Liang Xiao did not refuse.
Inside the room, Yue Lian carefully removed Liang Xiao's upper garment.
Scars crisscrossed his body, ghastly and terrifying, with blood seeping from several places.
Seeing this, Yue Lian finally broke down in tears, cleaning Liang Xiao's wounds.
"Yue Lian, every time it comes to this, you can't help but cry. You've cried thirty-two times already," Liang Xiao teased.
Yue Lian choked back her sobs, "Every time I see my young master's wounds, I feel more pained than if I were injured myself..."
Liang Xiao fell silent.
"Before, I resented my young master for never telling me about that day's events. Now I understand. My young master was protecting both me and the Old Master."
"My Yue Lian is getting smarter and smarter," Liang Xiao praised.
Yue Lian responded obediently, tears streaming down her face, "Young Master, Yue Lian, is merely your maid..."
Liang Xiao feigned seriousness, "From now on, I forbid you to say such things, or I will get angry. When I get angry, my wounds will split open. You decide what to do... In this world, you and Grandpa are the people closest to me."
Yue Lian tearfully agreed, "It was my ignorance. I will listen to my young master from now on. If my young master forbids me to say something, I won't say it even if I die."
Liang Xiao smiled with relief, "I will protect you. This is my bottom line as a man standing between heaven and earth. You are just my Yue Lian, and I am just your young master."
Upon hearing this, Yue Lian couldn't help but sob again, "My young master is the best."
Liang Xiao chuckled, his gaze gradually deepening as he fell into memories.
He simply wanted to cherish the current peaceful days and recover from his injuries.
The barbarians could return at any time, and other foreign tribes were watching covetously.
Having long been weary of bloodshed, Liang Xiao longed to be a leisurely and elegant noble young master, but the situation did not permit it!
How could a nest remain intact if it was overturned? If the land were shattered, how could he remain untouched?
The current Liang Xiao did not wish to be a loyal dog of the royal family. He only wanted to protect his family and the dear people who saw the Heavenly General as their savior!
The memories of his past life were vivid. That military uniform had given Liang Xiao an unprecedented sense of honor and pride. For it, he was willing to overcome all difficulties, to learn, to act, to strive, without hesitation...
Even reborn, the oath he took when he donned that uniform still haunted his dreams.
To protect his home and his country!
To recover as soon as possible and be ready for battle was his only choice.
His thoughts returned to the present. Liang Xiao comfortably held Yue Lian's hand as she reached his shoulder, and said softly, "Yue Lian, I have no regrets."
Yue Lian did not understand his meaning, but only responded obediently, "No matter what my young master does, Yue Lian will follow my young master and live only for my young master!"
Liang Xiao agreed with relief, thinking to himself, "I hope that little emperor with the pacifier can be a benevolent ruler, otherwise..."
Inside the temporary palace, Luo Qingxue nervously followed Xiao Shuang into the main hall.
"Shuang'er, is it really okay for me to be here?"
Xiao Shuang smiled gently, "Don't be afraid. The guards here are all loyal to me and my brother."
After they sat down, Luo Qingxue's gaze fell upon a few poems on Xiao Shuang's table, and she exclaimed in admiration.
"These are truly good poems. I, myself, am ashamed of my inferiority!"
Xiao Shuang sighed sadly, "Unfortunately, compared to that poem 'The Rivers and Mountains of the Land of Ze enter the battle map,' these are like displaying a craftsman's skill before an expert. Yet, I don't even know the name of that poem."
Luo Qingxue suddenly understood.
No wonder these poems had a similar style to that one. It turned out Xiao Shuang intended to surpass it!
Xiao Shuang murmured, "In terms of calligraphy, and the quality of the poems themselves, I can't even compare. Sister Qingxue, do you think it's possible that Liang Xiao wrote them?"
Luo Qingxue's expression changed, and she repeatedly shook her head, "Impossible! How could such a profligate, lacking ambition, and only caring for pleasure, write such magnificent poems of concern for the nation and its people!"
