Xiao Qing clutched Liang Xiao's sleeve and approached the stone tablet. As she gazed upon it, she couldn't help but sigh.
"So, this is the 'Great Dao' that spanned centuries."
The civil and military officials gasped in unison, "The common folk all say that the Marquis of An Guo is the reincarnation of the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint; their words are not false..."
The first stone tablet bore the inscription: The Grand Zhou's Martial King, Liang Xiao!
"I, in my youth, was lost. For my brother, I conquered vast territories, swept across the land, and cleared the heavens, achieving the name of Martial Saint, fulfilling my youthful ambitions. At fifty, I understood the Mandate of Heaven. Looking back at the annals of time, I was startled to realize that my life still held regrets. Since antiquity, the rise and fall of dynasties have hinged upon the people; he who wins the hearts of the people wins the empire. I recall the past, when the White Ghosts of the Tian Ri Kingdom invaded the western borders, causing immense suffering. We were exhausted from battling them, and the nation could not achieve great governance."
"Today, the people of the Grand Zhou have faces like withered vegetables, beggars roam the roads, and the starving lie dead. My imperial brother and I are filled with shame. I leave behind this book of military strategy, a divine halberd, and the golden jade garment gifted by my imperial brother, entrusting them to the Ye family. I hope that brave souls of future generations will possess the heart to pacify the nation, comprehend the way of 'stopping war is martial,' and never forget that all sentient beings suffer, lest my path be in vain."
Aside from some damage to the edges, the remaining characters on the stone tablet were still visible.
"To think that centuries ago, there were already such benevolent kings and generals, worthy of the title Martial Saint..."
As reverence filled their hearts, everyone looked towards Liang Xiao.
Two Liang Xiaos, both deeply concerned for the populace!
"Heaven's will, it is Heaven's will, Your Majesty!" Wang Canghai's voice trembled unusually.
The officials congratulated him in unison, "Congratulations to Your Majesty for gaining the Marquis of An Guo!"
Xiao Qing's eyes immediately lit up, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.
She had once heard Liang Xiao mention the concept of "single dogs." Now, he truly anticipated "showing off some public displays of affection."
Liang Xiao finally stopped concealing his identity and explained, "I am a descendant of the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint. Perhaps destiny has a hand in this."
But at this point, even the civil officials, who usually scoffed at superstition, began to waver in their disbelief.
"Whether he is the descendant of the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint or not, the Marquis of An Guo is the reincarnation of the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint! It doesn't matter if we believe it; what matters is that the common folk are utterly convinced!"
Liang Xiao no longer argued, merely smiling at Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing understood and ordered for the inscriptions on the other two stone tablets to be restored on the spot.
These two were more weathered, with many missing characters.
The artisans and stone carvers from the Ministry of Works collaborated, meticulously examining the missing characters on the two stone tablets.
After a full half-hour of painstaking work, the artisans finally restored the relatively complete inscriptions on both stone tablets.
The second stone tablet bore the inscription: King of the East Sea, Qiu Cang Sheng!
"As a king, I conquered territories, wielding a divine halberd and riding a divine steed, considering myself a reincarnation of the Martial Saint. Today, seeing these two tablets, I am filled with shame. My iron cavalry conquered lands, and wherever we passed, slaughter was common. I failed the true meaning of the Martial Saint's 'stopping war is martial,' and I am utterly outmatched! What my imperial brother gifted, the golden jade garment and the Martial Saint's military strategy, are buried beneath this tablet. These three tablets sunk into the East Sea, burying the glories of the past. For the rest of my life, I shall atone."
The third stone tablet had no name, but it bore the inscription, "Mandated by Heaven, Immortal and Everlasting," which undoubtedly belonged to the emperor of the Grand Zhou Dynasty at the time, the imperial brother of the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint.
"My brother yielded the imperial throne to me. His subsequent achievements surpassed all others, and my heart was filled with shame. I wished to bestow upon him the golden jade garment, as a symbol of eternal honor. Now, I am over fifty, yet I have failed to aid the world and save the people. The current era of peace is merely a facade. Shame! Grief! Sorrow! May my descendants never forget to be vigilant in times of peace!"
