Liang Wan felt as though every bone and limb of her body was submerged in freezing water. A giant boulder seemed to weigh down on her chest, so heavy she could barely breathe. A voice screamed in her mind, urging her to kick the boulder away.
She knew she shouldn't continue enduring this after so long. She knew it was time to break free from these restraints. However, her current situation was precarious. Throwing a fit just for a moment of fleeting satisfaction would only invite unnecessary trouble and serve absolutely no purpose.
Liang Wan clutched her sleeves tightly, taking a moment to calm herself. She forced the restless surge of blood in her veins down, little by little.
Impulsivity was easy; restraint was hard. Now was not the time to be reckless!
Mrs. Zhang's gaze swept imperceptibly across Liang Wan's face. A gentle smile rippled across her plump features.
"You are truly mistaken, Madam. Awan is a top-tier talent in our Liang Mansion. She is beautiful and intelligent. She is nothing like our Ajiao, who doesn't have any particular strengths other than being considerate."
Liang Jiao, who was supporting her from the side, chimed in obediently. "You don't know this, Aunt, but Mother praises Sister in front of me all day long. Honestly, if she had given birth to me with even half of Sister's breathtaking beauty, I would let her despise me all she wants. But alas, I don't have such good fortune. I have no choice but to obey her in everything, lest she grow to dislike me even more!"
Mrs. Zhang scolded her with a smile. "Can't you see your Sister is sick? Hurry up and help her back to her room instead of running your mouth here!"
Liang Jiao replied with a smile, hurrying to Liang Wan's side to support her carefully.
"Good fortune? I only gave birth to the two of them, yet in the end, neither of them gives me a moment's peace—"
Speaking of this, the matriarch of the He Family seemed to recall something. Her expression turned despondent, filled with a deep sense of disheartened weariness.
"What kind of talk is that?" Mrs. Zhang said. "In Jinye City, whenever anyone mentions the Heir of Marquis Wen, who doesn't offer a word of praise?"
At the mention of Liang Jing, the matriarch of the He Family softened her expression slightly, though her words didn't yield an inch. "Outsiders might not know what Ajing is truly like, but you know best. Before she was married, she certainly caused her fair share of trouble!"
"Please don't say that, Aunt," Liang Jiao said. "Among all our siblings, the one I admire most is my eldest Sister. If I can learn even a fraction of her grace in the future, I will be completely satisfied!" She pursed her lips. "It's a pity I've always been so clumsy and dull. I didn't get a share of either beauty or talent!"
Chun'er was nowhere to be seen; not even a shadow of the maid remained.
Suppressing her annoyance, Liang Wan looked up and forced a smile. "Mother, Aunt, I'm going back to my room now."
She gently brushed off Liang Jiao's hand, her fingertips radiating an icy chill. "Ajiao, you should stay and keep them company. I can walk back by myself."
With that said, Liang Wan took a step, preparing to leave.
"Wait! Why did the people from the Ministry of Justice come looking for you?"
The matriarch of the He Family suddenly remembered the purpose of her visit and quickly called out to stop her.
Liang Wan closed her eyes briefly. When she turned her face to look again, the woman of the He Family had lost her earlier dejection on her plain face. She seemed completely invigorated, her gaze locked firmly onto Liang Wan.
"Yes, what exactly was it about?"
At these words, Mrs. Zhang and Liang Jiao also looked over. It was obvious they wouldn't rest until they got to the bottom of it.
Liang Wan took a deep breath and turned back around. "That day, when the Grand Commandant was escorting me back, we ran into people from the Ministry of Justice right by the East Market. I just found out from them that Lord Zhang, the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, was murdered at Tongle Hall. They probably saw me and the Grand Commandant in the vicinity and came to ask if I had heard anything. After all, they wouldn't dare casually question the Grand Commandant."
The matriarch of the He Family frowned, speaking with absolute finality. "Before you go to the Sikong Mansion, you will stay obediently right here in the manor. You are not allowed to go anywhere!
