Chapter 45: 045. Military Exam
Translator: 549690339
[Martial Exam]
Su Liang bandaged Mu Fei’s wound and planned to write a prescription.
Just as she took out the writing materials from the medicine box Ning Jing had made with his own hands, he put down the Buddhist Scripture and reached out his hand.
Su Liang naturally handed over the paper and pen and explained to Mu Fei’s puzzled face, “My handwriting is ugly, and he dislikes it.”
Mu Fei: …
But Su Liang had already guessed whose handwriting Ning Jing had found for her and why he didn’t let her write in front of others.
Su Liang loved that book of handwriting and had put a lot of effort into practicing the characters, which have now become quite decent.
However, Ning Jing had used the papers she practiced on to start fires…
Even if Ning Jing had not stopped her, she would have changed her font when writing herself.
Su Liang recited, and Ning Jing wrote down the prescription, handing it to Chang’an.
“If you don’t trust me, you can ask another doctor to check.” Su Liang said.
The fourth prince had made sufficient preparations for his safety in his undercover mission.
Although such accidents could not be completely avoided now, even if Su Liang hadn’t been there, someone else would have treated Mu Fei.
Obviously, Mu Fei chose to let Su Liang treat him, firstly because his injury was not severe, and secondly, to take the opportunity to test Su Liang’s medical skills and attitude towards him, and also to highlight the purpose of his visit to Su Liang.
Ning Jing packed up the medicine box, carried it on his back, and showed no intention of sitting back down.
So Su Liang said goodbye, “If Sir Mu has no other orders, we’ll leave first.”
“Miss Su has worked hard. I will visit you to express my gratitude another day.
Chang’an, see them off.” Mu Fei leaned back on the bed, smiling and nodding. The weakness caused by the injury had reduced the cunning calculation in his eyes, revealing some warmth and kindness.
Through the half-open window, Mu Fei watched Su Liang and Ning Jing walk one after the other to the red maple tree and stop almost simultaneously.
After that, Ning Jing pointed to the reddest maple leaf at the top of the tree, and Su Liang quietly climbed up…
“What is she doing? Miss Su looks soft and weak, yet she can climb trees?” asked Chang’an, dumbfounded.
Mu Fei’s eyes widened in surprise, “After all, she lived in the mountain village for a year, and it’s not strange that she can climb trees. But there are no fruits on this tree.”
Watching Su Liang pick a few maple leaves and hand them to Ning Jing, Chang’an suddenly realized, “Prince Ning likes tree leaves, so Miss Su climbed up to pick them for him! They have such tacit understanding, they don’t even need to speak to know each other’s intentions!”
When his words fell, he didn’t hear a response from Mu Fei, so Chang’an turned his head and saw him withdrawing his gaze. Mu Fei then spoke with a hint of sarcasm, “It seems that I was too friendly with Su Liang? If I ignore her, will she fall in love with me instead?”
Chang’an considered it seriously for a while and shook his head, “Master, Miss Su lives with Prince Ning, so even if he doesn’t talk to her, they see each other day and night. But if Master doesn’t actively seek Miss Su out, she won’t even see the master, let alone fall for him.”
Mu Fei’s forehead twitched, “That woman was talking nonsense just now. But it seems that she really likes Ning Jing. Do you think she can be useful to me?” “If Miss Su wants to avenge her family, she can only cooperate with Master to have a chance.” Chang’an said.
“Cooperate…” Mu Fei snorted, “So soon, you think she is capable of negotiating with me?”
Chang’an furrowed his brows, “Subordinate didn’t mean that, it’s just…”
Mu Fei shook his head, “No need to explain. Since Ning Jing told her about the sedatives earlier, she must have asked him about Su Yuanzhou’s family.” Chang’an froze, ‘Master means, she was pretending to be surprised just now?”
Mu Fei narrowed his eyes and looked out the window again. Su Liang was gone, “Today, I invited her here, but she probably already knew what was going to happen when she chose to come. Even the assassin might have been set free by her intentionally.”
“Subordinate doesn’t understand about the assassin…” Continued Chang’an, confused.
“She guessed that I wanted to use her against Second Royal Brother. She didn’t know the assassin at all, and suddenly jumped out to save people, perhaps to test her value to me.” Mu Fei’s eyes were deep.
Chang’an frowned, “Subordinate really didn’t realize that her calculations were so deep.”
“She said she would go to the capital but refused to go with me because she didn’t want to be my pawn.” Mu Fei sneered, “To be honest, if she agreed to go back to the capital with me so easily, she would only be worth being a pawn.” “So, will Master let her be?” Chang’an asked.
Mu Fei pondered for a moment, “It’s better if she’s smart since we have to deal with the Second Royal Brother. After all, some things must be done without my involvement. We’re just calculating each other. As she said, I have more important things to deal with, so Su Family’s affairs can wait until next year.”
“But Prince Ning will most likely be implicated by Bei Jingwang Mansion if he takes the Imperial examination once he enters the Capital, considering the Emperor’s attitude towards the mansion,” said Chang’an.
The glint in Mu Fei’s eyes flickered, “That’s not a bad thing. If Ning Jing doesn’t get a fair opportunity because of Bei Jingwang Mansion, it’s a perfect opportunity for me to win him over.”
“Master, it’s better to be cautious. Somehow, I always feel that Ning Jing is difficult to fathom,” said Chang’an.
Mu Fei shook his head, “Don’t forget, Ning Jing wasn’t recruited by Bei Jingwang, but was merely Xing Yusheng’s friend. When he first said that they had met by chance and that Xing Yusheng had helped him out of kindness, it might have been true. Now that Xing Yusheng is trapped in the capital as a hostage, Ning Jing will have to find another backer to achieve his goals.”
