Almost falling to the ground!
At a time like this, how could this brat still be so shamelessly brazen?
Xiao Qing’s face flushed red with embarrassment. "I… I… Don't you have anything else to say!" she chided.
Liang Xiao scanned his surroundings and whispered, "Big brother, is it too late to run away now?"
The Four Great Ministers simultaneously shot Liang Xiao a glare.
Xiao Qing’s heart fluttered in panic, and she quickly clutched Liang Xiao's robe, her gaze filled with a resentful gloom.
At this moment, Xiao Qing felt wronged: Did his refusal to put on the groom's attire mean he was preparing to flee?
Seeing the lovely maiden before him with a wronged expression, Liang Xiao burst into laughter and pulled Xiao Qing into his embrace. "If you dare to trick your big brother, then big brother must say a few words to save face!"
Xiao Qing then let out a delicate laugh, hugging Liang Xiao tightly, lest he disappear from her embrace.
No matter how many times I lose to him, winning this one time is winning for a lifetime!
The Four Great Ministers also breathed a sigh of relief and offered their congratulations once more.
The two embraced for a long time, Xiao Qing’s peripheral vision falling on the iron chest behind Liang Xiao.
"What did Brother Xiao bring? Such a big chest?"
Liang Xiao then released Xiao Qing with a smile, took out a key from his boundless treasure pouch, and walked over to open the iron chest.
A white battle robe!
A battle helmet with a demon mask!
A Heavenly General Token!!
Even with prior speculation, the moment they witnessed the truth, Xiao Qing and the Four Great Ministers were struck as if by lightning!
He…
Was he?
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Liang Xiao, clad in a white robe, donned the battle robe, put on the helmet, and held the Heavenly General Token. He approached Xiao Qing.
On this day, the Martial God of Da Qian reappeared in the mortal world, unrivaled for millennia!
Liang Xiao held the Heavenly General Token to his chest with his left hand, and with his right, he raised his hand to the heavens as if in Xiao Qing's dream, vowing with a powerful voice.
"This subject pledges to pacify the four seas for my Emperor and bring eternal peace to Da Qian!"
The five sovereign and subjects stared blankly at Liang Xiao, their pupils trembling slightly!
The Martial God of Da Qian, the Heavenly General who had repeatedly turned the tide, was… alive!!
It turned out the legend had never ended, but was still protecting the common people in another form!
One, the Marquis of An Guo; the other, the Heavenly General. Their virtues, both civil and military, shocked the ages!
Xiao Qing couldn’t even cry. She simply gazed at Liang Xiao, her heart experiencing a tempestuous surge!
Ding Wuyi then trembled and said, "The Heavenly General in the master's dream and Young Master Liang's oath were split into two sentences by Young Master Liang and left in the Da Qian Stele Forest, corresponding to the founding Chancellor and the founding Marshal respectively…"
"Ah?" Xiao Qing covered her mouth with her hands, unsure how to process the truth.
Liang Xiao then took off his helmet and sighed, "Big brother also lied to you."
Xiao Qing then threw herself into Liang Xiao’s arms, holding him tightly and softly saying, "Big brother is the best person in the world to Shuang'er!"
Although Lü Yi and Wang Canghai had some inklings, they were still unable to remain calm upon facing the true Heavenly General.
The living Martial God of Da Qian, the Divine Might Heavenly General, the Loyal and Valiant Marquis…
It was enough to shake the world!
After a long sigh, Lü Yi saluted Liang Xiao: "Cavalry General Lü Yi pays his respects to the Divine Might Heavenly General!"
According to the imperial decree, the Divine Might Heavenly General's status was equal to that of the Heavenly General, universally acknowledged, though posthumous.
However, Lü Yi's gesture was to reassure Liang Xiao.
"I dare not accept such praise! The Divine Might Heavenly General is merely a posthumous honorary title, how could it outrank my elder?" Liang Xiao said with shame.
"Well deserved!" the Four Great Ministers said in unison.
Liang Xiao sighed and said, "The Divine Might Heavenly General continues to operate in secret. Otherwise, those noble families would never have become decadent and complacent. They would have retaliated without hesitation, uniting with their clan members from across the land. If they failed, they could still flee to the barbarian lands, Da Liang, the Peacock Dynasty, the Guishuang Dynasty, or even the Izumo Kingdom, but the innocent populace would suffer."
Everyone understood and nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Xiao Qing's mind was a blank slate, her gaze hazy. No matter what Liang Xiao said, she only responded with "mm-hmm," nodding vigorously.
Now she finally understood why Liang Xiao wasn't in a hurry to put on the groom's attire!
The Four Great Ministers exchanged knowing smiles.
