Granny Chu entered the room at some unknown time, accompanied by Chu Yueying and Chu Yuexi.
Granny Chu was smiling amiably, showing no sign of surprise. The two young ladies, who were yet to be married, had never seen such an intimate scene between a man and a woman. Their faces blushed bright red, and they didn't know where to look.
Song Wanchu felt a shiver run down her spine.
Liang Yuzhou was sitting, while she was kneeling halfway, a bit taller than him at the moment.
Her arms were wrapped around his neck, making it seem as if she was the one taking the initiative, like a fox spirit bewitching all sentient beings, luring the cold and aloof immortal into the mortal world.
Liang Yuzhou calmly removed his hand from Song Wanchu's waist, stood up, straightened his robe, and then helped Song Wanchu up.
He showed no sign of embarrassment.
He bowed to Granny Chu as a junior and said, "I haven't thanked Granny for secretly helping Wanchu."
This was supposed to be said by Song Wanchu herself.
Coming from his mouth, it brought their relationship even closer.
Song Wanchu thought to herself that Liang Yuzhou was really a sly one.
Granny Chu gave Liang Yuzhou a satisfactory response, "Wanchu is just like my own granddaughter. If you say such things, you're being too polite."
The implication was clearly that she regarded Liang Yuzhou as part of the family too.
A smile curved Liang Yuzhou's lips.
Granny Chu originally came to see Wanchu. Wanchu had been wrongly accused and caught up in a storm. Although she had managed to turn the situation around, she must have been feeling anxious and insecure.
But seeing the deep affection between the two and Wanchu's calm expression, she knew that this storm hadn't caused too much psychological trauma to Wanchu.
Liang Yuzhou's timely comfort had played a significant role.
"Ying'er, Xier, let's go."
Granny Chu led her two granddaughters out. Song Wanchu and Liang Yuzhou saw them off at the courtyard gate.
"Grandma, Sister Wanchu is really amazing," Chu Yuexi said sincerely with admiration. "That maid just opened her mouth and called her the Crown Princess, and even slandered her. If it were me, I'd definitely be so angry that I'd quarrel with her."
"Sister Wanchu once taught me that when someone slanders you, you shouldn't argue according to the other person's logic. The more you argue, the more confused the situation will be, and you'll fall into the other person's trap. In the end, you won't be able to justify yourself even if you're in the right," Chu Yueying taught her seriously. "Sister Wanchu is amazing because she didn't argue or deny. Instead, she found a new way and caught the other person off guard. The other person was the one who set the trap first, but in the end, they fell into the pit dug by Sister Wanchu."
"Sister Ying'er, you must have learned a lot from Sister Wanchu, right?"
Chu Yuexi was extremely envious. She regretted not getting closer to Sister Wanchu earlier.
Her mother had secretly warned her not to get too close to Sister Wanchu, saying that Sister Wanchu was a flirt and that she was afraid she would learn bad things from her.
She must go back and tell her mother and third aunt that Sister Wanchu was not such a person.
One couldn't just impose unfounded accusations on her just because she was beautiful.
Chu Yueying proudly puffed out her chest. "Of course. Sister Wanchu used to be the mistress of the Duke's Mansion. The Duke's Mansion is one of the most prominent families in the capital. There are three or five hundred people in the mansion, and they all follow Sister Wanchu's arrangements."
Granny Chu nodded with satisfaction.
"It's really precious that you can learn the experience of managing the inner courtyard from Wanchu. You'll all get married in the future and need to learn to be a mistress. Wanchu is a very good example.
Men's struggles are full of bloodshed and danger, while women's struggles may not involve blood, but they can be extremely hurtful.
Granny Yue underestimated Wanchu. She thought that with just a few rumors, she could destroy Wanchu's reputation, smear the Crown Prince, and arouse public indignation.
But she miscalculated. She thought her plan was flawless, but she never expected that Wanchu could turn the tables with ease and expose the ugly face of the Yue family in public.
Granny Yue was outsmarted by her own cleverness. She wanted to kill and hurt people's hearts, but Wanchu turned her conspiracy into a sharp sword stabbing at the Yue family."
Chu Yueying and Chu Yuexi listened attentively to Granny Chu's teachings.
There were still some things that Granny Chu didn't tell her two granddaughters.
