Liang Xiao nodded, "After a few days of rest, I'll prepare to head to Yanzhou, the sooner the better! I might need to stay in my hometown in Yanzhou for a while then."
"Why?" Xiao Qing asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
Jian Qinwan's gaze towards Liang Xiao softened slightly. Had this fellow finally shown some consideration, remembering her mother's instructions?
Liang Xiao chuckled, "As per your imperial brother's request, I'll visit my fief, pay my respects to the General of Cavalry, and also go to Bodhi Temple. But these are all minor matters!"
Minor matters?
The slight good impression Jian Qinwan had managed to build up vanished instantly.
Those were arrangements her mother had painstakingly made…
Xiao Qing exclaimed in surprise, "Then what is considered the major matter?"
"Buying land!"
Liang Xiao's response left Xiao Qing, Yue Lian, and Jian Qinwan stunned.
Buying land was more important than all of those things?
"I currently have two hundred thousand taels in bank notes available for buying land. Yanzhou has vast tracts of land urgently needing to be sold, and I intend to acquire them," Liang Xiao said, looking northwards, gazing at the moon, and sighing. "Then, I will also buy back the land that those landlords and gentry have cheaply acquired from the Yanzhou farmers."
"That's all barren land. What's the use of buying it back?" Xiao Qing expressed her worry.
Yanzhou was the gateway to resisting the barbarians, and the risk of war meant that land was often sold at a low price. Many landlords and gentry disdained it, though some aristocratic families would still risk hoarding land.
If not for the timely appearance of the Heavenly General, Yanzhou would have fallen last time, and not only the land but also the people would have been decimated by the barbarians!
And now, her beloved was going to take such a risk. This was money Liang Xiao had painstakingly earned from selling wine!
Of course, Xiao Qing was unaware that Liang Xiao had actually earned this money rather easily…
"Once bought, it will naturally be used for farming!" Liang Xiao's tone was serious, then he changed tack, patting Xiao Qing's shoulder, and said softly, "Besides, I promised your imperial brother that I would help alleviate the conflict caused by the encroachment of landlords and gentry on farmland!"
Xiao Qing's eyes welled up with tears, and she gazed deeply at Liang Xiao.
So, he was once again fulfilling his promise. This foolish elder brother!
"But do not worry, I, Liang, do not undertake anything without confidence!" Liang Xiao declared with a confident expression.
Xiao Qing's heart brightened, and she nodded obediently. Then, remembering something, she asked, "But you mentioned the policy of 'dividing the poll tax into land tax' to my imperial brother earlier. If this policy is widely promoted in the future, wouldn't you be the one losing the most…"
Dividing the poll tax into land tax? Losing?
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian looked at Liang Xiao with curiosity.
Liang Xiao smiled, "No need to worry. That small amount of tax is meant to be paid and is insignificant compared to the profit from grain! For your imperial brother and I to alleviate the conflict caused by land annexation, we must acquire more land from the landlords and gentry, liberating more tenant farmers. At that time, we only need to be more generous to the tenant farmers than those landlords and gentry."
Xiao Qing merely nodded vigorously, tears falling "pat-pat." Finally, she broke down sobbing.
He was thinking for her, for the people of Great Qian, worthy of being called the elder brother protected by the Heavenly General!
At this moment, Xiao Qing felt even more grateful for the Heavenly General's grace. Yet, she recalled the speculations of Ding Wuyi and Lu Changhe.
Could her beloved be the Heavenly General himself?
Xiao Qing dared not ask, fearing it would be blasphemy against the Heavenly General, and also worried that Liang Xiao might be jealous, thinking she cared more about the Heavenly General than him.
Liang Xiao mistook it for Princess Ning Shuang worrying that his efforts in Yanzhou would be in vain, and quickly comforted her.
Xiao Qing felt much better and said, "Then, you must come to the palace more often these past few days and accompany me…"
Liang Xiao readily agreed.
Jian Qinwan watched this, feeling even more sour in her heart. "Hmph, always deceiving girls…"
But for some reason, Jian Qinwan also felt a sting in her nose. She vaguely understood that Liang Xiao was going to take risks with the money he earned, and the purpose of the risk was for the stability of Great Qian!
