"Liang Xiao!" Luo Qingxue hurriedly took Liang Xiao's hand.
Ding Wuyi and Yue Lian also tried to dissuade him.
"You, what do you mean?" Jian Qinwan's expression turned even uglier.
Liang Xiao glanced at Jian Qinwan and smiled faintly, "I did promise Your Majesty to humbly seek medical treatment and endure humiliation. Unfortunately, everyone here, from the depths of their hearts, harbors contempt for me, a so-called 'scholar'. Since that's the case, it's better for me to return and recuperate. I won't die anyway."
Ding Wuyi pleaded, "Young Master Liang the Second, let's talk things through. You mustn't fail His Majesty's kind intentions..."
*What a joke! If you don't get proper treatment, how will you continue the master's lineage in the future!*
Ding Wuyi's true thoughts were roaring within him.
Recalling Xiao Shuangzi, Liang Xiao's body trembled. Just as he was about to respond, Jian Qinwan spoke.
"Indeed! I do despise you from the bottom of my heart."
Everyone looked at Jian Qinwan. She rose, fetched a scroll of poetry, and stared at Liang Xiao, her eyes growing colder.
"I once thought that someone who could write the sage words of scholars, who could pen 'Man Jiang Hong' and 'a general's triumph is built on ten thousand bones' would be an anomaly among scholars. In the end, it turns out you are just as hypocritical and ridiculous."
"I am hypocritical?" Liang Xiao narrowed his eyes, a strange smile appearing on his face.
"Look at you. Can you 'drive a long chariot and tread through Helan Mountain's pass'? Can you 'with ambition, feast on barbarian flesh, and with laughter, drink the blood of the Xiongnu'?" Jian Qinwan scoffed, "How is that possible! In the end, it's just a scholar's self-indulgent fantasy."
Yue Lian and Luo Qingxue's faces were already showing anger, but Liang Xiao merely gave a cold laugh and gestured for everyone to sit.
"Jian Qinwan, continue!"
Hearing the irresistible tone in Liang Xiao's voice, Jian Qinwan also gave him a cold glance, her words remaining icy.
"No matter how eloquently you speak, it won't change my impression of you: glib-tongued and conceited!"
Luo Qingxue could no longer bear it and retorted angrily, "You are the one who is conceited! He can bring benefits to the people of Da Gan and help refugees. What about you!"
"Help refugees?"
Unexpectedly, Jian Qinwan did not get angry but paused for a moment before regaining her composure.
She had not received this news, but…
"So what? You scholars, holding high positions and receiving salaries ten times that of martial artists, aren't these things you should be doing?"
"Da Gan has revered scholars and suppressed martial arts for over a century. Look at the plight of our soldiers! They defend the nation and die on the battlefield, yet who remembers them? Everyone only sings your praises! You work for the benefit of the people, but do they not?"
"Do you know of the Wuding River? By that river lie countless mass graves, burying the bones of Da Gan's soldiers. Ten years ago, when the barbarians invaded, half of our Heavenly Mountain senior disciples participated in the Battle of Helan Mountain and never returned. Before they left, they only told us: 'Your bones will be buried in the green hills, no need to return home.'"
Jian Qinwan's beautiful eyes were now glistening with tears, yet her expression and words remained cold and unfeeling.
Luo Qingxue was about to retort when Liang Xiao pulled her back again.
Liang Xiao said solemnly, "Continue speaking!"
He knew that as the Grand Marshal of Da Gan, he had now become the target of the martial artists' resentment.
As Liang Xiao expected, Jian Qinwan continued, "Finally, a Heavenly General emerged, only to sacrifice himself for the country, his body lost without a trace. He was deified after his death, and he could still protect you! The Heavenly General is dead, and he can no longer enjoy the wealth and honor you enjoy."
Ding Wuyi's brows furrowed. "Qinwan, your words and actions today do not match your reputation."
This sounded as if Liang Xiao should have died, and the Heavenly General should be alive?
