Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun were dumbfounded.
He really dared to say it!
Snapping back to reality, Xiao Qing pouted charmingly, "Where am I being untrustworthy? Where am I being unreasonable?"
At this moment, Liang Xiao had a solemn expression, and he pretended to tidy his clothes, saying, "This is a matter between men. In short... you promised me, you wouldn't tell your imperial brother."
Xiao Qing looked at Liang Xiao, her eyes full of unspoken grievances.
Ning Xuejun was even more speechless.
Gossiping about the younger sister to the elder brother, and then gossiping about the elder brother to the younger sister, and then asking both sides to keep it a secret.
Heavens, how could such a shameless person exist in this world!
"Understood," Xiao Qing replied perfunctorily, but she was calculating in her heart.
Untrustworthy, is he? Unreasonable, is he? Fine, you just wait!
She was certain that this young man before her was truly reliable, lovable, and detestable!
"I heard the princess knows Qingxue?" Liang Xiao asked abruptly.
Xiao Qing nodded slightly and explained, "Sister Qingxue and I met at a lantern festival, and we hit it off."
Liang Xiao smiled slyly, "Considering that Sister Qingxue is my fiancée, you must keep my words secret even more!"
"..."
The master and servant were utterly defeated by Liang Xiao.
What an ingenious and shameless fellow!
Xiao Qing smiled faintly and nodded at Liang Xiao.
She had already understood that Liang Xiao was merely playful and had no ill intentions.
On the contrary, he genuinely liked his "Little Shuangzi" as a sworn brother!
Having figured this out, Xiao Qing was not angry but rather felt a sweetness in her heart.
She truly no longer had to fear loneliness...
"I heard that Second Young Master Liang proposed to implement garrison farming and contract taxes. Could you tell me about the details so I can learn from you?" Xiao Qing asked with a smile, her voice gentle and pleasant.
Liang Xiao shook his head, "You'd better not discuss state affairs with me!"
"Why? Do you also believe that women are inferior to men?" Xiao Qing feigned displeasure.
Liang Xiao replied, "You are in the prime of your youth, and you look so delicate. You should enjoy life more. Matters of the military and state are too burdensome for you. Let me and your imperial brother bear them."
Xiao Qing stared at Liang Xiao blankly, her nose stinging.
This fool, he didn't want "Princess Ning Shuang" to be burdened with state affairs...
Moved, Xiao Qing got up and walked towards the wardrobe behind her.
As Liang Xiao watched in confusion, Xiao Qing returned with a jade pendant and handed it to Liang Xiao.
"This jade pendant will be a gift for Second Young Master Liang..."
Liang Xiao looked closely and saw that it was a Qingluan jade pendant, engraved with a Qingluan bird holding a half pearl.
"This is too precious, I cannot accept it. Besides, I didn't bring any gifts either!" Liang Xiao refused repeatedly.
Xiao Qing said, "No need. Your presence is the best gift."
Seeing Liang Xiao staring at her in surprise, Xiao Qing's heart fluttered. In a moment of inspiration, she added, "After all, you are one of the Five Great Leaders. Your works have already convinced me, and they are the best gifts for my imperial brother and me."
As she spoke, Xiao Qing had already pressed the jade pendant into Liang Xiao's hand.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment. Seeing Xiao Qing looking at him with teary eyes, unable to bear it, he finally accepted the jade pendant.
Only then did Xiao Qing beam like a flower and retrieve her copies of all of Liang Xiao's poems, seeking his guidance.
Upon seeing the merged poem he had given to Little Shuangzi, Liang Xiao immediately put on a smug expression.
"See, your imperial brother is untrustworthy. He said he wouldn't let the fifth person know the whole poem, yet here you are, knowing it."
Hearing this, Ning Xuejun finally couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Xiao Qing chuckled behind her hand, "Yes, yes, my imperial brother is only untrustworthy with Second Young Master Liang because you are the one he cannot let go of... elder brother."
Liang Xiao chuckled, and only then did he relax, discussing the poems with Xiao Qing and praising her original creations.
