When she looked up, the young woman before her was dressed in a peach-pink spring blouse. Her face was as round as a silver platter, with delicate eyebrows and large eyes. Compared to her own willowy figure, this woman was far more curvaceous—the very picture of a pampered young lady from a wealthy family.
It was none other than the Fourth Lady of the Liang Mansion, her cousin, Liang Jiao.
Liang Jiao stepped forward and, with a laugh, snatched the embroidery from behind her. "Don't try to hide it! I saw you doing needlework from a mile away. Everyone in the mansion knows you can't stand this sort of thing. What a rare sight this is!"
Unable to get it back, Liang Wan felt her face flush. She curtsied to Mrs. Zhang. "Aunt."
Unlike the curious Liang Jiao, Mrs. Zhang didn't glance at the embroidery. Instead, she walked right up to Liang Wan. "You've only just started to recover. Why are you out here sitting in the breeze, and doing something so taxing?"
Liang Wan lowered her head, not answering.
"Sister, this Pouch doesn't look like something you'd use yourself, does it?" Liang Jiao dangled the sachet in her hand, teasing. "You'd better be careful. Don't let your mother see it, or you'll be in for it!"
Liang Wan's expression froze.
"Ajiao!"
Mrs. Zhang shot Liang Jiao a reproachful look before taking Liang Wan's hand and sitting down with her. "Tell me the truth, dear. Is this Pouch for the Grand Commandant?"
Liang Wan slowly nodded, her face reddening as she explained, "Aunt, please, don't misunderstand. Uncle was right to scold me that day. But the man did save my life, after all. I have to show my appreciation somehow. I don't have anything valuable to give, so I could only make something by hand to express my thanks."
Mrs. Zhang studied her for a long moment, then smiled. "It's good that you think that way, of course. But—"
Her tone shifted. "The other day, your uncle went to the Master's Mansion to call on the Grand Commandant. Guess what happened?"
"What?"
'Liang Wan's heart pounded in her chest. Lu Xiu was not an easy man to deal with. For her uncle to so brazenly go to his door... getting snubbed would be getting off lightly. She remembered how he killed without batting an eye in her past life.'
"He wasn't there!"
Liang Wan breathed a sigh of relief. 'Good, they didn't meet. Otherwise, not only would my act fall apart, but I'm afraid Lu Xiu wouldn't have spared me.'
Mrs. Zhang continued, "But even though he wasn't there, your uncle heard a piece of news—"
"Mistress—"
Mrs. Zhang was mid-sentence when Chun'er came running over.
Interrupted, Mrs. Zhang's expression soured. Seeing Chun'er shouting and making a scene, even her good temper frayed. "What's the matter? Why are you in such a tearing hurry?"
Panting, Chun'er hastily curtsied. "Second Madam, forgive my impertinence, but the Family Head says men from the Ministry of Justice are here. They want to question the Third Lady, so... I panicked."
"The Ministry of Justice?"
Mrs. Zhang and Liang Jiao gasped, staring at Liang Wan in astonishment.
Liang Wan's heart sank, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Did they say why?"
Chun'er shook her head, her expression strained. "The Family Head didn't specify. Mistress, you should go and see for yourself."
Liang Wan wasted no more words. 'She couldn't believe Chun'er didn't know that Zhang Shu was dead!'
'I thought this whole affair would just blow over, but it looks like I was being naive. There's no Lu Xiu to get me out of this today. What am I going to do?'
Though her heart was filled with anxiety, Liang Wan forced her steps to remain steady.
When she reached the front hall, she found Liang Cheng sitting and drinking tea with the men from the Ministry of Justice.
Seeing Liang Wan, Liang Cheng set down his teacup. His tone was especially grave. "This is Chen Sizheng of the Ministry of Justice."
Besides Chen Sizheng, two other men were present—the same two she had seen that night.
Liang Wan approached and curtsied. "Greetings, my lords!"
Chen Sizheng turned to his companions. "Is she the one you saw that night?"
As expected, both men nodded in unison. "Yes."
Chen Sizheng glanced at Liang Cheng. "Vice Minister Liang, would you permit me a few words with the young lady of your house?"
His tone was polite yet distant, leaving no room for negotiation.
The Ministry of Justice had its own procedures for interrogations. Even if Liang Cheng was bursting with questions, he couldn't insist on staying. He had to withdraw as requested. Before he left, however, his eyes shot her a warning.
Liang Wan didn't respond, lowering her gaze to calm the panic in her heart. "I wonder for what reason Chen Sizheng has sought me out?"
Only then did Chen Sizheng study her properly. His slightly chubby face held no malice. "I hear you were seen near the East Market that night, young lady?"
Tongle Hall was right by the East Market.
Liang Wan nodded frankly. "Yes. I even met with these two gentlemen that night."
Chen Sizheng gave a slight nod and asked, "Have you heard that the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat was killed at Tongle Hall?"
Though his expression was placid, his eyes were incredibly sharp, constantly observing her.
Liang Wan instinctively shook her head. But then she paused, hesitating slightly. "Excuse me... are you referring to the official with the surname Zhang?"
"Oh? You know him, young lady?"
"I don't know him personally, no. I just happened to overhear the Grand Commandant's attendant mention him that night."
"Oh?" Chen Sizheng tilted his head, thinking. "And what did he say?"
"Only that a certain Lord Zhang had passed away at Tongle Hall."
Chen Sizheng frowned. "If I may be so bold, young lady, were you with the Grand Commandant the entire time that day?"
Liang Wan waved her hands in denial. "Not at all. I only met up with him later in the evening."
Chen Sizheng's brow remained furrowed. "You say you don't know the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, young lady. Then why does his attendant claim to have seen you?"
'Liang Wan's heart clenched. Even though Zhang Shu was dead, the men who had abducted her were still alive. Of course they had seen her.'
Chen Sizheng and his men didn't miss the stiffness that flickered across her face.
"It seems you're hiding something from us, young lady."
"I truly don't know him. It's just—"
Liang Wan looked troubled and hesitated. "Excuse me, my lord... have you asked the Grand Commandant about this matter?"
The expressions of Chen Sizheng and his men stiffened. "We have not."
'Liang Wan instantly understood. They must have heard what Zhang Shu's servants said and grown suspicious of her, but because of Lu Xiu's involvement, they could only come and ask a few questions.'
'After all, Lu Xiu had been very obvious in his protection of her that night.'
'But just his protection wasn't nearly enough.'
Liang Wan sighed softly. "That day, I had an arrangement to meet the Grand Commandant. Who would have known I'd be accosted by ruffians on the way? Thankfully, the Grand Commandant arrived in time."
"Ruffians? Are you referring to Lord Zhang?"
Liang Wan quickly shook her head. "I don't know Lord Zhang. I just assumed they were common thugs. To this moment, I'm still not certain of their identities. It's only because you said Lord Zhang's attendants saw me that I suppose it must have been them.
I was terrified at the time. The Grand Commandant saved me, but he didn't elaborate on the situation, and it wasn't my place to press for details. And now... it's even more difficult to speak of."
Her expression was a mixture of shyness and helplessness.
Chen Sizheng took this in. "I understand what you're implying. However, it seems you haven't told Vice Minister Liang any of this. In fact, your story contradicts his."
'Liang Wan's heart hammered. It seemed he had already asked Liang Cheng about her whereabouts that night.'
"Family Head—"
Just as she was speaking, a servant at the door unexpectedly led another group of people inside.