling the room with a festive atmosphere.
Shi Luohan placed Song Wanchu on the couch and then turned around and overturned the brocade tray containing the wedding dress.
Overwhelmed by great anger, he raised his sword and was about to smash the luxurious phoenix crown.
"Brother—" A weak voice stopped him.
Shi Luohan turned around and looked at Song Wanchu with a stiff expression.
He stepped forward, grabbed Song Wanchu's shoulders, and shook her gently.
"Wanchu, don't you see clearly yet? Do you still want to marry Liang Yuzhou?"
Song Wanchu pursed her lips and said nothing, tears streaming down her face sadly. There was an indescribable heaviness in her heart.
"He already knew. He was guilty and afraid that I would find out the truth, so he erased all the clues. If it weren't for Han Cheng's sudden appearance, we would have only been able to suspect forever and would never have gotten a just answer!"
She knew, she knew everything.
Realizing that his emotions were too intense and that the fragile Wanchu couldn't bear it, Shi Luohan's eyes softened a lot, and his tone became gentler. "Wanchu, Liang Yuzhou keeps saying that he loves you, but his love for you is built on deception and lies. How can such love be true love? He made you his principal wife and applied for the title of imperial lady for you. He just wanted to tie you up with layers of shackles so that you could only be played by him for the rest of your life!"
Song Wanchu looked at him blankly, tears streaming down her face. Shi Luohan patiently wiped her tears, waiting for her answer.
As her consciousness slowly returned to reality, the tearing pain in her heart was still clear.
She murmured with difficulty, "Tomorrow, I'll put on the wedding dress."
...
The wedding procession from the Duke's Mansion arrived at the Qi Family at noon.
Liang Yuzhou was dressed in a red robe, looking handsome and elegant. He rushed to Song Wanchu's yard in a hurry.
The bride was supposed to be carried by the groom onto the bridal sedan chair.
Liang Yuzhou was so excited that he ignored the fact that the entire Qi Family didn't seem very happy.
The door of the boudoir opened, and his beloved wife was sitting on the couch.
He stepped forward and held Song Wanchu's hand.
It felt cold, and he couldn't help but frown. Then he joked with a smile, "It's not your first time. Why are you still so nervous?"
That little hand slipped out of his palm.
It was like a... silent rejection.
"Wanchu, what's wrong with you?"
Song Wanchu slowly stood up. The veil fell, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.
Liang Yuzhou stared at her blankly, but he couldn't find a trace of joy on her face.
In his heart, something seemed to be silently shattering.
"Liang Yuzhou, how did my father really die?"
The man in front of him caught his breath, and his eyes dimmed bit by bit.
"You know everything, don't you?"