Chapter 59 Tough Luck for Him

The room was steeped in silence, a flash of pain passing even through Pei Jingxing’s eyes.

Liang Shanru moved out from the inner chamber, having clearly heard every word of the female physician’s earlier remarks. She first politely asked the physician to examine Nongyun as well, before turning to soothe Madam Liang. "I brought this injury upon myself through my own carelessness. I already knew what the consequences would be."

Slowly stepping closer, she looped her arm through Madam Liang’s, leaned against her shoulder, and continued in a softened tone, "Aunt, please don't be sad. Anything is better than a worse outcome, isn't it?"

Madam Liang’s tears, however, almost fell.

It was precisely because this niece of hers was so sensible and so well-behaved that it tugged all the more at one's heartstrings.

If her departed parents could see this from heaven, wouldn't their hearts ache to breaking point?

Holding her close, Madam Liang remained speechless.

Sensing the mood, Pei Jingxing led the female physician outside to take Nongyun’s pulse as well.

Primarily, this matter could not be made known to outsiders. Even with a physician's benevolent heart and the assurance that she would not spread tales, a young lady's reputation was at stake, and absolute caution was required.

Since it had been stated that the injury was sustained through sheer clumsiness, it was inappropriate for the physician to linger and converse inside the room.

As Pei Jingxing escorted her out, Madam Liang gathered Liang Shanru in her arms and led her toward the carved canopy bed. With a darkened face, she turned to Pei Yanzhou. "Have you cleared everything up?"

Pei Yanzhou nodded. "I’ve had Li Ziyang bound and brought back. He’s still at the general’s residence. Thinking it unwise to parade him through the streets, I had him smuggled in quietly through the back gate.

"He claims the Marquis of Changlesheng instigated and abetted the whole thing. He says he was momentarily blinded by greed, thinking of the many benefits to be gained and the chance to vent some pent-up spite on behalf of the Chai family, which was why he abducted our cousin.

"As for the rest..."

Pei Yanzhou glanced at Liang Shanru, his voice pausing slightly. "He indeed had that exact intention.

"I’ve also sent men to apprehend the young shop assistant from Pan’s establishment. Li Ziyang cannot deny it; he used bribes to buy him off, enabling him to spirit our cousin away through the back gate of Pan’s shop without a sound."

Madam Liang’s face had turned ashen.

There is a vast difference between imagining things and hearing them confirmed with one's own ears.

From the moment the incident occurred until now, she had long since figured out the general picture, yet the anger still burned within her.

She raised her hand, intending to smash a nearby ornament, but Liang Shanru caught her wrist just in time. "Aunt, please don't break it."

Suppressing her fury with a heavy sigh, Madam Liang pulled her back into her embrace and placated her. "This time we’ve caught them red-handed! If I don't demand a proper account for you, I am unworthy of being an elder!"

Grit-gritting her teeth, she patted Liang Shanru’s shoulder to settle her and rose to her feet. "I am going to the Li residence right now to see how they plan to explain this."

"Aunt!" Liang Shanru cried out urgently, tugging at her sleeve.

Pei Yanzhou remained still, having apparently guessed earlier that she still had more to say.

Stopping in her tracks, Madam Liang looked back. "Speak."

"What about the Marquis of Changlesheng?"

"I will demand justice for you from him just the same. Do not fear." Madam Liang patted the back of her hand reassuringly.

Liang Shanru, however, shook her head. "That is not what I meant."

With her aunt present, those people had dared harbor such intentions, and her aunt would never let the matter go lightly under any circumstances. Of this, she had never had a doubt.

And then there was Pei Yanzhou.

Though he was hardly an upright and honorable man, because she still held utility for him, he had no reason to stand idly by when faced with such an affair.

Just as he himself had put it back on the outskirts of the city.

No household possessed the brazen shamelessness to let this matter be easily swept under the rug; there was zero possibility of Li Ziyang being let off lightly.

Otherwise, the Third Prince's patronage over the past few years would become a complete joke.

Liang Shanru slowly stood up. "I asked Li Ziyang whether it was his own solo scheme or a conspiracy with others. Without a moment's hesitation, he shifted the blame onto the Marquis of Changlesheng."

