Liang Xiao looked at Xiao Qing and Ding Wu Yi, chuckling, "In the vast Great Gan empire, it's possible for two individuals with the same father but different mothers to resemble each other, let alone mere stature and gaze."
"But, Your Majesty and General Lü both believe that Heavenly General chose to manifest and protect you specifically; that's even more unusual!" Xiao Qing huffed.
Liang Xiao burst into laughter.
Xiao Qing, however, shifted the topic with a hint of dejection, "However, with such extraordinary talent, you must have studied diligently since childhood, having no time for martial arts to become Heavenly General..."
Liang Xiao, secretly delighted at how to gloss over the matter, nodded. "Let's get down to business. You've come at the perfect time; I need to ask you a favor."
Xiao Qing, curious, sat down with Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao pleaded, "My elder brother was on the verge of promotion, but the Ministry of Personnel has repeatedly rejected his requests! Could you perhaps mention a word to His Majesty, to have my brother, Liang Feng, promoted to Zhonglang General or General, and also prevent his transfer to Yanzhou?"
Xiao Qing smiled. "This matter is decided by the Ministry of Personnel. Your brother has no military merit. If His Majesty were to interfere unduly, I fear all the officials would strongly object."
"Just say that 'Refutation of Spring Teaching' was written by my elder brother!" Liang Xiao said seriously.
Xiao Qing was startled and shook her head. "I cannot do that."
Liang Xiao sighed.
Xiao Qing suddenly gave a playful smile. "Your elder brother, the author of 'Refutation of Spring Teaching', cannot be impersonated! However, it's not impossible for your brother to be promoted immediately. After all, your uncle's contributions were immense, and he bravely fell at Helan Mountain."
Liang Xiao understood and said, "What do you need me to do? Tell me, as long as my brother can get promoted."
Xiao Qing's beautiful eyes lit up, and she tentatively asked, "Why don't you think for His Majesty, about how the common people can live better lives?"
Liang Xiao abruptly stood up. "Excellent!"
Under the astonished gazes of Xiao Qing and Ding Wu Yi, Liang Xiao turned and opened a bookshelf.
The master and servant couple watched with longing anticipation.
This bookshelf, as expected, was filled with treasures...
Liang Xiao laid three paintings on the table. Each depicted a plant, rendered with lifelike detail down to the roots, accompanied by densely written explanations of its color and habits.
Xiao Qing's eyes were full of confusion. "Are these flowers and plants?"
Liang Xiao pointed to the three plants in turn, explaining.
"This is sweet potato. This is corn. This is potato!"
Xiao Qing and Ding Wu Yi exchanged glances, their eyes filled with bewilderment. "We have never seen them before!"
Liang Xiao rolled up the three paintings and handed them to Xiao Qing, his tone more serious than ever.
"Xiao Shuang Zi, take these three paintings back. Have His Majesty order them to be copied in large quantities and stored. The more the better; don't be stingy with paper and ink!"
"What's the point of drawing these? Are they immortal herbs and spirit flowers?" Xiao Qing was utterly baffled.
Because of Liang Xiao's poems, the price of paper in the capital had recently soared, and now they were to waste paper and manpower copying some flowers and plants?
Liang Xiao remained stern. "Prepare for a rainy day! In any case, you must make preparations. I will tell you when the time is ripe! It is the dead of winter now; we cannot alert the enemy by acting prematurely and arousing their vigilance!"
Xiao Qing's eyes darted, and she suddenly understood. "Elder Brother, could it be that the flowers and plants in these three paintings, like grains, are edible?"
Liang Xiao happily pinched Xiao Qing's soft, delicate cheek.
"My Xiao Shuang Zi is indeed so clever! In any case, just listen to Elder Brother first! Elder Brother will not cheat you, nor will he cheat His Majesty!"
Xiao Qing touched the spot where she was pinched, casting a resentful glance at Liang Xiao. "Is this how Elder Brother repays me? Alright then, your Xiao Shuang Zi trusts you!"
