Liang Xiao's smile froze.
Xiao Shuangzi?!
It was actually...
Memories of their past flashed before Liang Xiao's eyes, and he instantly understood what was happening.
I'm bribing the current emperor upon first meeting?
This little emperor, who I've treated as a eunuch, listened to me scold him every day, and even became sworn brothers with me?
My grandfathers and those three old fellows are setting a trap for me with this little emperor?
He had considered whether Xiao Qing was the current emperor, but then he remembered that the current emperor didn't even have time to conceive, so how could he have the time to visit him so often. Moreover, he had asked his grandfather Liang Qing, and Liang Qing had always denied that Xiao Qing was the emperor!
Seeing Liang Xiao's reaction, Xiao Qing suppressed a laugh, but the corners of her lips still couldn't help but curl up slightly.
At this moment, she felt as if her revenge was complete, finally seeing Liang Xiao in such a predicament.
I have waited a long time for this day!
This guy, who always maintained a composure as if the sky wouldn't fall, has finally been tricked by me!
Xiao Qing stared at Liang Xiao like this, and Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi behind her also suppressed their smiles, staring at Liang Xiao.
Has the master finally won a round?
"Bold Liang Xiao, pay respects to the Son of Heaven, and kneel at once!"
Ouyang Ji roared in anger, his heart filled with rage at this moment!
He was the one who advocated for the agricultural policy, and it turned out to be Liang Xiao's work!
He dared not hate Xiao Qing, the emperor who had cut off their corruption and favoritism, so he could only vent all his anger on Liang Xiao.
Ouyang Ji's voice startled everyone, and they all looked up. Indeed, only Liang Xiao was still frozen in place.
Zhuo Zifang, Liang Qing, and Luo Changfeng were startled and frantically signaled Liang Xiao.
Wang Canghai frowned, lost in thought.
Ouyang Ji was about to continue his reprimand when he met Xiao Qing's displeased gaze and immediately dared not move.
"Ah ha ha ha... *hic*!"
Liang Xiao's awkward, wild laughter echoed in the examination hall, ending with a hiccup.
Looking at Liang Xiao, who dared to laugh out loud, Xiao Qing's eyes were burning, still with a half-smile.
Hmph, I like this rebellious spirit of yours!
"Xiao'er..." Liang Qing was so scared his soul almost flew out that he couldn't help but call out a reminder.
Just then, Liang Xiao suddenly squatted on the ground, continuously observing the ground, searching for something.
"What is he doing?" everyone was confused.
Xiao Qing was also full of doubt, and said with a smile, "Esteemed Minister Liang, what are you doing?"
"Esteemed Minister Liang?" everyone was stunned, seeming to recall something.
His Majesty hasn't called us "esteemed minister" for a long time; she's changed to "my family's minister"...
Wang Canghai, who knew Xiao Qing best, frowned and immediately noticed that something was unusual.
"I'm looking for a crack in the ground," Liang Xiao replied nonchalantly.
Everyone couldn't help but cast looks of disdain at him.
Xiao Qing finally couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, regaining her composure, and asked, "And then?"
At this moment, Xiao Qing felt incomparably relieved; she had finally made Liang Xiao wish he could find a crack in the ground and crawl into it!
Liang Xiao pouted and said, "Let's crawl into it together."
The words shocked everyone!
"Presumptuous!"
All the officials shouted in anger at Liang Xiao. Dugu Qun was even more indignant: "You speak nonsense and defy authority, what kind of decorum is this!"
"Crawl into it together?" Xiao Qing was stunned, a blush rising on her face.
She finally remembered how many things she had done that she would never have dared to do normally just to "trick" Liang Xiao.
Becoming sworn brothers, drinking half a bowl of Liang Xiao's blood.
Acting a little drunk, pestering him to write poems, and falling asleep leaning on his shoulder.
She even acted coy with him, calling herself Xiao Shuangzi...
If it weren't for the fact that only Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi knew their past, Xiao Qing would have really wished to find a crack in the ground to crawl into!
Thinking of this, Xiao Qing's heart panicked. She quickly calmed down, looked at Liang Xiao, and her expression became a little more resentful.
