Chapter 88: A New Arrival
Chapter 88: Chapter 88: A New Arrival
Madam He suddenly shook her head, laughing and crying at once. "The most unforgivable thing I’ve ever done in this life was giving birth to you!"
Liang Wan wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye. Whatever they said, she had long since stopped caring.
"I never should have had you! Never!"
Liang Wan didn’t look back, simply walking toward her small courtyard.
The path was a mess—clothes trampled with footprints, manuscripts scattered and torn, flowerpots knocked over and shattered...
Soldiers were busy everywhere, sealing off areas and moving things. No one paid her any mind.
’The Liang Mansion of today has truly become a fallen house!’
’In truth, they had never seen it, but the Liang Mansion once had its moment of glory. Even Wang Su had to flatter and fawn over them...’
Liang Wan watched woodenly as Qiuxi, her eyes red, packed up their clothes. She couldn’t bring herself to say any words of comfort.
Before they arrived, the place had already been turned upside down. A single glance revealed there was almost nothing left to take. Her old private stash of money was completely empty.
Liang Wan turned, left the courtyard, and headed straight for the front hall.
"Could you help me take that down?" Liang Wan stood in the flower hall, gazing at the plaque hanging high above, and glanced at Yuan.
For the first time ever, Yuan nodded amiably. Perhaps it was because she currently looked like a stray dog that he didn’t feel the need to continue his cold, stern demeanor.
"The wind shifts, the orchid’s scent enters."
When she went back outside, her mother and the others were nowhere to be seen. Liang Wan found this strange, but Qiuxi, carrying a small bundle on her back, came up and said only that the First and Second Mistresses had been taken away by people sent by the Heir of Marquis Wen.
Liang Wan took one last look at her former home and turned away resolutely.
’A place is only a home if it has people in it.’
The long-eaved carriage drove toward the Imperial City. The Grandmaster’s Mansion was there.
Outside the window, the sun was setting. Street vendors packed up their stalls, and passersby hurried along. At this time of day, everyone was eager to get home. Liang Wan leaned against the window, watching quietly, wondering why the hustle and bustle of the day faded into a lonely desolation by dusk.
"My Lady."
Qiuxi gripped her hand, words caught in her throat, unable to speak.
Liang Wan patted her hand nonchalantly. "I know. You’re worried about me following the Grand Commandant like this, without any official status. But don’t worry, he won’t do anything to me."
’Never mind that Lu Xiu only agreed to Gao Qian’s demand because he was forced by the situation. Even if he wasn’t, a man of his heavenly royal bloodline only needs to beckon, and women would flock to him one after another. Why would he ever need to force himself on anyone?’
’Besides, I hardly think I have what it takes to make him my devoted admirer.’
’What’s more, the people of the Grandmaster’s Mansion don’t want me near Lu Xiu, and then there’s Cao Luyun. Leaving the Grandmaster’s Mansion is just a matter of time...’
Thinking of the Cao Family, Liang Wan suddenly felt that Gao Qian hadn’t sent her to Lu Xiu merely as a test. Perhaps he had other plans.
’But no matter what, I can’t let him find out that the two of us were the ones outside the window. Otherwise, it’s a path to certain death.’
’The road ahead will be difficult.’ Liang Wan turned her head to look out the window.
Qiuxi sighed. "My Lady, why don’t you leave yourself an escape route?"
Liang Wan shook her head with a faint smile. ’When you’re all alone in the world, what need is there for an escape route?’
Lost in her meandering thoughts, she found they had arrived at the Grandmaster’s Mansion.
Liang Wan stepped out of the carriage. A group of maids and female servants was already waiting by the entrance. Seeing her, they all properly addressed her as "Liang Ji."
Although the Liang Family had fallen, she was, after all, someone assigned here by the Emperor, which made her slightly different from an ordinary concubine.
’But this difference is actually worse than being one of them!’
The Grandmaster’s Mansion was built on a magnificent scale, its courtyards exquisitely and elegantly arranged. Even at night, illuminated by starlight and lanterns, the scenery was pleasant and uniquely charming.
Liang Wan followed a female servant toward the Inner Garden. The estate was deep; they crossed a covered bridge and passed through a garden before reaching the southwest corner, where Lu Xiu’s courtyard was located.
