The dignified Southern King, bringing his heir with him to the Jiangnan Spring Banquet, only to be…
Expelled by Liang Xiao as soon as he entered?
Liang Xiao once again refreshed everyone's understanding of his boldness.
Xiao Chang had absolutely not anticipated Liang Xiao daring to speak such words. After a moment of stunned silence, he said with a grim face, "What do you mean by this?"
The heir, Xiao Feng, standing beside Xiao Chang, sneered, "Liang Xiao, you are merely a minor Marquis, at best a second-rank official. How dare you insult our royal family?"
"Liang Xiao…" Zhuo Zifang also turned and tugged at Liang Xiao's sleeve. He Jingyun even more frequently signaled Liang Xiao with his eyes.
It was clear everyone felt Liang Xiao was playing a bit too wildly!
Even if he truly intended to drive them away, it should have been done in private!
At this moment, Zhuo Zifang also had a splitting headache, but his scholar's pride made it impossible for him to bow to the Southern King.
Liang Xiao merely stared coldly at the father and son of the Southern King and said in a deep voice, "The reason you were able to ascend to royal status is due to our Great Qian's founding ancestor's deep affection and loyalty, who bestowed upon your distant relatives a leisurely princely title for them to enjoy a life of ease. From the founding ancestor downwards, successive emperors have all explicitly forbidden your Southern Royal family from involving themselves in worldly affairs and from recruiting scholars above the level of Xiucai."
Xiao Chang and Xiao Feng both choked for a moment.
Liang Xiao returned to his usual calm demeanor and smiled, "Therefore, Your Highness, do you intend to rebel?"
"Nonsense!" Xiao Chang erupted in fury, "My family has received imperial favor for generations, how could we dare to rebel?"
Liang Xiao retorted, "Then what is your purpose in attending the Jiangnan Spring Banquet, a gathering of scholars and officials? Did the founding ancestor not tell you to remain leisurely princes for generations to come, and not interfere in governance?"
Xiao Chang roared, "This King has no intention of rebelling, and I do not need to explain myself to you!"
"Do not need to?"
Liang Xiao frowned and looked at Yu Qingchuan below the stage.
Yu Qingchuan understood and went up on stage, handing the sword he was holding to Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao held the sword and said in a deep voice, "This Marquis wields the Emperor's command sword and has been ordered to inspect the Jiangnan region, with the authority to supervise and take over military and administrative affairs of all regions in Jiangnan at any time. Do you say you do not need to explain yourself to this Marquis?"
Xiao Chang's expression changed. Looking at the imperial decree and the Emperor's command sword in Liang Xiao's hand, he clenched his fists, his face turning from green to pale.
This young man did not follow the usual path at all!
He had thought that as the Southern King, the other party would at least show him some respect.
Instead, upon meeting him, he was told to leave?
He Jingyun chuckled dryly, "According to the Emperor's decree, this Jiangnan Spring Banquet, if Marquis An Guo deems it necessary, this subordinate must also hand over the hosting to him. Your Highness…"
Xiao Chang's expression twitched, and he sneered, "So that's how it is. This King will depart shortly!"
Everyone was astonished.
They were actually driven away by Liang Xiao?
"Oh, since you're here…" Liang Xiao suddenly said.
Everyone turned their heads towards Liang Xiao, their faces full of shock.
Why did he want to keep them now?
Xiao Chang and his son frowned as they scrutinized Liang Xiao, unsure of what he was planning.
Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Your Highness has already arrived at the Jiangnan Spring Banquet. You must give this Marquis an explanation. You, a leisurely prince forbidden from interfering in governance and worldly affairs, why are you here? If you do not give this Marquis a reasonable explanation, it will be difficult for this Marquis not to handle this officially!"
Everyone couldn't help but gasp.
Was this the legendary newborn calf that fears no tiger?
The Southern King gritted his teeth and chuckled dryly, "Naturally, it is to admire the demeanor of Marquis An Guo!"
Zhuo Zifang and the others on the side inwardly sneered.
Admire Liang Xiao's demeanor?
It had only been about fifteen minutes since Liang Xiao's identity was revealed.
This meant that the Southern King and his son had been within a fifteen-minute walk of this place, perhaps even waiting outside, ready to enter when the time was right, to befriend talented individuals from all regions and to show their faces!
As for their intentions, they were self-evident!
"Then have you finished admiring?" Liang Xiao asked abruptly.
Everyone's eyes widened, unable to believe that Liang Xiao would push his luck further, even after they had flattered him!
"Finished!" Xiao Chang suppressed his inner rage, his anger turning into a laugh.
