Hearing Wu Lue's call, Zhuo Yun absentmindedly hurried to meet him, only to freeze upon stepping outside.
It was Liang Xiao, accompanied by her grandmother, Elder Madam Zhuo, and her father, Zhuo Wu Lue, walking towards her.
"Good morning, Marquis An Guo..." Zhuo Yun quickly paid her respects.
Liang Xiao said, "Miss Zhuo, I'll get straight to the point... I previously wanted to ask Grandmother to convey some words to you, but after much thought, I felt it was better for me to say it myself."
Zhuo Yun nodded, "Please, Marquis An Guo, speak freely. I will do my best to assist..."
They all sat in the courtyard, listening to Liang Xiao recount his promise to Zhuo Zifang.
Zhuo Yun gazed at Liang Xiao blankly, then lowered her head.
"Thank you, Marquis An Guo, for comforting my grandfather..."
Liang Xiao said solemnly, "There was no comfort! I understand Zhuo Ling Jun's intentions. Zhuo Ling Jun is as important to me as my grandfather. I only wish to share the responsibility with him."
"Marquis An Guo has been more than kind to me, tolerating me in every way. I..." Zhuo Yun murmured, then shook her head.
Elder Madam Zhuo finally spoke, her voice laden with sentiment, "Xiao Yun, Liang Xiao said that whenever you wish to marry him, he will sincerely take you as his wife. He will treat you the same way he treats Qing Xue and the others, even if you are all old and frail by then."
"Are you trying to emulate my grandfather and my second grandmother?" Zhuo Yun asked weakly.
Before Liang Xiao could answer, Zhuo Wu Lue sneered, "So, you're saying you have feelings for him."
"N-no, that's not it..." Zhuo Yun quickly defended herself.
"Grandmother has already told him about you often spacing out while looking at 'The Heroes of Da Qian.' That book, it was written specifically for him, wasn't it?" Elder Madam Zhuo smiled.
"Grandmother!!" Zhuo Yun's face instantly turned crimson.
Liang Xiao was silent for a moment, then braced himself and explained, "To be honest, after the Great Unification Ceremony concludes, Mi'er and Wen Xin will marry me together. I will also hold a wedding for Lin'er. Since I promised Zhuo Ling Jun, I naturally want to seek your opinion as well."
Seeing Zhuo Yun's face grow redder, as if it might bleed, Liang Xiao quickly added, "What I mean is, everything depends on your wishes. But if you are also willing, I can still give you a wedding that is not delayed..."
As Liang Xiao spoke his last words, his own face flushed red.
Zhuo Yun gazed at Liang Xiao, who suddenly looked awkward and was scratching his ear, becoming lost in thought.
Could he ever be so flustered?
Is it because he respects my wishes too much, and feels troubled, even wronged, or insulted by this situation?
"I know I'm being shameless, because I will soon have my eighth and ninth wives, Mi'er and Wen Xin. I..."
Before Liang Xiao could finish, Zhuo Yun finally smiled, "You are flustered because you are so afraid of hurting me, or embarrassing me. Actually, what you want to express is that, no matter what, you want me to be happy and content, not to use your prestige and my... my admiration for you to force me to accept, right?"
Liang Xiao remained silent.
Zhuo Yun finally spoke her heart's true feelings.
"Marquis An Guo, do you know how many women in this world dream of marrying you? Yet, few are jealous of Xiao Xun and the others, your wives. This is because they either shared hardships with you, or gave you their unreserved support, greatly aiding your great cause."
"And we, we haven't helped you in any way. I have even caused you too much trouble. What right do I have to share your affection with them? I... I am truly unworthy."
Elder Madam Zhuo quickly said, "Liang Xiao told us that he actually loved playing chess the most. You promoted the way of chess for him, making the chess world in Da Qian flourish, and the common people even came to love Xiangqi. He was truly happy, and very grateful! Xiao Yun..."
"Grandmother speaks very well, but please stop," Zhuo Yun whispered.
"I did indeed tell Grandmother," Liang Xiao suddenly interjected, leaving Zhuo Yun at a loss.
Liang Xiao then stated, "You are right. Before I came to speak with you frankly, I had already considered all possibilities. I absolutely cannot cause you any harm or coercion. Even with what I just said, I worried I was falling into the 'doing it for your own good' trap again. Miss Zhuo, Zhuo Ling Jun did not morally blackmail me. His thoughts align with mine. In any case, the first priority must be to ensure you are truly happy and at ease, without any constraints."
Zhuo Yun's nose twitched, and she bit her lower lip tightly.
"When I am seventy years old, if I were to desire a formal title from you, just like Second Grandmother and Grandfather, would you truly have no complaints..."
Liang Xiao looked solemn and replied, "In this life and this world, I will never complain about any of my wives."
After speaking, Liang Xiao lowered his head and said, "I walked in darkness for too long, so long that in the end, my mind was filled only with repeating tasks, tasks, until the very last moment... Therefore, I now cherish my loved ones deeply and cannot bear to lose them."
Hearing the rare sadness and helplessness in Liang Xiao's words, Zhuo Yun was startled and looked up at him.
Reliable, respectable, lovable, and according to Zhuo Xun, occasionally a bit "detestable"...
After a long moment, Zhuo Yun finally raised her head and, gathering her courage, asked with a trembling voice, "Can you... play a game of Xiangqi with me?"
Seeing Liang Xiao pause, Zhuo Yun quickly added, "You brought Xiangqi to Da Qian, but I've never played a game with you..."
Seeing Liang Xiao simply staring at her, Zhuo Yun sadly lowered her head again, "Will it take up too much of your time..."
"No, His Majesty specifically asked me to stay at the Zhuo manor today to speak with you frankly. Besides, with Zhang Yang and the others covering for me in the Six Ministries... ah, with their united efforts, I'm not needed there."
Under the pleased gaze of her grandmother and father, Zhuo Yun immediately set up the Xiangqi board on the table.
"How about this? If you win against me, I will marry you along with them. To make it fair, you must give me a few pieces, alright..." Zhuo Yun whispered.
"Then let's try. As long as you are happy," Liang Xiao replied without hesitation.
But in the next moment, Liang Xiao stared at his own chess pieces, deep in thought.
Elder Madam Zhuo and Zhuo Wu Lue's faces darkened.
She had only left Liang Xiao with a "General" and a "Soldier" in the center; all other pieces were out of play...
"Best two out of three," Zhuo Yun said with a serious expression.
...
In the afternoon, Liang Xiao finally returned to the Marquis An Guo's manor.
"How did it go?" Zhuo Xun was the first to rush over and ask.
After hearing Liang Xiao recount Zhuo Yun's conditions for the chess game, his wives also felt a sense of helplessness.
Liang Xiao smiled and said, "I won."
"How is that possible??" Everyone disbelieved him.
"Don't you understand yet?" Liang Xiao pouted.
Everyone was stunned, then a realization dawned upon them.
The Zhuo family's chess academy was temporarily closed, and the female chess players were temporarily taken in by the Li family's chess academy, managed by Li Xin.
"I heard Miss Zhuo the Second is getting married? Which family is so fortunate?"
"Oh my, didn't she end up with Marquis An Guo?"
Zhuo Yun hid at home, afraid to go out, only wanting to wait for the Great Unification Ceremony to end.
The golden brocade jade suit unearthed from the East Sea was finally rushed to the capital the day before the Great Unification.