In Liang Yuzhou's dim eyes, something seemed to shatter.
He looked at Song Wanchu's red and swollen eyes from crying. His lips twitched a few times, and it was as if something was stuck in his throat. All he could utter were hoarse and feeble hisses.
"What did you say?!"
He was always calm and sophisticated. Even when he was struck by the Crown Prince's sword, his face had never shown a hint of tremor.
But now, because of Song Wanchu's words, he was so shocked that he gasped for breath.
Song Wanchu's eyes were originally charming and clear. After being washed by tears, they were exceptionally bright.
A determined smile emerged on her face. She emphasized and repeated word by word, "Liang Yuzhou, I'll never love you again!"
Liang Yuzhou's tall and straight figure swayed a few times.
In his deep black eyes, it seemed as if sparks were burning and bursting.
He had always thought that Wanchu's love was a luxury he yearned for but could hardly obtain. It turned out that he had already got it.
And what had he done in these three years?
He misunderstood that she liked Shi Luohan and hated that she had easily promised a lifetime but then told the old lady that she already had someone in her heart.
He was at odds with himself and also with Wanchu. He entangled with her at night but gave her a cold shoulder during the day. He pierced her heart again and again with the most contemptuous words and tone.
Wanchu loved him. He should have been overjoyed and crazy with happiness.
But he was on the verge of collapse because he couldn't bear the impact of the misunderstanding being cleared up.
If he had been a bit more sensitive and considerate, he should have discovered earlier that the girl in the pink riding outfit had him in her heart and eyes.
If she didn't love him, how could she have easily promised a lifetime?
If she didn't love him, how could she have braved the blizzard just to bring him a fever - reducing medicine?
If she didn't love him, how could she have risked her life to lead the grizzly bear away to help him win the first prize in the spring hunt?
If she didn't love him, how could she have unhesitatingly offered her heart - blood for him?
He had schemed for three years, performed in front of everyone for three years, and fought and scrambled for three years. He had calculated everything accurately, except for Wanchu's feelings for him.
All the color drained from Liang Yuzhou's face. His heart felt as if it was being pierced again and again.
If he had noticed Wanchu's love for him earlier, he shouldn't have burdened himself with the heavy truth and deceived Wanchu for three years.
He should have told her everything without reservation, told her that the culprit was Yu Jingnian who had replaced the grain and forage with sand, told her that the princess was so greedy that she had embezzled the silver from selling the grain and forage and had ignored the soldiers and civilians at the border...
She was as smart as a whip. She would have understood that the whole thing was a perfect and elaborate scheme within a scheme. Although the old marquis had made mistakes, he shouldn't have been one - sided and self - willed. But he had been deceived and made a wrong judgment in a fit of anger.
The bloody battle at Pingsha Pass could have been avoided, but there were countless other bloody battles that couldn't be avoided.
Which of the soldiers on the battlefield didn't write a will every now and then?
Song Hengyi had sacrificed, but his sacrifice was not in vain.
He wasn't trying to excuse his father, but Wanchu was so reasonable and understanding. She would have understood all this...
At least, it wouldn't have come to this, with her saying such decisive words to him.
Creating an irreparable situation.
"Wanchu, I..."
What should he say?
Slap himself twice and kneel in front of her, crying and repenting?
Wanchu wouldn't care.
"Liang Yuzhou, you can go. We're even."
Song Wanchu was enveloped by a deep sense of powerlessness. Her head ached as if it was splitting, and even her breath was painful.
"No, I won't go."
Liang Yuzhou suddenly grabbed her arms and pulled her into his embrace. His arms tightly wrapped around her waist. "You can beat me, scold me, or even stab me a few times. But you can't leave me. You promised that you would never leave me in this lifetime!"
Song Wanchu pushed him away with all her might. Her eyes were cold, and her tone was even colder. "Liang Yuzhou, I don't owe you anything! Three years ago when you were poisoned, I used my heart - blood. You never believed me, and I'm too lazy to explain. You can go and ask Princess Jiahe what she saw in the old lady's room that day!"
There was only deep regret and remorse in Liang Yuzhou's eyes, but no trace of surprise.
His reaction made Song Wanchu stunned for a moment, and then her anger flared up.
"You knew. You've known it for a long time, haven't you?"
Her vehement words were like sharp daggers, cutting Liang Yuzhou's flesh bit by bit. His eyes flickered a few times, and he twitched his lips self - deprecatingly.
Look, what a lot of stupid things he had done.
Song Wanchu suddenly remembered that one night, Liang Yuzhou had suddenly returned, kissed her, entangled with her, and constantly stroked the scar on her chest, saying that he was a fool.
So he had known it at that time.
But he had said nothing.
By saying nothing, he could deceive himself. He could always use the favor of blocking the poisoned wine for her to hold her hostage for a lifetime.
"Liang Yuzhou, haha, Liang Yuzhou... How could I have been so blind as to fall in love with a man who wouldn't even tell me the truth and still use a favor I've already repaid to blackmail me?
Apart from being overbearing, unreasonable, and domineering, what else do you have?
Even when you promoted me to the main wife and granted me the title, which you thought was a deep - seated affection, you didn't even ask for my consent. Instead, you gave me a surprise and forced me to accept it with an imperial edict.
You don't know what love is. You only know how to possess!"
"No, I know. I just haven't learned yet. I'll atone for your father's death, but Wanchu, you have to give me a chance - "
If Wanchu left, what was the meaning of all he had fought for in these three years?
He had never been so scared and insecure as he was now.
Liang Yuzhou almost broke Song Wanchu's wrist bones.
"How can I bear Lord Liang's love? If I'm loved by you a few more times, I'm afraid I'll be condemned to the eighteenth level of hell with the charge of flattering the son of my father's enemy!"
There was a sarcastic smile on her bright face. She was looking at him, but there was no trace of him in her eyes.
Liang Yuzhou's face turned even paler, almost transparent.
His lips became red from being pressed too hard, making his whole face look extremely coquettish, not like a human but like a demon.
"Let go."
Song Wanchu struggled to break free from him and began to take off her wedding dress piece by piece.
The wedding dress was very complicated. Her hands were constantly shaking, and she had a hard time taking it off.
Liang Yuzhou hugged her waist from behind, as if trying in vain to catch a kite with a broken string.
"Despicable villain, shameless scoundrel! Let go of my sister!"
The enraged Shi Luohan kicked the door open and rushed in.
He was so forceful that the door panel fell off the door frame and crashed to the ground with a "bang".
Like a fierce beast pouncing on its natural enemy, Shi Luohan grabbed Liang Yuzhou's shoulders and threw him several feet away.
Liang Yuzhou's breath was unsteady, but fortunately, his lower - body skills were excellent. With such a strong impact, he only staggered a few times.
His eyes were abnormally red, and he was ready to fight Shi Luohan to the death.
"Liang Yuzhou, I told you to go. Didn't you hear me?"
With a crisp sound, Song Wanchu took down the Ziyun Sword hanging on the wall and stabbed it into Liang Yuzhou's chest.
There was only burning hatred in her eyes.
A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out from Liang Yuzhou's mouth and splashed on Song Wanchu's bright red wedding dress.