Liang Xiao and his group stopped, looking at the other three.
Hong Jie sighed, "The bearing of Marquis Anguo is truly admirable! We have no intention of entering officialdom, but if there's ever a need for our help in the future, you can inform us anytime. We will be staying in Jiangnan for a while longer. We plan to depart for Suzhou the day after tomorrow."
Liang Xiao said happily, "Thank you, my lord. Please also take care of your safety!"
Regardless of whether the master of Yun Xiu Zhai appeared before him for some purpose, as long as they maintained a distance, it would be good if he could offer occasional advice.
As for the reliability of Yun Xiu Zhai's suggestions, Liang Xiao would naturally discern them.
Seeing Zuo Jing hiding behind Hong Jie, Liang Xiao said helplessly, "Why is Lin'er afraid of me now?"
"Anyway, Brother Liang Xiao ignores me~" Zuo Jing pouted coquettishly.
Liang Xiao let out a helpless laugh.
Zuo Jing saw Liang Xiao's reaction and was secretly delighted. This meant that Liang Xiao had not seen through her disguise. He truly believed she was innocent and naive. His distance was merely due to a sense of caution!
"Where have you been staying recently?" Liang Xiao asked after a moment of thought.
"My old home in Jiangnan, just a civilian residence in the east of the city," Hong Jie replied.
Liang Xiao nodded, "The Zhuo residence is also in the east of the city. It's on the way."
Hong Jie simply smiled and nodded, not refusing. His heart, however, felt an unprecedented complexity.
At the same time, a procession of over a hundred monks in long robes, carrying numerous luggage trunks, proceeded towards the east of the city.
The white-browed monk at the forefront had a benevolent face, holding a string of prayer beads and clad in a heavy kasaya. He clasped his hands in prayer and bowed to the passersby, chanting "Amitabha."
"Aren't those the monks from White Dragon Temple?" "I heard they are planning to move north after finishing their business in Jinling?"
The surrounding populace chattered amongst themselves. The monks of White Dragon Temple merely smiled, nodded, and bowed to them, offering no further explanations.
Many devout Buddhists watched their receding figures with regretful sighs.
The group of monks reached a spacious open area in the east of the city and finally stopped. They pitched tents on the spot, preparing to endure the night.
A monk approached the white-browed monk and whispered, "National Preceptor, Liang Xiao does indeed reside at the Zhuo residence and enters and exits daily!"
The white-browed monk nodded, his eyes finally gleaming with ferocity, "For the sake of the young master and the lord, we must eliminate this person regardless of the cost! Ensure a decisive blow!"
Liang Xiao and Hong Jie conversed about matters of state and nation, sighing inwardly.
Such talent, if truly willing to serve the country, could certainly hold positions as ministers, or even prime ministers, in the future.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Zhuo residence, Hong Jie politely declined Liang Xiao's invitation to visit. He merely agreed to meet tomorrow and then took his leave.
"You seem quite concerned about this Yun Xiu Zhai master, don't you?" Jian Qinwan still held Liang Xiao's arm with a look of distress.
Liang Xiao nodded slightly and whispered, "He is indeed very talented. Great Qian is vast, and all corners of the land need many talents. Naturally, we must strive to win them over as much as possible. I just worry that one day we might discover that he is... Alas!"
Jian Qinwan nodded silently, saying no more. She merely glanced at Zhuo Xun, who was staring blankly at Liang Xiao beside them.
She did not understand state affairs, but she could see how much Liang Xiao valued Yun Xiu Zhai. She understood some simple political principles.
If someone like Yun Xiu Zhai were to become an enemy and defect to the barbarians, Great Liang, or the Peacock Dynasty, they would be a grave threat to Great Qian!
All she could do was protect Zhuo Xun and Yue Lian for Liang Xiao, preventing others from approaching them.
Hong Jie and his two companions returned home, shed their disguises, and their moods varied.
"He's coming to see you tomorrow. This is a great opportunity!" Shangguan Jiusi exclaimed excitedly.
