"Why are they here again?" Liang Xiao's expression changed.
Something unusual must be brewing!
Liang Qing reminded him, "Xiao'er, Commander Zhuo Lingjun personally came to fetch you, showing his sincerity. You mustn't be rude."
Liang Xiao had no choice but to agree. He took Yue Lian and followed the steward away.
Outside the Liang mansion, hundreds of scholars had already gathered, with Ouyang Sheng and several other prominent talents among them.
Many common folk were also milling around, discussing the matter animatedly.
Everyone was curious as to why these scholars were at the Liang mansion.
The scholars respectfully stood beside the carriages of Zhuo Zifang and Luo Changfeng, their faces filled with admiration, engaging in solicitous greetings.
Zhuo Lingjun, a once-in-a-century prodigy, had countless disciples and commanded great respect!
Countless scholars in Da Qian longed to be his disciples, even as mere assistants. Being a subordinate would pave the way for future success.
As for Luo Changfeng, he held the prestigious position of Right General, not only commanding immense respect but also being the grandfather of the talented Luo Qingxue!
Thus, the scholars strove to curry favor with these two esteemed figures. Having heard they were heading to the Liang mansion that morning, they followed suit.
Inside the spacious carriage, Zhuo Zifang and Luo Changfeng exchanged glances and offered wry smiles.
The scholars outside were vying to impress them, composing poems and riddles in an attempt to catch their attention.
However, to the two elders, their clamor was utterly unbearable!
Seeing that Zhuo Zifang was ignoring him, Ouyang Sheng finally could not resist and approached the carriage, asking, "Junior Ouyang Sheng pays his respects. Are the two esteemed elders here to visit Left General Liang?"
"No," came Zhuo Zifang's reply from within.
Luo Changfeng impatiently pulled aside the curtain and glanced out, saying, "Zhuo Lingjun, who is he?"
Zhuo Zifang replied, "He is the eldest son of Ouyang Hong, one of the Five Classics Doctors. He is quite renowned for his talent."
Luo Changfeng nodded slightly and offered Ouyang Sheng a faint smile, "Very good."
Ouyang Sheng was overjoyed and retreated to the roadside to wait.
He had finally attracted Elder Luo's attention!
He was confident that with his talents, he could surely win the favor of Luo Changfeng and Luo Qingxue, and perhaps even become Luo Changfeng's son-in-law!
However, after waiting for half an hour in vain, Ouyang Sheng realized that Luo Changfeng was no longer paying him any mind, and he felt a pang of confusion.
Just then, a servant approached the carriage and reported, "My Lord, the second young master of the Liang family has arrived."
"The second young master of the Liang family?"
The surrounding scholars and common folk exchanged bewildered glances.
Could it be that the two elders were not waiting for Left General Liang Qing?
Everyone became curious about the identity of this second young master Liang.
Logically, only the reinstated Left General Liang Qing would warrant such a visit from the two elders.
"Wait! Liang Yun is the third young master, so the second young master... could it be Liang Xiao!" Ouyang Sheng suddenly remembered something and trembled.
"Liang Xiao? Is he Luo Qingxue's fiancé?" everyone realized, and their confusion deepened.
Then, Luo Changfeng's personal visit to the Liang mansion made sense.
But Luo Qingxue's fiancé was rumored to be a dissolute idler, an untalented wastrel!
Why would the two elders visit him together?
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Liang Xiao and Yue Lian emerged from the Liang mansion and approached the carriages.
Liang Xiao scanned the crowd, his brow furrowed, and a look of distaste crossed his face. "Commander Zhuo Lingjun, Grandfather Luo, could you perhaps refrain from always bringing such a large entourage?"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding scholars cast looks of scorn at Liang Xiao.
"Liang Xiao! Do you know who Commander Zhuo Lingjun and General Luo are, to dare speak so disrespectfully?"
Finally, someone could not contain themselves and began to berate him.
Liang Xiao glanced at the group of scholars, his displeasure growing.
These scribblers were relentless in their criticism.
"Silence!"
The guards of Zhuo Zifang quickly intervened, quieting the crowd.
The crowd subsided but then began to gloat, "Regardless, he has left an extremely poor impression on General Luo and Commander Zhuo Lingjun!"
