Qin Shuying asked lightly: “Madam, why does your complexion look so terrible? Have you remembered who the real murderer is? Madam manages the household affairs, so naturally you have control over both the outer courtyard and inner residence matters. Who exactly is the real murderer? Why doesn’t Madam quickly tell Master?”

Luo Meixiang was both shocked and frightened, but she still had to gather her spirits and quickly prove her innocence: “Elder Sister-in-law, your words are inappropriate. If I knew who the murderer was, would I still be here in this confusion? Someone come—go summon all the first-class, second-class maids and steward matrons in the entire mansion, and have them bring all their clothes as well!”

Without Luo Meixiang’s detailed instructions, several steward matrons understood what these “clothes” meant. They quickly summoned all the matrons from the steward’s office and assigned tasks to each.

During the waiting period, brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie also arrived.

Generally speaking, brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie didn’t need to come for matters occurring in the inner residence, nor was it appropriate for them to come—this wasn’t something unmarried men like them should participate in.

Liang Yuan and Liang Jie had been studying literature and practicing martial arts while helping various stewards manage some household affairs—this training was quite substantial.

Both Liang Yuan and Liang Jie were reasonably intelligent, capable in both literature and martial arts. They were currently following military paths and were considered outstanding among young people in the military.

Both had achieved scholar status and had studied military strategy well. Liang Yuan held a minor position at the Governor’s Office, while Liang Jie held a minor position at the Imperial City Department. With Liang Yunshan as their father, given time—within just a few years—advancing to important positions would be no problem at all.

If either Liang Yuan or Liang Jie could obtain the heir apparent title, Emperor Delong would surely show them even more favor, making a brilliant future easily within reach.

Moreover, the brothers also participated in decision-making for various matters in the Liang family’s outer courtyard. The Liang family’s affairs were extensive—being able to listen to matters and participate in decision-making was training that ordinary people could never receive.

Old Madam Liang and Luo Meixiang had invested much energy and effort in cultivating brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie, placing high hopes in them.

The brothers had sailed smoothly for sixteen years. When Liang Zhe disappeared and didn’t return, they thought the heir apparent position was within easy reach. They never expected Liang Zhe to return triumphantly, becoming a minor leader among the Imperial Guards upon his return.

Imperial Guards—this was what brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie wanted too! Those were the emperor’s trusted confidants! Not only was Liang Zhe an Imperial Guard, but he was actually a fifth-rank Guard Captain, which made brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie so angry their seven orifices smoked.

Of course, they didn’t need to act personally—their mother would naturally take action. Luo Meixiang wouldn’t allow the brothers to participate in any matters or let their hands be stained with any filth.

During the months after Liang Zhe’s return, Luo Meixiang spread rumors about Liang Zhe, sent people to Songtao Residence to spy on him, arranged performances at Guangbin Tower, sent assassins to secretly kill Liang Zhe, and poisoned his food…

She used every trick in the book, yet Liang Zhe remained completely unharmed.

Not only was he unharmed, but somehow Emperor Delong even issued an edict for an imperial marriage. Brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie couldn’t swallow this frustration.

Every day they held in their anger, every day they were compared to Liang Zhe until they felt worthless…

After Liang Yunshan returned, this disparity became even more obvious.

What Liang Yunshan loved most was martial prowess. Every few days he would bring his three sons and nephew to the martial training ground for testing and guidance. Now it was wonderful—the one who ended up being tested and guided became Liang Yunshan himself, while Liang Zhe became the one doing the testing and guiding.

Liang Zhe could even guide Liang Yunshan, instantly reducing Liang Yuan and Liang Jie to worthless—and they were skilled among their peers!

So no matter how much Luo Meixiang whispered in his ear, Liang Yunshan never erupted at Liang Zhe. Who could blame Liang Zhe for being so skilled, so extraordinary, so one-in-ten-thousand!

Brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie began to feel endangered. If this continued, it would be terrible—they couldn’t just wait for doom. With great difficulty they found Liang Zhe’s weakness—he had actually schemed for Princess Qin’an to marry Liang Yunshan. They were furious and wanted to quickly tell Liang Yunshan.

However, the Fifth Prince said that Liang Yunshan currently felt quite good about Liang Zhe. Even if he knew that the Princess Qin’an matter was Liang Zhe’s scheme, Liang Yunshan probably wouldn’t do anything to Liang Zhe. Very simply, from a man’s perspective, Liang Yunshan welcomed beautiful women and might even be secretly pleased. Liang Yuan and Liang Jie deeply agreed, because they knew that Liang Yunshan had already slept with those four beauties several times. Princess Qin’an was also a great beauty—Liang Yunshan might treasure this pretty widow greatly.

But if Liang Zhe himself went mad and ruthless, there would be opportunities to exploit regarding Princess Qin’an.

After much thought, brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie decided to humiliate Qin Shuying. In their view, humiliating Qin Shuying was something that didn’t require much thought and would leave Liang Zhe unable to voice his suffering.

Regardless of whether Liang Zhe liked Qin Shuying or not, having one’s wife insulted would be an enormous provocation for any man, especially someone like Liang Zhe.

As long as Liang Zhe was provoked into madness and did something irreparable in front of Liang Yunshan, there would be quite a show!

However, what seemed like the simplest matter to brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie ultimately developed into that situation.

Not only did it not go as planned, but it led to Liang Zhe’s promotion and wealth, the marquis mansion being demoted to an earl mansion, their grandmother and mother’s imperial honors降 from super first rank to fourth rank, while one brother became disabled and the other took so long to recover.

All of this was caused by that scourge Liang Zhe!

So from now on, they didn’t want to follow what their grandmother and mother had told them before—they wanted to fight Liang Zhe to the death!

Previously, their grandmother and mother always said their lives should be golden and glorious, a smooth path ahead, and their hands must not be stained with filth. Now, they had to stand up.

Seeing the arrival of brothers Liang Yuan and Liang Jie, Luo Meixiang strongly disapproved.

She had always taught them that they were meant for great things and couldn’t participate in inner residence disputes—firstly, it would make them petty-minded, and secondly, it would dirty their hands.

Luo Meixiang frowned: “Yuan’er, Jie’er, instead of studying in the front courtyard, what are you doing here?”

Liang Yuan said: “Father, Mother, when such things happen in our family, even Elder Sister who married years ago comes to share Father and Mother’s worries—how can we stand by and watch?”

This both mocked Liang Zhen for overstepping as a married daughter and found an excuse for themselves. However, upon hearing these words, Liang Zhen’s face remained as elegantly calm as winter plum blossoms, not even giving them a glance.

Liang Yunshan didn’t catch the hidden barbs in these words and asked Liang Yuan with concern: “Yuan’er, do you feel better today?”

Liang Yuan answered: “Father, I feel somewhat better than yesterday.”

Seeing that Liang Yunshan didn’t object, Luo Meixiang said no more, and Liang Yuan and Liang Jie sat down.