Song Wanchu was momentarily speechless.
The mansion on Luoxia Street was bought by her elder brother, and now he was deeply in love with Yaoguang.
If she moved in, she would not only be redundant but also make the two of them feel uncomfortable.
She had been thoughtless.
She instructed the coachman, "Turn the carriage around. We won't go in. Find an inn outside and we'll stay there for a few days."
"You're going to stay in an inn?" This time it was Liang Yuzhou's turn to frown. "You're a young lady. Staying in an inn is not only unsafe but also very inconvenient. If some busybody sees you and spreads the word, they might think the Chu family has kicked you out!"
Song Wanchu's head throbbed. She glared at him defiantly. "I'll buy a mansion tomorrow!"
Money was the last thing she lacked. Buying a mansion wouldn't cost much.
Liang Yuzhou tightened his grip on her waist even more forcefully. There was a hint of grievance in his eyes. "Wanchu, you'd rather stay in an inn or buy a mansion than live in the mansion I've arranged for you?"
He wasn't a monster. He was just a loving husband who had deeply realized his past mistakes and wanted to make up for them.
"Liang Yuzhou, I really don't need you to be good to me. I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Liang Yuzhou suddenly leaned over and blocked her lips.
The warm touch rubbed against her lips. It was as if a thousand words had melted into this silent passionate kiss.
"You—"
Song Wanchu was annoyed. Nanzhi, Suyue, and the coachman were all there. Didn't he know shame!
She pounded on his chest forcefully. After a few blows, she realized that the place she was hitting was where she had left a scar on his chest with her sword.
In that moment of hesitation, Liang Yuzhou caught her fingertips.
"Your hands are all red. Does it hurt? Next time when you hit me, use a stick or a stone, but don't use your own hands."
His lips touched her slightly red fingertips and he kissed them gently. A smile played on his lips. "I feel heartache."
When had the proud and aloof young duke ever said such sweet words? The two girls, Nanzhi and Suyue, blushed at his words.
Coupled with his Taoist robe and the passionate look in his eyes when he looked at Song Wanchu, it added a sense of forbidden mystery.
"Liang Yuzhou, anyway, I won't live with you—"
Her lips were blocked again. The kiss was lingering and more passionate than the last one.
Song Wanchu was enraged and bit down hard.
The sweet and fishy taste mixed with the bitter medicinal fragrance spread in their mouths.
Liang Yuzhou's lips were bitten, but he didn't seem to care at all.
"Wanchu, you can keep rejecting me, and I can keep kissing you."
He showed a determined and persistent attitude.
"You're forcing me to accept your kindness, aren't you?"
Song Wanchu was helpless. She had no way to deal with Liang Yuzhou's persistence.
"That mansion was prepared just for you. If you don't want to see me, I won't show up."
Liang Yuzhou softened his tone. His husky voice tickled her ears, like a gentle temptation.
Song Wanchu was in a dilemma.
Just as her expression showed a momentary wavering, her feet suddenly left the ground.
Liang Yuzhou picked her up and got on the carriage. He happily said to the coachman, "Go to Yungui Alley. The fifth house on the east side."
Yungui Alley was only three streets away from Luoxia Street.
But it was quieter than Luoxia Street.
The small courtyard was not big but very elegant.
When Song Wanchu pushed open the door, she was stunned.
In the room, the mandarin duck brocade curtain hanging on the couch was made of her favorite fabric. Embroidered on it was the orchid in the secluded valley, one of the four gentlemen among the flowers that she admired the most.
The table was made of red sandalwood, the wardrobe was made of pear wood, the small couch was covered with a soft cushion embroidered with gold thread, and there was a cloud-shaped incense burner on the small table. There was also a writing desk, and even the rice paper she liked to use when practicing calligraphy had the exact same texture.
Painted on the screen was the setting sun and the returning goddess.
It was her favorite painting.
She couldn't even remember when she had mentioned to Liang Yuzhou that she liked this painting...
How did he know everything?
While Song Wanchu was still in a daze, Liang Yuzhou had already directed two nimble maids to carry in her luggage.
The two maids were about seventeen or eighteen years old. They were stronger than Nanzhi and Suyue and also very good-looking.
"I'm Yinglan."
"I'm Xiahe."
"We're at your service, miss."
Song Wanchu gave each of them two taels of silver and told them to go and rest first.
