Chapter 20: A Turn of Events
Chapter 20: Chapter 20: A Turn of Events
Liang Jiao was stunned by the sudden turn of events. She stood to the side, feigning innocence. "Sister! How could you frame me like this?"
Liang Wan’s ears were ringing from the slap. ’This Mrs. Zhang is ruthless!’
"The Fourth Lady was indeed framed!"
Feng Qingyue walked forward from the crowd, and all eyes fell upon her.
"The list of assignments for the private rooms was my doing. I know the arrangements better than anyone. This room was indeed meant for the Fourth Lady; there’s no mistake about that. I just don’t know why her wooden token was swapped with Wang Xiaolang’s."
She finished speaking slowly, then turned to Liang Wan, her eyes filled with a venomous smile. "Third Lady, when I passed by just now, I believe I saw you at this door!"
At these words, the gazes that turned toward Liang Wan were filled with contempt. ’To frame her own sister and make her lose her chastity to another man, all to snatch a man for herself—how vicious!’
With an eyewitness, Mrs. Zhang immediately raised her hand to slap her again.
But before she could, Liang Wan was pushed aside. Wang Tingyue, his eyes dark, looked at Liang Wan and asked softly, "Did you do this?"
Liang Wan’s face was burning and throbbing. She didn’t dare to raise her head, much less look at him.
Liang Jiao truly liked Wang Tingyue and truly wanted to marry him. But his birth mother was of low status, and he was an illegitimate son. Most importantly, he was not favored by Wang Su, so Liang Cheng and Mrs. Zhang would never agree to this marriage.
’Liang Jiao knew it was hopeless. That’s why she took advantage of Mrs. Zhang’s plan to have me lose my chastity to Lu Xiu, and instead switched the man to Wang Tingyue.’
’As for why I helped Liang Jiao... I had my own plans.’
Feng Qingyue saw Liang Wan’s stiff expression and gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Now, all we have to do is find the person who hid the wooden token, and we’ll know who did it, won’t we?"
Wang Tingyue seemed not to hear. He simply crouched down, glaring hatefully at Liang Wan, and enunciated each word, "Was. It. You?"
Liang Wan didn’t look up, but she could still see the veins bulging on his fists, clenched at his sides.
"How did you become like this?" he asked, his voice heavy with grief as he suppressed his rage.
Liang Wan’s face was wooden as she slowly raised her head. In his familiar, sharp-browed, clear eyes, there was only extreme disgust and disappointment.
She suddenly remembered the first time she had seen him when they were children.
Back then, Awen was still the Imperial Tutor. He had taken her to visit the Prince Mansion. In the courtyard, a group of children were playing boisterously, but Wang Tingyue was sitting alone by the lotus pond, tossing pebbles.
She later learned that because his birth mother was a lowly maid, he was ostracized in the mansion. She had expected someone like that to be eccentric and withdrawn, but he wasn’t at all. On the contrary, his speech and actions were as steady as an adult’s, and he never bothered to squabble with the others.
No matter what Wang Su did, Wang Tingyue always treated her the same.
She had indeed helped Liang Jiao scheme against and frame him.
If Wang Tingyue represented one of the few sincere things she had in her past life, then from the moment she agreed to help Liang Jiao, she had personally shattered that sincerity with her own hands.
Liang Wan’s lips moved, and a dull ache spread somewhere deep inside her.
"She was with me the whole time."
Looking toward the voice, they saw Lu Xiu, who had silently emerged from the private room at some point. He stood at the doorway, cold and aloof. "Get up."
The people who had been enjoying the show fell silent the moment they saw Lu Xiu step forward.
Seeing the situation change, Feng Qingyue bowed to Lu Xiu.
"Grand Commandant, Third Lady Liang and I are close friends, but this matter concerns the innocence and reputation of the Fourth Lady and Wang Xiaolang. Since I am responsible for the room assignments, I cannot show favoritism. They deserve an explanation, one way or another."
Lu Xiu walked straight to Liang Wan and looked down at her. "If I had known you were this useless, I shouldn’t have agreed to your request."
’I was listening from inside for a long time. I thought a woman who dared to kill would have some backbone, but she’s just been standing there like a mute, not saying a single word!’
’I was beaten right at his door, but he never came out. I’d written him off, but now he’s clearly stating he "agreed" to something.’
’Agreed to what? The marriage?’
Everyone present looked at each other, no longer daring to underestimate her.
