Chapter Twenty: You Loathe Me

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The tea and snacks placed beside Mrs. Liang were all things she used to love. Back when she was at the Marquis’s residence, Liang Shanru was still young, so it was difficult for her to be attentive, yet she remembered even these small details.

Mrs. Liang took a sip of tea, smiling gently as she reached out her hand to Liang Shanru. “I thought you were too young before to remember anything.”

“I remember everything you love to eat and use, Auntie. You don’t come back often, and since I wrote to invite you, I made sure to arrange even these little things properly,” Liang Shanru replied obediently, taking her hand.

Mrs. Liang grew increasingly fond of her. “Where are you living now?”

In her letters, Liang Shanru had not mentioned that she was temporarily staying at Zhou Shen’s separate residence. She pursed her lips and first tried to lighten the mood: “Auntie, your eyes are so sharp, nothing escapes you.” Then, tilting her head, she coquettishly asked, “How do you know I’m not living at the General’s mansion?”

“Do I need Mother for that? I can tell just by looking,” Pei Jingxing said, taking the conversation up. “The servants and attendants here are unfamiliar with us. Seeing how reserved and stiff you all are, it’s obvious you haven’t been coached. Besides, this place is too quiet. I don’t see any of the decorations you usually like.”

After he finished speaking, Pei Yanzhou glanced at him subtly but showed no reaction.

Pei Jingxing, unaware, continued, “I remember when you were little, you loved lively scenes the most—brilliant and exuberant, radiant and bold. The more colorful and splendid, the more you adored it. Am I right?”

Such tender moments were rare for Liang Shanru, who hadn’t truly felt warmth for so many years. Even though Pei Jingxing’s words were teasing, she smiled sincerely.

Pei Yanzhou narrowed his eyes and placed the small white porcelain cup back down, the faint clink echoing softly.

He sat there silently, but any noise from him made the smile on Liang Shanru’s face fade immediately.

How unlucky.

This was supposed to be a joyful reunion with her aunt and cousin, yet his presence spoiled everything.

Pei Yanzhou could sense her rejection. Though he didn’t know why, she hid it with effort but never fully concealed it, clearly showing she disliked him deeply.

Yet he had never done anything to deserve it.

Even when she followed General Liang and his wife to the capital and occasionally stayed briefly at the Duke’s residence, they got along well, and he never treated her poorly.

Pei Yanzhou spoke in a calm voice to his cousin, “You don’t seem to like me much. It seems you’ve not only forgotten the gifts I once gave you but also the bond we shared in childhood.”

Liang Shanru’s expression stiffened. “That’s really unfair. I just... I mean...”

She stammered, casting a pleading glance toward Mrs. Liang.

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Mrs. Liang felt deeply sympathetic and gently patted her hand. “Alright, alright, you’re still unfamiliar with things, aren’t you?” Then turning to Pei Yanzhou, she said, “There are things you don’t know. Chu Chu’s life was difficult at first; she had to be cautious. If it weren’t for her cleverness, who knows how things would’ve ended.

She was all alone in that deep, grand mansion, manipulated and squeezed by others. Suddenly seeing you, a cousin she barely knows, it’s only natural for her to be shy.

You’re a grown man—why do you have to make things hard for a young girl like her?”

Pei Yanzhou was known in the capital as a gentle and refined gentleman, mild and courteous in his dealings. Mrs. Liang naturally adopted a tone of elder’s advice when speaking to him, and he showed no displeasure.

If it were the heir of another family, he might not have been so kind.

Liang Shanru couldn’t help but glance at him twice, thinking what a good actor he was.

She privately believed that if it were only about following the Third Prince to plot great schemes, that would be one thing. Whether conspiracy or open power struggles in the court, it was a matter of life and death—win or lose, with no room for complaints.

But these two, a nest of snakes and rats, even used her, a lone orphan, to the extreme. Such petty acts made her sick.

Pretending to be a gentleman—doesn’t he fear divine retribution?

Lowering her gaze, her long, curled lashes cast a shadow over her eyes, just enough to veil the disdain and contempt sparkling within.

Since Pei Yanzhou had accepted the advice, he didn’t argue with Mrs. Liang.

Mrs. Liang then comforted her again, “Your eldest cousin has only been at court for half a year, busy beyond measure, unable to spare time, so he had to let Jingxing accompany me.

It’s quite a coincidence. Before leaving, the Noble Consort heard I’d bring Jingxing back to Yangzhou and summoned Dà Láng to the palace, saying he would accompany us and visit the Xu family on her behalf.

Because it was the Noble Consort’s request, the Emperor graciously granted him a month’s leave, so here we all are.”

She squeezed Liang Shanru’s palm, her eyes full of affection. “Now that our Chu Chu has endured hardship and is enjoying sweetness, with Dà Láng here, no one in the Liang family dares to criticize you anymore.”

A chill ran through Liang Shanru.

Sure enough, even if she started over, she couldn’t escape.

There are no coincidences in this world.

The forced marriage by the Marquis of Changle was arranged by the Third Prince, with the ultimate goal of bringing her to the capital to better control her.

So Pei Yanzhou’s claim of visiting on behalf of the Noble Consort was nothing but nonsense.

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It was merely a trap set by their conspiracy.

She was so presumptuous, even rousing the Noble Consort’s attention in the palace.

If Pei Yanzhou hadn’t been sitting there, she might have laughed.

Come to think of it, the Third Prince truly favored her.

Liang Shanru still couldn’t face it calmly, avoiding Pei Yanzhou’s gaze. She clearly felt his probing and scrutinizing stare.

She bit her lip, then softened her voice to apologize, “If I had known the heir was traveling with Auntie, or that it was on behalf of the Noble Consort, I wouldn’t have acted so recklessly. I even wrote to you secretly to enter the city quietly, so as not to alarm anyone.

I also caused the heir to travel with a light entourage. It was my fault.”

Even if she couldn’t avoid it in the end, and even if she didn’t dare to truly tear apart her ties with Pei Yanzhou and the others, she would still be unpleasant.

After all, the Third Prince still intended to use her and wouldn’t kill her over such small matters.

Since Pei Yanzhou liked to pretend to be a gentleman, and for the Third Prince’s schemes, no matter how dissatisfied he was, he would have to suppress it.

Thinking this way finally eased her mood somewhat.

Mrs. Liang frowned upon hearing such distant words, instinctively looking at her son. Pei Jingxing was even more confused.

Only Pei Yanzhou—

His probing gaze slowly withdrew but never left Liang Shanru’s figure. Suddenly, he smiled, “It’s nothing serious. Your matters are more important. Don’t blame yourself or you’ll lose sleep over it. Auntie will scold me tomorrow.”

Liang Shanru abruptly looked up, meeting Pei Yanzhou’s fathomless eyes.

Their eyes locked; his held a hidden smile, while hers was full of displeasure, impossible to conceal.

Pei Yanzhou’s smile deepened. “Indeed, I wasn’t mistaken. You dislike me, even loathe me. It’s not because you’re shy or unfamiliar, as Auntie said.”

He stated firmly, then asked, “I have never offended you. Shouldn’t you give me a reason? If I’ve done anything wrong, I can change it. Since we’ll be in Yangzhou for some time, wouldn’t it be better not to irritate you whenever I’m around?”