After Zuo Wushang and his people surrendered, most of the remaining inhabitants of Daheng were escorted to the capital under guard by the Shadow Guard forces and Imperial Guards brought by Ding Wuyi.
However, Liang Xiao's entourage still numbered a hundred people, including Tian Shan knights and Liang family guards.
Liang Xiao spared no expense, hiring numerous carriages to replace their own. At every stop along the way, he would procure the finest new carriages and buy ice to help his companions beat the summer heat, all in pursuit of an early return to the capital.
Inside a carriage, Yue Lian, her face flushed, sat on Liang Xiao's lap, with Jian Qinwan and Zhuo Xun seated on either side.
Kristi traveled alone in a carriage further back.
Yu Qingchuan and Yu Zao were in the third carriage. The couple planned to stay in the capital for a while and return to Tian Shan only after Liang Xiao's wedding, as Jian Nianfeng, Mu Xueqin, and Gongsun Jing had already departed for the capital.
Each day, after Liang Xiao finished writing and rested, the three girls would take turns being held by him, savoring these rare moments of warmth.
"Young Master has finally lived up to His Majesty's trust. This trip was more than successful; it was beyond expectations," Yue Lian said softly.
Her young master had planned exceptionally well, orchestrating Zuo Wushang's unexpected surrender, a timely betrayal of the Gongyang clan, and the swift capture of several strongholds, apprehending the Gongyang clan members involved in the rebellion.
Gongyang Long's involvement was an unforeseen but significant event, delivering a fatal blow to Gongyang He and costing him his Grand Tutor position, though it did not derail Liang Xiao's overall plan.
In truth, before coming to Jiangnan, Liang Xiao had only intended to curb the influence of the Gongyang clan. He had not anticipated the Battle for Luzhou or Zuo Wushang's defection.
"Little one, what did you call me?" Liang Xiao feigned displeasure.
Yue Lian startled, then remembering they were alone in the carriage, her face flushed as she murmured charmingly, "Husband..."
"The big monster is bullying Sister Yue Lian~" Zhuo Xun pouted.
Liang Xiao then looked at Zhuo Xun. "Little monster, what did you call me?"
Zhuo Xun's pretty face reddened, and she retorted, "Big monster husband!"
Jian Qinwan, now afraid to speak, was not spared by Liang Xiao. "And you?"
Jian Qinwan's heart fluttered wildly, and she quickly said, "Esteemed Husband..."
Only then did Liang Xiao seem satisfied, and he said with mock seriousness, "You've all been rather good today. As a reward, Husband will tell you another ghost story."
...
The news of Liang Xiao's return reached the capital in advance.
During the court assembly, Xiao Qing and the civil and military officials received the news, and the entire court was thrown into a state of shock!
Half were filled with joy, and the other half with anger and dismay!
Dugu Qun, He Wanli, Ouyang Ji, and others trembled violently, their hands gripping their jade tablets.
The young Minister of Personnel who had brought down the all-powerful Gongyang clan in Jiangnan, who had restored order and quelled the chaos, was a nightmare for countless enemies.
Now, the nightmare was finally returning to the capital!!
Huang Xing, the Minister of Works, who had completely sided with Xiao Qing, excitedly counted on his fingers. "If the timing is right, the Marquis of Anguo should already be halfway here?"
Gu Hong merely wore an expression of regret.
He had once believed his niece, Gu Pingting, with her exceptional beauty and talent, might capture Liang Xiao's attention and perhaps even gain a recognized status. Instead, Gu Pingting felt inadequate...
But soon, Gu Hong found solace, his heart filled with shame. "How can I revert to the ways of the noble clans..."
Marital alliances were beneficial, but they could also expose the Gu family to criticism, potentially leading outsiders to believe the Gu family was seeking to curry favor with Liang Xiao and become a new, dominant clan.
However, the Gu family had decided, much like the Mu family, to strive to be a family of enduring prosperity rather than a noble clan that threatened imperial authority and courted its own destruction before Liang Xiao.
Xiao Qing had no time to observe the reactions of the officials. He urged, "Quick! Quickly devise the grandest ceremony to welcome our beloved Liang Aiqing!"
Gu Hong snapped back to attention and suggested, "Marquis of Anguo has achieved a feat of eternal merit. His Majesty had already sent word, requesting the Marquis of Anguo to erect a monument before the 'Three Great Monuments of Da Qian' to proclaim his achievements. However, with the Marquis of Anguo's return, the populace eagerly awaits. Your Majesty might consider personally accompanying the welcome party outside the palace."
