Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Things Go Contrary to One’s Wishes

Escape?

Yes, she had to escape!

’I can’t stay in this Master’s Mansion any longer. I have to return to the Prime Minister’s Mansion and expose Liang Wan’s facade to Father!’

Cao Luyun’s head was spinning. She let Pei Niang help her change, then asked hesitantly, "If I leave, what will happen to you?"

"I’ll find a chance to escape," Pei Niang said, hastily tidying up before pushing her toward the door. "My lady, you must go now!"

Cao Luyun considered for a moment, then nodded. "I’ll send someone to rescue you!"

Pei Niang nodded.

Cao Luyun delayed no longer. She stepped outside into the silence of the deep night. It was impossible to tell the exact hour, but it looked to be the middle of the night.

There were several guards at the courtyard gate. She pressed her back against the wall, held her breath, and tiptoed, not daring to make the slightest sound. She moved carefully toward the back of the house, where a massive osmanthus tree had branches extending over the courtyard wall.

The moment she drew near, several dark figures leaped down from the osmanthus tree.

The light inside cast flickering shadows.

Ever since moving to the villa, Liang Wan never extinguished the lamps at night. She would often get up to check on the room next door, and as a result, she slept fitfully.

It was usually fine, but for some reason tonight, her heart was inexplicably seized with a disquieting panic. She tried to sleep but couldn’t, and in a half-dreaming state, she thought she might have had a nightmare.

Liang Wan felt a tightness in her chest. She pushed herself up from the couch and sat there.

"Liang Ji!" Gu Yu came running in.

Seeing Gu Yu’s furrowed brow, Liang Wan’s heart leaped into her throat. ’What’s happened now?’

"What is it?"

Gu Yu stated it simply, "A report just came from the mansion. Lady Cao has been rescued."

’Rescued?’

Liang Wan froze. "Do we know who did it?"

Gu Yu replied, "Not at the moment, but men have been sent in pursuit."

Liang Wan pressed her temples. Although the marriage contract was burned, if Cao Luyun were to reveal the truth about Lu Xiu’s birthright now, even without concrete evidence, she feared they would fabricate some.

She lowered her hand and said grimly, "Have people watch the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the palace gates, and also Prince Guangping Mansion and Duke Wei Mansion! The moment Cao Luyun is spotted, seize her immediately."

Gu Yu acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

Liang Wan sighed heavily. ’If it weren’t for our relationship with Chancellor Cao and the Cao Family, I would have silenced her long ago.’

After thinking it over, she still got up and went to the desk.

She couldn’t go see Chancellor Cao in person right now; she could only inform him by letter.

As for Zhou Yun, she should have gone to him for counsel first, but now, she hesitated—

’Zhou Yun himself wouldn’t, but I can’t say the same for others.’

By the time she finished writing the two letters, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

After washing up and changing her clothes, Liang Wan went to check on the Grandmaster next door. Before she could enter, the Imperial Physician came out.

"My lady," the Imperial Physician said, his expression grave.

Liang Wan glanced inside. Seeing that the sleeping man had not been disturbed, she led the Imperial Physician out of the room.

The sky was faintly lit, and the morning breeze was a bit chilly. Liang Wan gathered her robes more tightly around herself.

"If you have something to say, please speak freely."

The Imperial Physician didn’t mince words. "The epidemic itself is not difficult to treat as long as the prescription is followed. One just has to endure it. However, the Grandmaster has a chronic illness. The epidemic is under control, but it has aggravated his old ailment. I’m afraid... I’m afraid the Grandmaster may not survive this ordeal."

Liang Wan already had a good idea of the Grandmaster’s condition.

Seeing Liang Wan’s silence, the Imperial Physician added, "I urge you, my lady, to make preparations."

Liang Wan gave a slight nod.

After speaking, the Imperial Physician sighed softly and went back into the room. Liang Wan stood alone in the courtyard, the cool wind chilling her to the bone.

When Liang Wan went back inside, the Grandmaster was taking his medicine.

There was a glimmer in his eyes that had been absent for days. A bad feeling welled up in her heart.

He finished the medicine cooperatively, then beckoned to Liang Wan, gesturing for her to sit down. He had something to say.

