One day, a team sneaked into Taizhou.
It was Liang Xiao leading the group in disguise, with Zuo Wushang, Nie Yuan, Li Jinyu, and others among them.
The carriage had been handed over by Liang Xiao to several other Tianshan knights.
"Why are we being so cautious on the last leg, like thieves? Taizhou is personally overseen by the Duke of Dingguo..." Hong Jie couldn't help but ask curiously.
Just now, when Liang Xiao arrived at the city gate, after confirming his identity with the guards, he repeatedly instructed them to keep it secret, and then they slipped into the city quietly.
Liang Xiao said with displeasure, "That old scoundrel is very cunning, the King of Stinginess in Jiangnan, he spread the news of my arrival in Taizhou everywhere. Fortunately, I have intelligence personnel arranged in Taizhou to notify me in time."
Everyone looked puzzled.
A moment later, a series of maiden screams came from outside.
"Where is the Duke of Anguo~ Where!~~"
Everyone looked and saw hundreds of excited maidens rushing into the street and screaming.
"Where is the Duke of Anguo~ Where~ I want to have your children~"
"Me too, me too~"
The screams were incessant, making everyone's hearts tighten.
Women generally did not appear in public casually, unless they were wealthy and powerful, and not afraid of gossip.
It was quite rare to see so many seemingly unmarried and desperate maidens gathered.
Looking at two hundred-jin maidens among them who were screaming the loudest, everyone fell into a state of terror.
Only Hong Jie let out an envious "tsk tsk tsk."
"Now you know, he wants the people of Taizhou to spontaneously hold a welcome ceremony for me, so he doesn't have to spend a penny!" Liang Xiao trembled.
Everyone was speechless and had to admire Gongsun Ye's unique stinginess.
"However, Young Master has indeed become the dream lover of thousands of maidens~" Yue Lian said softly.
They dared not openly call Liang Xiao "husband" yet, their faces would turn red whenever they did.
Everyone present agreed.
"My grandfather said that on the day he received the notification of him becoming a驸马, women in various places cried and clamored to jump into the river. Fortunately, they were rescued by people arranged by the prefects of various regions," Zhuo Xun said with a hmph.
Everyone looked at the innocent-looking person and sighed.
"But why won't my second sister come back..." Zhuo Xun was a little disappointed.
Her second sister, Zhuo Yun, was the closest to her!
"I've done my best and guaranteed that I won't force her, so she can't blame me if she doesn't come back," Liang Xiao was even more innocent.
It was all Zhuo Zifang, that old rogue, who was too shameless, and even calculated him!
Later, Liang Xiao learned that Zhuo Zifang, discovering that Zhuo Yun did not want to get married, brought him up to scare Zhuo Yun away!
Arriving at the largest inn in the center of Taizhou, everyone was finally able to rest.
Taizhou bayberries were in season, and Kristy, who had lived in the Western Regions since childhood, was amazed.
After a while, the Taizhou intelligence personnel arranged by Steward Chen, who was waiting outside, were received and brought Liang Xiao the latest intelligence.
Looking through the intelligence, Liang Xiao was first delighted, then his expression became solemn.
The Gongyang clan suffered a great blow to its reputation due to the collusion of some of its members with the Spring Revival Sect. Gongyang He finally followed the example of the Dugu family, donated money to show his resolve, and begged for the Emperor's leniency.
In total, he donated four million taels, exceeding the three million taels of the Dugu family, which was an absolute heavy blow to the Gongyang clan!
In this way, his little Shuangzi's account increased by four million taels of silver, which could be openly used for conscription, subsidies for soldiers' treatment, and disaster relief for refugees everywhere.
After Gongyang He received the imperial edict and was demoted to Grand Master, he handed over the four million taels of prepared silver and moved his entire clan to Jiaozhou.
The plaque of the Grand Tutor's mansion in Jiangnan was also officially dismantled. To commend Zhuo Zifang for stabilizing Jiangnan and surrounding Luzhou, Xiao Qing bestowed it upon Zhuo Zifang...
The He, Li, Liu, and Lu families of Jiangnan... these small noble families in Jiangnan, for supporting Liang Xiao and upholding imperial power, also received rewards of varying degrees. Among them, some family members were appointed to official positions of the seventh rank or above.
Even Zhuo Zifang's grandson, Zhuo Xiong, received a central appointment due to his outstanding performance, serving as a sixth-rank official in the capital.
This was good news brought by the well-informed Chen family.
