Song Wanchu quickened her steps and threw herself into Liang Yuzhou's arms.
With the four maids, Zhou Sheng, and Zhou Yan all around, she cast aside all her dignity and reserve.
Liang Yuzhou pressed her head into his chest.
Zhou Sheng gave a soft cough and winked at the other five. Everyone smiled but said nothing, leaving the space for the two of them.
Song Wanchu's tears came faster than the words she wanted to say.
Liang Yuzhou kissed her lips. Their breaths mingled, and the salty tears stained their lips and teeth.
"Wanchu, you don't have to say a word. All the mistakes in the past were mine alone."
Song Wanchu's tears flowed uncontrollably, and she hugged him even tighter.
"Let's not be foolish again from now on."
Liang Yuzhou didn't respond. His silence made Song Wanchu think he had acquiesced.
This was the capital city, the place where they had met, secretly fallen in love with each other, and lived together for many years. Everywhere there were traces of his love for her and his past foolishness.
Wanchu's tears were precious. He just hoped that the next time she shed them, it wouldn't be because of him.
He didn't deserve it.
The two lingered for a while.
Nan Zhi knocked on the door. "Miss, Young Master Shi and Yaoguang are here."
Suddenly, Song Wanchu brought up old scores. "Liang Yuzhou, you have to come clean about some things."
Liang Yuzhou looked into her bright and charming eyes and soon gave in. "Alright."
In the evening, Nan Zhi and the others prepared a sumptuous meal.
Everyone, regardless of master-servant or status, sat around and ate the hot mutton hot pot.
"Where's Taoist Qiu?" Yaoguang took the chopsticks of mutton that Shi Luohan had picked for her. "When he comes back, he'll surely complain that we're eating without him."
Song Wanchu said, "He's gone to the East Palace. He came to the capital secretly, and the princess royal has no idea. Although the emperor may be eager to meet this uncle, when, on what occasion, and in what way and with what identity to meet are all matters that can't be taken lightly. We need to plan carefully."
Shi Luohan nodded. "The crown prince is cautious. Even if he has ironclad evidence to bring down the princess royal, he won't show all his cards."
Yue Chenkong had been secretly escorted into the capital. But without any reason, if they asked him to incriminate the princess royal, she would surely bite back and claim that Yue Chenkong was instigated by the crown prince to slander her.
At that time, it would be a dogfight, and the emperor would find it hard to make a decision.
Because his heart was already inclined towards the princess royal. If she played the emotional card, the emperor would easily be swayed by past kindness and soften his heart again.
They must come up with a foolproof plan to let the emperor know that the princess royal's desire for the Blood - Dripping Rose was so strong that she was so cruel as to collude with the enemy and sell out the country just to possess a treasure.
Then, when Yue Chenkong stepped forward and revealed the whole truth about the fall of the Gaochang Kingdom, the princess royal wouldn't be able to deny it even if she had a hundred mouths.
Liang Yuzhou blew on the mutton on his chopsticks until it was cool, then put it into Song Wanchu's bowl.
"Yaoguang, do you and your Brother Han have any plans?"
There was a sharp glint in Yaoguang's eyes.
The enemy was near, but she remained calm.
"Brother Han and I have already come up with a plan. We're just waiting for the Spring - Welcoming Banquet at the end of the month."
The Spring - Welcoming Banquet was a grand palace banquet held by the queen every year.
As the name suggested, it was to welcome the most beautiful February after the first lunar month.
The queen would lead a group of concubines, princesses, noble ladies, and high - born young ladies to offer prayers and enjoy the spring.
Seeing that Yaoguang didn't say much, Liang Yuzhou didn't ask further.
He just said, "You're not a real maid. You've just been hiding by my side as a maid. You don't have to call me master anymore. Our statuses are equal."
Song Wanchu's eyes flickered slightly. It sounded more like he was saying this to Shi Luohan.
Sure enough, Shi Luohan rarely showed a sincere smile to Liang Yuzhou. "Your poisonous tongue has finally said something I like to hear."
Liang Yuzhou snorted and buried his head in eating some vegetables.
He could feel Wanchu's eyes on his face, urging him silently.
"I've also prepared a surprise for you."
Shi Luohan seemed to smell a hint of jealousy and wrinkled his nose. "Can you talk about your business with Wanchu in private?"
He didn't want to be shown affection in public.
Hadn't he endured enough in the past?
Song Wanchu was speechless for a moment.
"Brother, the words just now were for you from Liang Yuzhou."
Shi Luohan and Yaoguang both stared in surprise.
Liang Yuzhou forced a embarrassed smile. "Brother, your beloved horse, Zhufeng, is not dead. It's being raised in my private horse farm. It's lively every day and can still travel eight hundred li a day. Isn't that a big surprise?"
The more he said, the darker Shi Luohan's face became.
It was anything but a surprise.
He grabbed Liang Yuzhou's collar and gritted his teeth. "What did you do to my Zhufeng back then?"
Yaoguang quickly tugged at his arm. "Brother Han, we've already agreed!"
They were on the same side. Why were they still fighting?
Liang Yuzhou was extremely flustered for the first time. "You and Wanchu rode Zhufeng together back then. I don't need to say more, right?"
Shi Luohan let go and glared at him fiercely. "For the sake of you almost going blind for Wanchu, I won't argue with you. I want to see Zhufeng tomorrow!"
This little commotion finally passed peacefully.
Actually, Shi Luohan admired Liang Yuzhou.
He had the most pride in the world, but for Wanchu, he chose to bow his head.
After the meal, Shi Luohan and Yaoguang returned to the Qi family's mansion.
Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yan had entered the capital a few days earlier and reported the information they had gathered to Liang Yuzhou in detail.
What Song Wanchu was most concerned about was the situation of the Duke's Mansion.
Especially the old lady.
"Don't worry, madam. The old lady is still in good spirits, and the whole Duke's Mansion is still in good order."
"How's the old duke?" Liang Yuzhou's voice was calm, with a hint of coldness.
"For the time being, there's no major problem. It's just that the remaining poison is hard to clear. The old duke sleeps all day, but his life is out of danger."
Song Wanchu's restless heart calmed down a bit.
As long as the Duke's Mansion was stable, there would be no problem.
As long as the old duke was alive, the matter of appointing the heir apparent wouldn't be settled so soon.
However, they needed to find a good excuse to enter the Duke's Mansion secretly to visit.
Liang Yuzhou couldn't be exposed too early. Otherwise, he would be the target of the princess royal.
Liang Yuzhou knew what to do. He ordered Zhou Sheng, "You and Zhou Yan, one of you keep an eye on Liang Yuchuan, and the other on Yu Huiyan. Report immediately if there's any sign of trouble on either side."
The two took their orders and left.
That night, a spring snow fell in the capital.
Song Wanchu and Liang Yuzhou slept in each other's arms. Although they each had their own concerns, they felt warm both physically and mentally while snuggling together.
When they woke up, the whole world was covered in white. The sky and the earth were pure white, as if all the ugliness and filth had been covered up.
The two stepped on the snow and got into their respective carriages.
They were both going to face the darkness and evil in the world.
...
Wen Congbai woke up groggily. There was still the dim candlelight and the dark prison cell. He didn't know what time or year it was.
It seemed that he would spend the rest of his life in this endless darkness.
He missed Yuhe so much that his internal organs ached.
Suddenly, he saw a tall figure standing at the door and was instantly sobered up in fright.