Liang Yuzhou had been extremely clingy to her these days.
"Overthrowing the eldest princess won't happen overnight. How could you bear to leave me by the crown prince's side, making me face my love rival day in and day out while you stay in the south of the Yangtze River? You're making me miss you day and night. Do you not love me anymore?"
The once cold and noble young duke now resembled a pet about to be abandoned by its master, his eyes red as he asked her.
His pupils were dilated, his gaze lost. The corners of his eyes were tinged with a moist redness, making him look like an extremely alluring male spirit.
With each word he spoke, Song Wanchu's heart tightened a little more.
How could she have been so easily taken in by Liang Yuzhou?
She also didn't want to put him and the crown prince in a dilemma.
So she could only reply perfunctorily, "Recovering from your injuries should be your top priority."
Daoist Qiu came again to give Liang Yuzhou acupuncture.
Since three days ago, he had been able to see a bit of blurred light, which was a good sign.
Daoist Qiu stretched out a finger and waved it in front of his eyes.
"How many is this?"
Song Wanchu couldn't help but chuckle on the side. Daoist Qiu was really an old child. This was just like teasing a kid.
Liang Yuzhou pouted unhappily. "It looks like a sausage to me."
Daoist Qiu was so angry that he poked Liang Yuzhou hard on the forehead with that finger.
"One of these days, I'll really poison you dumb!"
After the acupuncture, Liang Yuzhou took his medicine.
Daoist Qiu said that he must rest more and keep his eyes closed to recover quickly, so he had added some calming ingredients to the medicine.
Liang Yuzhou soon fell asleep.
Song Wanchu brewed a cup of tea for Daoist Qiu.
"When will his eyes regain their sight?"
She was worried, but she knew that although Liang Yuzhou seemed calm on the surface, he was actually more anxious.
He was always a strong person. For a strong person to lose his eyesight would greatly weaken his mobility. He hated the feeling of being weak.
He was even more afraid that his strength would be impaired and he wouldn't be able to protect her well.
Daoist Qiu slowly sipped his tea, his expression enigmatic.
He usually smiled all the time, like a carefree old man. But when he looked solemn occasionally, he seemed extremely authoritative and wise.
Song Wanchu's heart tightened.
Daoist Qiu suddenly remembered what the crown prince had said the previous day. The crown prince said that if Liang Yuzhou really went blind, he couldn't bear to see Wanchu take care of a blind man for the rest of her life.
Liang Yuzhou had done so much wrong to her. His remaining life should be used to atone for his sins.
Daoist Qiu had told him that he should respect Wanchu's choice instead of imposing his own ideas on her.
The crown prince didn't argue with him, but he was still reluctant.
Daoist Qiu thought that since Wanchu had asked about it herself, he should let the crown prince give up completely.
He put down his teacup and glanced at Liang Yuzhou's face.
Song Wanchu noticed a fleeting look of regret in Daoist Qiu's eyes. Her heart felt like it had been hit hard, and her voice tightened. "Daoist, please tell me the truth."
Daoist Qiu stroked his long beard, his expression solemn. "His eyes weren't treated in time. The blood clot has been pressing on the nerves for too long. I'm afraid there's already permanent damage."
Song Wanchu felt a tightness in her chest, and stabbing pains came in waves. "You mean his eyes will never be the same as before?"
Was that high - spirited young man who could shoot arrows accurately from a hundred paces away really gone forever?
Even she couldn't accept it. How could Liang Yuzhou, such a proud man, accept it?
"Wanchu, would you be willing to take care of a blind man for a lifetime?"
Before Song Wanchu could answer, there was a slight noise from the window.
The two of them looked up. The quilt on the couch had been thrown aside, and Liang Yuzhou was nowhere to be seen.
...
The crown prince's guards searched for a whole day.
It was not until the sun was setting in the west.
When they found Liang Yuzhou, he was in Lixiang Town, five li away from the post station.
He was sitting on an ancient pagoda tree.
The branches were hanging with colorful wish notes, while he sat there alone, his back looking desolate.
Daoist Qiu was scared out of his wits. He kicked the pagoda tree and cursed. "Liang Yuzhou, what are you doing as a blind man? Do you think Wanchu hasn't worried enough about you? Get down here!"
Liang Yuzhou remained motionless.
He could sense Wanchu's breath. She must have run all the way here, her breathing was erratic.
He was so useless.
Seeing that he wouldn't listen, Daoist Qiu climbed up the tree in one go, grabbed his arm and pulled him down.
"Coward, do you deserve Wanchu?"
Daoist Qiu poked his chest hard. "I never thought that a few words couldn't scare Wanchu, a girl, but it exposed your attitude, a grown man. Aren't you ashamed, Liang Yuzhou? When you got Wanchu back, you made so many vows. Now they don't count anymore? Are you still a man?"
Daoist Qiu poked at his sore spot and scolded him for a long time.
A ripple appeared on Liang Yuzhou's wooden face. His eyebrows knitted tightly. "Exposed my attitude? What you said just now wasn't true? My eyes—"
"Yes, I lied! To test Wanchu's true feelings for you and to make the crown prince give up completely! Your eyes can be cured! Where's your usual intelligence?"
"Why did you test it randomly? Wanchu didn't hesitate to give me her heart - blood. Would she be afraid of taking care of me for a lifetime? It's just that I didn't want to—"
"Slap!"
A loud slap landed on Liang Yuzhou's face.
Five finger marks were clearly visible on his pale face.
Daoist Qiu's mouth twitched in shock, and his face seemed to hurt too.
Liang Yuzhou pursed his lips, silent, looking dazed.
This wasn't the first time he had been slapped by Wanchu.
But he thought he deserved it this time.
Song Wanchu was so angry that she was trembling all over. During the time when Liang Yuzhou was missing, she was almost half - dead with worry.
She just wanted to pour all her anger onto Liang Yuzhou.
"Liang Yuzhou, you still remember that I gave you my heart - blood! You blocked the poisoned wine for me. I used my heart - blood to save your life. You used your life to protect me when we fell off the cliff. How many times have we been through life - and - death situations together? Do you think I would care if you're blind or lame? You begged for my forgiveness so hard, just to break your vows again and leave me?"
Liang Yuzhou had no confidence at all. He辩解ed in a very soft voice, "I thought I would never be able to see again in this lifetime. I couldn't drag you down. It would be too unfair to you."
Song Wanchu slapped him again.
"Drain the water out of your head before you talk to me!"
She turned around and walked away. Although her shoulders were slender and her waist and legs were thin, she walked away with the might of a thousand troops because of her anger.
Daoist Qiu felt elated. "Well slapped!"
Then he grabbed his arm and walked forward. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and chase after her! Let me tell you, Wanchu is really angry this time. If you can't coax her well, she'll become the crown prince's consort!"
Hearing the words "crown prince's consort", Liang Yuzhou walked even faster than Daoist Qiu.
Song Wanchu locked the door. Liang Yuzhou knocked on it for half an hour, but Song Wanchu didn't open it.
The crown prince stood far away, hidden in the shadow of the corner.
Daoist Qiu patted his shoulder. "You've seen it all, haven't you?"