The civil and military officials at court, seeing Xiao Qing’s face as good as new, offered their congratulations, "His Majesty's fortune is boundless!"
Soon, everyone fell into doubt: could leprosy truly recover completely?
However, as ministers, they understood human affairs and knew that some matters were unnecessary to inquire about, even forbidden. They simply focused on reporting the year's governance and suggestions to Xiao Qing.
After all, those few ministers who had met with His Majesty had consistently assured them that the Emperor had recovered well.
Wang Canghai and others finally let down their guard and breathed a sigh of relief.
Liang Xiao, sitting beside Xiao Qing, observed the nearly half unfamiliar faces in the court, feeling a sense of comfort.
The three great aristocratic families had thrown in the towel, and these individuals had taken their places. At least on the surface, they appeared more upright than the previous lot, and their reports were well-organized.
This new cohort of officials, while slightly less capable than the other half, were already quite competent.
Zhuo Zifang, also serving as the Minister of Personnel, had assessed their performance, and it was satisfactory.
"Your Majesty, it is widely rumored in Great Liang that the Marquis of An has agreed to an envoy mission to Great Liang, and Great Liang has dispatched seven princes. They have already arrived in Jiangnan..."
The Minister of Rites stepped forward to report, then looked at Liang Xiao with a worried expression.
"The pillars of Great Liang's nation, the Marquis of Zhenguo, once visited our country. Naturally, we cannot neglect our courtesies. Half a year ago, I already arranged for a palace envoy to await in Jiangnan, ready to depart once the Emperor of Great Liang understands our nation's plea," Xiao Qing replied calmly, acknowledging the matter. Yet, his heart was filled with reluctance.
Departing for Great Liang in summer, even for just one or two months, plus travel time in Jiangnan, would take about half a year. The children's birthdays would definitely be missed.
But Liang Xiao's journey to Great Liang was for Zuo Jing, and for the people of Great Liang. After all, from Liang Xiao's perspective, the unification of the two nations was only a matter of time, even if it was to be achieved by the next generation.
Everyone looked at Liang Xiao with admiration.
At nineteen, he had pacified Jiangnan; at twenty, he had achieved the victory of Wolf Smoke Platform; at twenty-one, he had quelled the western territories. Yet, he never boasted of his achievements, remaining loyal to Great Qian and its people!
Let alone the common folk, even these officials felt a sense of loss.
It was Liang Xiao's arrival that had changed the court's atmosphere of factionalism. The ministers now worked together with one heart. Even when opinions differed, it was a debate among gentlemen, not mutual attacks or frame-ups.
With a clean and efficient bureaucracy, their lives as officials were also more relaxed. Even with heavy workloads, they felt secure in their hearts, free from constant worry.
The Minister of Grand Rites stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, the atmosphere in the Imperial Academy is vastly different from before. This year's students have lofty aspirations, surpassing those under the control of the Ouyang and He families in previous years! However, the Five Classics scholars have reported that the students wish to witness the Marquis of An's presence and receive his teachings..."
Hearing this, Zhang Yang, as if returning from a distant dream, snapped back to attention and stepped forward, requesting, "Your subject hails from the Imperial Academy and wishes to accompany the Marquis of An to witness the students' demeanor!"
With Zhang Yang's plea, Gu Shaoyan, Mu Hong, and others present, who were fellow students from the same period, all expressed their desire to follow.
"As you wish!" Xiao Qing replied joyfully.
The Imperial Academy now had five thousand students, and the court could afford to support them.
Without the influence of Ouyang Hong and others, the students' aspirations had returned to their proper course, posing no issues.
The officials then reported on the year's harvests and governance in various regions. Xiao Qing listened quietly and approved each report.
After the court session, Xiao Qing led Liang Xiao back to a side hall, nuzzling into Liang Xiao's embrace happily.
The court session, like those in previous years, had been a success!
Without the interference of the powerful aristocratic families, today's court session had even been more relaxed, requiring less effort and thought.
Since the officials were convinced that Liang Xiao harbored no disloyal intentions, they now held him in even higher regard.
After all, Liang Xiao had refused the title of Duke of An, and his cousin Liang Feng had only been promoted normally, without benefiting from Liang Xiao's position to become a high official.
In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," promoted throughout Great Qian, Cao Cao gradually became the Duke of Wei, received the Nine Auspicious Symbols, and later declared himself King of Wei, his image deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people of Great Qian.
Liang Xiao, by relinquishing such honors, naturally earned even greater trust from his subjects, making many matters proceed more smoothly and efficiently.
