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

Chapter 14 Fang Chengxu's military achievements are highly suspicious

Liang Jiang was excited: "Uncle He, do you also believe that my father is innocent?"

"Of course!" Vice General He's voice was firm and powerful: "I have followed the Duke for so many years, fighting side by side with him, risking my life together. How could I not trust the Duke? The matter of Zhou's son reporting the Duke for colluding with Xiliang back then was definitely a lie."

"What exactly happened back then?" Liang Jiang asked eagerly.

"Back then, when the two armies were facing off, our army's supplies were burned. The Duke had no choice but to take a desperate gamble, intending to personally use himself as bait to lure Huyan Chao, the commander-in-chief of Xiliang, to the Great Rift Valley. Then, Tong Shouliang and I would lead troops to ambush him there, annihilate Huyan's elite troops in one fell swoop, and capture the commander-in-chief alive."

On the day of the operation, the Duke suddenly received news that Xiliang wanted to send assassins to launch a surprise attack from behind and burn the grain supplies sent by the Prince of Pingxi to aid our army. Therefore, he dispatched his subordinates to lead troops to provide support, and Tong Shouliang was responsible for leading troops to ambush.

As a result, halfway through Tong Shouliang's journey, Zhou Xie, the messenger of the Duke, suddenly rushed to the front of the army covered in blood and holding a letter, revealing that the Duke had betrayed the enemy in Xiliang and that the plan to lure the enemy in the Great Rift Valley was a scheme by the Duke and Huyan Chao to turn the tables and annihilate the Chang'an army.

The letter Zhou was holding at the time was a plot by Huyan Chao to the Duke, instructing him to coordinate an attack from within and without, first burning our army's supplies, then luring the enemy deep into our territory for a decisive annihilation. Zhou unintentionally intercepted it, which led to him being hunted down by the Duke's confidants, and he barely escaped with his life.

After saying these words, Zhou Xie vomited blood and died on the spot. Tong Shouliang naturally dared not risk leading his troops there, and disregarding the doubts of his generals, he temporarily changed the battle plan.

The poor Duke, leading his vanguard, failed to find the ambush of Chang'an reinforcements in the Great Rift Valley. Outnumbered, he was hit by thirty-six bullets and died on the spot, his body riddled with wounds.

Tong Shouliang, however, turned the tables on the Xiliang Chanyu's retreat route, setting up an ambush and using the terrain to his advantage. He inflicted heavy losses on Xiliang Chanyu Ye's 10,000 elite troops, turning defeat into victory, earning merit, and ultimately replacing him, rising rapidly through the ranks.

Even though two years have passed, when Vice General He mentioned it, he still couldn't help but clench his fists and his eyes welled up with tears.

Liang Jiang was also overcome with grief, and tears streamed down her face as if they had broken a string.

The father died in battle, the mother was devastated, and the Duke's mansion was vilified and condemned by everyone. It was a time she could not bear to look back on.

Deputy General He took a deep breath: "The Duke sacrificed himself heroically. It is clear that the people of Xiliang hate him to the bone. How could he have colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country?"

The humble general remained steadfast in his belief, and since Zhou was dead and could not corroborate, he volunteered to serve on the frontier. After two long years of waiting, he finally obtained a lead.

Liang Jiang's eyes lit up: "What clue?"

Do you know how your husband, Fang Chengxu, distinguished himself in battle while guarding the western border?

"I did hear Madam Tong mention it, saying that it was all thanks to General Tong's help."

"It is true that General Tong wrote the letter in his own hand, asking me to promote Fang Chengxu. However, when we were facing the enemy from Xiliang, I noticed a subtle flaw and felt that the Xiliang general seemed to be intentionally losing to make Fang Chengxu's victory possible."

"Huh?" Liang Jiang exclaimed in surprise, "Fang Chengxu and Xiliang? How is that possible?"

“Fang Chengxu has just arrived at the border, so it’s unlikely that he has any collusion with Xiliang, but Tong Shouliang could!”

Liang Jiang felt as if she had been struck by a blunt object: "You mean to say that General Tong colluded with the Xiliang people, orchestrated Fang Chengxu's success, and helped him achieve military merit? What evidence do you have for this?"

Gu Xizhi, who was already getting impatient, called out to urge them on.

Deputy General He could only keep it brief: "This matter is a long story. I am only familiar with the fighting capabilities and style of the Xiliang people, which is why I have such suspicions."

So, while at the border, he deliberately cultivated a close relationship with Fang Chengxu, hoping to glean some clues through him. Unfortunately, Fang was exceptionally cautious and kept his mouth shut, so he obtained no leads whatsoever.

Liang Jiang's voice trembled: "If what you said is true, and Tong Shouliang had long been colluding with Xiliang, does that mean that Tong Shouliang was involved in my father's death in battle?"

Lieutenant General He nodded firmly: "That is exactly what I mean. Including when I was lured away from the mountain and Zhou wrote the denunciation of the Duke, it was all a conspiracy. The biggest beneficiary was the real culprit behind the scenes."

