Chapter 3: Liang Xiao! How can you be so hypocritical!
Lady Situ and her son Situ Yinghao exchanged glances, utterly unable to fathom how Liang Xiao—who had always complied with their every request—could now be so resolute.
Situ Yinghao clenched his fists, his cold gaze fixed on Liang Xiao’s retreating figure. He spoke each word with deliberate weight: “He truly is ungrateful beyond measure.”
Nightfall descended.
Outside the grand hall of the imperial palace, Liang Xiao presented his identification plaque to the guard, his tone earnest.
“I am Liang Xiao, son of the late General of the Northern Frontier, the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor. I seek an audience with His Majesty.”
After inspecting the plaque, the guard merely stared at Liang Xiao, a forced smile barely masking disdain.
Seeming to understand, Liang Xiao produced a ten-tael silver note.
Only then did the guard summon a young eunuch, giving Liang Xiao a meaningful glance.
Liang Xiao handed over another twenty-tael silver note. “A small token; please accept it graciously, sir.”
“Though you are the scion of the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, entitled to an imperial audience, you now hold no official rank. You must learn to conduct yourself accordingly,” the eunuch finally said with a genuine smile and ushered him inside.
Along the way, to smooth passage, Liang Xiao discreetly presented twenty taels of silver to four eunuchs, spending a total of one hundred and ten taels before finally reaching the imperial study.
In the Wu Dynasty, emperors were only given posthumous titles; during their lifetimes, all were called Emperor Wu.
Inside the resplendent imperial study, Emperor Wu yawned and looked down at the kneeling Liang Xiao.
“Liang Xiao, though Situ Luoyue and Sima Lingyun’s bond was forged on the battlefield and became a tale of romance, since you are betrothed to Situ Luoyue, unless you consent otherwise, she must marry you according to that bond. Why, then, do you trouble the palace with your presence again?”
Liang Xiao replied, “I come to beseech Your Majesty to issue an edict dissolving that marriage contract from years past.”
The emperor was taken aback. “You seek to facilitate a union between Sima Lingyun and Situ Luoyue?”
Liang Xiao answered, “I only ask for the contract’s annulment. Henceforth, Situ Luoyue and I shall lead separate lives. Whom she marries is no concern of mine, so this is neither facilitation nor obstruction.”
The emperor hurriedly glanced at the court eunuch Wang Teng by his side.
Wang Teng whispered, “Your Majesty can have the best of both worlds. This youth is quite sensible.”
Impatiently, Emperor Wu said, “I personally officiated your betrothal. Since you choose to relinquish it, I shall not force the matter.”
The marriage certificates, stored in the palace’s inner court, were promptly brought to the study along with a newly inscribed imperial edict, which was handed to Liang Xiao.
“From now on, you and Situ Luoyue shall each live your own lives.”
After accepting the edict and expressing his gratitude, Liang Xiao made another request.
“Though now a civilian, I cherish the loyalty and patriotism of my father and brothers. I humbly ask Your Majesty to permit me to join the military, achieve merit, drive out the barbarians, and reclaim our lands—thus avenging my family’s honor.”
---
Emperor Wu waved dismissively. “Our realm is stable, the people content. The pacification of the Central Plains can wait. The court overflows with talented officials, both civil and military, including the peerless General Sima Lingyun. There is no need for you to concern yourself.”
Liang Xiao glanced at the emperor, detecting disdain in his eyes and impatience on his face. He smiled bitterly and left with the eunuch.
He had intended to bring up the execution of the Left Virtuous King, but now saw it was unnecessary.
The powerless, no matter how loudly they shout, are ignored.
The powerful, even if they whisper, are heard clearly.
For the Sima family, at the height of their influence, the honor of such an execution could only and must only belong to Sima Lingyun.
Emperor Wu would never offend the Sima family on behalf of a mere civilian like Liang Xiao.
“Why does Father so coldly neglect the descendants of the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor?”
