Mrs. Zhang shot the servants a look, motioning for them to guide Mrs. He to a nearby chair. She then sat on the edge of the bed and patted Liang Wan's hand, her demeanor as gentle and attentive as ever.
"Oh, Aweng, you were gone for most of the day. You had us all worried sick! Your uncle sent every person he could spare from the mansion to find you. They've practically turned Jinye City upside down!"
"Tell me, if something had really happened to you, how could your uncle and I ever face your father in the afterlife?"
'If something had really happened?'
Liang Wan stared at the hand resting on hers, a wave of disgust rising in her chest.
Seeing her silence, Mrs. Zhang continued, "Actually, even if you don't say anything, we already know. You're simply smitten with that Cui Xiaolang."
"But the classics say that for a woman to meet a man in secret, without her parents' permission or a matchmaker's arrangement, is an act that invites scorn from all. Do you intend to cheapen yourself like that?"
Liang Wan sneered inwardly. 'And forcing me to be a concubine for Wang Su, a man nearly fifty, isn't cheapening myself?'
Everyone in the room quietly observed Liang Wan.
It was plain for all to see that the Third Lady had always been closer to this Cui Xiaolang than to anyone else.
Liang Wan closed her eyes and took a slow breath before looking at Mrs. Zhang again. "Aunt, what are you talking about? That Cui Hao is just a down-and-out member of a Commoner Clan. Why would I lower myself to associate with him?"
Mrs. He's face was stern, while Mrs. Zhang's doubt was plain to see. "Really?"
"Who slandered me by claiming I went to find him?"
Liang Wan broke out in a cold sweat but forced herself to remain composed. 'I would rather die than admit I had arranged to meet Cui Hao today!'
Her gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally landing on one person. "Chun'er, was it you who said it?"
Chun'er started, her face paling. She dropped to her knees with a THUD and hurriedly defended herself.
"Mistress, it wasn't me! How could this servant dare to gossip behind her master's back?"
'She dared to sell out her master for her own gain. What was a little gossip compared to that?'
Liang Wan lowered her eyes, her gaze thick with hatred.
Because of Zhang Shu, she had always been averse to intimacy.
One night, she'd woken up and happened to see Cui Hao entering Chun'er's room. Although she had felt a little uncomfortable, she reasoned that he was a normal man, and it was only natural for him to have needs.
Furthermore, after Liang Wan had been driven out, Chun'er had risked everything to secretly bring her valuables from the Liang Mansion. For that loyalty alone, she hadn't been able to bring herself to reprimand her. And so, from then on, she had simply pretended she knew nothing about their affair.
But if she hadn't been reborn, she would still be in the dark. In truth, they had been carrying on a secret affair for a long time. Otherwise, Chun'er wouldn't have constantly praised him in front of her or urged her to visit Cui Hao's relatives.
'The entire thing was a conspiracy between the two of them!'
'A pity she had been so blind!'
'But you have to catch them red-handed. She wasn't in a hurry. If this attempt failed, they were bound to try again. She could wait.'
"It's good that it wasn't you."
Liang Wan lifted her eyelids, subtly shifting her weight onto her palm. The scraped red mark on it was glaring. "After I got separated from Chun'er, I unfortunately ran into a thief on the street. He stole my coin purse, and I chased after him. I ended up getting lost and even took a nasty fall."
Mrs. Zhang took her hand and examined it closely. It was indeed a scrape from a fall.
Liang Wan added, "If you don't believe me, you can send someone to Southeast Street to ask around. Someone must have seen me."
'To cover her tracks, she had deliberately taken a detour through Southeast Street before going to the meeting place. She hadn't expected it to actually come in handy now.'
"Then why are you soaked to the bone?"
A middle-aged man with a square-shaped face and medium build walked in just then.
It was her uncle, Liang Cheng.
"A man saw that I was lost and pretended to offer help, but he had ill intentions. We struggled, and in the scuffle, I accidentally fell into the water. Thankfully, a passing boatman rescued me. Otherwise, I would have never made it back—"
The moment he heard this, Liang Cheng's expression changed. He immediately looked at Mrs. Zhang. "Did you have a doctor look at her? Is she hurt anywhere?"
Mrs. Zhang caught his meaning and gave him a reassuring look. "Don't worry, Family Head. She's fine."
Only then did Liang Cheng relax. "Since you're not hurt, we won't mention this again. If word got out, it would not only damage your reputation, but it would also make our Liang Mansion lose face."
"Furthermore, if Lord Sikong finds out, he'll surely be displeased. It wouldn't be good for you after you enter his mansion, either."
Liang Wan nodded in agreement.
Unexpectedly, Liang Cheng looked over again, his gaze turning several degrees colder. "Since you've returned safely today, I won't pursue this matter further. But I hope you are truly resigned to this marriage, and not scheming for other ways to run away."
"You should know, our Liang Mansion doesn't support useless people. Since you were born into the Liang family and hold the title and status of the Third Lady, you must fulfill your due responsibility—"
'The responsibility to sell myself for the family's glory?'
Beneath her sleeves, Liang Wan clenched her fists tightly. 'Even if I have to sell myself, it won't be for your sake!'
Seeing Liang Wan's head bowed in silence, Mrs. Zhang gave Liang Cheng's arm a timely tug. "She's been through an ordeal, she's frightened, and she's still ill. That's enough. Don't worry. With me and Eldest Sister-in-law watching her, I guarantee no more trouble will arise."
Then she turned and said, "Aweng, you must understand your uncle's good intentions. So many people are desperate to get into the Sikong Mansion but have no way in. Yet you, you've easily earned Wang Sikong's favor. Isn't this all thanks to your uncle's planning?"
She subtly patted Liang Cheng, who had no choice but to soften his tone. "That's right. Wang Sikong may be a bit older, but you've seen how much he values you. He definitely won't treat you poorly in the future! This is an opportunity many people couldn't get even if they begged for it!"
Liang Wan looked up and smiled at him. "Don't worry, Uncle. I will be sure to treasure such a wonderful blessing!"
Seeing that she wasn't as resistant as usual, Liang Cheng was delighted and nodded repeatedly. "It's good that you understand!"
'Understand? Of course, I understand. If this blessing is so wonderful, why not save it for your own daughter?'
Unexpectedly, Mrs. He, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up.
"Tell me the truth. Who did you really go to see? Are you still going to lie to me?"
A dull ache spread through Liang Wan's chest. "Well, Mother, who do you think I should have gone to see?"
Immediately after, the large, black cloak was thrown at her, landing heavily on her body. "This is a man's garment! Tell me yourself, who did you go to see?"
'A man's?'
Liang Cheng and Mrs. Zhang exchanged a look, their gazes simultaneously falling on the cloak.
Just now, they had been focused only on Liang Wan, completely ignoring anything unusual about the cloak. Now, seeing it, they were startled.
Liang Wan fell back onto the bed, an unstoppable chill seeping into her heart.
Mrs. Zhang came forward, carefully removed the cloak, and helped Liang Wan sit up. She coaxed, "Aweng, just tell us the truth. Who did you go to see?"
"What is the story behind this man's cloak?"
"You're an unmarried young lady. How could you wear another man's clothes? If word of this gets out, how will you ever show your face in public again?"
"What's more, if Lord Sikong were to find out about this, your good name would be—"
"A peony?"
Just as Mrs. Zhang was speaking, she heard Liang Cheng's cry of astonishment.