Zhuo Zifang took the letter and glanced at it, shaking his head helplessly, "Do not tell Wu Lue and Liang Xiao about this for now. Wait until they return to Jiangnan!"
"With this person obstructing, I fear it will be impossible for Miss to return within one or two years!" San Quan said with a bitter expression.
Zhuo Zifang waved his hand, "I doubt they would dare to act recklessly. Otherwise, I will personally go to Da Liang and threaten to die to demand an explanation!"
In Da Liang, at the home of the Chess Saint, Zhuo Yun was looking at books and paintings on the table with Li Xin.
Li Xin exclaimed, "I never imagined that your An Guo Hou would be so young and accomplished. Even our Zhen Guo Hou could not achieve this in his youth. No! The achievements of Zhen Guo Hou up to this day seem inferior to your An Guo Hou, even he himself says so..."
"I admire him as a hero, but my grandfather insists I marry. I do not wish to, and these are two separate matters! In this life, I will only associate with the way of chess!" Zhuo Yun said helplessly.
Li Xin merely sighed and did not try to persuade her further. She then asked, "The Third Prince has come to see you again. What is to be done?"
"I will not see him!" Zhuo Yun refused outright.
Li Xin reminded her, "What if he comes with the excuse of exchanging chess strategies?"
Zhuo Yun shook her head, "Then let him play chess publicly. Why must he seek me out specifically? If I am in Da Liang and have any further unclear relationships with other men, rumors will spread back to Da Gan and anger my grandfather to death!"
Li Xin nodded slightly, "You are stubborn, but you are still rational."
The young man guarding outside the chess hall was dressed in yellow robes, unassuming, and appeared somewhat scholarly.
"Your Highness, that second Miss Zhuo still refuses to see you!" the guard reported with a look of annoyance.
The Third Prince smiled, "Where there is sincere effort, anything can be achieved. This prince is only interested in Liang Xiao's woman."
Multiple crises were brewing in Da Liang, about to engulf Da Gan...
It was not until dusk that Liang Xiao returned to Liang Manor, accepting the congratulations from those along the way.
"Huh? Why do you all have dark circles under your eyes?"
Seeing the girls in his courtyard listless, Liang Xiao was startled.
Except for Mi'er and Kristy, Luo Qingxue and others had visible dark circles.
"Young Master, everyone didn't sleep well last night..." Yue Lian stammered.
Liang Xiao quickly said, "You don't need to worry. Shuang'er is not a jealous person."
The four girls merely responded vaguely, not daring to discuss the matter further.
In truth, they had gathered and discussed it last night.
Who would marry Liang Xiao first? Who would consummate their marriage with Liang Xiao first? Who would face this scoundrel first...
Jian Qinwan feared the most, knowing her "sins were deep."
No one dared to be the first "hero" to face Liang Xiao!
"Let's pick an auspicious day and you can all marry me together," Liang Xiao suddenly said.
The girls present instantly choked!
What was to come had finally arrived.
They had agonized for a day, and Liang Xiao wanted to marry them all at once?
"When will that be..." Jian Qinwan trembled.
"At least until your parents, master, and little monster's father come. After the General of Cavalry finishes his affairs in the capital, he will return to the northern border, and then my future father-in-law can return to the capital to report for duty," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Zhuo Xun's biological father was Zuo Wushang, but she was still officially considered the daughter of Zhuo Wulue, as he had raised her and treated her as his own, doting on her immensely.
Furthermore, Zhuo Wulue, as the Minister of War, had been stationed in the northern border and had not returned to the capital, which was not proper.
"Oh!" Jian Qinwan's face blushed intensely.
Even the usually magnanimous Luo Qingxue blushed, not daring to speak to Liang Xiao.
A maiden about to be married was naturally nervous and shy.
At this time, Liang Xiao's political enemies were gathered at the Dugu family, constantly deliberating.
"Right now, Liang Xiao is at the height of his power and favored by the foolish emperor. We cannot contend with him for the moment! Perhaps we should appease him and try to avoid conflict?" He Wanli suggested.
The crowd unanimously agreed.
Xiao Qing was still resting in the West Palace Villa, lying on the bed, her gaze resentful, "Bad guy..."
She had just learned that she had drunk the fertility-enhancing medicine with Liang Xiao last night, and the pain had returned, much more obvious than last night.
The thought of Liang Xiao, the "culprit," brought a blush to Xiao Qing's face.
