Chapter 55: A Happy Occasion
Chapter 55: Chapter 55: A Happy Occasion
As the saying goes, good fortune brings good spirits. Liang Cheng had enjoyed a streak of happy events over the past two days. His only son was about to marry his new bride. Furthermore, there were hidden circumstances behind Wang Su’s coin-forging case; Liang Cheng had swallowed his pride and stayed by Wang Su’s side just to pry for clues. This merit was duly rewarded by the Emperor, who promoted him to Middle Doctor.
The sixth of April was the day of Liang Zhang’s wedding.
Before the sky was fully light, the murmur of voices drifted in from outside the courtyard. The bustling had not ceased since last night. Liang Wan was a light sleeper, easily awakened by the slightest noise. Since she could not fall back asleep anyway, she simply got out of bed to wash up, change her clothes, and eat breakfast. After all, it was a grand and joyous day. Qiuxi had specially prepared a water-red blouse with large sleeves, but Liang Wan opted for a Jialing water-green one adorned with sunflower patterns. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she smiled faintly. Red flowers always needed green leaves to make them stand out, and she was more than willing to play the part of the green leaf.
Like any other household, the Liang Mansion hosted most of the congratulatory guests in the front courtyard. Only female relatives with close ties were permitted into the back courtyard.
Qiuxi set down the comb and asked, "Are you heading out now, My Lady?"
Liang Wan was about to nod and go entertain the guests when she heard footsteps approaching in the courtyard. Pursing her lips into a smile, she said, "Go prepare some tea instead."
With that, she rose and walked into the outer room just as the visitor pushed the door open and entered. The woman wore her hair in a soaring startled-swan chignon, dressed in a persimmon-red skirt and adorned with dazzling pearls and jade. Dripping in jewels, she was none other than the eldest daughter of the Liang Mansion, Liang Jing, who was now the Heir of Marquis Wen. Liang Jing was her biological Sister, five years her senior.
"Sister, you’re here quite early," Liang Wan said, standing her ground without stepping forward to welcome her.
Liang Jing swept her gaze across the room and seated herself directly in the seat of honor. Liang Wan sat opposite her, expressionless and silent.
Once settled, Liang Jing simply stared at her with a scant smile. "The Princely Heir has been ill for a long time without recovery, so I’ve been unable to step away. He has finally shown some improvement recently, so no matter what, I had to come for Liang Zhang’s wedding. We must help out and contribute where we can. Don’t you agree?"
Her scrutinizing gaze carried an unbearable weight of oppression. Qiuxi brewed the tea and retreated to the side. Liang Wan gave a noncommittal smile. "You are right, Sister."
Liang Jing glanced at the tea but did not touch it. Her tone was icy. "Awan, you are fully grown now. Why do you still act so impulsively and recklessly?"
Perhaps realizing her attitude was too harsh, she slightly relaxed her furrowed brows. "Mother told me about your situation. Since Father passed away, everyone knows she has been having a hard time. Why didn’t you properly serve and comfort her by her side, but instead anger her to such a state? What if you actually caused her health to fail?
"Do you know that the moment I entered the room, she grabbed onto me, crying her eyes out? Tell me, do you not feel the slightest bit of guilt?"
A cold smirk lurked at the corners of Liang Wan’s lips. Seeing her remain silent, Liang Jing continued, "I know you have your own plans, and it is true that Uncle is profit-mongering and calculating. But don’t forget, we both share the Liang surname. The Liang Family shares in each other’s glory and disgrace. Even if Uncle is in the wrong, he has at least been taking care of you and Mother all this time, hasn’t he?"
Liang Wan’s fingers turned pale inside her sleeves as she clenched her fists. She raised her eyes slightly. "Did you come back to congratulate Brother, Sister, or did you come specifically to lecture me?"
Liang Jing looked taken aback, a hint of displeasure crossing her face. "If you weren’t my biological sister, why would I even bother lecturing you?"
Yes, it was this same old excuse again! Liang Wan blinked her clear, striking eyes and looked at her with a faint smile. "So what? What do you think I should do, Sister? Should I have just obediently married into the Sikong Mansion back then?"
Liang Jing’s expression stiffened, her dissatisfaction deepening. "Things have already come to this, so let’s not talk about the past. From what I know, your relationship with Aunt and Ajiao is also terrible. To tell the truth, after you ruined Ajiao like that, you should be thankful that Uncle and Aunt didn’t kick you out of the house. Why won’t you restrain yourself a bit? Look at Ajiao. She used to be such a cheerful person, and look how haggard she has become! Awan, enough is enough!"
