Chapter Seventeen: You Must Trust Me

The carriage rolled out of the long street, with Zhou Shen wearing a sullen face, silent as ever.

Liang Shanru sat opposite him, observing his expression in detail and helplessly chided, “We agreed to follow my lead, and yet you’re angry again.”

“I’ve come all this way, and yet it feels so suffocating. What kind of business is this that you’re handling?” Zhou Shen genuinely felt useless.

The punch he threw yesterday at the Marquis of Changle’s estate was immensely satisfying—so what was all this about today?

She said she wanted to rely on herself, refusing even to borrow money by pawning her parents’ belongings, and now she showed such an attitude toward those riffraff in the Liang clan!

Zhou Shen had lived most of his life without ever feeling this stifled.

“My aunt sent me a letter. She’ll arrive in Yangzhou at the latest the day after tomorrow.”

Zhou Shen was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp the significance. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“You think warfare is all straightforward, do you?” Liang Shanru smiled to soothe him. “Anyway, my father once told me that war is all about deception. I’ve never forgotten that.

“All people in this world are the same. Would you rather completely lose hope from the start, or have hope only to have it dashed? Which do you think is better for me?”

Hearing this, Zhou Shen immediately understood, though his furrowed brows remained tense.

Seeing his calm demeanor return, Liang Shanru continued, “Besides, over the years, the Marquis and his wife have supported those people to preserve their reputation. Even if it wasn’t much, it was still real money spent. In the end, these people turned against them, and the couple lost both their wealth and their people. Isn’t that painful?

“When we leave, the Liang family drama will continue to play out.”

Zhou Shen’s taut expression finally softened, a smile gradually spreading. “I say, you’re quite the schemer, thinking like this.

“If it were up to me, I’d beat those people until they dared not utter a word.

“I was invited here to intimidate them, not to talk strategy.”

Leaning on her hand, Liang Shanru watched him and waited until he finished speaking before slowly asking, “Isn’t it because you fear I’m indecisive and won’t strike hard enough?”

The smile he had just managed vanished instantly. After a long moment, he spoke seriously, “You are indeed remarkably clever.

“But it’s not that I distrust you. It’s that all these years you’ve been tempered by the Zhou family, and I’ve always feared they’d turn you soft, unable even to fight for your own rights.

“No matter how fierce you sound with your words, when it comes down to it, you always harbor goodwill.”

Liang Shanru felt dissatisfied.

Such an idea underestimated her too much. Even if it were well-meaning, she did not wish to accept it.

Yet she showed no displeasure on her face, instead smiling gently. “Now you know that ‘vengeance is a dish best served cold’ isn’t just something I say lightly. These people truly don’t deserve any goodwill.

“Don’t underestimate me. If I were as soft as you say, why would I bother writing letters to you and Aunt? I might as well let the Zhou family control me, whether it’s marrying Sixth Brother Li or anyone else. Why fight for myself?”

Zhou Shen nodded. “Now I understand. From now on, whatever you want to do, your uncle will believe you.”

That was exactly what she wanted to hear.

Even if it was just lip service, at least she would have something to rely on in the future.

Satisfied, she said, “Then remember this: if you get angry over this again, I’ll go complain to Father’s ancestral tablet.”

Whether intentional or not, Zhou Shen fell silent for a moment when he heard this, then promised he would remember.

Liang Shanru caught the tenderness in his eyes but quickly looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze again.

Perhaps Zhou Shen truly cared for her, at least for now. But so what?

She had to survive.

Using his sincerity was wrong, but times were hard. She was just a fish on the chopping board—there was no room for scruples.

·

The young servant on guard at the gate of the Marquis of Changle’s estate recognized Zhou Shen’s carriage and moved quickly to close the corner gate.

Zhou Shen’s entourage numbered about ten, their movements faster, nearly charging forward to seize the servant.

Startled, the young servant froze as Zhou Shen and Liang Shanru casually ascended the steps. Zhou Shen waved, signaling the others to stand down.

The servant grimaced and called out, “Second Madam!”

Liang Shanru shot him a sharp glance. “I’m not here to trouble you. Did the Marquis instruct you this?”

He nodded hastily. “The Marquis said if you returned, close the gates. Under no circumstances are you to enter the estate. The madam is so angry she’s fallen ill, several doctors have been summoned, and no one knows if she’s awake.”

That morning, the Zhou family’s display was clearly a performance, but judging by the servant’s tone, this time they were preparing for the act to become reality.

Liang Shanru frowned. “And then? Did they send someone to fetch Liang Baoqi from outside the city?”

The servant nodded again. “He just returned less than half an hour ago. The Marquis also sent someone to the Xu family.”

Only that couple would be calculating enough to act like this now, no longer fearing Madam Hu’s scrutiny.

Liang Shanru snorted coldly and stepped inside.

The servant, fearing that if she barged in recklessly he would be blamed, followed closely behind but dared not grab her. “Second Madam, please have mercy and spare this humble servant. At least let me notify inside, or the Marquis…”

“Since Aunt is ill, it’s only right I attend to her. Do you dare stop me?” Liang Shanru paused, then surprisingly did not proceed further. “I’m going home—do I really need to report my return?”

But after the morning’s chaos, how could she still regard the Marquis of Changle’s estate as her home?

The servant dared not say more.

Even Zhou Shen gave a subtle look to his attendants, and someone stepped forward to hold back the round-faced servant.

He tried to plead again, but Zhou Shen’s sharp rebuke silenced him: “Look carefully. Right now, I am the one forcefully entering the Marquis’s estate. No one else is involved!”

The servant finally caught on, pausing before looking at Zhou Shen with gratitude, as if ready to kneel and kowtow. He made no further attempts to block the way.

Liang Shanru led the way straight to her small courtyard, but Zhou Shen could tell something was wrong. “You seemed fine on the way here. Why the sudden change?”

She sighed. “It just feels good to have my parents’ protection.”

Zhou Shen immediately thought of Liang Baoqi. “I don’t know what happened before, but don’t be sad. True, if your parents were still alive, their love and care would be beyond measure. But now, you still have me, and your aunt.

“She’s been away from Yangzhou for so many years, and this time, as soon as she received your letter, she rushed back day and night. Try to be a little more open-minded.”

Though he said so, truly letting go was not easy.

Parents’ love runs deep and calculates far ahead. Though the Marquis and his wife of Changle were far from virtuous, it was hard to say that Liang Baoqi’s marriage was merely a pawn in their scheme. People like Xu Yunxuan, with such character, surely had his genuine welfare at heart.

Liang Shanru could not smile. Expressionless, she gave a faint “hmph.”

Comforting children was never Zhou Shen’s strong suit. He pondered for a long time, unsure how to soothe her, when the Marquis of Changle himself stormed in angrily with his men.

Zhou Shen’s features turned cold and stern. He pulled Liang Shanru back and stepped forward to block the way. “There are plenty of people shielding you from the wind and rain. Stand behind your uncle and let him handle it for you!”