Just as Aunt Fang was about to get into the carriage, upon hearing this, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and stared at the young maid in front of her in surprise.
The young maid looked at her with a beaming smile, appearing innocent and naive.
Aunt Fang grabbed the maid's hand and pulled her into the carriage.
In this private space, Aunt Fang felt a lot safer.
She still cautiously lowered her voice. "How do you know this?"
This young maid was named Qian'er. She was assigned to the Princess Dowager's Mansion from the palace.
The Princess Dowager found her quite smart, so she made Qian'er her personal attendant. Usually, Qian'er served tea and water, and when she was free, she would do some needlework for the Princess Dowager.
Qian'er still wore a smile but evaded her question. "Aunt, do you still remember Miss Song? At the Dragon Boat Festival banquet that year, Miss Yu deliberately fell into the water and framed Miss Song for instructing her maid to harm her. Miss Song was so resolute that she jumped into the lake to prove her innocence."
Aunt Fang certainly remembered Song Wanchu.
She admired the girl's tenacity and had secretly helped her several times.
It was because when she was young, her family was on their way to the capital to make a living. They encountered bandits on the road, and it was Miss Song's father who saved them.
Although Mr. Song had passed away, she would always remember his kindness.
The love - hate relationship between her and Second Young Master Liang was also a legend in the capital.
The enmity between the Song family and the Duke's Mansion could not be resolved. On their wedding day, Miss Song stabbed Second Young Master Liang with a sword and left resolutely.
In order to win Miss Song back, Second Young Master Liang became a Taoist priest and severed his ties with the Duke's Mansion.
The storytellers told this part of the story in a heart - rending way, which moved everyone who heard it.
Aunt Fang learned from the Princess Dowager that Second Young Master Liang and Song Wanchu had secretly returned to the capital.
She had seen the spy in the Eastern Palace. The spy had leaked the information about their residence and their plan to go to the Duke's Mansion that night, where Second Young Master Liang was going to offer his heart - blood for the old Duke.
She had also overheard that the Princess Dowager had sent a group of killers. After Second Young Master Liang offered his heart - blood and was weak, they were going to make the two of them disappear silently that night.
She was unable to stop the Princess Dowager's vicious plan. So, when the spy left the Princess Dowager's Mansion, she deliberately found an excuse to let the spy take a detour through the back garden, so that his feet would be stained with the unique red mud in the back garden of the Princess Dowager's Mansion.
After the assassination failed, the Princess Dowager flew into a rage.
The next day, she found the spy's head in the back garden and was in shock for a long time.
Aunt Fang knew that someone in the Eastern Palace had sharp eyes and had recognized the spy. She was also relieved.
However, how did Qian'er, a young maid, know such a confidential piece of information that the old lady of the Duke's Mansion was going to meet Second Young Master Liang and Miss Song in Jingchan Temple?
She couldn't help but tighten her grip on Qian'er's wrist. "Are you working for the Crown Prince?"
Qian'er playfully blinked her eyes.
A sudden flash of light went through Aunt Fang's mind, and she saw a glimmer of hope.
The Crown Prince needed her help.
The Princess Dowager had been so unkind to her and had wantonly trampled on her dignity. She no longer wanted to be loyal to the Princess Dowager.
In Jingchan Temple, the incense was curling up.
The old lady paid homage to the Buddha and, led by the abbot, came to a quiet Buddhist courtyard.
As soon as she pushed open the courtyard door, she saw two figures kneeling in front of her.
The man was thin and looked a bit pale. Wearing a Taoist robe, he was elegant and handsome, looking like an other - worldly expert.
The woman was tall and slender, dressed in a plain lotus - white dress. With red lips, black hair, and clear eyes full of tears, she was a sight to behold.
Tears welled up in the old lady's eyes instantly.
"Wanchu!"
She staggered a few steps, quickly walked up to Song Wanchu, and hugged her tightly.
In the small courtyard, sobs and whimpers filled the air.
The old woman and the young girl laughed and cried, and they clumsily wiped each other's tears.
Qiaoying advised from the side, "Old lady, madam - Miss Song is back. Since you've finally met, you should be happy."
She had called Song Wanchu "madam" for three years. When they first met, she almost couldn't change her address.
Song Wanchu stopped crying first and used a silk handkerchief to wipe the old lady's tears.
