Chapter 41: Seeking Help

If she could genuinely obtain a few shop fronts without cost, it would be a fine thing for Liang Shanru, and naturally she had no intention of tearing down the arrangement.

Pei Yanzhou seemed to see right through her thoughts, yet directed his words to Madam Liang: "Just as Third Aunt says, since I have spoken, difficult or not, I must secure those shops for my cousin, otherwise I would have nowhere to put my face."

Zhou Shen was blunt and spoke without much forethought, straightway saying: "That settles it then. You've tied your own prestige together with Shanru's interests, so there's even less need to worry."

At these words, Madam Liang frowned first, and even Liang Shanru's expression shifted slightly.

Catching this out of the corner of his eye, Zhou Shen had a vague sense that something was amiss, though he truly struggled to find any fault in what he had said.

They addressed each other as cousins, and with that connection to the Third Prince, once Shanru went to Shengjing, she would likely reside in the Duke of Xinguo's Mansion. Judging by the present stance, Pei Yanzhou held a protective regard for her, which fundamentally was a fortunate turn.

Reaching back, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and said no more.

Instead, Pei Yanzhou laughed and agreed, taking up Zhou Shen's thread: "This matter must be accomplished; those shops must end up in my cousin's hands." Then, with a teasing, jocular tone, he added, "Should the Li family refuse, I shall have to compensate my cousin out of my own pocket. Otherwise, Cousin would think me a useless kinsman unable to manage even such a trifle."

Liang Shanru offered a dry, perfunctory smile that did not reach her eyes. She cast a sidelong glance, only meeting his gaze directly when their eyes locked: "Cousin flatters himself. I am already most grateful knowing Cousin has the heart to back me up. As for the shops, Cousin may handle them as he sees fit."

As she spoke, she shifted her seat a little closer to Madam Liang: "In any case, my affairs are all decided by my aunt. Since Aunt has said she will let Cousin manage the Li family's affairs, I shall wash my hands of the whole matter."

Truth be told, she cared very little for these few shops. To acquire them as a windfall was naturally pleasant, but even without them, she did not lack for silver. Provided the Liang family honestly returned what they owed her, her own vast wealth was more than sufficient to sustain her.

Liang Shanru lowered her eyes, clearly unwilling to speak further.

In Pei Yanzhou's eyes, this translated into rejection.

The emotions that had previously been smoothed over stirred once more with a faint ripple.

Perhaps he should find an opportunity to speak with her in private.

What on earth had he done to incur such treatment from her?

Ever since he arrived in Yangzhou City and laid eyes on her for the first time, he had vaguely sensed her aversion. He had pondered it many times, utterly unable to fathom the reason.

This time, when he spoke up to demand the shops currently in Chai's hands, it was partly to restore her dignity, and partly because he had witnessed the trial of strength between her and the Liang family.

He figured she must be short of silver to spend—at the very least, when she recently needed funds, she had to pawn her belongings merely to exchange them for two thousand taels. Even if Chai proved unwilling to hand them over in the future, his private subsidization of her would carry a legitimate justification when brought before the elders, ensuring she would have no grounds to refuse.

Yet still she refused to appreciate his goodwill.

Pei Yanzhou's smile faded.

Seated to one side, Pei Jingxing watched the scene. For no discernible reason, he recalled the questions Pei Yanzhou had asked him inside the carriage, and his heart grew slightly heavy. Just as he was about to speak, a young maid outside hurried in with her hands tucked into her sleeves to report that the young mistress of the Liang family had arrived.

Madam Liang was the first to react: "Liang Baoqi?"

The maid nodded: "Mistress Liang came alone, saying she is here to pay her respects to you."

What kind of respects was she paying? Ill intentions were closer to the truth; nine chances out of ten, she had come to sound out the situation on behalf of the Li family.

Knowing of the commotion stirred up by the Li family, Zhou Shen could not help but sigh: "I originally thought the Marquis of Changle was merely employing someone of poor character to wear Shanru down. Now it appears I was mistaken; the Marquis of Changle's mansion and the Li family likely share deep ties."

