newbobooks Chapter 110 The Liang Family's Affairs
Chapter 110 The Liang Family's Affairs
The eunuch nodded repeatedly.
"The Marquis is waiting outside. Why doesn't Your Majesty call him in and ask him what's wrong?"
Li Jiangui nodded.
Liang Chengxuan walked in, and before Li Jiangui could even ask a question, he knelt down.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty."
Li Jiangui placed the brush on the brush rest and shifted to a more comfortable position.
"What are you guilty of?"
"I failed to properly restrain my sister, allowing her to commit such a terrible disaster. I am guilty and beg Your Majesty for punishment."
Li Jiangui leaned back slightly. "I wouldn't call it a punishment, but I must praise you. You're quite decisive. You sent her away just like that, and she's your own sister. Exiled thousands of miles away to that harsh and cold land to work. Are you really willing to do that?"
Liang Chengxuan never looked up, only kneeling on the ground to explain his point of view.
"From a moral standpoint, she was my third sister, and I was naturally very reluctant to part with her. When I entered the Imperial Examination Hall, she embroidered the knee pads for me and my second brother stitch by stitch. From a legal standpoint, she beat her concubine to death, and she should be dealt with according to the laws of the Great Yong Dynasty."
He spoke so eloquently that no one could find a single fault with him. Li Jiangui knew the whole story perfectly well, so how could anyone hide it from him?
Liang Chengxuan acted so decisively because he wanted to resolve the matter before He Rufeng made a scene, so that he could have a good reputation for upholding justice even against family ties.
Those shrewd people in officialdom could see through it all, but they didn't say anything because of Liang Chengxuan's status.
Right now, He Rufeng is the one who feels even more aggrieved.
He Rufeng had originally hoped to use this incident to get himself reinstated, but now all hope is gone.
"Yes, that's quite right."
Liang Chengxuan didn't know what the Emperor meant, but his apology was probably not wrong.
Liang Fangfei is now in prison, awaiting the Emperor's judgment.
Since this matter concerns Liang Chengxuan, instructions from above are required; those below dare not act arbitrarily.
Liang Chengxuan claimed to be acting impartially, but who knows what he was really thinking?
"Get up and talk."
Li Jiangui waved his hand, signaling Liang Chengxuan to get up first.
Liang Chengxuan stood up.
"Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Li Jiangui got up, walked up to Liang Chengxuan, and patted him on the shoulder.
"You've said so much, but the case is still pending. I'll have you handle this personally."
A hint of surprise flashed across Liang Chengxuan's eyes; he hadn't expected the Emperor to let him resolve this matter.
"I will definitely live up to the emperor's trust."
Li Jiangui gestured for him to go out and get this done quickly.
After Li Jiangui left, the eunuch cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, is it inappropriate to entrust this matter to the Marquis? After all, that person is the Marquis's own sister."
Li Jiangui sat down again: "If Liang Chengxuan wants this good reputation, I will give it to him. Summon He Rufeng over."
The eunuch scratched his head, genuinely puzzled by the emperor's thoughts, but still went to the next room and brought He Rufeng over.
"emperor."
What do you want to tell me?
He Rufeng knelt down again with a thud.
"Your Majesty, I wish to accuse my wife of plotting to harm the Qi family's daughter."
Li Jiangui rubbed his temples. How come another thing has popped up?
"What's going on?"
He Rufeng vividly recounted how Liang Fangfei had done everything to Qi Jiaying.
He heard He Xu mention it briefly, then remembered it. When he learned that Liang Fangfei had been arrested, He Rufeng reacted quickly and forced He Xu to tell him about it. He Xu was one of the participants at the time.
However, He Rufeng's words only focused on Liang Fangfei and Qi Jiaying.
Li Jiangui understood that He Rufeng was truly desperate and had brought out all the schemes he had devised in the mansion.
The eunuch brought over a cup of tea, and Li Jiangui took a sip.
What is the Qi family's attitude?
He Rufeng's words came to an abrupt end.
The Qi family suppressed the matter at that time, firstly for the sake of the Marquis's mansion, and secondly for their own sake.
This means that the Qi family will not get involved.
Li Jiangui understood immediately upon seeing He Rufeng's expression.
“If the Qi family doesn’t speak up, then this matter is just your side of the story, and I can’t believe it.”
He Rufeng's face was grim. If it's just one side of the story, then this case can't be filed.
The Liang family abandoned Liang Fangfei, leaving the He family with nowhere to hide. So he decided to expose the matter and break off all pretense, but unexpectedly, he didn't have enough evidence.
"Since there's no evidence, let's go back."
Li Jiangui glanced at He Rufeng, who couldn't say anything else. He had already handed the matter over to Liang Chengxuan, and Liang Chengxuan would definitely handle it impartially if he wanted to protect his reputation. There was no doubt about that.
He Rufeng walked out unsteadily, having lost both his wife and his army; this was roughly his current situation.
"Damn Liang Chengxuan!"
He Xu was waiting outside. Seeing He Rufeng's expression, he knew that things had not gone well.
"Aye."
He Rufeng felt annoyed whenever he saw He Xu.
"If it weren't for your useless mother, who could get herself into trouble just by going back to the Marquis's mansion, things wouldn't be so difficult now."
He Xu pursed his lips and remained silent. No matter how many mistakes Liang Fangfei had made, she was still his mother, and he couldn't say too much about it.
Now, He Rufeng harbors deep resentment, and her divorce from Liang Fangfei is a done deal. Her future days are truly going to be difficult.
The chaotic group of people in the back courtyard were still waiting for He Xu, and Liang Fangfei's words back then weren't entirely without merit.
Liang Chengxuan went to the prison to see Liang Fangfei.
Liang Fangfei didn't look too disheveled. She heard the noise and gave Liang Chengxuan a cold look.
"What are you doing here, brother? Are you here to laugh at me?"
Liang Chengxuan wasn't annoyed by her tone; he simply stated, "The Emperor ordered me to handle this matter concerning you."
Liang Fangfei's eyes widened as she stood up and grabbed the iron bar.
"Liang Chengxuan! Are you even human? You've already put aside family ties for the greater good, and now you want to use my life to enhance your reputation?"
How come she never realized Liang Chengxuan was such a cold-blooded person before? She really misjudged him.
Liang Chengxuan said calmly, "It's just exile, you won't die."
"What difference does that make?"
She had traveled thousands of miles; even if she died on the road, no one would care. Liang Fangfei saw no hope of surviving.
Hearing Liang Fangfei's words, Liang Chengxuan didn't say anything; that was the truth.
"Just wait patiently for the order to be issued; it should be in the next few days."
Liang Fangfei's knees buckled and she knelt on the ground, unable even to cry for herself.
While waiting for the verdict, He Rufeng proposed divorcing his wife, but Liang Chengxuan rejected the proposal.
The Liang family absolutely cannot have an abandoned wife; they can only divorce. He Rufeng thought about it again and decided that a divorce was better than letting Liang Fangfei continue to occupy the position of the legal wife.
Upon seeing the divorce agreement, Liang Fangfei smiled and then burst into tears.
She achieved her initial goal, but ended up like this; her family members are truly heartless.
The verdict has been handed down, and tomorrow she will leave Chang'an and be exiled thousands of miles away.
In the end, only Liang Chengli came to see her.
Liang Chengli brought some food.
"The journey is long, so take good care of yourself. Don't act so recklessly again in the future."
Liang Chengli could only speak in such a dry and stilted manner.