This was especially true for the appointment and dismissal of Liang Xiao's retinue.
"My Shuang'er, you are still the same little Shuangzi as before, completely unchanged," Liang Xiao said, holding Xiao Qing on his lap, a sense of contentment in his voice.
She was still as dependent and adorable.
Xiao Qing glanced at Xiao Xun and Xiao Qian, held by Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi beside them, and couldn't help but pout.
While the children were still young, there was still time to be pampered!
"Whether it's little Shuangzi or Shuang'er, I can no longer leave you, Brother Xiao," Xiao Qing murmured.
"I cannot leave you either. When Xun'er grows up, as long as he possesses the qualities of a wise ruler, we can retire behind the scenes together," Liang Xiao replied without hesitation.
Xiao Qing's heart filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, on the other side, as the civil and military officials dispersed after the court session, walking along the official road, many were perplexed.
"Minister Zhuo, His Majesty's face shows no signs of any lingering effects from leprosy..."
A group of colleagues could not help but mention this to Zhuo Zifang.
Before Zhuo Zifang could respond, Gu Hong, standing nearby, stated with a solemn expression, "His Majesty is a sage emperor for all time, blessed with good fortune. Is this not entirely normal?"
The crowd chuckled and nodded in agreement.
Only then did Gu Hong and others truly relax.
Both officially and personally, they had to keep Xiao Qing's recovery a secret for the time being.
As for Liang Xiao's diplomatic mission to Great Liang, they were actually not entirely supportive. If any accident were to occur, Great Qian would not have enough time to rescue him.
However, considering that Xiao Qing now had heirs, and Liang Xiao's determination to go was resolute, they could not object.
When Liang Xiao returned to his residence, Zhang Yang, Gu Shaoyan, Mu Hong, and others came to visit.
They had already changed out of their official robes, brought their wives, and were heading to the Imperial Academy.
Accompanying Liang Xiao to the Imperial Academy was Luo Qingxue, as she also hailed from the Imperial Academy and was Zhuo Zifang's last disciple.
Great Qian did not discriminate against women studying literature, but women still constituted a minority.
The Imperial Academy had five thousand students, of whom only three hundred were female.
Accompanied by the Imperial Guards, the group arrived at the Imperial Academy and did not immediately announce their presence but instead toured the premises.
The air was filled with the sound of diligent study, discussions of military and state affairs, and the recitation of poetry.
Liang Xiao glanced at Luo Qingxue and the others, nodding in mutual understanding and feeling deeply gratified.
In the past, the atmosphere here was not so wholesome, and there were even sentiments of flattery towards the aristocratic families.
"Great Qian still has a great need for talented individuals; the more, the better," Liang Xiao sighed.
In terms of the overall direction, Great Qian's development had exceeded his expectations, but there was still room for improvement in regional governance.
Everyone wholeheartedly agreed.
A moment later, Liang Xiao led the group in a public inspection.
All the students rushed to the square upon hearing the news, eager to catch a glimpse of Liang Xiao and his entourage.
Zhang Yang, Gu Shaoyan, Mu Hong, and others had all passed the national examination at a young age, risen rapidly through the ranks, and possessed genuine talent.
Ye Qingyi, Yi Rou, Gu Pingting, He Qiushui, Lu Xiaojun, and others, as newly recruited students, were also present in the rear ranks.
Ye Qingyi and Yi Rou, in particular, felt immense gratitude towards Liang Xiao.
It was he who had allowed them to cease being spies and fall into disrepute.
The court, recognizing them as refugees from the surrendered Great Heng Kingdom, had granted them permission to study, provided they passed the official examinations.
"The Marquis of An truly respects women," the female students in the back exclaimed as they watched Liang Xiao deliver his speech from the high platform, their admiration evident.
Zhuo Wentao, the former dean of Yanzhou Academy and now one of the new Five Classics scholars, stepped forward and made a request to Liang Xiao in public.
"We hear that the Marquis of An is to go to Great Liang. Although the Marquis of An has left behind what would later be named the 'Four Sentences of Hengqu' – establishing heart for heaven and earth, establishing life for the people, continuing the lost learning of the past sages, and bringing peace to all generations – this is teaching from several years ago. Today, the students all wish to hear the Marquis of An's teachings once more, to engrave them in their hearts."
As soon as Zhuo Wentao finished speaking, all the students enthusiastically voiced their agreement, pleading with Liang Xiao to leave them with a few more words.