Luo Huan held his wine cup. “Liang Zhe, you’re asking when you already know the answer. The second branch people are now rich and powerful, constantly showing their claws in front of me. Can I stand watching that? Luo Meixiang is hypocritical and cunning in front of you – don’t you also find it unbearable, which is why you condescended to join hands with me?”

Liang Zhe smiled. “That alone isn’t enough to make you burn your bridges and fight them to the death. Speaking of it, if they prosper, you can only prosper alongside them. There’s no need to oppose them. At least, that’s how outsiders see it.”

“Then can you tell me why you’re determined to fight Luo Meixiang to the death?”

Liang Zhe’s eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with cold light.

Seeing this, Luo Huan couldn’t help feeling somewhat alarmed. He knew the brat before him was no longer the Wu Xia Amon of the past, no longer the Tyrant Liang who used to fight with him.

But the dangerous aura emanating from his entire being still made Luo Huan’s spine run cold.

Luo Huan thought Liang Zhe would muddle through as before, never telling him the truth after one or two attempts.

But just when he held no hope whatsoever, he heard Liang Zhe say: “They killed my mother.”

Luo Huan shot up with a “whoosh,” blurting out: “Me too!”

The two men looked at each other for a long time. Finally, Liang Zhe extended his hand. Luo Huan hesitated, then also extended his hand.

Then Luo Huan’s hand was gripped tightly by Liang Zhe, gripped until he…

It hurt!

Both sat back down. Liang Zhe asked: “How did you discover it?”

Luo Huan said: “I have no evidence, but I pieced together many things, then speculated one by one. They’re very cunning, or rather, too much time has passed – I discovered it too late. However, one thing can’t be wrong – Luo Meixiang deliberately led my sister astray, and I was also pampered by them from childhood, raised to be a wastrel.”

Master Luo had been immersed in grief over his wife’s death those years, neglecting his son’s discipline. By the time he realized his son had become a wastrel everyone in the capital wanted to beat, it was too late.

“I remember when Mother died, I was only six, and Jinniang was just over a year old. Father was too busy to manage me, so Concubine Zhou often had people bring me to the second branch, saying I was pitiful and needed looking after. Father naturally didn’t refuse, and since he had no mood to manage me, I spent much time at the second branch.”

“At that time, Concubine Zhou and my aunt indulged my temperament. Whatever I wanted, they gave. They satisfied my every demand. Even when I hit people, they said I did well…”

Liang Zhe interrupted his reminiscence: “Haven’t you noticed that our upbringing methods were identical? My… grandmother and Luo Meixiang also raised me this way. So you and I became the capital’s wastrel and tyrant.”

Luo Huan nodded and continued: “Later, I married. At the time, I was still completely unaware. It was my wife who reminded me, analyzing everything for me piece by piece, teaching me to observe, until I finally discovered the truth. The revenge for killing one’s mother cannot coexist under the same sky. Moreover, they never planned to spare me and Jinniang – they still wanted to use us until they exterminated all of our main branch, leaving not even the roots!”

“They made a move against your son?”

“Yes!”

Liang Zhe pondered for a moment, then said: “Luo Huan, this matter is of great importance. In future cooperation, you must listen to me more.”

Luo Huan’s eyes widened. “Why should I!”

“Because I can help you investigate the truth and help you get revenge!”

Luo Huan was unconvinced. “Just helping me rise from seventh to sixth rank – do you really think you’re my benefactor?”

“Do you believe I could have you back to seventh rank right now?”

Luo Huan was furious. “Stop threatening people all the time, will you?”

“Then bring out something more convincing!”

Luo Huan thought of his wife’s words, thought of his son’s tender face, and his tone softened: “Don’t worry, I will.”

After parting with Luo Huan, Liang Zhe walked out of the small tavern.

The sweltering heat hadn’t completely dissipated, and the wind carried some stuffiness.

Liang Yanjun approached. “Young Master, the carriage is just behind.”

Liang Zhe naturally knew.

He had come here dressed very ordinarily, and Liang Yanjun had applied something to his face to slightly disguise his appearance – his natural noble bearing was too conspicuous.

The carriage couldn’t stop in front of the small tavern either – carriages weren’t something ordinary families could afford.

Getting into the carriage, Liang Yanjun drove toward the Conquering West General’s mansion.

After traveling a while, Liang Zhe said: “Yanjun, go to Yong’an Alley.”

Liang Yanjun was startled – Chongde Ward and Yong’an Alley were quite far apart.

However, he said nothing and headed toward Yong’an Alley.

Arriving at the Qin mansion’s rear courtyard, Liang Zhe had Liang Yanjun stop the carriage and stepped out.

There was moonlight tonight. Liang Zhe looked at the tree branches extending beyond the Qin mansion’s walls and fell into a daze.

He couldn’t help thinking of Qin Shuying’s every smile and frown.

When she learned of those filthy matters in the Qin mansion, how angry and sad she must have been. A weak woman like her actually had such great courage – not only could she restrain her anger, but she implemented revenge step by step.

If not one year, then two years, three years…

She had no fear.

In the camp’s forest and by the river, he had held her. How did her thin, frail body endure all of this?

She must have spent many sleepless nights, many times washing her face with tears.

How could he let her leave after his plan was complete?

Divorce?

That was naturally impossible.

He wanted her to be by his side forever.

…

At this moment, Qin Shuying was also suffering from insomnia.

It was already deep into the night, but she still couldn’t sleep for some reason.

Not just tonight – it had been like this every day since returning from camp.

Whenever she closed her eyes, Liang Zhe’s brilliant, radiant face would appear in her mind.

She tried desperately to drive him from her thoughts, but before long, he would dominate her mind again.

Every word he had spoken replayed in her mind like a revolving lantern.

Had she… fallen for him?

She rubbed her chest hard. Why fall for him?

No, she really didn’t want to fall for him.

Weren’t the tragedy of her previous life and its bleakness enough to make her vigilant?

Also, hadn’t she told him that after their business was complete, they would divorce?

Going back on her word – where could she put her face?

No, this absolutely wasn’t falling for him, but pitying Liang Zhe.

Yes, it was pity.

His father’s disgust, his grandmother’s disgust, his stepmother’s false pretenses, the possibility of death on the battlefield at any time… He constantly faced schemes and slander, and might even die young. Compared to herself, he was even more pitiful.

So she pitied him.

So…

Yes, that was it.

That was it.

Qin Shuying thought she had convinced herself, but she still couldn’t sleep, still recalled over and over every scene since she’d known him, the words he’d spoken, his impossibly handsome face…

The next day, looking at her heavily dark-circled eyes in the mirror and touching her feverish cheeks, she called for Ziteng: “Ziteng, I won’t go to the shop today.”

How could she be like this?

How was that person still in her mind?

She didn’t dare face him.

Simply put, she broke their appointment.