Chaрtеr 67: Rе-еntеring the Liang Mаnsiоn
Upon hеaring this, the ехрrеssiоns оf the two lаdies present turned rathеr unрleаsant.
Zhu Yаn thеn соntinued, "Маdаm, I wоuld likе to knоw about the rеlаtionshiр between Liаng Chenzhоng and Liang Маn in thе раst."
Аs еxpесted, аs sооn as Zhu Yаn pоsеd the questiоn, Мadаm Liu's face рaled onсе mоre, hеr eyes tingеd with sоrrоw, as if shе wеrе оnсе agаin rеminded оf the рain of lоsing her sоn.
"Yоu sрeаk оf Сhеnzhong—his relatiоnship with Liang Man was fаirly good. Тhey оften рlаyеd together as children and could be considered playmates."
Before Zhu Yan could ask further, Madam Zheng beside her chimed in, "Childhood playmates are just that—childhood. As they grew older, they rarely interacted, and their relationship naturally grew distant."
Madam Liu glanced at Madam Zheng, her eyes carrying a hint of something unusual, but she said nothing more.
Zhu Yan found this somewhat puzzling. The two ladies seemed to hold differing views regarding the two Liang sons, and it appeared as though something was being concealed.
"Madam Zheng," Zhu Yan turned her gaze to Madam Zheng. "The two young masters often played together as children but grew distant as they grew older. Does Madam Zheng know the reason for this?"
"What else could it be? As children grow up, they develop their own thoughts and concerns, so naturally, they drift apart." Madam Zheng's words sounded reasonable.
At that moment, Madam Tang, who had been sitting nearby, suddenly spoke up, "Madam Shen has come here to investigate the case, yet she is asking about the two young masters. Could it be that Madam Shen suspects the Liang Mansion?"
Upon hearing this, the two ladies' expressions instantly changed, and they turned questioning gazes toward Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan hurriedly explained, "Of course not. The elder young master's matter is connected to the case. I merely wish to learn a bit about his personal life."
"Hehe..." Madam Tang gave a faint, ambiguous smile, clearly unconvinced by Zhu Yan's explanation. She abruptly fanned herself with her silk fan. "The Liang family is highly valued by the court, loyal to Her Majesty, and holds a prominent position in the imperial court. Not only His Highness the Prince of Ying but even the Empress herself holds them in high regard.
The elder Liang young master aspires to earn scholarly honors through the imperial examinations. If he succeeds, he is sure to hold an important official position in the court. By then, the Liang Mansion's future would be as bright as brocade. Such a situation, with countless benefits and no harm, why would anyone disrupt it? Unless someone were mad, they would not kill their own promising son. Madam Shen, do you think the Liang family would have any reason to destroy their own prospects in such a way?"
Madam Tang made her meaning perfectly clear, as if she had seen through Zhu Yan's thoughts, laying bare Zhu Yan's inner reflections before everyone present.
Such reasoning clearly targeted Zhu Yan's approach as highly unreasonable.
It also provoked shared dissatisfaction from both Madam Liu and Madam Zheng toward her.
Zhu Yan was momentarily at a loss for words, her expression turning quite unpleasant. Madam Tang was indeed no easy opponent, always capable of exposing others without seeming to try.
"Madam Tang is overthinking this," Zhu Yan forced herself to defend her position. "I came here merely to inquire about the two young masters' circumstances. I have no other intentions and certainly do not suspect the Liang family itself. Even a vicious tiger does not devour its own cubs—this principle, Liu Niang understands."
Although Zhu Yan defended herself, the two ladies seemed unconvinced.
This, too, Zhu Yan had anticipated. Given the relationship between the Liang family and Madam Tang, her words held little weight in their eyes.
The expressions of the two ladies remained unpleasant.Though no one spoke further, Zhu Yan could already sense an invisible barrier forming between them.
The atmosphere felt somewhat stiff. Knowing she was unwelcome, Zhu Yan rose to take her leave. "I still have matters to attend to at the Ministry of Justice, so I won’t disturb you ladies any longer."
Her departure was exactly what the others had hoped for.
No one tried to keep her. Madam Tang didn’t even rise from her seat, merely watching quietly as Zhu Yan left.
Zhu Yan had only taken a few steps out of the guest room when she suddenly heard a shout from behind: "Fly, fly…"
Turning toward the sound, she saw Lady Wei wearing a peculiar outfit, somehow having climbed onto the roof, where she was hopping back and forth.
"Danger!"
Zhu Yan cried out in alarm, but before her words even landed, Lady Wei leaped down from the roof!
At that critical moment, a sudden realization exploded in Zhu Yan’s mind.
Why did Lady Wei’s clothing look so familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before?
Lady Wei kept muttering to herself, her words unclear. Zhu Yan hurried over to check on her and only then noticed that the clothes Lady Wei wore closely resembled a moth!
To be precise, they looked very much like the moth-shaped jade piece they had discovered in the case!
"What is going on?"
In moments, the place descended into chaos.
The ladies rushed over, while maids and servants helped carry Lady Wei back to the guest room.
Zhu Yan intended to follow and check on her condition, but Madam Tang stopped her.
"Does Lady Shen not think there’s already enough trouble?"
Madam Tang’s words carried an implied meaning, which Zhu Yan understood immediately.
"What do you mean by that, Madam Tang? I’m only concerned about Lady Wei’s injuries."
"Lady Wei’s injuries will be handled by the Liang household and the physician. There’s no need for Lady Shen to worry. However, given the current situation, if you were to go, it might upset the other two ladies. Wouldn’t that just make things awkward for you?"
Though Madam Tang’s words were harsh, they weren’t without reason.
Zhu Yan lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, and decided to leave the place.
Just as she stepped out of the Liang residence, Lu Chuichui hurried over.
"I guessed you’d be here. Quick, come with me to the Ministry of Justice. Something big has happened."
Lu Chuichui pulled Zhu Yan into a jog toward the Ministry of Justice, leaving Zhu Yan utterly confused.
"What is it? Has someone else died?"
Zhu Yan felt she was about to lose her mind, unable to bear the thought of another death.
"Not a death—a living person."
Lu Chuichui quickly explained, glancing back at Zhu Yan with a strange look.
Hearing this, Zhu Yan’s tightly wound heart finally eased slightly.
"What’s going on? Why make such a fuss over a living person?"
Zhu Yan slowed her pace, freeing herself from Lu Chuichui’s grip. She was feeling rather tired.
Seeing Zhu Yan’s lack of urgency, Lu Chuichui stamped her feet in frustration. "The Ministry of Justice has caught a suspect. Do you know who it is?"
Zhu Yan’s heart sank. A suspect caught? The current suspects were Rong Zhui and Liang Jiren.
But neither had shown any movement lately. Could it be…
"Is it Master?" Zhu Yan voiced her suspicion, her tone trembling.
Lu Chuichui looked shocked, her jaw nearly dropping to the ground. "How did you know?"
"Heh…" Zhu Yan smiled bitterly. She had anticipated this long ago.
The cinnabar on the handwriting was specially formulated by her master. If she could notice it, others could too—they just hadn’t spoken up, silently worrying instead.Now that worry had become reality, her master was already old, and a place like the Ministry of Justice—even a healthy person would be stripped of a layer of skin upon entering. Could her master withstand such cruelty?
Zhu Yan quickened her pace, leaving even Lu Chuichui struggling to keep up along the way.
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