Liang Xiao let out a soft sigh.
"Qingxue wasn't prepared either, and similarly, she hopes I will become a consort first before taking her as a concubine. She believes that if we marry first, she'll be my legal wife. Afterward, if I become a consort, it would be difficult to avoid criticism regarding you and her, which would harm the royal reputation."
"It's all my fault..." Xiao Qing felt even more guilty.
For a married man to become a consort would inevitably invite gossip. If Liang Xiao were to marry Luo Qingxue, and then later divorce her to become a consort, and then later take Luo Qingxue as a concubine, Luo Qingxue would surely become the laughingstock.
"Actually, this isn't important," Liang Xiao said softly.
Xiao Qing blinked. "Brother Xiao, you don't need to comfort me… How can this not be important? What is important then!"
How could marriage not be important? She was planning to have a lot of children with this guy!
"My feelings for you and Qingxue remain unchanged. Having you both by my side always is what's most important!" Liang Xiao smiled.
Hearing this, the maiden in his arms was on the verge of tears, burying herself deeper into Liang Xiao's embrace.
At this moment, she only wanted to feel the warmth of Liang Xiao's embrace.
"Will Brother Xiao be attending the morning court tomorrow?" Xiao Qing asked timidly.
Liang Xiao replied, "Of course! I heard that the Princess of Guizi is fierce and cunning. We must guard against her causing trouble for your Imperial Brother."
Xiao Qing finally couldn't hold back her tears.
This fellow, everything he did after entering the court was for her and the common people!
Yet, she couldn't even tell him the truth about her identity!
"Father Emperor's last will..." Xiao Qing felt a pang of melancholy and decided to discuss it thoroughly with the Four Grand Ministers.
Especially Wang Canghai and Lü Yi. These two elders were extremely cautious and strongly advised against revealing the truth to the outside world at this moment. Even for her beloved, this matter concerned the survival of the Great Qian, and the more people who knew, the greater the risk.
Liang Xiao simply patted Xiao Qing's back, like a parent comforting a crying child.
To him, the most heartbreaking sight was this pair of siblings, too young and bearing too much.
After stopping her tears, Xiao Qing quietly looked up, guilt in her heart, and gazed at Liang Xiao. He was looking ahead, seemingly lost in thought.
Xiao Qing was mesmerized.
How she wished she could be Liang Xiao's first woman…
Realizing she was having "improper thoughts" about Liang Xiao, Xiao Qing felt her face burning.
"Shall we go see your Imperial Brother together?" Liang Xiao said.
Xiao Qing quickly replied, "Imperial Brother must be asleep by now…"
Liang Xiao smiled with satisfaction. "You're quite well-behaved today. You should supervise your Imperial Brother's diet and daily life more. This child looks like he's up to no good."
Xiao Qing's gaze turned resentful again, and she vaguely agreed.
This fellow, he cared, but he had to add a jab!
After Liang Xiao left, Xiao Qing summoned Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun.
"Eunuch Ding, Granny Ning, when can the State Uncle return to the capital? I want to talk to them about confessing my identity to my elder brother…"
The two were stunned, understanding Xiao Qing's intention.
Discussing this matter through correspondence with Lü Yi was risky. If the letter were lost midway, the consequences would be unimaginable!
However, Lü Yi's reply, which mentioned Liang Xiao, was merely a few brief words of praise, showing no unconditional trust in Liang Xiao.
Ding Wuyi said with a wry smile, "The border is unstable, and there are constraints from the noble families. It's inconvenient for the General of the Chariots and Cavalry to return to the capital."
Xiao Qing couldn't help but feel disheartened. "There are too few capable generals who can manage affairs independently, and the Left and Right Generals are already old and frail…"
Ning Xuejun quickly comforted her, "With the assistance of the Second Master Liang to the sovereign, the nation will prosper and the people will be strong. Then, the army will be powerful. Your Highness need not be pessimistic."
Hearing Liang Xiao's name mentioned, Xiao Qing's face lit up with a smile, and she nodded proudly.
Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi exchanged a knowing glance.
Indeed, mentioning Liang Xiao was enough to make their sovereign happy; it never failed!
Back at the Liang manor, Liang Xiao rushed to the winery. He instructed workers to select the finest wines overnight, with stacks of red cloth piled high.
Over a thousand jars of wine were selected, and the workers departed, leaving only Liang Yun to grind ink with a bewildered expression, watching Liang Xiao write.
"Second Brother, you're not planning to use the same trick as the Bai Chun Lou to sell wine again, are you?" Liang Yun asked curiously.
Liang Xiao chuckled. "That trick can only be used occasionally, but this one, they absolutely won't be able to handle!"
Watching his second brother's confident demeanor, Liang Yun's curiosity grew.
Late at night, Liang Yun's raucous laughter echoed from outside the winery.
"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"
Liang Xiao had already left, and the wines were sealed, awaiting the opportune moment to make a fortune!
At this moment, Liang Yun was in tears, clearly tears of joy.
He realized he seemed to have found his calling. It wasn't that he couldn't do business, but rather that he lacked a capable mentor like Liang Xiao to guide him!
The guards outside the winery exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend why the usually serious Liang Yun would behave so out of character tonight.
"Second Brother! Third Brother will absolutely not let your cultivation go to waste!"
Only when they heard Liang Yun's murmurs did the guards understand and feel a sense of awe.
So, it was all because of that divine Second Young Master!
The next day, Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing rode in the same carriage to attend the morning court.
On the top floor of Bai Chun Lou, Yi Rou and Zuo Wushang, disguised, sat opposite each other, gazing from afar at Liang Xiao's carriage with complex emotions.
"Now even the carriages of the Liang manor have been modified to withstand sudden attacks from crossbows and axes. This young man's caution is almost unbelievable!" Zuo Wushang's words were filled with a sense of helplessness.
"The cause of restoring our nation is already a slim hope. If this person cannot be recruited by our country, I fear… In short, no matter what, we must recruit this man, at any cost! As long as he submits, I dare to have the Princess show herself!"
Listening to Zuo Wushang sigh, Yi Rou lowered her head, silent.
As a remnant of the Great Heng Kingdom, she once had a firm resolve to restore her country. For this, she had even stooped to her current position, showing herself publicly, hoping to reel in a big fish one day.
But now, her heart was wavering. If she hadn't heard that the Princess was still alive, she would have urged Zuo Wushang to abandon the cause of national restoration.
In the grand hall, Liang Xiao still sat beside Xiao Qing, looking down at the officials with her.
Even though Dugu Qun and others were filled with anger and jealousy, they were helpless.
"All my ministers, please suspend your discussions. I have already sent for the Princess of Guizi to be presented. The western regions are still observing, but this Guizi country is eager to submit. If handled properly, it will be a good start. In the future, we only need to defeat the barbarians, and conquering the western regions will be a matter of course!"
The officials heard this and straightened their postures, waiting in silence.
Dugu Qun, however, was sneering inwardly.
Defeat the barbarians? Is that possible?
All along, the Great Qian, facing incursions from nomadic peoples, could at best manage defensive counterattacks. It was impossible to venture deep into the desert!
This foolish emperor, still wet behind the ears, actually dreamed of defeating the barbarians? Even the founding Emperor himself, who personally led an expedition, nearly met his end in the desert, and since then, no one dared to mention marching into the desert!
After a moment, the chief eunuch reported with a troubled expression, "Reporting to Your Majesty! The Princess of Guizi refuses to enter the palace, choosing death!"