Liang Xiao readily agreed and said, "Prime Minister, please wait a moment. I have something to discuss with my grandfather and the others."
Saying that, Liang Xiao walked towards Liang Qing, Luo Changfeng, and Zhuo Zifang in the distance.
At this moment, the three elders looked at Liang Xiao and couldn't help but tear up again.
"Xiao'er, your father in heaven would be proud of you..." Liang Qing said with relief.
Zhuo Zifang looked at Liang Xiao with a smile, his eyes also moist.
He had originally just hoped that Liang Xiao would be in the top ten or twenty!
Liang Xiao nodded and said, "Speaking of which, Grandfather, why did you three plot against me with His Majesty..."
Upon hearing this, the three elders, who had been moved to tears, changed their expressions, turned around, and immediately wiped away their tears.
"Duke Luo, Commander Zhuo, Xiao'er has recently prepared a few jars of fine wine for the manor. Would you like to accompany this old man back to try them?"
Luo Changfeng's eyes lit up: "Oh, fine wine? This old man is in a great mood. Let's drink and celebrate!!"
Zhuo Zifang immediately understood and echoed, "Thank you in advance, Duke Liang! I also want to taste what the renowned 'One Drunk Century' in the capital tastes like."
The three elders chattered as they walked towards the palace gate, appearing extremely cheerful, completely ignoring Liang Xiao behind them.
"You three, stop!" Liang Xiao called out impatiently.
As soon as the words fell, the three elders slipped away like oiled rats, disappearing without a trace.
Liang Xiao couldn't help but roll his eyes: As expected, "guilty conscience"...
Wang Canghai watched this scene with a helpless expression.
The Great Qian dynasty advocated filial piety, and juniors were certainly expected to respect their elders. Liang Xiao's shouting just now, under normal circumstances, would have earned him a beating!
However, since Dugujun and the others had already been scared away by Ding Wuyi, he, as Prime Minister, could tolerate it.
Liang Xiao then turned around and said to Wang Canghai, "Prime Minister, can we make this brief? I'm in a hurry to get home to change my dressing."
Change dressing?
Wang Canghai looked at Liang Xiao doubtfully and noticed Ding Wuyi behind him nodding at him with a worried expression.
Seeing this, Wang Canghai asked Liang Xiao to go back and change his dressing first. Liang Xiao did not agree but accompanied Wang Canghai to the Prime Minister's manor. Ding Wuyi personally drove the carriage, and the old and young chatted about farming and contract taxes in the carriage.
"Is that the Third Young Master Liang? He's quite distinguished!"
"Isn't he? He's the cousin of the Second Young Master Liang, how could he be any worse? It would be nice if talented young ladies could marry the Third Young Master Liang!"
Liang Yun, walking on the road with his guards, couldn't help but feel a little elated listening to the praises of the surrounding citizens. He then recalled his past thought of expelling Liang Xiao from the Liang manor and felt full of guilt.
Because of Liang Xiao, he not only earned his first pot of gold but was now also renowned in the capital?
At this moment, all Liang Yun wanted was to return to the manor quickly and wait for his dear second brother to return!
Inside the Prime Minister's manor, Wang Canghai chatted with Liang Xiao for a full hour before finally escorting Liang Xiao back to his manor.
"At the next court session, this old man still suggests you attend, so that envoys from various countries can witness the pride of our dynasty. His Majesty has granted you the freedom to participate in court sessions, which is against etiquette, but this old man trusts His Majesty's judgment," Wang Canghai requested.
After Wang Canghai's heartfelt plea, Liang Xiao readily agreed.
Outside the manor, Ding Wuyi asked Liang Xiao to wait a moment and then returned to the Prime Minister's manor to find Wang Canghai. He saw Wang Canghai alone, his green robe already wet with tears, unable to control himself.
Ding Wuyi quickly asked, "Prime Minister, what do you think of this young man?"
As a military man, he didn't fully understand their conversation, only hearing Wang Canghai repeatedly say "Good!" and "Excellent!"
