Song Wanchu saw the girl's appearance clearly.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains veiled in mist, and her eyes were like cold stars sinking into a deep pool. There was a faint sense of aloofness in her cold and elegant temperament, making her seem like a solitary white plum blossom standing apart from the world.
It was a strikingly beautiful yet unfamiliar face.
Seeing that the girl was of a similar age and had an elegant bearing and refined attire, Song Wanchu offered a polite smile.
Cheng Simian returned the smile politely.
After entering the guest room, Nanny Chen closed the door. "That young Taoist priest just now looks like the former Second Young Master Liang."
"You've met Second Young Master Liang, Nanny?" Cheng Simian asked casually.
Nanny Chen sighed with emotion. "I saw him once more than ten years ago. At that time, Second Young Master Liang was just a 14 - or 15 - year - old boy. His handsome appearance was unforgettable at a glance. No wonder Princess Lingyang was vying to marry him."
The maid Shuyi said with a smile, "Nanny always has good eyesight. If you think it's him, then it must be. But I wonder who the girl beside him is. She's so beautiful. Only such a stunning beauty could be worthy of Second Young Master Liang."
Cheng Simian was about to take off her blood - stained cloak. Hearing this, her hand paused, lost in thought.
"It must be Miss Song."
She had left the capital eight years ago and had never seen Song Wanchu. However, the story of Liang Yuzhou cutting his hair, breaking off from his family, and becoming a Taoist priest for Song Wanchu had spread far and wide.
Loving someone so obsessively, there couldn't be other women around him.
Since they had reconciled, why did they return to the capital instead of living a harmonious life in the south of the Yangtze River?
They had just encountered the Crown Prince entering the capital, and then they met Liang Yuzhou and Song Wanchu.
Could it be a coincidence?
Cheng Simian pondered carefully and immediately thought of Cheng Jingxuan's death.
She also thought of Wen Congbai, who was furious for his beloved.
The rift between the Cheng and Wen families in the court was actually a struggle between the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess.
Liang Yuzhou was very likely to be an ally of the Crown Prince.
Cheng Simian had an idea in mind.
"Miss, four guards escorted the three gangsters into the capital overnight. Two others are following us. How should we arrange them?"
Shuyi asked.
Cheng Simian took out two silver ingots. "Arrange two top - grade rooms for them and a sumptuous meal. The silver is for their hard work."
Shuyi took the money and left in response.
...
During the meal, Taoist Priest Qiu poked his head out several times. "It's really strange. I saw that girl enter the manor just now, followed by two tall and strong men. They are clearly the Crown Prince's guards."
He stroked his long beard and thought, "I guess this girl was walking ahead of us and met the Crown Prince first. The Crown Prince saw that she had no one to protect her, so he sent two guards to follow her."
After analyzing on his own, he thought it made perfect sense and showed a bit of a gratified smile on his face. "It's not easy. The Crown Prince is finally willing to look at other women."
Liang Yuzhou deliberately poured cold water on him. "Isn't the Crown Prince most particular about benevolence and loving the people? If he saw a stray dog, would he also send two people to protect it?"
Song Wanchu glared at him and picked up a large fried lotus root cake to stuff into his mouth.
"A woman traveling alone is prone to attract trouble. Let's not gossip about others."
At night.
After Taoist Priest Qiu finished acupuncture on Liang Yuzhou.
After drinking a bowl of bitter medicine, Liang Yuzhou's tongue was numb.
"How long will it take for my eyes to fully recover?"
He was already a bit impatient.
Limited mobility meant having a weakness, and Wanchu would be in more danger.
He didn't like this feeling at all.
As Taoist Priest Qiu put away the needles, he muttered, "I've already said it will take more than ten days. Why are you in such a hurry? It's thanks to your good physical foundation that you can recover so quickly."
Song Wanchu understood Liang Yuzhou's state of mind. They were about to reach the capital, and a storm was coming. He hoped to be invincible.
Taoist Priest Qiu sighed slightly. "The medicine I'm using for you now is golden silk chrysanthemum. Its effect of clearing the heart and brightening the eyes is not as good as Hangzhou white chrysanthemum. But Hangzhou white chrysanthemum is rare and only grows in the Suzhou - Hangzhou area. It's hard to buy even if you have money!"
Shi Luohan had a wide network of contacts. He asked his friends who escorted caravans all over the country to buy it, but they couldn't get any.
"The medicinal properties of Hangzhou white chrysanthemum are stronger. If we could have used it earlier, you would have regained your sight by now!"
Song Wanchu could only persuade Liang Yuzhou to be patient.
