Chapter 28: A Sudden Realization

The carriage came to a halt. Pei Jingxing turned back to assist Lady Liang and Liang Shanru as they disembarked. Pei Yanzhou stood to one side, motionless.

Lady Liang suddenly remembered something and called out to him, "Since you are going to the Xu household, let Chuchu accompany you both."

She then pulled Liang Shanru closer and continued, "He is here to visit his relatives on behalf of the Imperial Noble Consort. He should have gone as soon as he arrived yesterday, but when I urged him to go this morning, he insisted on waiting to visit the Liang family first, as if he were worried we might be mistreated. I find it difficult to go to their home—it feels too formal, and they would insist on treating me like a guest of honor. I am not well-acquainted with the Xu family, and it would be rather awkward. Jingxing is of the younger generation, so it wouldn't hurt for him to meet more people. Let the two brothers go together. You are familiar with the Xu family; if you go with them, it will let the old matriarch know that you have someone backing you. Before we leave Yangzhou, we ought to see what the Xu family’s attitude is."

The latter part of her statement referred to the marriage arrangement between Liang Shanru and Xu Yunxuan. Liang Shanru subconsciously glanced at Pei Yanzhou, thinking that if he knew, he would certainly meddle and never allow her to finalize a marriage with the Xu family. Pei Yanzhou, unaware of this underlying layer, simply followed Lady Liang’s lead and asked, "Is our cousin on such intimate terms with the Xu family's young lady?"

Liang Shanru spoke before Lady Liang could, saying, "We are bosom friends, having grown up together like sisters."

Lady Liang chimed in with a chuckle, "If she is like a sister to Jingyi, then what is she to her brother?" She saw Liang Shanru’s cheeks flush and poked her gently with a fingertip. "Look, she is embarrassed."

Pei Yanzhou frowned. "Xu Yunxuan?"

Pei Jingxing grew curious as well. "Cousin and him..."

"That is not the case," Liang Shanru said, wanting to offer an explanation. It wasn't entirely to save herself trouble; it was primarily because the Third Prince was a man of deep, calculating mind. With the verbal betrothal made by her parents on the table, she feared that eventually, even Xu Yunxuan would be drawn into his schemes. "It was just something the elders mentioned in passing when we were children. No one ever took it seriously."

Xu Yunxuan... he was a decent man, and she did not want to involve him for no reason.

Lady Liang did not like hearing this and her expression darkened. "Is it that the Xu family is reneging on their word?"

Liang Shanru tugged at her sleeve, but Lady Liang pushed her hand away. "How can you say no one took it seriously? When you were little, the Xu family spoke of it often! Your mother brought you back to the capital, and your maternal grandparents knew of it—they even scrutinized the Xu family! Tell me honestly, has someone in the Xu family said something to you in private?"

Pei Yanzhou understood everything. The elders had enjoyed a close friendship, and because Liang Shanru and Xu Yunxuan were of similar age, a betrothal had been arranged when they were very young. However, it had never been made official; the two families knew of it, but no one else did.

Seeing that Lady Liang was displeased, Liang Shanru carefully weighed her words and coaxed her softly, "Old Madam Hu knows that the Marquis of Changle wants to marry me off to Li Liulang. Haven't you heard Liang Baoqi say that I tried to frame her at the Xu residence? In any case, that is Old Madam Hu’s current attitude."

She closely observed Lady Liang’s expression, and seeing it was not good, she quickly added, "Please, don't be angry! I have long understood that people grow distant as circumstances change. Furthermore, given that Father was defeated in battle, to be honest, the Old Madam’s attitude was within my expectations. I really didn't take it to heart. At the very least, Old Madam Hu merely wishes to disregard a verbal promise; she hasn't reached the point of looking down on me or distancing herself entirely. Whenever I visit the Xu residence and play with Jingyi, the Old Madam never interferes. The last time Liang Baoqi made a fool of herself at the Xu house, the Old Madam was still very much on my side."

Lady Liang would have none of it. In her eyes, the Xu family was simply being fickle and untrustworthy. Things had suddenly changed just because her brother had died in battle and his reputation after death was not particularly favorable. When her brother was at the height of his glory, why hadn't these people considered that a general might die in a hundred battles, and that such a day might come? Back then, they had been eager to climb the social ladder through marriage!

