On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Old Madam Liang was executed in prison with conclusive evidence—in that secret chamber, they had found the remains of the real Old Madam Liang.
The entire capital buzzed with discussion over this news.
Emperor Delong issued an edict: the Earl of Pingxi’s mansion would be reclaimed, the Liang family would choose another residence, and they were granted leniency until the end of the first lunar month to move out.
Liang Yunshan and Liang Zhe had failed in household management, allowing the fake Old Madam Liang to take advantage and infiltrate. Their judgment was poor and confused to this degree—both were fined half a year’s salary.
Qin Shuying understood this was Emperor Delong’s warning to Liang Zhe.
With no elders above them, the first and second branches took this opportunity to divide the household. After completing the supplementary funeral rites for the “real Old Madam Liang,” it was already the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The second branch quickly moved out of the Earl of Pingxi’s mansion, relocating to a residence under Meng Shi’s name, and later bought their own mansion to move into.
Qin Shuying and Liang Zhen dismissed most of the servants and took the opportunity to bring in many servants Mi Luo had previously selected. The Liang family’s household staff underwent a complete transformation.
In the blink of an eye, the New Year passed.
On the first day of the first lunar month, following the capital’s customs, Liang Zhe, Liang Zhen, and Qin Shuying went to the Zhao family to pay New Year visits.
On the second day of the first lunar month, the Liang couple returned to the Qin mansion for New Year visits.
At the Qin mansion, Qin Shuying met Qin Kaiyu’s newly married wife, Shu Yeniang—gentle and gracious, a good match.
She also saw Qin Yunyun.
When Qin Yunyun saw Qin Shuying, she remained cold as ice throughout. Qin Shuying naturally couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to her.
Old Madam Qin’s health fluctuated between good and bad. Qin Shuying was somewhat worried and had to maneuver extensively with Dong Shi, hoping she would take good care of Old Madam Qin.
Privately, Qin Shuying also gave Nanny Gu, Xiangchun, Xiangqin, and others many benefits, hoping they would take good care of Old Madam Qin.
Since returning from the Imperial Prison, Luo Meixiang had fallen ill, which actually saved Qin Shuying and Liang Zhen from constantly worrying about being stabbed in the back during their busy period.
When Old Madam Liang had called them to speak separately in the Imperial Prison, she must have revealed everything to Luo Meixiang.
While the two women were busy with inner household affairs, Liang Yunshan and Liang Zhe were outside renovating their residence. With the Liang family’s wealth, buying a mansion in the capital was naturally no problem—they had purchased it before the New Year and begun renovations.
The mansion was bought in Ning’an Ward, a former princess’s mansion. Though much smaller than their current residence, it was still much larger than most official families’ homes, covering four or five hundred acres.
After all, it was a former princess’s mansion.
The Liang family members were still from the Earl of Pingxi’s mansion, and Liang Yunshan remained a First Rank General. Such a residence perfectly matched their status. After modifying unusable elements and extensive renovation, it was completely refreshed. The inner and outer courtyards were clearly separated, with meticulous layout and elegant grandeur.
The day they moved into the new mansion was the thirtieth day of the first lunar month.
Luo Meixiang, just recovered from serious illness, wore a thick sable cloak and stood under the corridor eaves of Yunshui Pavilion, staring blankly at the several plum trees blooming vibrantly in the courtyard.
Liang Qiong stood beside her, urging: “Mother, it’s cold outside. You’ve just recovered from serious illness—please go inside and rest.”
It took Luo Meixiang a long time to come to her senses before turning back into the room.
Everything in the new mansion was fine. There was still underfloor heating, and everything in Yunshui Pavilion was properly arranged.
But Mother was gone.
She remembered what Old Madam Liang had said in the Imperial Prison: “Meixiang, what’s wrong with you? How could you believe their nonsense? I’m your birth mother. You’re the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to. How could I be fake?”
From Old Madam Liang, Luo Meixiang learned everything.