Hong Jie merely shook his head with a wry smile, "Not necessarily an opportunity. I always have a premonition that he has seen through something, but he hasn't revealed it, still harboring some illusions about me. And I am also hesitant about whether I should deal with someone like him..."
Zuo Jing nodded, "I have that feeling too. But you must be clear about your mission. His respect for you is indeed an excellent opportunity! The Yun Tian Guards are ready at all times. As long as he brings fewer escorts, we can act accordingly! Relying on the Xuan Ming Powder given to you by your uncle, we can safely escape whether we capture Liang Xiao or the princess."
Hong Jie merely gazed at the candlelight and sighed.
Liang Xiao, after a busy day, returned to the Zhuo residence, still full of vigor, showing no signs of fatigue.
Jian Qinwan was sitting on his lap, her face flushed, allowing him to play with her slender hands.
"Since you've worked hard for three days, I'll let you play for three days~" Jian Qinwan tried to maintain her last shred of stubbornness, but her hands subconsciously tightened their grip on Liang Xiao's palm, afraid of losing her 'flower thief.'
Yue Lian and Zhuo Xun watched, unable to resist covering their mouths and giggling.
Only when facing Liang Xiao did their noble and cold 'Qin Wan Sister' act like an arrogant little girl.
"Oh, then I don't need to find any excuses for these three days," someone nodded seriously, completely unfazed by whether his intentions were exposed.
Jian Qinwan cast a resentful glance at Liang Xiao before her eyes softened with affection.
"Marquis Anguo!"
At this moment, Yu Qingchuan, holding a letter, ran over excitedly from a distance, bursting through the courtyard gate. He first widened his eyes upon seeing Liang Xiao holding Jian Qinwan, then smiled.
Jian Qinwan immediately covered her face in embarrassment. Then, remembering something, she quickly got down from Liang Xiao's lap, drew the sword at her waist, and glared at Yu Qingchuan.
Yu Qingchuan's expression changed, his face turning the color of pig liver, "Junior Sister, I absolutely will not reveal anything, especially not to Senior Brother. Can you not kill me to silence me! Hmm, wait, I didn't see anything just now! I have amnesia, okay!"
Jian Qinwan then withdrew her sword with satisfaction, "That's more like it~"
If her Senior Brother were to know that she had been so clingy to Liang Xiao just now, the entire Tianshan Mountain would know. How could she show her face again!
Only Liang Xiao walked over with a smile and asked, "Sixth Senior Brother, you're so excited. Is there news from Tianshan?"
"It's not from Tianshan, but a letter from the Senior Brothers and Sisters who accompanied and looked after Master. They said Master is already on his way to find you and Junior Sister! He should arrive tomorrow!" Yu Qingchuan said, handing the letter to Liang Xiao.
"Oh, so it's my father-in-law." Liang Xiao glanced at the letter and smiled, handing it to Jian Qinwan.
Even Jian Qinwan was surprised and delighted.
But upon remembering what her father had said to Liu Yunzi, Jian Qinwan's gaze turned resentful.
"The Cang Sheng Sword?" After reading the letter, Jian Qinwan's beautiful eyes lit up.
Yu Qingchuan nodded, "Master, as promised, will be gifting the Cang Sheng Sword to Marquis Anguo!"
Jian Qinwan's embarrassment and annoyance vanished, replaced by eager anticipation, "That sword is more suitable than the Mayfly Sword..."
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Jian Qinwan stopped speaking.
It wasn't that she didn't trust her Sixth Senior Brother, but at this moment, there was no need to let too many people know who the Heavenly General was, to avoid complications.
However, the Cang Sheng Sword was a treasured sword well-suited for battlefield combat. It was heavy and sharp enough to slice through iron, unlike the thin blade of the Mayfly Sword.
At the time, she had felt despair seeing Liang Xiao and Bai Ye Feiying being surrounded and attacked by layers of enemies on the city wall.
If Liang Xiao had been wielding the Cang Sheng Sword then, perhaps he could have broken through the encirclement even faster, and no enemy would have been able to get close!