Song Wanchu remained silent, but her heart ached as if being pricked by fine needles, not too hard but constantly hurting.
Chu Yueying lowered her head and fussed with the sachet in her hand. Thinking of something, her face blushed brightly.
Suddenly, an old woman came in to report, "Madam, the eldest madam is here."
The smile on Ning's face vanished, replaced by cold anger in her eyes.
"Aunt, we've kept our information well - hidden. She knows nothing. Otherwise, she would have lost her composure long ago. Don't be in a hurry to fall out with her. Let's see what she wants first."
Song Wanchu patted Ning's hand on the back.
Before Qian even entered, her laughter rang out.
Having known her true nature, Song Wanchu found her smile extremely fake.
"Oh, Wanchu is here too."
"What do you want, sister - in - law?" Ning asked indifferently.
Qian sat down on the small couch familiarly, smiling, "A few days ago, your nephew fell while walking at night. His throat was bruised by a stone. He's taken several doses of medicine, but his throat still hurts badly. I thought you had some excellent Sichuan fritillary and loquat paste here. It's the best for reducing swelling, dispelling stasis, and relieving pain. So I'm here, braving embarrassment, to ask for some."
Song Wanchu found this strange and illogical.
No matter how one fell while walking, it was impossible to hurt the throat. This didn't make sense.
Unless someone deliberately strangled or choked him, the throat could be injured.
Had Chu Hao'an been beaten?
Suddenly, she remembered him giving her the girdle and secretly flirting with her.
Did her elder brother beat him to avenge her?
Ning told the maid to bring a jar of Sichuan fritillary and loquat paste for Qian.
Qian's eyes rolled around the room. Suddenly, she noticed that the red coral that had once been placed in the most prominent position on the table was gone.
She secretly observed Ning's complexion.
Ning looked rosy - cheeked and had eaten two pieces of taro cake in a short time.
Before, she had vomited badly and couldn't even eat a bit of sweet food. But in just a few days, her appetite had improved so much!
Qian pretended to ask casually, "Sister - in - law, why don't you display that red coral anymore? Do you not like it?"
Ning sneered inwardly but remained calm on the surface, "Of course I like what you gave me, sister - in - law. But a few days ago, Taoist Priest Qingzhou came and said that the bright red color clashed with me during my pregnancy. So I had to move the red coral out for the time being."
There was musk hidden in that coral, which could cause Ning to have a miscarriage. Once it was moved out, it would be useless!
Qian was anxious. Ning was already more than four months pregnant. The bigger the baby got, the more stable the pregnancy would be, and the harder it would be to cause a miscarriage!
"I just wanted you to give birth to a healthy son safely, sister - in - law. So I specially went to the Buddhist temple to ask the master to consecrate the red coral. I've been worried every day since the lucky object was removed from your room. I have a consecrated wooden carving of the Goddess of Mercy sending a son. How about I give it to you, sister - in - law, to bless you to give birth to your legitimate son smoothly?"
Her evil intentions were obvious.
If Taoist Priest Qingzhou hadn't seen through the trick hidden in the red coral, Ning would really have thought that Qian had her best interests at heart.
She was about to lose her patience. Her face darkened, "It seems that according to you, sister - in - law, I won't be able to give birth smoothly without your lucky objects."
Qian's eyes flickered. Song Wanchu gently raised her eyebrows in Ning's direction as a reminder.
She showed Qian a generous and dignified smile, "Aunt will surely appreciate your kindness, eldest madam. How about this? In a few days, there will be a religious ceremony in the old lady's yard. As juniors, we all have to attend. If you're really sincere in giving the gift, you can give it then. It'll save you an extra trip."
Qian rolled her eyes a few times and thought this was an excellent idea.
Giving something to Ning in front of the old lady would surely please the old lady. Not only would she gain face, but everyone would also think that she cared about Ning and that the sisters - in - law got along well.
It was a win - win situation.
She had looked down on Song Wanchu before, but now she found her much more agreeable.
