“It is my utmost honor and profound gratitude to receive such esteemed favor from the Emperor of Daliang,” Liang Xiao said, bowing to Mu Cheng.
Mu Cheng had shown him great respect and courtesy, and Liang Xiao’s failure to reciprocate would have been a loss of face for Mu Cheng.
The officials of Daliang observed Liang Xiao with peculiar expressions. They had imagined him to be some divine being with supernatural powers, so formidable was his reputation, yet he was, after all, only human.
Mu Cheng chuckled, “You deserve such treatment. Whether it was the prevention of smallpox or the integration of poll taxes, the common people of Daliang have benefited from your contributions. If I were not to treat you well, the populace would surely not be pleased.”
It was early autumn, and as dusk approached, the crowds of citizens grew. Soldiers maintained order at the scene. Even the imperial guards, the “Xuan Guards” who emulated the Shadow Guards of Daqian, had been mobilized and stationed around the perimeter, vigilant against any assassination attempts. Although Mu Cheng believed Liang Xiao would not launch a surprise attack with the soldiers of Daqian, the Xuan Guards could not afford to be careless.
“You flatter me,” Liang Xiao replied politely, though his confusion deepened. If it were merely for his accomplishments, Mu Cheng would have had no reason for such an astonishing display. However, with so many eyes and ears present, Liang Xiao did not press the matter.
“This is my Consort Su, who is with child. I hear you are also acquainted?” Mu Cheng said, holding the hand of Su Wanqing, whose complexion was a little pale, as he looked towards Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao regarded Su Wanqing and nodded, “I congratulate you both on your union.”
Seeing that Liang Xiao bore no overt animosity towards her, Su Wanqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief and replied, “Thank you, Marquis of Anguo…”
Liang Xiao asked no further questions, instead turning his gaze to the officials behind Mu Cheng. On his journey from Jiangnan to Daliang, he had privately questioned Qin Feng repeatedly, and Qin Feng’s answers had been affirmative. Su Wanqing’s affection for Mu Cheng did not seem feigned; her zither music was gentle and melodious, and she was inseparable from Mu Cheng, making infidelity impossible. Qin Feng had clearly understood his unspoken meaning and had laid all his cards on the table, leaving Liang Xiao with no reason to doubt Su Wanqing further. Considering the sudden death of Su Wanqing’s son and the disappearance of Su Wencheng, Liang Xiao had a good inkling of the situation. Perhaps this was a woman who had lost her way and found it again, though he could not fathom why.
“This is our Left Prime Minister and Minister of Revenue, Yan Liu. This is our Right Prime Minister, Cheng Qing, and the General of Zhenbei and Assistant Minister of War, Yue Daliang…” Mu Cheng introduced the highest-ranking officials to Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao bowed to each of them. Zuo Wuji, disguised as Yue Daliang, his gaze flickered between Zuo Wushang behind Liang Xiao and then to Liang Xiao himself, a smile playing on his lips. “The Marquis of Anguo is renowned throughout the land. I have long admired you!”
“Ah, I have long felt a spiritual connection with the Marquis of Zhenbei,” Liang Xiao said with a smile, appraising Zuo Wuji.
“A spiritual connection indeed!” Zuo Wuji’s brow twitched. He forced a smile and nodded.
Liang Xiao’s wives behind him and Zuo Wushang looked at Zuo Wuji, stifling their laughter. Zuo Wuji’s expression clearly conveyed a desire to grind Liang Xiao into dust a hundred times over. Similarly, after understanding Zuo Wuji’s situation, Liang Xiao felt an urge to punch him square in the face. Perhaps this was what it meant to have a spiritual connection for a long time…
Mu Cheng, sensing the discordant tone in Zuo Wuji’s voice, turned to look and, seeing Zuo Wuji smiling, said, “The Marquis of Anguo of Daqian possesses both literary and military talents, earning the admiration of scholars and warriors alike.”
Here stood a high official of an enemy nation, potentially poised to march south and unify Daliang, and who harbored an unforgivable grievance over his daughter. Zuo Wuji could bear it no longer and fell silent.
