Cheng Simian sensed the chill in the Crown Prince's gaze.
She was neither humble nor timid. Kneeling on the cold ground, her clothes were slightly rumpled and stained with specks of blood. Her hair bun had come loose during the fight, but her back was straight, exuding an air of noble coldness.
The Crown Prince's deep, unfathomable gaze rested on her face.
The temperament and character of the woman before him were nothing like those from that despicable family.
Could there really be someone who emerged unstained from the mire in this world?
"Do you recognize me?"
The Crown Prince didn't make a show of his status when he was out. He rode in an ordinary carriage without any royal insignia.
Cheng Simian kept her eyes lowered all the time. Her long, delicate eyelashes cast shadows on her face. "Eight years ago at the palace banquet, this subject's daughter was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of Your Highness's grace."
Her voice was like a clear mountain stream, pleasant to the ear.
Xiao Anzi was closer to Cheng Simian. He couldn't help stealing a few more glances at her.
She was so beautiful. Apart from Miss Song, he had never seen such a stunning woman.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world!
Those lecherous thieves seemed even more detestable!
"Your Highness, what should we do with those lecherous thieves?"
"I won't interfere in the affairs of the Cheng family."
The Crown Prince said coldly and lowered the carriage curtain. His extremely handsome face was now blocked from view outside the carriage.
Cheng Simian understood that the Crown Prince was trying to draw a clear line from her.
The Crown Prince hated the Cheng family, and she hated them even more.
Through the curtain came Cheng Simian's sincere voice: "Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my life. This subject's daughter is so bold as to ask Your Highness to lend me a few guards to escort these three lecherous thieves to the capital and hand them over to the Ministry of Justice for disposal. This can also rid the people of a scourge."
The Crown Prince let out a cold snort and said in a voice only he could hear, "Trying to take revenge on your own but still good at finding reasons. What a high - sounding excuse!"
If he refused, wouldn't it mean he didn't care about the safety of the people?
There was a long silence inside the carriage.
Xiao Anzi smiled at Cheng Simian and said, "Miss, the Crown Prince has given his permission."
He assigned the six guards who had just been there to escort the three lecherous thieves.
Guessing the Crown Prince's intention, he privately instructed them, "It's still dozens of miles to the capital. Protect Miss Cheng well."
The legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wude was returning to the capital, yet there was only a maid, an old nursemaid, and a coachman accompanying her!
Not even a single guard!
Was this how the Cheng family treated their legitimate daughter? It was simply outrageous!
Cheng Simian thanked the Crown Prince. She slowly got up after the Crown Prince's entourage had gone far away.
The maid Shuyi quickly massaged her knees. "Your knees must be so stiff from kneeling. Does it hurt, Miss?"
The Crown Prince was really too much. Miss hadn't offended him at all. Why did he make Miss kneel for so long? He didn't know how to cherish a beauty at all!
Cheng Simian withdrew her gaze from afar. Her face was calm. "This little pain is nothing."
After getting back into the carriage, Nanny Chen said worriedly, "Miss, we haven't even entered the capital yet, and we've already encountered such a thing. That mother - daughter pair is so vicious. Who knows what other dirty tricks they have in store for us!"
Nanny Chen was already sixty - five years old. She was the wet nurse of Miss Cheng's mother, Lady Rong, and also the most capable and trusted nursemaid of her mother.
When Miss Cheng was sent out of the capital, Nanny Chen had accompanied her faithfully for eight years. Now her hair was completely white.
The old woman was wise. "Those three despicable men showed up so brazenly at the foot of the imperial city. They didn't rob for money but only for women. They were clearly trying to ruin Miss's reputation!"
The mother - daughter pair Nanny Chen mentioned were Yu Qiao'er, the concubine of Cheng Yong, and her daughter, Cheng Siyi.
This time when they returned to the capital, the Marquis of Wude was going to arrange a marriage for Cheng Simian. It was said that the groom - to - be was Liang Yuchuan, who was about to become the heir of the Duke of Jin's mansion.
Cheng Siyi was jealous.
Although she was registered under the name of the legitimate mother and sounded good on the surface, everyone in the capital knew that she was just a bastard daughter born to a brothel woman.
She wanted to marry into a noble family, but no one looked upon her favorably.
A disdainful sneer appeared on Cheng Simian's fair - as - the - moon face.
"They overestimated their own tactics and underestimated my courage. After eight years, they still only know these underhanded tricks."