Granny Yue probably didn't have much time left.
The Chu family stayed at the Songhe Temple for one night. After having breakfast the next day, they left a tip and returned to the Chu Mansion.
On the Crown Prince's side, he had already heard detailed reports from Baizhi and Luocen.
As soon as he heard that the Chu family had returned, he immediately put down the official business in his hand. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Summon Wanchu to the government office to see me."
Baizhi and Luocen took the order and went to the Chu Mansion.
Xia Anzi handed the Crown Prince a cup of hot tea. "Your Highness really goes to great lengths for Miss Song."
Last time, the Crown Prince felt sorry for Miss Song because she had been wronged. He couldn't help but summon her in the middle of the night, intending to comfort her.
But Miss Song actually refused.
The Crown Prince wasn't angry at all. Instead, he understood Wanchu's feelings.
There were many elders in the Chu family. Meeting Miss Song alone would indeed make things difficult for her.
So, this time, the Crown Prince chose to summon Miss Song to the government office.
Even if others found out, the Crown Prince had a legitimate reason.
Such a big thing had happened at the Songhe Temple. Summoning Miss Song for questioning was quite reasonable, wasn't it?
The Crown Prince sat upright on the small couch, took the tea from Xia Anzi's hand, and watched the tea leaves floating up and down in the cup.
"I hope Wanchu can understand too and stop avoiding me."
An hour later, Song Wanchu arrived at the government office.
Shi Minglang personally welcomed her in.
The Crown Prince met her in the small courtyard where he took temporary rest.
The moment their eyes met, Song Wanchu seemed to feel the heat in the Crown Prince's eyes. She quickly lowered her eyelids.
There was a dark cloud on his face, but thinking of how Wanchu had turned the situation around, there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes.
The woman he had taken a fancy to couldn't be just a beautiful vase, could she?
"That maid behind you looks unfamiliar," the Crown Prince said.
Baizhi replied, "Your Highness, this maid is called Xiangyun. She was the one who was instructed by Granny Yue to slander Miss Song when distributing porridge."
Xiangyun quickly knelt down.
The Crown Prince's imposing manner and sharp eyes made her tremble with fear.
Song Wanchu calmly curtsied to the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, Granny Yue instructed Xiangyun and others to slander this commoner girl, intending to ruin your reputation and portray you as a fatuous king who was misled by beauty. Her vicious intentions are obvious."
The Crown Prince faced north and looked into the distance in the direction of the capital. A sneer appeared on his cold face. "Auntie really has good tricks! It's a pity that Granny Yue underestimated her opponent!"
This was a compliment to Song Wanchu for skillfully resolving the crisis.
"Your Highness, please spare my life. This maid was threatened by Granny and had no choice but to follow. If Your Highness can spare my life, this maid is willing to serve Miss Song for the rest of my life and do my best!"
The Crown Prince gave a cold glance at the thin figure lying on the ground. "You're quite good at talking."
She was quite good at observing the situation. She noticed that the Crown Prince had deep feelings for Wanchu and knew what to say to please him.
"Just based on Granny Yue spreading rumors to slander me, it may be difficult to sentence her to death. The Princess Dowager will surely find plenty of reasons to excuse her."
Song Wanchu understood that the Crown Prince wanted Granny Yue dead, but he also wanted to use the most just and open way to sentence her to death.
Accusing Granny Yue of slandering his reputation might seem a bit like personal revenge and petty-mindedness.
It would damage his image of fairness and integrity.
Shi Minglang beside him remembered what Liang Yuzhou had said.
He leaned over to the Crown Prince's ear and whispered, "The identity of the Princess Dowager's wet nurse is almost like Granny Yue's amulet. But she's old, and the Yue family has suffered successive heavy blows. It's quite normal for her to suddenly fall seriously ill and pass away."
He was reminding the Crown Prince that he couldn't keep looking for a legitimate way.
The Crown Prince frowned tightly and hesitated.
Xiangyun didn't know what was on the Crown Prince's mind, but Song Wanchu's words made her understand something.
After serious consideration, she said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, Granny Yue is extremely guilty. She once set a trap, trying to force Miss Song to be Yue Chengkong's second wife, using Miss Song's wealth to support the Princess Dowager's restoration to power!"
The Crown Prince was furious. "Is this true?"