Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Passing Clouds and Smoke

"My lord—"

Lu Xiu was about to board his carriage when he heard someone chasing after him from behind, slightly out of breath.

He stopped walking but did not turn around.

"Liang Wan," he said, "I told you I had already granted your request. But you didn’t trust me. Aren’t these consequences of your own making?"

His tone was indescribably cold and sharp.

A chill spread through her heart.

’Yes, suggesting the Empress leave the palace was intentional. Framing Liang Zhang was premeditated...’

Liang Wan closed her eyes, recalling the events of her past life. ’It’s not that I didn’t trust him, but what did I get in return?’

’Living a second time, it’s a gamble I can’t afford to lose!’

"What in the world is going on with you two?"

Zhou Yun couldn’t help but ask before he even came to a full stop. These two were impossible to figure out. First, they acted like they barely knew each other. Then, by the lotus pond, he’d stood by and done nothing while she was in peril. Now, seeing their master take her in without any official title or status, he remained completely indifferent...

After a long moment, neither of them spoke. Zhou Yun sighed to himself.

He pulled Lu Xiu aside. "Things being as they are, I think you should just ask the master for her directly. As long as you ask, he will definitely agree!"

"No!"

Before Lu Xiu could even speak, Liang Wan’s face flushed in alarm.

Lu Xiu shot her a cold glance.

Zhou Yun said, "I know you’re unwilling to be someone’s concubine, but there’s no better option right now. Who knows who the master will give you to next?"

Zhou Yun tried to persuade her gently. "I misunderstood you before, but after spending this time together, I think I see things clearly now.

While he may not be able to offer you an official title, you can rest assured about his character. Others may not know him, but I’ve been with him since we were children. I know him best. As long as you don’t betray him, he will be completely devoted to you!"

Liang Wan frowned, unsure how to explain. This wasn’t a matter of devotion at all.

’Didn’t he say he would find a chance to explain things to Zhou Yun? Why does he still know nothing about it?’

She glanced at Lu Xiu, but his gaze was lowered, his thoughts unreadable.

Seeing Liang Wan remain silent, Zhou Yun nudged the man beside him who had yet to say a word.

Annoyed by the nudging, Lu Xiu simply turned and boarded the carriage.

Liang Wan stared, slightly dazed, at the back of his pearl-white robes. ’Last time it was rainwater, this time it’s mud...’

Zhou Yun sighed, then turned to give Liang Wan a reassuring look before hopping onto the long-eaved carriage just as it began to depart.

"My lady—"

Qiuxi came to stand quietly by her side.

Liang Wan tilted her head and met Qiuxi’s red-rimmed eyes.

An unexpected wave of sorrow washed over her. She just patted her maid’s shoulder and soothed, "I’ll speak to the Grand Commandant about bringing you with me."

When Liang Wan returned to the Liang Mansion, she found the entrance guarded by soldiers. A crowd had gathered in the street, pointing and muttering about the family’s assets being seized.

Poisoning the Empress, unlawfully possessing an imperial gift—how could these not be considered major crimes? Simply having their assets confiscated was already a light punishment.

The gossiping crowd didn’t quiet down in the slightest upon seeing Liang Wan. It didn’t matter. After tonight, there would just be one more ruined household in Jinye City.

Liang Wan swept a glance over them and walked straight ahead.

"Who are you!"

A soldier shouted sternly as she approached.

"I’ve come to pack my clothes."

The man looked her up and down before warning coldly, "The master is lenient and has specifically permitted the female family members to take their personal clothing. But if you’re found smuggling any other valuables, you’ll be arrested immediately!"

Liang Wan nodded. The man retracted his spear and cleared a path.

Stepping over the threshold, she saw that the inside was already in complete disarray. Officials were bustling back and forth, carrying valuables. The servants were all kneeling on the ground; the braver ones hung their heads in silence, while the timid ones covered their faces and sobbed.

’It seems Liang Cheng has already been taken away.’

They seemed surprised to see Liang Wan.

Liang Wan looked straight ahead, walking calmly inward. Qiuxi gripped her hand tightly; it was cold and trembling slightly.

