The crowd looked closely and indeed, besides the scratch from the stone, Zuo Jing's palm had calluses!
Hong Jie and the other two were shaken!
At this moment, Zuo Jing's thoughts raced.
She had originally intended to fake a fall to attract Liang Xiao's attention, but Liang Xiao's urgent cry had interfered, preventing her from achieving the desired outcome.
Now, she was contemplating whether to seize the opportunity to take out the Xuanming Powder, attack Liang Xiao, and then hold him hostage!
This line of thought flashed by in an instant. Zuo Jing abandoned the risky idea, merely looking at Liang Xiao with tear-filled, wronged eyes.
"Brother Liang Xiao..."
Hong Jie immediately said, "This is my fault. I used to farm in the mountains, and Lin'er insisted on following me, doing a lot of farm work. She also planted all the flowers in the backyard of our Suzhou home."
As he spoke, Hong Jie also pulled open his sleeves and spread his hands.
"Farm work?" Liang Xiao looked at Hong Jie's thin hands, also covered in calluses, and mused.
"Mm~" Zuo Jing lowered her head in shame, secretly relieved.
Whether he believed Hong Jie's words or not, wouldn't he at least show some concern for her now, even if it was just pretense?
Jian Qinwan and the Tianshan swordsmen were also somewhat puzzled.
Just then, Liang Xiao chuckled heartily, "You know how to farm? Lin'er is truly capable!"
Zuo Jing nearly suffocated, suppressing the urge to jump up and punch Liang Xiao to the ground!
Kristi stared, dumbfounded.
He couldn't even comfort a girl; how did he manage to elope with Princess Ningshuang and the Qin Immortal?
Hong Jie and Shangguan Jiusi had expected Liang Xiao to comfort Zuo Jing, or praise her for not being a pampered young lady. Now, they were also stunned.
What was this man thinking? Praising her for being good at farm work?
Zuo Jing only cried softly, "Brother Xiao dislikes Lin'er!"
"No, no, no. Doing farm work occasionally is good for your health."
As Liang Xiao spoke, he took out a bottle of wound medicine from his Hundred Treasures Bag and applied it to Zuo Jing's left hand wound.
"Ah~ it hurts~" Zuo Jing exclaimed delicately.
Liang Xiao comforted her, "There, there. It won't hurt for long."
Hong Jie and Shangguan Jiusi, being married men, were rendered speechless.
What suggestive words!
Zuo Jing finally quieted down, gazing at Liang Xiao with affectionate eyes, though she felt some confusion.
She had deliberately cried out in pain, wanting to see Liang Xiao's reaction and perhaps create some intimacy to strengthen their bond.
While she lacked experience in such matters, the training provided by the Yuntian Guard certainly included aspects of male-female relationships, for unexpected situations.
His current expression seemed genuinely concerned?
As a master of disguise and the leader of the Yuntian Guard, Zuo Jing could tell that Liang Xiao wasn't just going through the motions, unless he was an even better actor than she was.
Hong Jie and Shangguan Jiusi also observed Liang Xiao's expression, pondering.
Did he truly believe that "Lin'er" was innocent and naive, even if they had ulterior motives?
At this moment, Zuo Jing felt no joy.
This fellow genuinely felt for her, not because of her beauty...
If he had seen through her and Hong Jie, was this concern for her as a pawn?
If he hadn't, was this concern stemming from guilt?
Uncle said he was the true Heavenly General. Someone like that...
After gently helping Zuo Jing up, Liang Xiao said, "Do farm work in moderation from now on. As the saying goes, 'men plow and women weave.' You can also weave. Your elder brother farming in the mountains was for his ideals and aspirations, not because he was poor."
"Oh~ Lin'er will listen to Brother Liang Xiao~" Zuo Jing finally broke into a smile.
Jian Qinwan watched, her feelings complex.
This Casanova had once again, inadvertently, charmed another young girl!
