Li Xin blushed, unable to lift her head, her heart filled with disappointment. "An, An Guohou…"
She had already known that she was not worthy of Liang Xiao, and her family did not support her petitioning the Emperor for a marriage alliance, as it would mean her being married far away to Da Gan, potentially leading to her entire family being targeted by the noble clans of their own country. Mu Cheng was advanced in years, and the imperial family might not continue to protect the Li family, who were allied with Liang Xiao, indefinitely.
"Regarding the matter of Miss Zhuo Er, could we have a private discussion?" Liang Xiao's tone was sincere.
Li Xin then turned to look at her father, Li Shiheng, and grandfather, Li You. They readily agreed, leaving Li Xin behind to attend to their disciples. Seeing that only Qin Feng and his wife, along with his own entourage, were present, Liang Xiao felt at ease to ask Li Xin, "Does she not even look at the letters I sent to Zhuo Lingjun?"
"She did…" Li Xin replied weakly.
Liang Xiao grew more confused. "I believe I showed enough sincerity, leaving her with no worries for the future. Why does she still refuse to see me and Zhuo Lingjun?"
Li Xin sighed, "Having interacted with her for a long time, my grandmother and I could tell that she knew she had made a grave mistake and felt too ashamed to face anyone. She initially intended to atone for her wrongdoings with death, but feared that Zhuo Lingjun and Old Madam Zhuo would be unable to bear the shock given their age. That's why my grandmother forbade you from seeing her…"
Zhuo Zifang was startled and said nervously, "Tell her not to do anything foolish. Her grandfather truly regrets his mistake and will never mention marriage to her again. If she wishes to dedicate her life to Go, she may do so, but she should return home first…"
Qin Feng and his wife exchanged wry smiles. If the protagonist in this matter were Li Xin and her grandfather Li You, Li Xin would likely have to atone with her life, or be forced to accept the arrangements of her parents from the very beginning. Within a woman's family, her status was often inferior to that of a man, and she had to strictly obey the commands of her elders.
Liang Xiao pondered, "I can roughly guess her thoughts, but it's truly regrettable that she also fears meeting me because of it. Go back and tell her that Zhuo Lingjun and I will fully respect her decision. At the very least, she should not refuse to see Zhuo Lingjun, nor should she remain in Da Liang under such circumstances. Even if she intends to dedicate her life to Go, she should wait until the turmoil surrounding this matter has subsided and then interact with Da Liang normally, rather than bringing shame upon the Zhuo family and the entire Da Gan."
"Liang Xiao, you don't need to compromise yourself for her!" Zhuo Zifang exclaimed, anxious.
"If there is no mutual affection, what compromise is there?" Liang Xiao smiled.
Zhuo Zifang was speechless. He had forgotten that Liang Xiao cared little for his own reputation.
Li Xin lowered her head in shame and murmured, "It is widely known that An Guohou respects women. She should have a good talk with An Guohou, but perhaps An Guohou could meet her under a different guise."
Liang Xiao was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "Miss Li, you truly live up to your reputation as the foremost of the Six Beauties of Hengjiang! That is precisely what I had in mind, but I will need your assistance."
Receiving praise, Li Xin's eyes sparkled, and she eagerly listened to Liang Xiao's arrangements.
After Li Xin left, Liang Xiao went to visit Qin Feng's Zhen Guohou Manor. Qin Feng personally led everyone to the fields to select vegetables and fruits, while Zhi Rou, along with Qin Feng's other wives, personally prepared a meal for everyone.
In the main hall, Liang Xiao finally voiced his lingering doubts. "The Emperor of Da Liang has gone to such great lengths to have me represent Da Liang in an envoy mission, yet why does he avoid me privately?"
Qin Feng replied, "His Majesty wishes for you to observe the spirit of the Da Liang populace more. It will not be too late for him to have a good talk with you then…"
Liang Xiao understood and no longer insisted. After all, there was still plenty of time before his return to his own country, and he could afford to wait. After meeting Mu Cheng, Liang Xiao was certain. As long as Mu Cheng remained alive, Da Liang would not be a target for Da Gan to attack. Da Gan should focus its efforts on the Tian Ri tribe, the Xianbei, and even the Izumo nation. In comparison, he was more curious about how his father, Liang Anguo, became the Northern King of Da Liang and the circumstances surrounding it. He lived in obscurity and died a martyr; that was Liang Anguo. The matter that Mu Cheng truly wished to discuss with him was undoubtedly earth-shattering and directly related to his father, which was why Mu Cheng was so cautious and did not even dare to reveal it casually to him, the son of the Northern King.
