Zuo Jing was taken aback, and did not respond immediately, only gazing at her own hands.
Looking at the calluses on her hands, Zuo Jing's eyes drooped slightly, her slender eyelashes quivering. She clenched her fists, not daring to look again.
After a long while, Zuo Jing sighed faintly, "He and I are not of the same path. Return and report to my father."
"Leader..." the eight Cloud Sky Guards rarely admonished in unison.
"The Cloud Sky Guards should not have any emotions, not even sentiments for the former homeland! We have all broken the rules! Return to Daliang and ask for punishment from my father. From now on, there will be no more remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom in this world..."
The crowd had no choice but to agree.
Zuo Jing hesitated for a moment, then knelt before the eight Cloud Sky Guards.
The eight were greatly surprised and knelt down with her.
"I don't know how many more missions I will have to undertake in the future. If my father asks me to seduce a target, I only ask you to plead for me..."
The crowd agreed in unison. Qing, the Cloud Sky Guard, comforted her, "Leader, you are the Jewel in the Master's palm, you need not worry..."
Zuo Jing merely gave a soft, bitter laugh, neither confirming nor denying.
But she also understood.
It wasn't just her; it turned out that all the Cloud Sky Guards harbored emotions in their hearts.
Before leaving, Zuo Jing paused and looked back at the Zhuo manor. The movement of her lips beneath the mask was faintly visible.
She seemed to be biting her lower lip.
"May we forget each other in the martial world, Brother Liang Xiao."
"Marquis Anguo of Great Qian."
"Great Qian, General Tian..."
Having resolved to submit, Zuo Wushang revealed everything, including the four suspected bases of the Returning Spring Sect in Jiangnan, and the people sent by the Gongyang clan and the Southern King's manor to make contact.
Liang Xiao immediately dispatched men to inform the Jinling military camp and simultaneously arranged patrols in the Jinling area.
These liaison personnel were all listed, but without direct evidence, they could only be monitored, kept under close watch, and ready to be apprehended at any moment.
In the courtyard, the female soldiers of the Dingguo Marquis manor and the female heroes of Mount Tian were chatting, protecting Yue Lian and Zhuo Xun.
Zuo Wushang gazed at Yue Lian, who was pushing Zhuo Xun on a swing, as if he were in another life.
At this moment, Zuo Wushang also discovered a new meaning in life.
Since the Princess had become Liang Xiao's woman, he, as Liang Xiao's retainer, had no objections.
As long as Liang Xiao could ensure their peace and prosperity, the restoration of the Great Heng Kingdom was no longer important!
But the feud with the Returning Spring Sect and Gongyang He must be avenged!
According to Liang Xiao's description, the chief culprits who killed Liang Xiao's father and uncle were in the Southern King's manor, and they were also disciples of the Returning Spring Sect.
In this way, he and Liang Xiao had a common enemy!
As the marshal of the Great Heng Kingdom, Zuo Wushang and Hong Jie had always appeared with masks, and only Liang Xiao and his confidantes had seen their true faces.
Hong Jie and the others continued to operate under the aliases "Cloud Pavilion Master," "Yun Jiu," and "Yun Heng." Zuo Wushang used "Liang Ke," so he was not worried about being easily recognized by the Returning Spring Sect.
"Zhuo Lingjun, why was that General who suppresses rebellion, the one with white hair and a black saber, so excited when he heard about the eradication of the Returning Spring Sect's strongholds?"
"Liu Yun is a descendant of the Shizu of Xichuan. The Shizu were also exterminated by the Returning Spring Sect back then."
From across the wall, the conversation between Hong Qu and Zhuo Zifang could be heard. Zuo Wushang perked up.
Zhuo Zifang brought Hong Qu into the courtyard and reported the situation to Zuo Wushang.
There were four strongholds. Jinling dispatched troops to surround one, while the other three were in Luzhou, Qiantang, and Suzhou. Messengers had been sent at full speed to contact the local military camps to dispatch troops for encirclement!
Zuo Wushang then smiled with satisfaction, regretting it deeply.
In the end, it was still the army of the Great Qian that they had to rely on to avenge their compatriots.
If he had discovered Gongyang He's betrayal and the Returning Spring Sect's involvement earlier, and discussed it properly with Liang Xiao, even if he had no intention of surrendering to Great Qian, he could have abandoned the cause of national restoration and cooperated with Liang Xiao to deal with the Returning Spring Sect as much as possible!
"The Returning Spring Sect comes from the Peacock Dynasty and is far more powerful than we imagined. Please be careful!" Zuo Wushang was still worried and reminded them repeatedly.
