The three girls stared at Liang Xiao in shock.
Li Xiuyun also blinked in surprise, his voice trembling, "Marquis An Guo, my preferences are perfectly normal. I have a wife and children, a happy family..."
Liang Xiao frowned, "What are you thinking? I heard you are an upright official who has managed Luzhou with remarkable efficiency. Naturally, I had to pay you a visit and, while I'm here, perhaps you could recommend some talented individuals from the Luzhou region to me!"
"So that's it!" Li Xiuyun breathed a sigh of relief. He then firmly clasped Liang Xiao's hand and said earnestly, "Giving humble scholars a chance to display their ambitions is a noble pursuit. This subordinate will offer his full support!"
Jian Qinwan snorted, "Don't believe his sweet talk, everyone. He just likes men!"
Liang Xiao frowned, walked over to Jian Qinwan, who was smiling sweetly, and whispered into her ear, "My lady, how about we return to Tianqin Mountain immediately and prove to your master that I like women?"
Jian Qinwan's pretty face instantly flushed to her ears. She stammered, "You... you go handle your official business. I... I don't want to cause you any trouble..."
She had reason to believe that after a few more nights sharing a bed with Liang Xiao, she might truly be "consumed" by him!
Liang Xiao then turned to instruct Li Xiuyun, "You and I were both participants in the imperial examination for official selection, and we knew each other in the capital. So, no need for 'this subordinate.' Just call me Liang Xiao. I consider you a friend."
Saying this, Liang Xiao looked at Zhuo Xiong, "Brother Zhuo Xiong, we are of the same generation. You don't need to be so humble. Just call me Liang Xiao."
Zhuo Xiong nodded with great joy and asked, "Is it because you're going to be my brother-in-law?"
Zhuo Xun, standing nearby, her face flushed, hid behind Li Jinyu and peeked at Liang Xiao's reaction.
Zhuo Zifang deliberately put on a pained expression and said, "Little Xun's elopement has caused so much trouble for Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao is also the predetermined consort, and he has two beautiful ladies, Qingxue and Qin Xian, waiting to marry him. How can he still marry Xun'er? I agree with Liang Xiao's sentiment; her wish not to marry should be respected."
Zhuo Xun, beside him, was filled with regret and almost in tears.
Jian Qinwan, who had calmed down, blushed again upon hearing Zhuo Zifang's words. She had already married Liang Xiao...
Unexpectedly, Zhuo Zifang changed his tone, pouting, "So you must return to the capital with Liang Xiao, listen to his teachings every day, and see if he can change his mind, and then see if Qingxue and the Princess can tolerate you!"
Zhuo Xun's beautiful eyes lit up, and she gazed intently at Liang Xiao.
Li Jinyu exclaimed angrily, "Zhuo Zifang, Little Xun is also my disciple! It's not for you to arrange her life so crudely! She has already said that she wants to live here with me!"
Zhuo Zifang coughed a few times and sighed, "Then, does Little Xun agree?"
Li Jinyu turned to look at Zhuo Xun.
Zhuo Xun lowered her head, her tears already welling up. In an instant, her eyes were teary, "Master, I fear I can no longer stay in Luzhou to look after you in your old age..."
Li Jinyu: ...
Zhuo Xun then "tearfully" pouted, "So, Master, let's go to the capital together. That way, we can have the best of both worlds. Little Xun can be filial to grandfather and not let Master down..."
"You little trickster, crying fake tears again!" Li Jinyu said with a mixture of laughter and tears, but she still tenderly wiped her tears.
Li Xiuyun pondered for a moment and said, "Aunt, Jiangnan is quite chaotic. There are many bandits in the Luzhou area. Why not go to the capital? Liang Xiao and his grandfather, General Zuo, are both at the Liang Manor. The Liang Manor's personal guards are well-trained and can protect you, allowing you to create more effectively."
Li Jinyu was startled and re-examined Liang Xiao, "Marquis An Guo, you secretly changed your name and abducted my disciple!"
"Master, it was this disciple who wronged him first..." Zhuo Xun meekly reminded her.
Li Jinyu sighed, "A daughter grows up and leaves home... If you must go, then go! I also don't want to see your grandfather's ugly face in Jiangnan!"
