Chapter 45: Stay Out of It

Madam Liang agreed so readily that Madame Zhou was left not knowing whether to advance or retreat.

At this point, leaving was out of the question, and staying was even more awkward.

She turned her head to look at the Marquis of Changlé, who then slowly took over the conversation: "A person without credibility..."

"A person without credibility cannot stand; you don't need to lecture me." Madame Liang found even a passing glance at him to be ill-omened and hastily cut him off. "Since I have given my word to Baoqi, I will not go back on it. But if the two of you insist on lingering here and disgusting me, that might change."

With a cold glare, she directly instructed Pei Jingxing, "Show them out."

After all, he was of the younger generation. Regardless of how much he despised the Marquis of Changlé’s demeanor, he still performed the courtesy of rising to greet and escort the guests quite well.

The Marquis of Changlé hesitated for a long while before finally swallowing the rest of his words, choosing not to provoke Madame Liang any further.

In any case, achieving his goal was enough. To be honest, he had no desire to set foot in this General’s Mansion anyway.

Once the visitors had departed, Zhou Shen felt a bit unsettled and could not help asking with deep concern, "Are you really planning to write some sort of proof and hand it over to them? Those people are a pair of wolves and tigers, and as for that younger one..." He pressed his lips together, paused, and though he did not call Liang Baoqi bad, he could not bring himself to praise her either. "Even if you have the heart to look after her, once the document is handed over, it might not necessarily end up in her hands."

Madame Liang knew what he was worrying about, and seeing the expressions of Liang Shanru and Pei Yanzhou, it was clear they shared the same concern.

She took Liang Shanru’s hand and patted it lightly. "I know what I'm doing. The calculations those two have made are simply to resolve this matter as soon as possible and have us leave Yangzhou City early, so as to avoid prolonged nights and endless troubles, preventing any unforeseen complications. Right now, the situation is entirely unfavorable to them, and it is simply I who am unwilling to waste time dragging this out with them."

Madame Liang looked at Liang Shanru. "Chuchu, do you want to stay in Yangzhou City to lock horns with them?"

As expected, Liang Shanru shook her head. "But Aunt, you are giving away for nothing..."

"Those are trivial matters," Madame Liang interrupted before she could finish. "Things that can be resolved with a bit of silver are hardly matters at all. Once you experience more in the future, you will understand."

A tremor passed through Liang Shanru’s heart. In truth, she understood already at this very moment.

Silver, once spent, could be earned back again, and besides, her aunt certainly did not lack this little sum. She could afford to drag things out with the Marquis of Changlé, but there was simply no need.

Liang Shanru quieted down and said nothing more.

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Zhou Shen found it hard to persuade her further. After all, it was Madame Liang who was spending her money, and he remained an outsider.

The midday meal was relatively pleasant. Without those vexing matters hanging over them, everyone chatted and laughed.

Once the meal was over, Zhou Shen prepared to take his leave. Madame Liang had Pei Yanzhou and the others see him off, and naturally, Liang Shanru followed as well.

Outside the General's Mansion, the Zhou family's carriage had long been waiting. After exchanging a few polite remarks with the two Pei brothers, Zhou Shen told them to stay their steps, leaving only Liang Shanru to accompany him every step of the way to the carriage.

He halted his steps, raised a hand to rest gently on Liang Shanru’s shoulder, and patted it. "If anything happens in the future, send me a letter. Uncle Zhou will back you up, come what may."

The most sincere and heartfelt smile blossomed on Liang Shanru’s face, though a warm mist gathered at the corners of her eyes. "You must take good care of your health, and once I settle down in the capital, perhaps after some time I really will come look for you to play."

Zhou Shen smiled as well. "I return to the capital every year to report on my duties; there will always be a time for us to meet."

Before coming, he had been endlessly worried about this orphan of an old friend, imagining how a tiny girl like her had suffered too much hardship over the years, and fearing she might be spoiled or broken.

Yet in just a few short days, all his thoughts had completely changed.

Even without Madame Liang protecting her, she had her own ways of self-preservation.

