Chapter 125: An Eventful Autumn
Chapter 125: Chapter 125: An Eventful Autumn
He shoved the teacup, still half full, back into her hand. "Drink."
His tone was indifferent, and his expression perfectly calm.
Liang Wan, however, gripped the cup as if sitting on pins and needles, absolutely not daring to look at the Empress Dowager’s face. She held it like a burning coal, waiting for a long time but never experiencing the expected storm. If it were anyone else, being subjected to such blatant humiliation would have provoked them to either slam the table in outrage or at least turn visibly pale with anger.
Yet the Empress Dowager, apart from a complete lack of a smile, showed not the slightest trace of anger. Her cold, impassive demeanor was exactly cut from the same cloth as Lu Xiu’s. As expected of those meticulously trained by Master Lu.
She could handle the silence of two people, but the silence of three was simply too oppressive. Keeping her head bowed low, Liang Wan forced herself to endure the awkwardness and took a sip of the ’hot coal’ just to keep herself from looking too stiff.
After a moment of silence, the Empress Dowager smiled and looked at Liang Wan. "You have been in the Master’s Mansion for some days now, and I have always wanted to meet you. We were seated too far apart at the Thousand Autumn Banquet, so I simply summoned you to the palace today. In truth, there is nothing urgent; I merely wanted to offer a few words of advice."
Liang Wan set the cup down and gently raised her eyes. "I respectfully await the Empress Dowager’s instructions."
The Empress Dowager continued, "Now, in the Grandmaster’s presence, only he remains. Since you arrived there first, you are naturally more familiar with the household. That lady from the Cao Family shares the Empress’s temperament—both are gentle and virtuous. I only hope you all live together in harmony."
Liang Wan replied earnestly, "Please rest assured, Empress Dowager. I would never dare to forget my status."
The Empress Dowager then asked about the incident at the Thousand Autumn Banquet. Liang Wan repeated word for word what she had told Gao Qian.
"Obedient yet bold, and attentive too," the Empress Dowager said, looking at her with a smiling nod. "Your needlework is excellent. The Buddha statue you presented was exceedingly exquisite. In the future, when you have free time, you may visit Renshou Palace often."
Ah, that made sense. The Empress had presented the Buddha portrait she embroidered earlier to the Empress Dowager. Since Lu Xiu did not intervene, Liang Wan submissively agreed.
From beginning to end, the Empress Dowager’s gaze remained gentle, and her tone as mild as before. It seemed she had specially summoned her just for these few inconsequential words. After chatting idly for a while longer, the Empress Dowager ordered her attendants to escort Liang Wan out of the palace, as she had other matters to discuss with Lu Xiu.
Liang Wan curtsied and took her leave.
Just as she stepped out of the hall, she heard their voices inside once more.
"Tomorrow, I will go with the Emperor to observe the ceremony... No wonder you value her so highly. She indeed resembles—"
"The Empress Dowager misunderstands. Valuing her has nothing to do with anyone else..."
These few fragmented words drifted out from the deep palace halls behind her, and then she heard nothing more.
Liang Wan’s mind was still entirely dazed even after she got into the calf-drawn carriage. Her intuition told her that the Empress Dowager did not like her. Yet, she had invited her to visit Renshou Palace often.
The Empress Dowager clearly hadn’t intended to poison the tea, so why did Lu Xiu act like that? It was as if he were deliberately putting on a show for someone to see. And that resemblance—who exactly did she look like? Was the portrait in the suburban villa also a misunderstanding on her part? Zhou Yun had also mentioned she looked like someone...
No, none of these questions were what she should be worrying about!
Liang Wan lifted the curtain, and a gust of autumn wind immediately swept across her face. She closed her eyes, instantly feeling much more clear-headed. She only needed to fight to survive and exact her revenge! As for certain people and certain things, she could use them, but she didn’t need to take them to heart. In this life, she would only be loyal to herself...
The grain shop had been open for a few days, but she hadn’t visited yet. Because the mansion was busy preparing for Lu Xiu’s wedding, it was inappropriate for her to be coming and going freely. However, today presented a perfect opportunity, so she decided to go take a look.
Making up her mind, Liang Wan dropped the curtain and ordered the driver to head to the West Market.
