What Song Wanchu admired most about Cheng Simian was her sharp insight.
Her gaze only lingered on Liang Yuzhou's face for a moment, yet she could tell that his eyes were not in good condition.
Coincidentally, she happened to have the Hangzhou white chrysanthemums that Liang Yuzhou needed.
Then, following the speculation of her own nanny, she identified Song Wanchu's identity.
It seemed that she must have needed something from Liang Yuzhou.
However, she was neither related to nor acquainted with him. She knew that she had no chance to talk to him directly.
Song Wanchu was worried about her safety and came to see her at night. Cheng Simian was grateful for Song Wanchu's kindness.
Naturally, she handed the medicinal herbs to Song Wanchu. Asking Song Wanchu was more effective than asking Liang Yuzhou directly.
Song Wanchu also admired her very much.
She was shrewd but not sinister, calculating yet honest and sincere.
Cheng Simian invited Song Wanchu to sit down. After a moment of silence, she raised her bright eyes. "Father hurriedly called me back to the capital because he wants to marry me off to Liang Yuchuan to win over the future young duke. They are all under the thumb of the eldest princess. If they form an alliance of interests, their relationship will be even stronger."
Song Wanchu was shocked to hear this.
Would Cheng Yong really sacrifice his eldest daughter just to please the eldest princess and curry favor with Liang Yuchuan?
Liang Yuchuan was a sinister villain who had committed high treason. He was a disgrace to the duke's mansion.
How could a delicate and intelligent girl like Cheng Simian be defiled by Liang Yuchuan?
But there were wolves and tigers around her, and she was so weak. How could she resist?
Cheng Simian was clear - headed, but she also knew that it was difficult for her to fight against her family alone.
So, she decided to change her strategy and target Liang Yuchuan instead.
She had really found the right person.
Song Wanchu remembered Liang Yuzhou's words.
"Don't you know that he is most afraid of me?"
She couldn't help but smile secretly.
Cheng Simian was sincere, and Song Wanchu didn't refuse. She took the packet of Hangzhou white chrysanthemums and said, "Liang Yuzhou is Liang Yuchuan's nemesis. Miss Cheng, don't worry. This marriage won't happen."
A faint smile appeared on Cheng Simian's cold and elegant face, as if the whole room was lit up.
Song Wanchu also smiled in return. She was extremely beautiful, and her smile was like a red lotus in full bloom in summer.
Shuyi was stunned on the side. Facing two fairies, she didn't know which one to look at.
Song Wanchu returned to her room.
Liang Yuzhou hadn't slept yet. He was leaning on a soft pillow, waiting for her.
Song Wanchu happily threw herself into his arms.
Liang Yuzhou was surprised. Wanchu was always so dignified. This was the first time she had lost her composure because of happiness.
He stretched out his arms to catch her and smelled an unusual fragrance.
"This smell..."
Song Wanchu took out the packet of Hangzhou white chrysanthemums and waved it in front of him. She couldn't help but be excited. "Such precious medicinal herbs. Miss Cheng gave them to us so generously. Shouldn't we repay her?"
So, it was because she had obtained the medicine to cure his eyes that Wanchu was so happy.
Liang Yuzhou's heart was like soaking in honey. "Whatever my wife instructs, I will surely obey!"
Song Wanchu told him about Cheng Simian's dilemma.
When mentioning Liang Yuchuan, a sneer appeared on Liang Yuzhou's lips, and a glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes.
"The eldest princess and Liang Yuchuan think too highly of themselves. Although the emperor indulges the eldest princess, he is not muddle - headed. The military power of the duke's mansion can determine the fate of the country or cause chaos. Liang Yuchuan is capricious and sinister. Even if he is the only son of the old duke, how could the emperor hand over the military power to a person of questionable character?
Liang Yuchuan can't even enter the main gate of the duke's mansion now. The old duke didn't even want to see him when he was seriously ill. Just because he has attached himself to the eldest princess, does he think he has already won? Even if the emperor is persuaded by the eldest princess, as long as the old duke and the old lady don't agree, he will never be the heir of the duke's mansion!"
