For a moment of silence, Liang Yuzhou's arm returned to her waist.
He had broad shoulders, long arms, and a straight posture, like an eagle spreading its wings, enfolding her under its wings.
Song Wanchu couldn't resist this sense of security.
But she only allowed herself a moment of greed, then pushed him away.
She was sober - minded. No matter how tempting Liang Yuzhou's promises were, since she had made up her mind not to turn back, she couldn't always rely on the security he provided.
"Brother will protect me well."
If the Crown Prince came to Yunzhou this time and refused to let her go, the only way she could think of was to become someone else's wife.
The Crown Prince was different from Liang Yuzhou. He had his bottom - line and would not forcefully take another man's wife.
Just like back then when she was Liang Yuzhou's concubine, although the Crown Prince's feelings for her were obvious, he never overstepped the boundaries.
"Wanchu, do you really trust Shi Luohan that much? He didn't even say goodbye to you when he went on a long - distance trip. Does he really have you in his heart? Or did he do something to let you down and felt guilty so he didn't dare to face you?"
Shi Luohan had indeed been acting strangely recently. Song Wanchu was speechless.
"This is a matter between me and Brother."
Her tone was cold, implying that it had nothing to do with him.
"His business has nothing to do with me, but everything about you is closely related to me."
Liang Yuzhou didn't give an inch.
Song Wanchu was in a complete mess. She closed her eyes helplessly. Liang Yuzhou, Brother, and the Crown Prince were all jumbled in her mind.
Her sensitive nerves were like treading on the tip of a knife. It was neither right to move forward nor backward, and even standing still carried the risk of getting hurt.
Liang Yuzhou grabbed her wrist, tightened his grip, and said firmly, "Wanchu, come with me. I don't need you to forgive me so quickly. Just be yourself. Leave the rest to me."
His words were extremely gentle and considerate.
Song Wanchu struggled to break free. The tears in the corners of her eyes finally fell. "Liang Yuzhou, do you enjoy being relied on by me? But when I really needed you back then, where were you?
On our wedding day, you left me behind to chase Yu Huiyan. I became the biggest joke in the capital. Did you ever think that I needed you at that time?
I was punished by Princess Jiahe to stand in the snow until it reached my calves, until I bled continuously and lost our child. Where were you..."
She wanted to accuse him of so many things, but her throat welled up with sourness, her voice choked, and she couldn't say any more.
Liang Yuzhou's heart was continuously hit hard.
That child was a pain in her heart that could never heal.
No matter how many reasons or hardships he had, he couldn't shirk his responsibility.
Time had passed, and the past was gloomy. Song Wanchu didn't want to bring it up again because those painful memories were too deep.
Every time she mentioned them, it was like stabbing herself with a knife.
"I'm a fool, the biggest fool in the world!"
Liang Yuzhou hugged her tightly, trying to warm her trembling body with his own body temperature.
Song Wanchu couldn't control her tears. Beside her ear was the man's deep voice, "In the past, I always put the cart before the horse. I misunderstood that you liked Shi Luohan. I suspected that you married into the Duke's Mansion for wealth and honor. I thought you were playing with my feelings. You clearly promised to marry me, but your sweetheart was Shi Luohan.
But I was so greedy. I couldn't bear to let go, and I was too proud to compromise with myself. I hurt you and myself. How could there be such a stupid and arrogant thing like me in the world?
But Wanchu, no matter how much you hate me or resent me, you can't deprive me of the right to love you. I want to be needed by you. This is the only meaning of my life."
He hugged her so tightly, afraid that if he let go, the one he loved would turn into a mirage.
Song Wanchu's eyes were cold and silent as she shed tears.
"Liang Yuzhou, I don't have to rely on you."
After he had said so many heartfelt words, Song Wanchu's attitude seemed too heartless. When she made up her mind, her heart was also bleeding.
If she had to choose between Liang Yuzhou and Shi Luohan to completely dispel the Crown Prince's thoughts, she would rather choose Brother.
She couldn't let go of Liang Yuzhou, but she also couldn't summon the courage to start over with him.
"Then who do you want to rely on, Shi Luohan? Wanchu, ask yourself. A man who forces you to marry him just to dispel his sense of crisis. He himself doesn't have a sense of security. How can he give you security?"
Song Wanchu remained silent.
Brother lacked a sense of security. All along, it was she who had been trying to cater to him and give him a sense of security.
Shi Luohan, who was just about to push the door into the room, froze his arm in mid - air.
He returned to Yunzhou City today. Passing by the Moon - Picking Tower, he saw Wanchu's carriage.
So he went in, asked the boss, and went upstairs to find the private room where Wanchu was.
He heard all of Liang Yuzhou's series of questions.
He also heard Wanchu's silence.
Wanchu didn't trust and rely on him enough.
Previously, he had always refused to admit that he was worse than Liang Yuzhou.
He simply thought that he was just a bit shortsighted and slower in action than Liang Yuzhou.
Wanchu's silence made him deeply realize that he had never given Wanchu enough security.
He stood quietly outside the door. Inside the room, Liang Yuzhou might be making intimate moves towards Wanchu. He should be angry and rush in to beat Liang Yuzhou up.
But when he thought of that almost - intimate encounter with Yaoguang...
What right did he have to blame Wanchu?
The arm on the door finally slowly dropped.
Shi Luohan turned around and left.
Song Wanchu had no idea that Shi Luohan had been there.
But Liang Yuzhou felt the presence outside the door.
Those words, on the surface, were addressed to Wanchu, but in fact, through the door, he was questioning Shi Luohan.
He asked the right questions, and Shi Luohan felt guilty.
At an angle that Wanchu couldn't see, he secretly hooked the corner of his lips.
The person in his arms had calmed down from the excited emotions.
"Wanchu, the tea will get cold. Let's sit down and have a cup, okay?"
It had been a long, long time since he had faced Wanchu like this.
Once, Wanchu had offered her sincere heart to him, but he had trampled on it mercilessly. Now, even the desire to cherish the past was a luxury.
Song Wanchu looked at him with red eyes.
She opened the door and walked out, leaving him only a cold back.
In the evening, Song Wanchu heard that Shi Luohan had returned.
She went to Shi Luohan's courtyard to find him. The servant said he was still out socializing.
Song Wanchu came back empty - handed again.
She didn't sleep well that night.
There were swords and shadows in her dream.
The Crown Prince sat upright on a high seat, with a cold smile on his lips.
Song Wanchu was like a pet, locked in a gorgeous birdcage.
Below the stage, Liang Yuzhou and Shi Luohan were fighting to the death.
The clanging sound of metal colliding made her heart flutter.
The cold cage imprisoned her. She shook and shouted desperately, but the three men ignored her.
Suddenly, the scene was filled with blood. Liang Yuzhou and Shi Luohan fell into a pool of blood at the same time.
The Crown Prince stood up gracefully, without a trace of blood on him.
He stroked Song Wanchu's face through the cage and whispered.
"Wanchu, you belong to me now."