The residence assigned to her was separated from Lu Xiu’s by a small lotus pond. The two places were a bit of a walk apart, yet they looked quite close. It was a refined and tranquil spot—an excellent arrangement for someone whose home had just been confiscated.
After the servant saw her settled in, she left a maid behind and departed. Yuan also went to report back to Lu Xiu.
The layout of the pavilion was very similar to the villa in the East Market. Outside, a lot of green bamboo was planted. The evening breeze carried in wisps of fresh fragrance, easing some of the anxiety of a newcomer.
After dinner, Liang Wan went to bed early.
She was always a light sleeper in a new place. Tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep, she finally threw on a robe and went out to the veranda to admire the starry night and listen to the chirping of cicadas and croaking of frogs.
Liang Wan leaned against the railing. The lotus pond was pitch-black at night. Under the lanterns hanging from the eaves, moths continuously flew into the light, making soft PITTER-PATTER sounds.
’It’s laughable, really. I once thumped my chest and swore to Lu Xiu that the Grandmaster’s Mansion was not my destination, only to have my words thrown back in my face so quickly.’
She had intended to enjoy the night view, but instead found her attention completely captured by the moths dashing themselves against the flame.
"What, are you looking at yourself?"
Liang Wan turned her head and met an icy gaze. She immediately shot up, pulling the robe tighter around her shoulders.
"My Lord, what brings you here?"
He wasn’t dressed in his usual noble and distant attire, but rather looked as relaxed and languid as he had at Yunyan Pool.
’But this version of Lu Xiu is too unfamiliar. I actually feel more at ease with his ruthless, murderous demeanor.’
Lu Xiu sat down across from Liang Wan, but his gaze unintentionally fell upon the tips of her toes peeking out from under her skirt. He frowned and looked away.
"It’s your first night. I couldn’t very well ignore you completely."
Liang Wan lowered her eyes and nodded. ’He’s right. With Gao Qian’s personality, he’s bound to have people watching. He even knew everything happening at the Liang Mansion, let alone the Grandmaster’s Mansion. Thinking about it this way, his killing of Lou Xu Ru seems—’
"You’re distracted."
Liang Wan looked up, not quite hearing what he said.
Lu Xiu glanced at her. When he had arrived, she was leaning over the railing in her outer robe, her head tilted as she stared entranced at the lantern under the eaves, all her wariness and defenses down. And now...
"Come here. Sit."
Liang Wan hesitated for a moment before lowering her head and sitting down near him.
Lu Xiu leaned in slightly to look at her. "Why do you look so guilty?"
Liang Wan turned her face aside, stunned.
Lu Xiu scoffed and leaned back, looking at her expectantly. "Speak."
’Speak about what?’
Liang Wan blinked, a little confused.
An ice-cold glare was shot her way, and Liang Wan instantly sobered up.
She paused for a moment before saying, "I was the one who placed the Mandala Flower Powder. It wasn’t added to the tea, but smeared on the rim of the cup prepared for the Empress.
I put the powder in Liang Zhang’s sachet while I was still at the mansion."
Lu Xiu smiled and nodded.
Liang Wan glanced at him and continued, "When I first entered the Duke Mansion, I discovered that Cao Danqing was fond of Young Master Zhou, so I deliberately provoked her. Not only would that give me an alibi, but it would also—"
"It would also get his attention," he finished with a cold snort, staring at her.
Speaking of which, Liang Wan felt a sense of defeat. She had made two sets of preparations, but in the end, she failed to kill her target and also failed to enter the palace.
’What is ’man proposes, God disposes’ if not this?’
"My Lord, since you know my objective, why haven’t you killed me?"
Liang Wan turned her face and looked at him earnestly.
’I had thought that by knowing some information from my past life and having witnessed his methods, I could guess some of his intentions. But instead, I find him more and more incomprehensible.’
Lu Xiu gestured with his chin toward the lantern under the eaves and chuckled softly. "You stared at that moth for a long time. Why didn’t you go over and kill it?"
Liang Wan looked up at the lantern.
"Are you trying to say that for someone who is seeking their own death, why should anyone else bother to do the job?"