Jian Qinyan watched the Tianjing, her heart fluttering. However, upon regaining her senses, she still refused to accept it.
"Young Master truly likes Miss Qinyan, doesn't he? If you don't accept it, Young Master will surely blame me…" Yue Lian said, her tone aggrieved, and insisted on giving it to Jian Qinyan.
Jian Qinyan was flustered, momentarily at a loss, and hastily asked, "Give it to Mi'er then?"
"This is for Sister Qinyan, Mi'er absolutely will not take it!" Zhen Mi stated earnestly.
Seeing Yue Lian place the Tianjing into her hands, Jian Qinyan's slender hands trembled slightly, and her eyes welled up with tears.
The next morning, Luo Qingxue rushed to find Liang Xiao, serving him to wash and dress in place of Yue Lian. She then hugged Liang Xiao's arm as they went out, a look of sweetness on her face.
Although Luo Qingxue's actions were reasonable, her unusual attentiveness so early in the morning made Liang Xiao feel that something was not quite right.
As they had just stepped into the courtyard, Jian Qinyan, holding the Tianjing, ran towards them from a distance, her eyes tearful.
"Flower Thief! You, why did you give me this…"
Seeing the Tianjing, Liang Xiao was surprised and was about to question her when Luo Qingxue fiercely pinched his arm.
"I'm asking you!" Jian Qinyan choked out.
Liang Xiao was stunned. It wasn't until Luo Qingxue pinched his arm again that he suddenly understood and said with a sincere expression, "I just thought it matched you very well…"
"I don't match!" Jian Qinyan shook her head and handed the Tianjing to Liang Xiao. She looked at Luo Qingxue and said, "This kind of thing should be given to your fiancée. I cannot accept it!"
Liang Xiao's expression froze as he looked at Luo Qingxue.
Luo Qingxue sneered, "To me? Heh, it seems you know your place well enough to know you're only fit to be my concubine. Hand it over obediently!"
With that, Luo Qingxue proudly extended her hand towards Jian Qinyan.
Jian Qinyan was furious and quickly shielded the Tianjing against her chest, "I'd give it to anyone but you, you wicked disciple!"
They both turned their heads away with a hmph.
Liang Xiao was caught between laughter and tears.
Yue Lian walked over from a distance and comforted her, "Miss Qinyan, in this world, no one is more suited to the Tianjing than you. Don't let down the good intentions of Young Master and the others."
Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue looked at Jian Qinyan and nodded in silent agreement.
Jian Qinyan was dressed in purple, and even the veil she wore was purple. This purple Tianjing truly was a perfect match for her.
However, Luo Qingxue was his fiancée, so he naturally wanted to give the Tianjing to Luo Qingxue. He just hadn't expected Luo Qingxue to use such a method to transfer it to Jian Qinyan, coming to him so early in the morning, fearing Jian Qinyan would see through it.
"Bodhisattva, please accept it. Consider it my compensation…" Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Jian Qinyan's pretty face blushed, and she shot Liang Xiao a sideways glance. "Compensation for what? You peeked at me bathing. I won't let this go!"
Liang Xiao nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice. "Alright. I will also find the flowers I promised you."
Jian Qinyan fidgeted uneasily. Under Yue Lian's urging, she put on the Tianjing again and fled back to her room.
"Wife," Liang Xiao said, looking at Luo Qingxue.
Luo Qingxue sighed, "I've long seen through the intentions of the Divine Doctor and her. Besides, you've seen her bathing…"
Yue Lian added, "Actually, Young Master also touched her. He definitely has to take responsibility for Miss Qinyan."
Liang Xiao's old face flushed.
Luo Qingxue whispered, "She is the foremost Qin Immortal of our era, a disciple of the Three Sages, and one of the most outstanding women in the world. She clearly has feelings for you. Can you bear to see her heartsick and return to Mount Tian, falling into someone else's embrace? At that time, I will inevitably be branded as 'jealous'."
Liang Xiao sighed and pulled Luo Qingxue into his arms.
That day, when he listened to her play the zither, he had already perceived Jian Qinyan's lingering affection for him, which had nothing to do with "General Tian."
Later, he understood that Jian Qinyan was simply unable to let go of her pride, and yet unwilling to disrupt his engagement with Luo Qingxue.
