"Extinction-level event?"
Zhi Rou's face suddenly turned ashen. She finally understood why her beloved was so uneasy.
Could it be that Qin Lang was thinking of...
"No matter what Qin Lang chooses or what the outcome may be, I will always support Qin Lang," Zhi Rou said softly, her heart filled with worry.
Qin Feng let out a wry laugh. "Don't worry about me. I'm just re-evaluating our relationship with the two nations. I just can't see through him, what kind of character he truly possesses."
Luo Qingxue was brought back to the Liang Manor by Liang Xiao. The moment they met, she couldn't help but throw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Her fiancé had not only accepted her but had also earned merit and been granted a marquis title!
Liang Xiao gently stroked Luo Qingxue's long, silky hair and said softly, "Let's go to the Temple of the Heavenly General."
Luo Qingxue then managed a tearful smile and obediently agreed.
She was so eager to fly to the Temple of the Heavenly General with Liang Xiao immediately to pay respects, to dispel the public's doubts as soon as possible and let everyone understand that her beloved was by no means an ungrateful wretch!
The seal of the Grand Master of Ceremonies had already been delivered to Liang Xiao's residence, and the seal of the Marquis of Anguo was still being crafted, but his fiefdom had already been designated.
Three thousand households in his hometown of Yanzhou!
Fortunately, the Grand Master of Ceremonies was a position with flexible responsibilities, allowing Xiao Qing to have Wang Canghai and others assist him, so Liang Xiao did not have to worry about overexertion.
Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, and Zhen Mi, accompanied by Liang Xiao, traveled to Shenwei Prefecture by carriage.
Luo Qingxue shared a carriage with Liang Xiao, conversing with him inside.
"Mi'er has an eidetic memory; she will surely become a renowned scholar in the future, and I will surely be left far behind," Luo Qingxue couldn't help but praise.
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded.
He also hadn't expected Zhen Mi to be so remarkably well-read.
With a little cultivation, perhaps Zhen Mi's learning would eventually rival that of Zhuo Zifang!
"The newly appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies and Assistant Minister of Works, Marquis of Anguo Liang Xiao, will soon proceed to the Temple of the Heavenly General to offer sacrifices!"
The guards of the Liang Manor shouted, spreading the word everywhere.
This was Liang Qing's intention. Liang Xiao's position was effectively no lower than Liang Qing's, but for convenience, he still planned to reside in the Liang Manor.
The common people rejoiced and lined the streets to welcome him.
"I heard that the Marquis of Anguo and the Grand Protector of Daliang are hailed as the 'Twin Pearls of the Realm'? I, for one, think that the Marquis of Anguo and the Heavenly General are our 'Imperial Twin Pearls'!!" a young scholar exclaimed with tears in his eyes.
"Heavenly General, Marquis of Anguo! Imperial Twin Pearls!" countless commoners, with tears streaming down their faces, cheered loudly, acknowledging this appellation.
Yue Lian and Zhen Mi joyfully lifted the curtains to watch the jubilant crowd.
Luo Qingxue, however, her beautiful eyes sparkling, gazed at Liang Xiao with adoration. "Imperial Twin Pearls, how well people have put it. What 'Twin Pearls of the Realm' can compare to our own 'Imperial Twin Pearls'..."
Her beloved was now qualified to be compared to the Heavenly General!
Liang Xiao merely smiled, feeling rather helpless.
He, alone, had become the "Imperial Twin Pearls"?
What would happen if, from the lowly servants to the common people, they discovered his true identity in the future? They would surely be astonished!
Liang Xiao also had to give serious thought to how to keep his identity as the Heavenly General hidden for now.
With his current injuries, this was far from the opportune moment to reveal his identity. Doing so would only lead to chaos in the court. The aristocratic families would not meekly accept the reality and withdraw from the stage of power.
Historically, corrupt officials were often capable, and it was not suitable at this time to uproot all the aristocratic families. Otherwise, countless official positions within and outside the court would be left vacant in the short term, inevitably leading to great chaos throughout the land.
"The common people are comparing him to the Heavenly General??"
At the Ouyang family, upon hearing the news, everyone was in a state of unease.
Ouyang Sheng, in particular, his face contorted with venom, trembled and said, "Because of this beast Liang Xiao, my political career is ruined, yet he himself rises to prominence! We absolutely cannot let him have his way. We must contact the major aristocratic families, control public opinion, weaken the impact of Liang Xiao, and degrade him to nothing. It would be best if he were placed in opposition to the military and the populace!"
