Liang Xiao understood instantly.
The Empress's matter was ultimately a deception.
She had once thought of how to proudly tell the world, but as this moment approached, she still couldn't hide her fear. How would the world view the sudden transformation of the Great Qian Emperor into an Empress?
"You must believe in your people, and besides, no matter what happens, I am by your side. But I believe the common people will surely bless us. Because the people's desires are simple: as long as they can eat and be warm, and there is no oppression like before, they will support whoever becomes emperor. Doesn't my Shuang'er want to show off your affection to the world?" Liang Xiao comforted her.
"Show off affection?" Xiao Qing blinked, pouting slightly, her pretty face blushing, vaguely understanding what it meant. "Then, then let's show off affection~"
Jian Qinwan and others also arrived at the West Palace Villa. Everyone was excited and did not forget to comfort their "Shuang Mei" and "Shuang Jie Jie."
Unification!
In addition to the civil and military officials who were originally in the capital, the Great Qian's Three Sages, Gongsun Ye, Liu Yunzi, Qin Feng and his wife, the Ye family of Xichuan, the Chen manor of Chuzhou, the martial artists of Tianshan, the generals... these now famous wise men and heroes were gathered in the capital.
The Nine Cauldrons and the Imperial Seal were also in the capital, proclaiming to the world where legitimacy lay!
From the Wu Dynasty, through the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Great Heng Kingdom, there had never been such a prosperous era!
Everyone was anticipating the moment of universal celebration.
The pressure on Xiao Qing was immense.
Yue Wenxin and Zhen Mi sat to the side, not daring to make a sound, only gazing affectionately at Liang Xiao, who was chatting with his wife and children.
Soon they would marry him...
They had waited for this day for too long!
"Mi'er will be eighteen soon," Xiao Qing said with a smile.
"Ah?" Zhen Mi's pretty face turned crimson, and she shyly lowered her head, not daring to tease Liang Xiao as she usually did.
Yue Wenxin simply hid behind Zuo Jing, stammering, "I heard that a woman about to get married shouldn't see her husband during that period..."
"That rule doesn't apply to me," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
"That's true, after all, you are uniquely shameless~" Jian Qinwan scoffed. When she met Liang Xiao's meaningful gaze, she immediately lowered her head in embarrassment and quickly changed her tune, "But I just love your shamelessness..."
Yue Lian held Chou Hanhai and Liang Cangsheng in her arms, gazing at Liang Xiao with tender affection.
Until Liang Xiao walked up to her and kissed her forehead.
"Yue Lian has worked hard too, taking care of so many children."
"How can I be as hardworking as my husband..." Yue Lian said with concern.
"The children are occasionally mischievous, but in reality, they are smart and sensible, and they are inseparable from Yue Lian's care and guidance," Liang Xiao said softly.
"It's what my husband taught me. 'Spare the rod and spoil the child' is not suitable for our children. We need to guide them patiently, let them feel respected, keep our promises to them, and lead by example..." Yue Lian said proudly.
The more Liang Xiao looked at her, the more he liked her. Holding Yue Lian, he felt a sense of emotion.
Her eyes were almost solely on him and the children. She treated the children of Luo Qingxue and the others as her own, caring for them equally, to the point where the children often called her "Mother."
Each wife had her own strengths, but without exception, they loved him deeply.
This life was enough!
What made Liang Xiao feel most guilty was Xiao Qing.
Looking at Xiao Qing, who was still teasing Zhen Mi, Liang Xiao became more and more captivated.
Then he looked at Jian Qinwan, Christe, Luo Qingxue, Zuo Jing, Zhuo Xun...
In a daze, Liang Xiao's heart fluttered.
They were still as charming and cute as young girls...
It seemed like nothing had changed...
With the unification of the country, the remaining external threats were the Izumo Kingdom, the Guishuang Dynasty, the Peacock Dynasty, and the barbarians to the south of Great Liang.
However, the barbarians and the Peacock Dynasty were no longer a threat and were incapable of invasion.
The Guishuang Dynasty could not break through the Yumenguan Pass, and the Izumo Kingdom dared not advance westward even half a step. They could only drag things out, and a retreat or annihilation was only a matter of time. He believed in Qin Feng's ability, and besides, the Great Qian's naval strength was now even more refined.
These days, Liang Xiao had been at home, accompanying his wife and children.
He had fought battles for many years and hadn't spent enough time with his children.
Through their mothers' descriptions, the children only knew that their father was very powerful and had done many things for the country, but they needed their father's companionship more.
"Daddy~"
Liang Hongxue, the most affectionate, clung to Liang Xiao's back, pulled his hair, and giggled.
"See how different Little Xue'er and Little Xinyu are in personality," Jian Qinwan said, covering her face.
Liang Xinyu sat obediently beside her mother, Christe, her large, limpid eyes gazing at Liang Xiao with joy.
The mother and daughter's eyes were remarkably alike.
However, she inherited Liang Xiao's black hair and black eyes, being seven parts like her father and three parts like her mother. Luo Qingxue, who knew Liang Xiao in his childhood, called her "a female version of Little Liang Xiao."
As for Liang Hongxue, Jian Canglang, Luo Pingxiao, Chou Hanhai, Liang Cangsheng, Xiao Xun, Xiao Qian, Zuo Longcheng, Zuo Hucheng, and Liang Tiancheng, they were five parts like Liang Xiao and five parts like their mothers.
According to Liang Xiao, no matter what these children wanted to do when they grew up, as long as it did not harm society and they had their own ideas, they should be supported as much as possible.
However, Liang Xiao still secretly prayed that some of his children would fall in love with the military in the future and inherit the military spirit of Great Qian.
"Can't force it," Liang Xiao reminded himself silently.
He cherished everything he had now, including his friends and family, fearing loss. The death of Zhuo Zifang had saddened him for a long time.
The laughter of his wife and children was also the motivation for his struggles to this day.
"Husband, in the future, try to let others be responsible for border affairs..." Luo Qingxue finally couldn't help but cling to Liang Xiao's arm and act spoiled.
"I'll try my best. I also want to spend more time with you," Liang Xiao nodded.
Xiao Qing comforted her, "Sister Qingxue, Brother Xiao has done enough. Even if he wants to go on an expedition in the future, I'm afraid the people won't agree. The reason Brother Xiao personally goes to battle is to reduce casualties among the soldiers. The soldiers are all very clear about this, which is why they cherish the time fighting alongside Brother Xiao even more. In the future, you won't have to worry so much~"
The wives spoke one after another, and without exception, all expressed their dependence on Liang Xiao.
Just as Liang Xiao's family was together, an urgent report came from Ding Wuyi.
"Lord,驸马爷! The soldiers of the East Sea have dug up several stone tablets in the East Sea area. After identification, they are very old!"
Liang Xiao immediately went out to observe the situation.
Three stone tablets were placed outside the Tongxuan Hall. The inscriptions on them were already blurred, but Liang Xiao could still make out the general meaning at a glance.
"How were these stone tablets discovered?" Liang Xiao asked urgently.
The shadow guards responsible for transporting them explained, "According to Lord Mu Hong, after repelling the Japanese pirates, some areas of the East Sea became safer, and people could go out to sea to farm with peace of mind. One day, the tide suddenly receded, and these stone tablets were exposed from the mud and sand, and were salvaged by fishermen!"
"The officials of the Six Ministries said that these stone tablets might have been carved by the Great Zhou's Martial Saint and the King of the East Sea personally..."