A figure strode with great strides out of the military tent.
Clad in white robes, with a broad back and robust physique, he possessed an imposing presence. A strong bow was slung across his back, and his rugged yet handsome face was etched with grief and indignation.
It was Nan Jiyun, who had been demoted to the East Sea!
"Third Brother, I too feel powerless!" Nan Jiyun sighed. "The nation's military power is in the hands of a group of self-serving, cowardly sycophants. I don't know how long I will live."
Third Brother looked distressed. "Brother Nan, can't we just apologize to Minister Dugu and become retainers of the Dugu family?"
Nan Jiyun's face immediately darkened. "This man vehemently supports appeasing the barbarians. He must be a scoundrel who endangers the nation! The trouble in Yan Province is undeniably linked to him! If I hadn't worried about implicating my kin, I should have shot him dead back then, ridding the country of this menace. Perhaps that could have prevented the Yan Province disaster! Becoming his retainer? Never!"
By the end, Nan Jiyun angrily punched his palm, trembling with rage.
In his view, the devastation in the northern territories of Yan Province was all because of people like Dugu Qun!
Third Brother was left speechless.
Nan Jiyun sighed. "If General Tian hadn't turned the tide, not only Yan Province, but the entire country might have fallen. Then, we would have had no choice but to flee south. The noble families could have safely relocated south, but we common folk would have been left to die! General Tian is dead, what if the barbarians launch another major offensive?"
Third Brother quickly replied, "Brother Nan, haven't you heard? General Tian manifested in the northern territories, saving the white-robed soldiers and scaring the barbarian army into fleeing for hundreds of miles!"
Nan Jiyun was stunned, then shook his head. "It's good that he manifested! But can we always rely on General Tian's divine intervention? A true man must learn to save himself! If it weren't for Dugu Qun, I should be a white-robed soldier in Yan Province now, hearing the renown of 'a thousand troops avoiding the white robes'. How glorious that would be!"
As he spoke, Nan Jiyun sighed helplessly.
Third Brother grumbled, "What can we do now? General Dugu refuses to give us any opportunity to prove ourselves, just letting us be boatmen!"
The General Dugu he referred to was Dugu Ling, the guardian of the East Sea, a distant cousin of Dugu Qun and Dugu Liang.
Nan Jiyun pondered for a moment, then smiled. "Let's wait a few more days! Didn't they say a Marquis of An Guo recently appeared in the capital, favored by the Son of Heaven? Although he's a scholar, he's also of a military lineage, devoted to the country and its people, and at odds with the Dugu family! Given his poem 'Man Jiang Hong', if I see no hope, I will resign my military commission and go to the capital to find him, to see what kind of person he is and whether he's willing to take me in!"
Third Brother watched Nan Jiyun walk away, his expression fluctuating. He then took a deep breath and ran towards the central military camp where Dugu Ling was located.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao intended to travel to the East Sea the next morning, Luo Qingxue couldn't help but cling to his arm and pout, "I want to go with you..."
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded. Luo Qingxue was overjoyed.
On the other hand, Jian Qinwan stammered, "I... I'll just stay... at the Liang manor this time..."
Luo Qingxue blinked and looked at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao pleaded, "Bodhisattva, I will trouble you to protect Yue Lian and Mi'er."
"Oh!" Jian Qinwan turned her head away, not looking at Liang Xiao.
It was all thanks to Master and Qin Jiu!
Jian Qinwan now wanted to avoid Liang Xiao for a while, to recover her state of mind, and ideally make him forget these recent events!
Liang Xiao then went to find Liang Mingyu and requested, "Captain Liang, while I am away, I will trouble you and the Shadow Guards to protect Yue Lian and the others. Please ensure they do not go out alone."
Liang Mingyu simply nodded solemnly. "Your Lordship, rest assured!"
In truth, Liang Mingyu was slightly disappointed. Assigning them, the Shadow Guards, to protect a few girls felt like a waste of talent.
