Li Xiuyun!
Liang Xiao and the other two smiled knowingly at Miss Xun.
Liang Xiao had made a detour from Tianqin Mountain to Luzhou specifically to visit Li Xiuyun. It was rumored that during his tenure as the Prefect of Luzhou, Li Xiuyun had managed the military and civilian affairs of the prefecture with exceptional order. Perhaps he could recommend some talented individuals who were overlooked.
Miss Xun protested, "You don't believe me? Li Xiuyun is truly amazing! Don't think he's only ranked fifth; in the hearts of us Jiangnan people, he's the undisputed number one! And as you've seen since coming to Luzhou, it's a place of peace and prosperity. He's only been Prefect of Luzhou for a little over a month, and he's already rectified the chaos!"
"I believe you," Liang Xiao nodded.
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian glanced at Liang Xiao meaningfully, then at Miss Xun, feeling a strange sense of pity.
*Poor child, the number one choice for state affairs talent who has impressed and awed Li Xiuyun is right in front of you...*
"Hmph, he just likes to trick young girls!" Jian Qinwan grumbled inwardly, her pretty face flushing.
Compared to this, she was the one who was first thrust upon Liang Xiao by her own mother, and later "tricked" by him as well!
Miss Xun's face bloomed into a smile. "As expected of someone I recognize as a kindred spirit, we get along so well! Don't worry, I won't cause you any more trouble. My master is Li Xiuyun's aunt, and she's been famous in Luzhou for at least twenty years. As long as we find her, there will surely be a way!"
Liang Xiao readily agreed, but a hint of worry gnawed at him.
Given this complex web of relationships, if this "Miss Xun" was the third daughter of the powerful families like the Gongyang clan of Jiangnan, then Miss Xun was destined for a tragic fate.
In the past, when young emperors were constrained by powerful aristocratic families, the empress, who occupied the principal position in the harem, often came from such families, ensuring their lineage's enduring prosperity.
Liang Xiao could only pray that this young girl was from the He or Zhuo families of Jiangnan, in which case he would feel even more compelled to protect her.
Miss Xun timidly asked, "Brother Lu, what's your real name?"
"My name is truly Lü Changhe," Liang Xiao said with utmost seriousness.
"I don't believe you!" Miss Xun pouted.
Liang Xiao sighed. "I really can't do anything with you. It seems I can't hide it from you anymore."
"Lü Changhe is just an alias I use publicly. My real name is Zhang Yang, and you mustn't tell anyone."
Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan, who were tending to the hot water, nearly choked simultaneously.
Utterly shameless!
"Mhm, I'll definitely keep it a secret for Brother Zhang!" Miss Xun said, finally content.
After Miss Xun retired for the night, Liang Xiao was teased mercilessly by Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan.
A guard from the Liang Manor rushed into the inn with recorded intelligence.
"Second Young Master, we've urgently gathered all reliable information, but the people of Luzhou don't know much about Jinling! It's truly impossible to ascertain which family's third daughter she is, as Jinling has several prosperous families, all with a third daughter!
"We also sought out local painters, but they all claimed to know nothing about the 'Female Painting Immortal' having a disciple, or even her whereabouts. Only after offering substantial rewards did they suggest we inquire at the central painting workshops in Luzhou! Those burly men who were chasing the young lady earlier are still lingering around the inn. We politely asked them for information, but they refused to utter a single word, only pleading for you, Second Young Master, to protect this young lady!"
Liang Xiao took the intelligence and said, "Take a few brothers and go to the painting workshops to inquire about the Female Painting Immortal's residence."
After the guard left, Liang Xiao sighed. "I spent a long time preparing before coming to Jiangnan, yet I still missed such crucial information. I can understand why the servants who were chased away by Miss Xun are afraid to reveal the truth, fearing they'd drive her to her death. But it's odd that they wouldn't even report their family name."
"With Jiangnan's population in the tens of millions, there are bound to be local customs that people from the capital are unfamiliar with. You've already done an excellent job, Young Master," Yue Lian comforted him.
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded, but a suspicion lingered in his mind.
The importance of this "Miss Xun" to her family was likely far more than just a simple marriage alliance. There must be a deeper reason behind it, but the possibility of it being a honey trap set by enemies could be ruled out.
