Chapter 85: A Checkered Standoff
Chapter 85: Chapter 85: A Checkered Standoff
As all eyes suddenly focused on her, Liang Wan’s brow twitched. She fought to suppress her panic and knelt again. "Today, I acted rashly and without decorum. I not only offended the young mistress of the Cao Family, but I also frightened the Empress. I admit my wrongdoing."
Gao Qian settled back into his seat, studying her for a moment before speaking with a thin smile. "You don’t seem to fully understand what you’ve done wrong, do you?"
Liang Wan’s back stiffened. His words clearly had a hidden meaning.
She composed herself and looked up at him, her face a mask of confusion. "I must ask Your Majesty to enlighten me."
Gao Qian propped his head up with one hand, glanced at the Empress, then let his gaze fall back on her face. "Why did you poison the Empress?"
Liang Wan was stunned, her eyes wide as she was rendered speechless.
When the Emperor said this, Zhou Yun, standing nearby, grew anxious and quickly looked toward Lu Xiu. They, of all people, knew why Liang Wan had deliberately caused a scene. This poisoning accusation was truly bizarre; how could she possibly be behind it? But to his surprise, Lu Xiu seemed not to have heard a thing, merely keeping his head lowered as he savored his tea.
’This man?’
Zhou Yun felt something was wrong.
Seeing Liang Wan’s reaction, Gao Qian suddenly smiled. "What, are you going to say you’ve been framed?"
Liang Wan nodded frantically. "Your Majesty, I have truly been framed! The Empress has shown me such favor; how could I possibly repay her kindness with malice? Besides, what could I possibly gain from harming the Empress?"
Gao Qian smiled without answering, merely giving a slight nod with his chin. The household doctor who had just examined the Empress stepped forward.
He bowed respectfully to the Empress, then turned to face Liang Wan. "The Empress fainted because she accidentally ingested Mandala Flower Powder."
Liang Wan shook her head. "That doesn’t prove it was my doing."
The Empress, knowing full well that Liang Wan was being framed, nodded and said, "This certainly has nothing to do with her. The Flower Garden is a tapestry of flowers. It’s possible to touch something by accident."
The Flower Garden was indeed filled with countless plants and flowers, including mandala. Accidental contamination was certainly plausible, and everyone present seemed to agree.
"But the Mandala Flower Powder was found in the tea that was served to the Empress."
Everyone grew even more confused. Wasn’t it Liang Zhang who served the tea? What did this have to do with her?
Gao Qian, cupping his face, looked at her. "This tea clearly came from your hands. Why did you have Liang Zhang take your place?"
Liang Wan froze, then quickly denied it. "Your Majesty, I am truly being framed in this matter! Let’s not even mention that I have no reason to harm the Empress. Even if I did, would I be so foolish as to devise such a clumsy trap? That wouldn’t be trapping someone else, it would be trapping myself!"
"Oh?"
"My original intention was to find an opportunity to introduce my Brother at the banquet, but my Brother wanted to take my place—and the credit—for preparing the tea." Liang Wan paused and glanced at Cao Danqing. "I didn’t expect to be seen by the Fifth Young Mistress. I knew I couldn’t hide the truth from Your Majesty and the Empress, so when the Fifth Young Mistress dragged me to the Flower Garden threatening to expose me, I went along. However, we argued on the way there, and... well, you know the rest."
Liang Wan spoke with sincerity, knelt perfectly straight, and showed not a trace of guilt on her face.
"It’s true that I prepared the tea, but I was not the one who served it. If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, you can have someone inspect the tea-making utensils, from the kettle to the bowls. My conscience is clear."
Gao Qian folded his arms and looked at her, a slight smile on his face. "So, are you implying that Liang Zhang did it?"
Liang Wan hesitated for a moment, then quickly shook her head in denial. "My Brother’s temperament... it’s absolutely impossible. Asking him to fool around and neglect his duties is one thing, but this... this... he definitely doesn’t have the brains for it."
An awkward expression crossed her face after she spoke. Everyone was well aware of Liang Zhang’s reputation in Jinye.
