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

Chapter 77 Returning to the Duke's Mansion
The Duke's Mansion.

When the servant who had gone to gather information returned, Master Liang felt uneasy upon hearing the news.

They immediately went to Liang Wenshi's room.

Liang Su was with Liang Wenshi and made her a plate of mung bean cakes, which made Liang Wenshi very happy.

Master Liang knocked on the door and came in, his brows slightly furrowed: "You rashly accepted the request from the Prince of Pingxi that day, and even made your brother make a special trip to Yaozhou. You weren't worried at all."

Although you have received personal guidance from Madam Liu and have corresponded with her over the past two years, her embroidery is not so easy to obtain.”

“But I can’t just refuse outright and miss such a good opportunity.” Liang Su said calmly, seemingly confident: “Father, you don’t need to worry about this. I have my own way.”

"any solution?"

"I remember when I met Madam Liu two years ago, she heard that I came from the Duke's Mansion, so she invited me into the house alone, asked about the recent situation of the Duke's Mansion, and asked me to pay my respects to my grandmother on her behalf. It can be seen that she respects my grandmother very much."

Therefore, my brother went to Yaozhou this time to ask for a favor in my grandmother's name.

If Madam Liu doesn't give us face, that's fine too, since Prince Pingxi specifically requested the Guanyin statue.

I told him that Madam Liu didn't have a Guanyin statue, thus gaining her favor and getting away with it again.

Master Liang finally felt relieved: "If Madam Liu is really willing to give it to you generously, then this is your good fortune."

Not only will you bring honor to the Prince of Pingxi, but you'll also be respected by the Empress Dowager. You may leave now; I have something to say to your grandmother.”

Liang Su responded and left through the door.

Only then did Master Liang speak: "The Fang family lost the lawsuit. Fang Chengxu was flogged, and Liang Jiang was released without charge."

Liang Wen raised an eyebrow: "This little girl is actually quite capable?"

"She secretly kept a backup plan; one of the Black Wind Temple robbers is still alive and can help exonerate her."

Liang Wen was startled: "They spared someone? Could that robber have said something he shouldn't have?"

"Mother, please rest assured, they have absolutely no idea who I am. Every time I meet them, I wear a mask and change my voice. Besides, two years have passed, so there's no way to verify it."

Liang Wenshi said with a stern face: "This jinxed woman not only killed my son, but also wants to cause chaos in our Duke's mansion?"

"That's what I'm afraid of," Liang Jiang declared in public, saying that her return to the capital this time was to investigate what happened back then.

I fear she will bring my sister-in-law back to the Duke's mansion, and she won't let things rest easily."

Madam Liang said firmly, "Even if she had ten times the courage, she wouldn't dare! You can put your mind at ease."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a servant outside reported, "Madam, Second Master, the First Madam and the Princess have returned."

Master Liang was startled; just as he feared, his worst fears had come true.

Liang Wenshi, however, did not take it seriously at all: "Please let them in."

Master Liang was so anxious that he stamped his feet repeatedly: "It's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. I'm afraid this time we won't be able to send him away."

Liang Wen scoffed dismissively: "Your eldest brother is already gone. What trouble can they, a widow and her children, possibly cause?"

"Mother may not know this, but Liang Jiang is quite remarkable now. In the two years since she left the Duke's mansion, she has made a name for herself in Fucheng. It would not be an exaggeration to say that she is extremely wealthy."

"So rich?"

"Half of Fucheng belongs to her."

"Hehe, with parents alive, children have no private wealth. She is a daughter, and no matter how much wealth she earns, as long as Wen Dong successfully inherits the Duke's mansion, it should belong to Wen Dong! What belongs to Liang Jiang is only her dowry."

Master Liang suddenly realized. He had only been concerned about the small amount of property in the Duke's mansion, worried that Liang Jiang and her daughter would take it away. Why hadn't he thought of taking over the family property from Liang Jiang as well?
He said with genuine admiration, "My mother is truly farsighted and thoughtful. How come I never thought of this?"

"Every cloud has a silver lining. If they are stubborn and insist on staying at the Duke's mansion, then let them stay. Mother has her own ways to make them regret it."

As they were talking, Liang Jiang and her daughter followed the servants inside, while Song Lu and the Liang family patriarch remained outside.

Master Liang forced a smile and called out, "Sister-in-law."

Liang Wen asked bluntly, "What are you doing back here again?"

Liang Jiang changed her resentful attitude from the last time she returned, and smiled broadly at Liang Wenshi, behaving very obediently.

"Of course, I'll go home."

Liang Wen scoffed, "Aren't you already married?"

"I got married, then divorced, so I came back."

"A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; there's no reason to take her back. The Duke's mansion is no longer your home."

“But this is still my mother’s home. I am my mother’s daughter. Whether I go back or not is up to my mother.”

Liang Wen slammed her hand on the table: "You have already left the Duke's mansion."

“Leaving is not the same as remarrying. Even if it were remarrying, this Duke’s mansion was earned by my father and mother through a lifetime of military service and countless military achievements.”

Liang Jiang's sharp tongue immediately enraged Liang Wen: "With parents alive, there is no private wealth. My son is gone, and this family has nothing to do with you. What woman has the right to inherit the family property!"

Liang Jiang shrugged and turned to invite the Liang family patriarch, who was waiting outside, in: "Grandmother, do you still recognize my great-uncle?"

Liang Wen was taken aback, her face immediately darkening with displeasure: "What do you mean by this? Why did you invite him from Fucheng?"

"When my grandfather passed away, the family property was divided in two. My second uncle took advantage of my father's military service and absence from Fucheng to spread rumors that my father had died on the battlefield. He then sold all the property that my grandfather had left to my father and took it for himself."

My father returned to his hometown and offended the prefect of Fucheng by standing up for the villagers. Grandmother, you were afraid that my father would implicate you, so you completely severed your mother-son relationship with him and even asked my uncle to be a witness and drew up a written agreement. Is this true?

Madam Liang was quite annoyed that Liang Jiang would bring up this matter again.

“The affairs of our older generation are none of your business, little girl. No matter what, I am your grandmother and your father’s mother!”

"Later, my father achieved great military exploits and received rewards from the imperial court. My second uncle squandered all the family property in Fucheng, and you all came to the capital to seek refuge. My father and mother were able to take you in despite past grievances, but that does not mean that the contract they made back then is null and void."

My great-uncle can attest to this. Therefore, the Duke's mansion has absolutely nothing to do with you.”

"Oh, so you've grown wings and want to come and argue with me about the family property?" Liang Wenshi said angrily, "What right do you have?"

Liang Jiang then called to Song Lu behind her: "Song Lu, come and tell my grandmother about the laws of Chang'an."

Song Lu stepped forward, bowed deeply to Madam Liang, and then began to speak eloquently:

According to the Chang'an Household Ordinance, a woman whose husband has died and who has no children and remains chaste is entitled to inherit her husband's property. After the Duke of Liang died in battle, Lady Liang vowed to remain chaste and not remarry, and therefore had the right to inherit and manage the Duke's mansion.

The "Regulations on Assets of Households Without Children" also stipulate that a household without children is considered to have no children, and the assets of such a household belong to the unmarried women.

Although Princess Heya was already married, she has now divorced and returned home. As a woman returning to the clan, she enjoys the same rights as unmarried women.

Therefore, in the current Duke's Mansion, both Madam Liang and Princess Heya have the authority to manage the household.

Song Lu's eloquent speech only fueled Liang Wen's anger: "And who are you? It's none of your business to interfere in the affairs of our Duke's mansion."

(End of this chapter)