“Husband?” Luo Qingxue blinked in surprise.
Liang Xiao replied contentedly, “Yes! Wife!”
“Wife? Do you mean I look like an old lady?” Luo Qingxue felt a little wronged and prepared to unleash her tears.
Liang Xiao quickly explained, “Of course not! It’s like calling you ‘Niangzi.’ From now on, you call me ‘Lao Gong,’ and I’ll call you ‘Lao Po’!”
“Lao Gong!” “Yes!”
Luo Qingxue called out again, her voice gentle. Seeing Liang Xiao’s roguish smile, she blushed and buried her face in his chest.
“Why does this title feel so embarrassing to say…”
Liang Xiao regained his dignified demeanor. “It’s alright, you can call me that in private!”
Only then did Luo Qingxue happily call him ‘Lao Gong’ several times. Liang Xiao was overjoyed, holding her tightly.
Her demure, clinging posture also captivated Liang Xiao.
Hearing Liang Xiao call her “Lao Po” made Luo Qingxue even happier. She mustered her courage and gently kissed his lips, then, like a startled deer, buried her head in his chest again.
“Ow, you stole my first kiss again today!” Liang Xiao, inadvertently revealing his shameless side.
“Today’s first kiss?” Luo Qingxue was startled, then looked up and chided, “Then who was the very first one whose first kiss you stole?”
The very first first kiss?
Liang Xiao smiled faintly. “Wasn’t it you!”
Luo Qingxue suddenly remembered that the first time she had kissed him was in the carriage on their way back from Bai Chun Lou!
It was her, not Yue Lian?
Feeling a great sense of accomplishment, Luo Qingxue couldn’t help but kiss Liang Xiao several more times. “Is this today’s first kiss? Today’s second kiss, third kiss, they’re all mine! Hmph!”
“Very good,” Liang Xiao said, his face full of satisfaction.
Luo Qingxue was both delighted and shy. Thinking of Yue Lian, she asked, “Lao Gong, who do you think is more well-behaved, me or Yue Lian? You’re not allowed to say we’re equally well-behaved!”
A life-threatening question right off the bat?
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and replied, “Right now, it’s clearly you who is slightly more well-behaved!”
Luo Qingxue pouted playfully. “You tell me I’m more well-behaved than Yue Lian, but you’ll surely tell Yue Lian she’s more well-behaved than me, you bad person~”
Liang Xiao burst into laughter, holding the woman who was as brave as any man, a beauty from the north, in his arms, and kissing her.
They continued their affectionate exchange all the way until the carriage arrived at the gates of Shenwei Prefecture. Luo Qingxue quickly regained her composure, afraid of disrespecting the sanctity of Shenwei Prefecture.
Inside the Temple of General Tian, Klisti knelt without moving, praying repeatedly, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls, impossible to stop.
The more she saw Liang Xiao and his future wives and concubines showing affection, the more her heart ached.
General Tian, who had descended from the heavens and pulled her from the depths of despair, had already died and become a god. Now, he could only manifest his spirit to protect the common people, no longer able to enjoy the worldly splendors and admiration of beauties…
A voice came from outside, “Princess, An Guo Hou and Miss Luo are here.”
As the ambassador of the Kingdom of Kuchai, Buti had temporarily stayed in the Great Qian Kingdom to handle diplomatic affairs between the two countries. He had also chosen to remain at Shenwei Prefecture to prevent Klisti from becoming mentally unstable and doing anything foolish.
Klisti rose and was about to step out when she saw Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue walk in.
Seeing Klisti’s tear-streaked face, Liang Xiao felt a pang of helplessness.
Luo Qingxue, on the other hand, looked heartbroken and was secretly astonished. “Could it be…”
“Greetings, An Guo Hou, and Madam An Guo Hou!”
Klisti bowed deeply to the two of them.
“I, I’m not married yet…” Luo Qingxue was about to explain, but Liang Xiao squeezed her hand, and she immediately fell silent.
