Even now, Liang Yuan still hadn’t figured out exactly how he and his third brother had been injured.

However, it must be connected to Qin Shuying somehow.

He never expected to suffer such a great loss today!

How had she managed it?

That wretched girl had set off fireworks, but the Marquis Pingxi’s residence was so large, and most of Liang Zhe’s people were in the outer courtyard—they wouldn’t be able to rush over in an instant.

Who exactly had injured them?

One must know that although the Marquis Pingxi’s residence kept guards, there were only about five hundred of them, and they were stationed in the outer courtyard. Once they entered the inner quarters, they would easily be discovered, or chaos would ensue.

The inner quarters also kept some guards—about twenty or thirty women.

Therefore, although Liang Zhe had arranged personnel, most of them would definitely be women—either maids or servants.

But at that time, Liang Yuan hadn’t seen anyone at all.

If they had come to rescue Qin Shuying, why didn’t they show themselves?

Liang Yuan remained puzzled. He had also suspected Ziteng, but he had personally strangled Ziteng until she nearly fainted, and personally heard her lying on the ground gasping heavily and coughing incessantly.

That maid was completely powerless.

As he was thinking this, he heard that Eunuch Tao had finished reading the imperial edict. Sure enough, it was exactly as the Fifth Prince had said—it was a marriage decree, granting his father a co-wife: Princess Qin’an.

In Eunuch Tao’s drawn-out “By imperial decree—” Liang Yuan endured the severe pain and, with Liang Qiong’s support, shakily rose to his feet. A young servant quickly came to support him.

Eunuch Tao handed the bright yellow imperial edict to Liang Yunshan with both hands. Liang Yunshan respectfully received it and placed it on the incense table.

After exchanging pleasantries, Liang Yunshan personally escorted Eunuch Tao to the door.

Except for Meng Shi and her son and two daughters, as well as Liang Qiong, Ayuan, and Aning, everyone else had already known about this matter, so no one showed any surprised expression.

Meng Shi asked Third Daughter in a daze: “Third Daughter, pinch me. What did I just hear?”

Third Daughter was also confused, blinking: “Mother, I also suspect I heard wrong.”

Old Madam Liang’s eyes turned fierce as she swept her gaze over them and angrily scolded: “Silence!”

Meng Shi was frightened into silence and immediately led Third Daughter, Fourth Daughter, and her son through the side door, fleeing like smoke.

Qin Shuying smiled lightly and, before Old Madam Liang and Luo Meixiang could catch their breath, also immediately left through the side door.

The maids and servants, knowing something was amiss, didn’t dare linger and quickly went to the courtyard.

Old Madam Liang looked sinisterly in the direction where Qin Shuying had disappeared, grinding her teeth: “What a harbinger of misfortune, specially sent to torment me! Ever since she entered this household, one disaster after another has occurred!”

Luo Meixiang had been in a trance ever since entering the main hall, and now was overcome with grief. Unable to consider Old Madam Liang’s words, she sat down in a chair with tears falling, covering her face as she wept.

Liang Qiong hadn’t received any advance warning from anyone, so naturally she couldn’t accept this at all.

“Mother, what, what is going on? Why would His Majesty grant Father a marriage? What is this all about?”

Liang Yuan sat down with the servant’s support and said hatefully: “It was all Liang Zhe’s doing. Don’t you understand yet? He deliberately wrote a play and arranged for people to perform it at the theater that Princess Qin’an frequented. Princess Qin’an listened and took it to heart, which led to Prince Huai’an speaking to His Majesty, resulting in today’s edict.”

Old Madam Liang’s gaze circled Liang Yuan like an arrow: “What did you say?! How did you come to know this?”

Liang Yuan had only learned this from the Fifth Prince that morning. Upon learning it, he and Liang Jie had nearly fainted with rage, which then led to their attempt to destroy Qin Shuying.

They hadn’t yet had time to tell Luo Meixiang about this matter. Now, facing Old Madam Liang’s interrogation and wanting to use her to suppress Liang Zhe, he naturally revealed everything: “Grandmother, Mother told me and Third Brother about His Majesty’s intention to grant a marriage. We brothers had been searching for the reason during this time and even asked Fifth Prince for help. This morning, His Highness summoned us and finally found the cause of the matter. It turns out it was all a trap set by Liang Zhe.”

Old Madam Liang’s eyes turned red as she said sternly: “That bastard! What exactly did he write in his play to make Princess Qin’an do such a thing? I never realized he had such capability!”

She had originally thought this was just Emperor Delong suddenly remembering past events and, taking advantage of Liang Yunshan’s return to the capital, granting them Princess Qin’an to keep them in line.

She never expected it was all orchestrated by Liang Zhe.

This made Old Madam Liang, who had never taken Liang Zhe seriously, absolutely furious.

Liang Yuan replied: “Grandmother, he wrote a play called ‘Cold Spring Boudoir.’ It tells of a commoner woman who was deeply in love with her husband and was even pregnant with his child. However, one day while shopping on the street, she was knocked down by an arrogant and domineering noble lady and lost the child in her womb. Her husband couldn’t bear this blow, fell ill, and died. To seek revenge, the woman changed her name and identity and became a female tutor in the noble lady’s household. The tutor deliberately seduced the noble lady’s husband and became his concubine. Then, step by step, the tutor implemented her revenge plan and drove the noble lady to death.”

In her rage, Old Madam Liang slammed her hand on the table, saying word by word: “Bastard! He deserves death!”

Old Madam Liang naturally knew how Princess Qin’an had lost that child back then. This story of “Cold Spring Boudoir” was exactly a true portrayal of how Princess Qin’an had reached her current state.

Luo Meixiang shrieked: “Is Princess Qin’an so stupid that she was deceived by such a crude story? If she can’t forget Shi Yuan, why doesn’t she follow Shi Yuan instead of coming to harm me?”

Old Madam Liang’s eyes narrowed.

She couldn’t stand seeing Luo Meixiang lose composure. Despite her celestial beauty and having received treatment no less than a legitimate daughter while at the Luo family, she had still been raised by Concubine Zhou (Luo Meixiang’s aunt) with the demeanor of a concubine. She had learned neither the grace of a noble lady nor the subtle art of killing without bloodshed, repeatedly disappointing Old Madam Liang.

Old Madam Liang slammed her teacup heavily on the table: “Silence!”

Luo Meixiang was startled and quickly closed her mouth.

Old Madam Liang looked at Liang Yuan again: “Continue!”

Liang Yuan had always greatly respected this decisive grandmother and told her everything: “Grandmother, Elder Brother knew that Princess Qin’an often went to the Desheng Theater to listen to plays, so he wrote this script and arranged for them to perform it. After Princess Qin’an listened several times, she probably took it to heart. That’s how it happened. Grandmother, I’ve heard some of the details behind this matter. The female tutor and that noble lady in the play seem, seem to relate to Mother…”

Old Madam Liang’s eyes narrowed, her sinister gaze particularly chilling. Liang Yuan didn’t dare continue.

After pondering for a moment, Old Madam Liang said coldly: “So you’re saying that after learning the cause from the Fifth Prince, you two brothers returned?”

“Yes.”

“Then how exactly were you and your third brother injured?”