After drinking for a while, Liang Yunshan felt drowsy and very much wanted to take a nap.

Just then, the messenger at the gate came in and whispered a few words in Concubine Yue’s ear. Concubine Yue was slightly stunned, then had an idea. She said softly to Liang Yunshan, “My Lord, someone from Madam’s side came to say that Madam requests you to come over to discuss urgent matters.”

Liang Yunshan was slightly tipsy and had things on his mind. Hearing what Concubine Yue said, he asked back, “What matter?”

His tone carried some impatience.

Concubine Yue was delighted in her heart, but her tone remained very respectful and gentle, “This concubine doesn’t know. My Lord, Madam has always managed the inner residence in an orderly fashion and deeply understands righteousness. Since she says there’s a matter, it must be something earth-shattering. My Lord, shall this concubine help you dress?”

Liang Yunshan lightly hummed his agreement, letting Concubine Yue help him with his clothes.

Liang Yunshan had always had an excellent tolerance for alcohol, but he had drunk rather quickly just now. When he stood up, he swayed a bit. Concubine Yue quickly supported him and said worriedly, “My Lord, you’ve just had wine and eaten some hot dishes, but the cold wind is blowing fiercely outside. It would be bad if you caught cold. Shall this concubine accompany you?”

Liang Yunshan frowned slightly.

Concubine Yue added, “This concubine hasn’t paid respects to Madam for a month either. I’ll take the opportunity to pay my respects to her.”

Liang Yunshan was noncommittal, neither saying she could go nor that she couldn’t.

So Liang Yunshan walked in front while Concubine Yue walked behind, arriving at Qianxi Garden one after the other.

Upon entering Qianxi Garden, the maids and matrons in the courtyard all looked at Concubine Yue with surprise, but since Liang Yunshan was walking in front, no one dared say anything.

The four head maids Kuju and others had all been beaten so badly they couldn’t get up. Qianxi Garden was in chaos, so there was no one watching Luo Meixiang’s door, and no one went in to tell Luo Meixiang that Concubine Yue had come.

When Liang Yunshan and Concubine Yue approached, they heard Luo Meixiang’s suppressed voice and Liang Qiong’s angry cursing, “Lowly things, each and every one of them deserves to die!”

Liang Yunshan heard the voice clearly and his steps paused slightly, his brow furrowing – this was Qiong’er’s voice? Qiong’er had always been gentle and elegant, generous and proper. How could she lose her composure like this? Why was her speech so sharp and vicious?

Concubine Yue lowered her eyes, so no one could see her expression.

Then came Luo Meixiang’s voice. Her voice was lower, so neither Liang Yunshan nor Concubine Yue could hear what she said. Liang Qiong’s voice became shrill again, “Mother, what are you afraid of? Father has long been bewitched by those sluts and doesn’t have us in his eyes at all!”

Liang Qiong’s voice made Liang Yunshan freeze, his brow slightly furrowing.

A maid walked over and was about to speak when Concubine Yue’s gaze turned fierce. She raised her chin toward Liang Yunshan’s back, and the maid stood under the eaves, not daring to make a sound.

Luo Meixiang said another sentence or two in a low voice. Liang Qiong didn’t speak again, and the room fell into silence.

Only then did Liang Yunshan lift his foot and walk in.

When Luo Meixiang heard the sound and looked up, she was about to cry at first, but then she saw Concubine Yue, and her voice got stuck in her throat – if she, Luo Meixiang, cried in front of a concubine, how could she suppress the concubines in the future?

Concubine Yue curtsied, “Madam.”

Luo Meixiang nodded lightly, wiped her eyes, and forced out a smile uglier than crying. She said to Liang Yunshan, “My Lord, I know you work hard daily and didn’t want to trouble you, but this concerns the dignity of the entire manor. If My Lord doesn’t know about it, it would be my failure as the managing mistress, which is why I went to summon you.”

Liang Yunshan hummed and sat in the round chair, “What exactly is the matter?”

Luo Meixiang looked at Concubine Yue with difficulty.

Concubine Yue was tactful and said, “My Lord, this concubine has also paid respects to Madam and will withdraw now.”

Liang Yunshan was noncommittal, and Concubine Yue quickly withdrew.

Walking out of Qianxi Garden’s main gate, Concubine Yue’s lips curved up in a light smile.

It seemed that after the Marquis Manor was demoted to an Earl Manor, My Lord’s attitude toward Madam had undergone some strange changes.

On this side, Luo Meixiang finally couldn’t hold back her tears, crying like pear blossoms in rain. Her voice wasn’t loud, appearing delicate and pitiful, “Yunshan, the maids and matrons from Songtao Residence killed a maid from the second household. I merely took the murderers to question them, but the eldest’s family brought dozens of people and broke in, beating all my people. Yunshan, how can I manage the household in the future?”

After seeing Liang Yunshan enter, Liang Qiong had been standing silently behind Luo Meixiang, also feeling anxious – Father had come, so why hadn’t Grandmother arrived yet?

She didn’t know that Old Madam Liang was chanting sutras at the time. After the maid from Qianxi Garden told Nanny Luo, Nanny Luo hurried to the meditation room to try to inform Old Madam Liang.

Although Old Madam Liang clearly knew Nanny Luo had entered, she didn’t stop chanting. Despite her anxiety, Nanny Luo didn’t dare disturb her.

When Old Madam Liang finally finished chanting and Nanny Luo told her about the matter, Old Madam Liang merely glanced at Nanny Luo indifferently, closed her eyes, and began chanting again.

Nanny Luo was completely baffled but didn’t dare say anything, much less urge her.

So at this very moment, Old Madam Liang was still chanting sutras!

After hearing Luo Meixiang’s words, Liang Yunshan hesitated. Luo Meixiang then called for people, “Bring Kuju and Nanny Ye in.”

Several maids and matrons then helped Kuju and Nanny Ye inside.

As soon as they were called in, Luo Meixiang regretted it somewhat.

Although Kuju and Nanny Ye had been beaten severely, it was all on their bodies. Their faces and hands were perfectly unharmed. How could Liang Yunshan see? And Liang Yunshan couldn’t examine their bodies either.

Indeed, after they came in, apart from somewhat disheveled hair, dirty clothes, and unsteady standing, nothing else could be seen.

Liang Yunshan frowned, “What exactly happened?”

Luo Meixiang glanced at Nanny Ye. With tears streaming down her face but speaking clearly, Nanny Ye described the events. Finally, she said, “My Lord, it doesn’t matter that this old servant suffered undeserved calamity, but for the eldest young madam to disregard Madam’s dignity like this – how can Madam manage the rear courtyard from now on? This old servant will say one more thing – people from Songtao Residence killed someone from the second household. If this gets out, outsiders will think our Earl Manor is now fighting internally and treating human life as worthless. Who knows how they’ll spread rumors!”

Anger gradually appeared on Liang Yunshan’s face.

Seeing this, Luo Meixiang was delighted and added fuel to the fire, “My Lord, I’m also thinking of the Earl Manor’s reputation. Just the other day, the eldest young master brought family matters before His Majesty. If outsiders start spreading wild rumors again, who knows what His Majesty will think of our family’s affairs!”

She thought that saying this would surely make Liang Yunshan even angrier. Who would have thought that Liang Yunshan fell silent instead, his anger seeming to dissipate somewhat, and he asked Nanny Ye, “According to you, what should be done?”

Why wasn’t My Lord angry?

In the past, he would surely have been furious with the eldest young madam and eldest young master!

There will be another update this afternoon.