From behind the screen emerged a vision in crimson robes, stunning as a celestial being.
This was Liang Qingshuang, the emperor’s beloved sixteen-year-old daughter.
Her delicate brows furrowed with concern.
“Qingshuang, you heard just now. This youth voluntarily renounced his betrothal—how foolish! He is not the talent Father needs,” the emperor said bluntly.
Liang Qingshuang cautioned, “Father, the court is now in a critical moment of recruitment. The Marquis of Loyalty and Valor’s household is filled with loyal martyrs. Even if this Liang young master is unremarkable, the court should honor his family’s sacrifice with at least a minor official post. Without his betrothal, he may become the city’s laughingstock.”
The emperor dismissed her concerns. “You are but a girl—what do you understand? His family has always been at odds with those powerful clans. How could I offend those nobles on account of a useless boy and give them more ammunition?”
Hesitantly, Liang Qingshuang said, “But if loyal subjects are not properly rewarded, soon no soldier will dare to swear loyalty to the Wu Dynasty…”
Wang Teng interjected, “Princess, even loyal subjects cannot be absolved of the sins of a defeated army. The emperor simply stripped him of his rank, which is more than generous. Granting him office again would embarrass the emperor and make him appear unjust.”
“Wang Aiqing speaks wisely. Qingshuang, go and rest. Do not trouble yourself with state affairs. Father will find you a suitable husband,” Emperor Wu urged before sighing, “I had intended to arrange a match between you and Sima Lingyun, but this Liang Xiao has interfered.”
Returning to her western palace villa, Liang Qingshuang felt an uneasy weight in her heart. She summoned her female captain and gave repeated instructions.
“With internal and external threats looming and various warlords stirring, the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor’s family—loyal martyrs all—deserves the court’s favor. Assign someone to watch over Liang Xiao. If necessary, I will lend him support. Perhaps he can preserve a glimmer of hope for the Wu Dynasty.”
---
In the courtyard of the Liang residence, Liang Xiao was dead drunk.
Ning Yan watched him drink in silence, her heart aching. “Young master, you’re drunk. Shall I help you rest?”
Liang Xiao only shook his head and kept drinking.
Bitter wine burned his throat, flooding his heart with sorrow.
After all, she had once been the woman to whom he had given his true heart.
From now on, they were worlds apart.
Moments later, Liang Xiao retched violently.
Ning Yan hurried to clean him up, helped him to his room, carefully covered him with a blanket, and sat by the table. In the flickering candlelight, she gazed at his tear-stained face and sighed softly.
That night, Liang Xiao seemed to have a very long dream.
In it, he found himself in a strange and dazzling world, filled with things he had never seen before.
Machines that carried people across mountains, seas, and vast lands in a single day—called airplanes, bullet trains, ships...
Devices that made people thousands of miles apart feel as if they were right beside one another—called phones, computers...
There, he was still Liang Xiao, living a full life until he tragically fell from a cliff while climbing a mountain.
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was high in the sky.
He was once more the sole heir of the Liang family in the capital—Young Master Liang Xiao.
“Is it the butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi, or Zhuangzi dreaming of the butterfly... it no longer matters,” he murmured.
After a brief moment of confusion, a profound clarity settled over him.
What mattered was that he suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of enlightenment.
Raising his eyes, he saw Ning Yan asleep soundly at the table.
Without a word, he knew she had stayed up all night out of worry.
Liang Xiao looked at the mess of vomit covering the bed and chuckled softly. He lifted Ning Yan into his arms and headed to the room next door.
The movement startled the girl in his embrace. Flushed and flustered, she stammered, “M-Master!”
At that moment, a voice called out from outside.
“Liang Xiao! How can you be so hypocritical!”
Turning his head, Liang Xiao saw Situ Luoyue approaching, her face full of fury.
“I just returned and heard you went to see His Majesty! It would be one thing if you simply kept that lowly woman in your arms, but why must you persist in clinging to her so desperately!”