RPAGF Chapter 399 Duke Wei's Death
Chapter 399 Duke Wei's Death
To be honest, Liang Jingyou has always held Wen in high esteem.
But when it comes to romantic love, he actually preferred his second wife, the farm girl who grew up in the same small town as him.
However, he dared not openly show her favoritism, but only dared to use his parents' help to make her more comfortable in the mansion.
In fact, Liang Shangde was quite clever when he was young, but for the sake of Kuanwen's feelings, he had to ignore all of these things.
In the grandson's generation, Liang Shangde's son, Liang Si, was even more outstanding than him.
Liang Si was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. Out of guilt and affection, Liang Jingyou finally couldn't help but show some favoritism towards Liang Si, hiring a highly learned tutor to support his growth.
He had originally thought that his previous suppression of Liang Shangde was a way of giving the eldest branch of the family an explanation, and that he would definitely hand over the family business of the Duke of Wei's mansion to the eldest branch.
Since the second wife cannot inherit the family business, if Liang Siruo can stand on her own two feet, she can also bring glory to the family in the future. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?
However, Liang Jingyou overlooked the darker side of human nature.
Or perhaps, he always thought that since they were all blood relatives, they wouldn't fight to the death.
The exceptionally talented Liang Si lost her life at a very young age!
The emperor suddenly asked, "Could it be that Liang Si was murdered by the eldest branch of the Liang family?"
The Emperor still has some impression of Liang Si. He passed the imperial examination at a young age and was a talented writer, a rare talent among the scions of aristocratic families.
Liang Jingyou suddenly choked up, his white beard trembling violently.
"Your Majesty is indeed insightful; that is indeed the case."
"After the incident, how could this old minister let the murderer go? Upon investigation, we discovered that it was actually Liang Zhi who instructed someone to push Liang Si into the water."
At this point, Liang Jingyou still couldn't help but get excited.
Even though so many years have passed, he can still recall how dizzy he felt when he discovered the truth.
Liang Jingyou immediately wanted to kill Liang Zhi to pay for Liang Si's life.
Liang Jing's wife, Wen, pleaded desperately and threatened that if Liang Jing dared to harm Liang Zhi in the slightest, she would immediately swallow gold and commit suicide.
Not only that, but General Wen, Liang Jingyou's father-in-law, was still alive at the time. General Wen personally came to Liang Jingyou's door to plead for him, and almost knelt down before him.
What can Liang Jingyou do?
In the end, the matter went unnoticed, and Liang Jingyou suppressed it.
They thought no one in the manor knew who the real culprit was.
But the second wife's aunt did something unexpected and significant.
That docile woman who served Liang's parents without complaint, who endured Wen's torment for most of her life without ever resisting, 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 realized he was wrong. When he was about to correct this mistake and decide to make Liang Zhi pay for Liang Si's life, Liang Shangjiong brought him news that almost made this veteran general lose his footing.
Liang Shangjiong and his sister Liang Fei were unexpectedly implicated in the cause of the late Empress's death.
Liang Shangjiong sneered: If the Duke of Wei wants to touch Liang Zhi, then we might as well all perish together.
Liang Jingyou was shocked to realize that the children in his family were no longer recognizable.
He didn't want to care about anything anymore; he just wanted to leave the capital, this cannibalistic place.
Thinking of all this, Liang Jingyou was momentarily dazed.
Of course, he did not tell the Emperor the truth about Liang Shangjiong's threats. He said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, after my second wife passed away, Wen Shi also left soon after. The capital is empty. I have not returned to the capital all these years. In fact, I am also running away."
His throat bobbed, as if he were swallowing a mouthful of bitter wine. "Your Majesty, Liang Si died unjustly back then. The people of the second branch of the family hate me and the people of the first branch because of this. How could they possibly collude with the first branch?"
"This is the document for dividing the family property, written by your old minister."
Liang Jingyou took out several sheets of paper from his robes. "This old minister only begs Your Majesty to have mercy and spare these children of the second branch of the family. They truly have nothing to do with the sins of the first branch!"
The emperor saw a single, turbid tear fall onto a gold brick, leaving a dark stain.
This veteran, who was once invincible on the battlefield, now looked like a helpless old man.
With trembling hands, the Duke of Wei presented the pardon: "This old minister is willing to use all the favors bestowed by the late emperor to ensure the safety of the second wife."
The emperor didn't say anything.
Liang Jingyou made it clear that the discord between the eldest and second branches of the Liang family is probably true.
But does that mean he'll release the second branch of the Liang family because of this?
Cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots is his consistent style.
He was still hesitant, and even felt that Liang Jing was using the gold medal to blackmail him.
Father Emperor is indeed foolish. How can a pardon be so easily bestowed?
Throughout his many years in power, he never granted anyone a pardon from death.
"emperor……"
Liang Jingyou suddenly coughed violently, and a strand of dark red blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, standing out starkly against his gray beard.
His body swayed, but he still managed to kneel upright.
The emperor suddenly roared, "Liang Jingyou!"
Liang Jingyou raised his hand to wipe his mouth, looking at the blood on the back of his hand with a bitter smile: "This old minister...this old minister took poison before setting off."
He took a hard breath, "The Liang family has committed such a heinous crime, this old minister... has no face to live on... It is already an act of great imperial grace that His Majesty is willing to see this old minister one more time..."
The emperor roared, "Are they all stupid? Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
"No need..."
Liang Jingyou shook his head, a sliver of color suddenly returning to his ashen face. "This old minister only begs...only begs Your Majesty..."
His gaze began to unfocus, yet he stubbornly stared at the emperor: "The second wife... is innocent..."
The emperor's mouth moved, but he still didn't give in.
The last glimmer of light disappeared from Liang Jingyou's cloudy eyes. He trembled as he raised the pardon, wanting to say something, but suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
The gold medal clattered to the ground.
Liang Jingyou slowly closed his eyes, and his once mighty body, which had once dominated the border, now fell to the ground as lightly as a withered leaf.
-
The news that Duke Liang Jingyou of Wei had committed suicide before the emperor quickly spread throughout the capital.
Lu Jiangnian was writing a letter in his study when he heard the news. His wolf-hair brush fell onto the rice paper with a "thud," and the ink smeared everywhere.
He paused for a moment, then showed a relieved expression.
"Sure enough..."
He muttered to himself, got up and walked to the window. The sun was shining brightly outside, but it reminded him of the imposing general next door when he was a child.
I should have expected this.
The evidence of the Liang family's treason is conclusive, and the fate of the eldest branch of the Liang family is already sealed.
Lu Jiangnian understood the current emperor. He had long wanted to take back the pardon from Liang Jingyou, but he was held back by the late emperor's dying wish to "treat meritorious officials well."
"My wife, have you heard?"
Lu Jiangnian left the study to find Yuan Wanru and told her about it.
Yuan Wanru had never met Liang Jingyou, so she wasn't particularly moved by the news. At this moment, her biggest concern was: "Will Liang Nian and the others be pardoned?"
Lu Jiangnian nodded: "The Duke of Wei died to prove his loyalty, just to protect the people of the second branch of the family. If he survives, the Emperor will never be able to remove this thorn in his heart."
He took a sip of tea and gazed at the towering rooftops in the direction of the palace. "Now it's alright. Perhaps the Emperor, considering his willingness to die, will spare the second branch of the Liang family."
"perhaps?"
Yuan Wanru was somewhat worried.
Lu Jiangnian patted the top of her head: "Don't worry, we have another move. Your Highness, it's time to take the stage."