The Crown Prince seemed to glance at her casually.
But that glance was laden with countless emotions.
Cheng Simian was dressed in a red gown, her figure swaying gracefully. The gloomy sky seemed to brighten a bit.
However, the Crown Prince's face grew even darker.
Cheng Simian stepped forward and knelt down to pay her respects. "I didn't know Your Highness the Crown Prince was here. I've come rashly. Please forgive my rudeness."
"What are you here for?"
The Crown Prince's tone was colder than clear water, as if he was just asking out of casual curiosity.
Cheng Simian lowered her long eyelashes. "There's good news in my family, and I just wanted to tell Wan Chu about it."
Peach blossom red was supposed to be a gentle shade of red, but the Crown Prince found it jarring.
"I'll go out for a walk first. I won't interrupt your sisters' conversation."
He tightened his handsome face and was about to step out.
Liang Yuzhou was standing at the door. He placed his hand on the Crown Prince's shoulder, his smile full of intrigue.
"The good news of the Cheng family is greatly beneficial to Your Highness. Don't you want to hear it?"
The Crown Prince was annoyed. He waved his hand rudely and glared at Liang Yuzhou. "I'm not interested in anything about the Cheng family!"
One of his feet had already stepped over the threshold when he suddenly heard a clear and cold voice from behind. "Liang Yuchuan is going to marry my half - sister, Cheng Siyi."
The Crown Prince's steps suddenly froze.
"What did you say?"
Realizing that his tone had become a bit too eager, he was annoyed at himself for showing his emotions.
He stiffly turned his neck back and first met Liang Yuzhou's teasing smile.
"Didn't Your Highness say you're not interested in the affairs of the Cheng family?"
The Crown Prince was embarrassed and tried to maintain his cold and solemn expression.
His gaze swept across Xiao Anzi's face, as if blaming him.
Xiao Anzi blinked his eyes aggrievedly.
Before coming to Yun Shen Alley, he had wanted to tell the Crown Prince this good news, but the Crown Prince had not only scolded him but also told him to shut up!
"Oh, by the way, I should mention that you're the last one in this room to know this good news."
Liang Yuzhou just wouldn't stop stabbing at the Crown Prince's heart.
Song Wanchu glared at him reproachfully, signaling him to shut up.
"At the banquet, I deliberately let Yu Huiyan in to cause trouble. My father temporarily suppressed their scandal. I also made a scene on purpose so that Liang Yuchuan would be too ashamed to mention marrying me again. My half - sister always competes with me in everything, so she's naturally willing to seize this opportunity.
If Yu Huiyan knows that Cheng Siyi, a concubine - born daughter, is going to outrank her and become Liang Yuchuan's main wife, she will surely make their scandal public.
Liang Yuchuan has a flaw in his private morals, and His Majesty will be disgusted with him. Even if the Princess Dowager tries hard to make him the heir, it will probably be in vain."
Cheng Simian changed the topic, resolving the Crown Prince's embarrassment.
Daoist Qiu looked at Cheng Simian appreciatively and nodded constantly.
"The Princess Dowager wants Liang Yuchuan to be the heir and take control of the military power of the Duke's Mansion so that she can have more confidence to compete with the Crown Prince. If Liang Yuchuan can't become the heir, isn't it greatly beneficial to the Crown Prince?"
Liang Yuzhou picked up where Daoist Qiu left off. "What the Crown Prince is probably thinking about is another thing that's beneficial to him."
The Crown Prince ignored his remark.
"How is the old Duke's condition?"
Liang Yuzhou and Song Wanchu were not convenient to enter and leave the Duke's Mansion directly.
Their return to the capital was still a secret for the time being and they couldn't let the Princess Dowager know.
These days, Daoist Qiu had been secretly entering and leaving the Duke's Mansion to treat the old Duke.
The old lady already knew that the two had returned to the capital. For the sake of the overall situation, she had been holding back from meeting them.
There would always be a suitable opportunity, but not now.
The old lady recognized at a glance that Daoist Qiu was the former Prince Rui. She respected and trusted him.
Daoist Qiu stroked his silver beard, his eyebrows furrowed with a hint of solemnity.
