Transmigrated as the Villain: Punching the Protagonist Group and Stepping on the Domestic Abuser - Chapter 12

Along the way, Rong Se recalled the original work’s plot for a long time. In the original novel, Yan Wanze was not high in intelligence, and the methods used to deal with him amounted to nothing more than a single impeachment memorial, denouncing him for monopolizing state power, throwing the country into chaos, and harboring treasonous suspicions.

Afterward, the original owner mercilessly threw his entire family into prison, without even stirring up a ripple.

Rong Se silently made his definition: unworthy of fear!

Fusheng Restaurant’s business was as bustling as ever. After all, Fusheng Restaurant offered novel dishes with delicious flavors, and not a second place like it could be found in the entire Jinjing.

Liang Shenyu carefully sized up the restaurant, full of spirited interest.

Songyan chattered and muttered quietly beside him, “Master, that Yan Wanze asking to see you certainly means no good. Have you forgotten how that old bastard kicked us when we were down back then? To think you are actually willing to pay attention to him.”

“Who said your marquis came here for him?” Liang Shenyu raised an eyebrow slightly, lifting his chin toward the restaurant. “The number one restaurant in Jinjing. I heard the food is good.”

Songyan froze. “You really came here just to eat?”

Liang Shenyu let out a low chuckle.

When they stepped into the private pavilion, Duke Yan of Huan, Yan Wanze, was already seated inside. His bloated figure strained his brocade robes to their limits, and his eyes were squeezed into narrow slits by fat and wrinkles as he rubbed his hands incessantly. Seated right beside him was a slender, refined-looking young man with a scholarly aura.

It was the father and son of Duke Huan’s estate, Yan Wanze and Yan Shuning.

Upon seeing Liang Shenyu, Yan Wanze immediately pulled his son up to stand, smiling as he said, “Shuyun has arrived! In the past, you were away in Qiangzhou, and the distance was too far to meet. Now that you have finally returned to the capital, come, quickly sit down. This Fusheng Restaurant has grown immensely popular recently, and I hear their owner is exceptionally skilled at cooking! Someone! Waiter! Serve the dishes!”

His tone was incomparably familiar. Liang Shenyu merely smiled gallantly, settling into his seat with composure. He watched them and said nothing.

Yan Wanze laughed awkwardly, pointing at the young man beside him as he said, “This is your cousin, Shuning. Quickly pay your respects.”

Yan Shuning bowed and called out, “Cousin.”

Liang Shenyu nodded, his attitude perfunctory. “Sit.”

After the Yuanzuang Emperor ascended the throne, aided by the Cao and Xi clans, he aggressively cut down the power of the vassal states, appointing governors to every province while gathering all regional military authority into the hands of the sovereign. Tang Jingshao, the governor of Yizhou, held fifty thousand garrison troops in Yizhou, and his elder sister was none other than the crown prince’s consort of the Northern Pacification Marquis’s mansion from years past. The ties between Qiangzhou and Yizhou were exceptionally deep, and with the route through Yizhou combined with the military power in his hands, Liang Shenyu’s position was as secure as a monolith.

Yan Shuning was only eighteen this year, and he had been too young when the Northern Pacification Marquis’s mansion suffered its tragedy, making this his very first time meeting this cousin. He had often heard that the third young master of the Northern Pacification Marquis’s mansion had once served as a study companion to the new emperor in the capital, and over the years, he had accumulated monumental military achievements, shining with boundless glory. He had intended to establish friendly ties, but seeing this cold and aloof demeanor, he dared not speak much, leaving only dissatisfaction in his heart.

He was young and came from the estate of a commandery prince. Though he said nothing aloud, his expression turned rather unpleasant.

Just as the waiter arrived to serve the dishes, Yan Shuning seized the opportunity to sit down.

“This child,” Yan Wanze chided without real severity, turning back to smile at Liang Shenyu. “My foolish son is spoiled at home on usual days, so please do not take offense, Marquis. How long do you intend to stay in the capital this time around?”

Ignoring the question, Liang Shenyu gazed at the familiar spread of dishes across the table and picked up his chopsticks. “Let us eat.”

Yan Wanze’s smile stiffened, and through gritted teeth, he said, “Indeed, indeed. Let us eat first, let us eat.”

Since he said they were eating, Liang Shenyu truly ate with single-minded focus, sampling every single dish thoroughly.

Yan Wanze raised his wine cup to offer a toast, but Liang Shenyu pressed his hand over the rim, saying, “I still have military duties to attend to. I do not drink alcohol.”