Liang Xiao then turned to Hong Jie and sighed, "Yunxiu, can you truly protect Yunheng and Lin'er?"
Hong Jie, still uncertain of Liang Xiao's true intentions, remained silent for a moment before sighing, "Your words have meaning; speak plainly."
Liang Xiao said, "Officials from noble families are spread throughout the country. I plan to recommend the strategy of 'promoting officials based on merit' to His Majesty."
"Promoting officials based on merit?"
Everyone was taken aback.
Liang Xiao nodded, "As long as they are law-abiding and capable, contributing to the country and its people, personal faults will be overlooked, and they will be broadly selected."
"By offending the noble families so deeply, aren't you afraid that their descendants will slander you in historical records after your passing?" Hong Jie asked helplessly.
"Life is short, seize the day. What is a posthumous reputation worth?" Liang Xiao said dismissively, then added, "Do you know why I am establishing bookstores across the country?"
Everyone looked at Liang Xiao with inquiring eyes.
Liang Xiao solemnly stated, "Ultimately, it is because the minds of the people are still unenlightened. The common folk will be thoroughly poisoned and deceived by the noble families. This is also one of the root causes of chaos in the world. However, if, one day, the noble families disappear, education should still be promoted, allowing more and more people to access knowledge."
"Why is that?" Hong Jie could not comprehend.
Liang Xiao laughed heartily, "Because this is the inherent equal right that every human being is born with."
Equality, rights!
The crowd seemed to understand, yet not quite.
Only Hong Jie was deeply shaken.
Liang Xiao said sternly, "Whether it is the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Great Heng Kingdom, or Great Qian and Great Liang, there are no eternal, immortal dynasties in this world. Hundreds or thousands of years from now, the world will have undergone earth-shattering changes, and the concepts of freedom and equality will be deeply ingrained in people's hearts. But you and I will not live to see it."
This was the tide of history!
However, the current productivity of society was far from sufficient to support such progressive tides. Liang Xiao was not foolish enough to force growth; it was enough for him to play his part and not disrupt the era!
Hong Jie was speechless, and the others were utterly bewildered.
"Yunxiu, let us create a true era of prosperity together, and let the people of future generations firmly believe that since ancient times, there have always been those who pleaded for the people and stood as the backbone of the nation. Isn't that more fulfilling than anything else?" Liang Xiao said earnestly.
This time, everyone understood, and a sense of inexplicable pride surged within them.
Hong Jie felt as if a lump had formed in his throat.
Even Zuo Jing stared at Liang Xiao dazedly.
At this moment, everyone seemed to forget Liang Xiao's identity, and Hong Jie and the other two forgot that Liang Xiao might be the Heavenly General.
They only felt that the young man in white before them was inexplicably magnificent.
Zuo Jing snapped back to reality, remembering that she still had to play her part. She gazed at Liang Xiao with adoration and infatuation.
Liang Xiao then added, "Furthermore, you have already been targeted by the Replenishing Springs Cult. I also have an obligation to protect you. But rest assured, I will not interfere with where you want to go or whom you want to see in your daily life. I only hope that you will sincerely contribute to the people, and I am certain you can do so."
Hong Jie clenched his fists in his sleeves, then slowly loosened them after a long moment, sighing, "I understand. From today onwards, I will be your strategist. I only hope you will not put us in the spotlight. As for the rest... we understand each other."
Jian Qinwan finally beamed with joy.
This Casanova, after charming a young girl, had now charmed a grown man!
Liang Xiao then burst into laughter, slinging an arm around Hong Jie's shoulder and saying, "I don't care about your background because you have your own principles, and your heart is ultimately benevolent."
Hong Jie remained silent.
He had somehow already understood him.
Zuo Jing clapped continuously, "Brother has opened up! Brother Liang Xiao is amazing~"
But in her heart, Zuo Jing was somewhat annoyed.
Could this Hong Jie really have been swayed by him?