Liang Luming spoke up before Qian Xingzhi could: "Withdraw! No one is to enter without my orders!"
A Su quickly retreated. The argument between Qian Xingzhi and Liang Luming was interrupted, and the atmosphere eased a little.
Seeing that Liang Luming hadn't involved A Su, Qian Xingzhi felt her long speech had had some effect: "Just because it's been this way for generations, does that make it right? I don't have to be like that. Although I was a refugee, I latched onto the Third Prince. I don't have to worry about marriage or children. I come and go freely in this Qian Mansion. Though not high in rank, I have a name. Isn't that more free than you?"
Liang Luming was silent for a long time, then scolded: "But this is a capital offense! One wrong step and it's a death sentence. Even for you, with your sharp tongue and troublemaking, haven't you ended up in this situation?"
"Can being a neglected wife in the inner chambers make you immortal?" Qian Xingzhi laughed. "If I couldn't escape the flood, I would have died just the same. Liang Luming, there are a thousand paths to death, but there is never only one path to life. The one thing you must never do in this world is to live forever dependent on others."
Liang Luming softened her tone: "Just now you asked me why I wasn't curious about your disguise. Is this the reason?"
"No," Qian Xingzhi grinned wickedly, ready to deliver another shock. "Because I want to kill a prince."
Good heavens! Liang Luming clutched her chest, panting heavily. This wretched Qian woman wouldn't stop until she'd angered her to death: "You're insane!"
Qian Xingzhi nodded in agreement: "That's right! I am insane!"
She had been enjoying a perfectly wonderful life, and was dragged into a pile of mud. If not for her strong psychological resilience, she would have just smashed her head against a wall and died.
Liang Luming looked at her in terror and uncertainty, thinking about what Qian Xingzhi would have done if she had simply given up and exposed her just now.
"My mother and father were innocent people," Qian Xingzhi added. "If the Third Prince hadn't treated human life like grass, how would I have become an orphan before I was ten? After barely surviving by relying on my grandmother, he came and interfered again, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Nanchuan. Why can't I hate? Why can't I kill? Just because the blood flowing in his veins is royal?"
Liang Luming shook her head: "But... but... you're insane... Would His Majesty order the death of his own son? Don't you know the Third Prince is the apple of his eye, so foolish and easy to control? You can't expect His Majesty to order the execution of the Third Prince no matter who he might order dead!"
Yet Qian Xingzhi's words hammered into her heart. If she had suffered such things, what would she have done? Did she have the courage to plot the murder of a prince? Even, did she have the boldness to speak such thoughts to a stranger?
Qian Xingzhi agreed with her: "You're right. It's not easy to get His Majesty to order his execution. But His Majesty is old. The Nansheng Kingdom will eventually have a change of rule. A new emperor who has competed with the Third Prince for the throne would be absolutely willing to give such an order. Moreover, I don't want to use someone else's knife; I want to do it myself."
Liang Luming felt the world spinning. Qian Xingzhi's fervent tone and determined gaze dazzled her. The woman before her seemed to have a magic that made her involuntarily believe in her, follow her, support her. No, no, she herself wasn't like her, maneuvering through officialdom. How could she manage?
"But..." Liang Luming tried to find a reason to rebut her, to dissuade her, but for a moment she was wordless. Somehow, since knowing Qian Xingzhi was a woman, the one playing the groom now seemed far more charming than before.
A strong, determined, powerful woman—and this power was not confined to a courtyard, but to the court, a larger, more complicated and chaotic stage.
"Since you have such plans, why tell me? You should have used an excuse to avoid tonight, then kept me at arm's length to steady me, and then slowly worked things out. You must know that my grandfather has his own goals in arranging this marriage. Unless absolutely necessary, he won't let us divorce." Liang Luming calmed down again. Now she was more curious about why Qian Xingzhi had made such a hasty, reckless decision.
"That might be an option, but I refuse to make you suffer," Qian Xingzhi stared into Liang Luming's eyes, not letting her look away. "To be neglected by your husband on your wedding night, to wait alone in an empty room for years... Liang Luming, I've heard about your mother's situation. I absolutely refuse to let you go through that same vague misery."
Liang Luming's breath caught. She smiled bitterly: "They say one should not be swayed by personal feelings. Lord Qian's actions are still inappropriate."
"Must my revenge trample on another woman's suffering?" Qian Xingzhi shook her head. "I have my choices. I survived by dressing as a boy. I hope that one day I can live without having to disguise myself as a man."
Liang Luming swallowed: "If you stay lucky, you might avoid disaster. But if there comes a day when we can't keep it hidden, Qian Xingzhi, you will eventually be exposed."
"What did you say just now? 'Let the ministers and His Majesty see that the person who has been playing them for fools is a woman.' If that day comes, I want them to see I'm a woman and still be unable to do anything about me. Just thinking about it feels great. I'll invite you to enjoy it together. If you agree to help me, you'll be an accomplice. Think about it, Liang Luming. In their eyes, you're just a weak woman in the inner chambers, but you can toy with the royal darlings. Don't you want to do it?"
