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

Chapter 99 A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix
“I’m not lying,” Liang Jiang said, looking utterly speechless. “This ‘Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix’ is indeed Madam Liu’s most prized creation, and I’ve kept it in this box all this time.”

Liangwen said coldly, "I know that your sister asked Madam Liu for a painting of a hundred birds among flowers, and you were angry and wanted to outdo her. You wouldn't be thinking of telling the Empress Dowager that this painting of a hundred birds among flowers is the one that disappeared from your possession, would you?"

After speaking, he called Liang Su over and opened the painting of a hundred birds flying among flowers in front of everyone, which immediately drew a chorus of praises.

The Empress Dowager was also very pleased and praised the embroidery highly.

Liang Wen said smugly, "Your sister Liang Su is a disciple of Madam Liu, which is why she had the face to ask for this embroidery. How could she have never known that you knew Madam Liu? That's just making things up."

Liang Jiang slowly shook her head: "It is true that your embroidery came from Madam Liu's embroidery workshop. It is part of the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix series, just like my Phoenix in Flight."

But the "Phoenix in Flight" embroidery was truly the work of Madam Liu; its needlework was exquisite, and the overall effect was breathtaking, far surpassing any other piece.

The Empress Dowager was immediately intrigued by Liang Jiang: "Is what you're saying true?"

Liang Jiang pointed at Liang Su: "It's absolutely true. My cousin claims to be a disciple of Madam Liu. She must have seen her master's most prized masterpiece. She can vouch for me."

Liang Su choked and could only give a vague answer: "I have heard about it, but I have no idea when my eldest sister asked my master for this embroidery."

Inside the hall, some people carefully examined the painting of a hundred birds amidst flowers, and after listening to Liang Jiang's words, they also found fault with it.

“What Princess Heya said seems to make sense. Your Majesty, please look here.”

Someone pointed to the thrush that Liang Su had superfluously embroidered on the embroidery and said with certainty, "I can't see anything wrong with the rest of the work, but this thrush is obviously not the work of Lady Liu. The needlework is rather clumsy."

After his reminder, everyone carefully distinguished between them.

As the saying goes, laymen watch the spectacle, while experts see the details. Someone immediately chimed in, "If that's really the case, given Madam Liu's strict attitude towards embroidery, she would have burned it long ago instead of giving it to someone else."

Liang Su blushed deeply as everyone talked about her. She had always been proud and thought her embroidery skills were excellent, comparable to those of Madam Liu.

Unexpectedly, it was spotted at a glance, and the authenticity of the entire embroidery was naturally questioned.

Compared to the crime of deceiving the Empress Dowager, Liang Su weighed the pros and cons and could only kneel on the ground, admitting that he had been too clever for his own good and had added unnecessary details.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This embroidery was indeed a gift from my master. I was just itching to show off my skills and, overestimating my abilities, embroidered this thrush on it."

The Empress Dowager's face immediately darkened: "You've ruined a perfectly good embroidery. Do you know that arbitrarily modifying someone else's work is disrespectful to the original owner? You acted on your own without Madam Liu's consent, which is disrespectful to elders and a betrayal of one's teacher and ancestors. Is this the kind of upbringing you have in your family?"

Liang Su shuddered in fright: "This subject knows her mistake, this subject will never dare to do it again."

Liang Jiang added fuel to the fire: "Madam Liu is very strict in accepting disciples, and her rules are also very strict. Adding unnecessary details is a major taboo. How could you knowingly violate this rule, sister? Could it be that the matter of becoming a disciple is debatable and you are just trying to gain fame?"

Liang Su felt extremely resentful: "Madam Liu personally taught me needlework, and this embroidery was indeed a gift from her. It's better than you, elder sister, making things up and deceiving the Empress Dowager."

"What do you mean by creating something out of nothing? My Phoenix Soaring is truly a gift from Madam Liu."

The Empress Dowager also questioned Liang Jiang in a deep voice: "Then where exactly did this embroidery go?"

Liang Jiang suddenly realized something: "I remember now. When I left the manor today, the wife and daughter of the former steward of the manor kept bothering me and wouldn't let go. They must have been deliberately trying to distract me, and someone took the opportunity to steal it."