"Esteemed Minister Liang, I will settle accounts with you later."
Hearing this, Liang Xiao's expression changed, and he looked around.
He wished he had wings right now to fly out of this "net of heaven and earth"!
Xiao Qing saw this and was not angry; her resentful expression turned to joy.
This guy, can he also be so flustered and so cute?
Except for Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun, others did not fully understand the details of the situation and therefore did not understand their conversation.
At this time, Liang Qing and Luo Changfeng's hands were trembling, and they could barely hold their笏板.
Even Zhuo Zifang looked worried.
This is bad! His Majesty is finally going to settle accounts with him!
The three elders now only hoped that Liang Xiao would be spanked less and not get hurt.
"Your Majesty, this person is lawless, disrespects you, and harbors malicious intent. He is unfit for employment!" Dugu Qun finally couldn't help but speak up.
More than half of the officials echoed his sentiments, requesting that Liang Xiao's insolence be punished.
"Silence!"
Xiao Qing suddenly became serious and stopped everyone. They dared not move.
Looking at Liang Xiao, who was lost in thought, Xiao Qing announced loudly, "I grant him permission not to kowtow."
The entire hall was shocked!
Everyone was bewildered, but they saw Xiao Qing walk up to Liang Xiao and look up at him.
Seeing this, Liang Xiao's old face turned red, and he turned his head away, covering his embarrassment with a cough.
"Are you alright?" At this moment, Xiao Qing's concerned voice sounded in Liang Xiao's ear.
Liang Xiao's heart warmed. He then turned back and said with a dry laugh, "It's nothing serious..."
Xiao Qing nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "It's nothing serious? Then it will be much more convenient to settle accounts later."
Liang Xiao: ...
Seeing Liang Xiao speechless, Xiao Qing, for fear of losing control and bursting into laughter on the spot, turned back to her original position and took out paper and brush to write.
The officials below looked at Liang Xiao, each with their own thoughts.
Wang Canghai had already seen that there was something unusual between Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing. There must be something fishy!
Ouyang Ji, Dugu Qun, and others simply thought that Xiao Qing was preparing to deal with Liang Xiao later and were full of anticipation.
After a moment, the chief eunuch read out Xiao Qing's arrangements.
"The selection of national talent is complete. Our Emperor is greatly pleased! The top scholar Liang Xiao is bestowed two thousand taels of gold! The second place Gu Shaoyan is bestowed five hundred taels of gold! The third place Mu Hong is bestowed three hundred taels of gold! Fourth place Zhang Yang and fifth place Li Xiuyun are each bestowed one hundred taels of gold! Those from sixth to tenth place are bestowed five hundred taels of silver, and the rest are bestowed one hundred taels of silver!"
"The second to tenth place will await appointment! Liang Xiao need not kowtow; he will enter the imperial study with His Majesty to discuss appointments!"
Gu Shaoyan and Mu Hong were both surprised and delighted. Zhang Yang wanted to speak but stopped. Li Xiuyun felt a slight regret, but was also overjoyed.
Regardless, he was ranked one place higher than the top scholar Dugu Xiao, and he did not disgrace the scholarly world of Jiangnan!
Dugu Xiao felt utterly disheartened at this moment. He could no longer hear the voices around him, and just knelt down with everyone else to thank His Majesty for his grace.
The civil and military officials looked at Liang Xiao in surprise, then at Xiao Qing.
Liang Xiao doesn't need to kowtow?
At this moment, Liang Xiao still had an embarrassed smile on his face and clasped his hands in greeting towards Xiao Qing: "Thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
Hearing this, Xiao Qing looked at Liang Xiao and raised an eyebrow.
Don't get happy too soon. Wait until I'm done settling accounts with you, then you can thank me!
"The Prime Minister is responsible for the follow-up matters. Esteemed Minister Liang, come with me to the imperial study to discuss matters of state, and by the way, settle our accounts."
Liang Xiao's eyebrows twitched. Under the astonished gaze of everyone, he silently followed Xiao Qing into the Tongxuan Hall.