"Not simple?" the Left Xian King looked at Hu Yan Jialuo.
Hu Yan Jialuo said, "It's Liang Xiao, the grandson of General Liang Qing, and Luo Qingxue, the granddaughter of General Luo Changfeng! Those two old fellows have always advocated for Da Qian to strengthen border defenses and refuse to make peace with the barbarians!"
The Left Xian King rose, his face full of anger.
"We'll see how things develop, but don't let minor issues derail the plan. Don't forget why we became 'barbarians.' We were once the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Turks, but from the day Da Qian built Yanzhou City, we were isolated in this barren land."
"Barbarian is the contemptuous term Da Qian uses for us, and it's a humiliation we dare not forget! We thought we had accumulated a hundred years of strength, enough to win in one battle and slaughter all the Da Qian people, but Da Qian, of all things, produced another Heavenly General..."
The Left Xian King sighed helplessly and said, "Let's go, take me to see Shenwei Mansion."
Hu Yan Jialuo asked doubtfully, "Are we going inside?"
The Left Xian King recoiled in shock, "Inside? What if the Heavenly General blesses us again and beheads me with a single sword? Will you take responsibility?"
Hu Yan Jialuo quickly apologized, a bitter smile on his face.
The Left Xian King, once renowned throughout the barbaric lands, now feared the Heavenly General like a tiger!
At the Luo manor, Luo Changfeng warmly received Liang Xiao, a look of helplessness on his face.
"Xiao'er, Qingxue just went to Shenwei Mansion. She's been in a bad mood lately, please don't mind her..."
Unexpectedly, Liang Xiao simply nodded calmly, "Then I'll go and see."
After Liang Xiao left, Luo Changfeng sighed with resignation, "It seems like a fated misfortune."
The Heavenly General Temple was now open, with people coming and going to offer sacrifices.
However, unlike its opening day, it was now guarded by the Feathered Forest Guard, patrolling day and night to prevent further homicides.
Luo Qingxue stood outside the Heavenly General Temple, listening to the prayers, cries, and praises from the people within, tears welling up in her eyes once again.
"Heavenly General, what kind of person are you? I seem to be insignificant in your heart. What should I do..."
Luo Qingxue was filled with grievance.
From the moment she decided to break off the engagement, she had been prepared to bear all consequences.
It was just that she hadn't expected Liang Xiao to be truly talented and to vindicate the Heavenly General, even daring to defy scholars and poets and offend the literati circles.
Furthermore, he seemed to be a gentleman?
Now, she found herself reflecting on whether her decision to break the engagement had been impulsive.
"Qingxue!"
Just as Luo Qingxue was lost in her sorrow, a call came from a distance.
Luo Qingxue turned around and saw him, suppressing her sadness, she forced a faint smile, "It's Young Master Dugu!"
The man was dressed in white, with a smile on his face, exuding the demeanor of a refined young master. Even the two young attendants behind him possessed an aura far superior to ordinary people.
It was Dugu Xiao, son of the Minister of War and Marquis of Wanling!
Dugu Xiao asked, "I see you are distracted and sad. Are you perhaps reminiscing about the Heavenly General?"
"Yes, Young Master Dugu. I should be going back now."
Luo Qingxue replied indifferently and was about to return to her carriage.
Dugu Xiao's expression changed, and he quickly said, "Qingxue, I've just returned to the capital and missed you dearly. Won't you stay and chat for a while longer? I've also invited Shaoyan and the others. Why don't you come to the Imperial Academy to catch up?"
Luo Qingxue shook her head.
"Young Master Dugu, I am already betrothed. I hope you understand my meaning. Our acquaintance is limited to occasional academic exchanges at the Imperial Academy."
Dugu Xiao chuckled lightly, "The entire capital knows you want to break off the engagement. It's just a mere betrothal contract. If you don't like him, why bother about the feelings of that good-for-nothing?"
Luo Qingxue knitted her brows and simply ignored him.
Her initial revelation of her desire to break the engagement to Luo Changfeng had been overheard by a passing servant and spread throughout the city.
Dugu Xiao looked at Luo Qingxue's retreating back, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes, followed by a helpless smile.