"The old Duke has a strong constitution and excellent martial arts skills. Although he's getting old, his strong body has slowed down the erosion of the poison. His life is not in danger, but to detoxify him, we need a crucial medicinal ingredient."
Everyone listened quietly.
Liang Yuzhou frowned slightly, as if he had thought of something.
"What kind of medicinal ingredient is it? Even if I have to search the ends of the earth, I'll have someone find it!"
The Crown Prince respected the old Duke.
Although the old Duke was vain and fond of face, he was absolutely loyal to the Great Zhou.
Looking at the whole world, at present, except for Daoist Qiu, there was no general more prestigious and capable than him.
Daoist Qiu pondered for a moment. "This medicine is not difficult to find. It's far away in the sky but close at hand."
Song Wanchu met Liang Yuzhou's gaze.
They understood each other tacitly and guessed at the same time.
She murmured, "The old Duke was poisoned by the 'One - Drunk - for - a - Millennium'?"
Her memory of this poison was deeply engraved in her heart.
An old scar on her chest throbbed with a hidden pain.
Liang Yuzhou pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her back. Feeling her body tremble in his palm, his heart was filled with immense guilt.
The Crown Prince frowned and said, "The 'One - Drunk - for - a - Millennium' requires heart - blood as a medicinal ingredient. Can't the Duke's Mansion find a loyal servant willing to offer their heart - blood?"
Although offering heart - blood was life - threatening, the old Duke had many loyal subordinates. There should always be someone willing to step forward.
Why had it dragged on until now?
Daoist Qiu's face became even more solemn. "If it were just the heart - blood of any ordinary person, the poison would have been detoxified long ago. The dose the old Duke was poisoned with is too large. The heart - blood of ordinary people is no longer effective. Only the heart - blood of the old Duke's parents or children, those with the closest blood relationship, can work!"
Back then, Liang Yuzhou was able to use Song Wanchu's heart - blood because the Princess Dowager's original target was Song Wanchu.
The dose she used was small, and coupled with Liang Yuzhou's young and strong body, Song Wanchu's heart - blood could work.
But the old Duke's choices were limited.
His father had passed away long ago, and the old lady was too old to do such a dangerous thing.
There were only two people left who could offer their heart - blood.
Liang Yuzhou and Liang Yuchuan.
"The Princess Dowager is really good at scheming!"
Liang Yuzhou sneered. His fists tightened little by little, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable.
"She poisoned the old Duke with such a tricky poison and was patient enough, making plans step by step. First, she spread the news that Liang Yuchuan would soon be made the heir. If the old Duke and the old lady refused to agree, she would play her trump card and ask Liang Yuchuan to offer his heart - blood to the old Duke.
By then, everyone in the world would know that Liang Yuchuan is a great filial son. His father drove him out of the house, but he stepped forward at his father's critical moment and offered his heart - blood at the risk of his life. Such a noble and selfless character is worthy of being the heir. Even His Majesty couldn't find a reason to object."
As his voice faded, it seemed as if cold air had condensed in the room, chilling everyone's nerves.
The Princess Dowager was truly a powerful and terrifying opponent!
The Crown Prince was shocked but also felt extremely fortunate.
"The Princess Dowager calculated everything but didn't expect your return to the capital. Liang Yuchuan is no longer the only choice. Her grand plan has been ruined by you."
"Ultimately, she didn't expect that Wanchu would really forgive me."
Liang Yuzhou still took the credit and put it on Song Wanchu. "She probably thought that if Wanchu didn't forgive me, I would never return to the capital. She was too confident in herself and underestimated Wanchu's feelings for me."
Song Wanchu's face burned. She covered his mouth. "Stop talking. You're so talkative!"
Liang Yuzhou "shamelessly" continued to boast. "I've deeply experienced the benefits of having a talkative mouth. I only regret not having grown another honest mouth to lend to someone to tell their true feelings."
The Crown Prince tightened his handsome face. "Liang Yuzhou, who are you being sarcastic about?"
Liang Yuzhou smiled playfully. "You say you don't care, but you actually care more than anyone else. Am I right, Your Highness?"
Cheng Simian was initially confused by Liang Yuzhou's words, but she soon understood. She cast a puzzled look at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince's eyes involuntarily landed on her face.
Their eyes met, and an ineffable sentiment spread between them.