Chapter Five: I Know My Limits

Madame Zhou’s heart felt completely hollow.

Liang Shanru seemed like a different person entirely; she had even brandished a blade against the Marquis at home. Today’s incident was, in all likelihood, her own masterful handiwork, so how could she possibly be expected to help Baoqi now? A dark, sinister glint flashed in Madame Zhou’s eyes.

Across the room, Liang Baoqi suddenly began to struggle violently. Taken by surprise, the servant women nearly lost their grip on her. Liang Shanru cursed the fool under her breath, noticing that Old Madame Hu’s expression had grown even more severe.

Turning her head, Liang Shanru said in a soft, gentle voice to her elder sister, “This is a matter of great consequence. I truly dare not help you hide it. As they say, the only way to keep a thing unknown is to not do it in the first place. If I were to cover for you and it were revealed later, I would have no way to answer for myself. Besides, Sister, your intentions were misguided, and you acted in a muddled state. If you were to pass through this unscathed, I fear you would only stir up more trouble in the future. If I truly helped you gloss over this, I would only be harming you.”

She began to sound aggrieved, sniffing slightly. “I will accept it if you resent or hate me for this; consider it my apology to you.”

“Nonsense.” Old Madame Hu finally spoke. “What do you have to apologize for? I have seen many noble young ladies in my time—what kind of noble lady is she?”

This was a stinging rebuke. Madame Zhou’s face changed instantly. “Old Madame…”

“Your Liang family clings to a marquisate, yet you are still not content. Must I speak such harsh words in front of the children?” Old Madame Hu scoffed at her attempt to argue. “Madame Zhou, do you truly think that because I am old and frail, I am blind to the schemes you and your daughter have been hatching?”

Madame Zhou was struck with sudden terror.

In truth, it was not that she was blind; it was simply that she had decided to fight back. The Emperor was the biological son of the late Emperor and the Empress Dowager, possessing the highest, most noble status. Old Madame Hu had been chosen with the utmost care to be his wet nurse; having spent so many years in the palace, what kind of schemes had she not witnessed?

“Old Madame…” Madame Zhou’s tone softened instantly.

Even Xu Jingyi looked upon her spineless demeanor with disdain.

“You need not be afraid.” Old Madame Hu withdrew her gaze, not bothering to waste another glance on the mother and daughter. “Do not let your daughter come to the Xu household again. The people outside will not learn of your daughter’s disgraceful conduct this time; I would not have someone like her tarnish my eldest son’s reputation. As for whatever targets you and your daughter wish to pursue in the future, it has nothing to do with my family. However, this grievance must be addressed. When you return home today, tell the Marquis of Changle to send your daughter to a villa or a family temple—do not let her wander about the city for the next six months.”

“Grandmother!” Xu Jingyi was clearly dissatisfied with such a lenient punishment.

Old Madame Hu glared at her and scolded lightly, “Hold your tongue.”

Madame Zhou let out a long sigh of relief. It was fine; they had only lost the hope of the Xu family.

There were plenty of noble families in Yangzhou. With Xu Yunxuan gone, they could simply choose another, provided the Xu family did not make a scene. Otherwise, Baoqi’s reputation would be utterly destroyed, and she would have no prospects left at all.

Liang Shanru observed everything, understanding the situation clearly. She lowered her eyes and said nothing more.

In her memories, this was exactly who Old Madame Hu was.

By guarding the grace of the Emperor and the favor of the Imperial Consort, the Xu family had enjoyed endless wealth and glory for three or four generations. Thus, the Old Madame was broad-minded; she neither feared trouble nor provoked it, choosing instead to guard her own small plot of land in the Yangzhou Xu estate, content to live in peace in a quiet corner.

It was precisely because of this that she had turned a blind eye when the Marquis and Marchioness of Changle wanted to annul her marriage to the Xu family.

When her father was defeated in battle, even though the imperial court chose not to pursue the matter, for Old Madame Hu, it was merely an unnecessary complication. She could not bring herself to suggest the annulment, so the Marquis of Changle’s actions played right into her hands.

Old Madame Hu was truly weary of Madame Zhou and her daughter. “Untie her and take your daughter away at once.”

Madame Zhou felt completely humiliated, unable to offer any pleasantries or excuses. The servants, having received Old Madame Hu’s order, had already released Liang Baoqi. Fearing that her daughter might say something tactless and ruin everything, Madame Zhou hurriedly grabbed her, warned her with a look to keep her mouth shut, and hurried out.

