Three more days passed, and the square-shaped Xu Prefecture Ding, in the form of a square tripod, was also sent to Yan Prefecture!
Arriving with the Xu Prefecture Ding were thousands of jade and jadeite artifacts, all escorted by the Shadow Guards. These treasures came in various forms, carved with flowers, birds, beasts, and mountains. More complex pieces even depicted miniature scenes of bamboo groves and small dwellings, exquisitely beautiful.
This was the finest batch of jadeware, worth a fortune, with each piece exceeding two thousand taels. According to the reports of the Shadow Guards, the jadeware and similar items from the treasure cave were at least five times the price of gold of equivalent quality.
Liang Xiao personally instructed the Shadow Guards: "First, send these treasures back to the capital and hand them over to His Majesty. Do not make a fuss!" The captains of the Shadow Guards understood. They carefully concealed all the treasures, and five hundred Shadow Guards rushed to the capital day and night.
The Great Gan Kingdom had over ten thousand Shadow Guards, but only three thousand remained in the capital, with the rest dispatched by Xiao Qing to the northern borders and the great desert.
With three of the Nine Cauldrons gathered, the people of Yan Prefecture became even more excited, spreading the news everywhere. "Marquis Anguo has said that all nine Cauldrons will be delivered to Yan Prefecture. Once the army has finished resting, all nine Cauldrons will be transported to the capital!"
Three more days passed, and the round, three-legged Cauldrons, the Liang Prefecture Ding and the Jing Prefecture Ding, were also successively delivered to Yan Prefecture. Half a month after the Yu Prefecture Ding arrived in Yan Prefecture, the Nine Cauldrons had finally returned one after another.
The Xu Prefecture, Yan Prefecture, and Yong Prefecture Dings were square with four legs, while the remaining six were round with three legs, each weighing over ten thousand catties! The combined transportation of the Nine Cauldrons required a troop of over 250,000 men, including 200,000 laborers. Excluding carriages, ox carts, and mule carts, the number of oxen, horses, and mules needed to pull the nine "round barrels" alone exceeded fifty thousand, to ensure constant rotation and avoid delays! The cost of transporting the Nine Cauldrons was no less than that of eighty thousand infantry marching... but it was entirely worth it!
Food supplies could be replenished, but the convergence of the Nine Cauldrons in Yan Prefecture had ignited an unprecedented sense of pride among its people. The entire populace of Yan Prefecture rejoiced day and night, singing and dancing, and did not forget to inform their ancestors.
On this day, the imperial officials, led by Zhuo Zifang, also arrived in Yan Prefecture ahead of schedule. "Liang Xiao! Where are the Nine Cauldrons! Hurry and show us!" Zhuo Zifang grabbed Liang Xiao's sleeve as soon as he saw him, urging him on, no longer concerned with appearances. Gu Hong and others were equally excited. Gu Hong was the former Minister of Rites, and He Jingyun was the current Minister of Rites. Those present had a deep understanding of rituals and laws. What were the Nine Cauldrons! They had been lost for nearly a thousand years and their sudden return, what did it signify, they knew all too well. "First, please promise not to get overly excited and injure yourselves..." Liang Xiao said with a pout. "Oh dear, we were excited enough on the way!" Zhuo Zifang said with a wronged expression. Liang Xiao was accustomed to Zhuo Zifang's demeanor and no longer teased them, leading his colleagues to the largest square in Yan Prefecture. "The Nine Cauldrons of Yu... Even with psychological preparation, upon seeing the Nine Cauldrons, half of the old officials lost their footing and had to be supported. Zhuo Zifang, Gu Hong, and He Jingyun, their eyes welled up with tears, and they prostrated themselves repeatedly before the Nine Cauldrons. "Heaven's Mandate has returned! Heaven's Mandate has returned!!" In the West Palace Villa, Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun were bored, looking after the two princes. Liang Xiao's wives had offered to stay and accompany her, but she declined. After all, the children couldn't always be separated from their father or mother; a family reunion was best. Because they were going to