Chapter 157: 157. Already Engaged (First Update)
Translator: 549690339
Duanmu Chen smiled at the corner of his lips and returned to his seat.
Outsiders could only see that he was talking to Su Liang, but they didn’t know what was said. Subconsciously, they would think Duanmu Chen was interested in Su Liang and was showing his goodwill in public.
In this way, it caused some people who suspected that Su Liang and Duanmu Chen had known each other in Bei’an County to speculate.
If this were the case, given Duanmu Chen’s personality, he should have avoided any suspicion.
Lian Shun whispered to Duanmu Che, “You see? If Su Liang were Duanmu
Chen’s spy, why would he need to be so eager to please her and not get her married to the crown prince’s mansion or enter the imperial harem to be able to help her?”
Duanmu Che hadn’t mentioned the word “spy” since today’s encounter between Su Liang and Mu Ya.
Hearing Lian Shun’s words, Duanmu Che’s thin lips tightened, his gaze sweeping over Su Liang, who was eating fruit, and quickly withdrew.
The fruit at the palace banquet was a tribute mandarin orange, with a yellowish color and almost the same size. Two were placed on each small table.
As Duanmu Che was about to take one, Lian Shun picked up the fruit plate, got up, and sent it to Su Liang as well.
“Su Xiaoliang, these are all for you,” Lian Shun laughed. “They’re produced in my hometown. Whenever you go there, I’ll take you to pick the best ones!”
Su Liang didn’t refuse, “Thanks.”
There were many eyes around, and Lian Shun didn’t say more, just returned to his seat.
Then, Crown Prince Duanmu Cheng had a palace maid send his tribute mandarins to Su Liang.
Seeing Duanmu Ao staring at Su Liang, the second prince’s concubine, Mei Family, snorted, “She’s really from the countryside, she looks like she’s never seen the world before.”
Su Liang was calm and composed, she didn’t want to eat after the third one. In front of everyone, she put the remaining mandarins into her medicine box, intending to take them home for Ning Jing…
Duanmu Che’s mouth twitched slightly, “What is she doing?”
Lian Shun laughed, “So cute!”
Duanmu Yi hadn’t arrived yet, and Su Liang was thinking about the latest news that Duanmu Chen shared just now.
Nian Jincheng had always believed that Nian Ruxue was pure and kind-hearted. It was hard to say whether he really told Nian Ruxue about his contact with Gu Ling and where he knew he was.
But Nian Jincheng would never let anyone know where Gu Ling was, this could be determined.
The problem was, why did Nian Ruting betray, or even slander, Nian Jincheng? What was the benefit to her?
At first, Su Liang couldn’t figure it out.
But she suddenly remembered the incident of Nian Ruxue hiring an assassin from Yanyun Building to kill Gu Ling.
Nian Jincheng and Ning Jing had explained that Nian Ruxue was just impulsive, trying to find Gu Ling by doing this, and wanted him to meet her.
It was hard for Su Liang not to think that there were similarities in the way Nian Ruxue and Nian Ruting, who were able to create the military exam substitute incident, acted.
So, was Nian Ruting trying to expose Nian Jincheng through betrayal, making the issue bigger, forcing Gu Ling to save Nian Jincheng, and incidentally, saving her?
After all, Nian Ruxue had run away, and Nian Ruting, with a broken leg, couldn’t run. She was a direct participant in the cheating in the military exam, and if no one saved her, she would undoubtedly die.
On second thoughts, Su Liang considered another possibility.
Was it because Nian Jincheng didn’t help Nian Ruting, and she hated him for it? Knowing that Nian Jincheng was the only one in the Nian Family who could save himself, she wanted to drag him down and die together?!
Today was the first time Su Liang met Nian Ruting, her judgment of her could only be based on her behavior on the combat stage, where she fought to win but also seriously injured and her willingness to be a substitute for Nian Ruxue, protecting her even when things were exposed.
Ignorant. Another one deceived by Nian Ruxue.
Selfish. Although she didn’t know why she helped Nian Ruxue, she should know that cheating in the imperial examination was against fairness, not only unethical, but also a serious crime, but she clearly didn’t care.
Even if Nian Ruting had no other purpose and only cared for her sister, it was no reason for her to disregard fairness and justice.
Individuals with difficulties can’t achieve their goals by depriving others of opportunities and harming their interests.
Just like when Nian Ruxue was trapped by Duanmu Ao and chose to set up Su Liang to create an opportunity for herself to escape. She certainly had her own difficulties, but did Su Liang deserve to be unlucky?
But once Gu Ling was involved, as Duanmu Chen said, Nian Jincheng would be finished.
He would no longer have the chance to go to the border and make a new start, as he had originally planned.
After all, it was well known that he was Gu Ling’s only friend. Even if Nian Ruting was slandering him, who would believe it?
As Su Liang was thinking and realizing that trouble was coming again, she heard someone shout, “His Majesty has arrived!”
Except for Yin Country’s envoy Mu Ya, everyone else stood up and paid their respects.
Duanmu Yi’s expression was calm, after he took his seat, he first welcomed Mu Ya and expressed Qian Country’s willingness to consult with Yin Country for peace and exchanges.