Liang Wenshi immediately seized the opportunity to complain: "Manager Qin only made a tiny mistake, and you are so ruthless and unforgiving. He was begging for mercy because he had no other choice. You are being petty."

The Empress Dowager asked impatiently, "What's going on now?"

Liang Wen added fuel to the fire: "When Liang Jiang returned to the Duke's mansion, she couldn't wait to seize all of the mansion's property. She deliberately found an excuse to punish the steward for embezzlement and sent him to the authorities for investigation."

"So cruel and heartless, showing no compassion for her servants, how could I entrust the Duke's mansion to her management? The claim that she's deliberately diverting attention is utter nonsense."

Liang Jiang knelt on the ground, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "Whether it is my overthinking or the truth, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager can send someone to investigate."

Gu Xizhi spoke up from the side, "Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday. Why let such a trivial matter spoil your mood? Why don't you leave this matter to me? I will send someone to the Duke's mansion and ask him about it."

The emperor was already quite impatient. He was most annoyed by the infighting among the women in these houses, so he waved his hand and ordered, "Third brother, you may all leave for now."

Liang Jiang and Liang Wenshi stepped aside. Liang Jiang glanced gratefully at Gu Xizhi, secretly relieved.

It was fortunate that he didn't come forward and admit to drinking with me earlier, otherwise I would have had to avoid suspicion and not get involved in this matter now.

Hopefully, Yu Zheng has already arranged everything at home.

Gu Xizhi turned around and called Guan Qi over, whispering a few instructions to him.

Guan Qi immediately understood, glanced slyly at Liang Jiang, and led his men straight out of the palace.

The birthday banquet continued.

Civil and military officials kowtowed to the Empress Dowager in accordance with their ranks to wish her a long life, and each presented birthday gifts.

Just as Lu Er had said, they were all kinds of rare treasures and priceless medicinal herbs.

However, the Empress Dowager was captivated by the embroidery picture Liang Jiang had mentioned, and her heart was itching with anticipation as she eagerly awaited the return of the chess game.

Liang Wen felt uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

It was indeed Liang Su who, on his own initiative, ordered the ceremonies for Liang Jiang's birthday to be switched, so that Liang Jiang would be unable to defend herself in front of the emperor.

She could then embellish her own story and file a complaint. If the Empress Dowager gave the word, Liang Jiang would have no chance of taking over the Duke's mansion.

Why did Liang Jiang say that what was in her box was an embroidered pattern of phoenixes flying together? It clearly wasn't!

What is she really up to?

Moreover, the fact that the Prince of Pingxi believed Liang Jiang's words and took the initiative to intervene in the matter made her very uneasy.

Hopefully, nothing more will go wrong.

After the birthday gifts were presented, the birthday banquet was about to begin when Guan Qi, whom Gu Xizhi had sent to the Duke's mansion, returned.

Guan Qi stepped forward and reported to the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, I went to the Duke's mansion and found the wife and daughter that Princess Heya mentioned in her boudoir. I also found Princess Heya's lost birthday gifts on the spot."

After some questioning, the two confessed that they had indeed been instructed by Miss Liang Er to plead with Princess Heya, deliberately harassing her to distract her and take the opportunity to steal the birthday gifts.

After speaking, he raised both hands above his head and respectfully presented the stolen goods.

A palace maid stepped forward, took a roll of cloth from his hand, and opened it in front of the golden dragon table.

The light is dazzling and the phoenix is ​​so lifelike that it seems to take flight.

The hall fell silent. Everyone was at a loss for words, unsure how to offer praise.

The Empress Dowager, who was also obsessed with embroidery in her youth, immediately stood up in surprise: "Quickly, bring it to me so I can admire it properly."

The palace maids did as instructed.

The emperor chuckled and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on obtaining such a delightful masterpiece."

The Empress Dowager excitedly stroked the embroidery before her, praising it endlessly: "What a magnificent 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'! I am so fortunate to be able to appreciate Madam Liu's masterpiece in this lifetime; it is truly a blessing! Her reputation is well-deserved!"

It was only then that everyone came to their senses, while Liang Wenshi and Liang Su were completely panicked.

The two men's knees buckled and they fell to their knees.

"Your Majesty, please be wise! We knew nothing about this matter. It must be Liang Jiang who framed us!"

(End of this chapter)