Xiao Qing dared not move, merely gazing resentfully at the scoundrelly youth before her.
Ning Xuejun's hand on her sword hilt trembled slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Moments ago, she had almost instinctively drawn her sword, intending to strike Liang Xiao.
Such audacity!
Yet, this person was the sworn "elder brother" of her Liege!
"Hmm, why is your face so hot? Are you sick? No Adam's apple? Oh, oh, sorry, sorry, it's Big Brother's fault, I forgot again you were… purified from a young age…"
Liang Xiao chuckled dryly, finally releasing Xiao Qing's small face and pulling her to sit down.
At this moment, Xiao Qing's heart was pounding. She felt wronged and resentful, yet dared not cry. She could only scream inwardly.
"You owe me for your entire life!!"
Besides Liang Xiao, no one had ever dared to be so disrespectful to her!
And he was still smiling cheekily?
"How about, as an apology, I give you this book? Take it to His Majesty and see if it can serve as theoretical guidance for the court to combat the Spring Return Sect."
Liang Xiao suddenly pushed the book in front of Xiao Qing.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing, who had been grumbling in her heart, was instantly overjoyed: "Are you truly giving it to me?"
The refutations against the Spring Return Sect within were brilliant, offering a sense of sudden enlightenment. Not only were they applicable to the Spring Return Sect, but also to other heretical cults!
For a long time, Da Qian had only been able to resort to annihilation against the Spring Return Sect, yet it persisted.
If the theories in the book could be printed and distributed nationwide, and relayed by scholars in the villages to the common folk, it would surely have a miraculous effect!
"You and I are brothers. How can Big Brother go back on his word to his younger brother?" Liang Xiao said with a paternalistic air.
Xiao Qing smiled happily and then lowered her head, "I thought you were hiding it…"
"You think a mere heretical book could captivate me?" Liang Xiao asked.
"I underestimated Big Brother…"
Liang Xiao smiled.
In his past life, he had even gone undercover, dismantling various organizations from within. What kind of rhetoric and heresies had he not encountered?
A soldier's will could not be shaken by a crudely drawn erotic book!
Xiao Qing suddenly had an idea and feigned grievance, "If Big Brother were to wrong Little Shuangzi in the future, would you also want to make amends?"
Liang Xiao said solemnly, "Of course! Don't worry, how could Big Brother possibly wrong you lightly?"
Only then did Xiao Qing nod happily, secretly thinking, "Hmph! You just wait for me!"
Liang Xiao suddenly said again, "However, your near misunderstanding just now reminded me that I should avoid suspicion."
Saying this, Liang Xiao made a broad stroke of his brush, smudging the erotic painting on the cover and adding the character "驳" (refute) above "回春教" (Spring Return Sect).
"Let's change it to 'Refuting the Spring Return Sect'!"
Xiao Qing found it reasonable and praised him repeatedly, then asked, "Does the medicine sent by the imperial physician have any effect?"
"It offers some pain relief, which is good. Thanks to you all interceding for me with His Majesty, that willful little princess probably doesn't know how much valuable time I waste being driven around in carriages every day." Liang Xiao said gratefully.
Xiao Qing merely nodded slightly, feeling ashamed inwardly.
Was she causing him too much trouble?
"The Princess is of noble birth and virtuous. How can she be called willful?" Ning Xuejun finally voiced her displeasure.
Before Liang Xiao could respond, Xiao Qing quickly intervened, saying, "Big Brother, when there are no outsiders, you can say whatever you wish. Ning Po Po and Ding Gong Gong and I will not tell His Majesty. Even if His Majesty knew, he would not blame you. But in front of outsiders, you must not be rude, lest you stir up trouble."
Hearing this, Liang Xiao looked moved and clasped Xiao Qing's hand, "My Little Shuangzi is understanding and righteous. Big Brother truly did not misjudge you!"
Xiao Qing forced a smile to mask her inner panic.
Why wasn't he letting go…
The next moment, Liang Xiao bargained, "Can I call His Majesty 'Little Emperor' in private?"
"Yes."
"Speak freely, and it's okay even if I scold him?"
"Mm!"
Receiving Xiao Qing's affirmative response, Liang Xiao burst into laughter.
"Did he find out?" Xiao Qing's heart sank.
Ning Xuejun, meanwhile, felt increasingly speechless.
Her Liege was being far too lenient with Liang Xiao!
"With such a wise ruler, Da Qian is sure to usher in an era of peace and prosperity!" Liang Xiao finally offered his praise without reservation.
Finally hearing Liang Xiao's sincere commendation, Xiao Qing was overjoyed and echoed, "As long as there are enough virtuous ministers and generals, an era of peace and prosperity is within reach! Your suggestions for rectifying the bureaucracy are excellent. In the future, you will surely become His Majesty's right-hand man!"
Liang Xiao suddenly fell silent, smiling without speaking.
Xiao Qing dared not press further and her gaze fell upon Yue Lian.
She had noticed long ago that this personal maid always stood silently behind Liang Xiao, her eyes filled with reverence and tenderness whenever they fell upon him.
Suppressing a surge of inexplicable jealousy, Xiao Qing inquired about the design blueprints.
Liang Xiao did not hide anything and truthfully recounted hiring Zhang Yang.
Xiao Qing suggested, "Why don't I report to His Majesty? With the support of the court's artisans, you can build it faster. His Majesty would certainly not believe that this 'Refuting the Spring Return Sect' and the improved farming tools came from me, so I can only truthfully name Big Brother. But I promise Big Brother, His Majesty will not demand you to become an official because of this."
Liang Xiao felt reassured and nodded, "Then ask His Majesty for some silver as well."
Xiao Qing curiously asked, "How much do you want?"
"Five thousand taels!" Liang Xiao said with a serious expression.
"No problem!" Xiao Qing readily agreed.
However, both Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun were puzzled.
He had refused the rewards given to him earlier, so why was he suddenly so greedy for money?
The two of them chatted until late into the night.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Qing perused "Refuting the Spring Return Sect," her beautiful eyes drifting.
Ning Xuejun watched, a wry smile and a shake of her head.
"Ning Po Po, according to him, the curved-shaft plow is simple to manufacture and more lightweight. It might double the farming efficiency of Da Qian's farmers. In the same amount of time, they can cultivate more land, greatly increasing grain production. It's no wonder Zhuo Lingjun praised it so highly…"
Xiao Qing suddenly spoke, her tone gentle, her gaze distant.
Ning Xuejun was startled, then nodded with relief, "Our Liege has a discerning eye!"
Regardless of anything else, with Liang Xiao's presence, her Liege was able to be herself again, finally like a sixteen-year-old girl, no longer lonely and depressed.
No one knew better than Ning Xuejun and Ding Wu Yi how much pressure Xiao Qing, as the sole surviving bloodline of the royal family and the ruler of a nation, had shouldered.
Xiao Qing smiled warmly and murmured to herself, "Ning Po Po, will the scenery by the river be even more beautiful when spring arrives this year?"
Ning Xuejun understood and smiled, "With Second Young Master Liang accompanying our Liege then, it will naturally be even more beautiful!"
Xiao Qing smiled shyly, then cupped her face and pinched it, puffing out her cheeks, "Yes, of course. When the time comes, I will settle scores with him properly and let him be too proud!"
Ning Xuejun smiled silently.
So, her Liege, a ruler with the potential of a sage king, could also be "vindictive."
Three hundred li northeast of the capital, Ding Wu Yi, riding at full speed, finally arrived at the foot of Tian Shan.
"Senior, I trust you are well!"