Just as they reached the Inner Garden, she saw Yao Jinse supporting Mrs. Zhang, followed by the matriarch of the He Family. Each carried only a small bundle and was being constantly herded outside by the soldiers, cutting a pathetic figure.

Upon suddenly seeing Liang Wan, Mrs. Zhang wrenched free from the person supporting her and lunged forward, her eyes bulging.

Qiuxi reached out to block her but was violently knocked to the ground.

"You bitch! This is all your fault, you bitch! How dare you come back! Give me back my son! Give me back my son—"

With her hair disheveled and her eyes bloodshot, Mrs. Zhang was hysterical. She grabbed Liang Wan by the collar, shaking her so hard she stumbled back and forth.

"Second Mistress, let go!" Qiuxi scrambled up and tried to pull her off, but Mrs. Zhang seemed ready to fight to the death and refused to release her grip.

Yao Jinse stood to the side, covering her face and crying.

The He matriarch stood frozen in place, her expression terrifyingly grim.

Just as Liang Wan was about to be pulled down by Mrs. Zhang, a longsword suddenly shot out. With a flick of the wrist, its hilt struck Mrs. Zhang on the forehead, knocking her forcefully to the ground.

Stunned, Mrs. Zhang sat on the ground and began to wail, "Ashang, my Ashang, give me back my Ashang..."

Qiuxi quickly steadied Liang Wan.

Yuan retracted his hand, then turned around and said with a stern face, "My lord ordered me to come and escort you, my lady."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Liang Wan nodded. ’So, Lu Xiu knows the Liang Mansion’s assets are being seized. I expected Gao Qian to do this, but I didn’t think he would act so quickly.’

’I suppose he also needs to give the Lou Family an explanation.’

’Thinking about it now, Gao Qian must have already found out that Liang Zhang was the poisoner before he even interrogated me. Questioning me was just a way to verify his findings and test me. The only unexpected turn of events was Lou Xu Ru’s death, but with a ready-made scapegoat available, why wouldn’t he use it?’

"Where are you going?"

Liang Wan was about to walk past them when the previously silent He matriarch suddenly spoke, her eyes fixed on her with a haunting gaze.

Liang Wan looked down, smoothing the collar that Mrs. Zhang had wrinkled, a faint smile touching her lips. "I’ll go wherever someone wants me."

"You—"

The color drained from the He matriarch’s face. Her breathing grew rapid, and she pointed a trembling finger, almost unable to speak, her body shaking violently.

Liang Wan raised her eyes to meet her gaze. "What? Did you want to say I’m base, that I’ve willingly debased myself and have no sense of shame, Mother?"

"My lady!" Qiuxi knew Liang Wan was saying this on purpose.

But Liang Wan pushed her away and faced the He matriarch, nodding. "Yes, I have no shame. I am base. But what about you? Did you have any shame when you tried to sell me off time and time again? Weren’t you being base when you bowed and scraped, begging others for your so-called wealth and glory, for your reputation and status?"

The bitterness and grief in her heart still made it hard to breathe. She glanced around the vast courtyard and shook her head with a bitter laugh. "You claim over and over that you did it for the Liang Family, for Awen and Father. But do you truly know nothing at all about how they died?

Since they were the ones who brought you this glory and status, what right do you have to live here and enjoy it all with a clear conscience? Now that they’re dead, it should all be returned. If you still want it, then go earn it yourselves with your own abilities!"

"This... you planned all of this?"

From Wang Su’s fall from grace, which cost the Liang Family their backer, to Liang Cheng being forced to trust her, and now to the complete ruin of the Liang Family...

A chill shot straight to the crown of the He matriarch’s head.

A half-smile played on Liang Wan’s lips. "If you say it was, then it was."

At first, they had only been suspicious, but then they figured that with the family’s assets seized, she wouldn’t benefit either. To suddenly hear her admit it herself was simply unbelievable.

Tears streamed from the corners of the He matriarch’s eyes. She clutched her chest, unable to even stand steady. "Femme fatale... a curse... you truly are a curse! Who would have known that beneath the flowers lie ten thousand withered bones... ten thousand withered bones..."

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