The Imperial Physician gave Liang Wan a meaningful look, and her heart tightened.

She steadied herself and sat down across from him. "Are you feeling any better?"

The Grandmaster was propped up, and he managed a small smile. "You’ve worked hard these past few days."

A sudden sourness welled up in Liang Wan’s heart, and she gently shook her head.

The Grandmaster furrowed his brow as if reminiscing. "Last night, I slept very well. I dreamed of many people, including your Awen. He complained that I didn’t treat you well. Can you believe it? We hadn’t seen each other in years, and the moment he saw me, he didn’t ask how I was, but instead blamed us for neglecting you—"

His eyes glinted as he let out a hoarse laugh, but the effort seemed too much, and he started coughing again.

Liang Wan stood up, wanting to help pat his back, but he waved her away.

He caught his breath before continuing, "You are a good child, of course, but I had my own selfish reasons. I was the one who took your and his birth characters to the Duke for divination."

Liang Wan was stunned. "So that marriage contract?"

The Grandmaster looked puzzled. "Marriage contract?"

At this point, there was no need to be secretive.

Liang Wan told him the truth. "I once saw a very old marriage contract. It was written for me and the Grand Commandant—"

"Didn’t I have that burned?" the Grandmaster asked, surprised.

"For some reason, Second Brother put it away."

"Lu Huai knew?" The Grandmaster was greatly surprised.

It was only after seeing the marriage contract in that box that Liang Wan understood why Lu Huai had always been so good to her.

Liang Wan said, "The marriage contract was kept in a small box in the East Pavilion. The only reason I know is because Cao Luyun took me to see it."

She paused, then asked tentatively, "Besides the marriage contract for him and me, there was another one, for..."

Liang Wan looked directly at the Grandmaster, leaving the rest of her sentence unspoken.

The Grandmaster clearly understood. After the shock passed, his expression grew weary, and he let out a long sigh. "I always thought that only Ah Xuan and I knew about this. I never imagined that he knew as well."

Ah Xuan. Lu Xuan was the personal name of the Empress Dowager.

It was no wonder the Grandmaster was so astonished. Lu Huai had a cheerful and straightforward personality. For him to have accidentally learned of those secrets and kept them hidden for so many years without anyone else discovering it was truly unfathomable.

Cao Luyun had threatened suicide to insist on staying in the Master’s Mansion. It would have been one thing if she had lived elsewhere, but she just had to go to the East Pavilion and tamper with that box hidden in the corner.

The Grandmaster sighed. "This is my fault."

After saying this, he began to cough again.

After calming down for a moment, he said, "I originally intended to adopt her as a goddaughter, thinking it would assuage the resentment in her heart, but I didn’t expect—"

He closed his eyes, shaking his head with a sigh. "The way I contracted this illness is strange. It must have something to do with her."

Liang Wan tacitly agreed. When the Grandmaster first fell ill, she had already ordered an investigation. Cao Luyun often liked to make pastries and send them to the Grandmaster, a habit the servants had grown used to and didn’t look into closely.

’If she could threaten and coerce me into leaving the Master’s Mansion before Lu Xiu’s return, how could she possibly show mercy to the Grandmaster, who wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter?’

The Grandmaster said, "When a man is about to die, there’s no need for me to hide things from you any longer. The reason I chose to form a marriage alliance with the Cao Family was that I saw Chancellor Cao does not form cliques with them. If one day I am gone, and Lu Xiu truly falls into a predicament, Chancellor Cao, out of respect for our past and his appreciation for talent, would surely protect him."

"But I never expected it would backfire and instead sow the seeds of disaster for him."

Liang Wan lowered her eyes. The Grandmaster was right. Even without the ties of marriage, Chancellor Cao was indeed a staunch supporter in the imperial court today. It was because of his upright character; not only would he refuse to kick a man when he’s down, but he would also genuinely act in the best interests of Daqi.

’But, what a pity—’

"My lady."

Liang Wan turned her head. Gu Yu was at the door, signaling to her with her eyes.

The Grandmaster looked over. "Speak!"

Gu Yu lowered her head, her voice no louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

"Chancellor... Chancellor Cao is dead."

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