The Right Prime Minister, Cheng Qing, Mu Cheng’s right-hand man, also praised, “Your Majesty speaks the truth!”
The Left Prime Minister, Yan Liu, and the others looked at Liang Xiao, as did Zuo Wuji, with forced smiles. Liang Xiao’s presence in Daliang was likely to bring them nothing but harm! Yan family’s bookstores alone had suffered severe losses due to the sharp decline in book prices in Daqian, forcing their closure and subsequent acquisition by the court at a low price. Then, the court had abruptly introduced Liang Xiao’s movable-type printing, making book prices comparable to those in Daqian! Coupled with Mu Cheng’s eagerness towards Liang Xiao, Yan Liu could only direct his animosity towards Liang Xiao.
Zuo Wuji, glancing sideways at Yan Liu, inwardly sneered. He could see Yan Liu trembling, his jaw clenched, clearly enraged. A large portion of Daliang’s court officials wished Liang Xiao dismembered, precisely because they belonged to the powerful aristocratic families. Liang Xiao was universally recognized as the gravedigger of these aristocratic families, severely damaging their interests in Daliang. At this moment, Zuo Wuji was simply grateful that he and Zuo Wushang did not resemble each other too closely, thus preventing any association with their brotherly relationship. With Zuo Jing as leverage, he believed Liang Xiao and Zuo Wushang would not court disaster by exposing his identity as a refugee from Daheng.
Yan Liu, suppressing his hatred, probed, “How is the Third Prince faring in Daqian? I hear he suffers from acclimatization issues? Frequent vomiting and diarrhea. Can he be allowed to return home?”
Liang Xiao replied without hesitation, “Oh, he is doing splendidly! Daqian has the finest imperial physicians, all successors of Medical Saints, ensuring he won’t die! It’s normal for young people to miss home and look for excuses to return. If he cannot endure such minor hardship, won’t it make the people of Daliang laugh at him upon his return?”
“Young people?” Seeing Liang Xiao’s patronizing and condescending demeanor, Yan Liu felt an urge to slap him with a shoe. Mu Xuan was already twenty-four years old, three years older than Liang Xiao!
Mu Cheng nodded, “When the time is ripe, I will naturally allow them to return. The Emperor of Daqian is known for his benevolence throughout the world and will surely not trouble my son.”
Those behind Liang Xiao were speechless. It was quite troubling… Before Liang Xiao left the capital, they had heard that Mu Xuan had lost over ten jin. However, the moment they considered Mu Xuan’s just deserts, their sense of guilt vanished. Yan Liu was also aware of Mu Xuan’s situation but could do nothing as Mu Cheng refused to agree.
“I hope this trip of the Marquis of Anguo does not disappoint us!” Yan Liu exclaimed with a laugh, his anger reaching its peak.
Liang Xiao merely smiled. He was here to retrieve his wife; whether they were disappointed or not was none of his concern. He had no interest in dealing with Daliang’s aristocratic families. If Daliang remained stable, Daqian would have no opportunity to unify it within his lifetime. This was also the source of his confusion. The Emperor of Daliang surely knew he was a key official of Daqian and could not be loyal to Daliang, so why insist on him as an envoy, even holding the entire nation hostage? Let alone if the Northern King of Daliang was his father, Liang Anguo, or even if the Northern King of Daliang was Liang Xiao himself, Mu Cheng would not have acted this way.
Zhuo Zifang also fell into silence. Mu Cheng had merely exchanged a few pleasantries with him; his focus was entirely on Liang Xiao, which was not the issue. The problem was Mu Cheng’s excessive warmth towards Liang Xiao, giving him a feeling of instant camaraderie.
Qin Feng, sensing the increasingly awkward atmosphere, quickly reminded Mu Cheng, “Your Majesty, the hour grows late…”
Mu Cheng understood and announced to the public that Liang Xiao would be treated with the honors of a prince, while Zhuo Zifang would receive the treatment of a high minister and a marquis with ten thousand households. The accompanying personnel were to be treated with kindness and not neglected.
Yan Liu could no longer contain himself and asked, “Your Majesty, why show such great favor to the Marquis of Anguo?”
“Because he is the son of the Northern King of Daliang.”