This time, neither Ouyang Ji nor Ouyang Hong negated Ouyang Sheng's proposal. They immediately sent people to contact the Dugu family and other aristocratic families, while also ordering their own family members to mobilize and spread rumors.
"How long has Liang Xiao been an official? How many merits has he earned? What qualifications does he have to be compared to the Heavenly General? The帛书 (silk manuscript) defending Yanzhou, with similar handwriting, is proof that he wrote it?"
"The Heavenly General led his soldiers, with spear and sword, to protect the vast territory of our Great Gan. Liang Xiao merely moved his lips! Those ingenious strategies in the 'State Affairs Selection' haven't even been implemented yet. Who knows if those policies will ultimately come to naught!"
"He is still just a young man who has just entered officialdom; he is not worthy of being compared to the Heavenly General! To list him alongside the Heavenly General as 'Imperial Twin Pearls' is an insult to the Heavenly General!"
...
The major aristocratic families mobilized their retainers, and arguments could be heard everywhere on the streets and alleys.
These aristocratic families had never imagined that the "rough man" like the Heavenly General, whom they had once viewed with hostility, would one day become a weapon for them to attack Liang Xiao.
Some citizens who favored Second Young Master Liang, especially the young men and women, were equally unwilling to back down.
"The Heavenly General manifested his divinity to protect Liang Second Young Master. Are you doubting the Heavenly General's judgment! His Majesty said Liang Second Young Master wrote it, so he wrote it. Are you doubting His Majesty's sagacity!"
The group, predominantly young men and women, ultimately could not outmaneuver the glib members of the aristocratic families, and public opinion gradually turned against Liang Xiao.
At this moment, Liang Xiao had already arrived at the entrance of Shenwei Prefecture. The Imperial Guards were stationed outside, having evacuated the public in advance.
Liang Xiao looked up at the other plaque above the gate, "Wushen Prefecture" (Martial God Prefecture), and couldn't help but laugh and cry.
This was truly a disaster! I've been deified while still alive. What am I to do?
Entering Shenwei Prefecture, Liang Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Indeed, the white-robed soldiers were not here today?
Liang Xiao did not dare to linger and quickly led Luo Qingxue and the other two into the Temple of the Heavenly General to pay their respects.
This time, Gu Hong, the Minister of Rites, personally led a group to wait here. Seeing Liang Xiao arrive, he was beaming with joy.
"I believe that after today, no one will mention the Marquis of Anguo as ungrateful!" Gu Hong sighed.
Liang Xiao's poem had left Gu Hong with a deep impression, especially the lines "A shred of loyalty to repay the nation, two lines of clear tears for cherished kin," which had truly touched him.
As an elder who had personally witnessed Liang Xiao's heroic deeds, and as the father of Gu Shaoyan, Gu Hong naturally believed that Liang Xiao would be a good official who championed the people's interests, a pillar of the nation.
Liang Xiao merely returned the courtesy politely and, after the worship, prepared to leave the Temple of the Heavenly General.
"Marquis of Anguo!"
As Liang Xiao stepped out, an excited roar came from afar, causing Liang Xiao to look speechless.
It turned out that Lü Changhe, leading a group of white-robed soldiers, was running towards him from a distance, his expression excited as he waved at Liang Xiao.
Seeing this, Luo Qingxue and the other two covered their mouths and giggled, the stone in their hearts finally lifted.
The first group to express dissatisfaction with Liang Xiao earlier was precisely the white-robed soldiers. They had all believed that Liang Xiao was disrespectful to the Heavenly General, even ungrateful.
Now, judging by the expressions of the white-robed soldiers, they clearly looked upon Liang Xiao with new respect.
Liang Xiao now felt his head spinning.
Good heavens, why are you not at your posts and running to see me...
Liang Xiao could only hope that this group of former comrades, who had followed him in driving away the barbarians for seven hundred miles, would not recognize him.
He had to deal with this Lü Changhe first!
After a brief moment of excitement, Lü Changhe calmed down and examined Liang Xiao again with a look of deep doubt.
Luo Qingxue's heart pounded as she watched. She quickly hugged Liang Xiao's arm, fearing that her beloved would be "snatched away" by Lü Changhe.