Chapter 21: Unscrupulous
Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Unscrupulous
Liang Wan’s heart skipped a beat. ’So Lu Xiu knows I did it!’
"I am the one who ruined Your Excellency’s mood this time. It won’t happen again." She offered up the wooden token with both hands—the very one with Liang Jiao’s name written on it.
"Throw it away," Lu Xiu said without taking it. He looked down, toying with the Pouch in his hands, and added casually, "If you’re going to do something like this in the future, don’t leave behind evidence that can be used against you."
Liang Wan froze. ’I thought Lu Xiu would question me, but I never expected him to just gloss over it like that?’
She tightened her grip on the wooden token. "Aren’t you going to ask me why, Your Excellency?"
Lu Xiu glanced up at her and chuckled softly. "Not interested."
’Right. Petty squabbles like this aren’t even worth mentioning in his eyes, much less the reasons behind them.’
’When he said the Peach Blossom Banquet was dull just now, he really meant it.’
’So where did I get the confidence to think he decided to stop attending future banquets because of me?’
Liang Wan took a deep breath, turned, and threw the wooden token out of the carriage window.
When she turned back, she saw the Pouch had been placed on the small table to the side, while Lu Xiu was leaning back, feigning sleep.
"Why did you add peach blossoms?" His voice was tinged with drowsiness.
Liang Wan lowered her head. ’I put so many different herbs in it, yet he could still smell the peach blossoms.’
Peach blossoms... they used to be her favorite flower.
But now, that girlish sentimentality was long gone. Her heart had been buried along with that corpse on a night of swirling snow.
Liang Wan quietly averted her gaze. The wind lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing willow-lined paths and peach blossom trails in the distance. "Adding a breath of spring makes the herbs smell more alive."
Lu Xiu didn’t speak again for the rest of the journey, so Liang Wan sat quietly to the side, careful not to disturb him.
She knew in her heart: this matter was far from over.
The long-eaved carriage stopped by the Si River as before. Liang Wan climbed out and watched it depart before heading toward the Liang Mansion, clutching her clothes.
It was dusk, and the setting sun cast its last splash of color across the sky.
When the main gates opened, the servants of the mansion were all surprised to see her return alone, dressed in a plain robe.
Qiuxi had just helped her change her clothes when hurried footsteps sounded outside the window, quickly approaching the door.
Liang Wan sat before the mirror, combing her hair.
"Third Lady, the Family Head requests your presence in the front hall."
The maid was a little out of breath and secretly glanced at her expression.
"Are they back?"
Liang Wan didn’t look away from her reflection in the mirror. The left side of her face was still red and swollen, and the ointment applied to it made it look frightfully grotesque.
The maid looked uncomfortable. She lowered her head and answered, "Yes, they are in the front hall."
Seeing that Liang Wan had no further instructions, she excused herself.
Qiuxi took the comb from Liang Wan’s hand. As time was short, she simply tied her hair back loosely.
By the time Liang Wan arrived at the front hall with Qiuxi, Liang Cheng was sitting in the main seat with a grim expression. Mrs. Zhang sat on the other side, covering her face and sobbing, while Mother stood beside her, comforting her in a low voice. The moment she saw Liang Wan, her mother’s eyes shot open, and she glared, her face ashen.
Liang Jiao stood in the hall with her head bowed, weeping softly. She hadn’t even had time to change and was still wearing the white dress from Yunyan Hall. Liang Zhang sat below them, scowling, his gloating expression growing more pronounced when he saw Liang Wan arrive.
Liang Wan glanced down at Chun’er, who lay beaten unconscious on the floor. She found it almost funny. ’The scene is clearly set for a trial, to bring me, the main culprit, to justice.’
"Get on your knees!"
Seeing that she had no intention of admitting her mistake, Madam He’s anger flared.
A small smile played on Liang Wan’s lips as she met her gaze unflinchingly, her tone innocent. "Mother, did I do something wrong?"
