You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 100 It's indeed time for the Duke's mansion to have a new head.
Liang Jiang said aggrievedly, "Sister, what you said makes no sense. Qin Gui is your uncle. Because of his embezzlement, his whole family hates me to the bone. Do you think his wife and daughter would listen to my instructions to frame you?"

"Thanks to His Majesty's keen insight and Prince Pingxi's clear judgment, otherwise, presenting an empty box to the Empress Dowager today would have been extremely disrespectful, and I wouldn't have been able to bear the consequences. Why bother with all this?"

The emperor sneered: "You stole the Empress Dowager's birthday gifts and framed your family. Now you've been caught red-handed, with witnesses and physical evidence all at your disposal. Are you still unwilling to confess?"

Liang Su panicked immediately: "I am innocent! This is Liang Jiang framing me!"

Liang Jiang frowned and said, "I know that you, my sister, have always enjoyed collecting exquisite embroidery and have long coveted your master's 'Phoenixes in Flight.' However, it is inappropriate for you to present 'A Hundred Birds Among Flowers' to the Empress Dowager while keeping this painting for yourself."

"You're talking nonsense!" Liang Su hurriedly retorted.
“I have evidence that this is Liang Jiang’s trap. The birthday gift she prepared for the Empress Dowager is actually a white jade Guanyin statue! It is currently hidden in my wardrobe.”

Liang Jiang retorted, "If it is my birthday gift, how come it is in your trunk?"

Liang Su was speechless.

Liang Wen accused, "When Madam Liu gave Liang Su a painting of 'Hundred Birds Among Flowers,' you immediately asked for this painting of 'Phoenixes in Flight.' Wasn't this all premeditated, an attempt to overshadow Liang Su?"

Liang Jiang said calmly, "Since my cousin is Madam Liu's beloved disciple, how could she not know that this Hundred Birds Painting and Phoenix Flying Together is a series of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix?"

"Grandmother, as the current head of the Duke's mansion, do you think it is appropriate to present the 'Hundred Birds Painting' to the Empress Dowager?"

The Dowager Lady of Huaiyuan stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I have long heard that the Duke of Liang and his wife have risked their lives on the border over the years, and all the land and other things that the Emperor has rewarded them with are in the hands of the Second Master Liang."

After the Duke of Liang's death in battle, Lady Liang, a widow with only her children, was forced to leave her hometown. Now that she has returned to the Duke's mansion, it is only right that she punishes the wicked servants and rebuilds the family business. Old Madam Liang, both are your flesh and blood; you can't be too biased.”

Liang Wenshi blushed deeply, knowing she had suffered a loss she couldn't swallow.

The Empress Dowager received the embroidery she desired and was extremely pleased with Liang Jiang.

She said unhappily, "You two, grandmother and granddaughter, are wicked and yet you have the nerve to criticize others here? Madam Liang, you are so old, yet you are not as insightful as a young girl."

This Duke's mansion truly needs a new head. Princess Heya!

Liang Jiang knelt down: "Your subject is here."

"You helped me find the Golden Longevity God and went to great lengths to obtain this painting of phoenixes flying together for me. Your filial piety is evident. I hereby reward you with a waist token for entering the palace."

Liang Jiang was overjoyed. Having a palace pass meant that she could enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager at any time.

In other words, the Empress Dowager was standing up for herself and telling everyone to stop bullying her in the future.

She hurriedly knelt down to express her gratitude, but deep down she was quite surprised.

With such a tarnished reputation and her father being accused of treason, surely the Empress Dowager wouldn't look at her with any respect because of just two birthday gifts?

The birthday banquet began, filled with singing and dancing.

Liang Wenshi and Liang Su had no face to stay here, and amidst the gossip and ridicule of the crowd, they slunk out of the palace.

The old matriarch of the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion sat down with Liang Jiang by the hand.

Liang Jiang thanked the old lady for rescuing her in time.

