Hong Jie looked back at Shangguan Jiusi and Hong Qu, falling into silence.
At this moment, Zuo Jing, though outwardly crying in distress, felt a pang of worry in her heart.
For they all knew their limitations and had long abandoned the plan to capture Liang Xiao. They could only settle for the next best option: to take the princess, or even Zhuo Xun!
Upon discovering that neither Zhuo Xun nor Yue Lian was by Liang Xiao's side, Yun Tianwei had already been dispatched by her to Jinling to assist Zuo Wushang. Now, her companions were only the three of Hong Jie and some remaining expatriates from the Great Heng Kingdom who were outside.
Jian Qinwan and the Tian Shan knights were equally tense, clearly not expecting that Liang Xiao could actually persuade the Cloud Woven Pavilion Master to confess to him.
These were individuals who, even after the fall of the Great Heng Kingdom, still clung to the hope of national restoration!
After a long pause, Hong Jie sighed, "What we call ourselves is not important. If you wish to meet the Marshal, you must first show sincerity."
Liang Xiao said earnestly, "I granted the princess the title of Princess Consort, and I have not continued to search for or pursue you recently. I have even revealed the truth of the past. Is this not enough sincerity?"
Hong Jie took a deep breath and finally spoke, "Before that, I hope you can let Lin'er go. Since you know Zhuo Xun's background, you must understand their relationship. Lin'er was entrusted to our family by our Deputy Marshal Zuo Wuji to care for. She is truly innocent..."
Zuo Jing was startled, her tears ceasing. "Brother..."
This young man still had some conscience, and more importantly, he hadn't exposed the identity of old mother Yun Tianwei!
Liang Xiao nodded solemnly, "I understand. I will ensure Lin'er safely returns to Zuo Wuji's side."
Zuo Jing began to conjure tears again, "Lin'er doesn't want to leave Brother, and, and Brother Liang Xiao..."
The three of Hong Jie nearly suffocated.
What was she trying to do?
Liang Xiao once again requested Hong Jie to take him to see Zuo Wushang.
Hong Jie said helplessly, "Our Marshal has been observing in Jinling all this time. You should understand..."
Liang Xiao frowned, "Coincidentally, after finishing the matters in Qiantang, I should also return to Jinling!"
Just then, a guard rushed in with an urgent report: "Second Young Master, the envoy Su Wencheng, Official Su, along with Prefect Liu Qingping, has arrived!"
Liang Xiao, feeling puzzled, immediately went to greet them.
Su Wencheng appeared ashamed and anxious, repeatedly apologizing to Liang Xiao.
"Marquis of Anguo, forgive me! My younger sister has caused you trouble again. I shall take her back to Suzhou immediately!"
"Official Su, what is this?" Liang Xiao asked, observing Su Wencheng with confusion.
Hadn't he been on official duty in the Great Liang Kingdom?
Su Wencheng merely implored Liang Xiao to allow him to see Su Wanqing.
When Su Wanqing emerged, she had already prepared her emotions, weeping and claiming she refused to leave Liang Xiao.
Su Wencheng trembled with anger and raised his hand as if to slap Su Wanqing, but was dissuaded by those present.
"Marquis of Anguo is already the consort to six princesses. How can you disrupt his marriage! Your elder brother heard you were looking for our Marquis of Anguo, and I turned back halfway to find you, you..." As he spoke, Su Wanqing's face turned pale, and she clutched her chest.
Su Wanqing suddenly panicked, choked, "Brother, don't be angry. I'll go to the Great Liang Kingdom with you now..."
Liang Xiao observed this and took the opportunity to comfort the siblings before sending them off.
Liu Qingping also expressed his apologies and bid farewell to Liang Xiao, dispatching guards to escort Su Wencheng and his sister.
Liang Xiao also informed Liu Qingping of his intention to depart.
Both officially and personally, Liang Xiao had treated Liu Qingping with utmost benevolence. Liu Qingping repeatedly nodded, "The time Marquis of Anguo has spent in Qiantang has been a great encouragement to the people of Qiantang. Even the ruffians have become honest! Should Marquis of Anguo visit Jiangnan again in the future and have the leisure, we shall await your esteemed presence at any time!"
To avoid any further complications, Liang Xiao immediately packed and set off, heading towards Jinling with the four of Hong Jie.
Inside the carriage, Su Wencheng and Su Wanqing wore looks of fury.
"Elder Brother, my master abandoned me. I had already infiltrated Liang Xiao's inner circle..." Su Wanqing complained indignantly.
Su Wencheng sighed, "Her subordinates were suddenly captured by Liang Xiao, and she has golden hair and blue eyes. This place is not suitable for lingering. Moreover, the eyes of the world are now on Liang Xiao, and you have not been crowned princess. Staying by his side is too conspicuous! The Great Liang Kingdom will likely receive news soon. We must stay away from Liang Xiao for now!"
Su Wanqing bit her lower lip, her face filled with resentment.
Everything she had done was according to plan, but a series of unforeseen events had robbed her of the opportunity to prove herself!
