Liang Xiao’s expression changed: "So you were the 'loyal minister' from back then!"
Zhuo Zifang, a veteran of three dynasties, known to the world as Zhuo Lingjun, had dedicated his life to the nation and its people. As a descendant of Zhuo Mingfeng, the founding prime minister of the Great Qian Dynasty, it was perfectly reasonable to assume he was the least likely to rebel with the former royal family.
Zhuo Zifang sighed repeatedly.
"It seems His Majesty mentioned this to you too... Correct! The late emperor was benevolent. Seeing her still in swaddling clothes, he couldn't bear to, and didn't choose to cut the weeds and roots. Instead, he entrusted her to me with his own hands, asking me to raise and protect her well, and let her live out her life without any undue notice. If she were to marry, I was to find the person who could protect her most and was most loyal to the Great Qian."
"I repeatedly corresponded with His Majesty and the Four Great Ministers, especially His Majesty and the two Shadow Guard commanders. All believed you would never rebel. Indeed, your Liang family is full of loyal martyrs, you are protected by the Heavenly General, and you even dared to offend noble families for His Majesty and the people. How could you possibly harbor rebellious thoughts? So... hmm."
Liang Xiao’s feelings were incredibly complex.
Zhuo Zifang’s white beard trembled with agitation: "Liang Xiao! As you can see, Xiao Xun, without knowing your real name, could treat you as a confidante! I wasn't spouting nonsense, was I? Only you in this world can protect and understand Xiao Xun! I can't possibly marry the former dynasty's princess to His Majesty, can I?"
Liang Xiao asked, "Then why are you so eager to pressure her?"
Zhuo Zifang's expression grew solemn, and he explained: "The south has been a bit chaotic recently, with the Spring Revival Sect, barbarian spies, remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom, and various rebels... appearing endlessly! The Southern King and the Grand Tutor must also be stirring. The remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom must have seen their so-called 'Emperor and Empress.' If Xiao Xun falls into their hands, and they suddenly discover she strongly resembles their 'Emperor and Empress,' you know the consequences!"
Liang Xiao was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Actually, she is not some princess of the Great Heng Kingdom, but the biological daughter of the Great Heng Kingdom's Marshal."
"What makes you say that?" Zhuo Zifang was taken aback.
Liang Xiao also whispered into his ear, telling Zhuo Zifang about Yue Lian.
Zhuo Zifang looked horrified: "Such an bizarre event! That's true, the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom abandoning their princess in a burning building and retreating themselves is highly suspicious. But... does His Majesty really not mind this matter?"
Zhuo Zifang didn't even dare to mention Yue Lian's name.
If the former dynasty's princess was Zhuo Xun, then everything would be easy to handle, as it was the late emperor's decree, and Liang Xiao was ordered to marry her.
But now, finding out that Yue Lian was the "one who escaped" back then, and Xiao Qing could still be tolerant, even not placing Yue Lian under house arrest and still letting her follow Liang Xiao, was truly lamentable.
From a rational perspective, Yue Lian should have been placed under house arrest in such a situation, to make the Great Heng Kingdom remnants hesitate, and even use this to coerce them into surrendering.
Liang Xiao explained: "Without their princess, wouldn't the Great Heng Kingdom remnants still cause trouble? Yue Lian advised Zuo Wushang, but Zuo Wushang did not surrender, he merely restrained the Great Heng Kingdom remnants, preventing them from wantonly killing innocents."
Zhuo Zifang nodded slightly: "No wonder there were no Great Heng Kingdom remnants among the major criminals recently arrested, at most some spies spreading rumors and vandalizing city walls. In contrast, the Spring Revival Sect, because of the book 'Refutation of the Spring Revival Sect' that alerted the people, making them restless and causing them to cause trouble everywhere. But without this book to alert the people, the Spring Revival Sect's harm would only be greater!"
Liang Xiao nodded: "I hope one day to let Zuo Wushang know his daughter is still alive, and to let the Great Heng Kingdom remnants understand the late emperor's kindness, perhaps there will be a chance for them to surrender."
Hearing this, Zhuo Zifang smiled, "Then you should marry her even more, shouldn't you?"
"Zhuo Lingjun, she still doesn't understand matters between men and women, she's very naive," Liang Xiao said with a straight face.
