“Uncle, are you saying that even you have never seen this type of weapon?”
This was already the fifth time Old Madam Liang had asked Liang Yunshan this question.
“Yes.”
Liang Yunshan answered powerlessly for the fifth time.
Old Madam Liang’s back remained ramrod straight.
After Liang Jie fell unconscious, Old Madam Liang wasn’t particularly concerned because she deeply trusted Imperial Physician Shu’s medical skills.
After receiving the second imperial edict, she remained confident.
However, when she learned that Liang Yuan was also running a fever, when Imperial Physician Shu said both brothers were in grave danger, when Liang Yunshan said that even he, a great general, had never seen such weapons, Old Madam Liang suddenly realized that there were indeed things in this world beyond her control.
Nevertheless, she didn’t weep or show pain—only deep hatred and frenzied thoughts.
All those years of hardship and humiliation she had endured—what had it all been for?
For what?
Was it just to watch a pair of grandsons die before her eyes, then have Liang Zhe inherit the vast family fortune?
In that case, wouldn’t she have lost?
When she met them in the underworld, wouldn’t they laugh her to death?
If, if Liang Yuan and Liang Jie couldn’t survive tonight…
A fierce thought flashed through Old Madam Liang’s mind, making her face appear extremely sinister and terrifying.
Then let it all be destroyed, all of it!
No one should think of surpassing her, Luo Yanyan—no one!
What she couldn’t obtain, no one else should have!
The goals she couldn’t achieve, no one else should accomplish!
…Everyone!
Liang Yunshan caught sight of the sinister expression on Old Madam Liang’s face and was startled. What was wrong with mother?
In all his years, the Old Madam Liang he had seen always maintained a cold, indifferent demeanor. She would occasionally lose her temper, but this expression of wanting to dismember enemies…
She must be thinking about how to avenge Liang Yuan and Liang Jie.
Liang Yunshan comforted her: “Mother, Yuan’er and Jie’er are blessed and will have heaven’s protection. Mother should go rest. When they wake up, I’ll call you. As for the culprit, I will definitely do everything possible to capture them.”
Old Madam Liang, brought back to her senses by his words, responded coldly but didn’t move.
Old Madam Liang kept vigil through the night. The people of Xingyui Garden bustled about all night, and Imperial Physician Shu was kept at the residence.
The next day, near the end of the chen hour, Liang Yuan finally awakened groggily. Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
Near the end of the wei hour, Liang Jie also regained consciousness. The maids and servants of Xingyui Garden all exhaled in relief—their lives were also saved.
The eldest young master of the Prince of Pacifying the West’s first branch remained bedridden for seven or eight days before recovering. The second and third young masters lay in bed for seven or eight days before they could get up. However, Second Young Master Liang Yuan continued to be carried everywhere and couldn’t walk on his own. Though Third Young Master Liang Jie could walk without hindrance, his right arm remained weak.
These matters couldn’t be concealed at all. The Prince of Pacifying the West’s residence had become the laughingstock of the capital.
The three young masters didn’t go out and couldn’t hear the gossip, but Liang Yunshan only took one day off. In the following days, he appeared daily at court and endured enough strange looks from others.
He aged considerably in an instant.
He didn’t know whom he should blame or where to vent the frustration in his chest. As for the culprit, there remained no trace of clues.
During Liang Zhe’s confinement to bed, Old Madam Qin sent Dong Shi to visit.
Qin Yongtao even came personally to the Prince of Pacifying the West’s residence. However, since he couldn’t enter the inner residence, he exchanged pleasantries with Liang Yunshan in the outer courtyard. Seeing Liang Yunshan’s deflated and courteous expression, Qin Yongtao’s thoughts were extremely complex.
Could he understand it this way—that his good niece, together with his good nephew-in-law, had thoroughly defeated Liang Yunshan? Had thoroughly defeated Luo Meixiang?
When Qin Yongtao first learned that the marquis residence had been demoted to an earl residence, he was shocked. Now he couldn’t go out and boast anymore.
