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

Chapter 71 This Cousin is Not Simple

Liang Su was quite surprised: "Did Your Highness actually know my sister all along?"

Lady Liang wanted to ask the same question.

Liang Jiang was still astonished by how quickly Liang Su changed his expression. From being arrogant and mean just now, he suddenly became pitiful and dependent, acting coy and coquettish in front of Gu Xizhi. Could it be that he had taken a fancy to him?

However, it's your business how you want to seduce him, why are you stepping on me? Are you using my rudeness and barbarity to highlight your virtue and gentleness?

She smiled brightly: "Of course, Your Highness has always known me well. I won't offend others unless they offend me. I like all kinds of weapons, but I can't stand it when others act cheap in front of me."

"What did I do to make you scold me like this, sister?" Liang Su said innocently. "I'm just asking you, why did you and your aunt leave when the Duke's mansion was in trouble?"
He left behind my heartbroken and seriously ill grandmother, and this family already in dire straits, completely neglecting them. Do you know how difficult these past two years have been for my father?

Liang Jiang still doesn't know the truth about this.

The reason given by her mother was that the scene reminded her of the past, and she wanted to avoid the assassin.

Therefore, even Galangal could not answer.

Madam Liang pursed her lips: "Leaving back then was out of necessity."

"Then what are you doing back now? Did you come back to enjoy your newfound wealth and privilege after learning that the Duke's mansion was unscathed?"

Lady Liang was about to explain when Liang Jiang coldly said, "So what if it is? The Duke's Mansion is my home. Can't I go back?"

Liang Su answered timidly, "Of course we can go back. In this family, who dares to say 'no' to my sister? Even if you drive us and Grandmother out of this Duke's mansion and take all the family property, we wouldn't dare to say a word."

Liang Jiang then realized that her cousin was incredibly capable. No wonder her second uncle and the others stayed home like cowards, yet trusted her, a young woman, to go out and take charge. She had truly underestimated her before.

In front of Gu Xizhi's complaints, she herself became a bully who preyed on the weak and committed all kinds of evil, while they were the pitiful and weak ones who were bullied.

If she dared to take back the Duke's property, it would undoubtedly confirm the matter, and they would have every means to make herself be cursed and condemned by the people.

Even Guan Qi, who was standing behind Gu Xizhi, looked at Liang Su with pity and glared at Liang Jiang with reproach.

Madam Liang quickly clarified, "Liang Su, you've misunderstood. We've only come back to pay our respects to your grandmother; we have no intention of returning to the Duke's mansion."

Liang Su, being both flexible and adaptable, bowed deeply to Madam Liang: "Aunt, please forgive me. Perhaps I was emotional just now and my words were not appropriate, which angered my elder sister."

Lady Liang did not want to stay any longer, so she pulled Liang Jiang aside and said, "Since your grandmother refuses to see us, we will leave. Please give my regards to your grandmother."

As the mother and daughter turned to leave, the gates of the Duke's mansion creaked open behind them, and Second Master Liang hurriedly came out to greet them, his voice filled with excitement.

"Sister-in-law! You've finally come back!"

After shutting himself in the door for a while, pretending to be deaf and dumb, he finally couldn't sit still when he heard his mother's words.

Liang Jiang sneered inwardly at her second uncle's hypocrisy.

If he wasn't mistaken, he should have been peeking through the crack in the gate for quite some time. Now that Prince Gu Xizhi of Pingxi had suddenly arrived, he could no longer pretend to be stupid.

Madam Liang seemed unperturbed by the rudeness and difficulty she had just encountered, and nodded slightly to Second Master Liang: "Come and pay your respects to Mother."

"Mother will be very happy to see you. Please come with me into the mansion."

Then, turning his head as if he had just seen Gu Xizhi, he hurriedly turned over and knelt down on the ground.

"Your Highness's arrival is an honor we have failed to give you. Please forgive us."

Gu Xizhi offered a slight gesture of support: "Second Master Liang, there's no need for such formalities. I've come today with a favor to ask of your Second Miss. Since you have guests at your residence, it's inconvenient to disturb you. Please come another day."

Master Liang stood up: "My sister-in-law is no outsider. If Your Highness does not mind, please come into the mansion with me and have a cup of hot tea."

"No need," Gu Xizhi refused outright.