"Today, I will tell you plainly: whether it's Cui Xiaolang or the Grand Commandant, you can forget about them. Give up those improper thoughts right now and obediently marry into the Sikong Mansion!"
Liang Wan's entire body turned cold, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You would rather have me become someone's concubine?"
"Is it that I would rather have it this way? It is your fate! Most of the people in Jinye City already know that you have been promised to Wang Sikong.
"Let's not even mention your previous close relationship with Cui Xiaolang, which gave people plenty of gossip. But look at you now, getting involved with the Grand Commandant and even getting caught red-handed!
"Even leaving aside the question of whether you could ever cross the threshold of the Lu Family, I cannot allow others to point fingers at my back, saying the daughter I raised is a fickle, loose woman who fails to uphold a woman's virtue!"
She paused for a moment before continuing. "We cannot aim as high as the Lu Family. Give up this idea immediately. Since you have been promised to Wang Sikong, you will marry him even if it kills you!"
Liang Wan stood there in a daze. Wasn't it said that when a person reached a certain level of despair, they would no longer feel any pain or heartbreak?
Then why did she still feel as if someone were taking a sledgehammer and smashing it against her internal organs, over and over again?
Liang Wan turned her head, forcefully holding back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. After a deep breath, she looked back at the woman of the He Family and curled her lips into a smile. "Don't worry, Mother. I will certainly not disappoint you."
With those words, she ignored them and headed toward her own room alone. She had barely taken a few steps before the tears could no longer be held back.
The early spring wind was piercingly cold, whipping against her tear-stained face and making her shiver uncontrollably.
Liang Wan sniffled and kept walking forward. Even after being reborn and returning to this life, she was still entirely alone.
But so what? How she chose to live her life was entirely up to her!
Outside the window, the night was dark and heavy, while inside the room, a dim, yellow halo of light glowed softly.
Liang Wan had just finished taking her medicine. She sat lazily leaning against the desk, aimlessly flipping through the medical book in her hands, pondering the words Lu Xiu had spoken before he left.
At present, Lu Xiu was the only one who could help her escape her predicament. However, just as he had said, he was not a compassionate man. If she wanted to rely on this towering tree, she had to cater to his preferences and make herself useful to him.
The problem was, aside from knowing a bit of medicine, she didn't have any special skills. Moreover, not to mention that her medical skills were merely average, even if she were a Holy Hand, would someone like Lu Xiu ever lack famous physicians?
Thinking about it now, if he truly lusted after women, it would be easier; she could just seduce him with her beauty. Unfortunately, he preferred the company of men.
The more Liang Wan thought about it, the more depressed she became. She simply tossed the medical book aside.
"Second Madame."
Qiuxi had just brought in some hot water.
Liang Wan looked up, only to see Mrs. Zhang standing at the doorway. The soft candlelight in the room made her look all the more kind and benevolent.
Before Liang Wan could even stand up straight, Mrs. Zhang gently pressed her back down. "I figured you'd just finished losing your temper with your mother, so I came to check on you."
Losing her temper?
Liang Wan couldn't help but laugh bitterly. Did she even have the status to lose her temper in this mansion anymore?
Mrs. Zhang sat down opposite her. Liang Wan turned her head and sent Qiuxi out of the room.
The flame on the desk flickered and jumped, casting wavering shadows that made one's mind drift.
Mrs. Zhang casually picked up the medical book on the table, took a glance at it, and placed it back down. "Don't blame your mother for being strict. In this world, gossip is a fearsome thing."
Liang Wan lowered her eyes, in no mood to beat around the bush with her. She picked up the brass hairpin and trimmed the wick of the lamp, causing the flame to burn brighter. "Aunt, you came all the way here this late. You must have something else you want to say to me, don't you?"
The face behind the lamplight froze for a brief moment before breaking into a smile, as warm and amiable as ever. "You've always been a clever child. I might as well speak plainly. I came here regarding the matter of the Grand Commandant!"
Liang Wan's hand, which was adjusting the lamp, paused.
Lu Xiu?