On the last day of the first lunar month, a grand spring welcome banquet was held in the palace.
Carriages of official wives, ladies, and noble girls streamed into the palace one after another.
The old lady of the Duke's Mansion, Princess Jiahe, and Song Wanchu rode in the same carriage.
The carriage was spacious and comfortable, but the atmosphere was a bit strange.
Princess Jiahe already knew that the old lady had recognized Song Wanchu as her adopted granddaughter.
She also knew what this meant.
Her only son would never come back.
He would no longer have any status in the Duke's Mansion.
From then on, he would only belong to Song Wanchu.
Song Wanchu thought that Princess Jiahe would hurl insults at her and blame her for the loss of her son.
She thought the princess would hate her as always.
However, Princess Jiahe remained silent throughout the journey.
She would glance at Song Wanchu from time to time. Her eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions, neither hatred nor resentment.
Song Wanchu couldn't understand. She looked at the old lady in confusion.
But the old lady was leisurely closing her eyes and resting.
When they were almost at the palace gate, Princess Jiahe finally spoke.
She seemed to have hesitated for a long time before making up her mind to speak. Her voice was hoarse. "I don't blame you."
Song Wanchu naturally knew what she was referring to.
She gave a calm smile. "Thank you, Princess, for your understanding."
Princess Jiahe pursed her lips. After a moment of consideration, she said again, "You should actually blame me."
In the past, she had looked down on Song Wanchu's family background. She thought Song Wanchu was even overqualified to be Liang Yuzhou's concubine.
In the past three years, she had been extremely critical and difficult towards Song Wanchu.
She had even caused Song Wanchu to miscarry on a snowy night, resulting in the loss of a child.
When Yu Huiyan framed Song Wanchu for having an affair with Du Yong, she had been the most eager one to catch them.
Looking at Song Wanchu's calm eyes, Princess Jiahe felt even more ashamed. "In the past, I treated you badly. You saved my son's life, but I treated you like an enemy..."
Her voice gradually choked. "You must hate me very much."
Song Wanchu found Princess Jiahe's sudden magnanimity and repentance a bit strange, but she quickly understood.
Perhaps, after seeing a part of the real Yu Huiyan and no longer being easily instigated by her, the princess had learned to look at her from another perspective.
Song Wanchu wouldn't feel relieved or excited because of Princess Jiahe's repentance.
Princess Jiahe had never been an important person in her life.
In the past, she hadn't wanted to fall out with the princess because of Liang Yuzhou.
Now that there were no more misunderstandings between her and Liang Yuzhou, there was even less reason to do so.
In response to Princess Jiahe's repentance, Song Wanchu said, "I don't hate you. Hatred requires more intense emotions than love. It's not worth punishing myself with past pain."
The old lady's eyes quietly turned towards Song Wanchu.
She still didn't say a word, but this subtle movement fully showed her approval of Song Wanchu's approach.
It was indeed not worth wasting emotions on unimportant people.
Princess Jiahe felt even more ashamed.
She could have gotten along well with Song Wanchu.
But she had chosen the most stupid way to confront her.
All the past contempt, humiliation, and ridicule towards Song Wanchu had turned into invisible sharp swords, punishing her with heart - wrenching pain every day.
She also had to bear the pain of losing her son forever.
This was her retribution.
At the palace gate, the noble families entered the palace in order of their titles and official ranks.
After a year's absence, Song Wanchu reappeared in the capital. Appearing beside the old lady of the Duke's Mansion as her granddaughter naturally caused quite a stir.
However, due to the strict palace rules, people didn't dare to talk loudly. They only whispered to each other.
Liang Yuzhou had told her that no matter what people said, she didn't need to pay attention or let it affect her mood.
He had been very mysterious. Song Wanchu couldn't get any information from him, so she didn't want to waste her brain trying to guess.
Behind the four carriages of the Duke's Mansion were eight carriages of the Marquis's Mansions.
Song Wanchu saw the carriage of the Marquis of Wude's Mansion.
Cheng Simian accompanied Lady Rong out of the carriage.
"Wanchu!" As soon as she saw Song Wanchu, she called out affectionately.
Song Wanchu smiled in return.
"Greetings to Lady Rong." She then bowed to Lady Rong as a junior.
Lady Rong respectfully bowed to the old lady and Princess Jiahe.
Seeing that Cheng Simian and her mother looked radiant, Song Wanchu was delighted. She knew that the inner courtyard of the Marquis of Wude's Mansion had basically been cleaned up.
Last night, Liang Yuzhou had told her that the vicious Concubine Yu had been arrested by Shi Jinglu himself.
Hiring a murderer and deliberately ruining the innocence of an unmarried woman was a serious crime. The most severe punishment could be hanging.
Regarding this matter, Cheng Yong had no attitude at all. He simply pretended to be dead.
The palace gate was not a suitable place to discuss family scandals. After exchanging a few polite greetings, everyone was about to enter the palace.
"Her Royal Highness the Princess and His Highness the Second Prince are coming!"
A high - pitched and shrill voice sounded. Everyone quickly knelt down to pay their respects.
The princess's sedan chair was magnificent and resplendent, showing extreme luxury.
Behind it was the carriage of the Second Prince, Lu Siming.
Lu Siming was much more low - key. The curtains of his carriage were plain, and there were no fancy decorations.
The princess's sedan chair stopped in front of Song Wanchu.
It was hard to tell whether it was intentional or not.
She lifted the curtain and glanced at Song Wanchu casually.
Her eyes were filled with a cold chill. If it were tangible, it would be a sharp ice pick, piercing into the body and making one shiver.
"Song Wanchu."
She seemed to want to chew this name to pieces in her mouth. "After a year's absence, you still look like a femme fatale."
In front of many noble families, the princess openly humiliated Song Wanchu. She really hated her to the core.
The princess blamed all her past failures on Song Wanchu's captivating face.
If she hadn't married Liang Yuzhou, Yu Huiyan and Liang Yuzhou's marriage would have been settled long ago.
She would have been able to successfully win over Liang Yuzhou and use the power of the Duke's Mansion for her own purposes.
If Liang Yuzhou hadn't become a monk because of Song Wanchu, she wouldn't have had to go to so much trouble to promote Liang Yuzhuan.
Song Wanchu was already used to the princess's viciousness.
The princess was in power at the moment. It was very unwise to fight for a momentary victory in front of everyone.
However, the usually prudent and quiet Cheng Simian smiled and looked at the princess.
"Your Highness is absolutely right. Wanchu is indeed a beauty. If this beauty only brings misfortune to one man, then it is a truly moving love. It seems that 'femme fatale' may not necessarily be a derogatory term."
Her words were very clever.
Without denying the princess, she turned the princess's original malicious humiliation into praise.
Song Wanchu was deeply touched. A warm current flowed through her body.
Simian, a person who was so cautious in her words and cold in her personality, was actually willing to refute the princess in public for her.
Moreover, the princess couldn't even get angry.
"So this is the eldest legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wude, Miss Cheng?"
The curtain of Lu Siming's carriage was lifted, and his soft voice came out.