Suddenly, Su Wanqing thought of something and smiled, "Fortunately, Liang Xiao did not publicize my entanglement with him. He only stated that I am friends with the Cloud Woven Pavilion Master and others. I haven't lost too much. Elder Brother, why don't we send someone to ask my master's opinion? Let me go to the Great Liang Kingdom to confuse the Emperor of Great Liang or Qin Feng?"
Su Wencheng pondered for a moment, nodded, and sighed, "We can try. That Qin Feng has also been taking concubines recently! But you must be careful not to reveal your true nature, Qin Feng is deeply knowledgeable in zither art!"
Liang Xiao's convoy, on the official road towards Jinling, was two days into their journey when the news of Liang Xiao being betrothed as a consort reached the northern borders of the Great Liang Kingdom.
The soldiers on the northern border of the Great Liang Kingdom were all shocked and immediately dispatched a messenger with eight hundred li urgency to notify the capital of Great Liang.
Six princesses of the Great Qian Kingdom were to be married to one consort!
As the news spread, the streets and alleys of the Great Liang capital buzzed with lively discussions.
In the imperial court, the Emperor of Great Liang, Mu Cheng, and the officials shared a remarkable consensus, falling into silence.
After a long while, Mu Cheng sighed, "What truly surprises me is not the matter of the twin princesses, but the fact that the people of the Great Qian Kingdom have no rumors or gossip. This demonstrates the immense influence Liang Xiao holds over the people of Great Qian, which is beyond imagination."
Qin Feng stepped forward and proposed, "Your Majesty, I suggest sending emissaries to the Great Qian Kingdom to congratulate both the Emperor of Great Qian and Liang Xiao, and to discuss the matter of an envoy with the Emperor of Great Qian."
Mu Cheng narrowed his eyes, a faint flicker of murderous intent in his gaze. "You mean to request the Emperor of Great Qian to dispatch Liang Xiao as an envoy to our Great Liang, just as I sent you to the Great Qian Kingdom?"
The officials unanimously agreed: "Your humble servant agrees!"
In the imperial study, Mu Cheng and Qin Feng conversed alone.
"Is it truly reliable to send Liang Xiao as an envoy? Are we still to kill him in Great Liang?" Mu Cheng asked, perplexed.
Qin Feng quickly replied, "The Chess Immortal of Jinling is still in Great Liang. For the good relations between the two nations, the Great Qian Kingdom must have face. Those qualified to be envoys are either Zhuo Lingjun or Liang Xiao."
"However, if Liang Xiao dies in our country, the Great Qian Kingdom will surely mobilize its entire army for revenge, and our country will face strong enemies from all sides. The result can only be the ruin of our nation! If Liang Xiao is kept alive, the best outcome is a century of good relations between the two nations. The worst outcome is our country being annexed by the Great Qian Kingdom in a few years, or decades. What choice does Your Majesty wish to make?"
Mu Cheng clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead. "I am not a foolish ruler. I naturally understand that if Liang Xiao truly becomes an envoy, not only can he not be killed, but I must protect him with all my might, letting the world know that killing Liang Xiao is akin to killing me!"
Qin Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Mu Cheng said with reluctance, "Since we have to endure such humiliation, why bother striving for him to be an envoy of the Great Qian Kingdom? Let Zhuo Zifang come, wouldn't that suffice?"
Qin Feng replied, "Your Majesty, who do you think would be most afraid if Liang Xiao were to arrive in Great Liang?"
Mu Cheng's eyes lit up. "The powerful aristocratic families, led by the Yan family!"
Qin Feng then said, "At that time, those aristocratic families, for their own benefit, will spare no expense to oppose Liang Xiao and smear him relentlessly, lest Liang Xiao bring his methods from the Great Qian Kingdom to the people of Great Liang. Your Majesty only needs to mediate among them, and when necessary, use Liang Xiao's hand to reprimand these aristocratic families. At that time, Your Majesty will only need to play the 'good cop' according to the situation..."
"What if the people of Great Liang are also completely swayed by Liang Xiao? Do we really need to do this?" Mu Cheng worried.
Qin Feng shook his head.
"Firstly, this depends on Your Majesty's means of checks and balances."
"Secondly, Liang Xiao is merely an envoy, not a state envoy, and is not qualified to stay in Great Liang for an extended period. The number of common people he can interact with is limited."
"Thirdly, Liang Xiao must also consider his own safety. I am certain that with his magnanimity and the weight of his country on his shoulders, he would rather be mocked for being cowardly or timid than take risks that have no value. Naturally, he will not stay in Great Liang for long. After all, he is still a person of Great Qian and has no reason to rectify the system of Great Liang and raise a tiger that might harm him."
"Fourthly: when choosing between two evils, pick the lesser one! Your Majesty, we must admit that to accelerate domestic reforms, we need to leverage Liang Xiao's influence, to reprimand the aristocratic families, and to give a push. Otherwise, facing the increasingly prosperous Great Qian Kingdom, our Great Liang Kingdom will fall further behind and may be annexed by the Great Qian Kingdom even faster..."
Mu Cheng finally had a sudden realization. "Everything as you say!"
In Jinling, Zuo Wushang observed the Zhuo Residence daily and finally completed the map.
Gazing at the map in his hand, Zuo Wushang's face contorted with a hint of madness. "We cannot let the princess and Xun'er become princesses of Great Qian..."