Chapter 18: The Petty Man’s Rise

The Marquis of Changle stormed forward, only catching sight of a corner of Liang Shanru’s garment. His anger swelled even more: “Military Commissioner Zhou holds authority over the region and is a trusted minister of the imperial government. Yet you dare to barge into the Marquis’s residence? I intend to report this to the capital, and you won’t gain a single advantage from it!”

“I’m not here to gain anything,” Zhou Shen retorted coldly, unafraid. He sneered mockingly, “You might as well write in your memorial how I abused my power to bully you. If the emperor orders me to be reprimanded, I’ll accept it. What can the Marquis of Changle do to me?”

He raised an eyebrow disdainfully, clearly not taking the Marquis seriously. Standing protectively in front of Liang Shanru, he blocked even the glimpse of that garment corner from view. “Has your wife recovered? Not guarding her now? Shanru came back just to move her things—did you really need to mobilize forces for this?”

The Marquis of Changle’s fury shook him to his core, boiling over: “Liang Shanru!”

All his wrath was directed at her, but she confidently hid behind Zhou Shen, leaving him powerless. “What things of your own? Everything you wear and use was provided by the Marquis’s household. If you want to leave, then leave. There’s nothing here that belongs to you!”

Liang Shanru clicked her tongue, her soft voice deliberately taunting him: “My mother’s dowry and my father’s belongings are mine. The Marquis of Changle truly has no shame, trying to seize someone else’s property.

“You want me gone? Fine. Remove my name from the family registry and return all my possessions. I won’t stay in the Marquis’s residence an hour longer.”

She used the words spoken earlier by Mrs. Zhou to silence him: “Isn’t my father’s name still in the Liang family genealogy? Doesn’t that make me a Liang by birth? I was raised in this family since childhood—how am I not one of them? Where do you expect me to go?”

The Marquis’s vision darkened; she nearly made him faint with rage.

Zhou Shen couldn’t help but laugh at her words—soft and light, yet unmistakably audible even to the Marquis and his retinue.

“All the things in your yard were purchased by us, never yours! If you want to move out, no one cares. I’d rather throw those things to the street beggars than let you take a single piece!” The Marquis waved his hand. “Throw her out of the residence!”

But Zhou Shen stood there menacingly, and the men who came with him looked even fiercer. The Marquis’s servants dared not make a move.

Unable to command his servants, the Marquis grew even more furious. “Are you sick of this residence already?”

After his threat, the servants reluctantly charged forward.

Yet they were stopped before even reaching Zhou Shen’s body.

Although Liang Shanru had been clear in her actions before, Zhou Shen still felt stifled. Now that the Marquis had come to them, he was ready to vent his anger.

In just a few strides, a gust of wind rose by his side; in an instant, Zhou Shen grabbed the Marquis’s lapel.

Two men of similar stature, yet Zhou Shen effortlessly hoisted the Marquis into the air.

The Marquis’s feet dangled off the ground, choking as he struggled, swinging his fists wildly toward Zhou Shen. “If you’ve got the guts, kill me!”

Liang Shanru knew that he was never a resolute man, yet now he deliberately provoked Zhou Shen.

Her brows furrowed deeply as she pondered for a moment, then quickly stepped forward, grasping Zhou Shen’s arm. “Uncle Zhou, it’s not worth it for someone like him.”

Killing a common official like Liang Zheng might be trivial, but harming a Marquis of the imperial court—even accidentally—would escalate matters dangerously. Not even Zhou Shen could escape the consequences; not even the Third Prince could shield him.

A lifetime of warfare had made Zhou Shen impulsive and ill-suited to provocation. The Marquis’s intentions were clearly malicious.

Fortunately, Zhou Shen listened to her advice and released his grip, pushing the Marquis forward with a force that made him lose balance, stumbling back several steps before falling heavily to the ground.

Liang Shanru quickly stopped Zhou Shen, holding onto his sleeve to keep him from acting further. Looking down at the Marquis, she said firmly, “I’m moving my belongings. Whatever their worth, I’ll pay you in full, deducting the amount from what you owe me. I’m not taking advantage of your household, so don’t think you can deceive me.”

She tilted her head. “Mrs. Zhou was seriously ill. I hear you even brought Liang Baoqi back?”

“I remember the Xu family has an imperial physician specially assigned by the emperor to Yangzhou to care for the matriarch. If you like, I can ask Third Lady San to coax the matriarch into inviting that doctor to examine Mrs. Zhou’s pulse. What do you think, Marquis?”

The Marquis and his wife were shrewd schemers. Bringing Liang Baoqi back today meant they never planned to send him away again.

Liang Shanru’s disturbance wouldn’t last a day. As long as Mrs. Zhou kept feigning illness, they could stall indefinitely. Even if the charade failed, Liang Baoqi could remain at home to tend to her.

Illness could last days or months, and after a suitable match was found, the Xu family would have no choice but to accept.

But a lie is still a lie, unable to withstand scrutiny.

The Marquis ground his teeth, seething, “Liang... Shanru!”

He had run out of options. His servants were useless, and he couldn’t defeat Zhou Shen.

Liang Shanru had truly found a capable ally.

Having been beaten twice by Zhou Shen and now cornered like this, they were utterly powerless against such overwhelming force.

Her delicate, fair face shone with the brightest smile. “Marquis, if you have nothing else, please leave. We have people here; moving belongings is a trivial matter unworthy of your attention.”

The Marquis struggled to his feet. “If you take more than—”

“Who cares about your Liang family’s rubbish?” Zhou Shen spat. “You think I’d escort you out?”

He advanced threateningly, and the Marquis instinctively retreated half a step.

That slight move made Liang Shanru laugh. “Marquis, you fell hard just now. Perhaps you need someone to accompany you?”

She wore a truly smug expression.

Gritting his teeth, the Marquis snarled, “Just you wait!”

Since he could gain nothing, he was prepared to let Liang Shanru make a scene.

But before leaving, she raised her voice, calling after him, “Make sure you don’t take the wrong path and end up at the government office.”

The Marquis froze, then whipped around, glaring at her venomously.

Liang Shanru thought, as expected, and smiled even more triumphantly. “Official Wang might not want to entertain you. Besides, I’m young and easily frightened. If the government summons me to court, Uncle Zhou will accompany me. Seeing how respectfully he treats Uncle Zhou, Marquis, if you really want to test us, we’d be happy to oblige.”

Her sarcastic tone made the Marquis feel sick to his stomach. How had he never realized Liang Shanru was such a creature?

His once ashen face flushed red with rage, beyond all measure.

Liang Shanru felt even more exhilarated, even making a beckoning gesture: “Marquis, please take your leave.”

Zhou Shen watched her bully with impunity and felt immense satisfaction.

At last, facing the Marquis, she no longer employed evasive tactics. With Zhou Shen by her side, even infuriating Liang Zheng was nothing.

As the Marquis left in a fury, Zhou Shen’s approving voice echoed in his ear: “Well done.”

This drove him completely black before the eyes, unsteady on his feet. He stumbled and fell once more.