Wang Canghai calmed himself down and sighed, "He and General Tian are both blessings bestowed upon our country by heaven. While this farming and contract tax system has its drawbacks, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and it is what the country needs most at present..."
Ding Wuyi was overjoyed: "To receive the Prime Minister's approval, he is indeed deserving! As a fellow minister assisting His Majesty, I will not hide from you that His Majesty intends to betroth him as a驸马 (imperial son-in-law) in the future..."
Wang Canghai was startled and sighed, "This old man worries about his physical condition. If he dies young, I fear His Majesty will be heartbroken and refuse to choose anyone else to continue the royal bloodline..."
Ding Wuyi quickly informed him about the Divine Physician. Wang Canghai was enlightened and immediately promised to write a letter and send it to Tian Shan.
Liang Xiao did not wish to be in the public eye, and out of respect for him, Ding Wuyi did not send anyone to publicize Liang Xiao's affairs along the way, only escorting him back to the manor, with no conversation.
Upon arriving at the gate of the Liang manor, Ding Wuyi couldn't help but request, "Second Young Master Liang, if you have time, could you please come to the palace to see His Majesty more often?"
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded, "I promised not to let him feel lonely anymore."
Xiao Qing had personally sent the commander of the shadow guards to escort Liang Xiao back, showing great consideration. Liang Xiao was touched but also felt quite helpless.
He truly couldn't be a happy, idle person anymore.
Ding Wuyi looked overjoyed, clasped his hands in thanks, and returned to the palace.
Inside the Liang manor, everyone cheered and welcomed Liang Xiao back with a grand reception.
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian had finally calmed down, but upon seeing Liang Xiao, tears streamed down their faces again.
Only Zhen Mi, with her innocent eyes, clapped and cheered for Liang Xiao.
At this moment, Liang Feng had also calmed down considerably. He brought Yang Xuejing and Liang Yun and happily congratulated Liang Xiao.
Yang Xuejing's voice trembled as she spoke: "Second brother, I never thought you were so learned! Do you know, when your elder brother heard that you won first place, he cried buckets in the Imperial Guards!"
"Don't listen to your sister-in-law's nonsense! My eyes just got some seawater in them!" Liang Feng retorted with a pout.
"Can that seawater travel all the way from the East Sea to the capital?" Yang Xuejing asked with a smile.
Liang Feng became even more flustered, and laughter filled the air around them.
"Second brother, Qingxue and the others have been waiting for you the most," Liang Feng reminded him.
Liang Xiao understood and walked towards Luo Qingxue.
Luo Qingxue could no longer hold back, threw herself into Liang Xiao's arms, and sobbed uncontrollably.
Liang Xiao comforted her and took the three of them back to his courtyard.
"I've thought it through. We really shouldn't rush into marriage," Luo Qingxue said with a sob.
"What's wrong?" Liang Xiao asked curiously.
"Because I'm not worthy of you at all..." Luo Qingxue said, lowering her head.
Liang Xiao smiled warmly, lifted Luo Qingxue's chin, and kissed her forehead.
"The woman of my Liang Xiao should be proud of me, not belittle herself!"
Luo Qingxue was deeply moved and obediently agreed.
Yue Lian tearfully changed Liang Xiao's dressing.
The imperial decree and the seal of the Assistant Minister of Works were soon delivered to the Liang manor. Liang Xiao officially assumed the post of Assistant Minister of Works, and Zhang Yang was appointed as the Director of Land Affairs in the Ministry of Works.
Countless dignitaries and talented individuals rushed to the Liang manor, hoping to meet Liang Xiao, but were all refused without exception.
Even so, the Liang manor remained bustling with visitors.
Dugujun and his son, having returned home, wore grim expressions and met with Duguliang.
The main hall was eerily quiet. The three of them simply looked at each other, understanding unspoken.
Dugujun silently wrote a letter, summoned a death warrior, and ordered, "You must ensure this reaches the Chanyu. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect your entire family!"
The next day, Liang Xiao went to report for duty at the Ministry of Works and found two familiar figures waiting for him.
Huang Xing and Zhang Yang!