"Finished? Then you can go home. We won't see you out," Liang Xiao waved dismissively at Xiao Chang.
The entire scene fell into a brief silence.
After being reprimanded and humiliated, they were finally being asked to leave…
And this time, the Southern King had no choice but to leave, with the accusation of rebellion hanging over his head at any moment!
Xiao Chang's face turned ashen, and he said with a tremor, "Good! Very good! This King has now witnessed your demeanor, Liang Xiao. We shall meet again!"
"Father…" Xiao Feng was both angry and anxious, glaring at Liang Xiao, but was pulled away by Xiao Chang.
Watching the father and son of the Southern King glance back resentfully every few steps, Liang Xiao merely looked bored and said, "Wait!"
Shock!
The entire audience was bewildered.
He had kept them again?
"What else do you want?" Xiao Chang asked with a dark face, like a lion ready to pounce.
Liang Xiao ignored the Southern King and turned to Gongyang He, saying, "Oh, Grand Tutor was very welcoming to the Southern King just now, even saying it was a great honor, completely forgetting the rules set by the founding ancestor. Could it be that Grand Tutor and the Southern King…"
Gongyang He's expression changed, and he quickly waved his hands and argued, "There is no such thing! This old man merely…"
Liang Xiao immediately interrupted Gongyang He, "As an official appointed by the court, and now the head of Jiangnan's bureaucracy, with the Southern King coming to the Jiangnan Spring Banquet, this… please have the Grand Tutor represent everyone and state your position to the Southern King."
The entire audience was stunned.
"You are going too far!" Xiao Chang roared.
Liang Xiao feigned surprise, "Could it be that the two of you have already colluded and have intentions of rebellion?"
They both vehemently refuted in unison, "Utter nonsense!"
Liang Xiao looked wronged, "But the Southern King came to the Jiangnan Spring Banquet in full view of everyone, and the Grand Tutor welcomed him joyfully. If no statement is made, it will be difficult for this Marquis to explain to His Majesty on your behalf!"
This time, even Zhuo Zifang couldn't help but secretly marvel in his heart.
This was simply a crazy frontal assault, kicking their faces to the point of no return!
Gongyang He's complexion grew increasingly grim until he saw Liang Xiao patting his Emperor's command sword and smiling at him.
Being in the wrong from the start, Gongyang He had no choice but to walk to the front of the stage and say loudly to Xiao Chang, "Your Highness, please refrain from entering the Jiangnan Spring Banquet in the future. This action does not comply with the rules set by the founding ancestor…"
The entire audience held its breath!!
The dignified Grand Tutor, an official of the first rank comparable to the Prime Minister, had actually been forced by Liang Xiao to make a statement?
The father and son of the Southern King were struck by lightning.
After recovering from their shock, Xiao Chang said with a bitter smile, "This King understands!"
Under the shocked gaze of the crowd, Xiao Chang, leading the people of the Southern Royal household, turned tail and fled the scene in disgrace.
Liang Xiao merely watched Xiao Chang's retreating figure with cold eyes, his killing intent rising within him.
This Southern King was the one who had harmed his father, his uncle, and countless soldiers.
And the Southern Royal heir dared to covet his Shuang'er?
Today's humiliation was merely an appetizer!
Zhuo Zifang, having recovered, couldn't help but stroke his beard and laugh heartily.
It was utterly exhilarating!
Liu Feng and others even applauded and cheered.
When had anyone dared to publicly humiliate the Southern King and the Grand Tutor?
Undoubtedly, Liang Xiao had thoroughly earned the respect of some and thoroughly offended others.
Liang Xiao simply smiled and looked at Duguxiao and Ouyang Sheng, who were already petrified below the stage.
"Hmm? Aren't these the talented scholars Ouyang and Duguxiao? Why have you come to Jiangnan? By the way, Grand Tutor, why isn't your son, Gongyang Qiu, attending the Jiangnan Spring Banquet?"
As soon as he spoke, Duguxiao and Ouyang Sheng turned pale, while Gongyang He was both shocked and furious!
How many people in Jiangnan didn't know that his son, due to criminal acts, was almost beheaded and had long since been dismissed and investigated!
This time, he had publicly executed three more people, and reminded everyone of Gongyang Qiu's crimes. When contrasted with the words and actions of Gongyang He and Gongyang Long today.
What would the neutral scholars and ladies and gentlemen present think? It was self-evident!
"Tsk tsk, the family style of the Gongyang clan seems to have some issues…"
"How did the Grand Tutor raise these eight hundred scholars…"