The King of Liang

"So your name is Dongfang Shuo, that's a really good name!"

The meeting between Zhang Xuezhou and Sima Xiangru was hardly a pleasant reunion of old acquaintances. Sima Xiangru blind, mistook Zhang Xuezhou for an admirer.

What Sima Xiangru n't expect was that this fan was quite capable; he actually passed the Prince's Palace's assessment and managed to sneak into Liang Garden.

"It's always been women who admire Wenqing, I never thought men would do the same," the woman next to Sima Xiangru said with a smile, covering her mouth.

"Musical skills are not limited to men or women. It is normal for men to admire me and for women to admire me as well," Sima Xiangru explained after coughing a few times.

"But many women admire you, and many want to be your concubine!"

"Wenjun, this kind of thing is normal. Besides, I haven't even taken a concubine yet, so you can rest assured about my character!"

Sima Xiangru his face, and while frequently returning Zhang Xuezhou's greetings, he patiently explained to the woman beside him.

"This is my wife, Zhuo Wenjun," Sima Xiangru.

"I have long admired the great scholar Wenjun, and I have always revered you," Zhang Xuezhou said. "If Young Master Xiangru does not mind, I would be willing to submit to your grace."

"To fall under your skirt, what do you mean? Didn't you admire me?" Sima Xiangru frowned.

"Yes, I admire you, but I also admire the great writer Wenjun," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"You cannot be so absurd! You must know the difference between men and women. What you are doing is a blatant intrusion into the marital relationship!" Sima Xiangru, "I am quite bothered by this!"

"This kind of thing is actually quite normal," Zhuo Wenjun said with a smile.

"That's abnormal. Peeping at other men's wives and daughters is a wolf's ambition, and it's an evil deed," Sima Xiangru retorted.

"Where is her husband, who was spying on her?"

Zhuo Wenjun asked a question that left Sima Xiangru.

He clearly exhibited double standards in his handling of this matter.

"Sima Xiangru actually suffered a setback!"

Guests at Liang Garden could stand on stones and other objects to watch the interviews of the Liang Prince's advisors, and the Liang Prince's residence could also see the guests at Liang Garden.

King Liang looked sickly and lifeless. He held a cylindrical Law Treasure and looked at Liang Garden, which was separated by a wall. A rare faint smile appeared on his face.

"He is indeed a remarkable person. Take me to see the traces of that magical Technique Method!"

King Liang beckoned with his little finger, and two attendants immediately stepped forward to help him down from his seat.

When a sedan chair was brought over, King Liang was also carried onto it.

Amidst the creaking sounds of the sedan chair being carried, Prince Liang rested his head on one side of the chair, as if he were asleep.

"I love King Liang"

Fossilization itself isn't a remarkable skill, but the ability to reverse it and decompose stone into dust is truly extraordinary.

If there were any prisons that needed to be escaped from, this would be an invaluable asset.

King Liang was awakened and looked at the four characters on the marble. The first thing that came to his mind was how to make good use of this person's talents, and only then did he look at the content of the four characters.

He read a sentence aloud.

"My elder brother said the same thing back then!"

His gaze was blank, then he looked at the several people closely following behind him.

"King Liang, King Jichuan, King Jidong, King Shanyang, King Jiyin!"

King Liang recited another sentence, which caused several people behind him to kneel down simultaneously.

"Your subject dares not!" everyone shouted in unison.

"My brother loves me. Before I even died, he had already bestowed titles and fiefs upon the five of you," said King Liang.

"Father, why is the imperial decree so different?" someone asked.

"Because my brother loves me and has made plans for everything for me," King Liang said with a deathly pale face, "My brother has done everything beyond words, but I just feel that something is not right!"

The bond of friendship, forged through repeated hand-holding, remains, and King Liang even received a guarantee from Emperor Jing.

King Liang thus became completely devoted to Emperor Jing.

"I am clearly capable of becoming emperor, I clearly possess extraordinary talent and destiny, I shouldn't be like this. My elder brother said that only I can restore the Han Kingdom, and so did my mother..."

Amidst low murmurs, King Liang stared at the four characters on the ground, lost in thought.

But the more he thought about it, the less he understood.

