Grandma Chu carefully observed the subtle changes in her expression. "Is that what you really think?"
There was a hint of meaning in her tone.
Song Wanchu really wanted to hear Grandma Chu's opinion on her betrothal to her elder brother.
She was older, more experienced, and had a clear perspective. She was also extremely wise.
Although she was related to Wanchu, she was different from Grandma Liang of the Duke's Mansion.
Grandma Liang was Liang Yuzhou's grandmother. It was true that she loved and protected Wanchu, but all her decisions were ultimately aimed at seeking happiness for Liang Yuzhou.
That's why Grandma Liang and Liang Yuzhou concealed the truth about her father's sacrifice. When Liang Yuzhou wanted to make Wanchu his official wife, she immediately asked for an imperial edict to confer a title on her.
She couldn't break free from the circle of family affection, but Grandma Chu could.
She was a complete outsider.
Moreover, she liked and pitied Wanchu very much.
What Grandma Chu said must be calm, objective, and heartfelt advice.
The old lady smiled kindly. Like caressing her own granddaughter, she stroked Wanchu's hairpin and then her cheek.
"Wanchu, at first, I thought that once you left Liang Yuzhou, you would naturally develop feelings for Shiloh Han. But on the first day you came to Yunzhou, when I asked you when you and Shiloh Han would get married, your expression was tense and embarrassed, not shy and delighted. From that moment on, I vaguely guessed that you didn't have romantic feelings for your elder brother."
Song Wanchu's long eyelashes fluttered slightly. Having her thoughts seen through, she felt embarrassed as if she had nowhere to hide in front of the old lady.
Grandma Chu continued, "According to your thoughts, you don't care about your own happiness. You just want to fulfill Shiloh Han. But have you ever thought that life is long? You and your elder brother will be together day and night for a lifetime.
You can hide your unhappiness for one day and make excuses for ten days. But what about a year? Ten years? Can you pretend to be happy for a lifetime?"
Song Wanchu's heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, making her chest feel stuffy.
Grandma Chu could tell from her expression that her persuasion had hit the mark.
"Shiloh Han is also a sensitive person. If you two live together, he will soon notice that you are forcing a smile. What will he think? Will he resent himself for not being able to give you happiness? Will he resent you for not being able to fall in love with him?
As this resentment accumulates over time, can you two still maintain the appearance of a peaceful life?
If you force yourself to fulfill him for the time being, you are actually laying a hidden danger for your future life. Resentment will eventually explode. By then, you two will become a bitter couple."
Grandma Chu explained the truth to her in detail.
Chu Yueying nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Sister Wanchu. I also think that you can't marry a man you don't love. It's a lifetime thing. How can you sacrifice your own happiness just to please someone?"
She had been pampered since childhood and was given the right to choose her own husband by her parents. Her words sounded a bit naive but also made a lot of sense.
It was a pity that many women were assigned marriages by their families. They were like fulfilling a task, marrying a man, taking care of their husbands and children, and being busy in the inner courtyard.
As they got older, they had to face their husbands' infidelity, deal with concubines, and fight with them.
Their whole lives were just wasted like this.
And what about herself? She had already made a wrong choice once. Could her life afford a second mistake?
...
Tonight was the day when the doctor had instructed to change Yaoguang's dressing.
Yaoguang had Zhou Yan accompanying her. Shiloh Han didn't really need to come here specially.
Wanchu seemed to be a little frightened when she came back from the Yue family. He was eager to know if Grandma Yue had made things difficult for her or put forward excessive demands.
But Wanchu had been called away by Grandma Chu and hadn't come back even after nightfall.
For some reason, he thought of Yaoguang, of her shocking wounds.
And that mysterious and enchanting bleeding rose.
When he realized that Yaoguang had been popping into his mind from time to time in the past two days, his feet had already taken him to the front door of the mansion.
The gatekeeper opened the door for him and welcomed him in with a smile.
But in her heart, she was thinking that men were all fickle. It had only been a few days, and he had already been bewitched by that vixen inside.
The old woman felt a bit sorry for Miss Song.
At the door of the room, Zhou Yan walked out dejectedly. As soon as he saw Shiloh Han, he glared at him angrily.
He grabbed Shiloh Han's collar and roared, "What did you do to Yaoguang?"
Shiloh Han looked at Zhou Yan in confusion.
Yaoguang's voice came from inside the room. "I just asked him to help me bandage and change the dressing!"
Zhou Yan had offered to help Yaoguang change the dressing earlier and promised that he wouldn't do anything improper.
But Yaoguang had firmly and mercilessly refused.
She insisted on waiting for Shiloh Han.
Zhou Yan felt rejected. "Why? He can do it, but I can't?"
He had been taking care of Yaoguang these days, bringing her tea and water and even carrying her to the toilet.
He had treated her like his own younger sister, but his younger sister didn't trust his character. Instead, she trusted Shiloh Han.
A nearly strange man!
There was a hint of helplessness in Yaoguang's tone. "I've already been seen naked by one man. I don't want to be seen by another. It's as simple as that!"
Zhou Yan was indignant. "Do you have a rule in your Gaochang Kingdom that you can only be seen by one man in your lifetime? Or do you have to marry the man who has seen you?"
"What are you talking nonsense about?"
Shiloh Han suddenly felt a strange sense of guilt for no reason.
He had helped Yaoguang apply the medicine and bandage her because Yaoguang had her own reasons. Although his actions had gone beyond the boundaries between men and women, it was excusable.
Wanchu shouldn't blame him for being unseemly.
But he hadn't mentioned it to Wanchu yet.
He didn't even know why he was feeling guilty.
Zhou Yan usually looked silly, but at this moment, he seemed to have suddenly had an epiphany and accurately caught the fleeting look of guilt on Shiloh Han's face.
He curled his lips and sneered. "I thought you were a man of principle."
Shiloh Han couldn't stand this sarcasm and retorted, "The situation was urgent. Do you want me to stand by and watch her die?"
"If it were the master, he would."
Zhou Yan retorted rudely. "If you have pure love for a woman, you won't break your principles for anyone under any circumstances. It seems that your love for your wife isn't that firm."
Shiloh Han pushed him away. "Nonsense!"
With a "bang", he almost slammed the door in Zhou Yan's face.
The room fell silent.
A look of guilt flashed across Yaoguang's eyes. She murmured, "I didn't mean to make your wife misunderstand you, nor did I mean to deliberately destroy your relationship with your wife..."
She just simply wanted to protect her own secret and didn't want to involve more people.
The candlelight illuminated her graceful silhouette. She lowered her eyes, losing her usual pride and stubbornness, looking like a docile little rabbit.
Shiloh Han's heart suddenly started to beat faster.
Even worse, Yaoguang had her back to him and once again showed her smooth back.
"Can you help me one more time?"