When Yu Huiyan woke up again, the first thing she saw was Liang Yuchuan's gloomy face.
His eyes were cold, filled with heartless mockery.
Yu Huiyan was so frightened that she let out a shrill scream as if she had seen a ghost. It seemed that all the bones in her body started to twist painfully again.
Gasping for breath, she desperately shrank back, curling herself into a ball and shivering.
Liang Yuchuan watched her disheveled and terrified appearance and let out a sinister laugh.
The laugh was spine - chilling.
"Stay away from me! Stay away!"
Liang Yuchuan showed no mercy. He raised his hand and slapped her hard.
The swelling on Yu Huiyan's face hadn't subsided yet. After this slap, the new and old wounds overlapped, and her cheek burned with pain as if it had been branded by a hot iron.
"Liang Yuchuan, how dare you hit me! My cousin will soon come to rescue me when he knows I'm suffering..."
Liang Yuchuan burst into crazy laughter, with the muscles on his face twitching and distorting wildly.
Yu Huiyan was so scared that she hugged her knees tightly and sobbed softly.
The man in front of her was like a wild beast that had lost its mind, as if he would tear her apart at any moment.
She was extremely scared. Who could come to save her?
Suddenly, Liang Yuchuan grabbed her hair tightly. Yu Huiyan cried out in pain.
"You bitch, still daydreaming? Do you think Cai Die was redeemed by the old madam? How could the old madam care about her? It was Liang Yuzhou! He is always good at planning ahead. He had already predicted that you would disrupt Song Wanchu's ceremony of being conferred the title of princess. He saw through you long ago. You're just a disgusting maggot wherever you go!"
Liang Yuchuan spat on her face. His disgust for her was almost overflowing from his eyes.
Yu Huiyan was like a dying fish, gasping for breath desperately but getting no air at all.
"Everything Liang Yuzhou does is for Song Wanchu. And what are you? You're just a dog at his feet!"
Liang Yuchuan showed no pity for her. He continued to mock her mercilessly, every word hitting her hard.
"When you were useful to him, he gave you some favors. When you became useless, he didn't even look at you and just kicked you away. Do you really think you're his childhood sweetheart?"
Yu Huiyan broke down and cried loudly.
Liang Yuchuan found her noisy. He slapped her again and grabbed her neck, forcing her crying to stop abruptly.
Yu Huiyan gasped for breath with difficulty. Her face turned as red as pig liver.
She didn't even have the strength to break Liang Yuchuan's fingers.
Liang Yuchuan got closer to her face, sneered with a ferocious expression, "Yu Huiyan, you're already lucky enough. After doing so many evil things, the Duke's Mansion still spared your life. It doesn't matter. Your karma is me. For the rest of your life, you'll suffer in my hands!"
Suddenly, his tone softened. He stroked her hair bun. Yu Huiyan instantly got goosebumps all over her body and trembled wildly.
She was extremely scared. She would rather die than face Liang Yuchuan.
"Aunt, I was wrong. I'm really wrong..."
Unfortunately, her miserable cries would never get any response.
...
In the afternoon, Liang Yuzhou escorted Song Wanchu into the palace to express gratitude.
Neither of them mentioned Yu Huiyan, as if she was just an insignificant episode.
Song Wanchu had already guessed that Cai Die's appearance was deliberately arranged by Liang Yuzhou.
The old madam was strict in managing the family. The gates of the Duke's Mansion couldn't be opened casually, not to mention that Yu Huiyan could buy off the gatekeepers with money.
Those gatekeepers had served the old madam for twenty or thirty years. They were loyal and would never be bought off by any amount of money.
Liang Yuzhou already knew that Yu Huiyan had entered Xiangxue Pavilion last night.
His insight into people's hearts was terrifying. He guessed that Princess Jiahe would be soft - hearted, and he also guessed that Yu Huiyan would be unwilling to see her in the limelight and would surely make a scene to disgust her.
Cai Die was the maid who had served Yu Huiyan for the longest time. Every word she said was very credible.
