Western Conquest General’s Residence.

Liang Yanjun watched as Liang Zhe paced back and forth in the room for several rounds. Unable to bear it any longer, he said: “Master, please stop walking around—this subordinate’s eyes are getting dizzy.”

Liang Zhe felt guilty and his face reddened: “What nonsense are you spouting!”

Liang Yanjun shamelessly grinned: “Master, cultivating a group of people really isn’t easy. I don’t know how Seventh Miss Qin is so clever that she could train her own people. Master, you’ve spent so much effort and silver, and currently have only gathered twenty or thirty people. Seventh Miss Qin is truly formidable.”

Liang Zhe glared: “In the future, you must call her Madam.”

Liang Yanjun was stunned for a moment, then broke into strange laughter. His laughter made Liang Zhe’s face turn completely red, but he forced himself to maintain a stern expression, trying hard to preserve his dignity.

“Guard Liang, I understand!”

Liang Zhe reached for a book and hurled it at him. Seeing the situation turning bad, Liang Yanjun quickly ran away.

Liang Zhe cursed at him once, then sat down with his completely red face, unable to wipe away the smile on his lips.

In a moment, Liang Yanjun entered again. His playful expression was gone, replaced by a worried look: “Master, the Old Madam requests your presence.”

Liang Zhe’s expression immediately became cold as ice. The red flush disappeared without a trace as he coldly uttered three words: “I understand.”

Then he stood up and strode toward Jin Garden.

Old Madam Liang lived in Jin Garden. The buildings were extremely exquisite and elegant. Upon entering, one was immediately met with tall trees providing shade, blocking out the summer heat.

In the main room, Old Madam Liang sat in the center, with Luo Meixiang and Luo Qiong sitting on either side, and Second Madam Liang with her two daughters seated in the lower positions.

“Grandmother.”

Liang Zhe performed his greeting properly, and Old Madam Liang immediately shot him a deadly glare.

Luo Meixiang sighed with heartfelt pain: “Zhe’er, we’ve all heard about what happened in the palace. You truly… what can one say about you? Must you be like your sister was back then, not taking rules seriously? With the Old Ancestor present and your father here too, how could you casually get entangled in marriage matters with someone? Doesn’t this give people cause to criticize the Old Ancestor for not caring about you, her legitimate eldest grandson? Sigh…”

She presented the image of a biological mother disappointed in her son’s failure to meet expectations.

Old Madam Liang pointed at his nose and scolded: “Your wings have grown hard now—you’ll provoke any random cat or dog, and dare to bring people of unknown identity into the residence!”

Liang Zhe’s eyes were cold as ice.

He knew these people would react this way, which was why he didn’t dare propose marriage to Qin Shuying directly. Instead, he planned to seek Emperor Delong’s imperial marriage decree. Only that way could Qin Shuying have some protection from these people’s wariness after arriving at the Liang family.

Yet even so, the moment they opened their mouths, they had already placed Qin Shuying in such a position.

His grandmother—he had long since given up any hope for her.

Simply because she disliked his mother, she disliked his sister and himself. When his sister had that incident years ago, his grandmother’s first words were: “Beat that shameless hussy to death!”

Liang Zhe said coldly: “Grandmother, I haven’t brought anyone of unknown identity into the residence.”

Old Madam Liang slammed the table: “Impudent! When I’m speaking, you dare to resist and talk back—what an ill-mannered thing! Just like your dead mother and your shameless sister!”

Cold light flashed in Liang Zhe’s eyes as he sneered: “I wonder what kind of character Grandmother has, and what kind of character Madam Liang has? In what way did my mother and elder sister lack in character?”

Old Madam Liang’s eyes immediately went wide. He, he, he actually dared to insult her like this?

Old Madam Liang pointed at him, too angry to speak. Luo Meixiang’s face showed alarm and unease, but her heart bloomed with joy.

Liang Zhe stood there, straight as a pine tree, his face like cold iron, completely contrary to these past months of silence and passive acceptance.

Liang Yanjun had secretly followed and hidden where others couldn’t see him.

He silently mourned for Old Madam Liang: Sigh, why must you treat Master this way? Do you really think Master is the foolish boy from ten years ago? When Master faces enemy troops, he can curse for three days and nights, eloquent and unstoppable—the other side changed three people and still couldn’t out-talk Master! When it comes to sharp tongue, coldness, and ruthlessness, Master dominates in the army. He simply hadn’t reached the point of falling out with you completely!