Just as Liang Shanru was about to follow, Old Madame Hu called out to her, “It is a rare occasion for you to visit; stay and have lunch before you go. The Marquis’s manor has major matters to handle today, so do not trouble yourself with their affairs at your young age.”

Upon hearing this, the mother and daughter felt their hatred sharpen.

The old woman’s attitude was so blatant, and remembering Xu Jingyi’s earlier mockery, Madame Zhou only hated that her family had fallen on hard times and the Marquis’s estate was on the decline. Otherwise, she would have struck out to vent this suffocating rage!

The Xu family’s servants practically escorted the mother and daughter out. As soon as they stepped outside, while their footsteps could still be heard in the corridor, Xu Jingyi intentionally and loudly scolded, “Grandmother is far too soft-hearted to let such shameless people off so easily! I have never seen such a brazen girl in all my life, and she is even the legitimate daughter of a Marquis’s household—what a disgrace!”

The footsteps outside clearly paused for a moment.

Old Madame Hu patted her head. “That is enough. Shanru is still here. Is she not also a daughter of the Marquis of Changle’s household?”

Liang Shanru smiled indifferently. “Please do not say that. My father’s background is known to all under heaven. Moreover, I know the meaning of propriety, justice, integrity, and shame; naturally, Jingyi is not scolding me.”

Old Madame Hu hummed. “I was also thinking—your mother is the only daughter of the Duke of Wei’s household; she would naturally raise you correctly. So, was this scheme against Liang Baoqi because of the marriage proposal from the Li family?”

The Old Madame was far too shrewd; her eyes had seen through so much of the world. Liang Shanru was neither surprised nor flustered.

She rose slowly from her chair and bowed with her hands tucked together. “Nothing can be hidden from you.”

Xu Jingyi, however, was a bit nervous. “Grandmother, it was I who…”

“She is not afraid; why are you nervous?” Old Madame Hu patted her and turned back to Shanru. “Her heart is crooked, and the Marquis and his wife have lost their sense of fairness. It is understandable that you seek to protect yourself, and you did not use Sanniang behind her back to do it.”

Only then did Xu Jingyi breathe a sigh of relief. Liang Shanru added, “I grew up with Jingyi, and we are like sisters. It is one thing if she does not agree, but it would be a failure of my own character if I deceived her and used her. I understand that much.”

A look of appreciation appeared in Old Madame Hu’s eyes. “Then you are not afraid that I will punish you for it?”

“You will not,” Liang Shanru replied immediately.

Old Madame Hu had intended to ask why, but changed her mind as the words reached her lips. “After venting this grievance, the couple will only pursue you more relentlessly. What do you intend to do?”

Liang Shanru knew she had passed this hurdle safely; Old Madame Hu truly would not hold this against her. It stood to reason—the fact that she had these intentions proved she would not cling to the betrothal with Xu Yunxuan, which was exactly what the Old Madame wanted. Why would she hold anything against her?

She rose gracefully and took a deep breath. “Since I dared to do it, I have already prepared a way out. You need not worry about me.”

It was less a matter of worry and more a matter of curiosity. Liang Shanru’s mother, being the only daughter of a Duke’s household, was not exactly a woman of great foresight or cunning in her youth. She was genuinely curious about whom sixteen-year-old Liang Shanru had learned such tactics from.

However, she did not pry. She simply nodded. “As long as you have a sense of proportion, that is enough. Otherwise, Sanniang would worry about you day and night, unable to sleep. She mentioned your situation with the Li family to me two days ago, saying she wanted me to intervene and help you. It is fortunate that you have your own plans; you are much more capable than she is.”

The smile in Liang Shanru’s eyes faded somewhat.

She understood the subtext of Old Madame Hu’s words. Today’s matter would be let go, but the fear was that in the future, she would ask to borrow the power of the Xu family.

Liang Shanru’s lips curled upward. “When I can no longer handle it myself, I will naturally come to you. If she worries on my behalf and disturbs your peace, it would be my fault.”

The child was perceptive; there was no need to spell things out, as she understood everything at a hint. Old Madame Hu felt a touch of pity, yet she still did not relent. “You are clever. Let us say no more of this. Go and play with Sanniang. You will have a hard time when you return home later, so you might as well enjoy yourself while it is still day. Go.”