"It seems his ambitions extend beyond just the whole of Jiangnan, he even wishes to plot against Da Liang!" Su Wanqing said coldly.
Su Wencheng merely nodded slightly, "This person appears young, but is actually difficult to deal with. We should humor him for now and halt all unnecessary actions!"
At the Prefect's mansion, Liang Xiao, holding the intelligence provided by Su Wencheng, inquired about Suzhou from Zhuo Ping and received his confirmation.
"Lord Su is truly thoughtful. With this information, it will be much easier for Marquis An Guo to establish his workshops," Zhuo Ping praised.
Liang Xiao nodded slightly.
After the two had finished their business, Zhuo Han timidly asked, "The one beside Marquis An Guo, could it be the Qin Xian of Mount Tian Shan..."
Upon receiving a positive response from Liang Xiao, Zhuo Han exclaimed excitedly, "Immortal Qin, I am also a zither player, having learned my skills from Wanqing. Could you perhaps offer me some guidance?"
Jian Qin Wan cast a questioning glance at Liang Xiao. Seeing Liang Xiao nod, she readily agreed.
As Jian Qin Wan was about to play, Liang Xiao stopped her, "Miss Zhuo Han, why don't you play a piece first? I wish to witness your zither skills and that of Miss Su."
Zhuo Han immediately played, her zither music clear and resonant.
Liang Xiao couldn't help but frown, and Jian Qin Wan was also quite surprised.
After two pieces, Zhuo Han obediently waited for Jian Qin Wan's critique.
"Are you sure you learned this zither skill from Miss Su?" Liang Xiao asked.
"Wanqing certainly taught me. She said her deceased master passed it down to her. In a way, Wanqing is also my master in zither arts," Zhuo Han replied.
Liang Xiao fell into thought.
Jian Qin Wan said, "Your zither playing has gone astray. Long-term practice will not only fail to calm your mind but might also make you increasingly restless."
"Ah?" Zhuo Han was startled and mumbled, "Everyone says my zither playing is good, almost as good as Wanqing's..."
"Did she truly teach you?"
Liang Xiao asked again. Seeing Zhuo Han nod, he fell into thought once more.
Jian Qin Wan advised, "From now on, first play ordinary zither pieces, following the musical scores. Do not attempt innovation for now. Perhaps her own restless state while playing unintentionally influenced you."
Zhuo Han looked at Liang Xiao and Jian Qin Wan with confusion.
However, recalling that Liang Xiao and Jian Qin Wan had no reason to speak ill of her friend, Zhuo Han nodded earnestly, "Thank you for your critique, Immortal Qin. I will also speak with Wanqing and accept the criticism humbly."
"You don't need to tell her yet," Liang Xiao suddenly interjected.
Zhuo Xun was puzzled but, out of admiration for Liang Xiao, obediently agreed.
Only then did Jian Qin Wan personally play three pieces for Zhuo Xun. The audience was entranced, feeling as if the melody lingered in the air.
Liang Xiao also couldn't conceal his pride.
Since she played a piece for him on Mount Tian Shan, his 'Bodhisattva' had recovered her former state of mind and hadn't neglected her practice. Her zither skills had even slightly improved.
"As expected of the current Qin Xian. Even though I only have a superficial understanding of the zither, I can tell the artistic conception is profound, and she could pinpoint that my daughter barely learned the scores properly, not comparable to my daughter!" Zhuo Ping sighed.
Zhuo Han lowered her head in shame and thanked them repeatedly.
Liang Xiao continued, "In the future, follow her advice. Study the musical scores normally and do not rush into self-creation. Remember not to be influenced by Wanqing any further. As for Wanqing, if there's an opportunity, my wife will offer her some guidance. Also, be sure not to mention that you sought guidance from Qin Xian, nor that you played for us, to avoid any discord between you. My wife and I will find time to communicate with her."
Zhuo Xun happily agreed.
In the carriage, Jian Qin Wan leaned into Liang Xiao's embrace, her eyes filled with doubt, "Her zither music is not merely restless, she could go mad at any moment. Clearly, she is severely influenced by someone."