"I must go and ask..."

"Aunt!"

"Third Aunt."

Liang Shanru and Pei Yanzhou spoke at the same time. She glanced at him; his eyes were still curved in a smile, but the warmth in them was fake, making one feel quite uncomfortable. He did not look at her, yet when she looked his way, his peripheral vision caught her.

Just like in her previous life, neither the Third Prince nor he had ever truly seen her as a person. Aside from utility, there was nothing else to speak of. They were the lofty nobles, while her life was as cheap as grass, nothing more than an ant.

Frustrated, Liang Shanru lost the chance to speak first. Pei Yanzhou even took a half-step forward. "After all, it is the Xu family."

"What about the Xu family?" Lady Liang’s anger flared even more upon hearing this, and her voice rose sharply.

Just as Pei Jingxing was about to intervene, Pei Yanzhou continued, "In truth, it is human nature. You are only distressed because it concerns our cousin. But think about it—might this not be a good thing? If the Old Madam harbors reservations but is bound by the old promise and says nothing, would our cousin truly lead a happy life if she were to become the Xu family's daughter-in-law? It is better as it is now; since outsiders are unaware, we shall act as if it never happened. While the Old Madam’s conduct is indeed improper, can you really make a scene at the Xu residence? If it escalates, the only one who will suffer is our cousin."

Lady Liang quickly calmed down. The Xu family had the Imperial Noble Consort, and the Consort had the Emperor. Moreover, the Emperor held Old Madam Hu in high regard. For those in power, the best way to settle the matter would be to bestow a marriage upon Xu Yunxuan. In the end, the only one to lose face would be Chuchu. This was a grievance she would have to swallow in silence.

"You are right!" Once she realized this, she changed her tone immediately. "It seems they are not such a good family after all." She turned and offered a hand to Liang Shanru. "When we return to the capital, I will help you pick someone better. There are so many fine men in the world; it is not as if we are desperate for their son."

Liang Shanru’s lips curved upward. "Yes, I will leave it to your arrangements."

Pei Yanzhou took an inadvertent glance at her. Pei Jingxing, seeing his mother’s mood had improved, spoke up: "Fortunately, cousin doesn't seem to have any feelings for him either. Looking at how unperturbed she is, it’s as if she never gave the matter a second thought."

That meant she didn't like Xu Yunxuan. Lady Liang had heard of Xu Yunxuan in the capital—that he was a rare young talent, exceptionally learned, and of remarkable appearance, possessing the grace of a dragon. With the Xu family as his backing, his future was limitless. Such young men were usually the objects of affection for many young ladies, much like Pei Yanzhou. She was slightly surprised and wanted to pursue the matter, but fearing that Liang Shanru might be sensitive in front of the Pei brothers, she stopped and pulled her close. "If that is the case, you needn't go to the Xu residence. Let your cousins go themselves. What kind of people are they? We have no interest in associating with them."

Liang Shanru, however, refused. "But Jingyi has never offended me. I am going to the capital soon and it will be rare to see her again. Please, let me go."

Her main concern was Pei Yanzhou. His words had sounded righteous, but in reality, Old Madam Hu’s decision was exactly what the Third Prince... no, that wasn't it!

Liang Shanru suddenly realized the truth and looked sharply at Pei Yanzhou.

Pei Yanzhou was momentarily suspicious. "Cousin?"

Liang Shanru’s gaze was like a torch, yet she remained silent for a long time. If there were not so many coincidences, then Old Madam Hu’s silence on the marriage from the very beginning was the work of Imperial Noble Consort Xu and the Third Prince. So, the time she had entered their chessboard was even earlier—perhaps as early as when her parents and the Xu family had made the verbal betrothal, or even when she had first met Pei Yanzhou upon arriving in the capital with her mother. The masterminds were not just the Third Prince; from the day Imperial Noble Consort Xu gave birth to her son, how could they not have been calculating everything in detail?

She understood it all now. Even the kindness Pei Yanzhou had shown her in her childhood memories might have been a lie. Everything was a lie!

Liang Shanru felt a tightness in her throat; she could no longer even muster the strength to utter a hollow word of reassurance.