One hundred Shadow Guards followed Liang Xiao, changing horses at post stations along the way, rushing to the capital at top speed, comparable to an urgent dispatch.
However, after galloping eight hundred li, changing sixteen horses at the post stations, these robust Shadow Guards could no longer endure, panting like oxen, their spirits low.
"Your Highness, please rest for a while? Do not run yourself ragged; it would be a loss outweighing the gain!"
When traveling with an urgent dispatch, people had to be changed several times. In their opinion, with their physique, they couldn't last without changing personnel, let alone Liang Xiao's pace. Even a celestial general would not be able to endure it!
Liang Xiao then remembered that he had been too eager and had overlooked the physical limits of these Shadow Guards. However, he could not explain to them that he had boundless energy. Thus, he had no choice but to rest at a post station for half a day.
Seeing that Liang Xiao's face was not flushed and his breath was not uneven, the Shadow Guards were baffled but wisely refrained from asking.
Nie Yuan, Lu Changhe, and Mo Hongming, who were in Liaodong, also received the good news from the capital and were overjoyed.
Nie Yuan was ordered to hand over the Liaodong military affairs to Lu Changhe and then set off for the capital with his personal guards, intending to temporarily take over the defense of Yanzhou and, incidentally, resolve his own lifelong matter.
At this time, Xiao Qing was still in the West Palace Villa, her belly swelling, praying for Liang Xiao's early return.
Jian Qinwan and Luo Qingxue, who had returned from the West Palace Villa to the Liang residence, found Qin Xin lost in thought and anxiously inquired about the situation.
"General Nie wishes to propose marriage to the Marquis..." Qin Xin said, her face flushed, showing Nie Yuan's letter.
Jian Qinwan apologized, "You are already over twenty-five. It is a good thing to start a family and a career."
The female soldiers of the Dingguo Marquisate could choose not to marry for life, and the Marquisate would provide for them in their old age. Generally, female soldiers married soldiers or retainers of the Dingguo Marquisate.
Qin Xin, with her heroic spirit and good judgment, a personal guard of the Qin Sage and later responsible for protecting Liang Xiao's female dependents, had contact with Nie Yuan and gradually became familiar with him.
Jian Qinwan immediately sent someone to inform Mount Tian Shan, entrusting Gongsun Jing to discharge Qin Xin from military service and prepare to facilitate their marriage. The task of protecting the family dependents would subsequently be fully handled by the captain of the Shadow Guards, Liang Mingyu.
Meanwhile, in the Great Qian Kingdom, tensions were escalating with the Guishuang Dynasty on the western border.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao had pacified Xichuan, the Guishuang Dynasty was not as shocked as they were when they heard of Liang Xiao annihilating the Savage Iron Cavalry. Instead, they were enraged!
"How dare they clear out the Spring Revival Cult meticulously spread by my people, this is too much!" the Guishuang King roared furiously, looking at Achilles behind him, "War God, wasn't Father King sending you here precisely to defeat Great Qian? When can you lead the troops?"
Achilles said coldly, "I am waiting for a battle with the Great Qian Celestial General. Moreover, Xichuan was pacified so quickly, the soldiers on the western border of Great Qian must be in high spirits. Even if you do not care, do not forget that the morale of the Guishuang Dynasty's soldiers will inevitably be low upon hearing the news. With this disparity, it is not an ideal time to wage war. Great Qian cannot advance to conquer, and we cannot kill our way through. We can only cast a covetous eye on the Western Regions, dragging a portion of the Great Qian army to the western border, waiting for our divine troops to descend!"
The Guishuang King also knew that he was no match for Great Qian, and his own country was still upgrading its weaponry. A hasty offensive was impossible, so he could only accept the proposal and was unwilling to relax his oppression of the Western Regions.
The Guishuang Dynasty's sphere of influence was closer to the kingdoms of the Western Regions. They lost sleep and were already discussing migrating their entire clan to Great Qian.
A day later, over a hundred riders flew into the capital under the cover of night.
"It's the thirteenth of August. Father will be here soon..."
In the West Palace Villa, Xiao Qing felt a little disappointed.
The fifteenth of August was their wedding anniversary, the "anniversary" Liang Xiao had spoken of, and also the Mid-Autumn Festival, her birthday.
Zhuo Xun beside her was also a little nervous.
