After a long pause, Yunxiu Zhaizhu sighed, "Swallows like to build their nests in places where people live. The common folk outside the northern border of Yanzhou were almost all slaughtered, so no one could live there anymore. Naturally, the swallows could only build their nests in trees..."
Everyone suddenly understood, and their hearts grew heavy.
With a simple phenomenon, Liang Xiao recounted the hellish scenes that had once occurred in Yanzhou!
Liang Xiao nodded, "Later, I read the records of the Grand Historian of our dynasty concerning the barbarian invasion, and had him add this sentence: Spring swallows return, nesting in the woods."
A wave of sorrow washed over the listeners, and they dared not make a sound.
Behind such a casually spoken sentence lay what unimaginable human tragedy!
Liang Xiao's mood was also somber as he continued, "If only the barbarian invasion southward into Yanzhou resulted in such a human tragedy, then if the world were to descend into chaos, with warfare erupting and border conflicts reignited, how many more would die?"
Hong Jie remained silent.
Liang Xiao then said, "As you said, my position in office is not solely due to my promise to His Majesty, but also for various other reasons. One of them is that those aristocratic families have already stepped all over us, and my grandfather would never have submitted to them and retreated into seclusion. Therefore, even though I was reluctant, I had to take action."
"Fortunately, His Majesty is wise and can tolerate a rebellious commoner like me. He even became sworn brothers with me when I was still a nobody. His expectation of me is not to help him retain the throne, but to usher in a truly peaceful and prosperous era, where the common people can live like human beings."
Became sworn brothers?
A tempest of disbelief churned within Hong Jie and the other two.
Throughout history, who had ever sworn brotherhood with someone after ascending the throne!
"In his eyes, what matters most is not the throne, but whether the people can live and work in peace. What kind of emperor do you think this is?" Liang Xiao asked with a pained expression.
The others were speechless.
What kind of emperor was this?
Jian Qinwan's eyes welled up, her heart filled with emotion.
This was why she had told Liang Xiao back then that Princess Ningshuang was the one most worthy of his devotion!
Hong Jie merely smiled sadly and nodded, "Indeed, there has been no ancient sage emperor to surpass him..."
Liang Xiao nodded, "Precisely! An emperor who places the people in his heart is a qualified one. We are humans, are the common folk not also human? Are they, like the unfortunate people of Yanzhou, to be reduced to a mere string of numbers in the historical records?"
Hong Jie nodded silently, while Zuo Jing and Shangguan Jiusi on the side were filled with anxiety.
Liang Xiao finally spoke his mind, "And this concept of valuing the people over the ruler began with Emperor Gaozu of the Great Qian dynasty, and was passed down through successive emperors. This is why the Great Qian dynasty has the most legitimate claim to the throne. The Great Zhou dynasty and the Great Heng kingdom, by disregarding the common people, eventually turned to dust in history."
Hong Jie nodded slightly and gave a wry smile, "I understand. No one cherishes this hard-won peace more than you, and you will not allow anyone to disrupt it. That is why you resolutely opposed those aristocratic families, precisely because they are the most unstable element in the Great Qian kingdom."
"Correct." Liang Xiao readily admitted, then added, "Yunxiu, you possess the demeanor of Zhuo Lingjun's shrewdness and adaptability. I hope that you, too, will leave a significant mark in the annals of history. As the ancients said, 'Life is but a fleeting moment, let loyalty shine in the pages of history!'"
Hong Jie's heart trembled, and he chuckled, "Life is but a fleeting moment, let loyalty shine in the pages of history... A person's ambitions do not change overnight. I will consider this carefully."
"Brother Liang Xiao's magnanimity is even broader than my brother's~" Zuo Jing's eyes turned red.
Shangguan Jiusi had to admire Zuo Jing's acting skills. To still be able to play Lin'er at this moment, with a tearful voice?
It was already a considerable feat for a man accustomed to rough seas to not lose his composure and reveal himself!
