"She still refuses to forgive him?"
Liang Xiao and Jian Qinwan exchanged a glance, then he immediately took her hand, and they were about to leave the grand courtyard to find the Three Sages of Da Qian.
Just then, a joyous shout came from outside: "Where is my son-in-law?"
After half a year of not seeing her own mother, Jian Qinwan's beautiful eyes lit up, filled with joy.
Mu Xueqin walked into the grand courtyard, beaming with pride. Upon seeing Liang Xiao and the girls, her aged eyes sparkled!
Having suffered the "oppression" of the flower thief for the past six months, Jian Qinwan excitedly let go of Liang Xiao's hand, spread her arms, and rushed forward, much like a little girl reuniting with her parents after a long separation.
"Mom~"
"Oh my!" Mu Xueqin was even more overjoyed. She hurried over, almost with a cry in her voice.
Mu Xueqin suddenly crouched down, avoiding Jian Qinwan's embrace. Mother and daughter brushed past each other!
Jian Qinwan froze, then turned to see her mother already running to Liang Xiao's side. She pinched Liang Xiao's chin and cheeks, patted his shoulders, and then took his pulse.
Through the side of Mu Xueqin's face, Jian Qinwan saw her mother's concerned expression.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Good child, you've lost weight after half a year! Are you too worried, or not eating well? I'll prescribe something to nourish your body later..."
At this moment, Mu Xueqin was like a nagging mother, oblivious to anyone else.
Jian Qinwan was left bewildered in the wind, her gaze resentful: "Mom..."
Who was her biological daughter, anyway!
Liang Xiao laughed triumphantly, as if he had won: "Mother-in-law, I'm perfectly healthy. The Bodhisattva..."
"Oh, isn't this my precious daughter..."
Mu Xueqin finally remembered Jian Qinwan standing by, and walked over with a smile, completely devoid of her usual sternness.
Jian Qinwan's heart finally felt balanced. She hugged her mother, not forgetting to cast a glare at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao saw it and his heart fluttered.
Those captivating eyes were still the same.
However, Jian Qinwan had learned her lesson. She knew that elders liked to tease her, so this time she didn't complain about Liang Xiao to her mother.
Luo Qingxue and the others also stepped forward to pay their respects.
Mu Xueqin glanced at everyone. Seeing that there were no outsiders around, she then reminded Liang Xiao: "Good son-in-law, although your physique is unusual, you should still be more restrained in the future..."
Liang Xiao understood and nodded obediently.
Mu Xueqin then inquired about Liang Xiao's injuries, and was relieved to confirm that he had fully recovered.
A moment later, Jian Nanfeng and Gongsun Jing arrived, leading their daughter Gongsun Yu. The two Sages looked at Mu Xueqin with shame.
"Sister~ Brother-in-law!" Gongsun Yu happily pounced and hugged Jian Qinwan's slender waist.
Jian Qinwan dotingly crouched down to hug Gongsun Yu. After comforting her, she walked towards Jian Nanfeng and Gongsun Jing.
"Dad~ Mom~ Master~ This flower thief has bullied me for half a year, you must seek justice for your child~"
With all three pillars of support gathered, Jian Qinwan finally complained without restraint, still clinging to Gongsun Jing's arm and acting coy.
Liang Xiao was stunned. He pretended not to hear anything, but secretly held a grudge.
The Three Sages of Da Qian were simultaneously taken aback and fell into a brief silence.
A moment later, Mu Xueqin murmured to herself: "If he didn't bully you, where would you get your little Qinwan and little Liang Xiao?"
Jian Qinwan's face instantly flushed red. She covered her face and hid to the side.
"Alas, I'm truly helpless against the three elders..." a certain someone said with an air of self-righteousness, completely unconcerned by the scornful glances of the girls behind him.
Truly becoming more shameless by the day!
Jian Qinwan just wanted to escape the scene as quickly as possible. She hurriedly pulled Mu Xueqin to her room to recount her experiences over the past six months.
When Jian Nanfeng and Mu Xueqin looked at Liang Xiao again, aside from relief, there was a deeper sense of admiration.
Their daughter and disciple was about to marry the most remarkable young man in Da Qian!
Everyone sat around, exchanging pleasantries for a long time before the mother and daughter emerged.
Mu Xueqin walked up to Gongsun Jing, staring at her with a complex expression.
"Sister..." Gongsun Jing quickly got up, still looking ashamed.
Mu Xueqin glanced at Jian Qinwan, then at Gongsun Yu, and sighed: "For the sake of the two children, I will no longer hold a grudge..."