Xiao Qing looked at Jian Qinwan again and pleaded, "Qin Xian, I'll trouble you and the Heavenly Mountain swordsmen to protect my second young master Liang."
"Your second young master Liang?"
Jian Qinwan's heart felt sour and bitter, but she only nodded in agreement.
As the daughter of the Medical Saint and Sword Saint, and a disciple of the Qin Saint, she naturally understood the truth of Xiao Qing's identity.
This also meant that, in front of Liang Xiao, her status as Qin Xian was utterly insignificant compared to Xiao Qing…
"Second Young Master Liang~ You must not bully Qin Xian, she came all this way to be your personal bodyguard." Xiao Qing looked at Liang Xiao again.
Liang Xiao felt his bones go soft and nodded repeatedly, "Alright, alright, anything you say!"
Jian Qinwan couldn't stand the two of them any longer. She made an excuse to return and rest, fleeing with Yue Lian.
Left in the room were Liang Xiao, Xiao Qing, and Ning Xuejun. Only then did Xiao Qing throw herself into Liang Xiao's arms, filled with reluctance.
In the room, Xiao Qing rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Liang Xiao, who was talking animatedly across from her, her eyes sparkling.
Because she was too busy watching Liang Xiao, she had barely heard a word he said, only occasionally giggling and nodding.
Liang Xiao noticed Xiao Qing's state, his eyes filled with tenderness. He chatted with her with a gentle smile, wondering inwardly.
Was his charm really that great?
Princess Ning Shuang's feelings for him were as deep as Luo Qingxue's, if not more so!
Luo Qingxue was his childhood sweetheart, and moreover, she carried guilt towards him, treating him with utmost sincerity!
Before leaving, Xiao Qing gazed at Liang Xiao with lingering reluctance, urging, "Brother Xiao, even with the protection of people from Heavenly Mountain, you must still be careful. No running around~"
Liang Xiao nodded incessantly like a well-behaved child.
This Princess Ning Shuang, like Xiao Zhen Mi, now called him Brother Xiao!
He could withstand Luo Qingxue's coquettishness, but the stark contrast in Princess Ning Shuang's demeanor was something he truly couldn't handle!
Xiao Qing then left Liang Mansion, quite satisfied.
Inside the carriage, Ning Xuejun's eyes were teary. She dared not disturb Xiao Qing, who was foolishly smiling while thinking of Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao did not know that her master's devotion ran so deep, considering him in every aspect!
Fortunately, Liang Xiao was also deeply affectionate and righteous. Even without knowing his master's true identity, he treated the emperor and the princess so well.
Ning Xuejun had worked tirelessly for the royal family her entire life, and now she resembled a mother watching her beloved daughter get married.
Upon returning to the palace, Xiao Qing summoned Ding Wuyi again, and the three masters and servants deliberated through the night on how to ensure Liang Xiao's safety.
Liang Xiao had offended the barbarians externally and too many aristocratic families internally, making her unable to relax.
Ding Wuyi replied with difficulty, "Your Majesty, according to the ironclad laws, the Shadow Guards can only protect the royal family, and the Imperial Guards are only stationed in the capital, neither can be dispatched. This old minister can protect Second Young Master Liang, but I also dare not always be away from Your Majesty's side!"
Xiao Qing remained silent.
She understood Ding Wuyi's intentions perfectly. No matter what, she could not afford to have any mishap, otherwise, Great Qian would truly be finished!
Ning Xuejun comforted her, "With Second Young Master Liang's intelligence, he will surely be mindful of his own safety. Furthermore, with Qin Xian, the unparalleled master of zither and sword, and the Heavenly Mountain swordsmen protecting Qin Xian in secret, Your Majesty need not worry too much…"
"He needs a loyal and highly skilled bodyguard. There will be times when Qin Xian cannot accompany him. Who should we find?" Xiao Qing asked with worry, then she remembered something and asked, "Right! Why did the Medical Saint insist that he go to Bodhi Temple? Could it be because Bodhi Temple houses a treasure from the previous dynasty…"