The Yun Tian Guards behind Zuo Jing remained silent.
Zuo Wuji also deeply resented the barbarians, the Returning Spring Sect, and the Gongyang clan for betraying the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom, and was determined to seek revenge.
The relatives of these Yun Tian Guards, just like Zuo Jing's mother, had not survived the fire back then.
Now, when they took revenge on the barbarians, they were incredibly ruthless, acting on Zuo Wuji's orders to deal with any barbarian they saw.
These spies colluding with the barbarians, facing the Yun Tian Guards who were more adept at intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and counter-reconnaissance, naturally fell victim.
But soon, the pupils of the Yun Tian Guards contracted!
Zuo Jing's little notebook already had eight "正" characters marked.
Forty counts of vengeance?
"Where did all this vengeance come from?"
The guards were puzzled and cast sympathetic glances at a certain person in the distance, who was smiling and waving at the common people.
"It's all your fault... It's you, it's you, it's you..."
After a moment, the Yun Tian Guards stared with wide eyes as Zuo Jing wrote another two crooked "正" characters!
Each "正" character had five strokes, and this time it represented ten counts of vengeance...
At this moment, Liang Xiao was waving his hand in thanks to the people, completely bewildered.
Who was it that captured the spies that Zuo Wushang's subordinates, along with the Hidden Wolf Guards and Shadow Guards, couldn't find? And how could they have captured twelve in total?
"Marquis An Guo, Queen of Yan Province, Wang Xiaowan, on behalf of the people, presents you with calligraphy!"
Liu Anmin, the Prefect of Yan Province, rushed over, bringing a young maiden with him.
This Liu Anmin was a disciple of Zhuo Zifang and the younger cousin of Liu Qingping, the Prefect of Qiantang. After taking office as the Prefect of Yan Province, he had achieved remarkable results, which put Xiao Qing at ease.
Wang Xiaowan, with trembling hands, held up a piece of calligraphy and displayed it publicly, shyly saying, "I hope Marquis An Guo will not dislike my ugly handwriting..."
Everyone looked closely and saw the characters "保境安民，辅政定国" (Protect the borders and pacify the people, assist the government and stabilize the nation), written in a delicate script.
"Tch~" Zuo Jing in the distance couldn't help but roll her eyes at Wang Xiaowan.
Now, she hated it most when people showed off their calligraphy!
If showing off calligraphy was one thing, why say it was ugly when it was clearly beautiful? What did that mean!
After Liang Xiao had the calligraphy carefully put away, he smiled and said, "This is beautiful writing, how can you call it ugly."
Wang Xiaowan smiled shyly, fidgeting uncomfortably.
As the foremost talented woman of Yan Province, she didn't expect to gain Liang Xiao's favor. Being praised a few words was already a great honor.
Did he only like beautiful handwriting?
A hint of disappointment seemed to appear in Zuo Jing's eyes.
Suddenly, a laugh was heard from afar: "I know a girl whose handwriting is truly ugly!"
Upon hearing this, Zuo Jing's snow-white neck, visible beneath her veil, seemed to bulge with veins!
The Yun Tian Guards stared dumbfoundedly at Liang Xiao, who was laughing heartily.
How could this person be so shameless as to expose their leader's shortcomings in public?!
They had worked hard to capture twelve barbarians. Although it was in execution of Zuo Wuji's orders, it had indirectly helped Liang Xiao and the Yan Province garrison!
Zuo Jing now inexplicably had the urge to fly onto Liang Xiao's carriage and kick him all the way from Yan Province to the Great Liang Kingdom!
"Can the handwriting of that girl make Marquis An Guo laugh?" Wang Xiaowan asked weakly.
Liang Xiao shook his head: "Not exactly. I just find the contrast very endearing. Her heart is completely different from her handwriting; she has a very beautiful and kind heart, though she doesn't even know it herself."
Hearing this, the Yun Tian Guards collectively fell silent.
