The wedding feast concluded, and the guests at the Liang manor enjoyed the first batch of white sugar, leaving them thoroughly satisfied.
The people from Mount Tian gathered to bid farewell to Liang Xiao.
The Three Sages of Great Gan prepared to return to Mount Tian for a period of recuperation, and for Jian Nanfeng to reestablish the order of the sect.
Led by Chen Shaoling, over fifty Tian Shan swordsmen who had followed Liang Xiao originally, felt a urge to shed tears. Unable to do so, they resorted to fetching some cool boiled water to dab under their eyes before meeting Liang Xiao.
Chen Shaoling clasped Liang Xiao's hand, his voice filled with reluctance, and "tearfully" said, "Marquis of An Guo, we must first return to our ancestral home on Mount Tian. You and junior sister must take care. We hope to drink the full moon wine of your child!"
"Indeed, indeed!" The Tian Shan swordsmen behind Chen Shaoling also nodded with "tears" in their eyes.
Jian Qinwan, standing behind Liang Xiao, blushed and chided, "You stinky senior brothers and sisters, it's one thing to fake cry, why bring me into it..."
Only then did the crowd chuckle.
Jian Nanfeng was startled and whispered to Mu Xueqin, "Xueqin, what's wrong with these children? After a few years without guidance, they've become so unruly..."
Mu Xueqin replied helplessly, "Have you not seen your son-in-law's shameless demeanor? They have been with him for over half a year and have seen too much; they've learned a thing or two..."
Jian Nanfeng and Gongsun Jing fell silent simultaneously.
Jian Nanfeng had initially planned to select a new batch of disciples to follow Liang Xiao after returning to Mount Tian, considering it as training. Now that all the good children had been corrupted by Liang Xiao, what was to be done...
Liang Xiao glanced back at Yu Qingchuan and Yu Zao standing beside him, "Sixth Senior Brother?"
"Master, can your disciple stay?" Yu Qingchuan asked with a simple smile.
Jian Nanfeng was taken aback and looked at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao understood and said, "Sixth Senior Brother, Mount Tian is rather tranquil. You should first start a family with Yu Zao. There are three major filial duties, and not having offspring is the greatest. Look, the eldest senior brother is going to be a father in a few months."
Yu Qingchuan looked troubled, held Liang Xiao's hand, and said with apparent grief, "Following the Marquis of An Guo, I feel like I am constantly realizing my life's value. I truly cannot bear to leave you..."
A question mark slowly appeared on everyone's faces.
Even Yu Zao, who was always attached to Yu Qingchuan, narrowed her eyes and scrutinized them, wondering if she had to compete with Liang Xiao for her husband.
Liang Xiao was startled and shook off Yu Qingchuan's hand, "Go, go! Have a few stout sons with your wife first, then come talk to me about life's value! Don't forget to protect her, and temporarily keep strangers away from her."
Considering Yu Zao, Yu Qingchuan finally bid farewell to Liang Xiao with great reluctance.
The Three Sages of Great Gan led the Tian Shan swordsmen back to Mount Tian. Only four senior brothers who had accompanied Mu Xueqin from Mount Tian to attend the wedding banquet continued to follow Liang Xiao.
These four were also renowned swordsmen from the north, capable of connecting Liang Xiao with the martial artists in Yan Province, the capital, the East Sea, and Yun Province.
Xiao Qing had arranged for ten new female shadow guards to be demobilized and join Liang Xiao in advance.
As Liang Xiao was now the Emperor's son-in-law and had made significant contributions, these shadow guards had no complaints and were responsible for protecting Liang Xiao's female companions, who had all been conferred princess titles.
After seeing off everyone, Liang Xiao received news of the arrival of the eldest young master of the Duanmu family, Duanmu Xiu.
"Make him wait!"
Liang Xiao did not immediately receive Duanmu Xiu but went to his office.
Zhang Yang, Gu Shaoyan, Hong Jie, and Lin Xiu were already waiting there.
As talented youths of the new generation, these individuals possessed upright character and were talents in internal affairs that the imperial court intended to cultivate vigorously.
Lin Xiu now also held the first official position that Gu Shaoyan had once held, as a Hanlin Academy Compiler, a seventh-rank official, which was already considered an exceptional appointment.
Hong Jie currently served as a Grand Master of Deliberation. Lin Xiu had been utterly impressed by him when he disguised himself as the master of Yunxiu Studio, so there was no need to elaborate further.
Lin Xiu and Gu Shaoyan, on the orders of Wang Canghai and Gu Hong respectively, had come to consult Liang Xiao on their future development paths and to seek his guidance.