Only when she personally exposed Yu Huiyan's true face would Princess Jiahe be angry, disappointed, and completely give up saving Yu Huiyan.
Thinking of this, Song Wanchu tightened her grip on Liang Yuzhou's hand.
Compared with the life - and - death experiences she and he had gone through, dealing with Yu Huiyan was really not a big deal.
But she still couldn't help being touched. She was touched by every step Liang Yuzhou took for her in the details, protecting and planning for her.
This man always planned ahead. When the storm came, she could safely hide behind him without getting a single leaf on her.
When Yu Huiyan fainted and was dragged out, Liang Yuzhou's expression remained calm. He had no extra emotions for this cousin who had grown up with him.
Song Wanchu didn't feel sorry for Yu Huiyan. She sighed that Yu Huiyan didn't have to have such a miserable life in the second half.
There were so many chances for her to be saved, but every time her twisted jealousy would make Yu Huiyan lose her mind and do things that angered both heaven and earth.
She was always trapped in the cage she had woven for herself.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate. Liang Yuzhou jumped out of the carriage first.
Song Wanchu stretched out her hand, but Liang Yuzhou directly put his arm around her waist and carried her out.
Their bodies were tightly pressed together. Although the winter clothes were thick, his body temperature seemed to be penetrating, burning her body.
Song Wanchu blushed with shame and gave him a reproachful look, "This is the palace gate!"
"So what about the palace gate? Even if we were at the Southern Heavenly Gate, I would still let all the gods know that you're my wife."
He was really extremely arrogant.
Li Luxiang came to the palace gate to greet them in person.
"Princess, the emperor and the empress are waiting for you in Yukun Palace. Please follow me."
According to the rules, Song Wanchu could take two maids with her for service.
She left Nanzhi and Suyue at home and took Yinglan and Xiahe.
When it came to being bold and careful, it had to be the people trained by Liang Yuzhou.
Not for anything else, but to guard against Princess Lingyang.
Liang Yuzhou watched Song Wanchu enter the harem.
On the long corridor, her graceful figure gradually became smaller.
She carried herself with dignity and walked steadily without looking back.
Liang Yuzhou knew that Wanchu was at ease because he would always be behind her.
Not long after, Zhou Sheng came back and whispered in his ear, "Aunt Fang sent a message. Princess Lingyang went to the training ground today."
Aunt Fang had helped the crown prince expose Lu Ningzhen. The empress specifically asked her if she wanted to leave the palace or stay.
Aunt Fang chose to stay in the palace. According to the crown prince's suggestion, the empress arranged her beside Princess Lingyang.
Princess Lingyang was close to the empress dowager when she was young and was willing to respect Aunt Fang.
The empress also hoped that Aunt Fang could discipline Princess Lingyang well.
Liang Yuzhou nodded. His eyes were dim.
Song Wanchu entered Yukun Palace and paid respects to the emperor and the empress.
The emperor asked her a few ordinary questions and then talked about her father, praising her father for his bravery, heroism, and righteousness.
Song Wanchu nodded in response. When it came to her father, her eyes welled up with tears.
The emperor left after sitting for a while.
He didn't seem to be in good spirits. His face looked haggard, as if he was sick.
He was not even fifty years old, still in his prime, but his white hair seemed to have increased overnight.
Was it because of Lu Ningzhen?
As soon as the emperor left, the empress relaxed a lot. She took Song Wanchu's hand and chatted with her warmly.
"The palace knows that you don't want to stay in the capital. Before you came, the palace told the emperor. The emperor has allowed you to settle in the south of the Yangtze River and has specially ordered Yunzhou to build a princess mansion for you. On the one hand, it shows the emperor's grace. On the other hand, you can often meet your relatives from your maternal grandfather's family."
Song Wanchu quickly said, "I can pay for the construction of the mansion myself. I dare not use the state treasury."
The empress smiled, feeling pleased.
Sure enough, she was a smart and sensible girl.
It was a pity that the crown prince couldn't compete with Liang Yuzhou.
Just then, an announcement came from outside, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here!"