"Your Highness, please give your orders. It would be an honor for me to serve you."

Gu Xizhi then truthfully replied, "The Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching, and I would like to ask Miss Liang for a Guanyin painting embroidered by Madam Liu as a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager."

Lady Liu? Liang Jiang immediately raised her face, glanced at Liang Su, and then at the crumpled handkerchief in her hand. How did she know Lady Liu?

Even Master Liang was taken aback, his face showing difficulty: "This Madam Liu is the number one Suzhou embroidery master in Chang'an. Her needlework is superb and exquisite, and no one can match her."

Unfortunately, she was always very strict with herself. The entire embroidery had to be perfect and flawless. If even a single stitch was off, she would immediately burn months or even a year's worth of hard work to ashes.

Therefore, her embroidery is considered a masterpiece, priceless and extremely rare.

Gu Xizhi nodded: "I have heard that Miss Liang's embroidery skills are inherited from Madam Liu. I wonder if I could ask her on my behalf?"

Before Master Liang could refuse, Liang Su eagerly said, "Your Highness, rest assured, if I ask, my master will certainly not refuse."

Master Liang coughed lightly, seemingly as if to give a reminder.

Liang Su ignored it and said confidently, "It's just that my master is far away from the capital, and I don't know if there's enough time."

Liang Jiang suddenly interjected, "I heard that Madam Liu is currently living in Yaozhou. Send someone by fast horse, and it will only take four or five days for her to come and go. There's plenty of time."

Liang Su was taken aback, and said awkwardly, "How did you know that Madam Liu lives in Yaozhou?"

"This is no secret. Many people go to Yaozhou to learn martial arts from her. As Madam Liu's disciple, how could you not know?"

“Of course I know,” Liang Su hurriedly said, “but my master doesn’t like to be ostentatious, and she doesn’t like to be disturbed. I thought outsiders didn’t know where she lived.”

Outsiders may not know, but I am not an outsider.

I had no idea that Sister Liu had taken Liang Su as her apprentice.

Gu Xizhi and the others had no idea of ​​Liang Jiang's little scheme. Seeing that Liang Su readily agreed, they thanked her and said:

"Thank you so much, Miss Ryoji. I'll hand over the deposit to Miss Ryoji while I watch the game."

Liang Su waved his hand in refusal: "Your Highness is too kind. My master has always doted on me, so he will show me this much respect. Besides, if you want an embroidered image of Guanyin, it is definitely too late to rush it now, and my master may not have a suitable finished product."

Gu Xizhi insisted, "The Empress Dowager has a large collection of embroidery pieces, but unless they are exceptionally outstanding and exquisite, she doesn't really care about them."

She is always kind and compassionate, which is why I wish to present her with an embroidered image of Guanyin. If she doesn't have one, that's fine; but if she does, I will immediately send someone to deliver the silver to her residence.

Liang Su readily agreed: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will certainly live up to your trust since I have personally requested it."

"My timing is indeed inappropriate. I will host a banquet to express my gratitude another day. Farewell."

Liang Su was reluctant to part: "Then, then as soon as there is news, I will go and tell the Prince."

Gu Xizhi thanked her again, gave Liang Jiang a deep look, and then took her leave with Guan Qi.

Guan Qi finally couldn't help but ask, "There's a saying that even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes. Is that really true? Today, seeing two young ladies from respectable families arguing, I couldn't tell who was right and who was wrong for a moment."

Gu Xizhi glanced at him: "A brain is a good thing."

It's a pity you don't have that.

Guanqi was very unconvinced: "Miss Liangsu is right. Since Madam Liang abandoned the Duke's Mansion and left, she really shouldn't have come back."

Gu Xizhi looked at him sympathetically: "When Madam Liang left, did she take not a single needle or thread from the Duke's mansion with her?"

Guan Qi shook his head: "Have you heard of it? It's about people disappearing into thin air."

"As the city lord of Fucheng, would he care about the Duke's family's meager assets?"

Guan Qi scratched his head: "Even a mosquito's leg is still meat."

Gu Xizhi was too lazy to waste any more words on him; he was hopeless and turned to leave.

Guanqi was unconvinced: "This virtuous second young lady is so delicate and timid, she can't possibly be the fierce woman from that night. I think she's most likely Princess Heya. I'll definitely ask her about it when I see her another day."

(End of this chapter)