"The golden jade garment? Isn't that the heirloom treasure of the Grand Zhou Dynasty?!"
As soon as they saw the inscription, everyone immediately reminded Xiao Qing.
"Your Majesty, we should immediately send a carrier pigeon to the East Sea to retrieve the golden jade garment and send it back to the capital with utmost urgency!"
Xiao Qing said urgently, "Notify the salvagers that if they can retrieve the golden jade garment and deliver it to the capital within seven days, they will be heavily rewarded!"
After the shadow guards departed, Xiao Qing and the officials gazed at the clear eastern sky, their hearts filled with emotion.
"Our Emperor is wise, the Marquis of An Guo is virtuous. The golden jade garment has been recovered, the Imperial Seal has reappeared, and the Nine Cauldrons of the Great Desert have returned to the capital. This can establish a foundation for ten thousand generations!"
At this moment, the officials were all extraordinarily excited, even losing composure and clapping their hands in celebration.
Liang Xiao could not help but feel a surge of joy.
The golden jade garment in this world was different.
According to the historical records of the Grand Zhou, the golden jade garment was the national treasure of the Grand Zhou Dynasty. Later, it was bestowed by the emperor upon the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint, after which both vanished without a trace. It was believed that the golden jade garment had become a burial item.
If the golden jade garment also fell into Xiao Qing's hands, it would mean that the legitimate lineage of the Grand Zhou Huang Chao had also been passed to the Great Qian!
After their excitement subsided, everyone quickly calmed down and re-examined the three stone tablets, sighing deeply.
Xiao Qing generously said, "My esteemed officials, do not be hesitant. Speak your minds freely!"
The officials then began to converse amongst themselves.
"So, the reason why the King of the East Sea was so easily killed by assassins back then was because he had already resolved to die... The charm and influence of the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint are self-evident."
"According to the Ye family, who compile historical records, the young man who assassinated the King of the East Sea was also named Liang Xiao... It seems to be destiny."
Liang Xiao listened to the officials' discussions, feeling as if he had traveled through time.
His senses were real, the pain even more so. This was not a dream...
Perhaps that young assassin who killed the King of the East Sea knew of the King of the East Sea and the Grand Zhou's Martial Saint, and that was why he used the name Liang Xiao?
For a fleeting moment, even his atheism wavered.
Was there truly destiny?
Deep in the East Sea, upon receiving the order from the capital, the boatmen rushed to begin the salvage operation.
The people could not ascertain the vast changes that had occurred from the Grand Zhou to the present East Sea. Therefore, they searched almost every area adjacent to the stone tablets.
One day later, after digging through the silt, they finally found a cave one li west of the stone tablet...
According to Zhuo Zifang's words, his departure was a joyous funeral; his family should not grieve excessively.
In the capital, the Zhuo family finally began to recover from the grief of losing Zhuo Zifang.
Li Jin'yu was formally taken in and cared for by Madam Zhuo. Zhuo Wulie, Zhuo Wentao, and other descendants showed Li Jin'yu the same filial piety they showed Madam Zhuo, which deeply moved her.
The unfulfilled destiny of several decades had come to a perfect conclusion in another form.
Every day, Zhuo Yun would stand before Zhuo Zifang's door, sweeping fallen leaves from the entrance, often gazing at the room in a daze.
"Your grandfather said that the one who was wrong was never you, but him, and indeed the entire Zhuo Manor, the entire world. He repeatedly asked himself if his insistence that a woman remain unmarried for life was for your own good, or for the sake of the Zhuo family's reputation, or perhaps a combination of both."
"He has been reflecting on these years, and eventually, he was able to face his own heart. He simply wished for you to be well, regardless of your choices. However, he felt too much pity for Liang Xiao at the time. This child lost his parents at a young age, was treated as a prodigal son, and then suddenly achieved renown, only to face the noble families and the public opinion they controlled... He admits that he acted too hastily in this matter, making a grave mistake."
"Your grandfather's only dying wish for you is that you may live freely in the future, unburdened and unharmed by anyone."
Every time she recalled her grandmother's words, Zhuo Yun could not help but shed tears, feeling lost and bewildered.
"Little Yun, we have a distinguished guest."