Chapter 150 - 150: 150. Returning from the Reunion (Second Update)
Translator: 549690339
Su Liang knew that Yan Shiba would reappear.
But when she really appeared suddenly, it still startled Su Liang.
Yan Shiba hung on Su Liang like a koala, “Liang sister, have you missed me?”
Su Liang pushed her away, and Yan Shiba fell on the bed, posing seductively, winking at Su Liang, “Sister will sleep with you tonight.”
Su Liang rolled her eyes, “It seems your body is completely healed.”
Yan Shiba immediately pretended to clasp her heart, “Not yet, my heart hurts,
Liang sister, you touch it.”
Su Liang’s forehead twitched, “I’m very tired, let’s talk about whatever you want tomorrow.”
“Alright.” Yan Shiba turned around and lay down beside Su Liang. “Come, sleep.”
Su Liang shook her head, “I’m not used to sleeping with others.” “When I capture Gu Ling for you, won’t you sleep with him?” Yan Shiba smirked.
In the next room, Ning Jing glanced at the wall, his expression calm, and continued reading.
Su Liang frowned, “Less nonsense, get out!”
Yan Shiba’s smile deepened, “I love it when Liang’s sister scolds me, it’s so refreshing!”
Su Liang: …
A moment later, Su Liang picked up Yan Shiba and threw her out of the door. “Liang sister, the way you hold me is still so heart-throbbing!” Yan Shiba said from outside.
Su Liang ignored her and went to sleep.
She knew that when this woman reappeared, she would still not learn to behave properly.
“Sister will help you find Gu Ling again!”
Hearing Yan Shiba’s voice, Su Liang snorted, “As if you could find him.”
After arranging the bedding, Su Liang suddenly remembered that before the Gu family’s accident, Gu Ling had been staying at Huguo Temple. Was Yan Shiba going to the temple to look for clues? Cheng Yun was there!
Su Liang sincerely hoped that Yan Shiba would keep away from Cheng Yun, otherwise, there would be a scene of a seductive woman tempting a little monk, and she couldn’t help but worry for Cheng Yun.
Su Liang slept until daylight.
She woke up to hear Zhengzheng playing in the courtyard and Ning Jing talking.
When she got up and went out, Zhengzheng called aunt and ran over. Su Liang picked up Zhengzheng and saw Ning Jing working on a new wooden sculpture.
Su Liang put Zhengzheng down, and he ran out with his short little legs.
She sat down across from Ning Jing and saw that he was carving a boat this time, which was beginning to take shape.
“Just now, Lu Yu came, and the person captured last night was interrogated.” Ning Jing said.
Su Liang narrowed her eyes, “Was it Li Chen who sent someone to kill and snatch the child?”
Ning Jing nodded, “They were hired by Li Chen with a high price. Their mission was to kill Lu Yu, snatch Zhengzheng, and keep Wan Hui alive so that she could exchange you for Zhengzheng.”
This was why there was a black mist in Lu Yu’s forehead. If Ning Jing and Su Liang had not intervened, he would have been in grave danger last night.
“Me?” Su Liang frowned, “Is it because I foiled Li Chen’s plan of blood recognition that he has a grudge against me? But it’s impossible for him to return the child!”
Ning Jing nodded slightly, “Knowing that you are skilled in martial arts, if Li
Chen only wanted the child, he would not have provoked you again. Killing Wan Hui and Lu Yu, hiding the child for a few years, the Wan family would have no evidence and could not do anything about him.”
Su Liangs eyes grew cold, “Children’s appearances change quickly. In a few years’ time, he could say he adopted a son or had a child with another woman. By then, the Wan Family couldn’t prove it was Zhengzheng.”
“Leaving Wan Hui alive and targeting you is a foolish move.” Ning Jing said, “I suspect someone else is behind it.”
Su Liang was taken aback, “Are you saying that besides Li Chen, there is someone else behind the scenes?”
“The relationship between you and Zhengzheng’s family is known to those who keep an eye on you in the capital. The entanglement between the Li and Wan families is not a secret.” Ning Jing said.
“Duanmu Ao? Nian Ruxue? Using Li Chen to do the dirty work for them? Knowing that I care about Zhengzheng, they could kidnap him and set up a trap to harm me.” Su Liang thought.
“It’s possible.” Ning Jing said.
Su Liang sighed softly, “But there’s no evidence. I’m afraid only Li Chen knows whether someone is conspiring with him. If so, who is it?”
