The distance between the two men was not long, but time seemed to stretch on infinitely.
Song Wanchu walked with a graceful and unhurried gait. Behind her, the man's gaze never left her.
She fought the urge to turn back and finally reached the Crown Prince.
She had just started to bend her knees when the Crown Prince supported her arms.
"Don't bother."
Her hand fell into the Crown Prince's palm. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and her thick, long eyelashes drooped, hiding the look in her eyes.
"Grandma Chu has been missing you while she's ill. Since you're a guest and also a junior of the Chu family, you should go and attend to her at her bedside."
The Crown Prince's voice was gentle. He looked down at her somewhat pale face, and when his gaze landed on the hickey on her neck, his eyes darkened a bit.
"Your Highness has taken the trouble to come and pick me up in person. Wanchu is extremely grateful."
Her tone was still respectful yet aloof.
The Crown Prince's expression remained calm. He reached out and tucked a wisp of loose hair behind her ear.
He felt two sharp gazes hitting him, as if they were about to pierce through his body.
He sneered disdainfully and led Wanchu out, holding her hand.
Liang Yuzhou calmly watched their departing figures. Then he turned around, walked back to the table, and gulped down a cup of wine.
The spicy liquor flowed down his throat into his stomach. It felt as if his internal organs were on fire, but his mind became even clearer.
Lu Sihong, I'll let you be complacent for a while.
The Crown Prince didn't arrange another carriage for Song Wanchu.
After all the twists and turns, she still had to share the carriage with the Crown Prince.
In the face of power, she was so weak and helpless.
The Crown Prince's carriage, with the royal family's exclusive mark, was very private.
For the first part of the journey, the Crown Prince and she both kept silent.
She had escaped from his territory and was almost taken out of Yunzhou City by Liang Yuzhou, but the Crown Prince remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
However, his gaze constantly roamed and lingered on her face, full of aggressiveness, as if he was trying to catch every subtle expression on her face.
Song Wanchu always held her breath.
"Wanchu, I was too impatient before and scared you."
When they were almost at the Chu family's, the Crown Prince took her hand again. Feeling the abnormally cold temperature of her hand, he frowned slightly and placed her hand on his chest.
Song Wanchu's expression was stiff. She pursed her lips and said nothing. Her hand shrank back a bit, but the Crown Prince tightened his grip.
He gently stroked her face, tracing the outline of her lips with his fingertips. His tone and eyes were very gentle.
"I won't force you anymore in the future, but I will never allow another man to take you away right under my nose."
He gently rubbed the hickey on her neck with his fingertips. He found it an eyesore and wanted to get rid of it.
The Crown Prince was in a state of obsessive passion. No matter what Song Wanchu said, she couldn't wake him up.
Just as Taoist Priest Qiu said, a perfect opportunity was needed to break his illusion.
She couldn't be his queen, and it was even more impossible for her to enter the deep palace and enjoy favor for a lifetime.
...
At the Cihui Courtyard of the Chu family.
Chu Shangxu, Lady Ning, and Chu Yueying were all there. There were also a few younger granddaughters of Grandma Chu, all accompanying her at the bedside.
Grandma Chu's face was ashen and pale.
She was lying limply against the soft pillow, her eyes half - closed.
"Grandma."
Song Wanchu tiptoed forward and held Grandma Chu's hand.
Grandma Chu forced herself to cheer up and opened her eyes. When she saw Song Wanchu, there was a glimmer of light in her eyes.
Although she knew that the old lady was feigning illness, her haggard appearance made Song Wanchu feel sad. Her eyes swelled with tears, and the corners of her eyes turned red.
"Wanchu, you're finally here."
Grandma Chu smiled with relief. She looked at the younger generations. "You've all been tired. Go back and rest. I want to have a chat with Wanchu."
Chu Shangxu led the younger generations away.
Only an old maid and a senior maid who were Grandma Chu's confidants were left in the room. Then Grandma Chu straightened her back, and her face regained some color.
"It's really hard to feign illness. I think if I keep doing it, I'll really get sick."
Song Wanchu also smiled helplessly.
"The Crown Prince is collecting evidence of the crimes of the Yue family. Grandma Yue is still in a coma. Yue Chenkong was seriously injured and became disabled. His two sons are good - for - nothing, and the Crown Prince has secretly executed the important generals in the army who were his confidants. The sky in Yunzhou will soon clear up."
She told Grandma Chu about the situation outside.
As long as the Yue family was convicted, the Chu family would be able to return to normal.
Grandma Chu held her hand, her eyes full of worry. "Did the Crown Prince pick you up?"
Song Wanchu nodded.
"This morning, I heard from Chu Shangxu that you were rescued from Qiongzhi Alley by Taoist Priest Qiu and were with Taoist Priest Qingzhou. You're temporarily staying at the Songhe Taoist Temple.
As soon as the Crown Prince returned to the city, I asked him to let me see you.
Only when you're by my side, an old woman, will the Crown Prince take into account his dignity and the rules and won't be able to forcefully take you away. But this is only a temporary measure.
The Crown Prince will eventually leave Yunzhou. If he asks the Chu family for you, the Chu family has no reason to refuse.
Wanchu, you have to find a way to escape before the Crown Prince leaves Yunzhou."
Song Wanchu felt a heavy weight on her heart, as if she had stepped into a fog and didn't know where the way was.
The Crown Prince had laid a tight net in Yunzhou. It was extremely difficult to break through the heavy defenses.
Even Liang Yuzhou was at a loss for the moment.
Song Wanchu didn't want to add to Grandma Chu's worries, so she comforted her. "There will be a way."
After leaving Grandma Chu's Cihui Courtyard, she went to visit her aunt, Lady Ning.
In less than three months, Lady Ning would give birth. Seeing that she and the baby in her womb were both fine, Song Wanchu felt a little relieved.
Nanzhi and Suyue came to pick her up and take her back to the Meiying Studio.
Along the way, the two girls held her arms tightly like bodyguards.
As soon as they got back to the Meiying Studio, the two girls hugged her and cried.
"Why is our girl so unlucky? Can't these stinky men just stay away from our girl?"
Suyue cried and cursed. The Crown Prince had quietly taken away their girl, and now she even hated the Crown Prince.
Nanzhi quickly covered her mouth. "Keep your voice down. Can you curse at that person?"
Song Wanchu comforted the two girls.
"Go and boil some hot water. I want to take a bath."
She was on her period and already felt uncomfortable. She had crawled through a sack and ridden a horse, and her body was sticky. She was a clean - freak and couldn't stand being dirty.
"Miss, the hot water is already ready. Please change your clothes and take a bath."
Baizhi and Luocen pushed the door open and came in. They bowed to her with smiles on their faces.
Nanzhi and Suyue looked at each other.
"Aren't these two aunts the female officials beside the Crown Prince?" Suyue whispered.
These two women were in their late twenties, much more steady and mature than Nanzhi and Suyue.
"The Crown Prince ordered us to serve the miss."
It was both to serve and to monitor.
Everyone in the room knew it well, but no one could say it out loud.
Song Wanchu suppressed her impatience. "Thank you, aunts."
After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, it was already completely dark. The small kitchen brought in a table of dishes, but Song Wanchu had no appetite at all. She forced herself to eat a few mouthfuls.
The young maid Huasui came in. "Miss, two sisters came to the side gate. They said they served you in Yungui Alley."
Weren't they Yinglan and Xiahe?
Liang Yuzhou was really quick to react.
Song Wanchu rubbed her forehead with her fingertips.
"Let them in."
Nanzhi and Suyue exchanged a knowing look.
The Meiying Studio was going to be lively now.