Yue Lian was instantly distraught, pleading, "Miss Luo, please give our young master a chance. He is not as unbearable as you think..."
"No need, my mind is made up, and he has already agreed," Luo Qingxue refused outright.
"Please, I... I'll kneel for you!"
As Yue Lian spoke, she was about to kneel, but Luo Qingxue preempted her and held her up.
"It's useless. You don't need to kneel to me, or he and I will be entangled further."
Yue Lian felt like crying but had no tears, feeling somewhat at a loss, yet her heart was consumed with worry for Liang Xiao's injuries.
The young master had been unwell recently. If he were to be publicly scorned for a broken engagement, his anger might overwhelm him...
Luo Qingxue looked at Yue Lian and smiled, "You are so pretty, it's no wonder Liang Xiao readily agreed to break off the engagement."
Yue Lian cried out, "Miss Luo, I am merely my young master's servant. My young master is innocent..."
Luo Qingxue remained noncommittal, a strange sense of displeasure stirring within her.
Just then, the commotion from the scholars' gathering ahead reached them.
"The Prime Minister sent someone to inquire who wrote the poem that begins, 'Ze Guo Jiang Shan Ru Zhan Tu.' Whoever can recite the entire poem on the spot, or provide clues to the author, will be richly rewarded!"
Zhuo Wentao's voice boomed like a gong. As soon as he finished speaking, the scholars were eager to try.
"Ze Guo Jiang Shan Ru Zhan Tu? A fine poem!" Luo Qingxue's beautiful eyes lit up.
Yue Lian's heart leaped with joy and she said, "Miss Luo, that poem, um, um..."
At that moment, a hand suddenly reached from behind and covered Yue Lian's mouth.
Liang Xiao, with an expression of "concern," dragged Yue Lian towards the carriage.
"Yue Lian, you've caught a chill. Go rest in the carriage."
Yue Lian swatted away Liang Xiao's lecherous hand and said urgently, "Young master, you're awake! But I don't have a chill!"
"No, you do."
Before Yue Lian could explain, Liang Xiao had already shoved her back into the carriage, raising his claw-like hands at her from inside.
"If you're not good, I'll catch you!"
Yue Lian nodded frantically in fright, and only then did Liang Xiao return to Luo Qingxue alone.
Luo Qingxue stared coldly at Liang Xiao, trying to compose herself.
This master and servant pair were playing around as if no one else was present. Especially Liang Xiao, his behavior was frivolous and embarrassing!
With this thought, Luo Qingxue's resolve became even firmer. "Perfect. My grandfather and your grandfather are returning soon. Let the two families talk here."
Liang Xiao cast a cold glance at Luo Qingxue and said in a deep voice, "As you wish."
"Are you angry? Then we can talk at the Liang manor!"
Luo Qingxue looked at Liang Xiao nervously, afraid he would go back on his word.
"As you wish."
The same answer again left Luo Qingxue bewildered. "If you have any dissatisfaction with me, let's speak openly."
Liang Xiao's expression was calm. "I thought that after we part, we would have no further interaction. Since you ask, I will tell you. I don't care if you despise me or accuse me. But from this day forward, do not speak to my Yue Lian in a condescending tone."
Luo Qingxue was stunned and said, "Isn't she your servant?"
"She and my grandfather are the people closest to me," Liang Xiao replied without hesitation.
Inside the carriage, Yue Lian, who had been feeling uneasy, was instantly moved to tears. She quickly covered her mouth, afraid her crying would disturb Liang Xiao.
"I understand!" Luo Qingxue nodded with a complex expression, a strange ache in her heart.
She was accomplished in both martial and literary arts, renowned throughout the capital, and the dream lover of countless young talents. In Liang Xiao's eyes, was she not as important as his Yue Lian?
At this moment, Luo Qingxue only wished to break off the engagement quickly and end this nightmare.
"Miss!"
A servant from the Luo manor rushed over and informed Luo Qingxue, "The Prime Minister just sent an order. His Majesty has urgent matters concerning the people of Yanzhou. Both Old Master and Master Liang have gone to see the Emperor!"