Yan Prefecture, Liang Xiao had been sharing her room for most of their time in the capital... "Mother~" Xiao Xun, held in her arms, kissed Xiao Qing affectionately. Xiao Qing's eyes lit up, and she kissed him back on the forehead. "Mother is biased~ I want one too~" The ninth prince, Xiao Qian, after acting spoiled, winked at her, causing Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun to burst into laughter. These two children were both very intelligent. "Your father is doing something very important," Xiao Qing said softly. The brothers seemed to understand something but merely agreed obediently. Just then, the Shadow Guards returned with the jadeware and reported the situation. "He didn't accept any of them?" Xiao Qing mumbled. He Zizhang, who was responsible for the transport, replied: "Master, Marquis sent us back with them immediately..." "Honestly, having someone pick them out for him~" Xiao Qing was a little unhappy. She had agreed with Liang Xiao beforehand that he would pick out a few of the best jade pieces for her and his wives to collect, but it was clear that Liang Xiao was leading by example and handling matters professionally. Ning Xuejun smiled: "That's why he's the Master's perfect match." Xiao Qing then giggled and began selecting beautiful treasures for Liang Xiao and her sisters, even including Yue Wenxin and Liang Xiao's elders. Ning Xuejun, unable to refuse, also accepted a "mountain and river" piece for herself and Ding Wuyi. These jade pieces were exquisitely crafted and of the highest quality, but due to the lack of historical records, Xiao Qing could only give them new names. Wang Canghai, Zhuo Zifang, Gu Hong, Zhuo Wulu... Xiao Qing had pre-selected a piece for all the ministers who understood the Empress's truth. The remaining civil and military officials who had made significant contributions also received their rewards. General Lv Yi and Prime Minister Wang Canghai each received three pieces, Minister Zhuo Zifang, General of Chariots and Cavalry Gongsun Ye, Governor of Yizhou Li Xiuyun, Former General Nan Jiyun, and Rear General Lv Changhe each received two pieces. Nie Yuan, Zhuo Ying, Yue Yun, Hong Jie, Liu Fan, and other meritorious civil and military officials each received one piece. Of course, there were more than just these jade pieces; a large quantity of high-quality jade and gemstones would be sent later, but they were slightly inferior to this first batch. After the inventory was completed, the remaining hundreds of jade pieces were sealed in Xiao Qing's private vault for future official rewards. These jade pieces were well-preserved, without flaws or cracks, and would fetch thousands or tens of thousands of taels if pawned, a considerable sum. However, such ancient jade and treasures were more fitting as imperial rewards, signifying sincerity and favor. Huang Xing, Gu Shaoyan, Mu Hong, Zhang Yang, and Hong Jie, who were in the capital, were the first to receive rewards and were overwhelmed, refusing them at first. Finally, the Chief Eunuch went to each of their homes and spoke persuasively, and only then did they accept the imperial grace. He Zizhang, under Xiao Qing's orders, was about to send the jade and jadeite to Yan Prefecture when a Shadow Guard rushed in with an urgent report from outside. "Master! Great Liang is in chaos!!" Xiao Qing took the secret letter and, after a careful look, was filled with sorrow. "Alas, a wise ruler, to have..." The content of the letter was the death of Mu Cheng, the Emperor of Great Liang, the sudden demise of Consort Su, and the whereabouts of the Eighth Prince were temporarily unknown. Currently, the military and political affairs of Great Liang were controlled by Qin Feng, but Qin Feng had not ascended the throne. The civil and military officials of Great Liang were displeased. They went daily to the newly built Regent's Mansion, earnestly persuading Qin Feng, but Qin Feng insisted on enthroning the First Prince, Mu Qing, as the new monarch. The seven princes were all "guests" in the capital of Great Gan, thus Great Liang was temporarily without a monarch. Jian Fuzi had already led thousands of swordsmen from Great Liang to pledge allegiance to Great Gan and was currently on his way to the capital. This was indeed a rare opportunity for Great Gan, but Xiao Qing knew that Mu Cheng was an elder whom Liang Xiao deeply respected, and his passing was too sudden...