As the daughter of the Divine Doctor and Sword Saint, and a top disciple of the Qin Saint, if Jian Qinyan married Liang Xiao, her status would be below that of Luo Qingxue, the daughter of the Right General, making it difficult to win over public opinion.
In the main hall, Liang Xiao, with Luo Qingxue, met Luo Changfeng, Liang Qing, and the couple Liang Feng and Yang Xuejing.
Upon seeing Luo Qingxue shyly hiding behind Liang Xiao, Luo Changfeng chuckled heartily, "Xiao'er, you've finally opened your eyes! We also know about you and the Princess. You young people should know what to do, and Grandfather believes you have it all figured out. In any case, you should let us hold grandchildren and grand-nieces soon!"
After receiving the news from Luo Qingxue at the Luo Mansion, he had immediately ordered Luo Qingxue's room to be prepared and her belongings sent to the Liang Mansion without a second thought.
Liang Xiao laughed heartily and repeatedly nodded, "I'll work hard depending on the situation. Qingxue and I will visit you often at the Luo Mansion, old man."
"Oh, you don't need to come! Grandfather will come to the Liang Mansion for visits, and it would be good to see your progress!" Luo Changfeng raised an eyebrow.
Luo Qingxue was so embarrassed she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground, "Grandfather…"
Liang Qing, Liang Feng, and Yang Xuejing exchanged smiles, looking gratified.
The pig in the family had finally learned to plow the cabbage patch. Even Princess Ning Shuang admired him!
Liang Qing said, "Xiao'er, your eldest brother is coincidentally being ordered to go to Yanzhou. Your silver notes will be delivered to Yanzhou by your eldest brother and sister-in-law."
The silver notes Liang Xiao obtained from selling wine, after deducting the profit shares for Liang Yun and Xiao Qing and the taxes paid, still amounted to over 300,000 taels, enough to purchase more marginal land in Yanzhou.
Liang Xiao explained, "As long as the situation in Yanzhou is stable and the promotion of the Qu Yuan plow proceeds smoothly, buying that land won't result in a loss."
Everyone was already convinced by Liang Xiao's capabilities and naturally would not question his decisions any further.
Liang Feng and Yang Xuejing set off with Liang Xiao's 200,000 taels of silver notes, heading to Yanzhou to also manage their family's assets there.
The steward Liang Wen was efficient, but unfortunately, he was advanced in years. It was indeed difficult for him to handle the ever-increasing amount of land alone. More loyal personnel from the Liang family were needed to assist him.
As the news of Bai Chun Lou selling wine spread throughout the city, the common people had more topics for their after-meal chats.
The head of the Dugu family, Dugu Qun, in a fit of rage, dismissed his steward, Dugu She.
The Duanmu family also found themselves in a difficult situation. The family head, Duanmu Chao, personally delivered gifts to the Dugu family to apologize, but Dugu Qun still did not give him a pleasant look.
This business deal was not a complete loss for either family, as "Yi Zui Bai Nian" was currently worth five hundred taels.
What angered Dugu Qun was that Liang Xiao had once again made a substantial profit, while his own family hadn't even managed to compose a single poem.
The Dugu family had bought a total of four hundred jars!
Today, Jian Qinyan had been hiding in her room all day, not daring to come out to see Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue.
At night, Xiao Qing, disguised as Princess Ning Shuang, arrived at the Liang Mansion accompanied by Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun. Thousands of shadow guards were lurking around, strictly preventing anyone from harming their master.
"Master, Gu Shaoyan of the Gu family and Mu Hong of the Mu family are visiting the second young master Liang," Ding Wuyi said with an embarrassed expression.
Xiao Qing pouted, "It's the wrong time again! Let's wait a bit longer. I don't want to see anyone else…"
Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun heartily agreed.
Princess Ning Shuang rarely went out to meet people, to avoid any unforeseen complications.
Gu Shaoyan, Mu Hong, Mu Wanjun, and Gu Xiaoxiao were guests in Liang Xiao's courtyard.
Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue came out to converse with everyone.
"Marquis An Guo…" Gu Shaoyan, seeing that there was no one else around, finally couldn't help but speak.
"There's no need to be formal in private. Just call me Liang Xiao," Liang Xiao reminded him.
Gu Shaoyan's heart warmed, and he smiled and nodded, "This time, Brother Mu and I are saying we've brought Xiaoxiao and Wanjun to thank you. In reality, our elders have instructed us to come and discuss cooperation matters with you!"