The old lady smiled mysteriously: "I was worried that if I took it upon myself to tie you and my good-for-nothing grandson together, you would be angry."

Liang Jiang politely replied, "How could that be? Young Master Xie is upright and righteous, a heroic young man. Liang Jiang is honored by his kindness."

"Do you really think so?"

"The Marquis is upright and heroic, and you, the Old Madam, are kind and generous. The children raised with such family traditions will surely be role models for us." The Old Madam smiled and squinted her eyes: "Your mother is really blessed to have such a capable daughter like you. This old woman is so envious and wishes she could take you into her own home."

"If you don't mind my chatter, Madam, I'll definitely come to you often for tea. I've heard from my mother that the cook at the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion is the best at making pastries."

"Very well!" the old lady replied happily, then lowered her voice and said, "There are some things that it's not that Prince Pingxi is ignoring, but that it's simply inconvenient for him to get involved. Do you understand?"

Liang Jiang glanced at Gu Xizhi, who sat upright at the head of the table, his dark brocade robes accentuating his jade-like face, which exuded a gentle yet aloof charm.

He was serious and didn't seem very interested in the delicious food in front of him. He only took two bites before putting down his chopsticks and picking up a teacup to rinse his mouth.

There was no wine on the table in front of him.

Liang Jiang nodded, indicating her understanding, which was exactly what she had in mind.

After several rounds of drinks, the Empress Dowager became somewhat tired and requested to leave the banquet early.

As soon as the Empress Dowager left, a palace servant immediately went to the Emperor and presented a booklet to the golden dragon table in front of him.

The emperor opened the booklet, glanced at it, nodded slightly, and handed it to the empress standing beside him.

Many people at the banquet stared intently at the booklet, wondering what it contained.

The Empress took the booklet, glanced around, and read out a list of women's names.

All the women who heard the name were overjoyed and knelt down on the ground.

Liang Jiang looked at the women on the list; most of them were from families of officials holding important positions, and they were all beautiful and in their prime.

A palace maid stepped forward with a tray, lifted the red cloth covering it, and neatly arranged on the tray were several hairpins made of silk gauze.

The kneeling women took one hairpin flower from each other and held it in their hands.

Liang Jiang wondered, could it be that they were selecting candidates for the emperor?

Intending to ask the old lady, he saw her brows furrow slightly and her expression darken, as if she was somewhat displeased. So he swallowed his words.

After the silk flowers were distributed, the beauties, led by palace maids, left the main hall and disappeared without a trace.

As Liang Jiang craned her neck in curiosity, another slightly older palace maid came over, walked straight to her, and carried a tray covered with a red cloth.

The palace maid bowed gracefully to her: "Princess Heya, this is a gift from the Empress Dowager."

Many people looked in her direction and whispered among themselves, "Could the Empress Dowager have given her flowers too?"

"No, she's been married before, a divorced woman who returned to her clan. How could she be qualified to be the Princess Consort of Pingxi?"

Liang Jiang paused, clutching the red cloth, and immediately understood the reason for the Empress's gift of the hairpin. It wasn't to select a concubine for the Emperor, but to select a princess for Gu Xizhi!
Gu Xizhi was several years older than him. Other princes of that age would already have many children. But his choice of a princess consort had been delayed, and many powerful families in the capital were eyeing the position with great anticipation.

Although he is now just a prince with no real power, he has the Weixi fiefdom bestowed by the late emperor. Under his rule, the people live in peace and prosperity, making him virtually a local tyrant.

In addition, Gu Xizhi was a man of both literary and military talent, a rare talent among men and a capable general. When he returned to the capital in triumph, riding his horse on Chang'an Street, he was full of vigor and his elegant and handsome demeanor captivated many young women in the capital.

He's not getting any younger; it's time for him to get married. But the Empress Dowager would never bestow a hairpin upon him. How could she allow Gu Xizhi to bestow a title upon the daughter of a general who had colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country?

(End of this chapter)