She tilted her head to look at Pei Yanzhou. "Did Cousin Yanzhou question him as well?"

True to form, Pei Yanzhou uttered a sound of affirmation, then recalled her mention of the lack of hesitation. "Indeed," he sneered, "he sold out the Marquis without a second thought."

Pondering this, Madam Liang grasped Liang Shanru’s meaning. "Are you saying Li Ziyang deliberately smeared the Liang family to save his own skin?"

"The Marquis and Marchioness of Changlesheng are no saints, and whether they would stoop to such deeds is something I cannot say for certain. But since Li Ziyang made the claim, Aunt might as well go to the Liang family to ask, or summon him along to the Li residence so everyone can confront each other face-to-face. That will prevent any further complications from arising."

In truth, deep down she knew that this was nine-tenths likely just Li Ziyang’s excuse to extricate himself.

Liang Zheng’s previous actions had been instigated by the Third Prince, and having harbored some petty ambitions of his own, he had ultimately discovered he could neither control her nor would the Third Prince permit him to manipulate her marriage.

Devoid of both courage and wit, he dared not cross the Third Prince.

Yet she harbored a profound dread of the phrase "the malice of human hearts."

What if?

Wasn't everyone always terrified of that single "what if"?

Had Liang Zheng gone all-in for that sum of money, wagering that Li Ziyang wouldn't prove utterly incompetent, thinking that once it succeeded, no further questions would need to be asked?

Madam Liang, however, shook her head firmly. "How could we possibly bring such a question to that couple's faces? Chuchu, why are you letting yourself grow muddled?"

Neither did Pei Yanzhou approve. "Even though our cousin has returned unharmed, if word leaks out, outsiders will surely wag their tongues and spread malicious gossip, which can hardly benefit her.

"Naturally, we will keep silent, and the Li family—being the primary culprits—dare not raise a fuss either. Kicking up a major scandal would mean sending Li Ziyang to stand trial and ruining the prospects of the entire Li clan.

"As for the Marquis of Changlesheng's estate... that is harder to say."

Liang Shanru pressed her lips together. "Then should this be counted as his doing, or as his not doing?"

The corners of Pei Yanzhou’s mouth twitched, clearly wishing to speak, but a stern glance from Madam Liang cut him off before he could begin. "What do you suggest we do?" she asked.

Raising her eyes, Liang Shanru met Madam Liang's gaze directly. A sudden clarity washed over her, and she broke into a smile. "Of course it must be counted as his doing.

"The fact that we cannot question him openly or state it plainly was something he calculated from the very beginning. Even if I emerged safe and sound, with Li Ziyang betraying him, he would still manage to walk away unscathed.

"The Marquis of Changlesheng has certainly plotted a very clever game."

With a look of infinite fondness, Madam Liang pinched her cheek. "You are a child worth teaching. Rest well at home; I will take your cousins to the Li family. As for the Liang family—though we say nothing of it now, when the time comes to settle accounts, they will feel the pain where it hurts."

In truth, Madam Liang knew well that her good-for-nothing eldest brother might not necessarily dare to stir up trouble over such a matter.

While that household was rotten to the core, Madam Zhou still possessed a modicum of brains.

Having already brought the brothers Chiri and his sibling to Yangzhou, Zhou Shen still hadn't returned to his official post to this day.

They had reaped no benefits whatsoever yet stirred up a mountain of trouble. For that couple, the best course of action was to do nothing at all and hustle her group away as quickly as possible—especially since they still harbored hopes of extracting a portion of Liang Baoqi’s dowry silver from her.

Let this be considered their bad luck for being implicated by Li Ziyang. Chuchu had swallowed more than her share of bitter pills in silence; it was high time the others got a taste of it.

Smiling, Madam Liang coaxed her a little more. "I’ve already sent word to Zhou Shen that you are safe. He will likely come by the house later today just to see for himself and set his mind at ease. We shall make haste to the Li house and back. These wretched affairs in Yangzhou, I believe, must be brought to an end as soon as possible."