Just like her father.

Resilient to the core, and the hardest to bend.

Even amidst a tempest, she would still stubbornly thrive.

Thinking of this, Zhou Shen’s eyes filled with gratification, though he still felt the need to advise her: "You may still face hardships upon reaching the capital; never wrong yourself under any circumstances. With your aunt protecting you like this, don't be afraid of causing her trouble."

"I won't." Liang Shanru replied with a smile. "I certainly won't play the part of the sensible and well-behaved young lady who suffers grievances and keeps her mouth shut for fear of troubling her elders. If anyone bullies me, I will retaliate on the spot; and if I cannot defeat the bully, I'll go complain to my aunt and cousin!"

With a girlish vivacity, she gave a little exclamation and corrected herself: "Even if I retaliate successfully, I'm still going to complain, so that I never suffer wrongs for nothing."

Zhou Shen chuckled, repeating "good, good" several times, and withdrew his hand. "Go back. When you reach the capital, convey my regards to your cousin. No need to see me off any further."

She stood rooted to the spot, watching Zhou Shen board the carriage, and followed it with her eyes as the vehicle drove away down the long street.

Until the carriage vanished at the far end of the street, Pei Yanzhou paced forward. "There will surely be opportunities to meet again in the future, Cousin need not feel sorrowful."

Liang Shanru turned a deaf ear, quickly readjusted her emotions, and turned around to head back into the mansion.

Pei Yanzhou narrowed his eyes and followed after her. "Third Aunt is looking over the account books. If Cousin has nothing to do, why not speak with me?"

A flash of wariness instantly crossed Liang Shanru's eyes. Then, feigning surprise, she tilted her head to look at him. "What does Cousin Yanzhou wish to discuss with me?" She tilted her head, wearing an innocent expression. "I was actually planning to go accompany Aunt with the account ledgers; perhaps I can learn a skill or two."

Her skills far surpassed that; there was no need to learn, though Pei Yanzhou did not voice these words aloud, fearing he might anger her further.

Thus, he tactfully said, "Even if you go, Third Aunt might not let you tire yourself out. What I wish to discuss will not take long, just a brief moment. Or is it that Cousin guards herself against me to this extent, unwilling to say even one extra word to me?"

He thought for a moment, his peripheral vision catching Pei Jingxing still standing not far away, and raised a finger to point at him. "If I have Jingxing come along as well, would Cousin still refuse?"

Liang Shanru thought to herself that he was truly clever, and truly thick-skinned.

Since he knew she was unwilling to speak much with him, he still insisted on pushing himself forward.

The pristine gentleman in the eyes of outsiders was truly willing to cast aside everything for the Third Prince, throwing away even his face.

This conversation had to happen sooner or later.

Rather than waiting until they reached the capital for him to endlessly pester her and add unnecessary trouble, she might as well brush him off while her cousin was still here and be done with it.

Liang Shanru forced a smile, twitching the corners of her lips. "Cousin Yanzhou thinks too much. Then let us head toward the small garden; we can treat it as a stroll to aid digestion after the meal."

Pei Yanzhou could more or less guess what she was thinking, but he no longer exposed her thoughts aloud. He stepped aside to clear the path and let her go first.

She walked quickly, wishing she could shake him off entirely.

He was not in a hurry to catch up. Pei Jingxing hurried over, lowering his voice to ask him, "What does Eldest Brother want to talk to Cousin about? Didn't we say that when you stood up for her, she might not have interpreted it that way? You shouldn't..."

"That has nothing to do with it." Pei Yanzhou shot him a sidelong glance.

It was only because he had been anxious for her safety that he listened to Pei Jingxing's nonsense and easily believed it.

She knew how to forge General Liang's handwriting and understood how to utilize those profit-seeking villains within the Liang clan; she had never been a foolish girl.

She grasped the intricate web of interests between people so effortlessly; how could she possibly fail to understand those entanglements of interest?

Pei Yanzhou's gaze darkened slightly as he warned, "Just follow along and say nothing. If you have any questions, ask me privately. Do not meddle."