Xiao Qing smiled and said, "He has the world in his heart, and I am one of its inhabitants. I have never harmed him, so why would he harm me?"
"Your Excellency..." Ding Wuyi was anxious.
Xiao Qing dismissed him, clearly because his presence made Liang Xiao hold back.
"What would I gain by harming you? Would I achieve the destruction of my household and clan?" Liang Xiao laughed heartily.
Under Xiao Qing's urging, Ding Wuyi gritted his teeth and finally stood up, staring at Liang Xiao, his tone a mixture of pleading and warning.
"Young Master Liang, please protect Lord Qin. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to account to His Majesty."
Xiao Qing chuckled inwardly: This Eunuch Ding, he still remembers to conceal my identity before leaving!
Although my identity was bound to be revealed, now... it was truly amusing!
Liang Xiao pouted, "Don't worry! There are very few places under heaven safer than the room I'm in."
Ding Wuyi offered no comment and left the room dejectedly, looking back at the two of them from time to time.
Only then did Xiao Qing begin to chat leisurely with Liang Xiao.
Whenever Liang Xiao inquired about Xiao Qing's situation, Xiao Qing would calmly answer.
Xiao Qing, in turn, would often ask Liang Xiao for his views on the court and the common people. Cornered by the questions, Liang Xiao could only respond fluently.
The two of them conversed with great enjoyment.
"What is the true identity of this Eunuch Qin is no longer important," Liang Xiao thought to himself.
What mattered was that this Qin Shuang was someone one could interact with!
Seeing that Liang Xiao could finally converse freely, Xiao Qing also felt a sense of relief.
But now it was his turn to be cautious, for fear of revealing too much too soon and losing the opportunity to coax Liang Xiao into writing more poems and lyrics.
"Eunuch Qin."
"I've told you several times, just call me Qin Shuang!"
Liang Xiao agreed, retrieved a wine jar from a cabinet, and washed two cups.
A peculiar aroma of wine wafted into Xiao Qing's nostrils.
Xiao Qing reminded him, "You're injured, aren't you? Drinking alcohol will harm your health."
Liang Xiao smiled, "A small drink brings pleasure. Moreover, this isn't ordinary liquor. We're enjoying such a pleasant conversation, I can't be stingy with my treasures."
Xiao Qing glanced at the cups again. They were carved from jade.
Night-gleaming cups!
After Liang Xiao opened the wine jar, Xiao Qing saw the color of the wine and realized with a sudden understanding, "So it's wine..."
Liang Xiao couldn't help but praise, "As expected of a favored minister of the Son of Heaven, you are well-traveled and knowledgeable. Can you drink it? Don't force yourself."
"Of course," Xiao Qing replied confidently.
Only then did Liang Xiao push a cup towards Xiao Qing, reminding him, "This is my homemade wine. It's not very harmful to the body, but its potency is considerable. Don't drink too much."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing immediately suggested, "Drinking without admiring the moon halves the pleasure. Let's drink outside."
With Ding Wuyi present outside, he could guard against Liang Xiao misbehaving under the influence of alcohol and taking advantage of him.
Liang Xiao readily agreed, and the two went outside, sitting separately on a long bench.
Watching Liang Xiao pour the wine, Xiao Qing was already eager to taste it.
Ding Wuyi initially intended to remind Xiao Qing not to drink, but upon seeing that it was wine, he had no objections.
The aroma of the wine drifted over, making even Ding Wuyi's throat twitch.
Based on his years of experience, he could be certain it was excellent wine!
"Eunuch Ding, would you like a cup?" Liang Xiao asked.
"No, thank you. I dare not drink outside!" Ding Wuyi flatly refused.
Liang Xiao asked no further questions and poured himself a full cup.
The two then drank the first cup under the moonlight.
"Excellent wine! Another!" Xiao Qing couldn't help but exclaim.
The wine was incredibly sweet. Compared to it, the wines from the Western Regions gifted to the court were like plain water.
"Its potency is quite strong, drink slowly," Liang Xiao reminded him.
"Are you reluctant to share your fine wine?" Xiao Qing sounded somewhat disappointed.
"How could I be!"
Liang Xiao smiled and poured another cup for Xiao Qing and himself.
Xiao Qing drank it down in one gulp.
"Splendid! Another!"
Liang Xiao, with no other choice, poured him another cup.
