Chapter 46: High Treason!

The guarding sentry said solemnly, "Lord Wang, His Majesty is currently discussing matters with the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and Princess Qings霜!"

Wang Teng's heart sank. He braced himself and said, "Please inform His Majesty that the matter concerning Pei County is of the utmost urgency!"

Inside the Imperial Study, the current Crown Prince and the Second Prince were fiercely arguing before the throne. The two brothers were red-faced, while Emperor Wu on the platform remained indifferent, and Liang Qingshuang stood nearby offering gentle words of persuasion.

A moment later, a sentry rushed over to report.

"Your Majesty, Lord Wang has a matter to report, and says the situation in Pei County is extremely urgent!"

Pei County?

All four members of the imperial family thought of the same thing simultaneously. That was the place where Liang Xiao had bought his official post!

Emperor Wu looked down at his two sons and said, "You two may withdraw and rest for now."

Helpless, the brothers exchanged a bitter, hateful glare before reluctantly taking their leave of Emperor Wu.

Liang Qingshuang was about to leave as well, but Emperor Wu called her back.

"Shuang'er, stay. Help your imperial father deliberate on this."

Liang Qingshuang was quite surprised, but she readily agreed. She too wanted to know what on earth had happened in Pei County to make Wang Teng so desperate as to interrupt the quiet of the imperial family.

As soon as Wang Teng entered the door, Emperor Wu rebuked him with a gloomy face.

"Minister Wang, did I not already grant Liang Xiao full authority to govern Pei County, giving him military power and law enforcement authority as well? Why are you coming back to make a racket?"

Wang Teng immediately fell to his knees in full kowtow, his voice breathless and hurried.

"Your Majesty! It's a major event! A colossal disaster has happened! It is treason of the highest order!"

Deep in the night. The Pei County Yamen.

Zhongli Xiu delivered the land deeds for ten shops and ten workshops to Liang Xiao.

"According to Lord Liang's wishes, the workshops have resumed normal operations."

Liang Xiao took the land deeds with a look of gratitude and said, "From now on, I will certainly not let down the Zhongli family!"

Overjoyed, Zhongli Xiu expressed his thanks and hurried away. He knew that next, Liang Xiao would have to focus on dealing with Black Cloud Stronghold. All the Zhongli family could do was quickly muster their guards to assist the government soldiers in defending the city at a moment's notice.

Early the next morning.

As soon as the city gates opened, intelligence agents from various families who had waited outside bitterly all night swarmed in and began spreading the word everywhere.

"Liang Xiao, the newly appointed magistrate of Pei County, killed County Vice-Prefect Yuan Bailong on his very first day in office!"

The news spread, and the scholarly circles of the capital were shaken with rage!

"Such a tyrant! It was one thing for him to oppress the Situ family, who also come from a military lineage, but how dare he murder Yuan Bailong?!"

For a time, all the noble houses in the capital joined in a chorus of condemnation, aiming their wrath squarely at Liang Xiao.

The Sima family estate, within the waterside pavilion.

Situ Luoyue was dressed in magnificent brocade, extraordinarily gorgeous. At the moment, she was lazily reclining on an agarwood chair, enjoying a massage from a maidservant. Occasionally, she extended her jade-white fingers to pick up preserved fruit from the table, savoring it slowly with supreme contentment.

This was the zenith of the flourishing Sima family—everything was the height of luxury, and even the air she breathed was sweet. How could the Liang Estate ever compare to this?

A moment later, a maidservant hurried over in a panic to report.

" Eldest Young Mistress, the Young Master asks you to come to the main hall to speak. He says there is news concerning Liang Xiao!"

The previously blissful Situ Luoyue narrowed her eyes, unable to conceal a look of resentment. The title of Eldest Young Mistress of the Sima family—the position she had dreamed of—sounded so satisfying when others called her by it! Why did they still have to bring up that person?

In the main hall, Sima Lingyun, Old Madam Situ, Situ Yinghao, and Situ Luoyue sat together, their faces radiant with joy.

Looking at the intelligence report on the table, Situ Luoyue wept tears of joy and made a tearful accusation.

"Brother Lingyun, do you believe it now? Liang Xiao has always been a hypocritical beast in human clothing. Outwardly he acts refined, but deep down he is cruel and merciless. My family used to suffer endlessly under his bullying!"

Old Madam Situ wailed, "Thank goodness Lingyun rescued our family from that sea of bitterness. Otherwise, had Luoyue married him, she would surely have been tormented to death by him!"

Sima Lingyun gnashed his teeth and said, "Once he went to Pei County, his true nature was finally exposed! Yuan Bailong served diligently in Pei County for ten years and won high praise, yet he slaughtered him with a single sword! Let's see who in the capital dares to speak up for him from now on!"

