Chapter 63: 063. If I Take a Fancy to Him (Part 2)
Translator: 549690339
The doors and windows were all open. Outside, the wind and rain were mixed, and the cold was gradually intensifying.
Su Liang had just finished treating Nian Jincheng’s wound and stood up, only to sneeze.
“Thank you, Miss Su.” Nian Jincheng lowered his head and didn’t look at Su Liang.
He was thinking. Did Su Liang insist on treating him first, disregarding Mai Fei, solely due to a doctor’s duty, or because of his relationship with Ning Jing?
Chang’an’s voice interrupted Nian Jincheng’s thoughts,” Miss Su, please check my master again!”
“No need.” Mai Fei shook his head. He had calmed down. “It’s a minor injury. Why worry? However, it is Jincheng’s arm. He blocked an arrow for me. Can it heal completely?”
Su Liang’s expression was bland, “Don’t exercise it for a month. I will prescribe a formula for General Nian, drink a few doses of medicine.”
As soon as Su Liang finished speaking, she went to treat Nian Ye, Nian Jincheng’s subordinate, but he repeatedly waved his hands, saying it was no big deal.
In the rain, Chang’an brought back Nian Jincheng’s carriage and the corpse of the outside assassin to the Wu Family, and took out the Four Treasures of the Study from the carriage for Su Liang.
Su Liang wrote a prescription and handed it to Nian Jincheng.
He saw Su Liang’s handwriting and was stunned for a moment. He had seen this handwriting before.
“With such heavy rain, Miss Su wouldn’t be able to go home for a while. Why not sit down and chat?” Mai Fei moved a chair from elsewhere and said as his subordinate did so.
Like their previous meeting in the back garden, the three sat at the same table again.
Mai Fei actively started telling Nian Jincheng about how the scandal of the Wu Yun father and son was exposed. Many of the details were things that Nian Jincheng, who had been in the capital city before, didn’t know.
“If it weren’t for Su Liang’s bravery and quick thinking, who knows how many innocent women Wu Yun and Gai Huaian would have secretly harmed.” Mai Fei sighed.
Nian Jincheng had some doubts in his heart. Since Su Liang lived with Ning Jing, how could she be captured so easily by Wu Yun?
Mai Fei immediately asked Su Liang, “Didn’t Ning Jing notice anything on the night you were captured by Wu Yun?”
Su Liang realized that while Mai Fei seemed to be sharing the case with Nian Jincheng, he was actually trying to probe Ning Jing’s background from her.
Su Liang shook her head, “I asked him when I got back. He said that he couldn’t sleep at night and went to the back mountain to look at the moon. When he came back, he didn’t notice my disappearance. The next day, he realized something was wrong when he called me and no one answered. However, there were no clues, so he stayed at home and waited.”
“So that’s how it was.” Mai Fei flashed his usual smile, obviously not too convinced by Su Liang’s words.
But it didn’t matter. Su Liang was just perfunctory him, and there were some things she couldn’t say.
As soon as Mai Fei mentioned that a mysterious expert had secretly helped expose the evidence of Wu Yun and Gai Huai’an’s evil deeds, Nian Jincheng guessed who that person was.
Therefore, Nian Jincheng realized the hidden probe in Mai Fei and Su Liang’s conversation. Su Liang responded calmly without revealing anything.
Chang’an brought the chessboard, and Mai Fei and Nian Jincheng started playing to kill time.
Su Liang then opened the cloth bag and took out the poison scripture, focusing on reading it.
Every time Mai Fei dropped a piece, his eyes swept towards Su Liang.
Nian Jincheng focused on the game, not looking elsewhere.
One game finished, and Mai Fei lost.
“Let’s make it best two out of three, and make a wager to make it more interesting.” Mai Fei again looked at Su Liang, “Does Miss Su have any good suggestions?”
Su Liang looked up to ask, “What did Lord Mai just say?”
Mai Fei smiled, “Jincheng and I are playing a game and we want to make a bet. The loser has to pay. Why don’t you come up with a bet?”
Nian Jincheng thought, she would surely decline.
Who knew that Su Liang agreed readily, “Okay. Whoever loses, give me 3,000 silver taels.”
Chang’an was dumbfounded: Miss Su really was a master at taking advantage of people; she didn’t miss any opportunity to extort his master!
Nian Jincheng’s lips twitched as he lowered his head to clean up the chess pieces, thinking that she was really weird, she didn’t do anything by the book.
Mai Fei’s face darkened a bit, “Such a young girl, and all you think about all day is money. Don’t you have other pursuits?”
Su Liang chuckled lightly, “Lord Mai asked me to come up with the bet. I did, but you’re not happy. Why ask me then? I love money. My dream is to sleep on money one day. It’s superficial, but wealthy.”
Mai Fei’s eyes flickered slightly, “If I give you enough money, would you leave Ning Jing?
Nian Jincheng’s hand paused slightly.
Su Liang’s face was still calm, “That, I’m afraid Lord Mai can’t afford.”
“Yes, you had mentioned that you liked him. I knew it. You’re robbing me to support Ning Jing. He’s really mature.” Mai Fei couldn’t help but start to make scornful comments.
Actually, the statement that Su Liang robbed money to support Ning Jing was originally from Chang’an. Now that Mai Fei mentioned it, it seemed to have a hint of mockery.
But to Nian Jincheng, it was almost unbelievable. Ever since he met Su Liang again this time, everything seemed strange and he didn’t quite understand…
Su Liang continued reading her book, not caring about the chess game between the two men.
When she heard Chang’an say that the rain had stopped, she then closed the book and put it back into her cloth bag.