All of this happened simply because he died first.

Emperor Jing could still endure it, but he was starting to feel the strain.

Under normal circumstances, he should have died two years ago, but he has been clinging to life through surgery until now.

However, the Nine Revolutions Qi Combination Technique cannot guarantee his immortality.

King Liang pondered many things in a daze, and when his gaze fell on the direction of Chang'an City, a trace of delusion inevitably crept into his mind.

"Having inherited the imperial destiny and extended the lifespan of the Yellow Emperor, if my elder brother were to abdicate in my favor now, I would surely be able to live another twenty years. However, my brother did not survive the ordeal after abdicating!"

As a prince acting as an emperor, the tactics employed by the King of Liang undoubtedly exceeded his own capabilities.

"If I were to glean insights into the Han Dynasty's future, it seems I could do so after ascending to the throne. At that time, I would..."

King Liang fell into a drowsy state of mind, but the more he thought, the more confused he became.

"My brother treated me so well, so why did that kindness turn me into the person I am today?"

King Liang couldn't understand it.

He touched his face, which was beginning to show signs of aging, and then pointed to Liang Garden.

"Bring that Dongfang Shuo here!"

Feeling drowsy and confused to the point of lacking mental focus, King Liang wanted to perk himself up.

But he is no longer the person he used to be, and behaviors like hanging his head from a beam no longer suit him.

Sima Xiangru's music was very beautiful, but after listening to it again and again, like the useless elixirs he had taken, the music lost all its novelty for the King of Liang.

He really needs someone to amuse him right now, something that can help him stay alert and think things through.

The guest advisors recruited by the officials today are clearly of some interest. King Liang hopes that they can demonstrate some abilities that will refresh and invigorate him, even if it's just contributing their mouths.

Compared to officials who strictly adhere to hierarchy and are obsequious, a free-spirited guest advisor might bring him a sense of novelty.

He waved his hand, and everyone responded in unison.

The sedan chair was carried into the palace. When King Liang lay back on the golden throne, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Zhang Xuezhou, who had previously choked Sima Xiangru.

"You dare not kneel before the King!"

Upon hearing the attendant's reminder, Zhang Xuezhou quickly waved his sleeves and bowed to the Prince of Liang.

"What kind of courtesy is this?" King Liang asked.

"I have heard that when sages meet Sagacity rulers, they behave with the courtesy due to gentlemen. This allows sages not to be subservient to the ruler's authority and to converse with the ruler in a normal manner!"

Zhang Xuezhou pondered the Liang King's tolerance towards the guests of Liang Garden, and Zhuo Wenjun's subtle hints of goodwill, which led Zhang Xuezhou to only say nice things.

He compared himself to a sage, but also placed the King of Liang in the position of Sagacity ruler.

This clearly pleased King Liang greatly, and he beckoned the attendants to leave with a flick of his little finger.

"Gongsun Gui said you love me," King Liang asked.

"Who in this State of Liang doesn't love Your Majesty?" Zhang Xuezhou replied.

He pointed to the attendant who had just ordered him to kneel, and then asked a question.

"Do you love the King?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"Your humble servant..."

"You don't love it?" Zhang Xuezhou asked in surprise.

"I love you, I love you, my king! I love you so much!"

The attendant, forcing a smile, repeatedly pledged his loyalty.

This is an awkward question, but if he dares to say he doesn't love it today, he won't have this position tomorrow.

If bad luck strikes and displeases the King of Liang, it's not impossible that his head could be chopped off.

He responded immediately after Zhang Xuezhou asked him.

"Father, we love you!"

"Your Majesty, we love you too!"

When the King of Liang glanced at them, all his sons and officials immediately cried out in unison.

"Hilarious, ridiculous!"

King Liang sighed inwardly.

It's normal for someone like Zhang Xuezhou to say such things, after all, the other party is just a guest advisor who tries to please the King of Liang, but when the sons and officials speak, it's just a statement.

King Liang disliked this perfunctory response and even more so the cautious and apprehensive attitude of these people.

"Don't worry, I won't drag you all down with me when I die!"

King Liang spoke calmly.

After he finished speaking, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he seemed to have figured something out.