Seeing him show such blatant disrespect, Yan Wanze’s fake smile finally failed to hold. Exchanging a glance with Yan Shuning, he said in a deep voice, “Very well then. However, Shuyun, you now hold a crucial post and command the Northern Jin Iron Cavalry, making you a towering target in the court. There are no doubt countless people watching the marquis’s mansion. The mansion is left with only you now, and you have no other brothers. Why not have your cousin enter official service so that he can look out for you?”

With a smile that did not quite reach his eyes, Liang Shenyu said slowly and unhurriedly, “Where is the logic in that? The Great Jin does not share the surname Liang. If someone wishes to enter official service as an official, they are entirely free to take the imperial examinations. As for this marquis, there is no need for anyone to look out for me.”

“You!” Yan Wanze faltered for a moment before snapping angrily, “What do you mean by that? I am only doing this for your own good. I am your maternal uncle, so how could I ever harm you? If your cousin can maneuver for you in the court, you will have your own person in the capital even while you are far away in Qiangzhou. Why not?”

Listening to his inane rambling for a long time, Liang Shenyu finally let out a disdainful, mocking laugh. “Did the Duke ever imagine, back in the day, that there would come a day when you would have to beg at this marquis’s door?”

Yan Wanze’s expression instantly lost its natural composure.

Yan Shuning had been young back then and knew nothing of the inside story. Hearing these words now, he turned to catch his father’s expression and belatedly felt a surge of unease.

Liang Shenyu laughed again. “When the Duke kicked us when we were down, bullying the orphans and widows of our marquis’s mansion, you surely did not expect today to come.”

The Northern Pacification Marquis’s mansion had once rung bells to summon guests for grand feasts, standing as a noble household of high standing with towering lances. Yet after the disaster struck, the mansion was left with only the marquise and a thirteen-year-old Liang Shenyu. The third young master had petitioned the emperor to lead troops in collecting the remains of his father and brothers, seizing the opportunity to step onto the battlefield. Relying on the all-out assistance of the Tang clan of Yizhou, he had barely managed to hold onto the foundation of the marquis’s mansion.

Qiangzhou had flowed with rivers of blood, and the gore of Guzhu Ridge had soaked deep into the sand, the smell of rotting blood lingering relentlessly.

The setting sun had sunk halfway, and the earth and sky had been dyed the color of blood. That was the first time he had seen so many dead bodies, stretching across mountains and fields with broken limbs and severed arms.

Lost in these memories, Liang Shenyu maintained the curve of his lips, though his brows and eyes surged with a bone-chilling coldness. He said slowly, “I suppose my uncle’s days have not been very comfortable, which is why you suddenly remembered this relative in the marquis’s mansion.”

Yan Wanze’s expression shifted through several shades before he gritted his teeth and said, “The events of the past cannot entirely be blamed on me either. The marquis’s mansion was in a dire state, and the entire Duke Huan’s estate could not afford to be dragged down with it.”

“Therefore,” Liang Shenyu interrupted, smiling brightly, “when you chased my gravely ill eldest aunt out of the house as she was returning to her maiden home, you even remembered to confiscate the land deeds and property titles she brought with her.”

Meeting his gaze, which was filled with a knowing, mocking amusement, Yan Wanze’s complexion turned deathly pale in an instant. “You knew about that. How could you?”

Very few people had known about that matter back then. After all, Yan Qingru had passed away from illness before she even managed to make it back to the marquis’s mansion, and he had dispatched people to keep a strict watch early on to ensure the news never leaked.

“Did my uncle truly believe that because I was stationed in Qiangzhou, I remained entirely ignorant of everything?” The malice in Liang Shenyu’s eyes grew even more intense, and just as he was about to speak further, the waiter’s voice suddenly drifted in from outside the door.

“Patron, our owner has sent two dishes over.”

Liang Shenyu paused. “Bring them in.”

With an uncertain expression and lowered head, the waiter placed the two dishes onto the table.

Liang Shenyu looked over.

One was a fish head without eyes, and the other was skinned, steamed fish. They were clearly made from the very same fish, complete with appealing color, aroma, and presentation.

“This is?” Liang Shenyu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Trembling with fright and not daring to raise his head, the waiter nervously recited the words the owner had taught him.

“Our owner said that these two dishes are free of charge and sent courtesy of him. One is called Blind and Eyeless, and the other is called Shameless and Thick-Skinned!”

Having finished, the waiter nearly collapsed on the spot.

To his shock, the guest suddenly burst out laughing, and even said politely, “Help me thank your owner.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

With a blank expression, the waiter walked out the door.