Xiao Qing raised the night-gleaming cup, about to drink, when a sudden inspiration struck him. He said, "Liang Xiao, on such a fine night, with such beautiful scenery and good wine, you must compose a poem!"
"Is that really necessary?" Liang Xiao pouted.
"Just one poem!"
Xiao Qing pleaded persistently, and Liang Xiao, with no other recourse, raised his cup, looked at the moon, and recited:
"Grape wine, a night-gleaming cup,
A pipa's urge before we sup.
Drunk on the battlefield, mock not, my friend,
How many soldiers returned in the end?"
Xiao Qing slammed his palm on the table, "A magnificent poem!"
Ding Wuyi savored the words, his eyes filled with shock. He no longer dared to underestimate the dandy before him.
Xiao Qing, holding his wine cup, sat beside Liang Xiao and sighed, "Drunk on the battlefield, mock not, my friend, How many soldiers returned in the end! Alas, it makes me recall General Tian who sacrificed himself for the country, and countless soldiers of Da Qian!"
After speaking, Xiao Qing couldn't help but shed tears, and asked Liang Xiao, "But the rumors among the people say that General Tian is still alive. Do you believe it?"
"Any person of Da Qian would find it hard not to believe," Liang Xiao replied without hesitation.
Xiao Qing was overjoyed. "Well said! Fill my cup again!"
After another cup, Xiao Qing and Liang Xiao sat side-by-side on the long bench, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. Their eyes gradually grew hazy.
For the first time in sixteen years, he felt so relaxed and at ease.
"Liang Xiao, even if General Tian is dead, there are still those who understand him. In that case, General Tian will live forever!"
Liang Xiao, hearing the tremor in Xiao Qing's voice, comforted him, "He is definitely still alive. Don't be sad."
"Why would I be sad! With someone like you who truly understands and respects General Tian, I feel that Da Qian will not lose hope! I am extremely happy, fill my cup again!"
"You're already drunk," Liang Xiao shook his head.
"Your Excellency, you can't drink anymore!" Ding Wuyi quickly reminded him.
"I'm not drunk! Fill it!" Xiao Qing mumbled.
Liang Xiao, with no choice, poured himself and Xiao Qing another cup.
After the last cup, Xiao Qing felt a warm sensation throughout his body, and the things before his eyes became even more blurred.
As the drunkenness washed over him, Xiao Qing unconsciously leaned his head on Liang Xiao's shoulder.
"This..." Ding Wuyi became even more troubled.
If he tried to pull them apart, His Lordship would blame him again!
If he let it be, what if His Lordship's identity was exposed...
But Ding Wuyi then thought: Does it even matter if it's exposed or not? His Lordship has already recognized Liang Xiao as a prodigy today, and that is enough!
At this moment, Liang Xiao spoke, "Eunuch Ding, it's inconvenient for me to move. Please go to my room and fetch a fox fur cloak."
Ding Wuyi was startled. With a hesitant heart, he went into the room and casually retrieved a fox fur cloak.
Liang Xiao gave Ding Wuyi a meaningful look. Ding Wuyi understood and draped the fox fur cloak over Xiao Qing's shoulders.
"This person is not as absurd as the rumors suggest." Ding Wuyi reassessed Liang Xiao, a strange, indescribable feeling stirring within him.
Liang Xiao began to pour wine for himself, drinking it, and occasionally gazing at the bright moon, sighing to himself.
Heaven, why can't I just be a carefree person?
With this thought, Liang Xiao shook his head in resignation.
By this time, Xiao Qing's face was flushed with a captivating crimson, and he had fallen asleep.
In a daze, he dreamt of the white-robed General Tian wearing a devil mask, and the young man in white, Liang Xiao, standing to his left and right, bowing to him, seated on the throne.
"We vow to pacify the four seas for our Emperor and usher in eternal peace for Da Qian!"
One a scholar, the other a warrior, they swore to the heavens, their gazes equally resolute.
As the dream deepened, Xiao Qing's lips curved into a slight smile, and dimples were faintly visible on his cheeks.
Isn't this exactly the kind of wise minister and loyal general I have dreamed of?
Alas, it is only a dream...
Xiao Qing came to his senses and slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself leaning on Liang Xiao's shoulder, even feeling the warm breath emanating from Liang Xiao.