Gao Qian glanced at the crowd and asked with a smile, "But why does he claim that you were trying to frame him?"
She bit her lip, her voice tinged with grievance. "After something so serious happened, it’s understandable that my Brother would be scared. In his panic, he wanted to clear his name and so he blurted things out without thinking, pushing the blame onto me."
"And you? Are you not afraid?"
He leaned forward, his dark eyes inscrutable. Liang Wan’s heart pounded, a frantic THUMP-THUMP-THUMP against her ribs.
She nodded instinctively. Her cautious gaze wavered for a moment, then grew resolute. "However, I believe in Your Majesty!"
Gao Qian was taken aback for a second, then burst into unbridled, wicked laughter.
Liang Wan simply lowered her eyes.
He leaned back again. With a single glance from him, Liang Zhang was dragged forward.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—I’ve been framed! I’ve really been framed!" Liang Zhang shrieked. The moment he saw Liang Wan, he broke into a stream of curses. "It must be this bitch trying to frame me! Your Majesty, it was her! It must have been her! I’m innocent!"
Faced with such hysterics, Gao Qian couldn’t help but frown, his expression one of extreme impatience. Someone with quick wits promptly gagged him.
Liang Wan didn’t even raise her eyelids.
Gao Qian lowered his gaze and chuckled softly. "From what I know, that Liang Cheng doesn’t treat you well. He not only used you to curry favor with Wang Su, but he also confiscated the imperial gifts I bestowed upon you. So why, in the Wang Su case, did you give him all the credit? And why, now that you’re in trouble, are you still protecting this brat?"
’It wasn’t surprising that the Emperor would privately investigate the domestic affairs of his courtiers. But he usually focused on the powerful and influential. Someone of Liang Cheng’s standing held little real value, so for him to act so well-informed was rather strange.’
Liang Zhang struggled, letting out muffled cries.
Liang Wan glanced at him, then lowered her head. "Since Your Majesty is aware, I will no longer hide it. If I didn’t do as he said, my uncle would not only have thrown my mother and me out of the house, he might have even taken our lives.
If my uncle hadn’t taken us in, I would have had nowhere else to go. So, I could only..."
Her thin frame was hidden in the wide sleeves of her robe. Her head was bowed, and a few strands of dark hair fell across her cheek. A closer look revealed that her eyes were red-rimmed, yet she held back her tears, only her shoulders trembling slightly.
’Nowhere else to go?’
Gao Qian smiled and stood up. He bent down and pinched her fine, delicate chin. Her smooth, tender skin was irresistible to the touch.
He tilted his head and glanced at the Empress. "Doesn’t the Empress like her? Then let her enter the palace and keep you company!"
Liang Wan trembled all over. Her face remained as calm as still water, but her heart couldn’t contain its joy. ’I can enter the palace!’
The expressions of everyone present changed.
After speaking, Gao Qian lowered his head, drew closer, and inhaled the faint scent of Late Fragrance Jade on her. His voice was soft. "I wonder what you think of that?"
Liang Wan met his gaze, her expression obedient. "I will obey Your Majesty’s decree."
He was controlling her with the same hands that had just strangled someone else. The disgust and hatred made her wish she could end his life right then and there.
Zhou Yun was so anxious he kept looking back and forth between the Empress and Lu Xiu.
The Empress wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. She’d had a premonition from the very beginning, from the moment he had insisted on rewarding Liang Wan personally.
Lu Xiu kept holding that teacup, seemingly tasting it, seemingly toying with it. No matter what unfolded before him, it was far less interesting than the tea in his hand.
Gao Qian released his hand, wrapped an arm around Liang Wan’s waist, and personally helped her to her feet, appearing to dote on her.
"Grand Commandant."
Liang Wan had just steadied herself when Gao Qian let out a soft laugh.
The man who had been unexpectedly called upon, his mind wandering elsewhere, finally lifted his eyelids to look over.
Lu Xiu leisurely put down his teacup and stood up calmly. "Your servant is here."