In the secret chamber, Elise murmured, "He's finally gone..."
Hearing the tremor and sob in Elise's voice, the members of the Rejuvenation Cult exchanged glances.
What kind of psychological trauma had he left her with?
Was this truly the cult leader they had revered for over a decade?
After confirming multiple times that Liang Xiao had returned to the country, Elise finally relaxed and began to make her plans.
Dong Chen and Yan Ming returned to the secret chamber, gritting their teeth and saying, "Cult Leader! That dog emperor is so lenient towards Liang Xiao. Since Liang Xiao has returned, we should also make our move!"
"Don't you suspect why that dog emperor is letting the princes continue to stay in Da Gan?" Elise asked.
Everyone looked dejected.
They were hesitant to act!
Even if they wanted to confront Mu Cheng head-on, who could they support?
Declaring independence was a last resort. After all, Mu Cheng's image as a wise ruler was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people, and he controlled the national military power.
Their usual tactic was to follow the example of the noble families and powerful clans of Da Gan – to refuse to serve, forcing Mu Cheng to compromise.
But now, they were also worried that Mu Cheng would simply give Da Liang to Liang Xiao and Da Gan.
Therefore, cultivating the princes was their only viable plan.
Yet, Mu Cheng wouldn't allow the princes to return, leaving them at a loss!
"Only Wan Qing can cause trouble and make the dog emperor drop dead. When that happens, if Qin Feng dares not declare independence, he will have no choice but to welcome back all the princes. Give Wan Qing another year to win the dog emperor's trust. Within a year, the dog emperor will surely die!" Elise said coldly.
"Cult Leader, even the most trusted disciple of Zen Master Longyue has betrayed him. Wan Qing might not be any different..." Duan Hong said helplessly.
"She lost her mother at a young age. I, her master, am only about ten years older than her, but she has always respected me like a mother, obeyed my every word, and her actions have always followed the path I anticipated. She is far better at disguise than you imagine!" Elise laughed.
Just then, a death warrior ran into the secret chamber to report, "Patriarch, the Right Prime Minister Cheng Qing just secretly sent a report. Yue Da Liang has presented 'movable type printing' to the Emperor, reducing the cost of the Son of Heaven's Bookstore..."
"What?!" Everyone was shocked and furious.
At that moment, they finally understood that they had been toyed with by Liang Xiao and Yue Da Liang.
However, they could never have imagined that Mu Cheng was involved, instigating Zuo Wuji to kill Yan Liu, ensuring the smooth transition of military power, and facilitating the relocation of the Yue family.
Without Liang Xiao, the capital of Da Liang suddenly seemed rather quiet.
The common people on the streets all wore bitter expressions.
The guards of those corrupt officials had become arrogant and overbearing again. They would occasionally force purchases, and even dine and dash under the guise of credit.
If they were asked to pay next time, they would surely default.
But their Majesty would certainly not see it, nor could he bother with such trivial matters.
As long as these guards and retainers did not go too far, those corrupt officials would turn a blind eye to them.
If things became too serious, the officials would distance themselves from them, claiming they were merely temporary hired hands, thus absolving themselves of any responsibility.
The people of the capital, who had enjoyed a few months of peace and saved some money and grain, were now once again shrouded in gloom.
"Your Majesty, the people truly miss the Marquis of An Guo."
Ye Chengxiu reported in a timely manner, his face full of dejection.
Mu Cheng merely smiled and nodded, without offering any commentary.
It was he who had extensively promoted the newspapers, and more recently, had the newspapers fervently extolled Liang Xiao, deliberately creating a deity for the common people.
As the ruler of a nation, he no longer yearned for imperial power or coveted the Central Plains.
He only hoped that the era of universal harmony that Liang Xiao described would arrive soon. If the unification of the two countries could accelerate this day, then he would also accept this outcome.
Qin Feng stood guard nearby, looking at the smiling Mu Cheng, his heart filled with sorrow.
In truth, he could never understand Mu Cheng's vision.
Why abandon imperial power and return it to the people? Was it not possible to protect the people and strengthen the nation through imperial power?