Liang Wan set down her teacup and looked over with cold eyes. "Do you have anything else to say, Sister?"
Liang Jing had not expected her to be so utterly deaf to reason. Unable to maintain even a trace of a smile, she snapped, "Do you think you can act so tough just because you’ve met the Empress a few times and latched onto Mrs. Zhou?"
"I suppose so."
Liang Jing choked with anger. "If you are of no use in their eyes, how much do you think you’re really worth?" With that, she stood up, shot Liang Wan a cold glare, and stormed out with a flick of her sleeves.
Liang Wan lazily raised her hand, picked up her tea, and took a shallow sip. She would never forget how Qiuxi had died in her past life. They had no right to question her!
Seeing Liang Wan’s pale complexion, Qiuxi bit her lip and asked tentatively, "Are you still going, My Lady?"
Liang Wan lowered her eyes. "Yes."
Qiuxi sighed. "Please don’t take the Eldest Daughter’s words to heart."
Liang Wan put down her teacup and gave her a warm smile. In the past, she certainly would have taken it to heart. But now, what did she have left to care about?
Though the Liang Mansion was no longer as grand as it once was, it still outshone ordinary, humble households. Even its poorer relatives were enough to keep up appearances. Moreover, since Liang Cheng had recently received rewards from the Emperor, a sizable crowd of guests came to visit.
Liang Zhang had already led a procession to the Yao Family to escort his bride back. It was still early before the banquet would begin. As Liang Wan strolled through the gardens, most of the guests were busy exchanging pleasantries. Liang Jing and the He Family were keeping them company, chatting and laughing.
In the sprawling courtyard, Liang Wan did not see Liang Jiao, who had been claiming to be ill for the past two or three days. Instead of Liang Jiao, she ran into Mrs. Zhang. The woman’s eyes were filled with unconcealable joy, and upon seeing Liang Wan, she flashed an unprecedented smile—a smile so chilling it felt like plunging into an ice cellar in midsummer, sending a shivering cold straight through one’s bones.
Just as she turned the corner of the corridor, she saw someone walking straight towards her. Liang Wan tried to detour, but he chased after her and blocked her path.
Stretching out his arms to stop her, he spoke, brimming with grievance. "Awan, please stop hiding from me, alright?"
Liang Wan felt nothing but disgust. Qiuxi quickly stepped between them and snapped angrily, "Cui Xiaolang, our Liang Mansion doesn’t welcome you, and My Lady doesn’t want to see you. If you don’t leave right now, believe it or not, I will call for the guards!"
Liang Wan shifted her gaze, pulled Qiuxi back, and asked with a smile, "Did you sneak your way in again today?"
Cui Hao lowered his arms, his smile tinged with smugness. "Of course not. I came together with Lord Lin."
"Lord Lin?" Liang Wan narrowed her eyes in thought. "The Lord Lin from the Imperial College?"
Hearing Liang Wan ask this, Cui Hao discreetly straightened his posture and gave a refined smile. "Exactly. I am now an Imperial College Assistant Teacher."
Qiuxi gasped in shock, looking at him in utter disbelief. He had actually gotten into the Imperial College?!
Liang Wan looked him up and down. He wore a newly made robe, and his hair was combed back, sleek and shiny. His handsome face was radiant with success. He looked less like an Assistant Teacher and more like a senior scholar.
A faint smile surfaced in Liang Wan’s dark eyes. "Then congratulations to you. Though it is merely the Secondary Ninth Rank, it still counts as getting your foot in the door."
With that, she tried to step around him. Unexpectedly, when she moved to the left, he mirrored her; when she moved to the right, he did the same. Liang Wan laughed out of sheer annoyance.
Qiuxi glared fiercely. "Do you really think a lowly Assistant Teacher like you can run wild in our Liang Mansion?" She turned her head, ready to shout for help.
Liang Wan stopped her with a faint smile. "Today is Brother’s big day. It’s inappropriate to stir up trouble. Making a scene for everyone to see would only reflect poorly."
Qiuxi reluctantly stepped aside.
Liang Wan took a step back. "If you have something to say, Cui Xiaolang, just say it!"
Cui Hao’s expression filled with emotion. "It’s been so long since you’ve been willing to have a proper conversation with me. You have no idea how happy I am to see you, yet how disappointed I feel at the same time."
He lowered his head and sighed heavily. "These past few days, I keep thinking about when we first met. I was a newcomer, a stranger in a strange land, and I made a fool of myself more than once. You gifted me books, brushes, and ink—"
Liang Wan’s lips curled up slightly. "Is this all you came to say?"