After traveling for more than twenty days in a row, Song Wanchu was extremely exhausted. She almost fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
In the middle of the night, she was suddenly awakened by the sound of a fight.
Liang Yuzhou pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her back.
"Is something wrong outside?"
Liang Yuzhou had profound internal strength and sharp hearing. He listened carefully for a while. "It seems to be that girl. Someone attacked her while she was sleeping."
Song Wanchu's heart tightened. Although she didn't know the girl, she thought she looked kind.
Noticing that her body was tense, Liang Yuzhou comforted her softly, "Don't worry. She has the Crown Prince's top - level guards by her side. They can fight against a hundred, and Taoist Priest Qiu won't stand by idly either."
Soon, the sound of the fight weakened.
When Taoist Priest Qiu rushed to the scene, Cheng Simian was pulling her sword out of the chest of a black - clothed man.
There were several corpses lying haphazardly at the door. They were all dead.
Being attacked in the middle of the night, yet this young girl showed no sign of panic and even protected herself with a sword. Taoist Priest Qiu was deeply impressed.
Cheng Simian wiped the blood off her sword and looked at Taoist Priest Qiu with her cold and clear eyes.
"I'm sorry to disturb your rest, Taoist Priest. I hope you weren't scared."
Taoist Priest Qiu: "..."
He had come to help, but why was he being treated like an old man to be cared for?
His stunned look seemed to Cheng Simian that he was indeed scared.
Cheng Simian walked forward slowly, curtsied gracefully, and said, "Please don't blame me, Taoist Priest. On my way back to the capital this time, there are people in my family who don't want me to return home safely. They've resorted to some dirty tricks, which have involved you in this bloody and scary incident. I apologize here."
She said it casually, but Taoist Priest Qiu could deeply feel the crisis she was facing.
It wasn't a homecoming for her. It was like walking into a den of wolves!
What was even more remarkable was that she was so calm and brave, showing no trace of fear.
The two guards of the Crown Prince had already disposed of the corpses.
Taoist Priest Qiu asked them and learned about the relationship between Cheng Simian and the Crown Prince.
He couldn't help but sigh, "Even bad bamboo can produce good shoots!"
At the same time, he felt a deep sense of regret.
Even judged by the most critical standards, Cheng Simian had all the qualities of a virtuous queen.
It was just a pity that she had the surname Cheng.
The lights outside were still on. Song Wanchu couldn't sleep. She got up and put on her clothes.
"I'll go and see that girl."
Liang Yuzhou didn't stop her. His eyes were filled with a gentle light.
Wanchu had been in the rain.
She was always so kind, wanting to hold an umbrella for others.
Song Wanchu walked to Cheng Simian's door just as Cheng Simian was about to enter.
There were bloodstains on her shoes and socks, and a faint smell of blood still lingered in the air.
"Are you okay?"
Cheng Simian's expression remained calm, but she truly saw the worry and concern in Song Wanchu's eyes.
She had been away from home for eight years, endured many hardships, and seen the coldness of the world. Now, even when she returned home, she was still plotted against by her so - called "family".
The concern from a stranger warmed her heart.
"I'm fine. Miss Song, may I invite you into the room to talk?"
Song Wanchu was surprised. "You know me?"
Cheng Simian showed a friendly smile. "My nanny recognized Second Young Master Liang, so I guessed your name."
Song Wanchu felt a bit embarrassed. Had the story between her and Liang Yuzhou become well - known to everyone?
Cheng Simian made a gesture of invitation, and Song Wanchu didn't decline. She followed her into the room.
"My surname is Cheng. My name is Cheng Simian. Marquis Wude, Cheng Yong, is my father. Cheng Jingxuan, who ordered someone to defile Shen Yuhe and was later killed by Wen Congbai, is my half - brother born of a concubine."
Her self - introduction was straightforward.
A complex emotion welled up in Song Wanchu's heart.
"The sins of the Cheng family have nothing to do with you."
Cheng Simian nodded. Song Wanchu's words meant that she had found the right person.
She winked at Shuyi, and Shuyi quickly took out a packet of medicinal herbs from the package and presented it to Song Wanchu.
"Miss Song, I noticed that Second Young Master Liang's eyes don't seem to be in good condition. This packet of Hangzhou white chrysanthemum was given to me by a noble person when I traveled in the Suzhou - Hangzhou area. It's the best for clearing the heart and brightening the eyes. Please take it and use it for Second Young Master Liang's medicine."
Song Wanchu smiled faintly. "I can't accept such a gift without doing anything. What do you want me to do, Miss Cheng?"
Cheng Simian smiled and showed an appreciative look. "It's really nice to deal with smart people."