At noon, Grandmother Chu hosted a banquet to entertain Lady Shi.
Lady Shi was straightforward and talkative. She had the boldness of a man but was not vulgar. She was knowledgeable but never showed off. She was polite to those of higher status and kind and caring to those of lower status.
The feast was filled with joy. Grandmother Chu and Ning Shi witnessed her charm and became even more convinced that a marriage alliance with the Shi family would be a wonderful match.
Everyone present was shrewd and knew that Lady Shi had come under the pretext of visiting relatives but actually intended to propose a marriage. However, Lady Shi was in no hurry. Even after the banquet ended, she didn't mention the marriage between the two families.
It would seem too hasty and unseemly to discuss marriage on the first visit.
She praised all the Chu girls and especially lavished praise on Song Wanchu.
As Lady Shi was an honored guest, the Chu family specially sent the chief steward to escort her back to the official residence.
When Grandmother Chu learned that Lady Shi would be staying in Yunzhou for some time, she specially invited her to visit more often.
Lady Shi readily agreed.
As Lady Shi was an honored guest, the Chu family specially sent the chief steward to escort her back to the official residence.
On the way, Lady Shi suddenly got interested and asked the chief steward, "I've heard that the dim - sums in Zhaiyue Tower are second to none and are all specialties of Yunzhou. I wonder if it's open for business today?"
During the Chinese New Year, many shops were closed.
The chief steward quickly replied, "It doesn't close even on New Year's Eve. Does your ladyship want to go there now?"
"Thank you."
The chief steward quickly ordered the coachman to go to Zhaiyue Tower.
Lady Shi reserved a private room and rewarded the chief steward with silver. She said with a smile, "Chief steward, you've had a long and tiring journey. You may go back and report to your master. I've brought my maids, servants, and a coachman. I'll go back by myself after having some dim - sums."
The chief steward thanked her and led the Chu family servants back.
Just as the dim - sums were placed on the table, there was a knock on the door.
Lady Shi opened the door herself. Seeing Song Wanchu, she was a bit surprised but also very pleased.
Song Wanchu gave a graceful smile. "It's quite a coincidence that I'm also here for dim - sums. I heard that your ladyship is here too, so I've come to pay my respects."
Lady Shi quickly took her hand and dismissed the maids and servants in the room.
Song Wanchu already knew Lady Shi's personality, so she got straight to the point. "Has something happened to the Duke's Mansion?"
Lady Shi couldn't hide her admiration for Song Wanchu. "The old lady said that as long as I said to you, 'The old lady of the Duke's Mansion misses you very much', you would surely understand the meaning. At first, I was a bit skeptical. How could there be such a smart and elegant person? Now I fully believe it."
This girl was really quick to catch on!
Song Wanchu's suspicion was confirmed, and she felt uneasy.
The affairs of the Duke's Mansion were not something that couldn't be discussed. But if it was something on the surface, with Lady Shi's personality, she would have said it during the banquet.
But she only mentioned it briefly.
Song Wanchu paid attention. After Lady Shi left the Chu family, she followed behind.
Shi Minglang was seriously injured, but as his mother, Lady Shi didn't go back to take care of him. Instead, she had the leisure to drink tea.
Something out of the ordinary must have a twist.
There must be something wrong with the Duke's Mansion. The old lady, taking advantage of Lady Shi's relationship with the Chu family, wanted her to convey a message to Song Wanchu.
Moreover, this matter must be confidential and couldn't be said in the Chu family. The fact that Lady Shi dismissed the maids and servants as soon as Song Wanchu came further confirmed her suspicion.
Song Wanchu didn't have much affection for the Duke's Mansion anymore, but the old lady had been kind to her, and she couldn't just ignore it.
But Lady Shi also said that the old lady was in good health, so obviously, it wasn't the old lady who had an accident.
Could it be related to the affairs of the court?
But the affairs of the court should be handled by the old duke. Why would the old lady convey a message to her?
