In the courtyard, Zuo Wushang, disguised, waited silently for news.
Moments later, the middle-aged man who had hired the artist entered with several portraits, laying them flat on the table.
"Master, I inquired with those who have seen the Jinling Painting Immortal. These portraits are the closest to her appearance."
Zuo Wushang examined the portraits, his heart trembling. "They are indeed very similar, but if Liang Xiao becomes wary of Xiao Jing because of this, it wouldn't make sense. After all, people can look alike..."
Although these were mere portraits and couldn't be exactly like the real person, he could still discern the features and facial structure.
Suddenly, Zuo Wushang recalled Hong Jie's question.
Could Xun'er truly be alive? How was that possible?
Zuo Wushang found it hard to believe.
At the time, he had substituted Zuo Xun for Yue Lian, remaining in the burning building to lead the remaining subordinates and Yue Lian to retreat. Even if Zuo Xun survived, she would have been captured as a princess of the previous dynasty, and dealt with!
Then how did she end up with the Zhuo family?
But now, he dared not approach Liang Xiao at all. This was Jinling, after all, and eyes were everywhere.
Liang Xiao, the Zhuo family, the Marquis of Dingguo, the Gongyang clan, the Huichun sect, the King of the South... these were all people he couldn't afford to offend for now. He absolutely could not let the Huichun sect discover he was secretly meeting Liang Xiao, even with his disguise, there was a risk of exposure!
Zuo Wushang was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, unable to devise a solution for a long time. He sighed, "If Hong Jie were here, perhaps there would be a way?"
It was a pity that Hong Jie and the other two had gone to Suzhou to wait for an opportunity, making preparations in advance, and could not possibly return to Jinling.
After much deliberation, Zuo Wushang ultimately could not suppress the curiosity and the sliver of almost impossible hope in his heart. He said gravely, "I will risk it!"
As soon as he decided, Zuo Wushang changed into a new human skin mask and dyed his hair black, preparing to personally go to the Zhuo mansion to stake out.
On the other side, members of the Huichun sect brought two more men.
"Master, these two are from the capital. They attended the grand gathering at Baichun Tower and can guarantee they saw Princess Christia!" the sect member changed his address, speaking respectfully to the sect leader.
The sect leader said softly, "Did you two really see that Western princess?"
"We really did. What's there to lie about?" the two said in unison.
The sect leader chuckled softly, took two hundred tael silver notes from his sleeve, and handed one to each of them.
The two were overjoyed and thanked him profusely.
"Please follow me, I have one more question."
The first man was led into the secret room on the left.
The sect leader removed his mask, and the man was astonished, exclaiming, "So you are Princess Christia? What is the meaning of this?"
The sect leader understood immediately, smiled, bowed deeply to the man, then put on his veil again, let him out, and brought the second man in, repeating the process.
"Princess Christia, why would you play such a trick on us..." the second man also asked in disbelief.
The sect leader laughed heartily, and the man was mesmerized.
"Bring the one outside in as well."
The previous man was also brought in. As the two were in doubt, the sect leader walked to the door and said coldly, "Kill them."
As soon as he spoke, before the two could react, a group of assassins, all with only their eyes showing, rushed out from behind the screen and chopped the two into mincemeat. Even the two silver notes were stained with blood. Money seemed to be unimportant now!
Looking at this group of assassins, totaling twelve, they all had blue eyes!
The sect leader's mournful laughter echoed in the secret room.
"I fear even my father would not have expected her existence, and that she would end up in the Western Regions and become a princess. This has provided a hidden piece for my clan."
"Let the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Great Heng Kingdom, the Great Qian Kingdom, and the Great Liang Kingdom slaughter each other. Our clan's entry into the Central Plains is just around the corner!"
Then the sect leader spoke to the assassins in a language the people of Great Qian could not understand, and the assassins once again disappeared into the background.
At night, Liang Xiao, with his Cicada Wing Sword at his waist, Cloud-Flowing Gauntlets on his hands, and holding the Heaven's Will Sword, entered a massive mansion in the southwest of Jinling with Yue Lian, Jian Qinwan, Zhuo Zifang, and Jian Nanfeng.
