Meeting an old acquaintance, Liang Xiao smiled and stepped forward, accompanying Huang Xing to the Ministry of Works to understand the situation.
After Huang Xing finished explaining to Liang Xiao, he reminded him, "Assistant Minister Liang, His Majesty has already issued an edict. I will share your burdens, and Zhang Yang will temporarily act on some of your responsibilities. If you need anything, you can come to the Ministry of Works at any time."
Liang Xiao thanked him joyfully.
His little Shuangzi was truly considerate!
Zhang Yang whispered, "Liang Xiao, I have a question that confuses me... It's one thing that His Majesty has appointed me as the Minister of Fields, such a high position, but why is he also having me act on your responsibilities? Did you say something to His Majesty?"
Liang Xiao's expression remained unchanged as he said sternly, "Here! You mustn't tarnish my reputation. It must have been my grandfather who said it!"
Zhang Yang looked utterly bewildered.
Huang Xing smiled and said, "The selection of talent for state affairs is precisely about gathering elites from all prefectures and counties to select the best individuals. This is a one-time event, no less important than the imperial examinations! Zhang Yang is a man of great talent, so appointing him as Minister of Fields is also reasonable. After all, Gu Shaoyan has been appointed as a Hanlin Academy Compiler, and Mu Hong has also been appointed as a Hanlin Academy Reviser, and they will be promoted to the fifth rank in due course."
Zhang Yang nodded solemnly and sighed, "I only regret that I won't have as much time to study tools at home in the future."
"If you have the design blueprints, I'll give them to you, and you can study them anytime," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Only then did Zhang Yang look pleased.
Even after being appointed an official, Zhang Yang and his wife, Madam Yang, still resided in Liang Xiao's mansion.
After leaving the Ministry of Works, Liang Xiao and Yue Lian rode in a carriage back to the Liang mansion to wait.
He had promised Ding Wuyi to visit Xiao Qing more often, and tonight was a suitable occasion.
In the afternoon, the top five contenders of the state affairs selection were to offer sacrifices to the Heavenly General at the Heavenly General Temple.
Unlike Liang Xiao's leisurely demeanor, in a distant tall building, assassins led by Zuo Wushang stared at Liang Xiao from afar, feeling anxious.
Liang Xiao was escorted by the guards of the Liang mansion and several Imperial Forest Army soldiers.
With the capital under martial law, it was exceedingly difficult to find an opportunity to strike!
"Zuo Wushang, if this man is not eliminated, I fear that even the Chanyu will not be able to sleep soundly at night!" Hu Yan Jialuo, standing behind Zuo Wushang, said angrily.
Zuo Wushang said in a deep voice, "There is only one chance! One chance!"
Hu Yan Jialuo dared not speak out of anger and merely nodded.
He understood perfectly that if a hasty action led to failure, the imperial court would inevitably increase Liang Xiao's protection!
In the Duanmu family, the patriarch, Duanmu Chao, said with a heartbroken expression, "Ignorance!"
At this moment, Duanmu Xiu knelt before Duanmu Chao, his face full of shame. "Father, it is indeed my short-sightedness!"
"If you had been able to purchase that collection of poetry and wine at a high price back then, not only would you have been remembered for eternity, but the family would have also greatly benefited! Do you understand now? Even the servant of the Zither Sage has better judgment than you!" Duanmu Chao said, filled with regret.
Duanmu Xiu did not dare to retort and could only feel helpless.
He had originally offered eight thousand taels, which was his limit, and he was still worried about being scolded upon his return.
Later, Qin Jiu won the poetry and wine collection for ten thousand taels, which became a celebrated tale, and Duanmu Chao did not react too strongly.
But now, it was different!
Liang Xiao was the overall champion, the supreme leader among the five!
Let alone that jar of wine, just that poem "Ballad of Mulan" could have been sold for tens of thousands of taels!
The Duanmu family had lost an opportunity to expand their assets and gain renown!
Duanmu Xiu suddenly had an idea and reminded his father, "Father, perhaps we can have our wineries research his wine-making formula?"
"How can we research it? We still don't even know how he brews 'A Drunken Century'!" Duanmu Chao sighed.
An elder nearby chuckled, "I have already found some craftsmen who custom-made wine vessels for Liang Xiao. Let them make a set of wine vessels in the same style, and then study them. Perhaps we can replicate it."
The father and son's eyes lit up, and they were overjoyed.