"Brother Shaoyan, you should stop pinning your hopes on the Minister of Rites," Liang Xiao sighed.
Gu Shaoyan was surprised and then nodded, "Indeed, the authority held by the Ministry of Rites is difficult to shake for those few families..."
Liang Xiao shook his head, "Your father is still hale and hearty; he can continue for another twenty years without issue. You should first focus your research on the Vice Minister of Personnel or the Vice Minister of Revenue. In the future, you may have a chance to develop into Left or Right Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, then to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat or Minister of the Left and Right, and finally to Prime Minister..."
Gu Shaoyan suddenly understood and nodded, "I almost forgot your teachings from that day!"
If he developed from Vice Minister of Rites and Minister of Rites, even if he were fortunate enough to be promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat in the future, his work would surely be unfamiliar. While the Ministry of Rites managed important matters, its scope was very different from other departments.
It was not that Gu Shaoyan was being overly ambitious or dreaming too big, but rather that Liang Xiao believed Gu Shaoyan was capable of becoming Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, so he was willing to put in the effort. Whether he succeeded was another matter. In any case, not trying would result in a beating from his father, and trying would not be a loss, as he was already the Grand Master of Ceremonies at such a young age.
Countless scholars in Great Gan spent their entire lives without even reaching the eighth rank.
Now, Liang Xiao had become the idol of the younger generation of scholars in Great Gan. At nineteen years old, he held positions equivalent to the Three Excellencies, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and was a Marquis with ten thousand households. His words now carried weight second only to the Emperor and the Prime Minister!
As for Zhang Yang, Lin Xiu, and Hong Jie, they were considered future competitors with Gu Shaoyan. However, the position of Prime Minister in Great Gan could be split into Left and Right Prime Ministers, as well as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Minister of the Left and Right, and the six ministers. Everyone would compete based on their abilities.
Hong Jie looked at Liang Xiao and sighed, "The Prime Minister suggested I concurrently serve as the Prefect of Qiantang in Jiangnan to gain some experience. This way, Prefect Liu can also return to the capital. After all, I am still nominally a remnant of the Great Heng Kingdom who accepted amnesty, and it wouldn't make sense for me to have access to too much power in the short term. But after I leave, the people who will help you refine your new policies will be fewer..."
The others nodded slightly, feeling helpless.
Among the individuals Liang Xiao had found, Hong Jie possessed the greatest ability. Yet, he was a remnant of the Great Heng Kingdom, which made matters difficult.
Liang Xiao fell into thought.
In fact, his mind was very sharp now, and he no longer needed Hong Jie to help him refine the details. However, Zhuo Zifang in Jiangnan was elderly and needed a young person to assist him...
How could he tell him without hurting his pride?
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and said solemnly, "Lord Zhuo also needs you greatly. You don't need to worry about me. I am preparing to go to Yan Province to assist the General of the Flying Cavalry in repelling the enemy. You are not skilled in military matters anyway."
"That makes sense!" The others nodded in agreement.
"Why are you all pushing me away?" Hong Jie was stunned.
"Jiangnan is originally your hometown. Jiangnan needs you, and you need Jiangnan!" Liang Xiao finished, and Zhang Yang and the others echoed his sentiment.
Hong Jie glanced at everyone and pouted, "As expected, those who are too handsome always seem out of place with others."
Liang Xiao couldn't help but roll his eyes.
He had initially thought Hong Jie's only eccentricity was his bizarre aesthetic sense, but it turned out he was also quite narcissistic once they became familiar.
After the discussion concluded, everyone went home. Hong Jie went to find Wang Canghai to accept Xiao Qing's appointment and proceed to Jiangnan.
Only then did Liang Xiao receive Duanmu Xiu.
As the foremost commercial family in Great Gan, the Duanmu family was adept at navigating all situations.
Desperately poaching personnel from Liang Xiao's winery to steal technology was considered commercial competition, which Liang Xiao could tolerate.
Exploiting the refugee influx to drastically raise grain prices was the act of a profiteer, which was their commercial behavior, and the court could not convict them.
However, according to intelligence from the shadow guards and the Chen manor, the Duanmu family had been quite close to the Dugu family and the Gongyang clan since the Great Heng period, strongly supporting the two families to gain convenience in north-south trade. It was no exaggeration to call them colluding villains.
Of course, they had also supported the Ouyang family and the He family of the capital.
Liang Xiao understood that it was time to put the Duanmu family in their place, and even to dismantle them!
Starting with their most prized possession, the sugar workshops.