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

Chapter 218 Departure from Yuhua Mountain

The Duke's Mansion.

As soon as Lady Liang returned to the mansion, she went to Lady Liangwen's room.

Gu Xizhi, on the other hand, went straight back and entered the palace.

It wasn't until lunchtime that Lady Liang emerged from Lady Liangwen's room, returned to Liang Jiang's courtyard with a worried expression, and dismissed everyone else.

"Today, the Prince of Pingxi has entered the palace and asked the Emperor to marry you as his Princess Consort. At the latest, the Emperor's decree should be issued tomorrow. Pack your belongings and set off with the Prince of Pingxi for Yuhua Mountain tomorrow."

Liang Jiang was taken aback: "Mother, haven't you always been against me marrying the Prince of Pingxi?"

“The Prince of Pingxi brought Mother back today and told her everything. He was right about some things; many things cannot be solved by simply enduring and running away. I agree with your decision.”

Liang Jiang was immediately delighted: "Then why are we in such a hurry to go to Yuhua Mountain?"

"This is the Emperor's will. During the time Mother has been in the palace, the Emperor has sought her out. He hopes that you can persuade Master Wen to come out of seclusion, to guide him through his confusion, and to find the location of the dragon vein."

“Master Wen will not agree,” Liang Jiang said firmly.

“Mother knows, but the Emperor is very persistent in finding the dragon vein and will not give up easily. Even if you don’t go, he will find ways to force your Master Wen to come out of seclusion. Have you forgotten what happened to your junior uncle Baili Shouyue?”

Liang Jiang certainly remembered that the emperor not only wanted to sow discord between her junior uncle and Gu Xizhi, but also sent people to do many evil deeds to frame her junior uncle.

If Gu Xi had died at the hands of her junior uncle in that battle...

Liang Jiang suddenly realized that the emperor not only wanted to kill Baili Shouyue, but would also definitely involve Yuhua Mountain.

"But what can I do if I go to Yuhua Mountain?"

Lady Liang said in a deep voice, "You only need to tell Master Wen to sacrifice the pawn to save the king, cooperate with the emperor, and find the location of the dragon vein. Your Master Wen will understand."

Liang Jiang was taken aback: "My master knows the location of the dragon vein?"

“I know,” Lady Liang said firmly, “this is the only way now.”

Liang Jiang was a little confused, didn't quite understand, and even had some doubts.

Legend has it that the dragon vein is protected by the phoenix clan. How can Mother be so sure that Master Wen knows this?
And why did she suddenly make this decision? Is it related to the return of Taoist Li?
Gu Xizhi's hasty entry into the palace to ask the emperor to marry her as the Princess Consort of Pingxi—could the two of them have some kind of plan?
She asked suspiciously, "Why are you in such a hurry? Mother, aren't you coming back to Yuhua Mountain with me? Master Wen and the others must miss you very much."

Lady Liang shook her head, her smile somewhat forced: "The Empress Dowager's health has not yet fully recovered, and Mother cannot leave for the time being. Please kowtow to your two master masters on my behalf."

"At that time, all the secrets about your origins that you want to know will be told to you by your two grandmasters. Then you will understand everything."

Liang Jiang felt a vague unease in her heart.

"Can't we postpone it for a few days? Why do we have to be in such a hurry?"

Madam Liang's face hardened: "You still can't let go of this little grudge, and you insist on putting your second uncle to death?"

Liang Jiang explained, "No, I'm just worried..."

“It’s all in the past, yet you’re still so vindictive and unwilling to forgive. After all, we’re all family. How can you be so petty? You’ve really disappointed your mother.”

"Tomorrow, once the imperial decree arrives, you and the Prince of Pingxi must leave immediately. I will handle your second uncle's matter properly; you don't need to worry about it."

Lady Liang rarely reprimanded Liang Jiang so harshly.

Liang Jiang felt deeply wronged, tears welling up in her eyes. She said defiantly, "Fine, I'll leave. I won't care about the Duke's mansion anymore. Mother, do whatever you want."

Turn around and leave.

Lady Liang watched her retreating figure with lingering reluctance, involuntarily raising her hand to clutch her heart. A tearing sensation surged within her, and her eyes welled with tears. The incident had happened so suddenly; now, this was the only option left.

Once you've left, don't look back, and don't come back.