Luo Qingxue was his intended wife, but her engagement to Liang Xiao was a chasm he could not surmount!
"Liang Xiao, Liang Xiao, the greatest sorrow in life is a lack of self-awareness!"
Dugu Xiao's resentment towards Liang Xiao grew day by day.
"Qingxue!"
Just as Luo Qingxue approached her carriage, another dignified call echoed from afar.
Luo Qingxue looked back in confusion, her eyes widening in surprise, "Brother Liang?"
Liang Feng approached with a somber expression and said, "You're here at just the right time. Can you wait here for me while I offer sacrifices to the Heavenly General? I want to go to the Luo manor and have a good talk with your grandfather about you and my second brother."
Luo Qingxue shook her head, "Brother Liang, this is between Liang Xiao and me. You don't need to interfere."
Liang Feng frowned, "He's my second brother, after all. How can I stand by and watch..."
"Watch him, Liang Xiao, be dumped by his fiancée, is that it?"
Dugu Xiao's light laughter drifted from a distance. He had walked over and was staring at Liang Feng with a smile.
"I wondered who it was. So it's the captain of the Feathered Forest Guard, Lieutenant Liang."
Several young girls nearby also noticed the scene and exclaimed with shy admiration, "Isn't that Young Master Dugu?"
Hearing the surrounding screams, Dugu Xiao felt immensely satisfied. He glanced at Luo Qingxue and, seeing her indifference, felt a surge of disappointment.
He could charm thousands of young girls with his talent and grace, but he could not win Luo Qingxue's heart.
Liang Feng glanced at Dugu Xiao and said coldly, "Are you meddling in affairs that don't concern you? This is a private matter between our two families. It's not your place as an outsider to dictate, is it?"
The reason he couldn't be promoted and remained a lieutenant was "thanks to" Dugu Xiao's father, Dugu Qun, the Minister of War!
Dugu Xiao smiled, "Qingxue is a rare and exceptional woman in this world. She has the right to decide her own marriage. For your Liang family to repeatedly force her to marry a good-for-nothing, wouldn't that be a tragedy and a public spectacle?"
Liang Feng retorted, "What the hell is it to you! Her father and my uncle were sworn brothers, born on the same day of the same month, died on the same day of the same month. Their betrothal was recognized by both families!"
Dugu Xiao and the two attendants behind him shared a tacit smile.
The surrounding commoners were not moved by Liang Feng's impassioned speech; instead, they scoffed.
"The reason barbarians are barbarians is because their minds are rigid. Besides being crude, they are nothing more! Fortunately, the governance of Da Qian is not in the hands of you barbarians, otherwise, wouldn't it be a disaster for the country and its people!"
Dugu Xiao's eloquent speech drew applause from the young girls around.
Liang Feng's face darkened, and he retorted, "Even if I'm a barbarian, I'm better than you who preach righteousness but are full of treason! We barbarians protect our homes and our country. You claim to have the integrity of scholars, yet the Heavenly General's bones are barely cold, and your father still advocates for peace?"
Dugu Xiao burst into laughter.
"For thousands of years, the views of us scholars have changed repeatedly, but in the end, they all revolve around serving the nation and the people. Now, there are even the eternal words: 'To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to secure life for the people, to inherit the lost teachings of the past sages, and to bring peace to all generations!' In contrast, your rhetoric remains the same old tune. Can't you change it up a bit?"
Hearing this, Liang Feng clenched his fists, gnashing his teeth. Luo Qingxue quickly interjected, "Brother Liang, don't be angry. I'll go back with you..."
Dugu Xiao exclaimed, "Qingxue, your conscience is clear, you have nothing to fear. You don't need to compromise with him!"
"Young Master Dugu, you're overstepping your bounds."
Luo Qingxue, feeling both embarrassed and angry, was about to retort when another voice was heard from afar.
"Young Master Dugu, Qingxue, what a coincidence?"
Everyone looked towards the sound and saw a handsome, refined scholar in green robes approaching with a young attendant.
"It's Gu Shaoyan, the talented young man from the Minister of Rites' family!" A fresh wave of girlish shrieks erupted from the crowd.
Dugu Xiao smiled knowingly and went to greet him, "Brother Shaoyan, you've arrived at the perfect time!"