This was clearly an exaggeration. Only facing Liang Luming could Qian Xingzhi speak so brazenly and arrogantly. If she were actually discovered, her life would most likely be forfeit.
"You sure know how to boast," Liang Luming snorted. "I just hope they don't cut off your head to vent their anger!"
"If it were only me, fine. But what if more and more women appear in the court? Would they all be dragged out and beheaded?" Qian Xingzhi was getting carried away and quickly reeled herself back: "Ahem... Seriously, don't you want to know what it feels like to be an official?"
Liang Luming felt a string snap in her heart.
No one had ever asked her that question, and probably no one would ever say such a thing to her again. What did being an official feel like? She didn't know, she had never even thought about it. But once the thought took root, it could never be taken back. Her mind involuntarily conjured an image of herself as a high official, wearing the same official robe as her grandfather.
Seeing Liang Luming lost in thought, Qian Xingzhi tilted her head and grinned wickedly: "So? Want to help me? It's a good deal. If something goes wrong, I'll make sure you're clean. At most three years, and I'll get you a painless divorce."
"What's a 'painless divorce'?" Liang Luming frowned, then rolled her eyes at Qian Xingzhi. "How can I help you? I'd be grateful if you don't drag me down with you."
"Of course you can help," Qian Xingzhi clasped her hands in a bow. "Miss Liang is the most talented and beautiful noble lady in Shengjing, wise and brave."
Liang Luming blushed at the compliment and felt uncomfortable: "I can't compare to Lord Qian. Although you have a bad reputation, there are still women in the capital who admire you."
Really? Qian Xingzhi's jaw dropped. "Don't make fun of me."
"It's true," Liang Luming smiled. "Our Lord Qian is a rising star with outstanding looks. Many girls say you are kind and not frivolous. They advise me to accept my fate and marry you and live a good life."
Was that a good thing? Qian Xingzhi scratched her head. "What kind of friends are those? They might be telling you to resign yourself while secretly laughing at you for marrying beneath you. Cut them all off, cut them off!"
Liang Luming didn't mind: "I know what they mean. I didn't expect that after actually marrying in, I'd find the Qian Mansion much more interesting than I imagined!"
Qian Xingzhi's bad ideas came one after another: "In that case, another day, invite them out. Let's give them a good show. I guarantee you'll feel satisfied!"
"What do you mean?" Liang Luming didn't know what Qian Xingzhi planned to do, but she inexplicably felt excited.
"You don't know how to pretend to be in love?" Qian Xingzhi said while gesturing. "There will never be a better 'husband' than me. So, are you willing to play along?"
"Hmph, don't underestimate me," Liang Luming raised her head proudly. "Back at the Liang Mansion, even my grandfather couldn't see through my acting!"
Qian Xingzhi clapped in praise: "Even though we've only met a few times, I knew Miss Liang has great potential! Indeed, being honest with you was the best move."
Having talked things through, Liang Luming felt lightheaded, as if in a dream. She suddenly reached out and pinched Qian Xingzhi's face, as if confirming that this was a real person and this was really happening.
"Feel free. We don't have to follow any rules. From now on, the Qian Mansion recognizes only you as its mistress. Do whatever you like." Qian Xingzhi was very generous, but after bragging, she added: "Just don't bankrupt us."
Liang Luming asked: "I have the final say on food, clothing, housing, and transportation?"
"Of course," Qian Xingzhi didn't care about these things at all. She had managed to find a cook, Yin Tan, but had sent him out. Now she finally had someone to manage the household. She was more than happy. "Except for what I need to do, do whatever makes you comfortable."
"Then... shall we rest?" Liang Luming felt inexplicably shy.
"Alright. We've been busy talking. Are the things on your head heavy? Let me take them off for you." Qian Xingzhi helped Liang Luming sit at the dressing table and fumbled to remove her hair ornaments.
Liang Luming looked at Qian Xingzhi's flustered reflection in the mirror: "I hope one day I can see you dressed like this."
Focusing on her task, Qian Xingzhi said: "Women's clothes, huh. I'll dress up for you sometime."
Not wanting to disturb Qian Xingzhi if she shook her head, Liang Luming just smiled and didn't reply.
"I thought you were beautiful the first time I saw you," Qian Xingzhi never hesitated to compliment girls. "Today, all that stuff I had to say got in the way. This wedding gown makes you look stunning."
Liang Luming laughed heartily: "Thank you, 'husband'."
Perhaps they were too excited. After they lay down, neither could fall asleep for a long time.
Outside the curtains, the candlelight flickered, stirring an itch in Liang Luming's heart.
"If I had insisted on exposing you just now, what would you have done?"
"I won't lie to you," Qian Xingzhi's drowsiness was growing. "If you had been determined to expose me, at least tonight, you wouldn't have left this room."
Mm, that's right. Not leaving a backup plan would be a reckless move. Liang Luming couldn't suppress her smile. For the first time, she laughed from the bottom of her heart.
Life from now on would be very interesting, she thought with certainty.