However, the Liang manor was not yet in a hurry to recruit "subordinates" for Liang Xiao, and Liang Xiao intended to personally select strong warriors. The ten Shadow Guards also had no immediate use for their skills.
In the Temple of General Tian, warriors from Guizi State stood guard beside Keli Sīti, watching with complex emotions as she tearfully recounted the deeds of General Tian to the commoner children.
Their greatest princess, who should have married the greatest Son of Heaven of Da Gan, had instead fallen for a deceased man...
Seeing the children excitedly discussing General Tian and vowing to serve the country in the future, Keli Sīti's face was filled with a look of relief and joy.
Only after the children departed did Keli Sīti turn back and smile.
"I no longer hate my father, for I am doing the most meaningful thing in my life here in Da Gan, am I not?"
Buti quickly praised, "Your Highness's actions not only spread the spirit of General Tian but also allow the people of Da Gan to feel our country's goodwill. This is the meaning of a political marriage! The people of Da Gan now regard Your Highness as the most devout fairy before the Temple of General Tian!"
However, in their hearts, Buti and the others remained resentful.
Because of General Tian, their princess had been delaying her marriage and had not immediately married the Marquis of An Guo, a favored official of the Son of Heaven!
Keli Sīti simply smiled shyly. "It's good to maintain the status quo. Our Guizi State is an important nation for Da Gan to open the Silk Road to the Western Regions. As long as Da Gan can defeat the barbarians, Guizi merchants will be able to travel between the two countries with peace of mind. I must visit the Liang manor..."
Thinking of Liang Xiao, Keli Sīti's expression turned somber.
She felt a deep reverence for Liang Xiao, the Marquis of An Guo, and always worried that one day he might impulsively demand her. Yet, if she didn't appease Liang Xiao, she feared he would be displeased with her actions, especially since she was effectively cuckolding him.
However, now that Keli Sīti had calmed down, she felt that Liang Xiao's silhouette was incredibly familiar, not merely due to General Tian's protection of him...
The others dared not object.
In the evening, Keli Sīti arrived but was informed that Liang Xiao was in council with Zhang Yang. She had no choice but to give up on seeing him again and chatted with Luo Qingxue and the others.
Jian Qinwan, due to the matter of the Celestial Crystal, hurried out to express her thanks.
Keli Sīti smiled faintly. "You are the contemporary Zither Immortal, and the future Marchioness of An Guo. You are indeed a perfect match for the Celestial Crystal."
Jian Qinwan was flustered.
Keli Sīti saw this and, with a flicker of confusion, quickly changed the subject. "Miss Luo, why is the Marquis of An Guo going to the East Sea for inspection?"
Luo Qingxue replied with proud defiance, "For the country and its people!"
Keli Sīti couldn't help but be filled with solemn respect and asked, "Miss Luo, what do you and the Marquis of An Guo think of the Son of Heaven of Da Gan?"
"A sage ruler for all time!" Luo Qingxue praised.
Yue Lian and Zhen Mi also nodded in agreement.
They didn't understand politics; in any case, His Majesty was good to Liang Xiao, so His Majesty was a sage ruler for all time!
Keli Sīti nodded, her mind made up.
After leaving the Liang manor, Keli Sīti immediately went to the imperial palace and requested an audience.
Xiao Qing, disguised as Princess Ningshuang, was resting in the palace. Upon hearing of Keli Sīti's visit, she couldn't help but frown. "Could she be regretting her decision, not finding my elder brother to her liking, and wanting to join my harem? That won't do!"
Ning Xuejun whispered, "Princess Keli Sīti claims she wishes to present a generous gift from Guizi State."
Xiao Qing blinked. "A generous gift? Why the secrecy? She should have presented it earlier..."
Ning Xuejun explained, "She said it's a gift that only the sovereign is qualified to know. Only after the old minister explained that Princess Ningshuang could act on behalf of the imperial power did she feel at ease seeking an audience. The Shadow Guards conducted a search and confirmed she was not carrying any weapons."