Of course, she understood that Liang Xiao wanted her not to care about such details, as she would eventually be his.
Liang Xiao sighed. “Princess Klisti…”
“An Guo Hou, you two can just call me by my name,” Klisti said, filled with reverence.
Liang Xiao nodded and continued, “I probably understand the reason why you asked us to come here.”
Klisti’s complexion, already pale, turned noticeably sallow, and her breathing became unsteady. “An Guo Hou is indeed a genius of the world. My little thoughts cannot escape your notice…”
Liang Xiao fell silent, only sighing inwardly.
“What thoughts?” Luo Qingxue saw the statue of General Tian in the distance and seemed to understand something.
“Thump!”
Klisti, without any warning, knelt before Liang Xiao.
“Princess!” Buti was anxious, but realizing that Liang Xiao was the An Guo Hou of the Great Qian Kingdom, he still dared not step forward to stop her.
The Kingdom of Kuchai was merely a tiny territory compared to the Great Qian Kingdom, with little standing…
No matter how Liang Xiao urged her to rise, it was of no avail. Buti also received Klisti’s command and reluctantly left the Temple of General Tian.
“I know I was arrogant and presumptuous… and I’ve been very excessive…” Klisti was already weeping profusely, her words filled with pleading. “An Guo Hou is virtuous and talented; I will serve you without any complaint! However, if you don’t lack beautiful women by your side, could you… could you try not to touch me? I wish to remain as pure as possible, to accompany General Tian’s temple eternally, and to offer sacrifices to General Tian…”
Luo Qingxue stared at Klisti blankly.
The Princess of Kuchai, with whom she had been able to converse freely just moments ago, was actually a maiden so devoted to General Tian?
“Originally, my father forced me into a political marriage. That night, when we were surrounded, I knew I would be captured by barbarians and violated in the desert, so I could only resign myself to fate. Then, General Tian descended from the heavens and saved all of us. It was General Tian who made me realize that miracles truly exist in this world!”
“An Guo Hou, I…”
Klisti’s face was filled with shame, and she dared not look directly at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao said seriously, “Klisti, get up. I promise you. As for the political marriage, we’ll postpone it for as long as possible. If we can’t, I will never touch you even if you don’t want me to.”
He absolutely could not reveal his identity to Klisti, whom he had only met a few times, so he could only inconvenience her.
Klisti looked at him in disbelief, staring at Liang Xiao blankly, even forgetting to cry. “You promised?”
Based on her understanding of Great Qian culture, her actions were undoubtedly equivalent to giving Liang Xiao a monumental cuckold.
Seeing Liang Xiao smile and nod, showing no sign of coercion, Klisti thanked him profusely, and finally, tears of joy streamed down her face.
Luo Qingxue, standing beside them, hugged Liang Xiao’s arm and wept silently.
Her man, respected women!
Feeling deeply moved, Luo Qingxue said softly, “Klisti, you must be very lonely here. Liang Xiao, and I, Yue Lian, and the others can all be your friends…”
For Luo Qingxue, General Tian was her benefactor, and he had sacrificed himself for his country. Anyone who revered General Tian deserved her respect.
Liang Xiao understood and added, “From now on, you can come to Liang Mansion to visit them anytime. Don’t be shy.”
Klisti said excitedly, “With General Tian here, I won’t feel lonely! However, what you two said makes sense. I will often visit your mansion and won’t reveal my love for General Tian in front of others, so as not to cause trouble for An Guo Hou…”
Liang Xiao shook his head. “There’s no need to be so worried. Just be yourself. Life is but a fleeting moment. Why must you care so much about what others think?”
Luo Qingxue was so touched that her eyes welled up with tears.
Klisti nodded blankly.
In fact, she had spent the past few days learning about Liang Xiao’s deeds, but Liang Xiao’s magnanimity far exceeded her expectations!
Looking at Liang Xiao and recalling his figure, Klisti couldn’t help but ask, “An Guo Hou, forgive my presumption: what exactly is your relationship with General Tian?”