"Everyone has their own aspirations," Liang Xiao said, regaining his usual composure and smiling.
"Then can Lin'er admire Brother Liang Xiao?" Zuo Jing asked timidly.
Liang Xiao was taken aback, and could only smile and nod.
Only then did Lin'er smile like a blooming flower, her senses returning. She pursed her lips, her small face slightly flushed, and lowered her head.
Jian Qinwan watched, filled with emotion.
Was this little girl genuinely moved?
Yu Qingchuan and the other Tian Shan knights were on high alert: Good heavens, their junior sister might have gained a love rival!
The atmosphere gradually became awkward.
Just then, an angry shout came from behind Liang Xiao: "No loitering!"
As everyone looked around in surprise, a senior brother from Tian Shan rushed in and announced, "Marquis of Anguo, a monk from Bailong Temple requests an audience!"
"How did they find us here?" Liang Xiao frowned.
An ordinary person should not recognize his convoy!
"Is the Marquis of Anguo within?" a deep voice called from outside.
The senior brother turned and replied, "He is here, but it is inconvenient to receive guests. Please, venerable monks, return."
As soon as he finished speaking, the senior brother's expression changed drastically. With a flick of his wrist, the heavy door slammed shut with a "bang." Immediately following was a series of dull "thump-thump-thump" sounds, as if something was striking the door panel.
"Marquis of Anguo, the other party suddenly drew their weapons and attacked. They are clearly assassins!"
Upon hearing this, Hong Jie and the other two immediately stood up, their hearts filled with anger.
Another group of fools coming to ruin things?!
"Stand guard!"
Liang Xiao gave the order, and everyone drew the weapons at their waists, grabbing wooden boards nearby as shields.
"Is there a back door?" Liang Xiao quickly asked Hong Jie.
Before Hong Jie could respond, a large number of iron bottles emitting green smoke flew in from outside!
"Beware of poison!" Everyone cried out in alarm and quickly retreated, covering their noses with their sleeves.
"Follow me!"
Hong Jie immediately led everyone away from the courtyard, through broken corridors. Upon reaching the back courtyard, his steps faltered, and Zuo Jing let out a "cry of alarm."
The back courtyard was surrounded by a row of railings, and in the distance, a group of monks armed with sabers were charging towards them!
Hong Jie could no longer maintain his composure and said angrily, "It seems we are surrounded! Yun Jiu, assist them in repelling the enemy!"
Shangguan Jiusi looked back at Hong Jie with confusion. Meeting Hong Jie's anxious gaze, he had no choice but to steel himself, draw the treasured sword at his waist, and stand ready beside Yu Qingchuan and the others.
Zuo Jing quietly moved closer to Hong Jie, tugged at his sleeve, and gave him a meaningful look.
Hong Jie gritted his teeth, his hand inside his sleeve clenched tightly around the Xuanming Powder given by Zuo Wushang, and shook his head.
Zuo Jing frowned, not daring to speak, merely feigning fear, her delicate body trembling.
"Sixth Senior Brother, protect this brother and sister!"
Liang Xiao's words made Zuo Jing feel even more helpless.
Her original intention was to find an opportunity to approach Liang Xiao, use the Xuanming Powder to incapacitate him, and then use him as a hostage, allowing the three of them to retreat safely.
But the Xuanming Powder was still in Hong Jie's hands!
The twenty Tian Shan knights and Shangguan Jiusi stood ready, facing over a hundred monks armed with sabers!
Liang Xiao and Jian Qinwan drew their swords, their gazes sharp.
Hong Jie pulled Zuo Jing to the side, and the two of them quietly observed.
They finally seemed to have an opportunity to confirm whether Liang Xiao was indeed the Heavenly General.
The more than one hundred monks quickly cut through all the railings and ferociously charged towards Liang Xiao and his group.
Before the attackers even got close, a scream rang out!