Chapter 139: A Heart in Turmoil
Zhi Wan felt guilty and uncomfortable. She grew even more embarrassed when she saw Ouyang Zhenzhu winking and teasing her.
’Great. Now everyone is going to get the wrong idea.’
’Most importantly, why didn’t Cousin deny it?’
She couldn’t resist stealing a glance at the man’s face.
But by then, he had already looked away. He turned to Liang Qixian and said, "So, Mr. Liang, you intended to capture my cousin and use her to threaten me? A pity, but I’m afraid you will be disappointed.
"I brought my cousin with me when I came to the villa. The men you sent will come up empty-handed."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan finally understood. Her cousin had made her and Zhenzhu disguise themselves among the courtesans and come to Pan Yun Mountain Villa because he had anticipated Liang Qixian would make such a move.
When Liang Qixian discovered she hadn’t gone to Jurong with Chen Jiu and Jiang Shi to retrieve the ledgers, he would assume she was still at the Lu Family Villa.
That was why, while leading his men to attack Pan Yun Mountain Villa, Liang Qixian had also dispatched men to the Lu Family Villa to abduct her.
It was a contingency plan: if the assassination attempt on her cousin failed, he could still use her as leverage to force him into submission.
Thankfully, her cousin had the foresight to bring her to Pan Yun Mountain Villa in advance.
Otherwise, she would have undoubtedly fallen into Liang Qixian’s hands.
’But why was Liang Qixian so certain that capturing her would make Cousin submit?’
She pursed her lips, thinking of what Liang Qixian had just said.
’Liang Qixian must be a cornered animal, lashing out in desperation. Is that why he thought to use me to threaten my cousin?’
The moment he saw Zhi Wan, Liang Qixian’s last shred of hope was shattered.
Dejected yet defiant, he roared at Lu Zhan, "Lu Zhan! I have been cautious my entire life, yet I never imagined I’d fall into your trap!"
Lu Zhan scoffed. "Have you never heard the saying, Mr. Liang? ’Heaven’s net is vast; though its mesh is wide, nothing escapes.’ You have committed every evil imaginable and abandoned all conscience. Did you truly believe you could get away with it all?
"Years ago, you embezzled funds from the riverway project and cut corners on labor and materials. This left the embankment unstable, and when the floods came, the levee collapsed, causing countless deaths and displacing thousands of people!
"When you learned that the County Magistrate of Jurong at the time, Zhi Yu, held irrefutable proof of your embezzlement, you sent your men, disguised as bandits, to murder him and his wife. To ensure no word got out, you even executed all of those henchmen. And now, for the sake of those ledgers, you’ve assembled a force to assassinate me and my cousin.
"You are utterly depraved! Even death is too good for you!"
He did not raise his voice, but every word he spoke landed with resounding force, striking a chord of shock in the hearts of all who listened.
As his final word fell, all the Garrison soldiers present clenched their fists, raising their arms and roaring in fury, "Kill him! Kill that cur of an official!"
Many of them had lived through that flood. They had watched with their own eyes as their neighbors, and even their own families, perished in the raging waters.
Zhi Wan’s eyes turned red, and she clenched her fists. It was all because of this vile official, Liang Qixian, that her parents had been taken from her so soon, leaving her an orphan.
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
The Garrison soldiers were in a furious uproar. Some even drew their blades, ready to charge forward, but were thankfully stopped in time by Chen Jiu and his men.
"Everyone, please be calm! The heinous crimes of this corrupt official, Liang Qixian, will be judged by Mr. Lu himself. He will not be spared, rest assured!"
Watching the enraged soldiers straining to rush him, Liang Qixian’s face went pale with fright, and he began to shuffle backward.
He didn’t stop until his back hit the steps. He snapped back to his senses and forced a calm facade. "I am a Standard Fourth Rank official of the Court! Even if I am guilty, my case must be tried by the Three Ministries before a verdict can be reached! Lu Zhan, you have no authority to convict me on your own!"