The West Market had little foot traffic, poor business, and was gradually declining. Some shops were struggling to stay afloat, so as long as the price was right, it was easy to take them over. Because of her connection to Lu Xiu, she couldn’t engage in business herself, but Qiuxi was different. Once they had a storefront, adding a warehouse and hoarding goods would become reasonable. With Qiuxi overseeing the quality of the stock, she could be at ease. As for the Shopkeeper, Song Tan was responsible for finding one.
The newly opened shop was located on an inconspicuous street corner in the West Market. The storefront’s exterior remained mostly unchanged, with only the signboard replaced. Without a careful look, one wouldn’t even notice it had changed owners. To avoid attracting too much attention, Liang Wan had the carriage park on the adjacent street and walked the rest of the way.
This street was truly deserted. At a glance, every shop was completely devoid of customers.
"Liang—Madam, what brings you here?"
Qiuxi had just finished inspecting today’s shipment. Looking up and seeing Liang Wan, she was taken by surprise.
When out in public, calling her ’My Lady’ was inappropriate, and calling her ’Liang Ji’ was even worse. Thus, they had agreed beforehand that Liang Wan would pose as a widowed woman, addressed simply as ’Madam’. To make things more convenient, Qiuxi had also dressed as a married woman.
Liang Wan walked over with a smile and leaned in to inspect the newly arrived millet. It was bright yellow and plump. She then looked Qiuxi up and down. Wearing coarse linen clothes, her hair tied in a simple bun, and adorned with only a single silver hairpin, she looked less like a female boss and more like a hardworking young housewife.
Qiuxi didn’t rush to chat with Liang Wan. She earnestly finished counting and verifying the stock, signed the receipt, and let the Shopkeeper take over the rest. The Shopkeeper simply assumed Liang Wan was a major customer.
This was for the best.
The shop’s back door connected to a small courtyard. Qiuxi lived in the main room, while the side room housed the woman responsible for cooking and cleaning.
"This is just the grain shop; there’s still the medicinal herbs shop," Qiuxi said as they walked. "But for the herbs, I’m afraid—"
Liang Wan understood completely. Qiuxi didn’t know anything about medicinal herbs. "The mansion has been busy preparing for the wedding lately. Once these few days pass, I will come and select them myself."
In just a few days, Qiuxi looked noticeably thinner than before. Even though opening this shop wasn’t about making a profit, Qiuxi’s earnest nature meant she wanted to run it well.
After taking a look around, Liang Wan saw that it was getting late and didn’t dare linger any longer. Qiuxi escorted her out the door and toward the carriage.
Just as they turned the street corner, they saw a young woman pestering the driver and attendants, sobbing and wiping away tears as she spoke.
That woman was Yao Jinse.
Liang Wan quickened her pace and walked over steadily. It had been several days since Yao Jinse voluntarily showed up at her door, but what was her purpose for coming this time?
"Madam—" Qiuxi followed close behind.
Sensing someone approaching, Yao Jinse turned her head. Her teary eyes instantly lit up, and she let go of the attendant, lunging straight toward Liang Wan.
"Aunt!"
Liang Wan stopped at a distance and deftly dodged her grasp. Qiuxi stepped up beside her as well.
Knowing she had lost her composure, Yao Jinse couldn’t care less. With red-rimmed eyes, she cried out urgently, "Aunt, Eldest Aunt committed suicide!"
Liang Wan felt as if she had been heavily punched, her head buzzing wildly. Her legs turned to jelly and her heart trembled. Through gritted teeth, she demanded, "Explain yourself clearly."
Yao Jinse wiped her tears and sighed. "After you left that day, Eldest Aunt refused to eat or drink. My Mother-in-law and I tried to persuade her, but it was no use. This morning, she didn’t come out of her room for a long time. When we went in to check... she had hung herself from the rafters..."
Liang Wan grew stiff and cold. Her lips quivered and her teeth chattered. "Is she... dead?"
"Dead!" Yao Jinse inhaled sharply, her voice filled with resentment. "Aunt, you are so heartless! Why did you have to drive Eldest Aunt to her death?"
Liang Wan could no longer hear any voices. She just stared blankly as Yao Jinse’s mouth opened and closed.
"My Lady—" Quick-witted, Qiuxi caught her as she swayed, then turned to the attendant and gave him a specific address, ordering him to return to the mansion and report the news.
"I will accompany you to see the Eldest Madam off."