Liang Yuzhou stood at the door and didn't step in at all.
Song Wanchu and he looked at each other across a table.
"Stop pretending. You were kissing and hugging just now, but now you're pretending to be so proper." Suyue muttered silently in her heart.
"Wanchu, Yinglan and Xiahe both know some martial arts. If you need anything, just tell them."
Liang Yuzhou's dark eyes were calm and deep. "I'll leave now."
At night, Song Wanchu heard crackling sounds, as if small stones were constantly hitting the window.
Nanzhi was sleeping on the small couch, guarding her.
"Miss, it's freezing rain outside."
The winter in Yunzhou was not very cold and it was hard to snow.
But after a freezing rain, the temperature would drop a lot.
Nanzhi got up and added a few more pieces of charcoal to the charcoal stove.
Song Wanchu felt heavy in her heart. She was thinking about all sorts of things. Just as she was about to turn over and try to fall asleep, there was a knock on the door.
A lamp was quickly lit outside. After a while, Yinglan came to knock on the door. "Miss, it's Taoist Priest Qingzhou."
Song Wanchu instantly lost all her sleepiness.
What on earth was Liang Yuzhou up to?
Seeing her get up, Nanzhi quickly put a fox fur cloak on her.
At the courtyard gate, Liang Yuzhou was standing there. His clothes were wet and there were ice crystals on his long eyelashes.
His lips were pale and he coughed a few times when he opened his mouth.
Song Wanchu's heart trembled with his coughs. Her hands tightened involuntarily.
"The city gate is closed. I can't go back to Songhe Temple, so I had to come back."
He was explaining why he had returned. It sounded reasonable.
Song Wanchu looked at him suspiciously.
With his abilities, no matter how bad the situation was, he wouldn't end up on the street, looking pitiful and asking for her help.
This man was doing it on purpose!
He was deliberately acting poor and weak.
How could he have become so good at acting in just one year?
What was even more annoying was that Song Wanchu had been deceived by him.
She pursed her lips and turned around without saying a word.
Liang Yuzhou followed her into the courtyard and then into the inner hall. Then he turned around and walked into the opposite room very consciously.
He said the mansion was prepared just for her. So what was the opposite room for?
Song Wanchu didn't want him to disturb her mind. Just as she was about to lie down, Yinglan came again. She asked carefully, "Taoist Priest Qingzhou is all wet. Do you want me to prepare a basin of hot water for him to wash?"
Nanzhi was annoyed. "Aren't you under his command? If he wants something, why does he come to ask our miss?"
Yinglan wasn't angry. She answered honestly, "Taoist Priest Qingzhou told us to listen to the miss, so we have to get the miss's permission first."
Song Wanchu closed her eyes and then opened them.
"Prepare hot water for him."
Yinglan left with a smile.
"Daoist, you heard that. The miss cares about you."
Liang Yuzhou's lips curled up slightly.
Wanchu was always soft-hearted.
...
The crown prince entered the city overnight in the freezing rain.
Early the next morning, everyone in the Chu family was dressed neatly and waiting in the cold.
It was the crown prince's advance official who came.
"The crown prince will go to the government office first to summon officials at all levels for a meeting. He will only come here in the evening. You don't have to wait in vain. Go and rest first."
The advance official added, "It's very cold today. Madam Chu is old and doesn't have to wait outside. Pregnant women and children don't have to wait early either."
The crown prince didn't mention feasting and enjoying himself after entering the city. Instead, he went to the government office to discuss matters first, showing his diligence and love for the people.
Although he was of noble status, he didn't act arrogantly. He didn't use his power to oppress others and respected the old and cared for the young.
The kind and amiable image of the crown prince was deeply engraved in the hearts of everyone in the Chu family.
The crown prince summoned officials at all levels in Yunzhou. After the meeting, he left only the prefect Shi Minglang for a private conversation.
Yue Chenkong was still injured. He endured his pain and came to pay his respects to the crown prince, but the crown prince ignored him throughout the whole process.
Shi Minglang was a fourth-rank official, and he was also a fourth-rank official. In terms of strength, he should be much more noble than Shi Minglang.
But when the crown prince discussed important matters, he was ignored.
Yue Chenkong felt uneasy. He went home and complained to Old Madam Yue.
Old Madam Yue had a sharp sense. She felt that this was not a good sign.