"Wanchu is unfilial. I promised to accompany you for a lifetime, but I was willful and left, and - "
And she had caused the Duke's Mansion to lose its most outstanding heir.
The old lady held her hand and looked at her. "Why are you thinner? Is your heart ailment better?"
"It's almost completely cured."
Song Wanchu also carefully looked at the old lady.
The old lady was in good spirits. At the age of seventy - one, her eyes showed no sign of turbidity and still shone with a sharp light.
However, her hair had turned completely white, like a layer of snow covering her head. Her cheeks were sunken, clearly showing that she had been worrying day and night and was over - exhausted.
Tears welled up in her eyes again.
"As long as you're in good health and in a good mood, that's better than anything. If Zhou'er dares to bully you, you still tell me. Although I'm old, there are still people in my natal family in the south of the Yangtze River. I can still stand up for you."
The old lady joked.
Hearing her still call Liang Yuzhou "Zhou'er", Song Wanchu felt even more sad.
"Daoist Qingzhou pays respects to the old lady."
After more than a year, the grandparents and grandson finally met again.
Liang Yuzhou still knelt on the ground, with his eyelids lowered, full of guilt.
The tear in the corner of the old lady's eye finally rolled down, and the "Zhou'er" on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back.
"Daoist Qingzhou, please rise."
The old lady understood what Liang Yuzhou meant when he only called himself Daoist Qingzhou when he saw her. She also knew his determination.
His body and heart had long flown away with Wanchu. Even if he came back briefly, he would not renew his kinship with anyone in the Duke's Mansion.
Although the old lady felt infinite sorrow in her heart, she gave Liang Yuzhou a magnanimous smile.
Wasn't her greatest wish in this life to see her grandson find true happiness?
Now that he had found it, she should bless him.
Liang Yuzhou didn't get up immediately. He kowtowed three times. "Thank you, old lady, for your understanding."
After saying that, his eyes became slightly moist, and he didn't dare to look at the old lady's kind face.
Song Wanchu felt guilty and self - reproachful. Standing aside, she shed silent tears.
The old lady stepped forward and helped Liang Yuzhou up.
Then she placed Song Wanchu's hand in Liang Yuzhou's.
"I asked for Wanchu to be your wife back then because I hoped that the two of you would live in harmony. No matter where you are, as long as you're happy, that's enough. It doesn't matter if the Duke's Mansion is not your final destination. The world is vast. Go find a place you like."
The old lady was persuading the two of them not to feel guilty or have any psychological burdens.
Song Wanchu and Liang Yuzhou supported the old lady on either side and walked into the house.
"How is the old Duke?"
Liang Yuzhou asked, with a slight tremor in his eyes, but he didn't show too much emotion.
The old lady sighed softly. "He's awake. His life is saved, but his health is much worse. I'm afraid he won't be able to lead troops into battle anymore."
She showed a gentle smile to Wanchu. "Wanchu, I should thank you. You're so magnanimous that you agreed to let Daoist Qingzhou offer his heart - blood for my son. He caused your father to sacrifice on the battlefield. It's reasonable for you to hate him and the Duke's Mansion for a lifetime."
Song Wanchu had indeed hated them.
But time had diluted her hatred. Liang Yuzhou had truthfully told her the truth, and she now had a clearer target for her hatred.
"The Princess Dowager is the real culprit. She is the root of all the tragedies. She deserves to die."
Tears welled up in the old lady's eyes. She stroked Wanchu's face, her voice choking. "You grew up in an environment full of love. Your family gave you enough security, so you have the courage to pursue a pure love. Such love cannot be distorted even by hatred."
Liang Yuzhou stared deeply at Song Wanchu, and more guilt welled up in his heart.
He still had to spend his whole life making up for his beloved.
"Old lady, I hope you can give Wanchu a proper identity so that she can accompany you to the Spring Welcome Banquet."
The Spring Welcome Banquet was not only the Crown Prince's show but also his and Wanchu's.
The rumors from many years ago should be dispelled once and for all.
The old lady readily agreed. "This is not difficult. Wanchu will go with me tomorrow. I'll recognize Wanchu as my adopted granddaughter."
"Old lady, this..."
Song Wanchu was stunned.
If the old lady recognized her as her adopted granddaughter, given her current relationship with Liang Yuzhou, even if Liang Yuzhou returned to secular life, he would never be able to return to his ancestral family.