Chu Yueying's mind couldn't accept such astonishing news for a moment. She stood there at a loss.
One was a stunning beauty at first sight, the other was a noble and elegant young master. Standing there, they looked like a pair of celestial lovers.
After the overwhelming shock ebbed a little, Chu Yueying looked at Liang Yuzhou in disbelief. "You're the young master of the Duke's Mansion... Why did you become a Taoist priest?"
The highest - ranking official she knew was the fourth - rank prefect and governor. She couldn't imagine that the son of the Duke of Jin, the head of the four great dukes and the most prominent family in the capital, would abandon his wealth and a promising future, don a Taoist robe, and live a life of abstinence and simplicity.
Liang Yuzhou didn't answer her question. His eyes were always on Song Wanchu, with complex emotions surging in them.
Chu Yueying recalled his words just now.
"I left the mortal world for someone, and I'll only re - enter it for her in this life."
What else didn't she understand?
To win back Sister Wanchu, this young master was even willing to give up everything!
Liang Yuzhou's gaze was burning, while Song Wanchu's mood was in a complete mess.
She walked to Chu Yueying's side. "Ying'er, Sister has a favor to ask of you. The identity of Taoist Priest Qingzhou is only known to you, me, and Brother."
Chu Yueying nodded seriously. "Sister, I know what's important."
She knew what to say and what not to say.
If her parents knew that Taoist Priest Qingzhou, whom they respected and revered, was actually Sister's former husband, they would be so embarrassed!
She had heard that there was an irresolvable feud between Sister's family and this young master's family.
Otherwise, Sister wouldn't have left on the day of her grand wedding to be elevated to the main wife, even giving up the title of a first - rank imperial - conferred lady.
Song Wanchu smiled with relief. This girl, Yueying, was simple - minded, but at least she was sensible.
She wasn't blinded by the budding love.
"Sister, can I go to your room and sit for a while?"
Seeing Song Wanchu about to leave, Chu Yueying quickly caught up and grabbed her hand.
"Sure. I'll ask Nanzhi to make rock - sugar lotus seeds for you."
Wanchu led Chu Yueying's hand and walked into the yard.
Chu Yueying looked back and took a peek at Liang Yuzhou.
He still stood in the shadow of the plum trees, his shoulders covered with snow, looking so desolate as if he was about to turn into a celestial being.
Why did she feel a bit sorry for him?
"Sister, Taoist Priest Qingzhou he..."
Song Wanchu's expression was cold. "Don't bother with him."
She had made it clear enough. Her marriage with Brother was a done deal. She was about to marry someone else and had nothing to do with him anymore.
Those loves, those hates, and those memories would just fade away like the wind in the plum grove and the falling petals turning into mud.
Entering the room, Chu Yueying gave Song Wanchu a big hug.
"Sister, I'm sorry. How could I be so stupid?"
Chu Yueying looked full of guilt, with her head down, feeling uneasy.
Sister Wanchu had warned her not to fall in love with Taoist Priest Qingzhou, but she had even resented Sister for not understanding her.
She had thought that Sister looked down on Taoist priests and had an opinion about Taoist Priest Qingzhou.
She had really judged Sister with a petty heart!
If she had known that Taoist Priest Qingzhou was Liang Yuzhou, even if he was a god descending to the mortal world, she wouldn't have dared to fall in love with him!
"It's okay. It's good that you know now." Song Wanchu felt a bit relieved.
"Sister, he came all the way to Yunzhou to chase you. Aren't you even a little bit touched?"
Chu Yueying couldn't help asking curiously.
"No." Song Wanchu answered without hesitation. "It's all in the past between him and me. The time I spent with him was just a few short years, which is nothing compared to my long future.
He deceived me for three years in the name of love and did all the things that made me sad and desperate. I don't want any involvement with him anymore."
Chu Yueying blinked her eyes, as if she understood Sister Wanchu's words.
But why could she still see the deep - seated sadness in Sister Wanchu's eyes?
Although she had only been married to Taoist Priest Qingzhou for three years, the husband - wife relationship was not an ordinary one. Having shared the same bed for three years, could she really forget it just like that?
Song Wanchu changed the topic and talked to her about something else.
After eating some rock - sugar lotus seeds, Chu Yueying went back to take a nap.
There was still one thing on her mind, which was to find an opportunity to get back the sachet she had given away.
...
The Yunzhou government office.
Shi Minglang was writing a memorial when a yamen runner reported that Liang Yuzhou had come. He put down his pen and invited Liang Yuzhou into the study.
"Yo yo yo, why does Taoist Priest Qingzhou look so down? Did you get turned away by your wife?"
He joked with a mischievous smile.
Liang Yuzhou gave him a sharp look.
How could the steady and serious Shi Jinglu raise such an unreliable nephew?
Shi Minglang put away his cynical smile.
"I'm not joking. Shi Luohan came to the government office yesterday to ask about the progress of the case. He seemed happier than before. Did your wife promise him something? If you don't take action, he'll succeed!"
Liang Yuzhou smiled coldly. "It seems that Lord Shi has some good ideas."
Shi Minglang really seriously put forward some suggestions. "For example, you can pretend to be seriously ill, on the verge of death. When your wife comes to your bedside, you deeply repent and cry bitterly. Once she softens her heart, she'll forgive you.
Or, you might as well just snatch her away first. Don't let that guy named Shi hang around her all day. Then you can slowly cultivate your relationship. As time goes by, she'll surely remember your good points."
Liang Yuzhou casually blew the foam off the tea and suddenly looked up, with a sneering expression.
"Lord Shi is two years older than me, but no girl dares to marry you. At least I've had a wife. You haven't even touched a girl's hand. The last - ranked person is giving advice to the second - last. You dare to talk, but I don't dare to listen."
"You!!!"
Shi Minglang was so angry that he was speechless.
He had really experienced how venomous Second Young Master Liang's mouth could be!
No wonder his wife had run away. Who could stand it!
"No girl dares to marry me. Is it because of my image? Or my character? When those noble ladies in the capital hear that I'm surnamed Shi, they're so scared that they quickly ask who the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is to me. Once they know it's my uncle, they're all terrified!"
Shi Jinglu was known as the "Living Yama". As long as he caught a criminal, no matter whether it was a high - ranking noble or a royal relative, he was merciless.
He had offended all the powerful and wealthy people in the capital, which even affected Shi Minglang. Even those who dared to propose a match for him were rare.
His old mother at home was so anxious that her hair had turned white.
"You've performed Taoist rituals for many families in Yunzhou. You must know which family has an unmarried girl. Could you introduce some to me?"
Shi Minglang pleaded nicely.
Liang Yuzhou slowly took a sip of tea. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "There really is one."
"Tell me quickly!" Shi Minglang got excited.
"The Chu family, a royal merchant family. Chu Shangxu has a daughter named Chu Yueying. She's still unmarried."
Moreover, she had recently fallen in love.
"The Chu family?" Shi Minglang stroked his chin. "Come to think of it, our family is related to the Chu family. Before I came to Yunzhou to take up my post, my mother specifically told me to visit the Chu family as a junior. I've been too busy competing with Yue Chenkong these days and haven't had the time."
He remembered the unmarried Miss Chu.
"You didn't come to my government office today just to introduce a match for me, did you?" Shi Minglang finally got to the point.
"I'm going to the prison. I want to see Gao Daqiang."
Gao Daqiang, the leader of the eight bandits, was the only one who had escaped from his hands six years ago.