Xiao Qing pondered for a moment and then smiled. "How about meeting him outside the city?"
The civil and military officials dared not object, all praising, "Our Emperor is wise!"
In the Western Palace Villa, Xiao Qing's hand, holding the brush, trembled violently, his face flushed crimson.
It was already the end of July, and the fifteenth of August was her birthday.
Her troublesome elder brother was actually returning!
Ning Xuejun, the commander of the Shadow Guard, and Yuan Jin, the female imperial physician, stood by Xiao Qing's side, their eyes full of smiles.
Before the officials, she was an empress who looked down upon the world.
But within the seclusion of the Western Palace Villa, she was an excited and nervous maiden anticipating the return of her beloved!
"Can the wedding be on the fifteenth of August..." Xiao Qing murmured.
To marry her beloved on an auspicious date, her own birthday.
How perfect!
"On the ninth of August, Second Young Master Liang should arrive!" Ning Xuejun also rarely smiled.
Xiao Qing's smile bloomed like a flower, but then she quickly lowered her head. "The situation in Jiangnan is stable, but the realm is not yet entirely pacified. Although I have him, and I fear nothing, I must still consider the safety of the people. To avoid any unrest, I still cannot..."
Ning Xuejun said softly, "Your Highness need not worry. Be frank with Second Young Master Liang, and let the wedding be low-key. Officially, say it will be a simple affair."
Yuan Jin, who usually remained detached from politics, couldn't help but chime in, "When the realm is fully pacified, Your Majesty can hold a grand wedding with the Marquis of Anguo then, which also seems like a good idea?"
Xiao Qing then gave a shy smile. "That will be many years from now. At least, we should let Sister Qingxue and the others have a wedding that the world envies, shouldn't we?"
Ning Xuejun couldn't resist teasing, "Does Your Highness not yet understand Second Young Master Liang?"
Xiao Qing paused, then chuckled, her eyes filled with tenderness. "That is true. Formality is not important. Brother Xiao and Sister Qingxue and the others would not wish for extravagance~"
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality!
Liang Xiao was now a role model for the youth of Da Qian. If the wedding were too extravagant, it would inevitably draw criticism and perhaps even set a trend for lavish weddings in later generations.
Liang Qing, on behalf of Liang Xiao, had sent out all the invitations, specifically noting "No gifts are to be sent."
Just then, a female shadow guard reported, "Your Highness, the General of Cavalry has arrived in the capital and is waiting outside the palace!"
Outside the imperial palace, Lu Yi's face was full of smiles, yet his heart was somewhat complex.
Liang Xiao's performance in Jiangnan had exceeded his expectations by tenfold!
He and Zhuo Wulue had initially believed Liang Xiao would at best be able to stand against the Gongyang clan, thereby establishing the Emperor's authority for Xiao Qing.
Who would have thought the Gongyang clan would be brought down by Liang Xiao's relentless pursuit of the truth!
Behind Lu Yi were Lü Changhe, Yue Qingtian, and Liu Fan, the marching registrar of the Qingtian Guard, all brought by Lu Yi.
Nan Jiyun was assisting Zhuo Wulue and others in holding the northern border and could not come. As the Liang family had forbidden gifts, everyone had only sent letters of congratulation.
"Young man, oh young man! What generations of officials in Da Qian worked for but could not achieve, you have truly accomplished..." Lu Yi couldn't help but sigh.
This young man, not yet twenty, had pacified Jiangnan and suppressed the noble clans in the capital, yet showed no signs of being overly powerful or threatening the throne. Everything was for Xiao Qing!
Would the noble clans truly disappear under him and the Emperor, leaving only 'families' in Da Qian from now on?
Now, Lu Yi wished he could fly halfway to meet Liang Xiao, to see what this young man was made of to be so formidable!
Liang Xiao's entourage finally arrived at Zhongzhou City, two hundred li from the capital.
This was the starting point from which Emperor Gaozu had pacified the realm.
After Liang Xiao disembarked, Ding Wuyi accepted the imperial decree from the eunuch sent from the capital and read it aloud for all to hear.
"By the mandate of Heaven, Emperor decrees: Liang Xiao, a virtuous minister of this dynasty, is unparalleled in history! He is granted special privilege to engrave his deeds on stone monuments in Zhongzhou, to inform the spirits of our Dynasty's Emperor Gaozu, Marquis Gongsun Wuji of the Founding State, and Prime Minister Zhuo Mingfeng in heaven! Respect this decree."