Seeing Song Wanchu's expression change several times, Lady Shi's tone became a bit solemn. "Something has indeed happened to the Duke's Mansion. The old duke is ill. He hasn't been able to go to court for half a month. There are rumors everywhere that the Duke's Mansion is about to change."
The old duke held a quarter of the military power in the country and was very important. If something happened to him, it would surely shake the court!
Song Wanchu's eyebrows twitched. "The old duke is a military general. He's in his prime and has always been in good health. How could he suddenly fall ill?"
"With the old lady in charge, the Duke's Mansion can still hold steady. She only said publicly that the old duke has caught a cold and needs to stay in bed to recuperate, and she refuses any visits. But the old lady has confided in me. The old duke has been poisoned by a strange toxin and has been in a coma. So far, no antidote has been found. He's just lingering on."
Lady Shi frowned deeply. As she spoke, she observed Song Wanchu's expression. "Some people in the court are already eager to take action. The old duke's eldest son, Liang Yuchuan, was expelled from the family. As soon as the Princess Dowager was released from confinement, he rushed to her like a dog and showed his loyalty. The Princess Dowager instructed her trusted minister to submit a memorial to the emperor, suggesting that Liang Yuchuan be made the heir apparent as soon as possible. If the Duke's Mansion is stable, the military situation will be stable, and the court will be spared from turmoil."
Song Wanchu listened quietly, saying nothing.
The tea was warm, but the hand holding the teacup gradually turned cold.
At this point, she understood the old lady's painstaking efforts.
The old duke saw through Liang Yuchuan's selfishness and hypocrisy and expelled him from the family, which was an announcement to the world that Liang Yuchuan had lost the qualification to inherit the title.
But after all, Liang Yuchuan was still the eldest legitimate son in the Liang family genealogy.
If Liang Yuzhou were still there, with his ability, he would be able to control that quarter of the military power, stabilize the Duke's Mansion, and not be afraid of the Princess Dowager.
But he had cut off his relationship with the Duke's Mansion and given up the title of the young duke.
The Duke's Mansion was in crisis, and the Princess Dowager was eyeing it covetously.
If the position of the heir apparent really fell into Liang Yuchuan's hands, then the Duke's Mansion would become a sharp blade in the Princess Dowager's hands.
With the military power of the Duke's Mansion, the Princess Dowager would be even less afraid of the Crown Prince!
The Crown Prince's chance of winning would be reduced by another fraction!
The old lady wanted her to persuade Liang Yuzhou to return to the Duke's Mansion.
She suddenly remembered that last night, Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yan said that something had happened in the capital. They couldn't wait to set off with the main force and left for the capital that night.
Could it be that Liang Yuzhou already knew that something had happened to the old duke but just didn't tell her?
Not sure about Song Wanchu's attitude, Lady Shi spoke again. "The old lady also knows that it's very difficult for you to persuade Liang Er. But the old lady said that Liang Er has an unyielding character and never yields to anyone. In his whole life, he has only bowed to you, and only your words can he listen to. The Duke's Mansion really needs him now."
Song Wanchu seemed to be back at that cliff again. There was an abyss in front and a rushing river behind.
Whether she moved forward or backward, she would surely lose something forever.
If she persuaded Liang Yuzhou and he returned to the Duke's Mansion and became the young duke again, then their relationship would end here.
The hatred between her and the Duke's Mansion could never be erased. She had personally cut off the marriage between her and the young duke and refused the title of the first - rank imperial - appointed noble lady. She could never marry into the Duke's Mansion again.
Liang Yuzhou understood her heart, which was why he cut off his relationship with the Duke's Mansion, just to become a free man. He was the Taoist priest Qingzhou, alone, and the old duke's sins had nothing to do with him.
If she watched the turmoil in the Duke's Mansion indifferently or showed her resistance to his return in front of Liang Yuzhou, Liang Yuzhou would definitely put her feelings first.
She and Liang Yuzhou could still live a peaceful life.
But she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.
"Wanchu." Lady Shi held her hand. There was both pity and determination in her eyes. "The old lady believes that you will surely make the right choice."