Chapter 30: His Intention

Liang Shanru’s tone was certainly not pleasant, and even Xu Jingyi was visibly taken aback.

Xu Yunxuan, who was walking in front, turned his head to look at her before taking over the conversation: "Shanru and Jingyi are of a similar age. In the past, General Liang and his wife were close with my parents, and she and Jingyi are as close as sisters, visiting each other often; their relationship is naturally good. Does Chi-rang see anything improper about that?"

Yet he was not happy.

He was troubled by Liang Shanru’s description of him as "both brother and friend." He knew what kind of person Liang Shanru was, and naturally, he understood even better that in her heart, she had never considered him a future husband.

On so many restless nights, he had thought countless times about what it would take to make his grandmother change her mind. He had even approached his father about it, but his father, a man of benevolence and filial piety, would not go against his mother’s wishes. Now, looking at Liang Shanru’s true feelings, he felt pathetic for a moment. But she... at least she would not be heartbroken. Being the only one to suffer and struggle was perhaps not entirely a bad thing.

But all of this had nothing to do with outsiders.

He often thought that if there were some matter that concerned only him and Shanru, a bond between the two of them, he would actually find that quite wonderful.

It was just his misfortune that Pei Yanzhou had appeared.

At this thought, Xu Yunxuan’s expression turned cold.

Sensing that something was wrong, Xu Jingyi interjected with a playful quip: "And you say the relationship is good! A few days ago, when you went to the pawnshop under my brother’s name, he happened to run into you, yet you refused to use his silver. No matter how he tried to persuade you to ask me for help, you wouldn't hear of it, insisting on pawning the bracelet your mother left you instead."

She pulled at Liang Shanru, pouting to vent her dissatisfaction: "You don't treat us like friends at all."

Liang Shanru replied, trying to soothe her: "Those are two different things. People say that even brothers must settle accounts clearly. Besides, I would have needed two thousand taels; do you have that much lying around? You would still have to ask your grandmother or your uncle, and what would that make me?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhou’s expression cleared slightly, and he secretly took note: she truly had no money of her own, and even a sum of two thousand taels would force her to resort to a pawnshop.

The more this was the case, the more the Chang-le Marquis’s estate must return every cent they owed her. Otherwise, since she was so meticulous with money and rarely asked others for favors, if she were to face financial hardship after arriving in the capital, she would surely be looked down upon by those outside.

"I didn’t mean anything by it; I only asked because I heard you speaking so affectionately just now," Pei Yanzhou said, his mastery of social pleasantries allowing him to brush the matter aside with a few words.

Xu Yunxuan was filled with suppressed anger, but his display of coldness felt like punching a cotton ball, leaving him feeling frustrated and unsettled.

Liang Shanru cast a cold, indifferent glance at Pei Yanzhou and slowed her pace, trying to put some distance between them. Pei Yanzhou noticed this and, knowing she was displeased and that they were now near Old Madam Hu’s courtyard, he held his tongue.

Old Madam Hu treated Pei Yanzhou with warmth. After all, he was outstanding, and for Consort Xu to have such an adopted son would be a great help to the Third Prince in the future. Thus, she smiled from ear to ear at him, and was even gracious and kind toward Pei Jingxing.

Liang Shanru found it all meaningless. She could understand it, but she found it difficult to respect or sympathize.

Pei Yanzhou observed her expression calmly as he entered the room, his smile fading slightly upon seeing her reaction: "I haven't seen you in a long time, but you look to be in good health. When I return to the capital and tell the Consort, she will be very pleased."

Old Madam Hu exclaimed, "The Emperor sent people to stay right here and look after me alone; how could I not be in good health? When you go back, tell the Consort not to worry about me so much."

"The Consort is benevolent and filial, and she thinks of her family often," Pei Yanzhou said, the corners of his lips curling upward as his gaze brushed past Xu Yunxuan. "Before I came here, I saw the Consort in the palace, and she gave me instructions to ask you something while I am in Yangzhou. Now that the young master of the house is grown, have you discussed his marriage? If there is a young lady you have set your sights on, feel free to tell the Consort. If the Consort grants the marriage, or if the Emperor is asked to bestow it, it would be a very glorious and respectable affair."

He was doing this on purpose!

Liang Shanru’s teeth nearly shattered as she clamped her jaw, her gaze sharpening as she glared at him; if looks could kill, he would have been riddled with holes by now.

Old Madam Hu’s smile froze for a moment, and her brow furrowed. Yet, looking at his expression, she thought he must be truly unaware; otherwise, why would he ask this in front of Liang Shanru?

Xu Jingyi felt a vague sense of unease. Pei Yanzhou had asked about her brother’s relationship with Shanru the moment he entered the gates, and now he was bringing up her brother’s marriage for no reason. Even if he was doing it under the guise of her aunt’s name, she found it strange.

She already knew something of her grandmother’s attitude, and with Shanru sitting right there, she feared she would be hurt by these words.

So, before Old Madam Hu could answer, she called out to her grandmother: "You are busy talking with the young masters, and it’s terribly boring for Shanru and me to just sit here. Let us go walk in the garden! We’ll come back when it’s time for lunch; I really cannot sit still anymore."

If they were truly going to discuss a marriage between the two families, it would indeed be awkward for Liang Shanru to remain. Not only was she uncomfortable, but was Old Madam Hu not also at a loss? Having lived a full life, she had no desire to have her inner hypocrisy and selfishness laid bare by a teenager at the end of her days.

Therefore, when Xu Jingyi offered an exit, Old Madam Hu waved her hand, telling her to take Liang Shanru along, and the grandmother stepped down from the awkward situation as quickly as she could.

Xu Jingyi practically dragged Liang Shanru out the door. Once they were further away, she patted her chest and asked, "What game is that heir to the Duke of Xinguo playing? Doesn't your aunt know about you and my brother... doesn't he know?"

Liang Shanru deliberated before shaking her head: "I’m not sure. Perhaps he is trying to humiliate me on purpose."

Xu Jingyi was slightly surprised: "Why do you think that?"

She carefully recalled Pei Yanzhou’s tone and demeanor, finding it impossible to believe he was trying to humiliate Liang Shanru—instead, it felt as if... she frowned, leaning in close to Liang Shanru: "I think he is very hostile toward my brother. Didn’t you notice?"

To Liang Shanru, it made no difference.

Pei Yanzhou was simply afraid that if she and Xu Yunxuan truly developed something, it would ruin the Third Prince’s plans. By asking the Old Madam directly in front of her and Xu Yunxuan, wasn’t it Xu Yunxuan who would be even more humiliated?

It was nothing more than making her realize her own status and predicament, warning her not to indulge in wishful thinking, and then forcing her to return to the capital obediently to be used as they saw fit!

"Who knows what he’s thinking," Liang Shanru said, a surge of irritation rising within her, though it was difficult to fully explain this to Xu Jingyi. "It doesn’t matter whether he knows or not, and what he wants has nothing to do with me. I call him 'cousin' out of courtesy, but in reality, he and I are completely unrelated. Why should I care about him?"

She had no intention of continuing the topic, fearing that the hatred she couldn't suppress would frighten Xu Jingyi. She changed the subject and said, with a hint of reluctance, "Jingyi, once the matters at the Liang house are settled, I have to go to the capital with my aunt."