Chapter 399: Duke Wei Goes to Die
To be honest, Liang Jingyou has always respected Wen in his heart.
But when it comes to love between men and women, he actually prefers the second wife, the farm girl who grew up in the same small place as him.
However, he did not dare to favor her openly, and only dared to use her parents' help to make her feel more comfortable in the mansion.
In fact, Liang Shangde was also very smart when he was a child, but for the sake of Kuanwen's heart, he could only ignore all these things.
By the time of his grandson, Liang Shangde's son, Liang Si, was even better than him.
Liang Si had been extremely intelligent since childhood. Out of guilt and love, Liang Jingyou finally couldn't help it and was partial to Liang Si. He hired a teacher with the best knowledge for him and supported his growth.
He originally thought that his previous suppression of Liang Shangde was an explanation to the first wife, and he would definitely hand over the family business of the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion to the first wife.
Since the second branch cannot inherit the family business, if Liang Siruo can establish himself, the second branch can set up their own business in the future and bring honor to the family. Wouldn't this be a win-win situation for everyone?
Unexpectedly, Liang Jingyou overlooked the dark side of human nature.
Or maybe, he always thought that everyone was blood relatives and would not fight for life and death.
Liang Si, such a brilliant man, lost his life so early!
The emperor suddenly asked: "Could it be that Liang Si was killed by the eldest wife of the Liang family?"
The emperor had some impression of Liang Si, who passed the imperial examination at an early age and had brilliant literary talent. He was a rare talent among the children of aristocratic families.
Liang Jingyou suddenly choked up, and his gray beard trembled violently.
"Your Majesty is indeed very discerning. That's exactly what happened."
"After the incident, how could this old minister let the murderer go? After investigation, I found out that it was Liang Zhi who ordered someone to push Liang Si into the water."
Speaking of this, Liang Jingyou still couldn't help getting excited.
Even though so many years had passed, he could still remember it. The moment he found out the truth, he felt dizzy.
Liang Jingyou wanted to kill Liang Zhi immediately to avenge Liang Si's life.
But his wife Wen begged him desperately and threatened that if Liang Jingyou dared to touch Liang Zhi in the slightest, she would immediately swallow gold and commit suicide.
Not only that, Liang Jingyou's father-in-law, General Wen, had not died at that time. General Wen personally went to plead for mercy and almost knelt down to Liang Jingyou.
What can Liang Jing do?
In the end, this matter did not cause any waves and Liang Jingyou suppressed it.
I thought no one in the mansion knew who the real murderer was.
But the aunt from the second house did something unexpected.
The docile woman who had served Liang's parents without complaint and had been tortured by Wen for most of her life and never resisted, actually hanged herself.
She used her death to protest against Liang Jingyou and to seek justice for her beloved grandson.
Liang Jingyou couldn't accept this fact, but the person was already dead!
At that moment, he felt that he was wrong. When he was about to correct this mistake and decided to let Liang Zhi pay for Liang Si's life, Liang Shangjiong brought him a piece of news that almost made the veteran lose his balance.
Liang Shangjiong and his sister Princess Liang were actually involved in the death of the late queen.
Liang Shangjiong sneered and said: If the Duke of Weiguo wants to touch Liang Zhi, then we will all die together.
Liang Jingyoucai was shocked to find that the child at home had already changed beyond all recognition.
He didn't want to care about anything and didn't want to ask anything. He just wanted to leave the capital, this cannibalistic place.
Thinking of this, Liang Jingyou was still in a trance for a moment.
Of course, he did not tell Liang Shangjiong's threats to him frankly. He said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, after my second wife passed away, Wen soon left too. The capital is empty. I have not returned to the capital in these years. I am actually escaping."
His throat rolled, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of bitter wine, "Your Majesty, Liang Si died unjustly. The people of the Second House hate me and the people of the First House because of this. How could they possibly go along with the First House?"
"This is the document that I, an old minister, have written to divide the family property."
Liang Jingyou took out a few pieces of paper from his arms, "I only ask Your Majesty to show mercy and spare the children of the second house. They really have nothing to do with the sins of the first house!"
The emperor saw a drop of dirty tear fall on the gold brick, leaving a dark mark.
This veteran who was once invincible on the battlefield now looks like a helpless old man.
Duke Wei held up the gold medal of immunity from death with trembling hands: "This old minister is willing to use all the rewards bestowed by the late emperor in exchange for the safety of the second house."
The emperor didn't speak.
Liang Jingyou said it clearly, it was probably true that the first and second branches of the Liang family were not on good terms.
But would he let go of the second branch of the Liang family just because of this?
It is his usual style to root out the problem.
He was still hesitating, and even felt that Liang Jing was threatening him by using this gold medal.
The emperor is indeed confused. How can he so easily award the golden medal of immunity from death?
He had been in power for many years and had never granted anyone a golden medal of immunity from death.
"emperor……"
Liang Jingyou suddenly started coughing violently. A streak of dark red blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth, which was particularly glaring on his gray beard.
His body swayed, but he still forced himself to kneel straight.
The emperor suddenly shouted: "Liang Jingyou!"
Liang Jingyou raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth, looked at the blood on the back of his hand and smiled bitterly: "Old minister... Old minister took poison before leaving."
He took a breath with difficulty, "The Liang family committed such a heinous crime, and I, an old minister, have no face to live... The emperor is willing to see me again, it is a great favor from the emperor..."
The emperor shouted angrily: "Are you all stupid? Go call the imperial physician!"
"No need..."
Liang Jingyou shook his head, and a trace of blood suddenly appeared on his pale face, "This old minister only asks... only asks Your Majesty..."
His eyes began to blur, but he still looked at the emperor stubbornly: "The second wife... is innocent..."
The emperor moved his lips, but still did not let go.
The last bit of light disappeared from Liang Jingyou's cloudy eyes. He trembled as he raised the golden medal of immunity from death. He wanted to say something but suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
The gold medal fell to the ground with a clang.
Liang Jingyou slowly closed his eyes, and the body that once dominated the border now fell to the ground as lightly as a dead leaf.
-
The news that Duke Liang Jingyou of Wei committed suicide in front of the emperor quickly spread throughout the capital.
Lu Jiangnian was writing a letter in his study. When he heard the news, the wolf-hair brush in his hand fell onto the rice paper with a "click", and the ink spread all over the paper.
He was stunned for a moment, then showed a relieved expression.
"As expected..."
He muttered to himself, stood up and walked to the window. The bright sunshine outside reminded him of the mighty general next door when he was a child.
Should have expected this.
The evidence of the Liang family's rebellion was irrefutable, and the fate of the Liang family's eldest branch was already sealed.
Lu Jiangnian knows the current emperor well. He has long wanted to take back the golden medal of immunity from death from Liang Jingyou, but he has been haunted by the late emperor's dying request to "treat meritorious officials well".
"Madam, have you heard?"
Lu Jiangnian left the study and went to find Yuan Wanru and told her about this matter.
Yuan Wanru had never met Liang Jingyou before, so she was not deeply moved by the news. At this moment, what she was most concerned about was: "Will Liang Nian and the others be pardoned?"
Lu Jiangnian nodded: "Duke Weiguo died to protect the people of the Second House. If he lives on, the thorn in the emperor's heart will never be removed."
He took a sip of tea and looked towards the rooftops of the imperial palace. "Now, the emperor may leave a way for the Liang family's second branch to live because he volunteered to die."
"perhaps?"
Yuan Wanru was a little worried.
Lu Jiangnian touched the top of her head and said, "Don't worry, we still have the next step to take. Your Highness, it's time to take the stage."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
