Su Wanqing's face instantly lost all color, yet she dared not defy Mu Xuan.
"Slap!"
Mu Xuan received a heavy slap from Mu Cheng. Mu Qing and Mu Ning also received slaps for speaking in agreement.
"Where has the etiquette and integrity I've taught you gone?"
The three princes covered their red faces, filled with anger but unable to speak.
Mu Qing was the nominal crown prince, but everyone knew that the position was merely an illusion before ascending the throne.
The three of them were vying for the position of heir apparent and had to guard against other princes who would become contenders when they grew older.
Currently, Mu Cheng had three thousand concubines, yet he favored Su Wanqing from the Great Qian, and his affection extended to the new life within her.
This was especially true after Su Wanqing's eldest son had died suddenly…
Mu Cheng had sealed the news, only announcing that the child had died of a sudden illness, not that he had been poisoned.
But when people heard that Mu Cheng was sending people to apprehend the Empress's brother, Su Wencheng, and yet had not relegated Su Wanqing to the cold palace, observant individuals could guess most of the truth.
"Imperial Sister! Can't you plead for us?" Mu Qing finally couldn't hold back and looked at Qin Feng and his wife, who had remained silent.
Mu Cheng's children with the Empress, who came from humble beginnings, were all poisoned. Only Zhi Rou, who was young and had been placed with the Sage of Chess, survived.
Zhi Rou glanced at Mu Qing and said, "I have already pleaded for all of you, my Imperial Brothers. But Father Emperor believes you should go to Great Qian to familiarize yourselves with the customs and culture, which will be beneficial for future relations between the two nations."
The princes did not believe her. They glared at Zhi Rou with resentment, their anger burning, yet they dared not scold her.
If they went to Great Qian, they would undoubtedly be under the strict surveillance of the Shadow Guards.
The Shadow Guards were an organization that even the once invincible noble families of Great Qian dared not offend.
"Arrange it immediately. Send the Imperial Princes to Jiangnan in Great Qian. First, they shall meet the Great General who Conquers the South and the Marquis who Pacifies the Nation, then proceed to the capital to visit the Marquis who Secures the Nation."
As Mu Cheng issued the command, Mu Xuan trembled.
There were two people in Great Qian whom he dared not face.
One was the Marquis who Secures the Nation, Liang Xiao. The other was General who Pacifies the East, Nie Yuan, who had unexpectedly seen his true face as a leader of the Rejuvenation Sect.
If he went to the capital, and Nie Yuan recognized him, the consequences would be unimaginable!
He was the most competitive prince for the throne, supported by the Yan family, and Mu Cheng's health was deteriorating.
The throne was within his grasp!
The noble families of the Great Liang maintained a tacit understanding. The princes could engage in overt and covert struggles, but once the final outcome was decided, all families would accept reality and cease their feuding, lest they weaken the unity of the noble families and give the Emperor an opportunity to eradicate them all.
Mu Cheng was the best example. The Empress's family, who had been arrogant and usurped imperial power, could not escape his retribution; they were uprooted entirely!
Therefore, even though Mu Qing and Mu Ning came from other noble families, in terms of personal ability and backing, they were no match for him, the third prince!
As a result, Mu Cheng's bizarre decision to invite Liang Xiao was about to shatter his dream of emperorship!
No matter how Mu Xuan pleaded tearfully, Mu Cheng remained unmoved, ordering Qin Feng to personally escort all the princes to Great Qian as guests…
Since Zuo Wuji had secretly presented Mu Cheng with movable type printing, Great Liang now had stable "newspapers" for disseminating information.
This was also why the noble families felt a prick of unease.
The common people learned the specifics of the "tax per capita" reform through the newspapers and were grateful to the Emperor. However, the newspapers made no mention of the ministers who supported the reform, their intentions being self-evident.
But now, the populace was deeply grateful to Mu Cheng. They dared not openly defy him, lest they be glorified in the newspapers, drawing universal condemnation and affecting their family businesses.