Xiao Shuang fell silent.
Luo Qingxue couldn't help but cover her face and weep, "Heavenly General, if your spirit in heaven could see this poem, it would surely be comforted."
Xiao Shuang asked, "Do you like the Heavenly General?"
Luo Qingxue shook her head, "I am already engaged. How dare I have improper thoughts about others? Only after the engagement is broken can I pursue my happiness with a clear conscience. But alas, the Heavenly General will never return!"
"Perhaps, the Heavenly General is still alive," Xiao Shuang said.
"H-how is that possible?" Luo Qingxue exclaimed in surprise.
Xiao Shuang lowered her head, "This is Master Liang's speculation. The Heavenly General may not have perished completely. Perhaps he retired after completing his mission? Don't you wish to believe in this possibility?"
"I do!" Luo Qingxue cried with joy, "After all, before the barbarians invaded our country, the Heavenly General was just a common citizen! With the world at peace, perhaps he returned to the countryside to become a hermit again."
Xiao Shuang also began to weep with joy.
After their analysis, they became more and more convinced that the Heavenly General was still alive.
"In any case, the priority is to break off the engagement with Liang Xiao. I hope Teacher will mete out justice for me after meeting Liang Xiao!" Luo Qingxue wiped away her tears, her face beaming.
Xiao Shuang's gaze grew serious.
"But, what if Liang Xiao truly possesses real talent? That half-finished lyric was indeed exquisite, and the lines 'To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to sustain the life of the people, to inherit the lost learning of the past sages, to bring peace to the world for ten thousand generations,' are even more awe-inspiring. I plan to report to my brother and have these four lines designated as the 'Creed of the Great Qian,' for all scholars to engrave in their hearts."
Luo Qingxue pouted, "Perhaps he learned it from some obscure historical texts. Given his character, he couldn't possibly have such insight!"
Xiao Shuang chuckled, "That might not be true. Perhaps he is hiding his true abilities?"
"Oh, Shuang'er, you treat me like a sister, yet you speak up for him. You haven't even met him, and you're already so infatuated!" Luo Qingxue began to playfully tease her.
Xiao Shuang covered her mouth and chuckled, "Not at all! What truly infatuates me is the author of that poem. I only wish to find him and have him serve in the court..."
"And then, if he's young, he could even be a consort?" Luo Qingxue smiled playfully.
"Sister is teasing me again!"
Xiao Shuang's pretty face flushed, and she ran over to tickle Luo Qingxue.
After they had frolicked for a while, Luo Qingxue suddenly remembered something and said, "No, what if Teacher is also deceived by Liang Xiao? I have to go and see too!"
So Luo Qingxue hastily bid farewell and rushed to Liang Manor.
In the main hall of Liang Manor, Liang Qing looked embarrassed, while Zhuo Zifang and Zhuo Wentao were filled with anticipation.
Only Luo Changfeng paced back and forth with the urgency of someone on a journey, a look of anxiety on his face.
"This kid, taking half a day to take a bath, really..." Liang Qing shook his head helplessly.
He had just sent someone to call Liang Xiao over, and the response he received was: "Wait."
This infuriated Liang Qing.
You brat, do you know who is coming to see you?
Zhuo Lingjun, the foremost scholar in the land!
Oh, and your fiancée's grandfather!
Luo Changfeng gave a dry laugh, "Young people, they like to be clean!"
A moment later, Liang Yun brought Luo Qingxue to the hall.
"Grandfather, there are over a dozen scholars from the academy outside asking to see Dean Zhuo. They claim they want to expose my cousin for slandering the Heavenly General..." Liang Yun said nervously.
As soon as he spoke, Zhuo Zifang, Luo Changfeng, and Liang Qing's expressions changed drastically.
Slandering the Heavenly General?
On this day of national mourning, this could well be a capital offense!