But everyone knew that this was just a formality.
Peace is conditional and requires negotiation.
However, matters concerning interests would not be discussed openly in such a setting.
Su Liang, finding the cunning words of those in power boring, soon lost her focus and continued pondering Nian Jincheng’s situation.
She was certain that Ning Jing would save him, but this time it might not be easy.
Duanmu Yi may not fully believe Nian Ruting’s words, but he is likely to take advantage of the situation, using Nian Jincheng to lure out Gu Ling and kill him.
“Su Liang!” Xing Yusheng called her.
Su Liang looked up and found everyone’s eyes on her, but she had no idea what had just happened.
Man Ya was all smiles, “Sister Su, just now I mentioned to Emperor Qian that you have no family left and are on your own. As the first female Martial Arts Champion of Qian Country, why not let you choose a husband and receive an Imperial Decree for marriage? Is there anyone here that you fancy?”
Su Liang: …She knew that this Man Ya wasn’t kind-hearted and meant no good.
She recalled that at today’s banquet, Duanmu Cheng, Duanmu Chen, and Duanmu Che had all presented Su Liang with their tribute fruits. Man Ya must have seen this and thought it ripe for exploitation.
But how could she refuse the insignificant oranges sent by the princes? Refusing would seem pretentious.
Duanmu Yi smiled faintly, “Su Liang, General Mu’s suggestion is good. What do you think?”
Just as Su Liang was considering how to decline, someone stood up…
It was the crown prince, Duanmu Cheng. He respectfully said, “Father, I am fond of Miss Su. Please, grant us marriage!”
Su Liang was tempted to roll her eyes: …He already has a crown princess, and he wants to add her as a concubine?
Duanmu Yi chuckled, “Su Liang, what do you think?”
Su Liang still hadn’t had a chance to speak when someone else stood up.
This time it was Duanmu Chen, “Father, I am also smitten with Miss Su and seek your permission for marriage.”
Su Liang: …Duanmu Chen’s main wife’s position was vacant, but she wasn’t sure for a moment whether he wanted to help her get off the hook and disrupt Duanmu Cheng’s proposal, or if he genuinely wanted to marry her.
The next moment, the third prince spoke up.
It was Duanmu Che, “Father, Miss Su healed me, and I have long since fallen for her. Please, grant us marriage!”
Lian Shun frowned incredulously, looking at Duanmu Che and doubting his own ears!
It was quite apparent that after Duanmu Che had spoken, Duanmu Yi’s smile deepened a bit, “Che’er, why didn’t you mention it sooner?”
Duanmu Yi did not conceal who he favored.
Duanmu Cheng’s face darkened.
Duanmu Chen, on the other hand, remained expressionless as if nothing had happened.
As Duanmu Che was about to reply, Duanmu Ao spoke up, “Father, you granted Nian Ruxue to me as an Imperial Concubine before, but that didn’t work out.
My position for Imperial Concubine is still vacant. If you want to grant Su
Liang a marriage, I should be first in line!”
Man Ya timely fanned the flames, “Sister Su is both talented and beautiful, it’s only normal for her to have many admirers. Emperor Qian, why not let her choose one herself? Consider it a reward for Qian Country’s first female Martial Arts Champion! ”
Duanmu Che spoke again, but this time to Su Liang, “Miss Su, I was wrong about our previous misunderstanding. Please don’t mind. I am sincere.”
The way he said it sounded like they were a couple who had just had a lovers’ quarrel…
Lian Shun sat there with his head down, lost in thought.
Although Duanmu Yi was quite satisfied with Su Liang, he could not naturally let her pick and choose among his sons. So he smiled, “I think Su Liang and
Che’er suit each other well.”
Duanmu Che looked at Su Liang with enigmatic eyes.
Su Liang finally had a chance to speak. She stood up and respectfully said,
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace, but I am already engaged.”
Duanmu Yi’s smile vanished, “Engaged to whom?”
“My adoptive brother, Ning Jing,” Su Liang respectfully said. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, and thank the crown prince, Fourth Prince, and Fifth
Prince for their kindness.”
Duanmu Che’s face tightened, “Didn’t you say you were merely sworn siblings? If so, why haven’t you married yet?”
Su Liang replied calmly, “In fact, we are already married, but it was a hasty arrangement. At the time, I was not yet of age, and it was a fake marriage that took place when he assisted me in a crisis. It doesn’t count. He said that after passing the Imperial examination, he would remarry me in a proper ceremony.”
Duanmu Ao scoffed, “Father, I suspect she looks down on the Fifth Prince and is deliberately lying to evade marriage!”
Duanmu Yi’s expression was indifferent, “Since there has been a misunderstanding, let someone bring Ning Jing to the palace.”
Xing Yusheng felt uneasy in his heart. He knew very well that Su Liang and Ning Jing were not really engaged, but it was their friends who had hoped they would end up together.
Duanmu Yi favored Duanmu Che the most and treated him exceptionally, so he would not tolerate Su Liang’s refusal.
If Ning Jing arrived later and his words did not match Su Liang’s, she would have no choice but to accept marrying Duanmu Che as the Fifth Princess Consort in order not to be punished!
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