With just that one sentence, Liang Xiao had cemented his reputation for arrogance and disrespect. It was highly probable that the Luo family might indeed seek to break off the engagement because of this.
Zhuo Zifang and Luo Changfeng leaned out of the carriage. Upon seeing Liang Xiao, their aged eyes lit up.
"Xiao'er, come here!" Luo Changfeng waved joyfully at Liang Xiao.
Everyone looked on in bewilderment: this General Luo seemed to be quite fond of the disrespectful Liang Xiao!
"How can this be..."
Ouyang Sheng and the others were shocked and angered. They looked pleadingly at Zhuo Zifang, hoping he would administer justice and publicly reprimand Liang Xiao.
Zhuo Zifang, seeing Liang Xiao approach, also smiled with delight and said, "Liang Xiao, from now on, at the Imperial Academy, you will follow me. I myself will personally lecture you on the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as military strategies."
This caused a seismic shock!
Zhuo Zifang's words sent the entire assembly into an uproar, and countless jaws dropped in astonishment!
He had long refused to accept students for many years, only having once made an exception for Luo Qingxue, his last disciple, a matter that had become a widespread tale.
Today, he was actually going to accept Liang Xiao as his disciple?
Liang Xiao was notoriously known throughout Yan Province and the capital as a wastrel!
Countless people cast envious and resentful glances at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao, however, was unenthusiastic and merely nodded, saying, "Then I shall trouble Commander Zhuo Lingjun."
Zhuo Zifang, delighted, urged Liang Xiao, "Come, ride in this carriage with me!"
The entire assembly was in an uproar!
A young man not yet twenty years old, to ride in the same carriage as Commander Zhuo Lingjun and General Luo?
What an extraordinary honor!
Ouyang Sheng's eyes felt as though they would burst from envy.
Liang Xiao shook his head, "No, my Yue Lian has no place to sit!"
"Young Master..." Yue Lian bashfully lowered her head.
Everyone frowned. He had refused? And he wanted his maid to ride in the carriage too?
Simply outrageous!
Zhuo Zifang surveyed Yue Lian and asked, "Liang Xiao, how about this: let her ride in the carriage behind, and you and I will ride together."
The moment he spoke, the breathing of the scholars in the assembly hitched, their gazes fixed on the carriage behind.
Allowing Liang Xiao's maid to ride in a carriage of the same caliber alone?
They, the students of the Imperial Academy, the renowned talents from across the land, had never been granted such a privilege!
Only then did Liang Xiao agree. He first watched Yue Lian enter the carriage, and then followed Zhuo Zifang in.
The two elders smiled and patted Liang Xiao's shoulder, pulled the curtain, leaving the scholars utterly dumbfounded.
Ouyang Sheng felt a surge of anger, his chest ready to explode!
Why!
Wasn't this man a wastrel, a useless good-for-nothing!
The procession of carriages set off and soon disappeared from view.
"Didn't they just say Liang Xiao is going to the Imperial Academy? Perfect, we can expose Liang Xiao's true colors in public!"
The students of the Imperial Academy, furious, laughed and rushed towards the Imperial Academy.
"Great generals and renowned teachers, do not confine yourselves; a thousand armies and ten thousand horses will shy away from the white-robed!"
Cheers from young boys by the roadside startled Liang Xiao.
Countless children, their faces beaming with joy, repeatedly recited this line.
Luo Changfeng observed this and said with a smile, "Liang Xiao, people outside are praising the Sky General. What do you think of that line?"
"It's very good," Liang Xiao sighed.
Luo Changfeng beamed with pride, stroking his beard and smiling, "It was your fiancée, Qingxue, who said it! It has now spread throughout the capital, showing that the Sky General's reputation and Qingxue's talent resonate deeply with the people!"
Liang Xiao could only chuckle in amusement.
Not a single word amiss, what a coincidence...
However, there was nothing wrong with the saying. On that day, he had led seven thousand elite white-robed soldiers, whom he had never met before, to defeat an enemy of a hundred thousand, establishing his might in a single battle!
Zhuo Zifang then said, "Liang Xiao, you may not know it, but you have achieved great merit!"