The beauty in his embrace was boneless and soft, allowing Liang Xiao to kiss her, as if her entire being was melting into his arms.
Ding Wuyi, guarding outside the door, heard Xiao Qing's shriek and instinctively drew his saber to rush in, but stopped at the entrance.
He believed that Liang Xiao would never harm his master, so what had just happened must have been...
Yuan Jin, feigning deafness, finally returned to the palace entrance and began conversing with Jian Qinwan.
In the room, Liang Xiao lifted Xiao Qing's chin and smiled tenderly.
"Tem-temporarily, I can't, can't... consummate our marriage yet..." Xiao Qing exhaled fragrant breaths, her heart pounding like a deer, completely unable to meet Liang Xiao's gaze.
Liang Xiao merely looked at Xiao Qing and nodded, a constant smile on his face.
Her current appearance was vastly different from the rumored Princess Ningshuang, and it truly captivated him.
After two lifetimes of composure, he found himself flustered and mesmerized by the maiden before him.
"Has your lovesickness improved now?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing was both shy and annoyed. She hugged Liang Xiao tighter, like a kitten burrowing into his embrace.
"Mmm~"
Liang Xiao embraced Xiao Qing in response, gently patting her back, much like an adult comforting a child to sleep.
After a moment, Liang Xiao felt his chest grow wet again.
From trepidation to fulfillment. From shyness to tears of joy.
Xiao Qing's emotions had undergone many changes, beyond her control.
She would never fear loneliness again in this life...
Liang Xiao did not ask, but gently stroked her cascading black hair, feeling her affection. He wondered, "She likes me after only meeting me two or three times? Am I truly this charming?"
The women of Daqian were different from the modern women Liang Xiao knew, and Princess Ningshuang was truly exceptional. He could not fathom the concept of love at first sight.
Xiao Qing finally felt much better, shyly asking, "Does my Imperial Brother... like me?"
Liang Xiao's expression shifted as he replied, "I do, but not in the way you mean."
"Is that so?" Xiao Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
His orientation, in that regard, was perfectly normal!
"Of course. It's like looking at a younger brother still being breastfed, I like him dearly and want to protect him carefully," Liang Xiao said without hesitation.
Hearing this, Xiao Qing wished she could give Liang Xiao an over-the-shoulder throw, toss him onto the bed, and then whip him with a small leather lash.
This was the second time Liang Xiao had referred to her as still being breastfed!
"You two siblings must eat well, rest well, and not overexert yourselves. Come to me if you need anything."
Liang Xiao gave them a heartfelt admonition, and only when Xiao Qing had calmed down did he leave.
Watching Liang Xiao's retreating figure, Xiao Qing's nose prickled again, her eyes misty.
Regaining her senses, Xiao Qing's face flushed again, her gaze resentful.
These past few days, she had not dared to approach Liang Xiao as "Shuangzi," fearing she would be exposed with even the slightest contact.
Out of respect for her late father's promise, she had decided to keep it from Liang Xiao for now. As for how long she could maintain the deception, that remained to be seen.
Jian Qinwan, halfway through her conversation with Yuan Jin, couldn't help but ask, "Eldest Sister, what are they doing in there? Aren't you going to check on the Princess?"
"Oh, perhaps Daqian will soon have a consort," Yuan Jin said casually.
Jian Qinwan stared blankly at Yuan Jin, her mind blank and her thoughts ceased.
Yuan Jin then realized her slip of the tongue and fell silent, gazing thoughtfully at the stunned Jian Qinwan.
Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi exchanged smiles, suppressing their tears.
This scoundrel, who had been toying with their mistress's heart all day, had finally fallen into her trap and couldn't escape!
You have your day too, you rascal? It's so satisfying!
When Liang Xiao emerged, he greeted everyone as if nothing had happened.
Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun finally breathed a sigh of relief: it seemed their mistress had not yet consummated the marriage, which would have made things more complicated.
Ding Wuyi and Yuan Jin, in a rare display of accord, made no extraneous remarks, merely urging Liang Xiao to visit the Princess more often before having Ning Xuejun escort Yuan Jin inside to see her.