Abandoning imperial power carried immeasurable risks. His own destruction would be secondary; it was highly possible that power would fall into the hands of those who oppressed the people, and it would still be the commoners who suffered.
But Mu Cheng was like a father to him, and he had betrothed his most beloved daughter to him. He only wished to resolutely support everything Mu Cheng did, prioritizing the well-being of the people above all else.
Mu Cheng also noticed Qin Feng's helpless expression. The two shared a tacit understanding.
That night, Mu Cheng began to cough up blood again.
At night, the fleet had reached the middle of the river.
Liang Xiao, Yue Hongxiu, Zuo Wuji, and Zhuo Zifang stood at the bow of the ship, gazing south, their hearts filled with melancholy.
Liang Xiao dared not tell Yue Hongxiu about Mu Cheng and Liang Anguo's vision yet, as he did not yet understand Yue Hongxiu's character and whether she could withstand such a blow.
Mu Cheng also told him not to tell Yue Hongxiu, for fear that she would be overwhelmed with grief and insist on returning to Da Liang to continue assisting her elder brother.
"The Son of Heaven of Da Liang treated me and the Yue family well. I donated one million taels of silver before I left, as a token of my gratitude," Zuo Wuji sighed.
Everyone merely nodded, without any dissatisfaction.
As long as the money did not fall into the hands of the noble families and powerful clans of Da Liang, it was acceptable.
Liang Xiao's expression was solemn, and he sighed repeatedly.
He could see that Mu Cheng had made arrangements for his affairs after his death, preparing several fallback options for the people of Da Liang.
If the initial fallback options failed, he would promote the unification of Da Gan southward.
The sulfur Mu Cheng gave him exceeded thirty thousand catties. It was secretly transported by the Shadow Guards and Xuan Guards to another ship, and had already been shipped back to the Jiangnan region of Da Gan in advance.
This was because Mu Cheng knew very well that Liang Xiao would not use "Heavenly Thunder" against the people of Da Liang; after all, the Tian Ri tribe was the true hidden danger in this land.
On the day he received the sulfur, Liang Xiao expressed his commitment to Mu Cheng that the Heavenly Thunder manufactured from this sulfur would only be used against the Rejuvenation Cult and the Tian Ri tribe.
This trip to Da Liang had allowed Liang Xiao, Mu Cheng, and Da Gan to achieve their respective goals and reach a consensus.
Yet, Liang Xiao felt a sense of something missing.
After this farewell, it was unlikely he would ever see Mu Cheng again.
Or perhaps, the next time they met would be at Mu Cheng's grave, and the two countries would be unified...
This emperor, who had suffered half his life, had become exceptionally clear-headed after confessing to him.
From then on, he lived transparently according to his own will: everything was for the people of Da Liang.
"Welcome the Marquis of An Guo and Zhuo Lingjun back to the country!!"
The next morning, as soon as the ship docked, thunderous cheers erupted from the shore, startling everyone on the ship.
"The people in this area heard that the Marquis and Zhuo Lingjun were returning, and they came here early to wait!"
He Zizhang inquired about the situation and then ran back to report with a smile.
"Oh my, I know my limitations. Just say you're welcoming Liang Xiao. There's no need to give this old man face," Zhuo Zifang said, stroking his beard and laughing heartily.
Zuo Jing and Yue Wenxin, holding their children, followed Liang Xiao and disembarked together.
The shore was crowded with people, all overjoyed.
For safety reasons, the Shadow Guards and Da Gan Town Guards went to maintain order, not daring to let the common people get too close to Liang Xiao.
After Liang Xiao saluted the people, he arranged for everyone to rest in a nearby town.
During their mission to Da Liang, for security purposes, Liang Xiao's family and Zhuo Zifang often ate dry rations and preserved meat brought from Da Gan, occasionally supplementing with freshly picked fruits and vegetables, to the point of satiety.
On this day, the Guishuang Dynasty finally lost its patience and advanced eastward, directly threatening the Western Regions, striking fear into the hearts of the various kingdoms of the Western Regions.