After thinking for a moment, Ziteng said again: “First Madam, after that thing is fired, there will be a copper tube left behind, which will definitely be discovered during the investigation.”

One fell to the ground, one hit Liang Jie’s right shoulder, and one hit Liang Yuan’s leg.

“I know. At this point, we can only take things one step at a time. As long as you bite your tongue and refuse to speak, this thing is rare, so they won’t think of you in the short term.”

“Mm.”

As the master and servant were contemplating, they heard Nanny Fu hurrying in: “First Madam, First Madam, an imperial edict has arrived! All the masters of the household must go to the front hall to receive the decree!”

Qin Shuying and Ziteng exchanged glances. Had the imperial edict granting marriage to Princess Qin’an arrived?

Qin Shuying let out a cold laugh.

Liang Jie and Liang Yuan’s information network was indeed well-connected. Compared to Luo Meixiang, the two brothers were much cleverer, actually managing to persuade the Fifth Prince to relay messages for them, and having such ruthless determination.

Moreover, the Fifth Prince was indeed shrewd, quickly dispatching people to investigate the matter that Liang Zhe had been planning for half a year, rapidly analyzing the suspicious aspects.

He himself didn’t come forward, and somehow convinced the Liang Jie brothers to act. The brothers had lost their minds to actually do such a thing.

It must be said that while this plan was utterly despicable, it was quite effective.

Even if no one had witnessed it, after being pulled and dragged by the Liang Jie brothers, in the eyes of many women, she would already be filthy and unclean, having wronged her husband.

If Qin Shuying hadn’t changed souls, she would have returned home to hang herself.

If Qin Shuying had genuine marital affection for Liang Zhe, she would also feel deeply ashamed, and from then on would have to be a virtuous wife, taking concubines and finding bed warmers for Liang Zhe. The couple’s relationship would naturally grow increasingly distant.

Or perhaps Qin Shuying, unable to bear the burden, would die of melancholy at a young age.

Or perhaps Liang Zhe would become disgusted with Qin Shuying from then on.

And so forth.

Unfortunately, they had miscalculated. Qin Shuying had none of these psychological burdens.

In fact, after today’s events, the complex emotions Qin Shuying had been developing toward Liang Zhe these past days suddenly became crystal clear.

As for how Liang Zhe would think, Qin Shuying couldn’t spare the concern.

After all, they would divorce in the future anyway, so he could think whatever he wanted.

Qin Shuying’s fall into the water was only thirty percent real. She had merely brushed through the water quickly before climbing ashore, and her hair hadn’t even gotten completely wet. After drinking some hot ginger soup and the wind-cold dispelling medicine that Nanny Fu had forcibly insisted she drink, she felt no discomfort.

After dressing up grandly, she arrived at the front hall. After standing for a short while, except for the unconscious Liang Jie who hadn’t come, all the masters in the residence had gathered.

The one delivering the edict this time was another eunuch from beside Emperor Delong, Eunuch Tao.

He held the bright yellow imperial edict in both hands, sitting in a chair with lowered eyes, unhurriedly sipping tea. Liang Yunshan sat across from him, his expression calm but tinged with anger.

Ever since that day when Emperor Delong had revealed his intention to grant him Princess Qin’an in marriage, Liang Yunshan had been constantly pondering how to gracefully dispel Emperor Delong’s idea without earning the emperor’s suspicion.

So many days had passed, and he had been secretly competing with Emperor Delong.

He naturally knew that Emperor Delong wouldn’t easily take back words he had spoken, but he still held a sliver of hope.

Emperor Delong wasn’t a foolish ruler. On the contrary, he was diligent in government affairs, personally went to border cities to drive away enemies, and had done many things beneficial to the people of the realm—building water conservancy projects, reducing taxes. He was a decent monarch.

However, no monarch was easy to serve.

The more a monarch wanted to be a wise ruler, the more effort he would put into checks and balances of power.

Liang Yunshan himself also wielded great power with countless generals under his command, and didn’t think there was anything wrong with this.