Old Madam Liang was red-faced with anger, while the maids and servants on site stared in terror with wide eyes. This, this, this… the Young Master had even revealed such matters—he wasn’t giving the Old Madam and Madam any face at all! But, was what he said true or false… The Young Master had remained silent these past months when facing accusations from the Old Madam and Madam, but today the moment he opened his mouth, his words were like knives stabbing into hearts!

This wasn’t over yet. Regardless of Old Madam Liang’s expression, Liang Zhe continued: “Grandmother and Madam constantly say I have no manners. From now on, I won’t need to come pay respects anymore. When you think I have proper manners, then I’ll come again!”

After speaking, regardless of Old Madam Liang’s expression, he turned and left.

“Look, look, look…” Old Madam Liang pointed at his retreating figure, her mouth twisted with anger as she said to Luo Meixiang and the others: “No rules, no manners! What an ill-bred thing!”

Luo Meixiang was extremely worried and quickly helped Old Madam Liang regulate her breathing: “Old Madam, the Young Master is immature—don’t let anger harm your health.”

Old Madam Liang cursed extensively, while Luo Meixiang pretended to comfort her. In reality, every sentence was criticizing Liang Zhe for being too ill-mannered and immature, not caring about the Liang family’s reputation.

Liang Zhe left Jin Garden without a sound, his heart burning with raging fire.

These past months, he had endured everything. He still needed to plan everything for his sister’s return and had no choice but to endure.

Today, he should have endured as well. Falling out with them now brought no benefit to his and Qin Shuying’s plans. But he truly couldn’t bear it anymore.

Moreover, he didn’t plan to continue enduring. Even if things became more complicated, he wouldn’t continue to tolerate it.

Luo Meixiang wasn’t wrong about him—he, Liang Zhe, was indeed the notorious Liang Overlord on the battlefield, never knowing how to write the words “endurance” and “rules”!

It was just that now, returning to the capital, his goals went far beyond simply restoring his sister’s reputation and reclaiming what rightfully belonged to them.

They said he had no manners? Fine, from now on, Young Master Liang would be a wild boy without manners! They said he was lawless and reckless? Fine then…

Liang Zhe returned to Songtao Residence and called in Liang Yanjun and two guards who were waiting outside: “Go get some flour.”

The two guards were still confused—was Master going to make noodles… buns… dumplings?

But Liang Yanjun understood his meaning and quickly said: “Yes.”

Then he left with An Yi and An Er.

Walking along the road, An Yi and An Er already understood what was happening. After all, they had been following Liang Zhe and were familiar with his methods.

An Yi muttered: “What does Master want this for? It’s not like we’re raiding an enemy camp.”

Back then, Liang Zhe had used a bag of flour to blow an enemy camp to smithereens—just thinking about it seemed incredible. However, due to various reasons, only a few of them knew about this incident.

An Yi and An Er were both brought back from the battlefield by Liang Zhe. They were among the only two remaining with intact limbs from the dozen or so guards that old General Weiwu had given him.

The battlefield was too brutal. Of the dozen people he had taken, some died, some were wounded—only Liang Yanjun, his childhood companion, and An Yi and An Er had all their limbs intact.

Returning to the capital, although he held a fifth-rank position, as a military officer he could only bring one person with him. Back at the residence, though many attendants were assigned to him, he didn’t dare trust any of them.

Fortunately, through several months of effort and money, besides Liang Yanjun and the other two, he now had twenty or thirty people secretly working for him.

An Yi and An Er muttered their complaints but moved quickly, obtaining a bag of flour which the three of them transported to Songtao Residence in batches.

That night, after everyone had fallen asleep, the three followed Liang Zhe’s instructions and thoroughly “arranged” Luo Meixiang’s small storeroom. Then, at midnight, everyone in the Western Conquest General’s residence was startled awake by a violent explosion.

The next day, news that Madam Liang’s small storeroom in the Western Conquest General’s residence had been blown up instantly spread throughout the capital.

The rare treasures, antiques, and calligraphy that Madam Liang had collected for over twenty years were reduced to powder overnight!

Madam Liang reported to the authorities, but after extensive investigation, they couldn’t even find a trace of what had caused the explosion.

Madam Liang immediately fell ill.