Xiao Qing's heart was filled with even greater sweetness.
Ning Xuejun watched the two of them engrossed in conversation and nodded slightly, feeling relieved.
Due to constant border wars, the Great Qian kingdom had a surplus of women and a shortage of men. Even ordinary families might have more than one wife, let alone royalty and high officials.
Historically, there were cases of women ascending to the throne. According to the late emperor's will, even if Liang Xiao had wives and concubines, Xiao Qing would find a suitable solution.
What Ning Xuejun truly worried about was his frail body. If he could not be treated by the Divine Physician, he might indeed die young...
As the night grew late, Liang Xiao took his leave. Though Xiao Qing was reluctant, she asked Ning Xuejun to escort Liang Xiao out of the palace.
Xiao Qing gazed at Liang Xiao's poems, lost in thought. Her feelings arose inexplicably, and she deeply yearned for the past, tears falling like broken strings of pearls.
"My little sister, when we grow up, I will find the best wise officials and loyal generals in the world to be your consort!"
Under the morning sun, the brother and sister were playing. Her imperial brother, eight-year-old Crown Prince Xiao Qing, had promised Xiao Shuang with utmost seriousness.
Little Xiao Shuang smiled happily and nodded, "Imperial brother and parents, don't leave Shuang'er!"
Behind them, their father and mother smiled at each other, their faces full of love.
At the age of ten, Crown Prince Xiao Qing contracted a cold and accidentally contracted smallpox, ultimately succumbing to it and dying young!
On that day, Xiao Shuang cried her heart out.
The Empress, due to excessive grief, also fell ill and passed away a month later, consumed by sorrow. Xiao Shuang clutched her mother's hand, crying until she fainted.
Thereafter, the late emperor ordered Ning Xuejun, the commander of the Shadow Guards, to take care of Xiao Shuang.
In the imperial study, the late emperor tearfully looked at Xiao Shuang and said with a trembling voice, "Shuang'er, for the sake of the people of the world, your father has concealed the news of your imperial brother's death. You and your imperial brother look alike. The Xiao family values the world above all else. From now on, Shuang'er will be both Crown Prince Xiao Qing and Princess Xiao Shuang..."
Young Xiao Shuang wiped away her tears and asked innocently, "Father, if Shuang'er does this, does it mean Imperial Brother is still alive?"
From then on, Xiao Shuang became Crown Prince Xiao Qing, secretly trained, diligently studying the art of kingship, and repeatedly playing two roles.
Five years later, the late emperor succumbed to illness from overwork and was unable to father any other children. He wrote several edicts, one of which served as his will, to be revealed to the world once Xiao Qing's identity was exposed.
"Shuang'er, your father can only accompany you this far. Remember the ancestral teachings and pull yourself together. The King of Nan is cruel and wicked. Shuang'er must survive and absolutely must not let the national artifact fall into the hands of the King of Nan. In the future, your father, mother, and imperial brother in heaven will protect Shuang'er, enabling Shuang'er to become a wise ruler and find the best husband in the world..."
By the sickbed, the late emperor appointed four great ministers, summoned the tearful Xiao Qing, and after repeatedly giving her earnest instructions, passed away.
"Father, Mother, Imperial Brother, did you first send General Tian, and then my elder brother..." Xiao Qing looked at Liang Xiao's poems, weeping as she spoke, "General Tian has already returned, you must protect my elder brother, do not let him go back..."
Ning Xuejun had already returned to Xiao Qing's side. Listening to Xiao Qing's muttering, she removed her mask, her face streaked with tears.
Only she and Ding Wuyi knew how much pain and loneliness their master had endured!
"Your Highness need not worry. Second Young Master Liang is protected by General Tian and will surely be safe. However, Your Highness must also prepare early, as he is so outstanding." Ning Xuejun reminded.
Xiao Qing, with tear-filled eyes, nodded slightly, "I will protect him well, prevent him from being too tired, and depending on the situation, I will let him participate in politics."
Ning Xuejun said earnestly, "What I mean is, Your Highness needs to prepare early to have offspring with the excellent Second Young Master Liang."