The crown prince stood there in silence, as still as a lonely pine tree. He carried himself with unyielding pride, yet his heart was quietly breaking when no one was around.
There was nothing he didn't understand.
Because he cared, Liang Yuzhou had fled. And because she cared, Wan Chu had only vented her anger and slapped him after she was sure Liang Yuzhou was safe.
Sometimes, scolding and hitting don't stem from hatred but from the fear of losing someone.
Daoist Qiu patiently counseled him, "It's time to give up, isn't it? That young couple has been through life and death together so many times. Their fates are intertwined like vines, leaving no room for anyone else."
These days, the crown prince had thought a great deal.
He knew he had lost. Letting go of his pride and power, he placed himself on an equal footing with Liang Yuzhou. After a careful comparison, he realized he had lost comprehensively.
Liang Yuzhou was willing to give up his position as the heir and even become a monk just to be separated from the Duke's Mansion and win back Wan Chu. In contrast, he couldn't bear to abandon the great Zhou Dynasty's throne.
Liang Yuzhou had the courage to jump off a cliff to protect Wan Chu, while he had stopped at the edge and lacked the courage to risk his life.
Even when he knew the princess would force Wan Chu to commit suicide, he couldn't even kick open the door to save her.
Moreover, Liang Yuzhou could lay down all his pride and humble himself in front of Wan Chu.
He silently guarded her, giving her the confidence to do what she wanted.
In contrast, he had always been aloof, imposing things she didn't want on her.
It seemed more like charity than true love.
Ultimately, he couldn't love her whole - heartedly.
He wasn't crazy enough, infatuated enough, or single - minded enough. He had lost from the very beginning.
The crown prince looked up. A ray of sunlight shone through a crack and fell on his face.
He let out a soft laugh.
Daoist Qiu could hear the painful relief in that laugh.
It was good that he had finally seen the light.
"Hong'er, if you can't let it go, go and read the Poetry Collection of Mingxi."
"Do you mean Mr. Mingxi?"
When the crown prince first came to the south of the Yangtze River, he had heard about Mr. Mingxi, a remarkable woman famous throughout the region, from the literati.
"I've read a few of her poems. They're all about the feelings of a boudoir girl. How can a man be preoccupied with such petty joys and sorrows?"
Although the poems were good, the crown prince had no interest in such melancholy musings.
Daoist Qiu criticized him, "You're only seeing a small part of the picture! Mr. Mingxi doesn't just write about boudoir feelings. You should read her landscape poems. Let her open your eyes and show you how magnificent the great Zhou Dynasty's territory is!"
The crown prince nodded slightly but didn't take it too seriously.
...
Liang Yuzhou stood outside Song Wanchu's door until the middle of the night.
Song Wanchu was really angry this time. She didn't open the door even after putting out the candles and didn't say a single word to him.
All the candles in the post station had been extinguished, and the cold night was long and silent.
Liang Yuzhou, who was used to the darkness, didn't feel uncomfortable. Instead, he was more worried that the person inside the room couldn't sleep.
"Wanchu, I didn't really want to run away. If I did, I wouldn't have only gone five li. Although my mobility is a bit poor now, one day would be enough for me to run far away where no one could find me."
Since he had gone blind, his hearing had become even more acute. After he said this, he heard a very soft rustling sound from inside the room.
It should be Wanchu turning over.
He continued, "I owe you too much. I've sworn to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. But when I thought about becoming blind and being a burden to you, I panicked. I knew you wouldn't abandon me, but I couldn't face my own weakness. I was afraid I couldn't fulfill my promise to you and would owe you even more.
I panicked. At that moment, I hated my own incompetence and just wanted to escape.
But I soon came to my senses. In fact, I had already regretted it before you found me. But I had done something stupid, and I didn't know how to face you when I went back.
Wanchu, I'm a coward in matters of the heart. I'm so afraid of losing you that even the slightest thing related to you can make me lose control.
I'm far from as strong as you. In front of you, I'll always be the self - deprecating weakling.
It's always been like this, whether it was the past four years or now."
He seemed to be talking to himself in the long night, laying his heart bare and showing his weakest side to Song Wanchu.
At this moment, he mercilessly shattered even the last bit of his pride.
All just to make the woman he loved most forgive him.
There was no sound from inside the room.
Liang Yuzhou stood at the door like a stray dog.
He knew that if he continued to stand there, the door wouldn't open.
He had done something stupid and then said a whole bunch of pitiful words in an attempt to make amends. But why should Wanchu forgive him so easily?
She had the right to be angry, and she would always have the right to be angry with him for the rest of her life.
"Wanchu, good night. Sweet dreams."
He turned around and walked away lightly in the darkness.
Just as he pushed open the door opposite, there came a creaking sound from behind him.
"Liang Yuzhou, you're really stupid. Do you know that?"
The corridor was silent, and Song Wanchu's voice was as clear and crisp as jade shattering on the ground.
Soon after, there was the sound of the door closing.
Liang Yuzhou laughed like a fool.
He had heard too many compliments in his life, and his ears were immune to them.
Hearing Wanchu scold him actually made him feel refreshed.
Wanchu had forgiven him. She was really an easy - to - please girl.
Although they didn't sleep in the same bed that night, both of them had a good sleep.
The next day, Daoist Qiu came as usual in the early morning to give acupuncture.
The crown prince's attendant had already arranged the carriages and horses.
The group returned to Yunzhou in a low - key manner.
Daoist Qiu originally wanted to take Liang Yuzhou back to Songhe Temple for recuperation.
It would still take some time for his eyes to fully recover.
But on the way, they met the Chu family's people who had come to greet them.
Chu Shangxu personally came out of the city to welcome them, looking extremely happy.
"Our family's elder said that she has prepared a secluded mansion for Daoist Qiu and Daoist Qingzhou. It won't delay Daoist Qingzhou's recovery or Daoist Qiu's self - cultivation.
During the New Year, there will inevitably be ancestor - worshiping and incense - burning ceremonies, and the spirits need to be offered sacrifices. We'll need the two daoists to conduct the rituals. Staying at home will save you the trouble of traveling back and forth. We sincerely hope that the two daoists will give us this honor."
The old lady of the Chu family was so considerate and humble.
Daoist Qiu stroked his beard with a smile, "It's hard to decline such kind hospitality."
After returning to the Chu family, Song Wanchu went to see the old lady of the Chu family and her aunt, Mrs. Ning.
Mrs. Ning was already nine months pregnant. The doctor had checked the fetus's position yesterday and said that the baby's head had already engaged, so she might give birth earlier.
She held Song Wanchu's hand, both happy and emotional, "I said that Wanchu would be able to witness this child's birth."
The crown prince smiled and said, "If you don't mind, I'd like to name this child."
A new birth symbolized new hope and a new start.
It was always a joyous occasion.
The entire Chu family was overjoyed. The old lady of the Chu family led the way in expressing their gratitude, "It's an honor for the entire Chu family that the crown prince is willing to bestow a name!"
Song Wanchu's gaze passed over the crown prince's face, and their eyes met briefly.
The crown prince was the first to look away.
She thought with relief, Had the crown prince found a new starting point?