Luo Qingxue exclaimed, "What? I need to go see my grandfather!"
The engagement breakup was imminent, and now this unexpected complication. Luo Qingxue looked frustrated and hurried towards the imperial palace.
Only then did Liang Xiao return to the carriage. Seeing Yue Lian weeping profusely, he quickly wiped away her tears.
Yue Lian choked out, "Young master, let's apologize to Miss Luo together and ask her to reconsider? With your talent..."
Liang Xiao shook his head. "I know you blame yourself, but this has nothing to do with you. She is from a military family, her character is upright, influenced by General Tian. She is forcing me to break the engagement with the threat of death. I have no enmity with her, I cannot let her die."
Yue Lian said sadly, "She simply misunderstands that you are untalented and unmotivated. If only she knew about that poem..."
"Yue Lian, let me have a period of peaceful life," Liang Xiao sighed.
Yue Lian tentatively asked, "Young master is worried that if this spreads, more and more trouble might come our way..."
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded, then added, "The country is stable, and I still have time to be with you. Don't you think this life is good?"
Upon hearing this, Yue Lian's pretty face flushed, and she mumbled, "But, young master is always ridiculed by the world, I... I feel pained."
Liang Xiao's hearty laughter echoed in the carriage.
"No intention to compete for spring's glory, letting all flowers be jealous. Scattered into mud, ground into dust, only the fragrance remains as before. Yue Lian, let's go back."
The carriage kicked up dust and sped away, leaving behind a stunned figure in the distance.
Zhuo Wentao gazed blankly at the departing carriage, Liang Xiao's words from moments ago echoing repeatedly in his mind.
In a daze, he seemed to see a proud snow-covered plum blossom, standing alone amidst the wilting winter flowers.
"This seems to be half a ci poem? What a line, 'Scattered into mud, ground into dust, only the fragrance remains as before.' The artistic conception is extraordinary!"
He had originally come to ask Liang Xiao if he had seen where the poem came from, and through that, gauge Liang Xiao's character, discuss Liang Xiao's criticism of the scholars, and then, with Master Liang's intercession, allow him to return to the academy to study.
However, as soon as he approached, he heard such exquisite words!
"Could these words truly come from the mouth of a dissolute young master?"
Recalling Liang Xiao's earlier reprimand of the scholars, Zhuo Wentao began to fall into deep suspicion.
"I should go find Master Liang to get to the bottom of this!"
Having made up his mind, Zhuo Wentao turned to head for the imperial palace, but a stern voice came from behind him.
"Wentao, you're here just in time. Lead the way, your father needs to see the Emperor..."
Seeing the approaching figure, Zhuo Wentao was both surprised and delighted. He stepped forward to support him, "Father! Why have you come all the way from the capital!"
The elder before him had an immortal demeanor and was full of vigor.
Zhuo Zifang, the former Minister of Personnel, known as Lord Zhuo, had participated in battles against the barbarians in his early years and was rewarded with a marquisate for his strategic contributions!
Zhuo Zifang sighed, "The passing of General Tian has plunged the nation into grief. I also wished to pay my respects and, by Qingxue's request, help her break off the engagement. However, there was an accident on the road, and I arrived late."
Zhuo Wentao was shocked. His father and Luo Qingxue were nominally master and disciple, but their relationship was as close as grandfather and granddaughter.
Most importantly, Zhuo Zifang was experienced and adaptable, not bound by trivialities. With him intervening, Luo Qingxue might indeed be able to break off the engagement!
Zhuo Zifang rubbed his forehead and said helplessly, "Master Liang and I were comrades in arms in the past, and I really don't know how to broach the subject. But if this marriage is not broken off, Qingxue will choose death. It's a pity that this Liang Xiao is untalented and has failed such a remarkable woman as Qingxue."
Zhuo Wentao's face twitched, and after a moment of inner struggle, he said, "Father... your son feels that this Liang Xiao might not be an ordinary person. Let's talk as we walk!"