Madam Liang murmured an acknowledgment. Initially intending to dismiss Liang Baoqi, she changed her mind just as the words reached her lips: "Bring her in."

The maid hurried out. Just as Zhou Shen was about to take his leave, Pei Jingxing spoke first: "My brother and I will first—"

"There is no need," Madam Liang stopped him, turning her head to look at Zhou Shen. "In my view, you need not leave either. We might as well see what play her fine parents have sent her to perform here at the General's Manor."

Still, Zhou Shen felt it improper. No matter how he looked at it, he was an outsider, distinct from Pei Yanzhou. To sit and watch such a spectacle as entertainment—what would that make of him?

Yet Madam Liang remained firm, so Zhou Shen was still seated properly in the main hall when Liang Baoqi entered the room.

"Aunt—"

The moment Liang Baoqi crossed the threshold, she called out in a choked voice, but upon raising her eyes and clearly perceiving Zhou Shen and the Pei brothers in the room, the words caught in her throat like a fishbone.

Massaging her temples, Madam Liang glanced at her: "I heard your voice and thought you were on the verge of tears. What is the meaning of this?"

Her attitude toward Liang Baoqi and Liang Shanru was as different as heaven and earth. Liang Baoqi was well aware of this, and cast a gaze filled with resentment toward Liang Shanru.

Madam Liang clicked her tongue: "Baoqi, surely you haven't run all the way to the General's Manor to pick a quarrel with Shanru? This is her home—a home exchanged for her father's lifetime of military achievements. You ought to show some restraint."

Her words carried heavy weight, especially in the presence of an outsider like Zhou Shen, bringing tears to Liang Baoqi's eyes in an instant.

With her hands crossed over her lower abdomen, she assumed a posture of exquisite vulnerability, the slightly reddened rims of her eyes exceptionally pitiful.

She stood there in silence for a long while. Madam Liang had no patience for such theatrics; annoyance hung from the corners of her eyes and brows, and just as she prepared to chase her out, Liang Baoqi suddenly went limp and sank to her knees before her.

This startled Madam Liang: "Child, what are you doing? You enter my house without a word of explanation and drop to your knees before everyone. If word gets out, people will think our entire household is bullying a young girl. Get up at once!"

Yet there was still not a shred of fondness in Madam Liang's tone, referring to the estate alternately as my house and our family.

Liang Baoqi's teeth itched with hatred, but since she had come, this performance had to be carried through to the end.

She refused to rise, kneeling somewhat crookedly as she sobbed and her shoulders trembled incessantly: "Aunt dislikes me, largely for the sake of my parents, and coupled with the fact that ... Shanru has likely spoken to you about what happened at the Xu family's place days ago. But Aunt, I was forced into it against my will! I beg Aunt to save me!"

At the height of her agitation, Liang Shanru threw herself flat upon the ground, kowtowing several times: "Shanru is Aunt's niece—am I not one as well? When Shanru met with trouble, she could write to Aunt and ask you to come save her. Now that I have fallen into hardship, cannot Aunt help me and save me too?"

Though Madam Liang was left somewhat bewildered by these utterances, she had already guessed seven or eight parts of Liang Baoqi's subtext.

Reluctant to deal with the matter herself, and unwilling to let Liang Shanru open her mouth, she cast a glance toward Pei Jingxing.

As a cousin, offering a few hypocritical words of concern would be nothing, yet he was extremely loath to perform such a task.

With no one taking up Liang Baoqi's prompts, she continued her weeping and prepared to speak further. Only when Madam Liang exchanged her look for one of warning did Pei Jingxing finally intervene with an unfeeling tone of persuasion: "If you have anything to say, sit down and speak slowly. Countless people watched you enter the General's Manor; if you cry until your makeup is ruined and your eyes are swollen, when you walk out, people will say we bullied you. Stop crying now."