Mu Cheng responded without hesitation, his understated words more impactful than thunder, deafening and enlightening!
"The son of the Northern King of Great Liang?!"
The entire audience erupted instantly!
Even those behind Liang Xiao were dumbfounded.
The immortal legend of the Great Liang Kingdom, lauded by historians.
The Northern King of Great Liang, who once stepped forward to help the Emperor of Great Liang secure his throne and quell rebellions.
Was Liang Xiao's father, Liang Anguo?
Zhuo Zifang’s breathing became abnormally difficult.
From his previous interactions with Liang Qing, he could be certain that even Liang Qing did not know this matter!
Yan Liu and others felt their minds buzzing, and Zuo Wuji’s pupils contracted, staring intently at Liang Xiao.
Damn it!
Zuo Wuji, filled with indignation, suppressed the urge to curse.
The Northern King of Great Liang was a mysterious figure he himself had once yearned to emulate. He had even stepped forward to quell the northern rebellion, earning him the title of Marquis Zhenbei.
And it turned out to be Liang Anguo? A person from Great Qian?
This meant that Mu Cheng would definitely protect this child, but publicly, he absolutely could not offend him!
A large portion of the Great Liang Xuanwei, originally responsible for maintaining order, were also dumbfounded, turning to look at Liang Xiao and Mu Cheng.
This sudden news had shattered their worldview.
Yan Liu swallowed with difficulty and trembled, "Is Your Majesty not joking?"
"When have I ever spoken falsely?" Mu Cheng retorted.
Yan Liu’s face turned red, and he was left speechless.
"This..." Luo Qingxue, Jian Qinwan, and Zhuo Xun were also stunned.
Their father-in-law was the "Heavenly General" of Great Liang?
Jian Qinwan, in particular, nearly suffocated.
Her father, the Sword Saint, had always wanted to meet the Northern King of Great Liang. And it turned out to be the obscure Liang Anguo, her father-in-law...
The three wives, along with Zhuo Zifang, Zuo Wushang, and the shadow guards, were the most likely to accept this news.
In their eyes, this might be a father-son inheritance, a successful retirement.
"How is this possible..." Even the Right Prime Minister Cheng Qing was completely bewildered.
Only Qin Feng, Zhi Rou, and Su Wanqing remained silent.
"Back then, Liang Anguo traveled to Great Liang and saved my life. I became sworn brothers with him. Afterwards, when the powerful official Xiu Ping launched a coup, it was Liang Anguo who assassinated Xiu Ping for me, rallied the people, and allowed me to regain imperial power. Later, the Xiu family colluded with southern barbarians to rebel and advanced relentlessly, reaching the capital. It was again Liang Anguo who took the enemy leader's head for me, dispersed the barbarians, yet he resigned his post and sailed alone across the Heng River, returning north to Great Qian."
After Mu Cheng explained loudly, he surveyed the crowd and asked, "The empire of the Mu family was preserved thanks to Liang Anguo. I enfeoffed him as the Emperor's sworn brother, the Northern King of Great Liang, to show my gratitude. His son, Liang Xiao, shakes the world with his might and has immortal merits. I treat his son with great respect. What problem is there?"
"Liang Anguo swore to only be a subject of Great Qian and would never defect to Great Liang again. The first time he saved me, he did not know my identity; it was out of chivalry. The subsequent rescues were because he could not bear to see the people of Great Liang fall into war and suffer. When he retired, he also urged me to keep it a secret because he did not want to burden his family in Great Qian. Even if I could have protected his family then, how would they have fared in the future?"
"Ten paces, kill one person; a thousand miles, leave no trace! When it's done, brush your sleeves and depart, hiding your name. Isn't this exactly what I'm describing about our Northern King of Great Liang?"
Yan Liu and the others, who had been filled with anger, immediately deflated and echoed, "Your Majesty is wise..."
Liang Xiao was only slightly surprised, then came back to his senses.
He had considered this possibility before, as before his two sets of memories merged, Liang Anguo had personally guided his swordsmanship and spear techniques since childhood.