Lu Xiu bent down and looked at her half-red, half-swollen face, sneering lightly. "You got beaten this badly in such a short time? In the future, however someone hits you, you hit them back the same way. I don’t want a useless person."
Mrs. Zhang stood to the side, her face as white as paper, furious and resentful. ’I am the wife of a fourth-rank official, after all! He didn’t leave me a shred of dignity!’
Seeing that Liang Wan hadn’t moved, Lu Xiu frowned. "Still not getting up? If you’re going to be weak, at least be weak in the right places."
His gaze was terrifyingly cold. Liang Wan shivered and was about to scramble up when he yanked her up by the back of her collar. "Utterly useless."
Liang Wan’s heart pounded. She knew Lu Xiu wasn’t joking, and she knew what that "useless" implied.
Feng Qingyue, not giving up, stepped forward to block Liang Wan. "Third Lady, don’t you want to prove your innocence?"
Liang Wan ignored her and turned her gaze to Liang Jiao. "What do you want me to say?"
Liang Jiao’s back stiffened. ’In my panic, I just wanted to save face. But if I really push her and she reveals everything, my marriage prospects and my reputation will be ruined. Wouldn’t I end up losing everything and gaining nothing?’
When Mrs. Zhang saw Liang Jiao’s expression change, she understood most of the situation and didn’t dare to stop them any longer.
Liang Wan walked around Feng Qingyue and followed directly behind Lu Xiu as he left.
Feng Qingyue said urgently, "Grand Commandant! This matter hasn’t been investigated yet. How can this be a proper explanation for everyone?"
Lu Xiu’s steps paused. Without turning his head, he said, "An explanation?"
The air froze. Only the GURGLING sound of a spring could be heard.
His thin lips pressed together, and he shook his head slightly. "This Peach Blossom Banquet is dreadfully dull. There’s no need to come in the future."
With that, he walked toward the exit, Liang Wan following behind him.
Princess Lanling and her retinue had just arrived, surrounded by her male companions, only to see Lu Xiu already leaving Yunyan Hall with Liang Wan. Seeing the teary-eyed Miss Liang Si and the grim-faced Wang Tingyue, she looked at Feng Qingyue in confusion. "What happened?"
Feng Qingyue’s expression was ugly.
The Crown Prince’s Tutor raised an eyebrow at the ashen-faced Feng Qingyue and gave her a thumbs-up. "This young lady will have a great future!"
’Daring to ask Lu Xiu for an explanation...’
Before Feng Qingyue could make a sound, the Crown Prince’s Tutor turned to Princess Lanling with a smile. "Your Highness, shall we begin the wine-cup-floating banquet? It seems someone found it boring and left early."
Beneath the eaves of the corridor, his simple, wide, snow-white robes swayed lightly with his steps. Liang Wan followed carefully behind Lu Xiu, her heart pounding like a drum. ’I’ve ruined his mood. I don’t know what awaits me now.’
As she lowered her gaze, she inadvertently glimpsed a silver peony embroidered beneath the hem of his fluttering robe. It was exquisite yet inconspicuous.
’I suddenly feel that the Pouch shouldn’t have been embroidered with a Pine Stone Pattern.’
By the time Liang Wan climbed into the long-eaved carriage, Lu Xiu was already leaning against one side, resting with his eyes closed. On the other side were the belongings she had come with—not a single item was missing!
She lowered her head, sat down carefully, and discreetly put away the Pouch that was on top of the pile.
"Give it here."
Lu Xiu’s cool, detached voice sounded out.
Liang Wan looked up and saw his outstretched hand.
She hesitated. ’I only embroidered this Pouch to put on a show for Mrs. Zhang, so the needlework is really sloppy. But if he wants it, I have to give it to him.’
Liang Wan had no choice but to place the Pouch she had just put away into his hand.
The hand holding the Pouch paused. Lu Xiu opened his eyes and looked at her, somewhat puzzled.
Liang Wan gave an awkward smile. "That one was rushed, so it’s not very good. If you don’t mind it, My Lord, you can keep it. I’ll embroider a better one for you next time."
Lu Xiu lowered his eyes and stared at the Pouch in his hand. "You made this for me?"
Liang Wan nodded. "It was rather rushed, so the workmanship is a bit rough."
Lu Xiu turned it over and over in his hands. "It is indeed a bit ugly. However, what I asked for was the wooden token."