Without sufficiently powerful restraint techniques, as long as one side became dominant, it would easily nurture individual ambitions, leading to situations where the tail wags the dog, or even overwhelming influence that threatens imperial power.

That said, after so many years of loyal service, why did Emperor Delong have to chill his heart?

Didn’t he fear that this would make Liang Yunshan harbor resentment and develop other thoughts?

Liang Yunshan wasn’t the only powerful general in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Besides him, there were Duke Chu and several other great generals in the northeast and southwest.

However, in the northwest, Liang Yunshan was absolutely someone whose mere stomp would shake the ground thrice.

If Emperor Delong chilled his heart, the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks for the emperor.

Previously granting his legitimate daughter in marriage to Prince Huo Luo had already made people mock Liang Yunshan. Now granting him another Princess Qin’an in marriage would likely make him the subject of after-dinner gossip among the nobility.

Just moments ago, he had returned to the residence and hadn’t yet had time to change out of his court robes when he learned that Liang Jie had been seriously injured. He went to visit his son and was greatly shocked by the unconscious Liang Jie. He had just received the physician’s words: “…as long as he survives these three days, there’s hope for recovery, otherwise…”

Before the physician could finish, a maid interrupted: “My lord, Madam, an imperial edict has arrived from the palace!”

Well then, no need to change clothes. He hurried to the front hall.

Seeing the hall packed with people, Eunuch Tao asked Liang Yunshan: “Marquis Pingxi, are all the household members present? May we proclaim the edict?”

Liang Yunshan suppressed his anger: “Eunuch Tao, except for my son Liang Zhe who is on duty before His Majesty and hasn’t returned, and my third son Liang Jie who was seriously injured and remains unconscious, all others are present.”

Eunuch Tao narrowed his eyes, scanning the crowd with an ambiguous tone: “The entire household looks grave. What, are you unhappy that His Majesty has issued an edict?”

Liang Yunshan wasn’t afraid of Eunuch Tao’s deliberate provocation and showed no pleasant expression: “My son Liang Jie is seriously injured, so we are somewhat worried. Please proclaim the edict, Eunuch.”

Since it couldn’t be avoided, then accept it frankly.

He, Liang Yunshan, wasn’t some turtle hiding its head. Princess Qin’an it would be then. The Marquis Pingxi’s residence had already been mocked by the capital’s people due to Zhao Wanniang and Liang Zhen’s affairs—this wouldn’t make much difference.

Whether you stick your head out or pull it back, it’s still a blade. Thunder, rain, and dew are all imperial grace. Since he couldn’t refuse, he would accept it openly.

Moreover, Meixiang’s analysis was correct. Once Princess Qin’an entered the residence, Emperor Delong would be even clearer about his true thoughts. There was nothing to fear.

Eunuch Tao shook the imperial edict, and with Old Madam Liang leading, everyone knelt down.

As the eldest daughter-in-law, Qin Shuying knelt alongside Liang Qiong and Liang Yuan, directly behind Luo Meixiang and Liang Yunshan.

Liang Yuan’s leg had just been bandaged and he hadn’t had time to rest before being carried out.

At this moment, he had to kneel by himself without help from others, and the pain nearly made him cry out for his parents.

Liang Qiong had no idea what had actually happened, only knowing that assassins had come to the residence, that Second Brother and Third Brother were injured, and that Qin Shuying had been frightened and fallen into water, nearly drowning.

Luo Meixiang had only been focused on finding physicians for the brothers and hadn’t had time to question Liang Yuan.

Liang Yunshan also hadn’t had time to ask about anything. Even the matter of the assassins was only reported to him in low voices by the steward while walking from Liang Jie’s courtyard to the front hall.

Therefore, except for Liang Yuan, no one was paying attention to Qin Shuying at this moment.

With Liang Qiong between Qin Shuying and Liang Yuan, Liang Yuan’s venomous gaze pierced toward her, but Qin Shuying seemed completely oblivious, properly performing the grand ceremony and kneeling on the ground.

Liang Yuan couldn’t spare any more energy to glare at Qin Shuying, enduring the severe pain as he prostrated himself on the ground.