And his father possessed natural strength, though he rarely displayed his swordsmanship.
But the swordsmanship his father had taught him surprisingly matched the "Heavenly General" persona!
Using the most efficient and precise methods to achieve a single, decisive blow, without any lingering movements!
However, his swordsmanship was based on the "Heavenly General's" training for necessary combat situations, and later merged with his own learned sword techniques, resulting in his current mastery.
Before swallowing that strange liquid, his eyesight and hearing far surpassed ordinary people, and his night vision was excellent, possibly inherited from his father.
The "Heavenly General" possessed a photographic memory, but physical attributes could not be improved through memory fusion.
Liang Xiao speculated that his own photographic memory might be due to his mother, who was once a renowned talented woman in Yan Province, possessing vast knowledge and a strong memory...
Zuo Wushang and Jian Nanfeng also possessed "natural strength." According to Zuo Wushang, Zuo Wuji also did, and Jian Qinwan, Zhuo Xun, and Zuo Jing had astonishing strength for girls as well...
In this world, besides materials beyond his comprehension, there might also be genes that defied his understanding, likely with dominant inheritance?
"Marquis Anguo is the son of our Great Liang's Northern King!!"
The news spread rapidly, and the tens of thousands of commoners in the vicinity quickly became excited, their hearts filled with fervor, shouting praises for Marquis Anguo and the Northern King of Great Liang.
Especially the older generation of commoners, many of whom had tears in their eyes.
Only those who had experienced the war back then could deeply understand the significance of the Northern King to them!
That was the grace of saving their lives!
The soldiers struggled to maintain order, and finally, out of desperation, pushed back the frenzied crowd, saying, "We apologize!"
Qin Feng had always strictly forbidden his soldiers from harming the commoners, but if they didn't exert a little more effort, they might be overwhelmed by the excited populace.
More than three-quarters of the civil and military officials of Great Liang trembled, their gazes towards Liang Xiao filled with far greater reverence than before.
They knew that it was impossible to pressure Liang Xiao or oppose Mu Cheng's preferential treatment of Liang Xiao through pretexts of reputation or public opinion.
Mu Cheng sighed, "The Northern King's seal that I entrusted to my son-in-law for you, did you bring it?"
Liang Xiao merely nodded. Yue Qingtian, behind him, turned to retrieve the seal from the carriage and handed it to Liang Xiao.
"A true warrior!"
Mu Cheng cast an envious glance at Yue Qingtian, took the Northern King's seal from Liang Xiao, raised it high, and announced to the public.
"Great Qian's Marquis Anguo, Liang Xiao, is a subject of Great Qian. However, I have taken the liberty today to have him inherit the Northern King's seal. The Great Qian nation shall treat Liang Xiao with the礼 of a Northern King until his return to his country, without question!"
From the Prime Minister down to the commoners, news was received sequentially, and henceforth, the entire nation was informed.
On the tall building, Yue Hongxiu gazed deeply at Liang Xiao, her voice trembling as much as her hand that held the empty sword scabbard, "Liar..."
"My life is already pledged to Great Qian, and I can no longer pledge it to you. Ten years from now, I will return to Great Liang to seek forgiveness."
A handsome figure in white robes, hastening north, a few brief words, a silent farewell.
Henceforth, they were separated by life and death.
Mu Cheng had already announced it publicly. Even if the civil and military officials were unwilling to believe it, they had to accept the reality and bowed to Liang Xiao once more.
Yan Liu could no longer bear the atmosphere and feigned a sudden abdominal pain, rushing home.
Under Mu Cheng's escort, Liang Xiao and his entourage entered the capital of Great Liang and were housed in the best residences of the Honglu Temple.
Mu Cheng merely instructed Liang Xiao to rest well before returning to the palace.
After Qin Feng confirmed that Liang Xiao's accommodation was arranged, he also returned to his mansion with peace of mind.
Only then did Liang Xiao look at Zhuo Zifang, who had been preoccupied, and ask, "Lord Zhuo, where is the Chess Sage's Chess Pavilion?"