As dusk fell, just as Lady Liang had predicted, the imperial edict of marriage arrived, bestowing upon Liang Jiang the title of Princess Consort of Pingxi.

Gu Xizhi's promise was to hand over the Weixi fiefdom and escort Liang Jiang to Yuhua Mountain to ask the Sage of Literature to come down the mountain and help her.

The entire court was astonished.

Some people were surprised that Liang Jiang, an abandoned woman, was able to turn the tide in her desperate situation, rise step by step, and become the noble Princess Consort of Pingxi.
Some people were surprised that Prince Gu Xizhi of Pingxi, who was always aloof and disliked women, would actually use his fiefdom of Weixi as a betrothal gift to ask the emperor for a woman. Was he crazy to pay such a high price?

The Prince of Pingxi's mansion was in an uproar.

Empress Dowager Xie was so enraged that she lost her composure for the first time and went berserk, wanting to storm the Duke's mansion and settle scores with Liang Jiang.

Thanks to Marquis Huaiyuan and Xie Fubai for stopping them, Consort Xie stomped her feet in a fit of rage and cursed loudly, spewing all sorts of vile and offensive language.

He cursed until his throat was hoarse and he couldn't utter a single word before finally stopping, collapsing in bed and refusing to see any visitors.

Gu Xizhi and Liang Jiang set off for Weixi the next day, following imperial orders.

Those traveling with them included Fang Chengxu and Tong Zhao'er's army, as well as Taoist Li.

Fang Chengxu and Tong Zhao'er were responsible for taking over from Gu Xizhi and stationing themselves in Weixi. Li Daoshi and Liang Jiang went to Yuhua Mountain to invite the Sage of Literature to come down the mountain.

Liang Jiang never expected that the imperial court would send Fang Chengxu to accompany her. Moreover, the transition between old and new officials in a region is most prone to instability. Although Fang Chengxu is leading an army, he is still a newcomer and may lack experience and be unworthy of his position.

The emperor's intentions were truly unfathomable and elusive.

Liang Jiang became even more worried about Lady Liang.

Can she remain unharmed in this den of wolves and tigers? If she leaves, will Liangwen and the others make things difficult for her mother?

Before she left, Madam Liang did not come out to see her off, and seemed to still be angry with her.

Helpless, Liang Jiang entrusted Lady Liang to Yu Ma and Yu Hua, telling her that if anything happened, she could seek help from the Marquis of Huaiyuan's residence and Lu Xingzhan.

They will definitely do their utmost to help.

Gu Xizhi patted her shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry, women are inherently weak, but become strong when they become mothers. Madam Liang is definitely not as weak as you think. She will take good care of herself."

Liang Jiang mounted her horse with trepidation, and together with Gu Xizhi and Li Daoshi, they led the way, while Fang Chengxu and Tong Zhao'er led the army and followed slowly.

The group endured wind and rain, and soon arrived at the border of Weixi.

Because Fang Chengxu's army was marching on foot, their pace was too slow, and it would take several more days to arrive. Gu Xizhi and the others did not linger and went directly to Yuhua Mountain with Liang Jiang.

At the foot of Yuhua Mountain, there are piles of rocks that look messy and disorderly, but they are actually the Bagua formation set up by the sage of literature. If ordinary people cannot break the formation, they will wander around and will not be able to climb the mountain at all.

Liang Jiang ordered Yu Shu to wait at the foot of the mountain while she led the way. The three of them passed through the Bagua Formation, climbed the stone steps that were only wide enough for one person to pass, crossed the suspension bridge, and climbed the cliff. When they reached the halfway point, the temperature dropped sharply, and the mountain path became more rugged and difficult to traverse. The terrain was so steep that it was truly a place where one man could hold off ten thousand.

Li, the Taoist priest, gritted his teeth and followed behind the two, almost losing half his life from exhaustion.

Liang Jiang, however, became increasingly enthusiastic, chattering along the way to Gu Xizhi about the interesting things that happened when she lived on Yuhua Mountain. Her steps were cheerful, and she would occasionally imitate bird calls, the whistling sounds piercing through the clouds.

Suddenly, a foul wind swept by, followed by the roar of a tiger. Li Daoshi looked up and was terrified out of his wits.

A fierce-looking tiger with piercing eyes pounced down the mountain as fast as the wind.

(End of this chapter)