The breakfast Wan Hui had kept warm for Su Liang was still on the stove.
“The assassins that Li Chen paid for, I’ll just pay more and they’ll betray Li
Chen.” Wan Hui’s expression was cold, “Lu Yu has gone to contact Yanyun
Building. I’m willing to pay the highest price for that man’s head!”
Previously, Wan Hui only wanted to separate and never be involved again, but Li Chen’s repeated offenses had made her reach her limit.
Su Liang anticipated that Yan Shiba might come to find her again, but she didn’t mention it to Wan Hui, thinking it would be best to go through Yanyun
Building’s normal channels. After all, the Wan family was not short of money. If she invited Yan Shiba to help, he would surely seize the opportunity to discuss conditions and create trouble.
The trouble was temporarily resolved, but apart from Li Chen, it was still unclear whether there were others behind the scenes.
However, Su Liang and Ning Jing were going home.
Zhengzheng didn’t want to, so she clung to Ning Jing’s leg and refused to let her go.
Ning Jing was helpless with the child, so she agreed to stay for another two days.
When Ning Jing met Lian Shun again, he asked her if he could go to see Su Liang.
Ning Jing shook her head, “It’s someone else’s house, it’s not convenient.”
Lian Shun had no choice but to give up for the time being.
Lin Xueqing and Qin Yujin came to visit, and Wan Hui warmly received them.
Lin Xueqing mentioned that her second brother was expected to arrive in the capital the day after tomorrow, and Qi Yan would go out of the city to meet him tomorrow.
When Lin Xueqing left, she took a letter, which Su Liang gave to her, and asked her to give it to Qi Yan to deliver to Nian Jincheng.
In front of Qin Yujin’s face, Su Liang openly stated that she had written about the incident where Nian Ruxue had set her up at Huguo Temple.
Although Qin Yujin and Lin Xueqing did not expect Su Liang to report the incident to Nian Jincheng in this way, since it was a fact, there was nothing that couldn’t be said. They also wanted to see if Nian Jincheng could tell right from wrong and whether he would favor Nian Ruxue unreasonably.
Xing Yusheng received the letter and handed it to Qi Yan.
Early the next morning, Qi Yan set out to leave the capital.
When Duanmu Ao saw Nian Ruxue again that day, he told her that his carefully arranged plan of borrowing a knife to kill people had failed.
The person behind the scenes that Su Liang had yet to confirm was Duanmu Ao.
Considering Duanmu Ao’s character, he wouldn’t usually be so cautious. However, due to his previous conflict with Nian Ruxue, he had been severely reprimanded by Duanmu Yi and was told to behave himself recently, not to cause trouble, and to focus on the current negotiations with Yin Country involving Su Liang and Nian Ruxue, two outstanding women from the Military Exam, which were related to Qian Country’s reputation.
Therefore, after Duanmu Ao saw Su Liang and Wan Hui’s family together several times, he planned to use Li Chen to get rid of Su Liang.
Unfortunately, the master Li Chen hired was more than enough to deal with
Wan Hui’s family. As long as they caught Zhengzheng, they could control Su Liang. However, they didn’t expect Su Liang to have stayed at the Wan family that day, causing the plan to fail.
Nian Ruxue was disappointed, “How can she be so powerful?”
Hearing this, Duanmu Ao felt very upset and thought he had lost face, so he grabbed Nian Ruxue’s hand and said, “The emperor is watching, and it’s not suitable to act against her for the time being! You must defeat her in the finals, or else she will soar to the sky, and will become a big trouble for you and me in the future!”
Nian Ruxue’s face stiffened, “I haven’t fought her yet, and I have no confidence. ”
“I don’t care! You must defeat her fair and square, so she never has a chance to rise! Do you hear me?” Duanmu Ao suddenly revealed his sinister side.
Nian Ruxue’s wrist was squeezed in pain, and it took a great effort to break free, “Second Prince, I will do my best.”
“It’s not about doing your best, you must win! If you lose, I’ll make you pay!” Duanmu Ao snorted coldly.
He couldn’t deal with Su Liang himself, so he shifted the responsibility onto Nian Ruxue.
Nian Ruxue was furious but didn’t dare to argue.
Finally, after sending Duanmu Ao away, Nian Ruxue opened her wardrobe and Nian Ruting walked out from inside.
