Did Liang Yuzhou really come here so boldly?
Wasn't he afraid of being recognized?
Grandma Yue was the wet - nurse of the princess. Yue Chengkong had only been promoted to the governor of Yunzhou four years ago. Before that, Grandma Yue should have been in the capital all the time.
Liang Yuzhou was such a well - known figure. How could she not recognize him?
He had spat blood and been unconscious just a few days ago...
Song Wanchu suddenly came back to her senses and found that her nails had dug deeply into her palm.
She had promised herself not to care, so why was she still worried about him?
Liang Yuzhou never did anything without a plan. He must have had a well - thought - out strategy before daring to come to the Yue Mansion openly.
After a moment of panic, she gradually calmed down.
Grandma Yue was very surprised. "I invited the Taoist Priest Qingzhou several times in the past few days. Priest Qiu said that the Taoist Priest was ill. I thought I'd have to wait for a while. Why did he suddenly come today?"
Having to entertain two groups of guests at once, Grandma Yue was at a loss.
Grandma Chu couldn't wait to leave. Since she entered the mansion, nothing Grandma Yue said had pleased her.
She even wanted Wanchu, a twenty - year - old girl, to be the second wife of Yue Chengkong, a forty - year - old man. What a daydream!
She stood up, and Song Wanchu and Chu Yueying followed suit.
"Since the Taoist Priest Qingzhou has come, we'll go back first. We won't delay you from entertaining him."
Grandma Chu's tone was polite, but her eyes turned cold. "The ritual depends on the right time and place. If the time is missed, it won't work."
Grandma Yue didn't want to let Song Wanchu go easily.
The Chu family had never been willing to get close to the Yue family. They had only come this time after receiving several invitations.
Grandma Chu probably had already guessed her intention. If she couldn't make it a done deal today, there would be little chance in the future!
"It won't cause any delay." Grandma Yue tried her best to persuade them to stay and then ordered the maid, "Go to the outer study and invite the master to entertain the Taoist Priest Qingzhou.
We'll just sit here. The colorful glutinous rice balls are already in the pot. It's not too late to leave after having a few."
She warmly took Grandma Chu's hand.
Although Grandma Chu was dissatisfied, as a woman from a scholarly family with high moral standards, she couldn't afford to have a face - off with the Yue family on the spot.
If the Chu family wanted to live in Yunzhou in peace, it was best not to offend the Yue family.
She might as well just pretend to be deaf and dumb to Grandma Yue's hints.
The colorful glutinous rice balls were served. Yue Jiaojiao picked up a bowl and gobbled them down.
Song Wanchu observed carefully. The maid served the glutinous rice balls, and Yue Jiaojiao just randomly took a bowl.
The possibility of poisoning was slim.
The Yue family was, after all, the most prominent family in Yunzhou, and Grandma Yue had high prestige. She wouldn't use such a dirty means as poisoning to achieve her goal.
Song Wanchu guessed that inviting Grandma Chu this time was probably just to test the Chu family's attitude towards this marriage.
If Grandma Chu agreed and then helped persuade her later, Grandma Yue would surely be delighted.
If Grandma Chu disagreed, Grandma Yue would surely come up with another plan.
As she was thinking, her mind wandered again. Yue Chengkong must recognize Liang Yuzhou. What kind of scene would it be when they met?
Would a fourth - rank governor really dare to let the former young lord perform a ritual for him?
Grandma Chu ate two glutinous rice balls symbolically and then put down the spoon.
Song Wanchu and Chu Yueying followed suit.
Grandma Yue still smiled amiably. "The weather has been warm these days. The fish at the bottom of the lake have all come up. There are some really beautiful koi. Would you like to come with me and take a look?"
Grandma Chu didn't really want to go.
But Grandma Yue had already ordered the maid to get the fish food.
On the fish - watching pavilion, Song Wanchu casually scattered the fish food into the lake.
Grandma Yue finally deigned to look at her directly, but still with an air of superiority. Her look was as if she were sizing up a commodity she quite liked.
"I've heard that Miss Song used to be a concubine in the Duke's Mansion and was highly appreciated by the old lady of the Duke's Mansion. They said that you managed the mansion with both kindness and strictness. You ran the huge Duke's Mansion in an orderly manner, and the servants were all convinced."
She didn't shy away from talking about Song Wanchu's past.
Grandma Chu frowned deeply.
Wasn't it disrespectful for a respected family elder to expose a younger guest's scars like this?
Song Wanchu smiled calmly. "You flatter me, Grandma. I was just doing my duty and doing my best."
"What our Yue family lacks is a mistress like you. It doesn't matter whether you've been married before. The most important thing is that you're virtuous and capable, to help my son raise his children and manage the inner courtyard."
The implication was that the Yue family didn't mind her second marriage, and she shouldn't mind marrying into the Yue family as a second wife.
"Grandma, it's her. I want her to be my stepmother."
Yue Jiaojiao, who had been stuffing food into her mouth all this time, suddenly spoke up.
She grinned at Song Wanchu, and her already small eyes squinted into two slits.
It was as if she thought she was granting Song Wanchu great honor by accepting her as a stepmother.
Chu Yueying stared at her in shock. "How is that possible? Sister Wanchu is only a few years older than you, isn't she?"
They were of the same age, but Yue Jiaojiao wanted Sister Wanchu to be her stepmother?
Yue Jiaojiao threw away the cake in her hand and stomped it viciously. She stared at Chu Yueying menacingly.
"Why not? Do you want Song Wanchu to be your stepmother?"
"You're talking nonsense. Sister Wanchu is my mother's niece!"
Chu Yueying was so angry that her face turned red. She had never met such a domineering and malicious peer and still tried to reason with her about ethics.
Grandma Yue just scolded them half - heartedly and then smiled at Song Wanchu. "This child is just outspoken."
It meant that her granddaughter was speaking her mind.
She approved of Song Wanchu, and Song Wanchu should feel extremely honored.
Chu Yueying was so angry that her chest heaved. She grabbed Song Wanchu's hand and was about to leave.
"Sister, we don't need to be guests here. Let's go home!"
Yue Jiaojiao was twice as wide as Chu Yueying. She pushed Chu Yueying away and threatened fiercely, "I've said that I want her to be my stepmother. She'll stay in our family from now on. You have no right to take her away!"
Grandma Chu finally couldn't bear it any longer, and her face darkened completely.
"Grandma Yue, our Chu family can't climb up to yours. Farewell!"
The conflict was on the verge of intensification.
This was what Song Wanchu didn't want to see.
She thought that as long as she didn't respond, Grandma Yue wouldn't really dare to keep her by force.
Song Wanchu didn't want the Chu family and the Yue family to fall out because of her!
A sharp glint flashed in Grandma Yue's eyes. "Grandma Chu, surely you're not going to argue with a child?"
Grandma Chu came from a scholarly family. Her children and grandchildren were all well - educated. She had never seen such a naughty, malicious, and outspoken girl.
She didn't curse only because of her high moral standards!
Since she had already lost her temper, she didn't want to pretend anymore. She grabbed Song Wanchu and Chu Yueying and was about to leave.
A fierce look flashed in Yue Jiaojiao's eyes. She suddenly pushed Chu Yueying.
"Splash!"
Chu Yueying let out a scream and fell backward into the lake.