Zhuo Zifang nodded, his expression solemn, and said, "Liang Xiao has gone to the Grand Tutor's manor to keep Gongyang He and the others in check, and to probe Gongyang He's intentions and movements."
From the moment they discovered that the Returning Spring Sect could cooperate with the Sun Moon Army to attack Luzhou, they suspected that the Returning Spring Sect was more than just a simple cult.
The Great Qian Kingdom needed to stabilize its domestic situation and had no time to attack the Peacock Dynasty; it could only consolidate its defenses in the southwestern region.
A thousand-strong guard from Jinling escorted Liang Xiao to the outside of the Grand Tutor's manor, causing a stir in the surrounding area.
"Please come out, Grand Tutor!"
Gongyang He rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing Liang Xiao's grand military display, he flew into a rage: "Liang Xiao, are you planning to rebel? With so many troops, are you preparing to attack my Grand Tutor's manor?"
Liang Xiao smiled gently, "Grand Tutor, you exaggerate! Today, the Returning Spring Sect attacked the Zhuo manor in Jinling and almost succeeded. This Marquis was worried that your Grand Tutor's manor would be in danger, so I came to offer support. After all, your safety is also paramount, isn't it?"
Gongyang He glared at Liang Xiao and sneered, "I don't need it!"
Liang Xiao's brow furrowed: "What does Grand Tutor mean? Are your Grand Tutor's manor's private troops sufficient to crush the attack of the Returning Spring Sect, or are you colluding with the Returning Spring Sect, which is why you are so unconcerned?"
Gongyang He's expression changed: "Do not slander me! Your kindness is appreciated, but you may leave now, right?"
Liang Xiao smiled again: "That won't do. The situation in Jinling is now in chaos, and the people are in panic. This Marquis wishes for Grand Tutor to attend a banquet at the Prefect's manor, as a way to calm your nerves and, incidentally, discuss the eradication of the Returning Spring Sect."
Gongyang He's heart sank. Just as he was about to refuse, he heard Liang Xiao say, "If it is inconvenient for Grand Tutor, sending your son to the banquet is also acceptable. However, if it is discovered that someone from the Gongyang clan has colluded with the Returning Spring Sect, and Grand Tutor is not present, this Marquis will have to take swift action!"
Sensing the strong threat, Gongyang He quickly considered. Gongyang Long, Dugu Xiao, and the others behind him turned ashen.
Could it be that Liang Xiao had already discovered something?
Even if he hadn't, what if he took advantage of his power at the banquet to humiliate them publicly, or even to falsely accuse and imprison or kill them...
Gongyang He understood. If he was not present, the Gongyang clan would lose its backbone, and Liang Xiao would become even more reckless!
Having thought it through, Gongyang He sneered, "As the Grand Tutor of the present dynasty, I should contribute to the court. I believe you will not poison me, nor will you let your subordinates break into the Grand Tutor's manor bestowed by the former emperor and act recklessly!"
Gongyang He had no choice but to go with Liang Xiao to the Prefect's manor alone.
Before leaving, Liang Xiao also instructed his subordinates to strictly guard the Grand Tutor's manor, prohibiting any unauthorized personnel from entering or leaving, and then took Gongyang He to the Prefect's manor for the banquet.
There was no allusion to the Feast of Hongmen in this world, but Liang Xiao was indeed preparing a different kind of Feast of Hongmen for Gongyang He, at least to stall until Shi Liuyun's troops arrived at the bandit suppression site.
Two hours after both parties departed, Gu Hai, an official of the Ministry of Justice, personally led constables from the Ministry of Justice and the Jinling yamen to the Grand Tutor's manor.
"Recently, we received a secret report that someone in the Grand Tutor's manor is colluding with followers of the Returning Spring Sect. The situation is urgent and endangers the Grand Tutor. I am here to personally search for the culprits!"
...
During the banquet, He Jingyun again pretended to be a peacemaker, trying to smooth things over between the two. Gongyang He merely responded politely, trying to avoid discussing the Returning Spring Sect.
At the same time, in the deep mountains seventy li south of Jinling, the leader of the Returning Spring Sect returned, furious: "Who ordered you to act rashly??"
A leader knelt down and explained, "To the Sect Leader, it was the King of Peacock who dispatched elites with his seal, demanding that we cooperate with a hundred-man squad to kill Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang at all costs, saying he wanted to give you a surprise!"
"A surprise?" The Sect Leader's eyes went black, and he almost fainted!