“Did you hear everything?” Nian Ruxue’s face was gloomy.
Nian Ruting nodded, “I really wanted to rush out and kill that lecherous
Duanmu Ao! So my fourth sister wouldn’t be bullied and threatened by him!”
Nian Ruxue’s face darkened, “He’s a prince, not someone we can offend. If we kill him, our entire family will be buried with him.”
“I don’t care about others, I just don’t want to see my fourth sister suffer so much.” Nian Ruting’s eyes turned red.
The two sisters hugged each other, and there was no warmth in Nian Ruxue’s eyes, “Fifth sister, my future and fate are now in your hands. Everyone only cares who becomes the Top Scholar; the difference between the first and second place seems to be just one step, but it’s actually meaningless. The Royal Family is the same. Su Liang has come to restrain me. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have been involved in this marriage.”
Nian Ruting’s expression was firm, “Fourth sister, don’t worry, I will definitely defeat her!”
Nian Ruxue sighed, ‘My second brother will be back in the capital in a few days.
He’s been good to me. This time, he has made great contributions by killing the Nanping Prince, so he will surely plead for me in front of the emperor. By then, combined with the Top Scholar honors, there will be a chance for the emperor to revoke the decree.”
“Didn’t fourth sister say that the second brother doesn’t care about anyone in the Nian family and is only concerned about his own future?” Nian Ruting looked confused.
Nian Ruxue nodded, “Yes, but I’ve been trying to please him for so many years. Even if his heart is made of stone, it would have been warmed up.” Nian Ruting nodded, “Second brother is Master Gu’s best friend, so he must have a good heart.”
“He’s not too bad to me. But when you were injured back then, I asked him to visit you, but he didn’t care at all.” Nian Ruxue smiled bitterly.
Nian Ruting’s eyes dimmed, “As long as he can help the fourth sister, I don’t care about the rest.”
When Qi Yan met Qi Jun, he was drinking with Lin Bojun.
“Brother? How did you come?” Qi Jun was delighted to see Qi Yan and quickly introduced Lin Bojun to him.
Qi Yan greeted him ceremonially, and Lin Bojun smiled, inviting him over to sit, “You’re not an outsider anymore. Why be so polite with each other?” The Qi brothers were very fond of their future brother-in-law.
Qi Yan told Lin Bojun about the time since Qi Jun left the capital city.
“Ha ha! Su Xiaoliang is a real hero!” Lin Bojun’s face was full of smiles.
Qi Yan particularly mentioned the incident when the recuperating Old Master Qin and Master Lin Shuzhi went fishing together a few days ago.
Lin Bojun cheered up and said, “I also like fishing.”
He found it hard not to suspect that Master Lin Shuzhi was planning the Marriage for him.
When he learned that Su Liang had a letter for Nian Jincheng, Lin Bojun was very surprised, and then let Qi Jun take him there.
Nian Jincheng was wiping his waist sword. He would set off tomorrow and arrive in the capital city by noon. However, the closer he got to the capital, the more he didn’t want to go back.
Hearing Qi Jun’s voice, Nian Jincheng put down his sword and let them in.
“This is a letter from Miss Su Liang, which she asked me to deliver to General Nian.” Qi Yan took out the letter.
Nian Jincheng was startled, took it, and thanked Qi Yan while also asking about the recent situation in the capital city.
“The final results of the Military Exam will be announced tomorrow. Miss Su Liang and Miss Nian both made it to the final round, which starts the day after tomorrow.” Qi Yan said.
“I see.” Nian Jincheng nodded.
When the Qi brothers took their leave, Nian Jincheng opened the letter Su Liang sent him.
Indeed, it was Su Liang’s handwriting. Or rather, it was Ning Jing’s handwriting. Su Liang had already learned it so well that no flaws could be seen.
In the letter, Su Liang briefly recounted the incident of her meeting Nian Ruxue at the Huguo Temple.
She only stated the facts, without any additional remarks.
After reading the letter, Nian Jincheng’s face darkened, and his hand gripped tho Ipttpr tightlvl
Since he met Qi Jun and learned that Nian Ruxue was given in marriage to Duanmu Ao, Nian Jincheng knew that Nian Ruxue had lied to him, but he didn’t know the purpose of this arranged marriage.
Now, Su Liang’s letter cleared up Nian Jincheng’s doubts.