But upon reflection, so what if the marquis residence was demoted to an earl residence? Liang Zhe remained Emperor Delong’s trusted confidant, and this nephew-in-law was still impressive.
The demotion from marquis to earl residence caused Liang Zhe no harm whatsoever.
In fact, if Liang Zhe was favored by the emperor and Emperor Delong happily bestowed something upon him, that would truly be glorious!
Dong Shi went to Songtao Residence, only speaking a few words with Liang Zhe from behind a screen, then learned about Liang Zhe’s condition from Qin Shuying. Knowing there was no serious harm, she returned and informed Old Madam Qin.
Qin Yongtao, this old bureaucratic fox, truly lived up to his reputation—he actually guessed correctly. Ten days later, Liang Zhe was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Capital Military Commission, a position of the fourth rank.
The next day, Qin Shuying’s imperial mandate came down—fourth rank, the same level as Old Madam Liang and Luo Meixiang.
These two pieces of news nearly caused an explosion at the Prince of Pacifying the West’s residence. Old Madam Liang fell ill from anger.
What kind of people were in the Capital Military Commission?
The emperor’s trusted confidants!
Deputy Commander, fourth rank—this was definitely a new noble of the capital, and one wielding great power at that.
Anyway, morning greetings were now exempted, and everyone stayed behind closed doors without even seeing each other’s faces. No matter how ugly Old Madam Liang’s expression became or how much Luo Meixiang gnashed her teeth in hatred, Liang Zhe didn’t get to appreciate it.
Only Liang Yunshan sat in his study, staring blankly at the wall ahead, lost in thought. Having encountered Liang Zhe twice at court, when father and son faced each other, Liang Zhe only said “Uncle,” which left Liang Yunshan stunned for a long time.
Qin Yongtao, on the other hand, had a few drinks at home in celebration.
Time passed leisurely, and soon deep winter arrived.
During this period, the results of the imperial consort selection for the princes were announced to the world: Fourth Prince’s consort Lin Zilan, Sixth Prince’s consort Mu Tianxiang. The consorts of the Fifth and Seventh Princes were young ladies Qin Shuying didn’t recognize. Lu Ruyang was bestowed upon the Fifth Prince as a secondary consort, and Liu Sujiang was bestowed upon the Seventh Prince as a secondary consort.
Qin Shuying could hardly believe it: “Sister Lin became the Fourth Prince’s consort?”
The Fourth Prince was the same age as Liang Zhe. This time, one primary consort and two secondary consorts were selected for him.
Liang Zhe said: “The Fourth Prince had already noticed her when at the traveling palace. Didn’t Shuying observe this?”
Qin Shuying rubbed her temples, “Sister Lin mentioned some matters about the Fourth Prince in her letters, but I was too slow to notice. Moreover, Sister Lin probably didn’t notice either. She was absorbed in her mechanical devices and had to deal with her troublesome grandmother and concubine—quite busy indeed.”
Ultimately, she still found it hard to believe. The Fourth Prince now wielded great power, while the Lin family wasn’t particularly prominent. This marriage was something she hadn’t anticipated.
The backgrounds of Lu Ruyang and Liu Sujiang weren’t inferior to Lin Zilan’s, yet they were only the prince’s secondary consorts, with status far below that of the prince’s primary consort.
Liang Zhe said: “This should be something His Highness the Fourth Prince fought for himself. As for Mu Tianxiang… truly unexpected.”
Indeed, Mu Tianxiang was the niece of Concubine Kang’s family, while the Sixth Prince was a thorn in Concubine Kang’s side.
Her own niece marrying her own nemesis…
Qin Shuying thought for a moment and asked Liang Zhe: “Could it be that the Sixth Prince’s consort position was something Mu Tianxiang earned herself?”
“I estimate something happened between the Sixth Prince and her, but I don’t know the details.”
Qin Shuying was truly surprised. She understood all too well what kind of person the Sixth Prince was.
As for Mu Tianxiang, Qin Shuying currently couldn’t read her intentions and didn’t know what she was after.