Suddenly, Xiao Qing thought of something and asked, "Elder Brother knows I am a favored minister of the Son of Heaven, so why don't you ask about the content of the state affairs selection? The day for the state affairs selection is drawing nearer; do you truly not care about fame and fortune?"
Liang Xiao smiled gently. "Why ask? Would that be fair to the other candidates? In any case, it's best that you don't mention the state affairs selection to me for now; we should avoid suspicion."
Xiao Qing was left speechless and could only nod.
Ding Wu Yi cast an admiring glance at Liang Xiao.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Qing huffed, "Elder Brother always pinches my cheek; do you consider me a child?"
"In Elder Brother's heart, you are a sensible and hardworking child, just like Mi'er. But she's a girl, so naturally, I can only pinch you," Liang Xiao said with a hearty laugh.
Hearing this, veins bulged on Xiao Qing's forehead.
Seeing Liang Xiao's smug expression, she wished she could rush over and pinch Liang Xiao's face a hundred times!
Comparing me to a ten-year-old child?
"Oh, right, it's almost the first of the first month, your birthday, isn't it?" Liang Xiao asked.
The Great Gan country did not have festivals like Spring Festival or Lantern Festival; there was only the "Qianyuan Festival" in the middle of the year.
Xiao Qing's anger finally subsided. "That was just me pretending to be your elder brother to fool you! I'm not telling you my birthday!"
Ding Wu Yi, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief.
The birth charts of an emperor could not be casually divulged, lest they be exploited by malicious individuals.
Liang Xiao smiled gently and did not press further.
Xiao Qing then said, "General Zuo mentioned that Elder Brother is injured. Can I see?"
Ding Wu Yi was startled and hesitated to speak.
His master was, after all, a woman, and seeing someone shirtless at their home felt rather odd...
Liang Xiao shook his head. "No need to see."
"Why?" Xiao Qing was unwilling.
Liang Xiao grinned. "I don't want to see you crying over me, Xiao Shuang Zi."
Xiao Qing was stunned, momentarily unsure of what to do.
This fellow was truly infuriating...
She could already imagine how serious Liang Xiao's injuries were and felt like crying.
Liang Xiao immediately changed the subject and talked with Xiao Qing throughout the night.
The candlelight fell upon Liang Xiao's face, illuminating his handsome features.
Xiao Qing listened quietly, gazing at Liang Xiao, her mind drifting.
She couldn't clearly see Liang Xiao's pale complexion under the candlelight and realized that this young man was even more attractive.
"Could he truly be Heavenly General?" Xiao Qing wondered.
She found it difficult to associate Heavenly General with the young man who spoke and laughed so casually before her.
But, as her cousin had said, if he were indeed Heavenly General...
Xiao Qing touched her cheek; it felt burning hot.
If that were the case, she absolutely could not let him go!
However, before confirming the truth, Xiao Qing did not want to rashly probe into Liang Xiao's secrets, lest she show disrespect to the true Heavenly General.
The next day, He Wanli, the Minister of Personnel, was summoned to the imperial study by Xiao Qing.
"Minister He, I have pondered this through the night. The Liang family is filled with loyal heroes; an entire generation perished in battle. During Liang Feng's tenure in the Feathered Forest Guard, his conduct was upright, and he earned the trust of his soldiers. He can carry on his father's aspirations, and I hereby confer upon him the title of Zhongjie General!"
He Wanli was astonished and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, reconsider! Liang Feng has no military achievements; conferring the title of General will not command respect and may discourage the soldiers!"
Xiao Qing's expression immediately soured.
"Now you show concern for the soldiers? Whose hearts are you chilling? I have reviewed the records, and the Ministry of Personnel has repeatedly rejected memorials to promote Liang Feng. Give me an explanation, or I shall have to consider whether the position of Minister of Personnel should be held by someone more capable."