Liang Zhen looked at her with a calm expression. “Old Madam, Second Sister will also return later to deliver rice dumplings. Will Second Sister kowtow before my mother’s memorial tablet?”

Luo Meixiang’s eyes widened. “Your mother is already dead – how can that be the same?”

The corners of Liang Zhen’s lips curved slightly upward. Without responding, she lowered her head and began drinking tea.

“You, you, you…”

Luo Meixiang very much wanted to pretend to faint – Concubine Zhou was quite skilled at using this trick. However, if she pretended to faint, would Qin Shuying and Liang Zhen simply let her lie on the ground and ignore her?

These two black-hearted women were entirely capable of doing just that. It wouldn’t be worth it.

But Luo Meixiang had truly run out of options. She had no way to deal with Liang Zhen’s complete indifference. After holding back for a while, she finally spat out viciously, “Qu Yi took a fancy to this fake noble act of yours back then, which is why he raped you. I didn’t understand before – what was so good about this fake nobility? Thinking about it now, it must have felt especially good during the rape – very pleasurable and comfortable!”

After saying this, Luo Meixiang noticed that both Qin Shuying and Liang Zhen were staring at her woodenly. Luo Meixiang felt pleased – these two little bitches, she had finally found something they cared about!

This was good – they would suffer for it in the future!

Suddenly, a cool breeze swept past from behind her. Luo Meixiang instinctively turned to look, and her face immediately changed: Liang Zhe!

He couldn’t have heard what she just said, could he?!

The color drained completely from Luo Meixiang’s face. She was terrified that Liang Zhe might point a finger and push her to the ground or throw her out – the lessons of Liang Qiong and Liang Yuan were still fresh in her memory!

Unexpectedly, Liang Zhe’s expression remained unchanged as he strode in with large steps. “Elder Sister, didn’t you bring Linglong with you?”

Liang Zhen smiled. “Linglong went to the temple with Old Madam today.”

Seeing that Liang Zhe showed no reaction, Luo Meixiang breathed a sigh of relief while feeling somewhat guilty. She said, “Since Eldest Young Madam has come, stay for dinner before leaving. I have matters to attend to in my courtyard, so I’ll go back first.”

Neither Qin Shuying nor Liang Zhen showed any response. Not daring to wait, Luo Meixiang turned and left in a panic.

Qin Shuying looked at Liang Zhe’s expression but couldn’t detect the slightest irregularity. She didn’t know whether he had actually heard Luo Meixiang’s words or not.

After lunch, Liang Zhen left, but Liang Zhe stayed behind. After eating and letting his food digest, he wanted to “fight spirits.”

Unable to refuse, Qin Shuying had to comply with him.

Now that affairs at the garrison were well in hand and everything flowed smoothly, Liang Zhe was not as busy as before. So after the afternoon rest, he went out with Qin Shuying for more recreation.

In the evening, Liang Zhe wanted to “fight” again. Qin Shuying was extremely embarrassed. “Ziyu, my legs are still trembling. Please spare me!”

But Liang Zhe pounced on her. “It’s all your husband’s fault. Tonight you just need to enjoy yourself.”

Qin Shuying let out a soft moan, her pretty face flushing red to the roots of her neck.

The next morning, Liang Zhe hastily “fought” once more before leaving. Qin Shuying slept until the sun was high in the sky before lazily getting out of bed.

Looking back at the disheveled bed, she was so ashamed she couldn’t lift her head.

Nanny Fu came in cheerfully to tidy the room, deliberately glancing at her abdomen with obvious intent, making Qin Shuying’s face burn even more.

Three days later.

While Qin Shuying was reading account books and drinking tea, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard. Lu Ye rushed in breathlessly, panting heavily. “Madam, Madam, Second Master was raped by male prostitutes! Now everyone everywhere is talking about this.”

Currently, everyone in the mansion had changed how they addressed people – Luo Meixiang was Old Madam, Qin Shuying was Madam, and the three Liang brothers were First Master, Second Master, and Third Master.

Qin Shuying was so shocked that she dropped her teacup and spat out the tea in her mouth.

Her first thought was: This was Liang Zhe’s doing – how remarkably fast!

Ziteng and Hong Juan exchanged glances, then asked Lu Ye with eyes full of gossip, “What exactly happened?”

Lu Ye had run until her throat was parched and she was gasping for breath. “My heavens, Second Master was actually raped by three male prostitutes! So many people witnessed it with their own eyes!”

She then gulped down a bellyful of tea before describing it vividly: “You all know about the male prostitutes at Yihong Tower, don’t you, Madam? Second Master always loved going to those places to play. This morning, two customers got into a fight over a male prostitute, coming to blows and breaking down a room’s door. A crowd of people rushed in and saw Second Master being pressed down on the bed by three male prostitutes, with two taking him from behind…”

Reaching this point, Lu Ye noticed that Hong Juan and Ziteng’s faces had changed color. She immediately realized her words were inappropriate and quickly swallowed the rest of what she was going to say.

She should have just stated the result – why did she repeat those filthy words she’d heard?

“Madam, this servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!”

Qin Shuying waved her hand. “You really do need to change this habit of yours. Go to Nanny Fu and accept your punishment.”

Lu Ye hurriedly retreated, laughing sheepishly a few times.

Ziteng and Hong Juan had both criticized her several times before, but today when this incident occurred, she was simply too overjoyed. Running all the way here, she had actually blurted out things she shouldn’t have said.

Speaking of such matters indeed made people’s faces burn. After Lu Ye left, Ziteng and Hong Juan also found excuses to withdraw.

Qin Shuying rested her chin on her hand, looking at the lush green leaves outside the window, and suddenly couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Luo Meixiang had just said that Liang Zhen had been raped pleasurably by Qu Yi, and immediately afterward Liang Zhe had given Luo Meixiang a summer’s worth of coolness from the bottom of her heart. This retribution truly came quickly.

She wondered whether Luo Meixiang still had the face to arrange marriages for her son now.

Sure enough, after a short while, Ziteng came in again to report that the other courtyard was in complete chaos, with Yue Yaoniang even putting on a dramatic performance, crying at Luo Meixiang’s door and nearly fainting.

“Old Madam, Second Master has become so shameless and broken, completely giving up on himself. He’s already a cripple anyway, already unable to marry into a good family anyway, so now he’s become completely reckless. But A’yuan studies so well – Master praises his natural intelligence and says he should take the imperial examination path. With such a second brother, how much disdain and mockery will A’yuan face in school! Old Madam, you’re truly failing Master’s earnest efforts!”

Luo Meixiang had already been frightened beyond measure and furious beyond fury by this news. After Yue Yaoniang’s outburst, her anger surged so much that stars appeared before her eyes.

What cripple? Yuan’er just walked slightly differently from others – how was he a cripple?

What about being unable to marry into a good family…

Not caring that Yue Yaoniang was already seven or eight months pregnant, she slapped her across the face: “Shameless woman! Yuan’er is the legitimate son – what are you people? How dare you mention yourselves in the same breath as Yuan’er! Get out!”

Yue Yaoniang clutched her belly and slowly crouched down, finally calling out in a weak voice: “Help! Old Madam wants to kill me! Help…”