During the banquet, Qin Feng recounted to Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang in detail the views of the Da Liang noble clans towards Liang Xiao. They harbored both hatred and fear, but under pressure from Mu Cheng, they did not dare to act rashly. After all, Mu Cheng's prestige in his own country was at its zenith, far surpassing that of the Great Liang Gaozu, and he was deeply loved by the populace. All of this was closely related to Liang Xiao and the Northern King.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao intended to find the Chen Changqiu family, Liang Xiao immediately stated, "The Ministry of War will post an announcement. Let them know they can come to find you with peace of mind. Since they are citizens of Da Gan, it is only natural for them to return to Da Gan."
Liang Xiao then inquired about the deeds of his father, Liang Anguo. Qin Feng then recounted them truthfully. "His Majesty only spoke of a portion…"
After hearing Qin Feng's account, Liang Xiao fell into silence. Was Mu Cheng back then so cornered? Mu Cheng had snuck out of the imperial palace alone and encountered villains from the Huichun Sect, nearly falling victim, but was coincidentally saved by Liang Anguo. Under Mu Cheng's persistent pleas, they became sworn brothers. At the time, Liang Anguo did not know that Mu Cheng was the Emperor of Da Liang. Mu Cheng did not mention the events in between to Qin Feng, only stating that later, he had a complete falling out with Xiu Ping, who launched a coup. Mu Cheng fled the palace, and Xiu Ping immediately led a pursuit. Following this, twelve loyal individuals stepped forward to protect Mu Cheng with their lives, while Liang Anguo seized the opportunity amidst the chaos to assassinate Xiu Ping with a single sword strike. The common people of the capital learned of this event, and they all supported this Emperor of Da Liang, completely reversing Mu Cheng's declining fortunes! Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang exchanged glances, both feeling helpless. The reason why Liang Anguo and the twelve loyal individuals were willing to sacrifice themselves to assist Mu Cheng back then also seemed to be Mu Cheng's secret.
"The reason the common people supported His Majesty back then, and the contributions of the twelve loyal individuals and the Northern King were indispensable. Those twelve loyal individuals and their regalia are buried in the Sword Mound in the northeast corner of the capital," Qin Feng explained.
Liang Xiao understood and immediately stated, "I will visit them as soon as possible." Qin Feng merely nodded, a sense of melancholy in his heart. He had said all that he could. What happened next depended on how Liang Xiao and Mu Cheng would act, and it was no longer his place to inquire. This was a test that kept Mu Cheng walking on thin ice, as even his most trusted son-in-law was not privy to all the details.
By the time Liang Xiao and his entourage returned to the Honglu Temple, night had fallen. "The Emperor of Da Liang clearly wants me to observe the public sentiment and understand the current situation of the Da Liang populace. Zhuo Lingjun, tomorrow I will disguise myself as your guard, and we will tour the capital area," Liang Xiao proposed.
Zhuo Zifang readily agreed. The next day, Liang Xiao put on a human skin mask specially made by Zuo Wushang and donned the attire of a coachman, driving Zhuo Zifang. Yue Qingtian rode a horse, with the twin iron halberds placed beside Liang Xiao, ready for any unforeseen circumstances.
"Zhuo Lingjun of Da Gan has arrived!"
The common people of the capital, upon hearing of Zhuo Zifang's outing, spontaneously gathered from all directions to welcome him, including students from the Imperial Academy and young attendants. The carriage moved slowly, with Da Liang's Xuan Wei clearing the way ahead, preventing the populace from blocking the road. Liang Xiao, disguised as the coachman, scanned the people lining the road, his heart tightening. The people in the southern part of the city were vastly different from those who had welcomed them on the southern bank of the Heng River earlier. Those welcoming people were all energetic and appeared to be living in peace and contentment. However, the people who had come to welcome them in the southern part of the capital were mostly gaunt and emaciated, with prominent cheekbones, dressed in extremely simple clothes, and some even had clothes patched with numerous holes… The only thing they had in common with the welcoming crowd was the joy in their eyes. This was the populace of the capital under Mu Cheng's rule. The capital of Da Liang finally gave Liang Xiao a different feeling. Outwardly splendid, inwardly rotten. If the capital was like this, what about other regions?