Mrs. Zhang lowered her handkerchief to look over. "Sister-in-law, she’s an unmarried young lady, yet she resorted to such despicable tactics! She’s ruined our Ajiao’s life, and now she’s completely unrepentant! My poor Ajiao, how will she ever face anyone again—"
With that, she went back to covering her face and crying pitifully, a stark contrast to the way she had looked ready to eat Liang Wan alive at Yunyan Hall.
Madam He was both ashamed and furious. "Kneel!"
Liang Wan remained unmoved.
Faced with such defiance, Madam He could bear it no longer. She raised her hand and rushed forward.
Liang Wan raised her own hand and caught her mother’s wrist firmly, then gave her a sharp push backward. Madam He stumbled back two steps, her eyes wide with disbelief, her chest heaving with rage.
Liang Wan paused before speaking. "Someone told me today that if anyone ever hits me again, I should hit them back. But you are my mother, so I cannot raise a hand against you. That doesn’t mean, however, that I will continue to let you hit and curse me as you please!"
Her voice was cool, and her face was devoid of expression.
But Madam He was so angry her hands were trembling. She pointed a shaky finger at her. "You wretched creature! How could I have given birth to someone so vicious, so willing to harm her own sister, so utterly shameless!"
Liang Zhang, with one leg crossed over the other, snorted from the side. "That’s nothing. You should have seen her at the banquet today, groveling and fawning all over that Lu Xiu. She was even alone with him in a private bath chamber, and Lu Xiu admitted it in front of everyone—"
The more Liang Zhang spoke, the paler Madam He’s face became. She pressed a hand to her temple, barely able to stand, her lips trembling. "Is... is what you’re saying... true?"
Liang Zhang chuckled. "True or not? Everyone there saw it with their own eyes. If you don’t believe me, just go out and ask around. See if there’s anyone who doesn’t know that the Liang Mansion’s Third Lady was shamelessly begging for Lu Xiu’s favor! Heh, she has utterly disgraced the Liang Mansion!"
Madam He looked as if she had been struck by a heavy club. Her mouth hung open, but no words came out. Suddenly, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.
The sudden turn of events sent everyone scrambling. Once the servants had carried Madam He out, Liang Cheng finally rose from his seat. Frowning, he said to Mrs. Zhang and the others, "You may all go back for now. Let me think about this matter."
After everyone had left, Liang Cheng slowly walked over, his face dark. "I never thought you would be so unscrupulous as to eliminate the threat Ajiao poses to you!"
’Liang Jiao’s threat?’
Liang Wan shook her head. "Uncle, do you really think the Grand Commandant would have taken an interest in Ajiao?"
’To think that such a scheme would make Lu Xiu take responsibility... I don’t know if that’s naive or just plain stupid!’
Liang Cheng was so furious he pointed a finger at her. "You had better make sure he *continues* to take an interest in you!"
Liang Wan bowed her head. "Thank you for the reminder, Uncle."
Liang Cheng shot her a vicious glare, his eyes roaring like the fiercest of beasts, ready to tear a person to shreds in an instant.
Liang Wan stood alone in the hall. She looked up at the plaque hanging high in the main hall and gave a slight, bitter smile.
’The wind shifts, the scent of orchids enters.’
It was written by Awen when he was still alive. Liang Wan stood there, lost in a daze for a long time.
When Qiuxi came in, she saw Liang Wan standing alone before the hall. Her slender waist was cinched beneath a wide dress, and her deliberately straightened back exuded a stubborn resilience.
Qiuxi approached and called out softly, "My Lady."
Liang Wan snapped out of her reverie and turned to look at her.
Qiuxi said in a low voice, "The First Mistress is fine."
"Are you still going to stay with me?"
Qiuxi’s round eyes widened, and she nodded vigorously.
Liang Wan smiled. "Then let’s go back."
’Today, I’ve made a complete break with the Liang Mansion.’
Liang Wan stepped out the door. She hadn’t walked far before she saw someone standing under a nearby corridor.