Christy, Yue Lian, and Jian Qinwan were attending to the children, who were already over a year old.
Ning Xuejun, Mu Xueqin, and Yuan Jin were constantly watching over them.
The time for her due date was drawing nearer.
"Shuang Mei! Xiao Xun!"
Just then, Luo Qingxue's delighted shout came from outside the door.
By the time Xiao Qing came to her senses, Luo Qingxue had already pushed open the door and said excitedly, "Guess who's back?"
The two beauties' eyes lit up as they saw a figure walk in from outside, his face etched with urgency.
Upon seeing Liang Xiao, everyone was both surprised and overjoyed. Xiao Qing and Zhuo Xun were ecstatic!
Liang Xiao walked to the bedside of Xiao Qing and Zhuo Xun, holding one of their hands in each of his, and exchanged words of longing with his wives.
Xiao Qing's face beamed, and the fear of carrying twins vanished.
"Your Daddy is here, quickly say 'Daddy'!" Jian Qinwan quickly reminded the children in the cradle.
After a brief moment of confusion, the six children also happily spread their arms towards Liang Xiao: "Daddy~ Daddy~"
"So good~"
Liang Xiao was instantly overjoyed. He then walked up to the children and picked up the youngest, Liang Cang Sheng.
Jian Qinwan, Luo Qingxue, Christy, and Yue Lian each picked up a child, while Mu Xueqin held Jian Cang Lang, surrounding Liang Xiao.
The children kept calling "Daddy," their cries growing more joyful. They giggled and leaned in to kiss Liang Xiao, smearing his face with their saliva.
In a short while, Liang Xiao's cheeks were covered in the children's saliva, and everyone laughed heartily.
Luo Qingxue said softly, "Both our grandfathers said that these children resemble you a lot when you were young, especially the boys."
Liang Xiao laughed heartily but still prayed in his heart that his children would not inherit his shamelessness.
And that the boys would no longer spank the girls!
Late at night, Xiao Qing slowly opened her eyes and found Liang Xiao sitting on the floor by her bed.
Seeing Xiao Qing awake, Liang Xiao couldn't help but kiss her forehead again.
Xiao Qing's gaze was gentle, and she gently stroked Liang Xiao's face, deeply moved.
Out in the world, he was the Marquis of Anguo, the Celestial General, who stabilized the country. But at this moment, he was just their husband, the father of their children.
As a woman, what could be more blissful than having such a husband?
Liang Xiao held Xiao Qing's hand, his heart filled with emotion.
Having tasted loneliness and darkness in the past, he cherished his family even more now.
The people of the capital heard of their Marquis of Anguo's return and flocked out to the West City Gate to welcome him, but they were informed, "The Marquis of Anguo has already returned to his residence in secret. Thank you for your support!"
The citizens had no choice but to hand over the gifts and letters they had prepared to the soldiers, expressing their respect.
On the fourteenth of August, Wang Canghai, along with several ministers personally selected by Xiao Qing to meet the Emperor, met with Liang Xiao. Everyone was delighted.
Liang Xiao did not boast of his achievements or appear overly powerful, which would overshadow the emperor. As Xiao Qing had said, he did not care about imperial power. This made Gu Hong and others even more at ease, dedicating themselves to assisting Xiao Qing and reporting the year's situation to Liang Xiao.
"The Marquis of Anguo's foresight is profound. With so many troops stationed in various places, those landlords dare not act recklessly, and the country remains relatively stable. However, over one-fifth of the talents replacing the aristocratic families in various regions are unable to perform their duties effectively, but they are all law-abiding. The court is considering their reassignment," said Huang Xing, who concurrently served as the Minister of Personnel, with a joyful expression.
With Xiao Qing nearing her due date, they dared not disturb her and could only let Liang Xiao handle this matter.
Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Zhuo Lingjun also concurrently serves as the Minister of Personnel. With his arrangements, it should be foolproof. Feel free to reassign them. As long as these scholars are law-abiding and serve the country and the people, then we shall promote them based on their merits, and there is no need to fuss over their reputation or private conduct. After all, 'three people can make a tiger,' and 'words can melt gold.'"
Zhuo Zifang solemnly agreed, then added with some concern, "However, officials currently face another problem. Local chief officials should no longer be locals, to avoid the emergence of warlords or 'local emperors.'"