This girl was obviously trying to curry favor with her!
Last night, her son came home as if he was possessed. He mumbled in his sleep that he would never dare to provoke cousin Wanchu again.
Song Wanchu was eager to marry her son!
Qian achieved her goal. When she left Chunhui Hall, there was a smile on her face.
Inside the room, Song Wanchu and Ning also exchanged a smile.
Suddenly, Chu Yueying asked, "Mother, when will Taoist Priest Qingzhou come?"
The young girl had tried her best to restrain herself, but her tone was full of unstoppable anticipation and joy.
Song Wanchu's heart sank.
Did that scoundrel Liang Yuzhou know that he had inadvertently captured a young girl's heart?
She wanted to tell her cousin never to have any feelings for that lying man. Once she got involved, it would be fatal!
Looking at Chu Yueying's shy appearance, she felt as if there was a fishbone stuck in her throat.
How could she say it?
...
In a blink of an eye, it was the day of the religious ceremony held by Old Lady Chu for the deceased maid.
All the juniors of the Chu family came to Old Lady Chu's yard to attend the ceremony.
Shi Luohan could tell that Song Wanchu didn't really want to go.
Today she was wearing a moon - white dress, a light color. Her face was bare of makeup, and there was only a jade hairpin in her hair.
She dressed plainly, trying to make herself inconspicuous.
But no matter how hard she tried to reduce her presence, her beauty was impossible to ignore.
Shi Luohan didn't want Song Wanchu to be in a difficult situation. Thinking that she didn't want to see Liang Yuzhou, he felt a little secretly happy.
"Wanchu, if you feel reluctant, you don't have to go."
"I have to go. There will be a good show today."
There would be a lot of people today. She didn't even need to deliberately avoid Liang Yuzhou.
On the way there, she constantly reminded herself to ignore that man.
Just treat it as watching a monkey show.
In Cihuiyuan, the Taoist altar for the ceremony had been set up.
Liang Yuzhou, in a sky - blue Taoist robe, stood in the center of the altar, looking solemn.
His face was too young, and his good looks were too striking, but they were neutralized by his cold temperament. Standing there, he really looked like an otherworldly Taoist, untouched by the mortal world.
Who could have imagined that a year ago, Liang Yuzhou was still the heir of the Duke's Mansion, living in luxury?
The Chu family's men and women, old and young, stood in order according to their seniority. Only Chu Hao'an claimed to be ill and didn't come.
Old Lady Chu regarded Song Wanchu as an honored guest, so she held her hand and let her sit on her right.
A pair of bright black eyes swept across her face, seemingly without any emotion.
Song Wanchu lowered her eyes, and her eyelashes fluttered slightly.
Throughout the whole ceremony, her eyes never once fell on Liang Yuzhou's face.
Liang Yuzhou also seemed to put all his energy into the ceremony.
After it was over, Liang Yuzhou stepped down from the altar.
Old Lady Chu personally presented the reward.
She was very satisfied with Liang Yuzhou, "Although Taoist Priest Qingzhou is young, he has a powerful aura. Not to mention a few little ghosts, even a million - strong enemy army could be subdued by the priest."
This young man had an unruly and iron - willed temperament. He was like a Taoist priest and more like a general.
Not to mention his unparalleled nobility.
Before he became a monk, his identity was extraordinary.
"Thank you for your over - praise, old lady."
Liang Yuzhou's gaze fell on Song Wanchu's face, "I once exorcised evil spirits for Miss Song. I wonder if Miss Song has slept well these days?"
His eyes seemed to be warm, falling on Song Wanchu's face and gradually heating up.
It was as if his fingertips were gently brushing across her face inch by inch.
Song Wanchu's heart fluttered. She was determined not to look at Liang Yuzhou.
"Thank you, Taoist Priest Qingzhou. Since there are no evil spirits in my heart, I naturally sleep well."
Liang Yuzhou's eyes dimmed slightly.
Had he become an evil spirit in Wanchu's heart?