“Who knows? Mother had a strong temperament and wouldn’t back down at all. The Marquis lost face and wanted to regain it every day, so the conflict escalated and became increasingly bitter. Eventually, misunderstandings piled up and the situation became irreconcilable. But the more it was like this, the more Mother refused to yield even a single step. Only then did the Marquis take others’ slander as truth, ultimately destroying Mother’s life with his own hands.”

Liang Yunshan was almost stunned. How could Qin Shuying speak so many words so clearly in an instant? What kind of mouth was this?

He wanted to interrupt but had no way to cut in, because just as he opened his mouth to refute the matter about “writing to the old madam,” Qin Shuying had already uttered the next thing that shocked him.

Those matters were actually mostly true.

Liang Zhe was also stunned.

Although Qin Shuying had mentioned this matter before, there had been no evidence—it was merely Qin Shuying’s speculation.

Shuying wasn’t someone who acted without careful consideration. Since she spoke this way today, she must have deep intentions.

Liang Zhe immediately observed Liang Yunshan’s behavior.

The expression of shock mixed with panic on Liang Yunshan’s face fell into his eyes, and Liang Zhe’s heart became clear as snow.

Liang Zhe was furious to the extreme, but his voice actually became calm and waveless: “Marquis Pingxi, it really was you who had been secretly involved with Luo Meixiang all along, which is why you schemed in every way to harm Mother to death!”

Liang Yunshan was struck like thunder by Qin Shuying’s series of deductions and retorted: “Men having three wives and four concubines—how normal is that! I merely wanted to take Meixiang as a concubine, yet she wouldn’t allow it? She was jealous, jealous! I didn’t divorce her, which was already very fair to her. How could she still have the face to say such things to Mother?”

Qin Shuying sneered: “Even I, a mere young woman, know that when listening to words, one must hear the complete story and cannot listen to only one side, much less believe partial accounts. Is the Marquis not even as good as me? Marquis, you need not deny it—it was you who slandered Mother repeatedly. Mother disdained to argue with you anymore, which is why she wanted a divorce! Marquis, please think carefully—wasn’t it exactly like this back then? Mother tried many times to clarify the facts with you, but in the end, you were always angered by others’ one-sided words. Ultimately, Mother never got to say anything, yet you had already decided that Mother was unfilial?!”

Liang Yunshan became somewhat dazed.

Qin Shuying’s words stirred up the past events he had been unwilling to revisit all these years.

Indeed, back then it had indeed… seemed to be like this.

“Outrageous! Seize this evil woman!”

A sinister voice came from the doorway. Everyone looked and saw it was actually Old Madam Liang who had come in person, standing at the entrance in gorgeous attire with an angry expression.

Liang Qiong followed behind her.

Ziteng, Hong Juan, Lu Ye and the others had all been seized by the people Old Madam Liang brought, with cloth stuffed in their mouths. No wonder no one had reported when Old Madam Liang and the others arrived.

Liang Zhe looked at the eager servants and said coldly: “Let me see who dares to come forward—I’ll cut off her hands!”

The servants were immediately frightened and retreated several steps. They all knew the young master’s methods—the young master was never afraid of killing people.

Old Madam Liang smiled coldly and didn’t argue with Liang Zhe. Her gaze was sharp, completely unlike her usual indifferent appearance.

“Marquis, I told you to tie up this rebellious son and take him to the ancestral hall. You’ve been gone so long but haven’t accomplished the task. You’ve actually been led around by the nose by two young brats, believing whatever they say! The dignified General of the Zhengxi General’s Mansion, the Marquis of Pingxi Marquis’s Mansion, can’t even handle such a small matter. If word gets out, people will laugh their heads off!”

Liang Yunshan was scolded harshly by Old Madam Liang. The guilt he had felt moments before when Qin Shuying spoke of his past weakened, and his tiger eyes glared as he shouted: “Rebellious son, whose hands do you want to cut off?!”