Zuo Wuji had acted flawlessly, securing Mu Cheng's guarantee that his provision of movable type printing would not be revealed.
Because the Yue family, to which Zuo Wuji belonged, was also a force to be reckoned with and supported the imperial power, Mu Cheng would naturally not expose his trusted confidant, who had renamed himself "Greater Liang" with good intentions, as a scapegoat.
Furthermore, due to Liang Xiao's impressive achievements in Great Qian, Yan Liu and others believed that Liang Xiao had already coordinated with Mu Cheng and had even gifted him the secret technology for defeating Ouyang's bookshop. Liang Xiao thus naturally became the target of criticism.
Zuo Wuji gained further favor from Mu Cheng, but he did not feel grateful to Liang Xiao because of it.
After Zuo Jing became pregnant, Zuo Wuji confined her. She rarely saw her child and was perpetually unhappy.
Time had now reached the depths of winter.
After Liang Xiao concluded his arrangements for the northern frontier, Nie Yuan was put in charge of training in Yanzhou, and Wang Chunqiu was responsible for Yunzhou and Shuofang, ready to respond to Liaodong and the western borders at any time.
Mu Hong and his wife returned to the capital with Liang Xiao's family to report for duty.
Now that Gu Xiaoxiao was the wife of the Deputy Minister of War and had given birth to a son with Mu Hong, she was particularly grateful to Liang Xiao's family for their support of Mu Hong. She often praised Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue in the Gu and Mu families.
The former noble families had all changed their ways, now functioning merely as families, rather than calling themselves noble families and taking pride in it after gaining power, as the former three great noble families had done.
The previous imperial examinations had been held as scheduled, with the number of participants increasing year by year.
The future officialdom of Great Qian would see increasingly significant changes. These families had to educate their children well if they hoped for continued success in their careers for generations to come.
Of course, the officials from these families in the current and previous generations also provided great assistance to their younger kin. As long as they did not violate the laws of Great Qian, they could appropriately leverage their connections to find good mentors and friends for their children, giving them a distinct advantage and a head start.
This was a phenomenon that Liang Xiao could not completely eradicate, just as it could not be eradicated even in modern times…
What Liang Xiao could do was prevent the resurgence of noble families, employing both benevolence and might, and even setting an example himself.
Xiao Qing's health had recovered exceptionally well after recuperation, and she could even engage in marital relations with Liang Xiao normally.
Occasionally, Xiao Qing would be in the imperial study, reviewing memorials, and then return to the West Palace villa to accompany her son.
Late at night, in bed, Xiao Qing nestled in Liang Xiao's arms, her face filled with reluctance.
For the sake of national stability, the court assembly would eventually reconvene, and she could not attend it while holding her child.
At such times, the most reliable leader of the Shadow Guards, Ning Xuejun, could look after the child in the side hall of the great palace, acting as their maternal grandmother.
Since the founding of Great Qian by Emperor Gaozu, a strict rule had been established for the Shadow Guards: of the two Shadow Guard leaders, one male and one female, at least one had to accompany the Emperor at all times, like a shadow.
Ning Xuejun would look after the princes, and Ding Wuyi, having shed his responsibilities in the northern frontier and Helan Mountain, could return to the court to protect Xiao Qing and accompany her to court assemblies.
In Xiao Qing's heart, Ding Wuyi, as the regent appointed by Emperor Wen, was considered her foster father.
Sima Jing, now over seventy years old, was still in Yanzhou training the Stealth Wolf Guards for Liang Xiao.
According to Liang Xiao's vision, five thousand Stealth Wolf Guards were needed, with at least five hundred absolutely reliable elites. These members had to undergo rigorous assessment and selection, while also ensuring the well-being of their families and confirming their psychological stability, followed by timely "psychological counseling" for all Stealth Wolf Guards.
Captain Ye Xiao was an excellent role model, daring and adventurous, but this was only possible when his family's living conditions were secure and he had descendants.
On the first day of the first lunar month, the long-suspended court assembly finally resumed, much to the anticipation of the officials.