"The Marquis of Zhen Guo of Great Liang, in front of thousands of people from Great Qian?"
"Your talent is ten times mine?"
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian's hearts pounded, already flustered.
They had only heard at noon that Liang Xiao was the Emperor's "dream-come-true wise minister," and now they heard the Marquis of Zhen Guo's praise for Liang Xiao!
Heavens!
"Marquis of Zhen Guo is too modest," Liang Xiao sighed, feeling grateful.
Qin Feng's words were directed at him, Liang Xiao, and even more so at the noble families who looked down upon him, a descendant of a military family!
Between the nation and personal ties, Qin Feng sought a balance.
Qin Feng put away the poem, smiled without speaking, and waved goodbye with Zhi Rou to the crowd.
Liang Xiao could no longer bear the enthusiastic screams of the young men and women around him and quickly got into his carriage to escape back to the Liang Manor.
In the West Palace Villa, Xiao Qing, who was doing her hair in front of the mirror, looked at herself, her gaze radiant.
"Granny Ning, even Marquis Zhen Guo actually said in public that my elder brother's talent is ten times his!"
Xiao Qing finally blurted out, her pretty face blushing. Because she was smiling, dimples reappeared adorably.
Ning Xuejun nodded repeatedly: "As you can see, heroes see eye to eye, kindred spirits!"
What Qin Feng said was indeed a modest remark, but it was undoubtedly an affirmation of Liang Xiao!
As for the promise of never infringing on the border, they didn't truly believe it.
"Granny, please help me get dressed!" Xiao Qing urged coquettishly.
Ning Xuejun was stunned and quickly stepped forward to help Xiao Qing: "Your Highness is preparing to..."
"I want to visit my elder brother at his home and urge him to go to Tianshan for treatment as soon as possible. Is that not reasonable?" Xiao Qing said animatedly.
Ning Xuejun smiled and nodded repeatedly: "It must be reasonable!"
Xiao Qing finally realized her失态 (loss of composure), and shyly lowered her head, but her expression remained firm: "This time, I won't disguise myself as Xiao Shuangzi, hmph..."
Under the moon, in Liang Xiao's room, by candlelight.
Luo Qingxue rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Liang Xiao with infatuation.
Overjoyed, she had impulsively kissed him when Liang Xiao wasn't paying attention. Now her breathing was rapid, and her entire face was as red as if it were about to bleed.
"If General Tian were alive, he would surely be proud of him," Luo Qingxue lamented in her heart.
General Tian had passed away. The pillar of Great Qian was now only her lover. With General Tian's protection, he must not die young!
Of course, Luo Qingxue also had her own little wish: to grow old with Liang Xiao.
Outside the gate of the Liang Manor, Xiao Qing felt a little disappointed.
Luo Qingxue was still there.
After a moment of sighing, Xiao Qing finally made up her mind, looked down at her red attire, and said: "Let's go in. I have to see Sister Qingxue anyway."
Yue Lian rushed to Liang Xiao's door anxiously, stammering: "Young master, young, young..."
"Yue Lian, why are you so flustered? Did a rooster lay an egg?" Liang Xiao burst into laughter.
Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun, standing behind Yue Lian, changed their expressions.
His first thought wasn't of the princess, but this?
Xiao Qing looked at Yue Lian with a hint of resentment and gently patted her shoulder. She walked to the door and looked at Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue.
Liang Xiao's laughter came to an abrupt halt.
Even on their second meeting, this Princess Ning Shuang still took his breath away, but that wasn't the main reason!
Luo Qingxue was also startled: "Shuangmei... ah, greetings, Princess Ning Shuang!"
Xiao Qing quickly stepped forward to help Luo Qingxue up and said softly: "Sister Qingxue, there are no outsiders here, no need for such formality..."
Luo Qingxue nodded excitedly and quickly gave Liang Xiao a look: "Liang Xiao, the princess is here, why are you still standing there!"
Liang Xiao stood in place, his right hand supporting his left, and his left hand stroking his chin. He muttered to himself: "I badmouthed her in front of Xiao Shuangzi. The princess is here to seek revenge."