This wasn't the first time Cheng Simian had been framed by this mother - daughter pair.
Eight years ago, Cheng Siyi suddenly fell seriously ill. A so - called fortune - telling "master" came and said that Cheng Simian and Cheng Siyi had conflicting zodiac signs. She had to leave to avoid bad luck, otherwise, Cheng Siyi's life would be in danger.
At that time, her mother had just learned that her eldest brother, who had gone on a study tour in the south, had been attacked by bandits and his body was nowhere to be found. She was heart - broken.
And now her only daughter was going to be sent away.
She pleaded with Cheng Yong to keep her daughter, even if it was just in a manor on the outskirts of the capital.
But Cheng Yong's heart had already been hardened by Yu Qiao'er's whispers. He cruelly sent Cheng Simian to the far - away Jiangnan region.
Cheng Simian had long detested that rotten and decadent family. She advised her mother to go to her maternal grandfather's house with her, but her mother said she had to consider the family's dignity. She just sent her daughter away with tears in her eyes.
Her mother had worked hard for the Marquis of Wude's mansion for half her life. If it weren't for the reputation and financial support of her maternal grandfather's scholarly family, the Marquis of Wude's mansion would have been an empty shell long ago.
Even Cheng Yong's fourth - rank official position was obtained thanks to the prestige of his father - in - law.
But Cheng Yong disliked his wife for being unromantic. He embraced concubines on both sides and had given birth to seven bastard sons in a row.
After eight years, her mother's heart must have been completely broken.
This time, she not only wanted to take revenge but also wanted to save her mother from the mire!
...
That evening, Liang Yuzhou and Song Wanchu found a manor on the outskirts of the capital to stay in.
It was only fifty miles away from the capital.
"Wanchu, where shall we stay after we enter the capital?"
Song Wanchu thought for a moment. "I can stay in my uncle's mansion."
Her uncle and aunt had gone to Jiangnan with her a year ago. Only a few servants were left to take care of the mansion in the capital.
"Brother and Yaoguang escorted Yue Chengkong and entered the capital earlier than the Crown Prince. They should have already moved in."
Liang Yuzhou looked at her. There was a hint of complaint in his jet - black eyes. "You only care about yourself and don't care about me anymore?"
Song Wanchu deliberately teased him. She blinked her eyes in confusion. "Although the mansion at home is big, there is no Taoist temple. Taoist Priest Qingzhou will have to find another place to stay."
Liang Yuzhou narrowed his eyes dangerously. He grabbed her soft waist and pressed her onto the small couch.
Song Wanchu gently tapped his forehead with her fair fingertips and said with a soft smile, "We've already agreed that after entering the capital, I'll be a daughter of the Song family, and you'll be Taoist Priest Qingzhou."
Liang Yuzhou wasn't in a hurry to return to secular life. His identity as a Taoist priest would still be very useful.
And Wanchu wanted to be herself. She no longer wanted to be a noble concubine in the Duke's mansion. She would be more free to act.
"Don't use status to suppress me!" Liang Yuzhou's big hand slowly moved up along her waist. The heat from his palm penetrated through her clothes and warmed her skin.
"I'll only feel at ease when my wife is under my nose."
The first half of his sentence was tough, but the second half softened, as if he was pleading.
Song Wanchu knew that he already had a place in mind.
Yunshen Alley was quiet and secluded. Liang Yuzhou had once "confined" her there to protect her from the毒手 of the Princess Royal.
It was filled with her favorite peony flowers. It was a pity that at that time, she had resented Liang Yuzhou deeply. Every time they talked, they would hurt each other.
She had never had the mood to appreciate the beauty there carefully.
Song Wanchu hooked her arms around Liang Yuzhou's neck and pulled him down a bit. She leaned in and gave him a light kiss, which was a silent approval of his arrangement.
Liang Yuzhou's breathing became heavier.
There was a knock on the door. Taoist Priest Qiu shouted in a loud voice, "It's time to eat!"
"What a spoil - sport!" Liang Yuzhou complained.
Song Wanchu pushed him. "Get up. I'm hungry!"
The two of them tidied up their clothes and walked out of the room.
In the yard, another carriage drove in.
Taoist Priest Qiu said with a smile, "Are there more guests?"
As he finished speaking, a pair of embroidered brocade shoes stepped on the footstool and got off the carriage.
Song Wanchu's and Cheng Simian's eyes accidentally met.