It turned out that Nian Ruxue was the one who harmed others first, and in the end, she ended up suffering herself, entangled with Duanmu Ao!
“Is this your true face? Selfish and self-serving, unscrupulous in your pursuit of your goals…” Nian Jincheng’s face was full of self-mockery, “What am I worth to you, only valuable because of my usefulness?”
As Ning Jing said, Nian Jincheng didn’t believe him at first because he had no evidence, just said his own opinion, and Nian Jincheng thought he knew Nian Ruxue better.
But now, what Su Liang said was true. Although it was one-sided, Nian
Jincheng knew from his understanding of Su Liang that she couldn’t lie.
Moreover, only this explanation could account for why Duanmu Ao was injured at Huguo Temple and why Nian Ruxue was given an arranged marriage.
It couldn’t have been Nian Ruxue who injured Duanmu Ao because she wouldn’t dare to do anything like that.
Nian Jincheng felt himself a fool, unable to discern whether Nian Ruxue’s feelings for him were true or false. Even with the Nian family treating him that way, he still tried to find warmth in them, which was utterly ridiculous!
Qi Jun didn’t usually speak much, but Qi Yan was different.
When Lin Bojun asked about how Su Liang came to write letters to Nian Jincheng, Qi Yan told them about their suspicions and bluntly said that Nian Ruxue had once framed Su Liang, and Su Liang was determined to tell Nian Jincheng about it.
Lin Bojun was furious when he learned this. Although he didn’t have much contact with Su Liang, she was Ning Jing’s righteous sister, and he was her Senior Brother. In a sense, he was also Su Liang’s elder brother. Furthermore, during their time in Pingbei City, Su Liang had saved the Lin family and the Qianshan academy students over and over again, so Lin Bojun was genuinely grateful and admired her and treated her like a sister.
What made it worse was that Qi Yan added a few words, “At that time, Miss Qin and Miss Lin were both present. Fortunately, Miss Su Liang was able to avoid danger. If it was Miss Qin or Miss Lin, the consequences would have been unimaginable!”
Lin Bojun was enraged to the point where he wanted to tear Nian Ruxue apart!
When Lin Bojun first learned that Nian Ruxue was arranged to marry Duanmu
Ao as an Imperial Concubine, he felt sorry for her and mentioned it to Nian Jincheng several times, hoping to split the credit and let Nian Jincheng use the opportunity to intercede with the Emperor.
Now, Lin Bojun had completely abandoned that idea, feeling that Nian Ruxue and Duanmu Ao deserved each other!
Qi Jun sighed, “Although the second prince was at fault in this matter, Miss Nian was also caught up in this blamelessly. If she had asked Su Liang for help at that time, or if she had found someone to save her after leaving, she wouldn’t have disappointed people so much.”
Qi Yan snorted coldly, “That woman, knowing that Miss Su Liang was entangled by the second prince, and knowing very well that my master was in Huguo Temple, not only did she not find someone to help Miss Su Liang, but she even denied seeing her when Miss Qin and Miss Lin asked her about it!”
Lin Bojun’s face was livid, ‘What a vicious heart!”
Nian Jincheng, who had been standing at the door for a while, left with a gloomy expression on his face.
On the day of the Military Exam result announcement, Nian Jincheng and Lin Bojun returned to the capital city, coinciding with the arrival of the Yin Country envoys.
Nian Ruxue had tried to reserve a private room with the best view of the street in the Wan Family Restaurant, but the manager had been instructed by Wan Hui to decline any reservations trom tne Nian tam11Y, clalmmg tney were tull.
Nian Ruxue knew that Su Liang had a close relationship with the Wan family and suspected Su Liang had sabotaged her efforts, but there was nothing she could do, so she went to a tea house instead.
However, the tea house was owned by the Ning family, and there was no place for her there either.
In the end, Nian Ruxue went to another restaurant and had her maid keep watch. As soon as Nian Jincheng entered the city, she would be informed.
Of course, the best private room in the Wan Family Restaurant was reserved for Su Liang. Qin Yujin and the others were also there.
The servant Xing Yusheng sent went to see the results of the Hui test, and the crowds on the street were bustling, all discussing the results of the Hui test.
Su Liang also saw several scholars from the Qianshan Academy in Pingbei City. When they saw Su Liang, they all politely greeted her. After all, Su Liang had saved them.
‘Master, Ning Jing scored top in the Hui test!” Xing Yusheng’s subordinate brought back good news.
