The others, led by Du Gu Qun, repeatedly shook their heads, murmuring to themselves as if they had witnessed the most incredible scene of their lives!
Du Gu Xiao slumped down powerlessly, gritting his teeth.
He hadn't even made the top three in this question!
Liang Xiao showed no signs of pride. He simply shouted towards the screen, "Xiao Shuangzi, do you like it!"
Hearing this, Xiao Qing, who had been secretly wiping away tears, burst into tears again.
Fool... The more I like you, the less I can let you go!
However, Xiao Qing finally calmed his emotions, wiped his tears, and maintained steady breathing.
"His Majesty is indeed a wise ruler. To gain such a talented individual, he has actually lost composure and shed tears." Zhuo Zi Fang observed this, sighed for a moment, and couldn't help but weep.
Liang Xiao frowned, confused, "What's so good about that little emperor that he's crying?"
Alas, I said long ago, this little emperor hasn't even been weaned yet...
But Liang Xiao dared not say this at such a time.
The palace gates opened wide. The waiting populace looked on with longing eyes, only to see the eunuch weeping uncontrollably.
"What's going on?" the people wondered.
The Director of the Imperial Household, wiping away his tears, announced the questions and results with a choked voice.
"The final question, the fifth question! First place, Number One, Liang Xiao! Second place, Number Four, Gu Shao Yan! Third place, Number One Hundred, Zhang Yang!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the entire scene descended into chaos, with only the soldiers maintaining order.
Even half of the soldiers maintaining order were stunned. Some excited citizens pushed their way through, and the soldiers quickly rushed to pull them back.
Luo Qing Xue and the other two, who had already returned to the carriage, excitedly disembarked, their tears flowing like rain!
He, the first place in all five questions?
Qin Feng took a deep breath, sighed for a long time, and left with his guards.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to wait for him to come out?" the chief guard asked anxiously.
Even they, rough men, were now curious about who this Liang Xiao truly was!
Qin Feng laughed heartily and shook his head, "No need. He will definitely not be suitable for receiving guests recently. Perhaps, he and I will meet in the Great Qian court."
Qin Feng led his men away.
Deep in the alley, the Left Xian King, Hu Yan Jia Luo, and Zuo Wu Shang were filled with shock!
"Zuo Wu Shang!" the Left Xian King roared.
Zuo Wu Shang snapped back to reality and sighed, "Rest assured, Left Xian King. I, Zuo, will risk my old life to take Liang Xiao's life! His talent is my great bane! No matter what, we must ensure a successful strike, or there will be no further opportunity!"
The Left Xian King was finally satisfied and smiled, "I am about to embark on a diplomatic mission to Great Qian and must first humiliate the Great Qian emperor and his subjects. This Liang Xiao is left to you. Do not disappoint me!"
After the Left Xian King left, Zuo Wu Shang's eyes blazed, and he clenched his fists.
"This child must not be kept alive!"
On the examination grounds, everyone slowly came back to their senses, revealing a myriad of reactions.
Luo Chang Feng, Zhuo Zi Fang, and Liang Qing were in tears, their green robes soaked. Zhang Yang, Gu Shao Yan, and Mu Hong, among others, were filled with admiration.
Du Gu Qun and Du Gu Xiao, on the other hand, were filled with venom and lost control of their emotions.
To let such a descendant of a military family seize all five first places and be recorded in history was disastrous!
Wang Cang Hai approached the screen from the opposite side, his eyes red.
Xiao Qing quietly asked, "Prime Minister, shall we finalize the rankings?"
Wang Cang Hai returned to his senses, his face full of shame, "It is I who have lost composure. This Liang Xiao is too dazzling, to the point that I have no mind to pay attention to any other participants..."
Xiao Qing smiled faintly and lowered his voice, "In any case, Liang Xiao is the undisputed first place, right?"
Wang Cang Hai nodded repeatedly and began to select and announce the rankings with Xiao Qing.
A moment later, the palace gates opened wide, and the eunuch excitedly announced the rankings.
"The national selection of talent has concluded! Overall first place: Number One, Liang Xiao! Second place: Number Four, Gu Shao Yan! Third place: Number Three, Mu Hong! Fourth place: Number One Hundred, Zhang Yang! Fifth place: Number Five, Li Xiu Yun! Sixth place: Number Two, Du Gu Xiao..."