Zuo Jing's anger dissipated, and she only felt a sting in her nose, as if something was blocking her heart.
"Is she the Marchioness of An Guo?" Wang Xiaowan asked bravely.
The common people also became interested, chanting, "Marchioness An Guo!"
Zuo Jing's once bulging white neck suddenly flushed red.
Liang Xiao shook his head again and said with a wry smile, "No. I will never see her in this life, not even have a chance to apologize."
Watching Liang Xiao's carriage gradually move away, Zuo Jing turned and ran back to the secret chamber, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
"It's all your fault! It's all your fault! It's all your fault. It's all your fault..."
The Yun Tian Guards listened to Zuo Jing's mumbling and felt a sense of emotion.
Having undergone ruthless training since childhood, she was finally acting like a girl.
But the next moment, the Yun Tian Guards felt as if their throats were being choked.
While wiping away her tears, she wrote ten crooked "正" characters.
Twenty "正" characters, accumulating a total of one hundred counts of vengeance!
The eight Yun Tian Guards were dumbfounded.
Oh, so she recorded grudges based on her mood.
Qing sighed, "Miss, please return to Marquis An Guo's side. You are so outstanding, he must like you very much."
"Impossible!"
Zuo Jing finally wiped her tears dry, choked with sobs, "My father said that the moment he personally steps foot on the land of Great Gan, it will be the moment when Great Gan is engulfed in war and on the verge of destruction. And I will not abandon my father..."
Everyone fell silent, finally understanding the cause and effect.
Liang Xiao and their master Zuo Wuji might not become enemies, but they could never become friends!
From a rational perspective, Zuo Wuji's order to deal with any barbarian they saw was pure bad luck for Liang Xiao.
In the imperial prison, the Shadow Guards were interrogating the twelve spies and reporting to the visiting Liang Xiao.
"My Lord! We have also used the 'Tie Jia Guan' technique you taught us. Comparing their confessions, they have revealed everything they know!"
Liang Xiao read the confessions and said with a smile, "Urge Prefect Liu to send someone to deliver the case file to the capital and inform His Majesty. Let's see if the Du Gu family can donate some more silver."
After the Shadow Guard left with Liang Xiao's token, Liang Xiao also returned to the Liang Mansion to find Bai Ye Feiying.
Master Hong Xiu was still looking after Bai Ye Feiying for Liang Xiao, but the guards of the courtyard had been replaced by a hundred Shadow Guards.
Without sufficient personnel to assist with concealment, Bai Ye Feiying would eventually be discovered.
These Shadow Guards were carefully selected by Ding Wuyi, and they already knew Liang Xiao's identity and had sworn to assist him with their lives.
Liang Xiao gently stroked Bai Ye Feiying's neck, gazing at the obediently whimpering divine steed, and felt a deep emotion.
Bai Longying's lifespan and peak performance period were longer than ordinary warhorses, which was historically documented.
Bai Longying's offspring had similar lifespans, and their peak performance period was also longer than that of ordinary warhorses, lasting at least from three to twenty years old, though they might retire early due to various reasons.
"Ten years, I wonder if it's enough," Liang Xiao sighed.
This Bai Ye Feiying indeed possessed a spirit; from a scientific perspective, its intelligence was far higher than that of ordinary warhorses, its physique was more robust, and its genetic inheritance was strong.
Bai Ye Feiying had become his beloved steed, and he naturally wished for it to witness the unification of the realm.
However, in ancient times, transportation alone was a significant limitation. He could not guarantee whether he could pacify the realm and resolve all internal and external troubles within ten years.
Hong Xiu seemed to understand, offering comfort, "Marquis An Guo, do not be sad. Feiying has its own destiny. Perhaps Feiying can still leave descendants; new descendants are a continuation of destiny."
Liang Xiao merely nodded slightly and said, "I am already sending people to search for celestial horses in the Western Regions, hoping to find them soon."
Winter quietly arrived.