Zhengzheng, sitting on Ning Jing’s lap, asked, “What is Hui Yuan? Can I eat it?” Everyone laughed.
Ning Jing calmly said, “It is a stewed small dumpling, delicious. I’ll ask your aunt to make it.”
Su Liang: … Ning Da Shen always managed to come up with new ways to order dishes. Impressive, impressive.
Xing Yusheng laughed, “Congratulations, congratulations! You are on the same level as my father-in-law and brother-in-law.”
Lin Xueqing blushed, “I haven’t married you yet!”
“Soon, we’ll just wait for my second uncle to return.” Xing Yusheng laughed.
“Here they come! The female general from Yin Country is named Mu!” someone shouted from the street below.
Everyone stood up and walked to the window to look out.
The long procession slowly walked past, and the common people made way on both sides.
“Second Brother!”
At the same time, one was Lin Xueqing calling Lin Bojun, and the other was Nian Ruxue calling Nian Jincheng.
Lin Bojun, who was at the head of the procession, saw Lin Xueqing at a glance. He waved to her with a beaming smile while riding on his horse. “Little sister!”
Qin Yujin’s gaze swept over Nian Jincheng’s cold face and met Lin Bojun’s eyes. His smile was contagious, and she also responded with a slight smile.
Lin Bojun felt great about this and waved his hand a few more times.
Meanwhile, Nian Jincheng heard Nian Ruxue calling him and saw her delighted expression, but he expressionlessly averted his gaze, looked at Su Liang and Ning Jing, and continued to walk forward.
“Miss has been waiting for a long time. Why didn’t the Second Master respond?” The maid was puzzled.
Nian Ruxue’s face was slightly dark. “He has always been reticent. Let’s go home first. He needs to report to the palace, and I’ll prepare some food for him.”
The procession had passed. Su Liang hadn’t seen the heroic figure of General Man Ya because she was sitting in the carriage and didn’t show her face.
From the adjacent room, a familiar voice came: “Su Xiaoliang, what a coincidence!”
Lian Shun poked his head out and smiled at Su Liang.
Lin Xueqing and Qin Yujin pulled Su Liang back, one on each side, and closed the window.
Lian Shun: … What’s going on? Why did the two young ladies look at him like they were looking at an idler?
“That’s the Fifth Prince’s cousin. He’s said to be a ne’er-do-well. Don’t mind him.” Qin Yujin said.
Lin Xueqing said seriously, “Su Sister, you can choose not to find a man, but if you want to find one, Ning Senior Brother should be the first choice. All other men should stand aside.”
Su Liang: … It seems that Lian Shun’s reputation is really not that good. She didn’t know if it was true or false. She would ask next time.
Ning Jing’s achievement in scoring top marks in the Hui test was a big sensation in the capital city.
Su Liang remained calm and was not surprised at all.
Ning Jing was even more composed. His main concern was whether Su Liang would make “stewed dumplings” for him…
After Nian Jincheng and Lin Bojun reported to the palace, they returned home separately.
Lin Bojun couldn’t wait to get home. He said goodbye to Nian Jincheng and hurried away on horseback.
For Nian Jincheng, home held no allure.
As soon as he entered the Nian Mansion, Nian Ruxue’s maid came to greet him, saying that Nian Ruxue had made soup and some of his favorite dishes for him.
When Nian Jincheng returned to his residence, Nian Ruxue was waiting for him under the eaves, her smile gentle and tender, just as it always had been.
In the past, Nian Jincheng enjoyed seeing Nian Ruxue’s smile, but now he found it fake. He couldn’t feel any sincerity in it, as if it were a mask carved into her face.
“Second Brother, you’re finally back!” Nian Ruxue said with a pouty tone. “The dishes I made are getting cold. Wash your face and come eat!”
After washing his face, Nian Jincheng entered the room, and Ruxue dismissed the servants so she could serve the soup herself.
“I heard that Second Brother killed the Nanping Prince. The Emperor must be very pleased, right?” Nian Ruxue asked with a smile.
Nian Jincheng shook his head. “It wasn’t me who killed the Nanping Prince. It was Deputy General Lin. The credit is all his.”
Nian Ruxue’s face stiffened. “You are his superior, and he followed your orders. Of course, the greatest credit should be yours!”
“I don’t want it.” Nian Jincheng expressionlessly replied.. “Do you have any objections?”
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