Zhuo Zifang's old face flushed, and he dared not respond.
Li Xiuyun said solemnly to Zhuo Xun, "Little Xun, 'A cup of wine in the spring breeze of peach and plum, ten years of lamplight in the night rain of the martial world' – these are truly timeless lines! Do you understand now? The talent of Marquis An Guo is more than ten times mine! From now on, don't say I'm the best. I'm truly too embarrassed to even say that."
Zhuo Xun quickly covered her face, peeking at Liang Xiao through her fingers.
She had just boasted about Li Xiuyun to Liang Xiao and the other two, and now...
Liang Xiao looked at Zhuo Xun and smiled, "Little girl, you really want to go to the capital? Aren't you afraid that I, this devil king, will sprout three heads, six arms, and eight wings and devour you whole?"
Zhuo Xun's delicate body trembled, and she mumbled, "Yes, yes! I'll be your maid to atone for my sins, okay..."
"That won't do," Liang Xiao shook his head.
Zhuo Xun quickly lowered her hand, looking at Liang Xiao with disappointment, "You're not satisfied even if I become your maid?"
Liang Xiao smiled slightly, "I don't want you to be my maid. When you arrive in the capital, the Liang Manor will provide you with good food and lodging. But you are absolutely forbidden to run away like this again. I won't force you. If you don't want to stay, just tell me directly, and I will send you back to Jiangnan. I always keep my word."
Zhuo Zifang's heart sank, and he almost jumped up to kick Liang Xiao.
He said he would take her to the capital for protection, and now this brat wanted to send her back?
Zhuo Xun asked nervously, "Will you visit me often then?"
Liang Xiao paused, then nodded.
Zhuo Xun's face instantly bloomed like a flower, "I'm not going back. I'll just visit my relatives in Jiangnan occasionally..."
Li Jinyu, standing by, was dumbfounded, her heart filled with complex emotions.
This child was so much like her when she was young.
The only difference was that she had met the heartless scoundrel Zhuo Zifang, who flirted and then ran away. This child, however, had met the understanding and benevolent Liang Xiao!
Zhuo Zifang and Zhuo Xiong looked crestfallen. In just half a day, their child had been lured away and no longer missed home?
She hadn't even mentioned going back to Jinling to say goodbye to her mother and grandmother!
However, since Zhuo Xun was willing to return to the capital with Liang Xiao, Zhuo Zifang was finally relieved.
"I will stay in Jiangnan for a while. We will wait in Luzhou for a few days, and then we will go to Jinling quietly," Liang Xiao said.
Li Xiuyun reminded them, "You must be very careful in Luzhou. Recent reports from spies indicate that many bandits have gathered around Luzhou. To be safe, I have already sent someone to notify Marquis Ding Guo, hoping they can suppress the bandits. Gongyang Qiu was once the local emperor here and still has some influence. He has caused me quite a bit of trouble."
Li Jinyu lowered her head in shame, "It is this aunt who has implicated you!"
"Not at all! Aunt is acting on behalf of heaven, and all the people admire her! In the past, when this nephew was a commoner, my power was insufficient. Now that I have the ability, I will naturally offer my full support!" Li Xiuyun declared resolutely.
Liang Xiao cast an appreciative glance at the two of them and nodded, "How many troops does Luzhou have?"
Li Xiuyun replied, "Ten thousand! However, these troops and their commanders are all direct subordinates of Marquis Ding Guo, so there's no need to worry about a mutiny. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to stabilize the situation in Luzhou so quickly! But the number of bandits is unknown, so we cannot be complacent."
Zhuo Zifang frowned slightly and sighed, "The situation in the capital and Yan Prefecture has stabilized. It's likely that the rebels there, realizing their rebellion is hopeless, have all converged on Jiangnan! If the enemy sees both myself and Liang Xiao appearing in Luzhou simultaneously, they might make a desperate attempt to attack Luzhou, aiming to eliminate both of us at once. We must be on guard!"
Li Xiuyun's heart tensed, and he immediately pledged to reinforce the city defenses.
Just then, a soldier reported, "Prefect! Someone from the Marquis Ding Guo's manor at Tianqin Mountain is requesting an audience. They say they are looking for Marquis An Guo, and it is extremely urgent!"