This child was merely infatuated. It was remarkable she hadn't fainted.
What woman could remain composed in such a situation?
Liang Xiao then took Xiao Qing's hand and led her to the back. Xiao Qing, with trembling hands, personally helped him change into the groom’s attire, her face flushed with shyness.
Wang Canghai and Lü Yi exchanged a look, nodded to each other tacitly, and then said, "Your Majesty, this old minister and the Cavalry General will attend to the officials. Please proceed with your wedding to Young Master Liang. According to custom, Young Master Liang should be the 'Emperor', but as Your Majesty cannot reveal your female identity to the world at present, he will temporarily remain the Imperial Son-in-Law."
"Thank you, Grandpa Chancellor~" Xiao Qing said gratefully.
After Wang Canghai and Lü Yi departed, Xiao Qing could no longer restrain herself and threw herself into Liang Xiao’s arms, acting spoiled. "Oh, what should I do~"
"What's wrong?" Liang Xiao asked curiously.
"You're about to gain a little infatuated fangirl~" Xiao Qing replied meekly.
Liang Xiao smiled and held Xiao Qing tightly, whispering, "What man in the world could be happier than I am?"
"Shuang'er is also the happiest~" Xiao Qing said with a proud smile.
Previously, after hearing Lü Changhe's deduction, she still hadn't dared to hope that Liang Xiao was the true Heavenly General.
But now that the truth was before her eyes, she had almost been mesmerized to fainting by Liang Xiao!
The newlywed couple, in the Western Palace Villa, spoke in soft tones, confiding in each other.
As night fell, Liang Xiao sat with Xiao Qing by the door, gazing at the full moon of the fifteenth of August, his heart filled with emotion.
"Shuang'er wishes to grow old with Brother Xiao, to be together forever, and to watch this moon every year," Xiao Qing said softly.
Liang Xiao was touched. Thinking that today was their wedding day and also Xiao Qing's birthday, it was time for a commemoration. After some thought, he asked Ding Wuyi to bring him the Four Treasures of the Study, and with a flourish of his brush, he wrote.
"Prelude to Water Melody" appeared on the paper.
When did the bright moon first appear? I raise my wine to ask the blue sky. I do not know in the palaces of heaven, what year it is tonight. I wish to ride the wind and return home, yet I fear the jade towers and pavilions, are too high and cold for me. Dancing with my clear shadow, how is it like being in the mortal world?
Turning to the vermillion pavilion, low to the ornate window, it illuminates the sleepless. There should be no resentment, why is it always full when parted? People have sorrow and joy, the moon waxes and wanes, this has always been imperfect. May we live long, and share the moon's beauty across a thousand miles.
"Brother Xiao is the best! This 'sharing the moon's beauty across a thousand miles' sounds like Shuang'er being separated from you for half a year, and now we are finally reunited~" Xiao Qing murmured the lines dreamily, her face flushing red with happiness. She couldn't resist kissing Liang Xiao on the cheek.
Ding Wuyi suggested, "The ancients had the custom of 'Mid-Autumn Festival' and eating mooncakes. Your Majesty, why not designate today as the 'Mid-Autumn Festival' and promote it nationwide, allowing the people to choose whether or not to celebrate?"
Liang Xiao was taken aback and gave Ding Wuyi a thumbs-up. Xiao Qing naturally agreed with joy.
From this day on, Da Qian also had an official Mid-Autumn Festival.
Ning Xuejun placed a bridal veil on Xiao Qing. Liang Xiao, holding Xiao Qing's hand, led her to the prepared ancestral hall, paying respects to the portraits of Xiao Qing’s parents, Emperor Wen and the late Empress.
As Xiao Qing was the Emperor, she could not pay respects to the portraits of Liang Qing and Liang Xiao's parents, so this was the only way.
Ding Wuyi stood guard outside the door. Liang Xiao, holding Xiao Qing's hand, entered Xiao Qing's boudoir, signifying the bridal chamber, with Ning Xuejun escorting them all the way.
Lovers finally become a couple!
Helping Xiao Qing to sit on the bed, Liang Xiao finally couldn't resist lifting her veil. Looking at the shy bride, he couldn't help but kiss her forehead.
"You're so beautiful!" Liang Xiao said with adoration.
Xiao Qing only stole a glance at Liang Xiao, then lowered her head and said, "Husband is more handsome!"
"Now you must call me husband!"
"Husband~~"
Liang Xiao looked at her more and more fondly. Just as he was about to say something, his gaze suddenly fell on a small leather whip placed on the bed. He was startled.
Picking up the small leather whip, Liang Xiao exclaimed, "My dear wife, what is this…"