Chapter 27: No One Dares to Bully You

Liang Shanru was in a fantastic mood, grinning from ear to ear.

Lady Liang pulled her into a warm embrace and asked, "Are you truly that happy?"

"Of course I am," Liang Shanru replied, tilting her head to rest on her aunt’s shoulder. "You have no idea what those uncles of mine looked like when I went to deliver the silver. Their expressions were just priceless."

Lady Liang was well aware of the silver delivery. She had received several letters from the young girl while traveling to Yangzhou; even from the high road, she had known every drama unfolding within the city walls.

She stroked the girl’s hair now. "It is a credit to you that you thought it through so thoroughly. I was worried your heart would soften and you would end up throwing away even more silver because of a few glib words from them."

Liang Shanru insisted that would not happen. "I gave them the money only because they treated me with genuine kindness, but they hardly deserve it. Uncle Zhou said the same thing earlier—he was afraid I wouldn't be able to handle the situation and would be swayed by empty talk."

At the mention of Zhou Shen, Lady Liang asked, "Did Lord Zhou say when he intends to leave?"

Liang Shanru shook her head. "He is waiting for my affairs to be settled. I asked him before, and he said he came specifically for this matter; he wouldn't be at ease leaving without seeing it through. Even though those letters were written in my imitation of Father’s handwriting, he knows I am struggling now, and he is genuinely concerned."

Hearing this, Lady Liang pondered for a moment before instructing, "Invite him to the house for a meal at noon. I will thank him on your behalf; we must observe the proper courtesies."

Just as Liang Shanru was about to agree, Pei Yanzhou’s voice drifted in from outside. "It is not necessarily because of the letters the cousin sent that he is here."

Lady Liang frowned. "Do you know something?"

"I heard the Third Prince mention it before I left," Pei Yanzhou replied. "He sent a letter to Regional Commander Zhou a while back, ordering him to come to Yangzhou. The Prince was aware that the Marquis and Marchioness of Changle were forcing the cousin to marry the Sixth Young Master Li. Since he was far away in the capital and could not intervene personally, he sent the Regional Commander. As for those letters the cousin sent, they were merely a coincidence."

Lady Liang fell silent. She knew what kind of man Zhou Shen was; in his youth, he had been a straightforward military man without any convoluted schemes. But people change. After decades in the imperial court, and with no military official able to surpass her own brother during his time, Zhou Shen had been acquainted with him in the army. For ten years afterward, Zhou Shen had been out of favor with the Emperor, consistently falling behind. It was only after her brother’s defeat that Zhou Shen rose to prominence, though the Emperor had hesitated for a long time before promoting him, precisely because of his former closeness to her brother. Even she knew this, and Zhou Shen certainly did as well.

Whether the Zhou Shen of today was still the same man who had been like a brother to her sibling was something Lady Liang could not be certain of.

Liang Shanru bit her lip, her cold gaze fixed on the carriage door. It seemed that any merit had to be hastily attributed to the Third Prince, as if they were terrified she might thank the wrong person and fail to be of use to him.

The silence in the carriage stretched on. Unsure of the mood, Pei Yanzhou softened his tone after a moment. "Cousin is still young and her heart is pure. It is a good thing to be grateful to those who treat you well, but I fear you might be used by those with ulterior motives."

Lady Liang’s brow furrowed deeper. "Dulang, why are you saying these things to Chuchu?" Her tone was heavy with displeasure.

Liang Shanru sat up straighter. "I am not that foolish. Cousin Yanzhou need not worry on my account. If I lacked even this much judgment, I would have been torn apart and devoured by the Marquis and Marchioness of Changle long ago." She turned to Lady Liang. "I believe Uncle Zhou is sincere. When he arrived, he told me that the Third Prince had written to him, and that he had intended to come to Yangzhou to rescue me all along. I think if he only wanted to win the Third Prince’s favor, he wouldn't have needed to tell me that."

Whatever Zhou Shen’s true intentions were did not matter. Even if he were only trying to align himself with the Third Prince, he would not harm Chuchu on the surface; for the sake of the Prince’s commission, he had to look after her. For Chuchu, that was a good thing.

Lady Liang smiled gently. "That is a good way to look at it. Do not listen to your cousin. While one must have a heart of defense, life is long, and you have only lived a few years. Do not trap yourself in suspicion, or you will be exhausted, and you might accidentally wound a heart that is truly sincere."

Liang Shanru nodded obediently. "I will listen to you, Aunt."

Pei Yanzhou, hearing the exchange clearly, realized his previous words had been ill-received. He gave a low, dismissive sound and said no more. The world was difficult and human hearts were treacherous; his third aunt was usually decisive, but this time she was being overly sentimental. It was likely because the young girl looked so delicate and pitiful.

Pei Yanzhou’s expression remained unreadable. Pei Jingxing, who had been watching for a while, spoke up for him. "Big Brother meant well. Mother, you make it sound as if he were trying to corrupt our cousin."

Lady Liang scolded him, "You are still defending him? If we always waited for Chuchu to figure out the malice of others on her own, what use are you as her cousin?"

She had already made up her mind before coming. As the conversation flowed, she naturally added, "Now that you have left the Marquis’s estate, do you plan to guard the General’s Mansion alone? Right now, Commander Zhou and I are here, so they have no choice but to back down, but once we leave, they will not let things rest. Chuchu, it has been many years since you were in the capital. When things in Yangzhou are settled, come to the capital with your aunt. I saw your uncle before I left, and he was too busy with official business to come along. He said that once you arrive in the capital, you can stay at our home, or if you prefer to be with me, you can reside at the Duke of Xin’s estate. Our grandmother has a very kind temperament and has always loved beautiful girls like you. You met her when you were a child; you should remember, right?"

These words were exactly what Liang Shanru wanted to hear, but hearing the coaxing tone, she couldn't help but laugh. "You make it sound like you're coaxing a child. You've listed so many benefits that I have no choice but to go."

She agreed with a playful, spoiled tone, and Lady Liang clapped her hands, repeating that it was for the best.

Outside the carriage, Pei Jingxing called to his brother, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing," Pei Yanzhou replied. "I saw something amusing on the street just now. You weren't paying attention and missed it."

Pei Jingxing did not doubt him. "Remember to point it out to me next time instead of enjoying it by yourself."

Pei Yanzhou grunted in response, then called to his aunt, "You have mentioned this so many times on the way here; now you have finally gotten your wish."

Lady Liang agreed. "When it is time to leave, I will make sure you are well-provided for. We shall enter the capital in style!"

Liang Shanru’s smile stiffened for a moment. She knew what Pei Yanzhou was laughing at. Only Pei Jingxing, ignorant of the inner workings, believed his nonsense.

She took a deep breath. Even though she had been the one to decide to face the difficulties head-on, now that she was truly caught in the vortex, she still felt a lingering fear. After all, she had staked her life on this. Beyond the hatred that filled her, she was afraid.

Liang Shanru pursed her lips. "I am only worried that I will be a stranger in the capital and that it will take me a long time to adapt. I might offend someone without even knowing it."

Lady Liang could not bear to hear this. She reached out and pulled the girl into her arms again. "With your uncle and me there, don't fear offending anyone. No one will dare to bully you!"