Song Wanchu didn't take out the bracelet. She just glanced at it and smiled calmly.
It seemed that Yu Huiyan had truly let go and found peace.
In the past, she clung stubbornly to the title of "childhood sweetheart" just to prove that Song Wanchu was the third party between her and Liang Yuzhou.
Now she finally understood that that "childhood sweetheart" time was just a fantasy in her own mind.
In fact, in the Duke's Mansion, she and Liang Yuzhou grew up separately. They lived in the same space but never had an emotional resonance.
Afterward, when she found that Liang Yuzhou didn't love her at all, she couldn't accept it. She could only force herself to hold tightly to the title of "childhood sweetheart" to continue numbing herself into believing that Liang Yuzhou still had feelings for her.
Finally, all her illusions were shattered. She finally understood in the last redemption Liang Yuzhou gave her that no matter what Liang Yuzhou did, his starting point was always for Song Wanchu.
This time, she really let go.
She hoped that Yu Huiyan would go to a new place and find a life truly belonging to her.
Song Wanchu gently closed the box.
As for what the bright red agate bracelet represented, she didn't need to delve into it anymore.
Liang Yuzhou had given her enough love and enough sense of security. She no longer needed external things to prove her status.
"Did Liang Yuchuan cause you any trouble?"
For Liang Yuzhou, the memories brought by the agate bracelet were not pleasant.
And such unpleasantness was caused by his own actions in the past.
He also knew that Wanchu no longer needed to hear his repeated confessions.
So he let the matter of the agate bracelet pass.
Yinglan said, "He was extremely reluctant to let Miss Yu go, but the maid and Xia He beat him up, and then he got scared and obediently wrote the document to release his concubine."
"Miss Yu also spat hard on his face, which relieved her hatred."
Xia He pursed her lips and smiled.
Liang Yuzhou snorted softly. "In the past, he was just brainless. Now he doesn't even have a bit of backbone."
He was too lazy to bother with such a person anymore.
In the small courtyard in late autumn, time passed peacefully.
...
After the morning court, the Crown Prince went to the Yukun Palace.
"The weather is getting colder. Mianmian knows that Your Majesty's rheumatism flares up badly in autumn, so she rushed to sew a pair of knee pads by herself. They are made of rabbit fur, light and warm, and not too luxurious. Mianmian specifically told me to deliver them to Your Majesty personally."
The Queen reached out to take the knee pads. The pattern embroidered on them was a lucky fish pattern with simple lines and not particularly good stitches.
She knew that Cheng Simian was not good at needlework.
No one was perfect, but Mianmian was sincere. A gift was valuable for its sentiment.
She didn't ask a maid good at needlework to make a perfect pair of knee pads, which was enough to show her frankness.
The Queen liked her naturalness.
"Since they were made by Mianmian herself, why didn't she come to deliver them in person?"
The Crown Prince looked natural. "There are many people and complex affairs in the Eastern Palace. Mianmian has just taken over and is always a bit overwhelmed. So I made the decision to deliver them for her."
The Queen knew her son best. She could see at a glance whether he was telling the truth.
He must have something to say to her but didn't want Mianmian to be present.
She asked the Crown Prince to sit down, and the maids served snacks and tea.
The Crown Prince wasn't in a hurry. He ate some snacks and chatted with the Queen for a while about Lingyang's grand wedding.
"Speaking of my sister, I remember that Aunt Daiying is also twenty - five this year."
At this time, Daiying had gone to deliver something to Princess Lingyang and was not by the Queen's side.
The Queen picked up the teacup and took a sip, trying to figure out the Crown Prince's thoughts.
It wasn't something rare for a son to ask his mother for a favored maid.
Daiying was from an official family, with noble manners and good looks. She could catch the Crown Prince's eye.
The premise was that Cheng Simian, the Crown Princess, didn't exist.
So what was the Crown Prince's intention in mentioning Daiying?
The Queen really couldn't figure it out for a while.
"At the end of the year, a group of maids and female officials who have reached the right age will be allowed to leave the palace. Her family has already found a good match for her. They are just waiting for Daiying to go back to propose marriage."
The Crown Prince took out another thing, a sandalwood incense box.
"Speaking of it, Daiying has also helped Mianmian. Mianmian always remembers her kindness. To show her gratitude to Your Majesty, she specially sent a little gift as a farewell present for Daiying."
The Queen was pleased with Cheng Simian's thoughtfulness.
It was already rare to care about her subordinates. What was even rarer was that her concern for Daiying showed her respect for the Queen.
The Queen told someone to take it.
"Daiying has served Your Majesty for more than ten years. When she leaves, Your Majesty will be short of a capable person by your side. Have you thought about who will take over this position as the female official?"
Only then did the Queen understand the Crown Prince's intention.
"Hong'er has a suitable candidate?"
"I really have one by my side. She has been lurking beside Lu Ningzhen for six years for me and has passed on a lot of important information. Her contribution is invaluable. Her father was also an upright official who exposed Yu Jingnian's corruption. Now he has received the grace of the Emperor and has been promoted to the Minister of the Ministry of Works. He will soon take up his post in the capital. With Qian'er's background and ability, I think she is fully qualified to take over Daiying's position."
The Queen sneered. Her eyes were clear, and she had seen through everything.
"Of course, I can trust such a girl. But a girl who is willing to hide for you for six years and go deep into the tiger's den must not only be for the glory of her family but also have feelings for you, right?"
In this world, what often makes a woman go through fire and water is always feelings.
Especially the feelings for the beloved.
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment. He couldn't deny this question.
The Queen opened the lid of the incense burner and stirred the almost burned - out heart - shaped incense.
"Is it your idea or Mianmian's—"
"It's my idea. Mianmian strongly advised me to keep Qian'er and make her a concubine later, but I don't want to break my promise to her back then."
"Look at you. I haven't even asked yet, and you've cleared Mianmian completely."
Only then did the Queen finally understand why Cheng Simian didn't come with the Crown Prince to deliver the knee pads today.
The Crown Prince really doted on Mianmian like the apple of his eye and protected her tightly.
"Anyway, there are still three months before Daiying leaves the palace. There's no need to be in a hurry about this matter."
The Crown Prince's eyes dimmed.
It seemed that there was no hope from the Queen's side.
Everyone thought that keeping Qian'er was the right choice.
Even if he really kept her and even made her a concubine, Mianmian wouldn't resent him.
But he couldn't get over his own inner hurdle.
He couldn't betray his original intention, and he couldn't betray Mianmian either.
After leaving the Yukun Palace, all kinds of worries weighed on his mind.
Xiao Anzi hadn't seen the Crown Prince so heavy - hearted for a long time.
The whole person seemed to be shrouded in a haze.
He couldn't help but talk too much: "Your Highness, Miss Jiang's father is already a high - ranking official of the third rank. Her family is noble. If you find a well - matched marriage for her and give her a large dowry, Miss Jiang and her family won't fail to appreciate your kindness."
"Then do you think there will be people outside gossiping that it was the Crown Princess's idea?"
Xiao Anzi closed his mouth tightly.
"What if someone takes the initiative to propose marriage?"
"Everyone knows that her whole family are my meritorious officials. Even a fool can see what it means if Qian'er enters the Eastern Palace. Who would dare to propose marriage?"
"Your Highness, we can arrange someone to propose marriage..."