Su Liang and Ning Jing didn’t just leave Ling Mountain Temple immediately. Since they came to the temple, they had a good tour of the place.
Before leaving, Su Liang went to the main hall to offer incense for the Original Master and her family.
As they left Ling Mountain Temple, Su Liang sighed lightly, “When I go to the capital, I will find out the truth and avenge Su Yuanzhou’s family. I’m not opposed to cooperating with Mu Fei, but I cannot be his pawn. Young Master Xing seems to be in no position to help himself, and I don’t understand why you are taking the Imperial examination. Now I need to practice martial arts well. If I can make a name for myself in the Martial Exam, I will have the capital to talk to some people.”
Ning Jing nodded slightly.
Suddenly, Su Liang let go of him and ran swiftly down the mountain road.
With the cool breeze brushing against her face, she felt a sense of vastness in the empty forest, as if she were the only one left in the world.
Ning Jing slowly walked down the mountain, only to see Su Liang sitting on a
dead tree at the mountain’s foot, waiting for him.
She raised her head, squinting at the colourful afterglow in the horizon, the setting sun casting a faint blush on her fair cheeks.
Ning Jing walked over and gently patted Su Liang’s head.
Su Liang jumped down from the dead tree, the previous laziness vanishing as she clenched her fists and said, “I have to practice martial arts well. You have to teach me seriously!”
The first time she mentioned the Military Exam, she did it casually without a
real plan.
This time, Su Liang was serious. She had always believed that since she had taken over the original owner’s body, she must do things that the identity entitled her to do.
If Su Yuanzhou’s family had been wronged and killed, then revenge was her obligation.
If the enemy was the second prince, a weak woman with no influence like her had no means to talk about revenge.
Relying on the Fourth Prince, Duanmu Chen, might not necessarily end up with the outcome she wanted. After all, Duanmu Chen’s purpose for approaching her couldn’t be simple kindness to avenge the Su family.
Besides, she needed martial arts for self-protection; otherwise, a weak woman in such a strict hierarchy would have nowhere to go.
Ning Jing nodded again.
“If Bei Jingvvang’s Mansion falls this year, will it affect your path to the Imperial Examination?” Su Liang asked Ning Jing.
Ning Jing didn’t know when he had picked up a dry branch and wrote on the ground, “No problem.”
“Right, Mu Fei’s forehead…” Su Liang suddenly remembered.
Ning Jing shook his head indicating it didn’t exist anymore.
“I see. I just don’t know who that rescued assassin is. If I fight with her, what are my chances of winning?” Su Liang asked. Ning Jing wrote, “Five.”
Su Liang also thought it was about the same.
The two of them completed another “task.” As it was getting late, they planned to return to the village early the next morning.
Before they reached the front door, they heard familiar wailing.
Old lady Niu and her family were kneeling in the alley, clearly begging them to save Su Xingzhe, refusing to get up until they agreed.
Su Liang and Ning Jing bypassed the back door, packed their things, and drove the carriage out of the county town back to the village.
The next day, Chang’an visited with a gift to say thanks. With no one answering the door, he learned from the neighbors that they had left the night before, so he went back to report.
Mu Fei didn’t understand why Ning Jing and Su Liang went back to the village. “Can it be that he doesn’t intend to go to Qianshan Academy? You should go there once and find out.”
It was only two months until the Provincial Exam; scholars going to Qianshan
Academy had to leave these days.
Su Family village.
Early in the morning, Su Liang got up to exercise, and after breakfast, she asked Ning Jing to practice with her.
During the break, Su Liang asked him, “If we practice until next March, do you think I have a chance to be in the top three of the Military Exam?”
Ning Jing nodded, “Do not slack off.”
Determined, Su Liang said, “Alright! Then please teach me well!”
Qian Country capital city.
Nian Jincheng opened the door to see Nian Ruxue standing outside, staring blankly at the old pine tree in the courtyard.
“Xuexue, are you looking for me?” Nian Jincheng asked.
Without turning her head, Nian Ruxue sighed softly, “The first time I saw him, he was standing under that tree.”
Nian Jincheng frowned, “Father has given up on forcing you to become the
Crown Prince’s Imperial Concubine, but you must forget about that man!”
“Second Brother, I have withdrawn the task from Yanyun Building.” Nian Ruxue turned around and looked at Nian Jincheng.
Nian Jincheng’s expression softened, and he sighed, “That’s good.”
“If I could withdraw it, it means that Yanyun Building hasn’t found him yet.” Nian Ruxue said.
Nian Jincheng’s expression became serious, “Xuexue! Even if you don’t enter the Crown Prince Mansion, you have no say in your marriage!”.
“I know.” Nian Ruxue gently nodded, a bitter smile flashing across her lips, “That’s why I came to see you, Second Brother. I have decided to participate in the Military Exam. If I can win the top place, I will ask the Emperor for the freedom to choose my own marriage.”
Nian Jincheng was stunned, “The Military Exam? Your martial arts skills are average, and it’s too late to start practicing now.”
“Second Brother, you can help me improve, can’t you? You were a Martial Arts
Champion in the last exam.” Nian Ruxue shook Nian Jincheng’s arm, “Second Brother, please, you don’t want me to be manipulated and marry someone you don’t like, do you?”
Nian Jincheng pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement, “Alright. I’ll try my best. Regardless of the result of the Military Exam, you’ll still have some ability to protect yourself. But if you complain about the difficulty and fatigue, then forget it!”
“Don’t worry, Second Brother, I won’t. Since I want to do this, I must become the Martial Arts Champion!” Nian Ruxue’s eyes were filled with determination..
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