"Hmm? Your change of personality is a bit too sudden, catching me off guard," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Luo Qingxue dared not reply. She merely lowered her head, gently twirling her hair with her fingers, her heart in turmoil.
How could I have said such a thing? I'm so embarrassed!
The room was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.
Luo Qingxue was full of shyness, hoping Liang Xiao would change the topic. To her surprise, Liang Xiao merely smiled and gazed at her.
In her distress, Luo Qingxue said, "In short, if you have the chance, introduce him to me! Since he's a eunuch, I don't have to worry about you getting jealous."
"I get jealous?" Liang Xiao was taken aback.
"You, don't you get jealous of the Heavenly General? But I'm not fickle..." Luo Qingxue said nervously.
Liang Xiao couldn't help but laugh, "Why would I get jealous?"
Who would be jealous of themselves?
"Would you allow me to admire the Heavenly General?" Luo Qingxue asked weakly.
"Why not?" Liang Xiao retorted.
Luo Qingxue finally felt relieved. She took Liang Xiao's hand and explained, "My feelings for the Heavenly General are more of gratitude. Even if the Heavenly General were still alive, and I were to break off our engagement, I never thought of pursuing the Heavenly General..."
"I believe you, after all, you said so in your dreams too," Liang Xiao burst into laughter.
Hearing this, Luo Qingxue, who was initially touched, angrily flung Liang Xiao's hand away and turned her back to him, pouting.
"Hmph!"
This guy is too smug, too annoying!
Liang Xiao suddenly quieted down, while Luo Qingxue continued to feign anger.
But after waiting for a long time and receiving no response from Liang Xiao, Luo Qingxue became afraid that Liang Xiao would get angry and leave. She quickly turned back and was stunned.
Liang Xiao was holding a brush and writing a poem.
"In the north, there is a fair lady, peerless and alone.
One glance, she captivates a city; another glance, she overthrows a kingdom.
Does she not know that to be the ruin of a city and a kingdom?
A peerless beauty is hard to find again."
The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, leaving Luo Qingxue mesmerized.
"Is this... for me?"
Luo Qingxue couldn't believe it. She rubbed her eyes, then pinched her arm until it hurt, realizing it wasn't a dream.
"Besides you, who is accomplished in both civil and martial arts, can be worthy of this song? I gave it to Xiao Shuangzi and Zhuo Lingjun, so there's no reason to neglect my fiancée. This one is for you," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Luo Qingxue hesitated for a moment, then finally walked to the table, extended her delicate hands, and tremblingly touched the edge of the paper. She quickly withdrew her hand, afraid of soiling the song.
"In the north, there is a fair lady, peerless and alone.
One glance, she captivates a city; another glance, she overthrows a kingdom..."
Luo Qingxue recited it word by word, entranced.
"Am I really that good?"
Liang Xiao simply nodded with a smile. Luo Qingxue shyly turned her head away, letting Liang Xiao see only her slightly flushed pink neck.
"You are clearly so talented, why are you willing to be a wastrel..."
Liang Xiao chuckled, "The time is not yet right."
"The time... That's right, you're only eighteen. I've been too eager," Luo Qingxue felt even more ashamed.
Liang Xiao smiled again, "No matter what, I will respect your choice, even if you want to break off the engagement."
"I..." Luo Qingxue stammered, her heart full of guilt.
"However, I'm a little reluctant now, because only with me around can you drink with peace of mind," Liang Xiao said with a pout.
Hearing this, Luo Qingxue was on the verge of tears. She turned to look at Liang Xiao.
For her peace of mind when drinking?
To her, such words of affection were neither too warm nor too cold, just right.
"I need to go back. You must not wander around randomly these days," Liang Xiao cautioned.
Luo Qingxue nodded shyly, "I'll listen to you."
After sending Liang Xiao off, Luo Qingxue returned to her boudoir and gently stroked the song, unable to put it down.