Liang Jiang's heart was struck hard, and the impulse to avenge her father, which she had been desperately suppressing for the past two years, surged up again.

The rumors, slander, and insults I endured back then still linger in my mind.

When Tong Zhao'er first arrived at the Fang family, she harbored resentment and talked to her mother about what happened back then.

My mother said that General Tong's choice at the time was for the sake of the overall situation and was a last resort, which was understandable.

But he never expected that he might be the mastermind.

For the past six months, she had been painstakingly serving her enemy's daughter, a mistress who had stolen her husband.

What a joke.

If my father's former subordinates could sacrifice their future and endure the hardships of guarding the western border, how could I possibly live in this small place in Fucheng and let the world continue to insult my father in the afterlife?
Liang Jiang bowed deeply to Vice General He: "Liang Jiang thanks Uncle He for everything he has done for my father over the past two years. I will definitely find out the truth, avenge my father, and give him justice."

Deputy General He dared not accept such a reply: "This is not the place to talk. May I ask where Madam is currently staying? I would like to visit her."

Liang Jiang glanced at Gu Xizhi, who had already mounted his horse not far away, and nodded, saying, "I also need to go back to my mother's place tomorrow to report the situation. If Uncle He is free, please wait for me at the crossroads ahead tomorrow, and we can go together."

The two agreed on a time, and Liang Jiang gave a final instruction: "For the time being, please keep my identity strictly confidential, Uncle He, and do not reveal it for now."

Vice General He agreed, turned around to take his leave, returned to Gu Xizhi's side, and mounted his horse without saying a word.

Gu Xizhi asked casually, "So you really ran into an old friend?"

Deputy General He hesitated for a moment, then hummed in agreement: "The daughter of an old friend. I never expected to run into her here today. Alas, it's a pity she married the wrong person; it's truly heartbreaking."

No wonder you were so out of control just now.

Gu Xizhi flicked the reins and galloped off first, her voice drifting back from afar: "Your niece is quite capable; you don't need to worry about her."

Fang Mansion.

Liang Jiang watched Vice General He leave, and for a moment, a fire seemed to burn in her heart, and she was filled with righteous indignation.

She suppressed her impulse and silently turned around, only to run into Zhao Ma and the doctor who had just been invited at the gate of the mansion.

As Zhao Ma walked in a hurry, she deliberately nudged Liang Jiang aside with her elbow when she went up the steps.

Liang Jiang was distracted and caught off guard. She stumbled and almost slipped and fell down the steps.

The doctor behind her recognized Liang Jiang and helped her up, saying, "Madam Fang, be careful."

Aunt Zhao turned her head and scoffed disdainfully, "What Madam Fang? She's nothing but a second-hand woman who's been divorced and no one wants anymore. Why are you giving her such high praise?"

The doctor was embarrassed and didn't know how to resolve the awkward situation.

Liang Jiang was already hot-tempered, and Zhao Ma was being so presumptuous, how could she possibly tolerate it?
He raised his hand and slapped her across the face, sending Zhao Ma tumbling down the steps.

"You, a mere lackey, have no right to be so insolent in front of your great-aunt."

Zhao Ma took a hard fall, and stood up with a grimace, spitting out a back tooth with a "pui," supporting her waist with one hand and pointing at Liang Jiang's nose with the other.

"This is outrageous! You dare to hit someone from my General's Mansion? I'll have my general ransack your house and kill your whole family!"

It would have been better if she hadn't said those words; once they came out, it was like a needle piercing Liang Jiang's heart.

"Snapped!"

Another slap.

"Why don't you try copying one?"

Her overwhelming murderous aura startled even the doctor into a daze.

Zhao Ma covered her cheek and involuntarily took two steps back, but her words became even more vicious.

"I forgot, your respectable family is almost wiped out. Your mother is a widow, and your daughter has been divorced. What do you have to fight against our General's Mansion? Killing you is as easy as crushing an ant."

Liang Jiang was suddenly overcome with murderous urges again. She slowly rotated her wrist, her gaze suddenly turning fierce, like an icy blade.

Zhao Ma's voice grew softer and softer, and her body began to tremble. She shouted in a trembling voice, "Liang Jiang is going to kill someone! Everyone come and see!"

The servants in the mansion stepped forward one after another, offering kind words of advice.

"Madam, please calm down. Why bother arguing with her?"

“That’s right. We all know you’ve been wronged, but they’re backed by the General’s Mansion. Since ancient times, commoners can’t fight against officials. We can only swallow our anger.”

"Try to be more open-minded in the future; the Fang family isn't worth it."

Liang Jiang gritted her teeth. Yes, Tong Shouliang now wields great power and acts arrogantly, having trampled on the blood of her father and so many innocent soldiers.

His daughter bullies others because of her power, and he has to put up with it?

Are you trying to take advantage of me, a widow and her child, who are powerless, helpless, and alone?
I, Liang Jiang, will show you, Fang family, and Tong Zhao'er, that even if I, a princess of the Duke's mansion, am dragged into the mire by you, I can still make you lose everything and be left with nothing!
(End of this chapter)