Chapter 115: Coercion

Liang Xiao’s sudden return nearly made Lady Liang’s heart leap out of her chest.

"Why have you come back now? The rumors and slanders against you outside are growing increasingly vicious. You should have... you should have stayed in hiding for a few more days."

Lady Liang’s expression was complex. Though she longed for her son to spend the New Year at home, she feared the current situation would have a devastating impact on him. Regardless of how the outside world criticized him, she had instructed everyone in the manor to ignore it, hoping the matter would simply blow over.

"Trifling tricks. Why should I hide from such dregs?" Liang Xiao’s voice was low, highlighting his disdain. "I heard that Yan Hongwen has arrived in Zhonglin County."

Lady Liang probed gently, fearful that Liang Xiao might lose his temper. Liang Xiao nodded slightly. "I know. I have already seen him."

"What? You’ve seen him?" Lady Liang was filled with anxiety. "Did you and he..."

"He did not see me. I encountered him, along with Zhang Zhongliang and that Zhang Zhongheng, while dining at a restaurant."

Once Liang Xiao finished, Lady Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief. She sent Mother Fang to prepare a meal, insisting that Liang Xiao must not have been eating properly while away and needed to be well-nourished now that he was home.

"Liang Xiao," Lady Liang said, pushing aside the rumors about the Liang family to focus on something positive. "After you left, your eldest uncle sent New Year gifts for both of us. He even prepared high-quality medicinal herbs specifically for you, along with an entire trunk of items that he said you must open yourself—he forbade me from touching it."

"Your eldest uncle dotes on you, too. You see, the Marquis’s residence has taken the initiative to send us gifts. You need not worry that they have doubts about your marriage to Yan'er..." Lady Liang’s smile deepened. "Based on my understanding of your eldest uncle, they are, in fact, quite willing."

"Mother," Liang Xiao’s expression was calm. "I have already returned the jade pendant. I met with the steward sent by my uncle and had him take back a letter written in my own hand. I have taken the initiative to decline this marriage. Do not bring it up again."

"W-what?" Lady Liang was stunned, frozen in place, her eyes fixed on Liang Xiao. "Say that again?"

"I have rejected this marriage and requested that my eldest uncle choose a different husband for Cousin Yan'er." Liang Xiao stood tall. Apart from his pale, cracked lips, which betrayed his frailty, he looked nothing like a young man who had nearly been assassinated.

"You’re mad," Lady Liang stammered, her lips trembling. "You really have gone mad. You are stabbing me in the heart, do you know that?"

"I have said before that I will not rely on the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage to restore the Liang family. To do so would be a disgrace to me. I would rather die than agree to it!"

Liang Xiao’s tone was stern, and tears immediately streamed down Lady Liang’s face.

"Fourth Son, you are the only son I have left by my side. Can you not think of your mother? The Liang family has fallen to this state; you are weak and alone—what will you rely on to rebuild it?"

"The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage is your eldest uncle, and you carry the bloodline of the Marquis’s house. How is that a disgrace? Does my blood not flow through your veins? What you are doing is carving out my heart!"

The more she spoke, the harder she cried, until she was sobbing uncontrollably, appearing as if she might faint at any moment.

"Mother, I will not leave your side," Liang Xiao said, looking at her. "I will not abandon you alone. Never."

Lady Liang froze, looking up at him. Liang Xiao knelt and kowtowed once, then turned and left the main hall. She sat there, dazed, watching his back disappear from view.

Mother Huang immediately brought a handkerchief to wipe her tears, comforting her. "Madam, please do not be sad. The young master is doing this for you."

"W-what did he say just now?" Lady Liang asked, ignoring Mother Huang’s words.

Mother Fang was also anxious. "The young master said he will never leave you and will stay by your side forever. Madam, he is doing this for you! If he married the young lady, he would have to return to the capital, and you would be left here all alone. He is truly doing this for your sake!"

Lady Liang’s tears fell again. She wiped her face, her expression bitter. "He isn't doing it for me. He is blaming me."

Mother Fang looked at her.

"He blames me for refusing to let the doctors properly treat his injuries," Lady Liang whispered, her tears filled with bitterness and pain. "He blames me, but I only did it so he would not be so prominent and sharp-edged. Even hiding in this remote place, he is still prone to lethal danger."

"But, but Fourth Son refuses to listen. He must be blaming me—he must be!"

As Lady Liang wiped the moisture from her face, Mother Fang felt helpless. When the young master had been bedridden, the Madam had only allowed the doctors to save his life, insisting he could no longer practice martial arts. It wasn't that she had intentionally deceived him; the doctors had warned that if he practiced martial arts or went to war again, the possibility of further injury was great, given how severe his wounds had been...

"The young master does not blame you. He is the most filial of all your sons," Mother Fang said. Before she could continue, a young maid hurried into the room. "Madam, it is bad! There are many people gathered outside, shouting and demanding an explanation from the young master. The gatekeeper went out to stop them, but he was beaten!"

"What is going on?" Lady Liang hurriedly wiped her tears and composed herself. "Who are they? How dare they come to our home to cause trouble? No matter how fallen the Liang family is, it is not for those pathetic lackeys to bully!"

"It is the young master of the Zhang family," the maid said, hopping with anxiety. "You should go and see for yourself."

The Zhang family? Lady Liang nearly bit through her lip. Ever since they arrived in Zhonglin County, the Zhangs had been at odds with them. From the moment Lady Zhang hosted that first dinner—the time the Xu girl fell into the lake—Liang Xiao had been targeted. Every time she met Lady Zhang, she was met with snide, provocative remarks.

Now that rumors were spreading everywhere, and they were already hiding, they were actually pursuing them to their home to demand an explanation? It was shameless!

Lady Liang rose to go out, but Mother Fang held her back. "Madam, it is better to let the young master handle this."

"But what can Liang Xiao do?" Lady Liang was filled with worry. Mother Fang frowned and instructed the maid, "Go out through the back door to the Jiang family and invite their young master over."

"Yes, I’m going now," the maid replied and ran off. Lady Liang sighed repeatedly, feeling miserable.

At the gate, Zhang Zhongheng was ordering his servants to keep shouting and cursing. He had endured enough these past few days! He had been scolded and berated by his second brother, and he had been ignored by the old master—not even receiving a letter of reprimand, with all messages relayed through his second brother.

That man Yan Hongwen had given the advice and then gone quiet, while he had cast himself as the aggrieved party. What did he have to fear in confronting Liang Xiao? If he pushed Liang Xiao into a dead end, even if he only got a single word out of him regarding that day, his guilt would be inescapable.

As for that woman, she would either be forced to find a rope to hang herself, or, if she didn't die and entered the Zhang family, he could still use this matter to suppress her. After playing with her for a few days and making her beg for mercy, he would send her off to a nunnery to fend for herself, while he continued to live his carefree life.

Forget the reputation of the Yan family or the old master’s anger. If he, Zhang Zhongheng, couldn't defeat a cripple and a woman, he would have lived in vain! Moreover, it was Yan Hongwen’s idea to cause trouble for Liang Xiao. Even if something went wrong, Yan Hongwen would have to bear the consequences. He was just being forced to follow the instructions of the eldest young master of the Yan family!