She learned that Liang Yunshan wasn’t born to Old Madam Liang—she herself was the child of her and Prince Liang. To arrange Luo Meixiang’s marriage into the Liang family, Old Madam Liang had plotted to kill Zhao Wanniang, making room for Luo Meixiang.
However, after Luo Meixiang entered the Liang family, Old Madam Liang discovered that Luo Meixiang had been corrupted by Grandmother Zhou, carrying the air of a concubine without any noble lady’s bearing.
To correct Luo Meixiang’s character, Old Madam Liang was very harsh with her. Later, after having Liang Yuan’s brothers and Liang Qiong, Old Madam Liang, fearing a repeat of past mistakes, personally educated them, determined to raise them to the highest standards.
“We’ve all been defeated by Qin Shuying and Liang Zhen. Meixiang, Mother is doomed to die, but you cannot admit defeat. Yuan’er, Jie’er, and Qiong’er cannot lose to them.”
At the time, Luo Meixiang asked Old Madam Liang why she hadn’t argued her case at the ice sculpture banquet.
Old Madam Liang told her in a very low voice: “Meixiang, I accidentally revealed the Empress’s secret. To protect the Empress, Emperor Delong has doomed me to die. Do you know? The current Empress Wen isn’t Empress Wen at all, but the late Emperor’s consort, Lin Yuan.”
At that moment, Luo Meixiang’s eyes widened larger than copper bells.
…
Back on the precious concubine’s couch in her room, Luo Meixiang watched the smoke curling up from the incense burner, rubbing her temples with a severe headache.
“Madam, lunch is ready. Where should it be served?”
A maid came to ask.
Liang Qiong scolded: “Can’t you see Madam is unwell? Must you ask about such trivial matters?”
The maid curtsied as if nothing had happened and turned to leave.
Liang Qiong was so angry her eyes saw stars. Those two bitches Qin Shuying and Liang Zhen truly wouldn’t rest until they killed everyone! These servants they sent were all their spies. All the previously trustworthy people had been dismissed or even sold.
What snake-like women!
How could they be so ruthless?
Weren’t they afraid people in the capital would criticize them for being unfilial?
Qin Shuying indeed wasn’t afraid.
If one was soft-hearted, there was no point in talking about revenge or achieving one’s goals.
When Luo Meixiang had ruined Liang Zhe’s reputation and repeatedly tried to kill him, had she ever shown mercy? Now, providing Luo Meixiang with good food and drink was already filial enough.
It was only out of consideration for Liang Yunshan’s feelings that she spared Luo Meixiang’s life. But this didn’t mean Luo Meixiang could live comfortably and happily.
The suffering she deserved, Luo Meixiang must endure thoroughly.
After the Old Madam Liang incident, Liang Yunshan became much more withdrawn, basically avoiding contact with the inner household’s women, except for Liang Zhen and Qu Linglong.
Every few days, Qin Shuying would learn from Liang Zhen and Liang Zhe what Liang Yunshan had done and said.
After the secret chamber was discovered, Liang Yunshan personally investigated the events of years past, uncovering many secrets. In his pain, he had to admit that the mother he most respected was actually the enemy who had killed his birth mother.
Later, Liang Yunshan no longer opposed Liang Zhe’s various arrangements but silently helped instead.
At the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, Qin Shuying had seen Liang Yunshan once.
He was very silent, neither looking at Luo Meixiang nor at Qin Shuying.
Sitting at the men’s table, he drank silently, appearing very dejected.
However, Qin Shuying didn’t find him pitiful.
While he had indeed been kept in the dark about past events, what had made him unhesitatingly believe Old Madam Liang’s words without ever questioning his wife?
Having lost basic trust and respect for his wife ultimately led to Zhao Wanniang’s disappointment and despair, eventually treating each other like strangers and creating tragedy.
In a marriage, if one party refuses to communicate, it enters a dead end until it falls apart.