The Liang Family Siblings: Harmony is Paramount

Ever since their grandfather died in the Battle of Tianxia and their father and uncle died in the Battle of Yunxiang, the Liang family had no adult males left. Only their mother, Li Caiyun, remained as the pillar of the family.

The saying "a family of loyal martyrs" was not an exaggeration in the slightest.

Growing up, they inevitably faced hardships. The three children, sensible from a young age, developed an unspoken understanding: don't tell their mother about problems first. While Li Caiyun's unyielding fighting spirit might seem terrifying to outsiders, in the eyes of her children, it only made them feel more for her.

So, whenever they were wronged outside or encountered difficulties, the three siblings would gather for a small meeting first to see if they could handle it themselves. Over time, this had become a habit for the three siblings.

"What exactly happened?" Liang Yue asked seriously.

Given his younger siblings' kind nature, they rarely got into conflicts with others. Therefore, his first reaction to such an incident was that someone was maliciously bullying Liang Peng.

"I was fine at the academy, but recently there's been a girl who, for no reason, said she likes me," Liang Peng recounted with a frown.

"Isn't that common?" Liang Xiaoyun said.

Liang Peng was handsome and refined, gentle and easygoing. Compared to his peers, he was more mature and intelligent. Since he started school at the age of seven, little girls had constantly expressed their affection for him.

His evaluation of this had always been just four words... affects studies.

"But this girl is different. She has good looks and family background, and she also has a group of her own followers," Liang Peng said. "Among them is that official's son. Ever since he found out that girl liked me, he's repeatedly caused me trouble."

"Didn't you explain it clearly to him?" Liang Yue also asked.

"I told him long ago that I don't like that girl at all and have clearly rejected her," Liang Peng sighed. "But after he heard that, he got even angrier."

"Hmm..." Liang Yue and Liang Xiaoyun exchanged glances, thought for a moment, and then understood this emotion.

It was already sad enough that the goddess you loved but couldn't have liked someone else. But it might be even more infuriating that the person she liked was indifferent to her.

"I tolerated it many times, but today he and three or five friends, in broad daylight, snatched my book satchel and burned it. A crowd of classmates saw this scene. If I don't fight back now, I'll have no place to stand in the academy in the future," Liang Peng said calmly.

"That's right. When you can't bear it anymore, you don't need to bear it," Liang Yue nodded.

While the academy was indeed an ivory tower far from the outside world, it was also a wild land where laws were difficult to enforce. Once people discovered you were weak and easily bullied, everyone would come up to bully you for fun.

"But he had more people at the time, so I didn't say anything for the moment. Instead, I waited until after school and fought him when he was alone at the academy gate," Liang Peng continued to say flatly.

"But you don't look like you've been in a fight?" Liang Xiaoyun examined Liang Peng.

If he had been in a fight, he should at least have some dirt on him.

"This fight... I put a sack over his head from behind, used a brick as a weapon, and repeatedly hit his head with it," Liang Peng said.

"Did he fight back?" Liang Xiaoyun asked.

"He tried, but failed," Liang Peng gestured. "I had studied grappling techniques for a class beforehand and pinned his arm."

There was a moment of silence.

Only then did Liang Yue say, "Third brother, according to how we in the Imperial Capital Guard handle cases, what you did can't be called a fight... it should be called an assault."

According to Liang Peng's description, this fight had no element of self-defense throughout; it was entirely one-sided intentional harm.

"Did... anyone see you fighting him?" Liang Xiaoyun asked.

"About several hundred people passed by at the time," Liang Peng said. "I thought about whether to avoid the crowd before acting, but my intention was to get revenge and establish my authority, so it wasn't good to deliberately hide."

"That was a major oversight," Liang Xiaoyun said.

"Actually, I had considered how to handle the aftermath. I always ranked first in the academy's major exams, while his studies were consistently poor. I've always been respectful towards teachers and classmates, while he's notoriously unruly and difficult to manage. This time, he was the one who provoked first. Even if a fight broke out, the teachers should have sided with me," Liang Peng said. "But there was one thing I didn't anticipate..."

"Afterward, a classmate told me that his father is Zhen Changzhi, a Principal of the Ministry of Works, a sixth-rank official in the current dynasty."

"How could that be?" Liang Yue asked. "Aren't the students at your Nanshan Academy mostly from commoner families in the south of the city, at most with some who are merchants or minor officials? How could there be a sixth-rank court official? If he wasn't sending his child to a sword academy, he should at least be at Wen'an Hall, the Imperial Academy, or one of the more famous academies in Dragon Abyss City, right? Why come to Nanshan?"

"That's exactly what I didn't expect, which is why I made this oversight," Liang Peng shook his head, seemingly regretting it. "I inquired further, and it turns out that Zhen Changzhi is known in the Six Ministries for being exceptionally clean and incorruptible. Because he is so honest and often charitable, his family's livelihood is still difficult, which is why he sent him to the ordinary Nanshan Academy."

Clearly, what he regretted was not the fight itself, but not investigating the other party's family background before acting.

"How is that person now? Are they seriously injured?" Liang Xiaoyun asked again.

"I don't know, he was carried home," Liang Peng replied.

"That sounds quite serious..." Liang Yue was slightly troubled. That was a sixth-rank official. Even if he was from the Ministry of Works, he would have countless connections. He was definitely not someone an Imperial Capital Guard from the guards could afford to offend.

"Third Brother, you need to go and apologize," Liang Xiaoyun said immediately. "The sooner the better."

"Xiaoyun is right," Liang Yue also agreed. "At this time, the most important thing is to gain their understanding. Even if the other party provoked first, we are ultimately weaker, and currently not particularly in the right."

"Even if the other party wants to hit or scold you, or insult you, you must endure it. You must settle this matter no matter what," Liang Xiaoyun said. "If you have resentment in your heart, we can seek revenge later when the opportunity arises. But for now, our stance must be as low as possible."

"You are right," Liang Peng nodded.

The three siblings were all clear-headed people and reached a consensus immediately.

"If we are to seek revenge later, I recently learned about a medicine. It's a mixture of two non-toxic herbs, but it can produce an effect that diminishes a person's yang energy and increases their yin energy," Liang Xiaoyun said calmly. "This medicine is colorless and odorless. If he takes it, he can unknowingly lose all his male capabilities and become an intersex person."

"No," Liang Yue quickly stopped her. "Using medicine is too easy to leave traces, and it's just a temporary conflict between classmates. Ruining someone's life is too heavy-handed... I happen to know a method of setting fire that is undetectable. If we want revenge later, we can use that for a minor punishment."

"Big Brother is truly benevolent," Liang Xiaoyun praised.

"Let's not rush the matter of revenge. After all, this time there was some back and forth. If the other party is willing to settle this peacefully, then I won't hold a grudge against him either," Liang Peng said. "Mother often taught us..."

The three siblings said in unison, "Harmony is precious."

"Then I will personally write a letter of apology, explaining the course of events and expressing my apologies... At the same time, I will also state the truth. Since his father is a famously incorruptible official, he will definitely value his reputation as an official. If he knows his child was in the wrong first, he probably won't make things too difficult for me," Liang Peng speculated.

"That makes sense," Liang Yue agreed, then rested his chin on his hand and said, "In a yamen like the Ministry of Works, which is notoriously lucrative, to still have a reputation as an incorruptible official, this Principal Zhen is quite capable."

Thanks to "Dui Dui Tu" for the Alliance Leader reward. This is the third super youthful and beautiful Alliance Leader of this book. Thank you, thank you.