Before Liang Zhe could respond, Qin Shuying sneered: “The maids I brought are not people of the Pingxi Marquis’s Mansion. They are all free citizens. I don’t know what law they’ve broken to be seized like criminals?! The Pingxi Marquis’s Mansion talks about rules every day—are these the kinds of rules? This will truly make all the nobles in the capital die of laughter!”

She had an aura of righteousness. Though still young, she could not be ignored.

Since it was Old Madam Liang who had ordered their seizure, any ridicule would naturally be directed at Old Madam Liang. Liang Qiong immediately spoke up: “Qin Shuying, who are you talking about? Don’t you understand filial piety!”

But Old Madam Liang glanced back at Liang Qiong, who shrank her neck. What did Grandmother mean? Why wouldn’t she let her help?

Old Madam Liang didn’t even look at Qin Shuying, as if she were merely a speck of dust that didn’t need to be acknowledged.

She only looked at Liang Yunshan: “Marquis, you are the head of the Pingxi Marquis’s Mansion. You decide what to do!”

Liang Zhe narrowed his eyes. Old witch, truly formidable!

Watching Liang Yunshan personally deal with him—the old witch must be very happy about that.

Liang Zhe glanced at the many household servants present and suddenly smiled. The maids immediately felt their eyes brighten with brilliant radiance and couldn’t help but stare in fascination.

Liang Yunshan was also startled by his smile: “Rebellious son, what are you smiling about? I’ll give you one last chance. If you don’t come with me to the ancestral hall, I’ll have people tie you up and drag you there!”

Liang Zhe smiled cheerfully: “Marquis, don’t be hasty. There’s still one thing you don’t know.”

Liang Yunshan shouted: “Stop your nonsense!”

Old Madam Liang smiled coldly, appearing completely unconcerned about whatever Liang Zhe wanted to say.

“Back then, Prince Liang wrote a letter…”

Liang Zhe deliberately drew out his voice here, but his eyes didn’t miss any of Old Madam Liang’s movements.

Old Madam Liang’s eye twitched, though her expression showed no abnormality.

Liang Zhe grinned and took Qin Shuying’s hand, saying: “Never mind, I won’t mention it. Shuying and I need to enter the palace, and Shuying needs to change clothes. Marquis, please step aside.”

Old Madam Liang still didn’t say a word, not even bothering to glance at Liang Zhe.

An attitude of superiority, an attitude of looking down from above.

As if Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying were dust she completely disdained.

Liang Yunshan shouted: “Nonsense! I told you to accept family discipline, yet you want to enter the palace! You just returned from the palace—what are you going to the palace for now? Could it be that His Majesty can’t do without you and wants to summon you? And her—she’s also going to the palace? What is she going to the palace for?! Could it be that the Empress is summoning her!”

“The Marquis is truly wise, guessing correctly at once. We are indeed going to the palace—His Majesty is summoning me, and the Empress is summoning Shuying.”

Liang Yunshan absolutely couldn’t believe it: “Complete lies! How dare you, you scoundrel!”

After the wedding day when the Empress summoned Qin Shuying, it had already been unprecedented. How could she possibly summon Qin Shuying again?

Not only would he not believe it—placed anywhere in the capital, no dignitary would believe it.

Only then did Liang Zhe restrain his smile: “Marquis, you don’t believe it?”

Liang Yunshan was so angry he laughed: “From the moment I entered Songtao Residence, you’ve told one lie after another, one deception after another. If I believed you, I’d be letting you treat me like a fool!”

Liang Zhe sighed: “Since you don’t believe it, then I won’t say anything more. Just like back then, no matter what, you wouldn’t believe Mother. I was born by her, so naturally you won’t believe me. You’ll only believe what you’re willing to believe, you’ll only cherish what you’re willing to cherish. Mother wasn’t someone you were willing to believe, nor someone you were willing to cherish.”

His tone seemed somewhat dejected.