"Not good?" Liang Xiao was startled.
Xiao Qing came back to his senses, his expression returning to its usual calm, and he smiled, "After all, I almost disrupted you and your future sister-in-law's intimate moments."
Liang Xiao realized, "So you were here all along, why didn't you come out?"
"Because I'm not interested in anyone else, and I only wish that no one would disturb our conversation," Xiao Qing snorted.
Liang Xiao then smiled, "I feel like you're not being entirely sincere, but it makes sense. Still, I'd like you to meet Mi'er."
Yue Lian immediately went to find Zhen Mi, who was not yet asleep. Liang Xiao introduced them to each other.
"Xiao Shuangzi is my sworn brother, you can call him Brother Shuang," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Zhen Mi obediently agreed and bowed to Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun, "Mi'er greets Brother Shuang and Grandma Ning!"
Xiao Qing smiled and nodded at Zhen Mi, his heart aching even more.
This child, in a few more years, wouldn't she become another Yue Lian, or even surpass her?
Because Zhen Mi was still young, Yue Lian took her back to sleep.
Liang Xiao then invited Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun into the house.
"I learned from your grandfather that you beat up those two rascals because of Mi'er..." Xiao Qing sighed, "But you were still too impulsive. Your grandfather already has disagreements with many civil officials."
Liang Xiao smiled, "I know that if you stand upright, your shadow won't be crooked, but I also understand that in this world, righteousness alone is not enough."
"Indeed, it's inevitable that some people will spread rumors and slander, creating unjust cases. You should avoid being wrongly imprisoned even more," Xiao Qing reminded him.
Liang Xiao still smiled, "Shouldn't the emperor be more diligent in rectifying the bureaucracy and ushering in a prosperous and peaceful era?"
Xiao Qing was speechless. After a moment, he nodded, "You're right, but human effort is limited. His Majesty is ultimately human, not a god. Even the mighty General Tian..."
Liang Xiao fell silent.
The words "General Tian" were destined to be etched in the hearts of the people of Da Qian.
Xiao Qing suddenly changed the subject, "Then why did you go to Baichun Tower? To visit courtesans?"
"To make money," Liang Xiao said with a smile, taking out a stack of silver notes and handing them to Xiao Qing.
"I already gave you some. Just keep it!" Xiao Qing shook his head.
Liang Xiao recounted his visit to Baichun Tower in detail. Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun were greatly astonished!
A poem and wine to find a soulmate, and it sold for ten thousand taels?
But what truly made Xiao Qing ecstatic was that the poem and wine were bought by someone from the Qin Sage!
"What did you write that they liked so much?" Xiao Qing asked urgently.
Liang Xiao recited the poem again. Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun listened as if enchanted, praising it repeatedly.
Ning Xuejun's eyes welled up with tears as she recalled her unfulfilled connection with the late emperor. She dared not remove her mask to wipe her tears.
At this moment, Xiao Qing was even more regretful, for she had given Liang Xiao's poem to the Yi Sage!
"Second Young Master Liang is truly a rare talent!" Ning Xuejun couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
A jar of wine, a poem, selling for ten thousand taels – this was unprecedented in Da Qian!
"So, I have to return the silver you fronted, with interest," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Xiao Qing quickly pushed the silver notes back.
"What I gave you is for you to keep! I heard that Elder Brother is recruiting refugees and planning to open a winery. Consider this silver as my support for you."
When Xiao Qing learned that Liang Xiao was recruiting over a hundred refugee households simply to arrange wine-making work for them, he was deeply moved and even more annoyed by Ouyang Ji's impeachment.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment, took back the silver notes, and said, "Alright, then from now on, at least one-tenth of the profit from selling wine will be yours!"
Xiao Qing inwardly disagreed, but to not dampen Liang Xiao's spirits, he merely nodded perfunctorily.
At that moment, she didn't realize what this "one-tenth profit" would bring in the future. She simply thought that Liang Xiao could spend it however he pleased, as the ten thousand taels were originally a reward given to him anyway.
"If life were only as it was at first encounter..."
Xiao Qing couldn't help but recite the poem, a bittersweet feeling in her heart.
Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue were childhood sweethearts. Their relationship had gone through twists and turns, and now they were reunited.
And the first time she met Liang Xiao, he mistook her for a eunuch!
Ning Xuejun listened intently and couldn't help but worry.
In the future, if her master chose a spouse and Liang Xiao had a legitimate wife, it would be quite problematic.
What should her master do?
Snatch him away? Xiao Qing certainly couldn't do that.
Have herself and Ding Wuyi kill Luo Qingxue? Absolutely not!
While the master and servant pair harbored their own thoughts, only Liang Xiao was smiling and detailing his winery plans.
"First, we'll use a 'hunger marketing' strategy to reel in those high officials and nobles. Once it's almost enough, we'll start mass production and distribution, gradually lowering the price until it's affordable for the common people."
"However, I don't plan to brew too much for now. One reason is to prevent the price from dropping too quickly and affecting business, and the other is that brewing also requires grain, so we shouldn't waste too much grain and exacerbate the rise in grain prices."
Xiao Qing listened attentively, deep in thought.
First 'hunger marketing'?
She could vaguely understand the meaning of hunger marketing, but it still felt novel.
It was probably similar to hoarding scarce goods, but not entirely?
Thinking of this, Xiao Qing couldn't help but praise, "Elder Brother is very resourceful. As expected of a future pillar of the nation."
Noticing that Liang Xiao didn't deny the idea of becoming an official this time, Xiao Qing was secretly delighted.
I refuse to believe I can't lure you into the imperial court!
Liang Xiao muttered to himself, "Perhaps, in a few more years, I'll become the richest man in the land."
Xiao Qing disdained, "What's so good about being the richest man? Many of those rich people are cruel and unjust, they just hide it well so that His Majesty doesn't notice."
"Cruel and unjust? I'll make them spit it all out sooner or later!" Liang Xiao said with a mysterious smile.
"Spit it out? And then you'll become them?" Xiao Qing was a little disappointed.
"No, no, no. I don't plan to harm the country and the people, or take advantage of the poor! I'll take advantage of these rich people!" Liang Xiao replied.
"Then I'll wait and see, little brother..."
Xiao Qing vaguely agreed and then said, "Your book, 'Rebuttal of the Rejuvenation Cult,' His Majesty has already ordered it to be widely copied. Soon, it will spread throughout the country, and scholars in various places will promote it. The common people will surely be protected from the poison of the Rejuvenation Cult. Perhaps, from now on, the Rejuvenation Cult will have to hide in the mountains!"
"That little emperor is quite discerning," Liang Xiao praised.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun exchanged odd glances and said nothing.
Because Xiao Qing had given her word, Liang Xiao could speak his mind freely, without fear of committing the crime of deceiving the emperor.
Suddenly, Xiao Qing remembered something and asked, "Regarding the national selection of officials, how is Elder Brother preparing?"
"I'm not preparing," Liang Xiao replied without hesitation.
Not preparing?
Xiao Qing was startled and asked, "Isn't Elder Brother afraid that His Majesty will really abolish the engagement?"
Xiao Qing's mood was complicated. She hoped Liang Xiao would stand out, yet she also worried...
"Just abolish it, it's not forbidden marriage. I can still marry Qingxue," Liang Xiao chuckled.
Xiao Qing couldn't help but roll her eyes at Liang Xiao.
She had forgotten that this fellow simply didn't care about his reputation!
"But I still hope Elder Brother will win the championship!" Xiao Qing said with a serious expression.
"Why?" Liang Xiao asked.
"Does Elder Brother want to be a consort?"