The bad news was that rumors about Liang Xiao were being spread everywhere in Daliang, slandering Liang Xiao's image. Many officials from noble families and powerful clans were also advising Daliang's Son of Heaven, Mu Cheng, to include the second daughter of the Zhuo family, Zhuo Yun, into the harem!
The intention of this move was obvious: to create conflict between Liang Xiao, Zhuo Zifang, and Mu Cheng.
Mu Cheng sternly refused, insisting that he hoped Zhuo Yun could return to Daqian, but he could not bear to force a weak woman, otherwise, he would have already sent Zhuo Yun back to Daqian forcefully.
Mu Cheng also greatly publicized this matter, further enhancing his image as a wise ruler in the minds of the people.
"It seems that the Son of Heaven of Daliang still respects you quite a bit, but this also means that Daliang should not become an enemy of Daqian for the time being," Hong Jie praised.
Liang Xiao nodded in agreement.
Mu Cheng never denied his fondness for beauty, but if he were blinded by lust, Daliang would not be as unprecedentedly powerful as it was today.
In fact, Mu Cheng had already sent someone to Jiangnan to inform him, hoping that he, as the Duke of Anguo of Daqian, could find time to pay an official visit to Daqian in the future.
Liang Xiao's response was naturally ambiguous, saying only that it would be decided by his own emperor.
"Do you really plan to personally go to Daliang to bring back the second daughter Zhuo in the future?" Hong Jie was somewhat worried.
"It depends on the situation," Liang Xiao said without thinking.
Hong Jie was still uneasy and said, "You now bear the responsibility of the country and cannot afford any mistakes. You should remind His Majesty that unless he receives a promise of absolute sincerity from the Son of Heaven of Daliang, he must not send you as an envoy. This reputation is insignificant compared to the people of Daqian..."
Liang Xiao praised, "You are simply my confidant."
In fact, Liang Xiao thought the same way. It wasn't that he was afraid of death, but he was unsure of Mu Cheng's intentions, and he couldn't take the risk.
On the other's territory, what if Mu Cheng and others plotted against him at all costs?
He could be a one-man army in Yanzhou, or even fight to the death with the barbarians to secure a chance of survival for the White Robe Army. This was to protect his family and country, a meaningful risky endeavor.
But if he blindly went to Daliang to court death, Daqian's reform would come to an abrupt end. No one else could carry the burden for Xiao Qing against the noble families, and the noble families would rise again.
It was not only the enemies within Daqian who hated Liang Xiao to the bone, but also the noble families and the followers of the Spring Revival Sect in Daliang.
The two countries shared the same ancestry and had a tacit tradition: the higher the reputation and rank of the dispatched envoy, the more respect and friendliness they represented to the other party.
After Zhuo Zifang retired, he still held the position of Grand Secretary and had visited Daliang, gaining great favor with the people of Daliang.
Qin Feng, the Duke of Zhenguo of Daliang, was scheduled to visit Daqian three years ago.
At that time, Emperor Wen of Daqian was still alive. Hearing that Mu Cheng intended to send the Duke of Zhenguo, he was surprised and delighted. He immediately promised, "I can guarantee the safety of Daliang's Duke of Zhenguo in Daqian. If he dies, Daqian will compensate the fifteen cities of Jiangnan."
Later, Emperor Wen passed away, and Xiao Qing, the new emperor, naturally upheld the promise. After confirming Qin Feng's good health, he specifically dispatched the Imperial Guards to wait north of the Heng River. As soon as Qin Feng landed, he was protected by the Imperial Guards throughout his journey. A palace physician was also arranged for Qin Feng, for fear that Qin Feng would die of illness.
Of course, Daliang would not really harm Qin Feng for the sake of fifteen cities.
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian exchanged glances, also feeling pleased.
Since Hong Jie had become loyal, Liang Xiao finally had capable subordinates and confidants to entrust with important tasks!
The next day, Liang Xiao took Hong Jie to the Taizhou military camp.
At the same time, in the capital, during the imperial court.
Xiao Qing was discussing state affairs with the civil and military officials when he suddenly received an urgent report from a shadow guard.
"A woman was found outside the city, covered in wounds, dying. She had golden hair and blue eyes. While being brought into the city for treatment, some citizens who had visited the Heavenly General Temple identified her as Princess Kristy!"
Xiao Qing and the civil and military officials were shocked.
"Princess Kristy, wasn't she accompanying the Duke of Anguo in Jiangnan?"