Over the past ten years, Yuan Bailong had provided no small amount of tribute to the Sima family. With such a fine financial artery severed by Liang Xiao, Sima Lingyun wished he could consume his flesh raw.

Situ Yinghao urged eagerly, "Brother-in-law! This is a golden opportunity! We must thoroughly impeach him!"

Sima Lingyun nodded, "My father has already summoned everyone, including my father-in-law. We are just waiting for the imperial court session to open so we can impeach him publicly! This time, we must ruin his reputation completely and cast him into eternal damnation. The Marquis of Loyal and Valiant's Estate will also become a laughingstock once and for all!"

The three members of the Situ family exchanged smiles, their inner joy knowing no bounds. They never imagined that Liang Xiao would be so audacious as to court his own destruction, making it unnecessary for them even to borrow a knife to kill him.

The Situ family could finally rest easy. From now on, no one would ever doubt the rumors circulating outside regarding Liang Xiao...

In the morning, the capital was greeted by a heavy downpour, while the scholarly community in the city engaged in heated discussions about Liang Xiao killing Yuan Bailong.

In a residential area on the northern side of the capital.

A visiting retainer of the Sima family cupped his fists toward two young men, his tone sincere.

"The Ghost Talent of Jiangzuo, renowned throughout the world! Our family head hopes that you will reconsider joining the Sima family, where you will certainly be treated as an honored guest!"

With that, the retainer raised his eyes to look at the scholar in white and the scholar in cyan before him.

The Ghost Talent of Jiangzuo, Jing Yunsheng in white!

Universally acknowledged to possess heaven-defying talent and the arts to govern and pacify the state!

Countless great noble families and imperial princes had worn out their tongues trying to recruit him, yet this man had turned them down one by one.

Now, he was accompanied by a scholar in cyan who stubbornly refused to reveal his name. But the retainer knew very well that anyone capable of earning the respect of the Ghost Talent of Jiangzuo could hardly be an ordinary person.

"Thank you for your kind regard, but I currently take pleasure in rivers and mountains. My friend, please return."

Jing Yunsheng maintained a warm smile throughout, but his words were an unyielding order to see the guest out.

Helpless, the retainer could only force a smile and leave, harboring deep resentment.

Jing Yunsheng and the scholar in cyan stood side by side under the eaves, watching the winter rain gradually turn torrential, beating down the trees and grass.

At that moment, the only sound in their ears was the violent raging of the rain.

After a long while, Jing Yunsheng gazed into the distance, as if speaking to himself.

"This rain is most unusual."

The scholar in cyan sighed, "It is this country that is weeping."

Jing Yunsheng nodded slightly, his calm eyes concealing an endless sorrow.

Seeing that the realm was about to descend into chaos with foreign barbarians eyeing it like tigers, yet the south was filled with spineless cowards, the future would undoubtedly bring shattered mountains and rivers and widespread devastation among the populace.

"Liuyun, what do you make of Liang Xiao killing Yuan Bailong?" Jing Yunsheng asked.

The scholar in cyan seemed to answer off the mark.

"Our journey to the north of the river should be brought forward."

Jing Yunsheng pondered thoughtfully, "The public opinion of the noble families cannot be fully trusted. In my view, this Liang Xiao is by no means simple. It is time to head north and investigate for ourselves."

The scholar in cyan nodded, "Indeed. Master Lu once mentioned to me that he made the acquaintance of a scholar named Zhuo Zifang, a peerless talent the likes of which has not been seen through the ages. I made covert inquiries and only learned today that he actually followed Liang Xiao to the north of the river as well."

"I am rather curious just how much skill he possesses, and why he chose to travel alongside Liang Xiao." Jing Yunsheng's brow smoothed, clearly showing a spark of interest.

While Liang Xiao's killing of Yuan Bailong caused a massive uproar and the aristocratic clans competed with one another in condemnation, two young men packed their luggage and left the capital amidst the rain, rushing toward the north of the river.

In the grand imperial palace, during the morning court session.

"Your Majesty! This subject has a matter to report!"

Sima Lingyun stepped out of the ranks first, filled with righteous indignation.

"Yuan Bailong, the Vice-Prefect of Pei County, was extremely filial, loyal to the sovereign, and patriotic. In his ten years in office, he worked conscientiously and won the deep affection of the people! Yet Liang Xiao, upon assuming the post of magistrate of Pei County, executed Yuan Bailong publicly on his very first day just to establish his authority! His intentions are utterly detestable! I beg Your Majesty to sanction Liang Xiao!"

Having finished, Sima Lingyun turned back in a hurry, signaling frantically with his eyes to his colleagues.

A host of officials from the noble families stepped forward in succession to impeach him, public sentiment boiling over with anger!