"Are you saying my Xiao Xun isn't good enough for you?" Zhuo Zifang also put on a stern face.
The old and the young began to bicker.
"I didn't mean that."
"You did mean that! I was once your grandfather's comrade-in-arms, and also your Qingxue's teacher. The young talents who wish to pursue my Xiao Xun could form a line from my doorstep to outside Jinling City! You don't want Xiao Xun to fall into the hands of the Great Heng Kingdom remnants, do you?"
Seeing Zhuo Zifang suddenly acting so shamelessly, Liang Xiao was stunned.
This old fellow, how did his skin become so thick? Was he possessed?
"Please! Liang Xiao, take Xiao Xun back to the capital, the south is no longer safe!" Zhuo Zifang finally couldn't help but beg.
Liang Xiao pouted and glanced at Zhuo Zifang: "First, you tell me all about your romantic escapades with the Female Painting Immortal."
Zhuo Zifang's old face blushed: "Old news, what's there to talk about?"
"The south is not safe, and you don't want Xiao Xun to fall into the hands of villains, do you?" Liang Xiao countered.
Zhuo Zifang's eyebrows twitched, his hand hidden in his sleeve trembled slightly. He truly wished he could grab Liang Xiao and beat his backside a hundred times with a shoehorn!
How did this brat become so shameless? No, he was always shameless...
Eager to propose, Zhuo Zifang could only recount the past truthfully.
"Back then, I was still a wandering swordsman in various parts of Jiangnan, and I met Jin Yu a few times. But later I found out she was from the Li family, and my father was impeached by the Southern King, nearly going to jail. To avoid suspicion, how could I marry someone from a noble family? We were destined to be apart..."
"I avoided her everywhere. Initially, she refused to give up, and after ten years of effort, she finally despaired and hated me to death. Later, when the situation stabilized, my wife asked me to bring her over, but she was nearly forty, and refused to agree. It's all my fault for being young and reckless..."
Liang Xiao stared at Zhuo Zifang, finally understanding why this old fellow was sometimes so flamboyant.
This old fellow was flamboyant even in his youth, and must have charmed many beauties.
After Zhuo Zifang finished speaking, he grabbed Liang Xiao's collar and whispered, "Take Xiao Xun back to the capital. Even if you and she don't end up together, don't push her to someone else! She isn't my granddaughter, but she's better than one!"
"Do I have any other choice?" Liang Xiao sighed helplessly.
Zhuo Zifang said gravely, "No! You don't want me to hang myself at the entrance of your Liang Manor, do you?"
Liang Xiao almost jumped up to grab this old fellow and make him copy the Four Books and Five Classics a hundred times.
"I will protect her well, but you must respect her choice," Liang Xiao sighed.
Zhuo Zifang's eyes lit up: "Don't you have any idea how she will choose? Do you think I'm just a bookworm who can't understand a young girl's feelings?"
Liang Xiao's expression changed: This old flamboyant fellow...
Zhuo Zifang also realized he had gone too far with his shamelessness. His old face turned red, and he coughed strategically a few times, sighing, "It's my poor Xiao Yun who suffers. Originally, to avoid suspicion, I mentioned you to her, but it was actually Xiao Xun I wanted to marry. Then she fled to the Great Liang Kingdom to find the Great Liang Kingdom's Chess Sage..."
Liang Xiao couldn't help but roll his eyes: "That's your own doing, don't blame me! I'm even more innocent than they are!"
He had only found out after further investigation by his guards last night.
Zhuo Jia's second daughter, Zhuo Yun, Zhuo Wulue's second daughter, was also renowned, considered the "Chess Immortal of Jinling" by the people of Jinling, and alongside "Painting Immortal of Jinling" Zhuo Xun, they were known as the "Two Immortals of Jinling"!
Zhuo Zifang's eyes darted around and he said, "You are already nineteen years old with no children, how can you face your parents in heaven and your grandfather who is over seventy? You are still far from having three wives and four concubines. When I find Xiao Yun, you can also go and talk to her? Or, someday when you are sent on a mission to the Great Liang Kingdom, use the same trick you used to fool Xiao Xun to bring Xiao Yun back?"
Hearing this, Liang Xiao subconsciously lifted his right foot slightly, almost wanting to kick Zhuo Zifang!
This old fellow was planning to cause trouble in his backyard!