The next morning, Liang Xiao immediately took Miss Xun to the central painting workshops in Luzhou.
Liang Xiao wasn't doing this out of idleness. His bookstore also required a large number of painters to illustrate its books, especially for premium stories like "Journey to the West." Once these paintings were completed, they could be commissioned for carving into woodblocks for printing.
Mature woodblock printing, for a considerable period, remained more practical than movable type printing because movable type was prone to wear and tear, and with the myriad of characters, a vast quantity of type would be needed.
The Ouyang family's woodblock printing techniques had taken a wrong turn, and coupled with their complacency, technological innovation had stagnated, providing Liang Xiao with an opportunity.
Painters could also be utilized for political propaganda. For instance, a vividly rendered painting of a "Ghost King Liang Xiao" could make many people in Jiangnan believe in Liang Xiao's demonic image, completely disregarding his achievements in promoting smallpox prevention and planning the defense of Yanzhou.
"The Female Painting Immortal? Everyone here knows of her! But aside from her nephew, the newly appointed Prefect, hardly anyone knows where she lives!"
Upon arriving at the Luzhou painting workshops, Liang Xiao and his companions inquired with various painters. After a full hour, the responses were largely the same.
The Female Painting Immortal did indeed live in Luzhou, but she was in hiding!
Liang Xiao asked Miss Xun, "Your master is so famous, why is she hiding? Is she afraid of people disturbing her?"
Miss Xun replied, "My master was heartbroken by a man in her early years and dislikes men intensely. But she used to keep in touch with me through letters. Then, one day, she suddenly stopped writing, and my grandfather only told me she was safe and that I needn't worry."
Liang Xiao frowned slightly. "It's likely she offended someone."
Just then, a deep female voice called out from a distance, "Why are you looking for the Female Painting Immortal!"
Liang Xiao and the other two turned to look and saw an unremarkable woman in black approaching them briskly.
Miss Xun also turned around.
The moment she saw Miss Xun, the middle-aged woman's pupils contracted, then she regained her composure.
Miss Xun eagerly asked, "Auntie, do you know where my master is? Please take me to her, and I'll reward you handsomely!"
The woman merely kept a stern face and glanced at Liang Xiao. "Who are you people?"
"I am the Female Painting Immortal's last disciple, here to seek refuge with my master! This is Brother Lü Changhe!" Miss Xun quickly replied.
"Lü Changhe??"
The middle-aged woman narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Liang Xiao, then glanced around. "Let's find a quiet place!"
Another inn was rented by Liang Xiao for the entire day at a high price.
"Auntie, did my master offend someone? Please tell me quickly!" Miss Xun grew anxious and began to work on her tearful appeal.
The woman, however, looked at Liang Xiao and answered evasively, "The officialdom of Jiangnan is far from the capital, filled with people from powerful aristocratic families. Land reclamation, contract taxes – such brilliant state policies are met with immense resistance in almost every prefecture and county, except Luzhou and Jinling, even when they are promoted by imperial decree."
The girls present couldn't grasp her meaning, but Liang Xiao's expression grew solemn. "I understand what you mean, Madam. The Female Painting Immortal offended a supremely powerful aristocratic family and is now being protected."
Miss Xun quickly added, "Auntie, this Brother Lü is a good person. He is kindly helping me, even without fear of offending my family, and he has promised to escort me to find my master..."
The woman gave Miss Xun a strange look and sighed.
"Two years ago, the son of Grand Tutor Gongyang He, the Prefect of Luzhou, Gongyang Qiu, was corrupt and killed innocent people indiscriminately. The Female Painting Immortal, filled with righteous indignation, painted a depiction exposing him. This led to widespread public outcry, and the imperial court finally dealt with Gongyang Qiu. However, the Female Painting Immortal was subsequently attacked by assassins multiple times, and the Gongyang clan has been seeking excuses to imprison her. The Jiangnan Gongyang clan is comparable to the Dugu family among aristocratic clans, and they are not as easy to deal with as the Jinling Zhuo family. Man, do you dare to offend them?"
"The Jinling Zhuo family?"
Liang Xiao looked at Miss Xun, whose expression suddenly turned flustered, and in that instant, all the preceding events seemed to fall into place!
At the same time, a commotion erupted from outside.