Liang Xiao and Jian Qinwan, each in their own carriage, departed the imperial palace.
It was not until they returned to Liang Xiao's courtyard that night that Jian Qinwan finally asked, "Are you going to be the consort?"
Liang Xiao merely smiled and nodded.
Seeing this, Jian Qinwan's heart was filled with disappointment, but she dared not show it, quietly returning to Zhen Mi's room.
Jian Qinwan looked back at Liang Xiao's departing figure, her heart filled with confusion.
The next morning, Liang Xiao, accompanied by Yue Lian, went to the Luo residence to find Luo Qingxue. Unsurprisingly, Jian Qinwan followed.
"Marquis Anguo, my lady is practicing her zither in her room," the elderly nanny of the Luo residence said with a smile, bowing to Liang Xiao.
"Practicing the zither?" Liang Xiao and the other two were taken aback.
Jian Qinwan's eyes regained a hint of amusement.
Liang Xiao arrived at Luo Qingxue's courtyard and indeed heard the faint sound of a zither. However, the music was somewhat erratic, indicating a beginner.
Only when Liang Xiao knocked did Luo Qingxue hurriedly open the door. Upon seeing Jian Qinwan, she couldn't help but cast her a sideways glance.
"Why are you practicing the zither?" Liang Xiao asked, feigning ignorance.
"Because I absolutely cannot lose to someone!" Luo Qingxue said, looking at Jian Qinwan provocatively.
"Even if you studied for a lifetime, you could never surpass me," Jian Qinwan said with a proud air.
Luo Qingxue merely snorted and ignored her.
Liang Xiao chuckled, then said, "Qingxue, you have your own strengths. You don't need to compete in everything."
Jian Qinwan couldn't help but roll her eyes at Liang Xiao.
This was her hard-won advantage to put Luo Qingxue at a disadvantage!
"But I'm not as famous as her, I can't play the zither like her, I'm not as considerate as Yue Lian, and I'm not as learned and virtuous as Princess Ningshuang..." Luo Qingxue murmured to herself, feeling a sense of inferiority.
"But you are a woman of great courage, understand righteousness, are skilled in both civil and martial arts, and have a kind heart," Liang Xiao said, gently patting Luo Qingxue's head.
Luo Qingxue's pretty face flushed, and she shyly nodded, "What you said is very good, but I still want to practice the zither!"
Liang Xiao: ...
Seeing Liang Xiao's speechless expression, Jian Qinwan felt a surge of relief.
Luo Qingxue suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did Sister Shuang tell you anything?"
Liang Xiao then recounted yesterday's events in broad strokes, leaving Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan dumbfounded.
Allowing Liang Xiao to take wives and concubines?
Luo Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then let's get married after you become the consort."
"Let nature take its course. If you wish to marry, we shall marry. Do not worry. I do not wish for you to become the laughingstock of the capital's citizens," Liang Xiao said earnestly.
Luo Qingxue nodded happily, her face blushing shyly, "I, I, I'm actually not ready yet..."
Liang Xiao laughed heartily under Jian Qinwan's disdainful gaze.
No matter how Liang Xiao tried to comfort her, Luo Qingxue was determined to practice the zither, and Liang Xiao finally agreed.
This was also good; he didn't have to worry about Luo Qingxue being targeted by assassins from the barbarians.
Upon returning to the Liang residence, Liang Xiao immediately instructed his steward, Liang Wen, to notify the capital's wealthiest individuals: in a few more days, when a month had passed, "A Drunk for a Century" would once again be available for purchase, first come, first served!
The esteemed physician Hua Xiong paid a visit, discussing his injuries and smallpox with Liang Xiao.
At the same time, in the imperial court, Xiao Qing was beaming, having regained her regal demeanor.
After Wang Canghai finished his report on agricultural matters, He Wanli immediately stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, due to the recent matter of Liang Xiao, public resentment is boiling! The people already know that Liang Xiao intends to make them contract cowpox. They hate Liang Xiao so much that they wish to tear him limb from limb, drink his blood, pull out his sinews, and scatter his ashes! I beg Your Majesty to make a decision!"