Liang Xiao nodded slightly, "Fortunately, I could tell. Su Wanqing appears demure and shy, but how could she teach Zhuo Han such impetuous music? Is it simply that appearances can be deceiving..."
He then recalled how Su Wencheng, upon their first meeting, had proposed marriage to Su Wanqing, suggesting she become his concubine.
In Da Gan and Da Liang, even commoner women generally resisted becoming concubines, let alone a lady from a prominent family.
Jian Qin Wan, worried about tarnishing the saintly reputation of Da Gan's Three Sages, had never dared to confess her feelings to him.
Su Wanqing's willingness, while possibly due to admiration, could also have other reasons...
Jian Qin Wan hummed, "If I interact with her, I will be cautious and not cause you trouble~"
In the courtyard, except for Hong Jie, the other three had grim expressions.
They had just discovered that Yue Lian and Zhuo Xun had not accompanied them to Suzhou!
Their initial plan to infiltrate Liang Xiao's circle was to find an opportunity to seize Yue Lian at any time.
As for abducting Liang Xiao, that was something they dared not even think of.
This meant that during Liang Xiao's stay in Suzhou, they had no chance to act against Yue Lian!
For Zuo Jing and the other two, being by Liang Xiao's side was like being on thorns every moment.
"It's all your fault!" Zuo Jing finally couldn't help but glare at Hong Jie.
Hong Jie looked speechless and didn't retort, merely continuing to write silently.
When Liang Xiao returned, Krysti presented him with the chapter she had written, "General Tian," for his review.
Liang Xiao glanced at it, his eyes nearly popping out, "General Tian breathes fire?"
Good heavens, the Liang Xiao written by Zhen Mi in "The Legend of Da Gan Heroes" also breathed fire!
"It's fiction, after all..." Krysti, uncharacteristically, didn't immediately comply with Liang Xiao but secretly observed his reaction.
Was he indeed feeling dejected?
Recalling "The Heroes of Da Gan" that she had read, Krysti's heart warmed inexplicably.
Liang Xiao sat down and pouted, "Besides breathing fire, he can also turn beans into soldiers and summon wind and rain... In your heart, is General Tian omnipotent?"
"In Mi'er's 'The Heroes of Da Gan,' it's just like that. You are mortal, but General Tian is a Martial God~" Krysti said with a charming laugh.
Liang Xiao blinked, then finally smiled, "It's a relief that you can stop being so reserved. It seems you truly consider me a friend, not a master."
Krysti lowered her head.
She indeed saw herself as a servant to Marquis An Guo, Liang Xiao, and for the sake of General Tian, could even debase herself and disregard her dignity as a princess of a nation...
But now, she also discovered that Liang Xiao was an interesting person, gentle towards girls.
More importantly, a guess, a sliver of hope, had inexplicably emerged in her heart, though she knew clearly that her love would always be for General Tian...
The chapter she had written, introducing General Tian's divine abilities upon his entrance, was also an attempt to observe Liang Xiao's reaction.
Finally, she keenly captured a hint of complex emotion in him!
At this moment, Jian Qin Wan dared not speak.
She did not want to cause trouble for her "flower-picking rogue," so she had remained silent.
But Krysti seemed to be growing suspicious too!
"This is written very well. Continue writing; the bookshop and the newspaper office are your strongest support," Liang Xiao praised.
"Really?" Krysti was both surprised and overjoyed, as if she could leap three feet high.
She had never dared to hope that Liang Xiao would mobilize the bookshop for her, never expecting him to make such a promise.
After Krysti returned to her room, Jian Qin Wan whispered, "She seems to be even more infatuated with General Tian than Princess Ningshuang is with you~"
Liang Xiao chuckled speechlessly.
That night in the west of Yan Province was purely an accident...
Not until nightfall did Hong Jie bring a manuscript to Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao browsed through it and smiled with satisfaction, "You truly did not disappoint me."
"Six Strategies for Assisting the Nation"!