As the emperor, Xiao Qing used the excuse of her imperial sister's wedding, a grand celebration for all, to grant officials a holiday of three days or more, exempting them from attending court.
"Your Majesty must have a robust son with the驸马, no, a whole brood!" Ning Xuejun said softly.
Hearing this, Xiao Qing hid under the covers, from where a complaining voice emerged, "Grandma Ning has also turned bad~"
The chapters of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" that Liang Xiao had written along the way in Jiangnan were also being transcribed by the scholars in the manor. They would soon be included in each issue of the Da Gan Daily, alternating with "Journey to the West."
The Da Gan Daily was booming, its business flourishing, and the Ouyang family was powerless to stop it.
The Ouyang family's bookstore's self-printed "Ouyang Daily" did not have ideal content and was even mocked by the common people as "picking up others' leftovers."
As for whose leftovers, it was all too obvious.
Liang Xiao held the financial report, lost in thought, "Using all the materials to print the Four Books and Five Classics is not ideal either. We need to keep some in reserve to avoid a shortage of materials later."
"Why hasn't the Ouyang family's bookstore given up yet!" Liang Qing could not stop smiling.
If the other party continued to send money to Liang Xiao like this, he almost felt sorry for them.
Liang Xiao smiled, "The foundation of these magnates is unimaginable. Since they refuse to yield, let's continue this stalemate. I will mercilessly earn these magnates' money!"
Liang Qing looked gratified.
After inspecting the finances, Liang Xiao headed straight for the West Palace Villa.
Seeing Xiao Qing still lying in bed, Liang Xiao asked with concern, "Shuang'er, does it still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt much, but..." Xiao Qing said, burying her head in the covers again, pretending to be deaf and blind, "You, you can't see Shuang'er, and Shuang'er dares not look at you~"
"What wife dares not look at her husband?" Liang Xiao said with a sly smile.
Only then did Xiao Qing reveal half her face from under the covers, stealing a glance at Liang Xiao.
Seeing the tender affection on Liang Xiao's face, Xiao Qing mustered the courage and threw off the covers, allowing Liang Xiao to embrace her.
Xiao Qing rested her head against Liang Xiao's chest, shyly saying, "Not tonight... Tomorrow..."
Hearing Ning Xuejun beside her let out a chuckle, Liang Xiao's old face blushed, and he held her even tighter.
That night, Liang Xiao still slept in the West Palace Villa, holding Xiao Qing, telling her stories from "One Thousand and One Nights," coaxing her to sleep.
The next morning, Xiao Qing, in her guise as Princess Ning Shuang, donned a veil and came to Liang Manor to pay her respects to Liang Qing.
Liang Qing was extremely anxious and wanted to return the bow, but Xiao Qing stopped him.
Xiao Qing then followed Liang Xiao to the inner courtyard of Liang Manor, intending to pay respects to Liang Xiao's parents.
"Marquis!" The old general Liang Tieche stood guard at the tomb. Upon seeing Liang Xiao, he became emotional and was about to kneel.
Liang Xiao supported Liang Tieche and sighed, "You should still call me Young General. I prefer to hear you call me that."
The young Liang Xiao back then was so mischievous that everyone in the manor couldn't stand it and called him "Second Master." Only a few of Liang Anguo's generals called him Young General.
Only Liang Tieche had survived.
Liang Tieche was touched, nodded solemnly, and stood guard by the side.
Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing burned paper money and offered sacrifices. After the ceremony, Liang Xiao solemnly vowed, "Father, Mother, one day Xiao'er will thoroughly eradicate the Huichun Sect and bring to justice everyone who harmed the one hundred thousand soldiers, to comfort your souls and those of the soldiers in the heavens!"
Liang Qing and the others behind them looked on with satisfaction.
The once infamous youth was now leading the nation!
Even Princess Ning Shuang had been seduced by him!
And there were five other princesses... He had seduced all the best women in the world!
As Liang Qing was contemplating, a hurried report came from the guards outside, "Second Young Master, there has been progress on the portrait of Mr. Nie Yuan. It has been completed!"
Liang Xiao immediately brought Xiao Qing to the main courtyard. Nie Yuan and Li Jinyu were waiting there and presented a portrait.
"It is indeed very ordinary," Liang Xiao sighed.
It was a very common face, with no discernible features, making it difficult for Li Jinyu to paint it based on Nie Yuan's description.
Xiao Qing's eyes widened, "This person... isn't he the Third Prince who visited Da Liang back then?"