Chapter Seven: The Military Governor of Huainan

Prefect Wang felt cold sweat prickling at his temples.

His guiding principle was simple: take the money and clear the trouble. For seven years, the Marquis of Changle had funneled a steady stream of silver his way. As long as it wasn't a matter of life and death, he would naturally tilt the scales in the Marquis’s favor. After all, when it came to corruption, the giver and the taker were both tainted; if the truth ever came to light, neither could escape unscathed. They were in the same boat.

But this was Liang Shanru. And he could not afford to offend the Third Prince.

Liang Shanru observed the conflict etched onto the Prefect’s face and frowned slightly. She had assumed that the Third Prince’s scheme would be meticulously orchestrated down to the last detail, including the Prefect’s role, but it appeared she was mistaken.

With that realization, she felt a sense of clarity. Calmly and deliberately, she reached into her sleeve and produced a small pouch. It was a lotus-root-colored sachet, clearly well-worn; the fabric had faded, and the gold and silver threads were visibly frayed—a testament to its age.

"My Lord," she said, her voice clear and resonant. She drew a stack of papers from the pouch. "The Marquis of Changle often says that the debt to one's foster parents outweighs that of one's birth parents. Though he and I share no blood, I have always endeavored to be filial and respectful. However, the truth is that more than three years ago, my father expressed his intention to sever ties with the Liang family once and for all.

"At the time, the Marquis refused. My father was on the verge of departing for battle, so the matter was put aside. But before he left, he wrote a testament, clearly stating his wish for the Marquis to open the ancestral hall and strike his name—and mine—from the Liang clan registry."

Liang Shanru held the letter high above her head. "This is my father’s final wish, and this letter serves as proof. I beseech you, my Lord, to examine it clearly!"

If this were true, the nature of the situation changed entirely. If it was General Liang’s dying wish to break from the clan, then the bond was already severed, and there was no room for accusations of unfilial behavior. Liang Shanru’s current defiance was merely an act of carrying out her father's final command.

But why bring it up only now, years later?

Prefect Wang looked at the Marquis’s face, then back to Liang Shanru. The two were locked in a stalemate, neither willing to yield an inch.

He mused for a moment. "Miss Liang, why bring up this matter of leaving the family today? For the past several years, you have remained in the Marquis’s estate, attending banquets at the side of the Marchioness. I have heard nothing of this until now. Every matter must have a cause. You claim the Marquis insulted General Liang, while the Marquis claims you are being unfilial. We must get to the bottom of this."

He was stalling, hoping to settle the matter quietly, offend neither party, and send them both away with a slap on the wrist.

Liang Shanru’s face fell into a look of sorrow. "The Marquis insisted on dictating my marriage. The man he selected for me was far from a suitable match. I refused with all my might, which led to repeated clashes. Left with no other choice, I had to bring up this old matter, hoping to leave the Liang family and avoid being manipulated like a puppet."

"Heaven be my witness! How is the Li family not a good family? How is the young master of the Li family not a suitable match?" The Marquis finally found his voice. Mentioning the Li family seemed to embolden him. "Prefect Wang, judge for yourself! I have done everything for her, and not only is she ungrateful, but she acts like this!"

It was unbecoming for a man of his standing to be arguing like a common gossiping woman, but he had no choice; if he had brought his wife, the Marchioness, she would have been utterly demolished by the current Liang Shanru.

Prefect Wang was losing his patience. "This is all domestic strife. To bring such matters to the magistrate's court..."

"Prefect!" Liang Shanru raised her voice, cutting him off. "The Marquis and his wife have seized my mother’s dowry. My father’s numerous military achievements brought rewards from the Imperial Court, all of which fell into the Marquis’s hands. He withholds my parents' wealth, and now he seeks to control my marriage. No matter how 'good' the Li family may be, the reputation of Li the Sixth is well-known to your Lordship—how could he be a suitable match?"

She grew more urgent. "I beg your Lordship to grant my request today: allow me to honor my late father’s wish and sever ties with the Liang family!"

Liang Shanru’s stance was unyielding; she gave the Prefect no opportunity to dismiss her.

Prefect Wang furrowed his brows. "Miss Liang, it is said that even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes. Even with General Liang’s letter, the Marquis is right—for all these years, your food, clothing, and upkeep have been provided by the Marquis’s estate. You cannot simply leave whenever you please. If there is a true grievance, return to the estate with the Marquis and ask the elders of the Liang clan to witness the proceedings. Settle it among yourselves. How can I, in this court, decide such a matter for you?"

He thought to himself that this was a massive headache. He would simply throw them out and deal with the Marquis privately later. He kept his words rapid, hoping to prevent Liang Shanru from speaking again. As soon as he finished, he waved his hand, signaling the bailiffs to escort them out.

The Marquis actually felt more confident than Liang Shanru. He was acting under orders, so even if he had misspoken, it wouldn't matter. Seeing the Prefect’s move, he stepped forward eagerly. "Prefect Wang, are you afraid of the Third Prince, and that is why you dare not punish this unfilial girl?"

Whether Liang Shanru was truly "unfilial" depended entirely on the whim of the official. Technically, she was not of the Liang bloodline and owed the Marquis no duty. Yet, she had grown up in that house, and for over a decade, she had been known as the Second Daughter of the Marquis’s household. Whether she drew a blade or spoke back, she had done so while still legally a member of the family, her father’s name still on the clan registry. If the law demanded it, she could be found guilty.

"Marquis, watch your tongue!" Prefect Wang finally slammed his gavel down. The force of the sound made it clear he was either angry—or deeply unnerved.

Liang Shanru glanced at the Marquis, surprised. But, she calculated the time; someone should be arriving soon...

Sure enough, before she could even finish the thought, a resonant, booming male voice echoed into the hall from outside: "The Marquis of Changle has quite the ego, doesn't he? It seems he no longer holds even the Third Prince in his eyes."

Everyone turned toward the entrance. Liang Shanru took a deep breath, her lips curling into a faint, imperceptible smile. The Third Prince was far too thorough to let her remain deadlocked in court with the Marquis. Whether the Marquis’s insolence had been a part of the plan, she didn't know, but it no longer mattered.

Prefect Wang, recognizing the visitor, stood up abruptly and hurried down from his seat, unable to remain composed. "Your Excellency, forgive my failure to welcome you properly."

Zhou Shen, the Regional Commander of Huainan, a man who held immense power over the region. The general, who commanded both military and civil authority, looked utterly imposing. He strode in, looking past everyone with an air of indifference, casting a sidelong glance at the Prefect and refusing to grant the Marquis even a flicker of acknowledgment.

Only when his eyes fell upon Liang Shanru did his cold, hardened expression soften. He lowered his voice, speaking with uncharacteristic gentleness, "Shanru."

Prefect Wang’s heart tightened, his unease growing. "Your Excellency... are you here for Miss Liang? Is it you or the Third Prince who has some urgent matter to entrust to me? I will certainly—"

"I was inspecting the garrison here in Yangzhou. It has been years since I last saw Shanru, so I went to the Marquis’s estate to visit her. The servants told me the Marquis had brought her to the Prefect’s office. You need not be nervous, Prefect Wang." Zhou Shen explained with uncharacteristic patience before stepping closer to Liang Shanru. "You’ve grown tall, and you’ve become quite beautiful. Your father, watching from above, must be very pleased."