"So what?" Jian Qinwan glanced at Liang Xiao again, her face full of disdain. "Since the civilian and military are irreconcilable, why should we martial artists engage in empty pleasantries with scholars?"
Liang Xiao chuckled lightly, "You speak well, and I understand the source of your resentment. But today, I tell you here, I, Liang Xiao, was born in this era and practice every word I write. I am worthy of every land I have walked! Who says I cannot 'feast on barbarian flesh and drink the blood of the Xiongnu with laughter'? Who says I cannot 'drive a long chariot and tread through Helan Mountain's pass'!"
"So scholars can also become enraged like the martial artists you look down upon?" Jian Qinwan laughed.
"Enraged? Do you think I am like you? You wouldn't understand how I, Liang Xiao, sustained these injuries and illnesses. At worst, I will return and recuperate, only strategizing from home. But…" Liang Xiao clenched his fists, but ultimately held back.
*What's the point of casting pearls before swine!*
Yue Lian said tearfully, "But, Young Master would be sad. He would have no chance to participate in border wars and protect the people! Immortal Qin, our Young Master has been devising strategies and assisting the Yan Prefecture garrison in resisting the barbarians. Must one always fight enemies like you martial artists to be considered defending the nation…"
Jian Qinwan looked at Liang Xiao's maidservant in surprise. "What do you mean?"
This usually timid girl could even become eloquent for Liang Xiao!
Before Yue Lian could finish, Liang Xiao, also surprised, covered her mouth. "There's no need to garner sympathy for her. She thinks scholars are hypocritical and pedantic, but isn't she herself another form of hypocrisy and pedantry?"
"You!" Jian Qinwan was furious.
Ding Wuyi quickly explained the matter of the Yan Prefecture silk manuscripts to Jian Qinwan.
Jian Qinwan calmed down and fell into thought again. After a moment, she shook her head. "I cannot change my mind about a scoundrel who sneaked in to watch me bathe. He is not worthy of the name of a gentleman."
Only Luo Qingxue stared blankly at Liang Xiao.
He mentioned his injuries just now? There was a hidden meaning!
For some reason, Luo Qingxue heard sadness and helplessness in Liang Xiao's words, and she felt angry on his behalf.
Luo Qingxue snapped back to reality, glared at Jian Qinwan, and said, "Commander Ding, can't we just take Liang Xiao directly to see the Medical Saint? Why waste words with such a stubborn woman…"
"You dare to insult me?" Jian Qinwan was both surprised and angry.
Liang Xiao hugged Luo Qingxue tightly and stared coldly at Jian Qinwan, saying, "If you disagree, draw your sword at me."
"Young Master Liang the Second, please stop talking…" Ding Wuyi felt like crying but had no tears. He pleaded earnestly, "The Medical Saint, apart from Qinwan and her patients, will not see any other Heavenly Mountain disciples. Not to mention the royalty and nobility she hates the most…"
Liang Xiao sighed, "Then let's return to the capital. The old doctor said that if I rest quietly for a year, I can recover significantly. I am still young, and I will only be twenty after a year. Moreover, I can still write at home."
Seeing that Liang Xiao was determined to leave, Ding Wuyi could only sigh several times and nod helplessly.
The group rose in disappointment, but then Jian Qinwan's cold voice questioned from behind them, "What? For your Emperor, for the people of Da Gan, you can't even endure this little bit of slight?"
"You are not qualified to provoke me. Don't think too highly of yourself. I, Liang Xiao, simply disdain begging from the pedantic," Liang Xiao said with a cold laugh, not stopping.
Jian Qinwan watched Liang Xiao's retreating back, gritted her teeth, and huffed, "From start to finish, I never said I wouldn't help you make arrangements. At worst, I will apologize for what I said earlier. As for you peeking… we'll settle that later! If you don't see my mother today, you won't leave Heavenly Mountain."
Everyone turned back in surprise, not understanding what Jian Qinwan meant.
Jian Qinwan had already risen and was walking out the door on her own.
"Eunuch Ding, what's going on?" Liang Xiao asked.