The guards were all Liang Fu's personal soldiers. Upon seeing Liang Xiao, they saluted and immediately let them pass.
Zhuo Zifang's heart pounded, and Jian Nanfeng was also full of anticipation.
They were here to witness a miracle, although they had already foreseen it.
In the large courtyard, Hong Xiu was feeding Bai Ye Feiying.
Zhuo Zifang's pupils contracted. "Hong Xiu, it's you?!"
Hong Xiu clasped his hands together and saluted. "Zhuo Lingjun, Sword Saint, I hope you are well."
Zhuo Zifang sighed deeply. "We were comrades in arms back then, repelling the invading Guishuang Dynasty in the Western regions. It all seems like yesterday. Afterward, you gave up high office and emoluments. I watched you shave your head at Bodhi Temple and become Hong Xiu. I never imagined you would now..."
Hong Xiu said indifferently, "Past events are like smoke. This humble monk now has Heaven's mandate and serves the Marquis of An Guo by tending to horses."
Jian Nanfeng also sighed. "My son-in-law is indeed remarkable. My family has hitched ourselves to a high station."
Jian Qinwan lowered her head, daring not to retort.
She had long felt that she was the one who had hitched herself to a high station...
"There is no such thing as hitching oneself to a high station or not. To win her heart is a blessing I have cultivated for several lifetimes," Liang Xiao said without hesitation.
Jian Qinwan then smiled radiantly, her heart secretly pleased. She glanced sideways at her father.
Her gaze seemed to say: Look at this rogue, he's much more considerate than you!
The two seniors, having witnessed the unprecedented "miracle" of the Great Qian Kingdom with their own eyes, could not help but express their excitement and asked questions.
Hong Xiu then recounted Liang Xiao's experiences at Bodhi Temple truthfully.
"Bodhi is without a tree, the bright mirror is not a stand. Originally, there is nothing, where can dust arise... Marvelous!" Zhuo Zifang recited, feeling suddenly enlightened and his heart at ease.
Jian Nanfeng also marveled uncommonly. "The Three Questions of Bodhi, in their decisive moments, secretly harmonize with Buddhist principles. After the world is pacified, perhaps it can be circulated throughout the land, shaming certain fake monks and nuns!"
Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan's eyes were already full of admiration, wanting to speak but hesitating.
General Tian!
He was General Tian, but he did not solely seek slaughter. Facing the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom, he chose to recruit them as much as possible.
Marquis of An Guo!
He was also the Marquis of An Guo, saving the common people, bringing peace to the populace, and rescuing the world's people who were waiting to die in fear amidst the ravages of the plague!
But in the end, he was still Liang Xiao, her young master, her rogue!
After calming himself, Zhuo Zifang reminded, "This matter should be confessed to His Majesty as soon as possible. With His Majesty's sagacity, he will surely trust you."
Jian Qinwan was then stunned.
Did Zhuo Zifang not know about Princess Ning Shuang...?
But Jian Qinwan quickly realized.
Even her father, her master, and Grandpa Gongsun did not know about this matter. It was understandable that Zhuo Zifang, who had retired to his hometown for over a decade, would not know for the time being.
After all, the new ruler, Xiao Qing, and Zhuo Zifang were not actually familiar with each other, and he didn't even know that the "loyal minister" who had accepted the late emperor's entrustment of Zuo Xun was Zhuo Zifang.
Liang Xiao nodded solemnly. "That is my intention. After all, she is my Xiao Shuangzi, and I am about to become a consort. I can absolutely not let this brother and sister down."
Jian Qinwan suppressed a smile. She truly wished she could fly this rogue to Princess Ning Shuang's Western Palace Villa and see his reaction when he learned the truth.
Would he be gloating? Or would he say, "You have your day too"?
At night, Zuo Wushang crept forward in the dark, arriving outside the Zhuo mansion and finding the West Garden where Zhuo Xun resided.