Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Wannian Luolikong: “I pity Meng Liang. His parents divorced when he was little, and he grew up with a wicked stepmother who hoped to lead him astray. He’s not fully responsible for the misdeeds against Meng and Hejian. After all, how could a child without his mother’s protection live in a complicated house like the Meng’s? The stepmother is the culprit.”
Shitang Dafan Ayi: “He’s crying so hard that I feel sad. He escaped home only by pretending to be a girl. His father almost killed him for the false accusations, and the military chief is chasing after him, too… He’s just a kid.”
Pretty faces could always bring privileges. Hearing his account, many viewers changed their opinion about Meng Liang and expressed their sympathy.
The remaining minority disagreed for the same reasons.
Toudu Feiqiu: “I shared your thoughts until I saw the host’s satirical smile. Based on my trust in the host’s IQ, I’m certain that Meng Liang is not worth our pity.”
Lancui Yu Buzhe: “Same here. Trust the host to avoid disappointment.”
Holding a leaf with her teeth and lips, Jiang Pengji read the comments while she was listening to the “touching” scene in the chamber. She collected information about the lady in her mind and formed a clear picture.
The two inside ended their conversation peacefully.
That night was a scarce occasion in which the lady came out for dinner with them. Madam Hu was absent, however, claiming to be sick.
As the two rarely appeared at the table concurrently, some suspected that they were avoiding each other because of some conflict.
Jiang Pengji quietly finished her portion of food, which was triple that of others. The attendants gave her much more grain and vegetables than usual each time, so it was like she had eaten a meal for five, given the tiny portion of all the others.
Although Meng Liang was the lady’s son, he did not belong to the family and had to leave the backyard soon after dinner.
“Father.” Jiang Pengji was sitting at the desk to practice calligraphy. Under the instruction of Liu She, her handwriting had improved greatly.
“Yes?” Liu She was not particularly enthusiastic about a chat that night.
She put down the brush and inquired, “Is Meng Liang really mother’s son?”
He sighed and gave a complicated answer. “They say he is.”
“But not actually?” she asked.
Liu She paused. He did not want to tell her everything at once, so he tried to shift the focus. “Is that important?”
“If yes, I’ll leave his corpse in one piece for my mother. If not, I won’t bother to take care of his dead body.” She usually would not cause trouble before others provoked her, but the existence of Meng Liang in her home alone annoyed her.
Her first sentence grabbed Liu She’s attention, and he asked with disbelief, “You’ll kill Meng Liang even if he is your mother’s child?”
“Why not?” Jiang Pengji was puzzled. “The relationship won’t lessen his guilt.”
Her response prompted Liu She to contemplate. True, the tie was irrelevant to the laws, yet it certainly concerned the lady’s feelings. Didn’t she take her mother’s reaction into consideration?
After sipping tea into her dry throat, Jiang Pengji continued, “Besides, didn’t father just admit that Meng Liang is not her son? Let’s forget about the improbable conflicts in your mind.” She would rather do something more meaningful.
Liu She was embarrassed. “Still, you don’t have to be the one who punishes him.”
He could not understand why his daughter was so adamant about killing the boy. Was it for justice?
“See how spoiled Meng Liang is, and how the Meng’s punished him after his wrongs in Cang? They secretly sent him to Shangjing for protection! This proves their determination in keeping him intact. Even our King has to rely on the Meng’s to govern Cang and intimidate his rivals… Do you truly think Meng Liang will be punished the way he ought to be?”
The boy was not at all afraid––or else he would not have been interested in girls in Hejian during his “escape.” While he was seeking help from Liu She to avoid the military chief, he was probably also finding targets in the Liu family.
All she said was indisputable, but it could not convince Liu She.
“I’m not asking for these officialese reasons. I want to know what you think personally.”
“Well, there are three reasons then. First, I tend to kill cockroaches that get into my house. Second, now that Meng Liang claims to be my cousin from Mother’s maiden family, we can use this identity to save him or to kill him, both effortlessly. I don’t want to miss the chance.”
How would a dead niece of the lady be related to Meng Liang?
“And the third reason?” He suspected that was the key.
“Ha! Meng Liang is a scoundrel, but he can still be used to buy other’s support. That will be a bargain.” The corners of her eyes curved as she suddenly laughed, making her look like a cunning merchant.
Liu She sat silently.
She was going to kill Meng Liang for the military chief’s support? Hm… That would be a bargain, indeed! Still, would she not start a chaotic scene too soon? The kingdom was not yet overthrown.
Liu She had misunderstood Jiang Pengji. Instead of messing around, Jiang Pengji’s main objective was to recruit the military chief into her team because she appreciated his courage. If she could gratify him by killing Meng Liang, who was staying in her house at the moment, she may be able to recruit an experienced couch for her army. That would be a win-win situation.
A good leader could change the practice of the whole troop.
Although she was not clear about the military chief’s capabilities, she was confident in a person who could retreat safely after burning down the county chief’s place in Cang and declaring rebellion against the House of Meng. She could give him what the Meng’s did not.
It would be him and Xu Ke, with one leading her soldiers and the other keeping her books. What a perfect match that would be!
She never worried about the man’s refusing to serve in a small-scale army because when she wanted someone within her reach, that person had to stay.