The entire audience erupted once again!
"The top scholar of the capital is actually in sixth place? Not even as good as Gu Shao Yan and Mu Hong, heavens!"
"Where did that Zhang Yang come from? He was number one hundred! It seems he was hiding his talents!"
"Li Xiu Yun, the scholar from Jiangnan, is truly remarkable..."
Luo Qing Xue no longer knew how to express her joy. She simply embraced Yue Lian and wept, her tears falling like pear blossoms.
"Brother Xiao is truly an exceptional talent!" Zhen Mi cheered excitedly.
At this moment, someone noticed the three of them, Luo Qing Xue.
"She, she is Liang Er Gongzi's fiancée, Miss Luo Qing Xue! My family received her help!"
A sharp-eyed child excitedly pointed out Luo Qing Xue and shouted happily.
The crowd stirred again, surging forward.
"Do not approach!"
Dozens of guards from the Liang and Luo households shielded Luo Qing Xue, their faces tense.
They were also shocked, but Liang Xiao, Liang Qing, and Luo Chang Feng had given strict orders not to let anyone approach the three of them!
"Miss Luo has found a perfect match, truly a talented couple!"
"A jade-like man on the path, a peerless young master, that's describing her and Liang Er Gongzi, isn't it!"
The crowd dared not act recklessly and offered congratulations to Luo Qing Xue.
Luo Qing Xue blushed and bowed to everyone, expressing her gratitude.
"But I heard she wanted to break off her engagement with Liang Er Gongzi? Then she must be blind!" some envious young girls jeered.
Luo Qing Xue lowered her head in shame, speechless.
"Nonsense! There is no broken engagement! Liang Er Gongzi loves Miss Luo dearly, he even wrote her a love poem!"
Some young men and women who respected Luo Qing Xue also spoke out to rebuke those few, and recited a poem: "In the north, there is a beautiful woman..."
Others claimed that the "Ballad of Mulan" was also written by Liang Xiao for Luo Qing Xue, which caused a wave of envious gasps.
Everyone suddenly understood and offered their blessings.
"Miss, there are too many people here. Shall we return to the Liang residence and wait for Liang Er Gongzi to come back?" a guard from the Luo household asked nervously.
Luo Qing Xue, worried about further complications, could only agree. She cast glances back at every few steps, hoping to see Liang Xiao emerge before she left.
Inside the examination hall, Du Gu Xiao was utterly disheartened, a chill running straight to the crown of his head.
He was well-read and known as the top scholar of the capital, the dream lover of countless young women.
As a result, he was ranked sixth, even below Zhang Yang and Li Xiu Yun!
Was this the national selection of talent?
Liang Xiao waved to the three elders in the distance. After receiving their nod, he looked towards the screen.
He was impatient to see Xiao Shuangzi's expression!
Would my Xiao Shuangzi be beaming with joy and full of pride?
The national selection was not important to him. What was important was that he could use this opportunity to propose to the unweaned little emperor that Xiao Shuangzi be returned to him, allowing Xiao Shuangzi to be free!
Just then, Zhuo Zi Fang and Wang Cang Hai suddenly approached Liang Xiao, trying hard to maintain a stern expression.
Zhuo Zi Fang said solemnly, "Liang Xiao, congratulations on winning all the first places! You must be mindful of where you speak later."
Liang Xiao pouted, "Is Commander Zhuo implying something?"
Zhuo Zi Fang chuckled and quickly returned. Wang Cang Hai reminded him again, "Liang Xiao, be mindful of your conduct from now on and perform perfectly, as this national selection is destined to be recorded in history."
Liang Xiao was speechless and nodded.
Wang Cang Hai was finally relieved and returned to the front of the screen, loudly proclaiming, "Greetings to the Son of Heaven!"
"Long live our Emperor!"
As the screen was removed, everyone bowed.
Liang Xiao, who had been pondering whether to bow, suddenly saw the scene after the screen was removed.
A familiar back was facing him, clad in dragon robes...
Liang Xiao's expression changed.
Xiao Qing turned around, staring at him, with a half-smile, and said word by word, "I truly do like you, I like you to the point I could not bear it!"