Song Wanchu agreed with Liang Yuzhou's judgment. "The transfer of the military power of the duke's mansion won't happen overnight. I'm afraid Cheng Yong can't wait to marry Cheng Simian to Liang Yuchuan. In the eyes of the eldest princess's faction, it's a foregone conclusion that Liang Yuchuan will become the heir of the duke's mansion."
Darkness welled up in Liang Yuzhou's eyes, and a murderous look emerged.
But when he looked at Song Wanchu, the hostility in his eyes faded completely, leaving only infinite tenderness.
"Your affairs are the most important. If you want to help Cheng Simian, I will make sure this marriage doesn't happen."
...
The next day, at noon, Cheng Simian's carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the Marquis of Wude's mansion.
The main gate was tightly closed, as if no one in the whole mansion knew that she was coming home today.
The steward and several old women were standing at the gate. They all saw Cheng Simian's carriage, but they had cold looks on their faces, and none of them stepped forward to greet her.
Shuyi was furious. "Steward Liu has long been bribed by Concubine Yu. Those old women are all from Concubine Yu's courtyard. They are clearly trying to intimidate the young lady!"
The eldest young master had died in a disaster. Eight years ago, the young lady was forcibly sent out of the capital. Lady Rong, the marquis's wife, was heart - broken and listless. She had not managed the mansion for a long time.
The power of managing the mansion had fallen into the hands of Yu Qiao'er, the most favored concubine.
Nanny Chen frowned tightly.
These unruly servants were deliberately embarrassing the young lady!
If the young lady argued with them, it would be beneath her dignity.
The eldest daughter of the marquis's mansion arguing with a group of servants in the street would be a disgrace to the marquis's mansion. Yu Qiao'er, that bitch, would surely seize this opportunity to speak ill of the young lady in front of the marquis.
Cheng Simian was neither angry nor impatient. She sat steadily in the carriage.
"Don't pay attention to them. If they don't come forward, we won't move either."
In such a situation, whoever got impatient first would lose the initiative.
Yu Qiao'er wanted to set a trap for her, but she just wouldn't fall for it.
An hour passed, then two.
There was no movement in the carriage. Steward Liu and the old women began to feel uneasy.
There were many passers - by. If word got out that the eldest daughter of the marquis's mansion returned home but no one greeted her, it would be the marquis's mansion that would be laughed at, and it would be the marquis's face that would be slapped.
Steward Liu walked forward awkwardly and bowed perfunctorily. "Miss, please follow this servant through the west side gate."
Shuyi was still angry. When she heard this, she got even more furious. "This is outrageous! The eldest daughter of the family should enter through the main gate, not a side gate! Go and ask around. Which family has such a rule?"
Steward Liu forced a smile. "Miss, don't be angry. You haven't been home for eight years. The rules in the mansion have changed. What's the difference between the main gate and the side gate? They both lead to the marquis's mansion. Miss, please hurry up. Don't keep the marquis and the lady waiting."
A cold voice came from the carriage. "If you don't open the main gate, I won't go home."
Steward Liu's face darkened. He was tough - minded. "Miss, why are you so unreasonable? This servant is just following orders. Do you really want to make things difficult for this servant?"
"Whose orders are you following?"
A few scornful laughs were like a cold wind piercing through Steward Liu's chest.
For some reason, before he even saw the person in the carriage, he was already afraid of the voice.
Steward Liu gritted his teeth secretly. "Naturally, it's from the mistress in charge of the mansion."
"The mistress in charge of the mansion" was a very vague term.
Lady Rong was the mistress of the mansion.
Since Yu Qiao'er was in charge of the mansion, she could also be called "the mistress in charge of the mansion".
Nanny Chen understood what Cheng Simian meant. She said loudly, "In that case, let this old servant go in first and ask the marquis and the lady if it's their order for the eldest miss to enter through the side gate. After getting a definite answer, I'll come back to tell the miss."
Steward Liu quickly tried to stop her.