Lu Zhan stood on the steps, looking down on him. "Did you not know? The Emperor appointed me as an imperial envoy and granted me the authority to act as I see fit. When necessary, I may execute corrupt officials on the spot, without needing a trial by the Three Ministries."
Liang Qixian’s pupils contracted. "No, that’s impossible! I am a Standard Fourth Rank official of the Court! You have no right to bypass the Court and dispose of me directly..."
Lu Zhan’s expression grew impatient. "Guards! Take Liang Qixian into custody immediately. After the Liang Mansion is searched tomorrow, he is to be publicly beheaded at the market square the day after!"
Garrison soldiers immediately came forward and seized Liang Qixian.
Liang Qixian’s mind was reeling. He finally realized that Lu Zhan was not joking.
He began to struggle wildly. "No! My crimes do not warrant death! I demand to petition the Court! I demand the Court’s judgment! Lu Zhan, you can’t abuse your authority to murder me!"
"Your crimes are monstrous. Dying a hundred times over would not be enough to atone for your sins," Lu Zhan said, his expression glacial. "The day after tomorrow, I will personally carry out the sentence and send you on your way!"
Terrified, Liang Qixian went completely limp.
The crowd noticed a foul odor spreading through the air.
"That bastard official pissed himself!"
Someone in the crowd snickered.
Zhi Wan registered what had happened and was about to look toward Liang Qixian when a tall, slender figure suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her view.
She froze.
Staring at her cousin’s broad back, her heart was suddenly in turmoil.
"Liang Qixian, do you have anything else to confess?" Lu Zhan demanded in a low voice.
"Yes! This subordinate reports Zeng Gong, Zeng Tongpan, Jiang Li, Jiang Tongzhi, and other officials for corruption and taking bribes! I beg you, Mr. Lu, in light of my cooperation, please grant me a lighter sentence and reduce my punishment..." Snot and tears streamed down Liang Qixian’s face.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan turned to Chen Jiu and Jiang Shi. "Take my personal warrant and go to their respective mansions to make the arrests."
"Yes, sir," the two replied respectfully.
As dawn approached, the turmoil at the mountain villa finally subsided.
Liang Qixian was hauled away. Chen Jiu and Jiang Shi, armed with Lu Zhan’s warrant, led a group of Garrison soldiers to the various mansions to make arrests.
Seeing her enemy condemned and soon to be executed, her parents’ deaths finally avenged, Zhi Wan’s eyes grew moist.
She turned to the man beside her and gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Cousin, for everything you have done for my parents and for the people of Yangzhou."
Lu Zhan saw the glistening tears in her eyes. He paused, then said gently, "It is my duty. You don’t need to thank me, Cousin." His fingers twitched. He finally took a step forward, took hold of her arm, and helped her straighten up.
Zhi Wan stiffened, instinctively wanting to pull back. But she felt that would be a dead giveaway, like the proverbial sign reading ’No 300 taels of silver buried here.’ So she held her ground.
She met her cousin’s gaze, her own eyes clear and frank.
Lu Zhan lowered his gaze to look at her. He pressed his lips together, then finally released her arm. "The sun will be up soon," he said softly. "There are many matters in the city that require my attention. I will head back first. You and Ouyang Zhenzhu can enjoy yourselves here. I’ll send someone to get you later."
Zhi Wan knew that a storm was about to break over Yangzhou City today, and her cousin had to be there to take control.
"Please be careful, Cousin," she said softly.
"I will," Lu Zhan replied. He mounted the horse a guard had brought over, and with a sharp snap of the reins, led his men away at a gallop.
Zhi Wan stood before the villa gates, her eyes fixed on her cousin’s figure as it vanished into the early morning mist. She didn’t look away for a long time.
"He’s long gone, and you’re still staring?" Just then, Ouyang Zhenzhu’s teasing voice sounded in her ear.