"Rush production immediately and figure out the brewing process for 'A Drunken Century'! I refuse to believe that his formula can be more secret than Pine Spirit Wine!"
The Divine Might Mansion had now acquired a nickname, the Martial God Mansion, with two plaques, one above the other.
The Heavenly General Temple was also known as the Martial God Temple.
It was by imperial decree that the Heavenly General was conferred the title of Great Qian's Martial God.
Lü Changhe, along with seven hundred veteran White Robe soldiers, guarded the entrance to the Heavenly General Temple, prostrating themselves continuously.
"Heavenly General! His Majesty is wise to have held the state affairs selection, and the second young master you protected has won the five top honors!"
"The Heavenly General was peerless in his might during his lifetime, and even in death, he can still protect the pillars of our Great Qian. He is truly worthy of the title Great Qian's Martial God..."
...
The White Robe soldiers poured out their longing and admiration for the Heavenly General with tears streaming down their faces.
Among the seven hundred White Robe soldiers, only Lü Changhe's expression was complex, his eyes red, but he did not shed tears.
It was not that he had become numb; at this moment, he was still filled with doubt.
"Is Liang Xiao truly not the Heavenly General..."
Those eyes, and that back, were too similar!
Moreover, according to Liang Qing, Liang Xiao had returned to Yan Prefecture after the barbarian invasion and collapsed outside Yan Prefecture City, sustaining those injuries!
However, Liang Xiao was able to win the five top honors, making all the other ninety-nine top talents from various regions seem dim in comparison!
Such a learned and epoch-making figure, would he still have time to cultivate martial arts?
"If he really is the Heavenly General, then that's too..." Lü Changhe felt goosebumps all over.
He simply couldn't imagine, couldn't believe, yet he hoped Liang Xiao was indeed the Heavenly General!
"The White Robe soldiers are also here? And Lü Changhe?"
In the courtyard, Liang Xiao received the news and frowned. He said to Yue Lian, "Yue Lian, tell them I am not feeling well and will pay my respects another day."
The person he least wanted to interact with at this moment was Lü Changhe and the White Robe soldiers, lest they discover any flaws.
These people were the most familiar with the Heavenly General!
Yue Lian obediently went to report to Liang Qing. Liang Qing, with no other choice, had to truthfully reply to the officials from the Ministry of Rites.
Gu Shaoyan, the second place, Mu Hong, the third place, Zhang Yang, the fourth place, and Li Xiuyun, the fifth place, in accordance with Xiao Qing's decree, all went to the Heavenly General Temple with the officials from the Ministry of Rites to offer sacrifices to the Heavenly General.
"Why hasn't the top scholar come?" The White Robe soldiers, upon learning that Liang Xiao had taken leave, expressed their discontent.
"The Heavenly General manifested to save him, and he just takes leave like this? Even if he is unwell, he should wear more clothes and make an effort to pay his respects!"
"Truly ungrateful! Everyone in the capital knows the Heavenly General saved him, how can he be so arrogant due to his talent!"
The White Robe soldiers became increasingly indignant, while Lü Changhe remained silent, lowering his head in thought.
Is he truly unwell?
But the memorial service had to continue. Finally, Gu Shaoyan led the others into the temple for the sacrifice.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao had not offered sacrifices to the Heavenly General, people from the Ouyang and Dugu families immediately spread rumors, hoping to incite public anger.
As expected, many citizens were quite enraged, with some extremists even denouncing Liang Xiao as ungrateful on the spot.
As for Liang Xiao's statement of "paying respects another day," it was selectively omitted by those spreading the rumors.
"He didn't pay respects to the Heavenly General today?" Xiao Qing, upon hearing the news, also wore a helpless expression and sighed, "Another day it is, then. Don't make things difficult for him. I forbid anyone from making things difficult for him..."
"My Lord, this incident might affect Young Master Liang's reputation, and many people in the court will surely impeach him," Ding Wuyi said worriedly.
"So what? It's enough that I understand his character! Who else understands the Heavenly General's magnanimity better than him, and respects the Heavenly General more? He must be unwell, and it's a valid reason," Xiao Qing muttered.
Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun exchanged a smile and could only let it be.
After all, their Lord had likely fallen deeply in love.
After speaking, Xiao Qing smiled playfully, "However, he has caused me trouble again. I must make him a bit more embarrassed this time! He promised to come tonight, didn't he? Hmph hmph..."