"It's written so well. If only it could benefit the people, that would be even better..."
On the official road, Yue Lian wept with joy, "Young Master has finally won over the Young Madam!"
"Are you happy?" Liang Xiao asked.
"Young Master is marrying the best girl in the world, of course, I'm happy!" Yue Lian nodded earnestly.
"Aren't you afraid that after we get married, you'll be neglected, or even lose the chance to serve me?" Liang Xiao asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Yue Lian lowered her head with difficulty, choking back a sob, "Then Yue Lian will also bless Young Master and Young Madam, and only work as a servant in the Liang mansion. Please don't send me away, Young Master!"
Liang Xiao tenderly pinched Yue Lian's small face and comforted her, "Don't worry, Qingxue isn't that wicked, otherwise, I wouldn't dare to marry her. Young Master will always be Yue Lian's Young Master, and Yue Lian will always be Young Master's Yue Lian."
Yue Lian then broke into a smile through her tears, "Young Master is the best!"
At the Marquis Wanling's mansion, Dugu Xiao was sitting opposite a white-haired old man in red robes, drinking tea.
The Marquis of Wanling, the Minister of War, Dugu Qun!
"Father, why was Uncle suddenly dismissed from his post?" Dugu Xiao asked, full of confusion.
Dugu Qun gritted his teeth and sighed, "He was momentarily blinded by greed and took credit for the design of the Curved Plow, jointly drawn by Liang Xiao and Zhang Yang. His Majesty found out."
"Liang Xiao? Curved Plow? What is that!" Dugu Xiao frowned.
"A new type of farming tool. It was so valuable that your uncle was eager to claim it as his own. You should understand what that implies," Dugu Qun said coldly.
"Either gain absolute power, or leave a name in history!" Dugu Xiao trembled.
For someone of Dugu Liang's status, it was difficult to impress him with anything other than greater power and fame.
"But what does this have to do with Liang Xiao?" Dugu Xiao was perplexed.
Dugu Qun sighed, "The initial draft of the Curved Plow's design was drawn by Liang Xiao, and the final version was determined by Zhang Yang. Two young men, whose ages combined are not even forty, could create such a divine object. It's incredible."
Dugu Xiao's eyes turned cold, "It's Liang Xiao again! He stole Qingxue and harmed my uncle. He must not be let off lightly!"
Dugu Qun warned, "He is the grandson of the Left General. Be careful, lest you ruin that lord's plan. If you want him to lose face, you can go to the Imperial Academy. Ouyang Sheng, Ouyang Hong's son, lost ten years of his official career because of Liang Xiao."
Saying this, Dugu Qun took out a piece of intelligence and handed it to Dugu Xiao.
After reading it, Dugu Xiao's eyes lit up. Without a word, he immediately rushed to the Imperial Academy.
In the backyard of the Liang mansion, Liang Xiao sat in a chair, quietly watching Zhang Yang and the craftsmen demonstrate the Curved Plow.
With the assistance of the court, the Curved Plows were built quickly. The initial four versions had been completed.
A draft ox pulled the Curved Plow, turning over the soil and snow with neat rows and quick turns.
"Second Young Master Liang, Mr. Zhang, this Curved Plow is several times more practical than any farming tool we've seen before!" a craftsman exclaimed excitedly.
The other craftsmen were also cheering.
Zhang Yang walked behind the draft ox and patted the plowshare of the Curved Plow, saying, "This version is the best to use, but the plowshare needs to be refined again. Because we were in a hurry to test it, the plowshare was made rather hastily!"
Liang Xiao nodded with joy, "Let's submit this version to His Majesty. Before the spring plowing next year, we should produce it in as large a quantity as possible."
Even Liang Xiao had to admire Zhang Yang's skill. He had managed to understand the concept of the Curved Plow drawn from memory and create a true Curved Plow.
Just then, a guard reported, "Second Young Master, as you predicted, a large number of refugees have indeed arrived south of the city!"