Everyone was stunned and had to admire Liang Xiao's peculiar way of thinking.
Xiao Qing smiled mischievously, then deliberately put on a stern face and snorted, "Don't worry, I wouldn't be as malicious as the second young master Liang."
Liang Xiao's old face flushed, and with a fawning expression, he prepared a seat for Xiao Qing: "Your Highness's arrival, I have failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive me, forgive me! Let's not mention past grievances, after all, I have already let them go!"
Luo Qingxue, Xiao Qing, and Ning Xuejun couldn't help but roll their eyes at Liang Xiao, while Yue Lian covered her mouth and giggled.
Heavens, if this person's skin gets any thicker, arrows might not be able to penetrate it!
"But speaking of which..." Liang Xiao suddenly frowned, his expression serious. "Your Royal Highness, your imperial brother is about the same height as you. Alas, boys should be taller. If it continues like this, he might not grow any more. You should supervise him to eat well and sleep well, so as not to affect future procreation."
The room was surprisingly quiet.
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian were so scared that their faces turned pale, and Xiao Qing was dumbfounded.
Ning Xuejun's right hand trembled slightly, and she almost rushed forward to pull Liang Xiao out of the room and kick him to the moon.
"Didn't the second young master Liang promise my imperial brother that he would not let the royal family be without heirs?" Xiao Qing recovered and stared at Liang Xiao, a half-smile on her lips.
Liang Xiao grinned: "Is that so? Secrets between men, how could your imperial brother tell you? He's even more shameless than I am, elder brother..."
Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, Ning Xuejun: ...
At this moment, all three were thinking if Zhuo Zifang and Qin Feng had recognized the wrong person.
Xiao Qing was first stunned, then her face turned completely red, and she dared not speak to Liang Xiao again.
"Shuangmei, don't mind him, he's deliberately trying to anger you." Luo Qingxue glared, snorted, chased Liang Xiao out of the room first, and then ran back to comfort Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing relaxed a lot, but then heard Luo Qingxue ask in a low voice: "Does Shuangmei plan to make Liang Xiao your consort?"
Upon hearing this, Yue Lian and Ning Xuejun's pupils contracted.
The unexpected question made Xiao Qing even more bewildered, her pretty face blushing to her earlobes: "Ah? Sis, sister, how can..."
Yue Lian was so scared that she took her leave on the spot, using the excuse of going to look after Zhen Mi, and fled.
Luo Qingxue lowered her head sadly and said: "The royal family needs to flourish. Didn't you also say that in the future, you will have to find the most outstanding man in the country to procreate? We are sisters after all, and I naturally don't want to see you wrong yourself. I just hope you can allow him to take concubines and not let his family line end..."
In the eyes of outsiders, the offspring of a consort and a princess would surely take the surname Xiao, especially since the royal family was sparse in population and could potentially be without heirs at any time.
However, the Liang family was also considered to have few descendants, and Liang Xiao's parents only had him, their only son.
Great Qian had more women than men, and the law encouraged men to marry wives and take concubines. Men over eighteen who did not marry and women over sixteen who did not marry were subject to additional taxes.
Xiao Qing turned her head away, her voice trembling: "I won't break you two up..."
Luo Qingxue sighed: "Shuangmei, you bear a responsibility, and I also hope my husband can serve the country and the people. I shouldn't be selfish. After all, both his and my lives were saved by General Tian..."
"Sister Qingxue, let's talk about this later, okay? I'll listen to everything you say..." Xiao Qing's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, her delicate body trembling.
Luo Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief and said no more, gently comforting her.
At least, she didn't have to worry about being separated by the royal family.
Liang Xiao was finally brought in by Ning Xuejun, looking confused: "What are you talking about?"
Xiao Qing had regained her composure and said softly: "Second Young Master Liang, my imperial brother entrusted me to visit you... and to remind you to set off for Tianshan for medical treatment as soon as possible. Have you read the letter left by the Marquis of Zhen Guo?"