More than ten years of guilt were finally redeemed at this moment. Gongsun Jing, filled with gratitude, nodded solemnly: "Thank you, sister!"
The Three Sages of Da Qian left Gongsun Yu behind and went to Jian Qinwan's room for a good catch-up.
Gongsun Yu clung to Liang Xiao, acting spoiled, until Liang Xiao gave her a malt candy brought by Yue Lian. Only then did she contentedly sit aside and chat with Zhen Mi. Zhuo Xun couldn't help but join in.
Zhen Mi was close in age to Gongsun Yu, and Zhuo Xun's mentality was similar to Gongsun Yu's.
Liang Xiao quietly asked Jian Qinwan: "Why did mother-in-law forgive master so quickly?"
Jian Qinwan raised her eyebrows: "I told mom about your situation, about master matchmaking us, and about master's helplessness back then! Mom only resented dad for his inconsistent words and actions. After knowing the truth, she's not angry anymore. She can also understand Grandpa Gongsun's eagerness when facing the family's lack of heirs!"
Liang Xiao suddenly understood.
As a medical saint, Mu Xueqin's greatest concern throughout her life was her daughter's marriage. Moreover, with Jian Nanfeng and Gongsun Jing sincerely apologizing to her, Mu Xueqin couldn't bear to see Gongsun Yu never meet her biological father.
Since Mu Xueqin had confirmed that Liang Xiao was the Heavenly General, nothing was more comforting than her daughter marrying the Heavenly General. Gongsun Jing, willing to matchmake her daughter with Liang Xiao, had even gifted the Sunset Bow to Liang Xiao as a form of atonement.
The grudges of the Three Sages of Da Qian from years ago finally came to an end.
Zhuo Wulüe and Lu Xue were still on their way, so Liang Xiao's wedding date had to be postponed.
Mu Xueqin, as one of the confidantes of the truth about the Empress of that year, was not surprised or displeased to learn that Liang Xiao had already married Princess Ningshuang.
The people of Da Qian did not wish for the royal family to end without an heir, as the Xiao family was already considered the most benevolent royal family in history.
After Liang Xiao left, Jian Nanfeng took the chapter of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" handed to him by Jian Qinwan and read it intently, clapping his hands in admiration.
Gongsun Yu, on the other hand, was captivated by "Journey to the West" and Zhen Mi's "Da Qian Heroes' Biographies." As she read, she clapped her hands and exclaimed: "Brother-in-law and Sister Mi are so amazing!!"
Even Gongsun Jing and Mu Xueqin couldn't help but watch, marveling incessantly.
Mu Xueqin grew more puzzled the more she watched.
Her son-in-law, not yet twenty, was accomplished in both civil and military arts, and knew everything??
At the West Palace Villa, Liang Xiao spent a night of passion with Xiao Qing. The next day, they waited for Wang Canghai in the Imperial Study.
Wang Canghai entered with a stack of official documents and handed them to Liang Xiao for review.
As Shangshu Ling, the nominal head of the Six Ministries, Liang Xiao had Wang Canghai acting on his behalf. While his position was leisurely, it was still inappropriate to completely ignore everything.
These documents included information on farmland, personnel matters, and recent changes. Liang Xiao needed to understand them thoroughly to deal with Ouyang Ji, the Minister of Revenue, He Wanli, the Minister of Personnel, and Dugu Qun, the Minister of War.
Upon reconfirming the detailed information about Da Qian's farmland, Liang Xiao couldn't help but exclaim: "It seems that the High Ancestor long ago realized the importance of land and even took great pains to resist land annexation. His foresight was truly remarkable."
Da Qian had over six hundred million mu of cultivated land recorded, with official land accounting for thirty percent, approximately one hundred and eighty million mu, which was astonishing.
However, more than forty percent of the remaining seventy percent of cultivated land was in the hands of landlords and gentry. The land held by common people was less than thirty percent!
This thirty percent of official land was unclaimed land that Da Qian's High Ancestor had occupied at the beginning of the founding of the dynasty, despite immense pressure. The proportion of official land had to be maintained above thirty percent, and descendants were strictly forbidden from selling it.
Wang Canghai explained: "The one who proposed strictly adhering to the thirty percent official land ratio was the founding Prime Minister Zhuo Mingfeng. He withstood the pressure and slander from the aristocratic families and clans, and overcame all dissenting opinions, urging the High Ancestor to stick to this line."
Liang Xiao couldn't help but be impressed.
It was his modern perspective that allowed him to understand these stakes.
Zhuo Mingfeng, as a man of ancient times, possessed such keen and far-sighted vision, enabling Da Qian to maintain stability amidst the struggles between aristocratic families and local magnates!