Mai Fei raised the corners of his lips slightly, “Miss Su, don’t forget, Jincheng owes you 3,000 taels.”
“It’s not right to make General Nian pay on our first meeting, let’s forget it.” Su Liang said.
Mai Fei snorted, “Would you write it off if I was the one who lost?”
“I believe that even if I don’t ask for it, Lord Mai will definitely give it.” Su Liang smiled.
Mai Fei:
Su Liang was about to leave, and Mai Fei had to return to the county town. He wanted Nian Jincheng to go with him. After discussing the mine issue, they would decide how to arrange it.
After leaving the house, Mai Fei asked Su Liang to ride in his carriage with him for the third time today. Su Liang politely declined for the third time, “I’m not injured, it’s okay to ride a horse.”
Mai Fei looked at the injured Nian Jincheng. “Jincheng, get in the car.” He lowered the curtain of the carriage after he finished speaking, leaving no room for refusal.
Nian Jincheng said to Su Liang, “The 3,000 taels of silver bills will be delivered to Miss Su another day. Thank you, Miss Su, for treating me today.”
“All right.” As soon as Su Liang finished speaking, she rode her horse forward.
Nian Jincheng got into the carriage and sat up straight. Mai Fei told him to relax a bit and rest.
The carriage slowly started to move. Suddenly, Mai Fei asked Nian Jincheng in a low voice, “What do you think of Su Liang?
Nian Jincheng paused for a moment, “Miss Su, is very capable.”
“Very unique, isn’t she?” Mai Fei had a smile on his face. “Unfortunately, no matter how I show her goodwill, she doesn’t appreciate it. Otherwise, I would want to take her as a concubine.”
Nian Jincheng remained silent, only listening as Mai Fei laughed and said, “She said she likes Ning Jing, but he only treats her like a sister despite her affections. I always feel that she’s lying. Why don’t you, Jincheng, give it a try?” Nian Jincheng frowned, “I don’t understand what his highness means.”
“What I mean is, if you’re interested in her, why not try courting her?” Mai Fei said with interest, “In the capital city, there are many girls who fancy you, even the sixth princess is smitten with you, perhaps Su Liang might also like someone like you. She risked offending me to heal you first, I think she has a pretty good impression of you.”
Nian Jincheng shook his head, “I’m here on an Imperial Edict, I won’t be distracted by other matters.”
“Don’t be so rigid. Are you daring to say that you have absolutely no interest in Su Liang?” Mai Fei stared into Nian Jincheng’s eyes.
Nian Jincheng shook his head, “I have never thought about such things.”
Mai Fei gave a half-smile-half-smirk, “No wonder the crown prince says you’re such a boring fellow. But there’s nothing wrong with being focused that’s how one achieves great things. Now that you’re here, I have a plan to deal with Gai Yun and Gai Huai’an, I need your assistance.”
“Your Highness, just give your orders.” Nian Jincheng respectfully replied.
Since they had met, Mai Fei addressed him by his name, showing familiarity and ease, but Nian Jincheng always maintained a respectful distance and never let his guard down.
Nian Jincheng knew that Mai Fei’s attempt to coax him into courting Su Liang was to test his character, and also probe the relationship between Ning Jing and Su Liang.
In the short half-day, Mai Fei maintained a good temper, but many of the words he said had ulterior motives.
“My lord, we’ve reached Feiyan Town.” Changan’s voice came from outside the carriage.
Mai Fei and Nian Jincheng, who had been pretending to sleep with their eyes closed, both opened their eyes.
“Changan, you send Miss Su home.” Mai Fei lifted the carriage curtain.
From Nian Jincheng’s angle, he could only see a part of Su Liang’s skirt.
“Master Mai, General Nian, I’ll take my leave now.” As soon as Su Liang finished her sentence, she spurred her horse towards Su Family’s village, with Changan following behind on his horse.
“Let’s go.” Mai Fei ordered, and the group continued on their journey.
On the way back to the village, the sun came out again.
By the time Su Liang arrived home, the evening sun was setting, and golden light sprinkled across the land.
The door was locked from the outside, and Ning Jing wasn’t home.
“Has Master Ning gone out?” As soon as Changan asked, he heard a child shouting from a distance, “Sister Su Liang! Elder Brother Ning is at my house!”
Changan remembered that when they left in the morning, Su Liang had asked
Ning Jing to take a piece of meat and go to Neighbor Bails house for lunch.
Su Liang rode towards the Bails house, and Changan took his leave.
Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi both excitedly greeted her, and Su Liang, seeing the two young boys looking up expectantly at the horse, asked if they wanted to ride it?
“Really?” Bai Xiaohu jumped excitedly.
Zhuzi was a little timid, “But I can’t!”
“Don’t be afraid, give it a try.” Su Liang said as she dismounted, first hoisting Zhuzi onto the horse’s back and instructing him to hold the reins and stay in place, then she helped Bai Xiaohu climb up too, and he held onto Zhuzi.
“Is it high?” Su Liang asked with a smile.
Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi both nodded, it’s so high!
Su Liang leading the horse around the flat open space outside Bai Family’s door, walking slowly.
The two children gradually relaxed, their little faces lighting up with excitement again.
Bai’s grandmother, hearing Bai Xiaohu calling for Su Liang and the sound of the horse’s hooves, repeatedly peered out from the kitchen but didn’t see the two boys or Su Liang come in, so she went out to check.
Seeing Su Liang leading the horse, with the two boys happily seated on top, she quickly called them to stop, “Hurry down! Liang girl, you can’t always cater to them!”
“Grandma, I can ride a horse now!”
“I can too!”
Seeing the two grandsons grinning ear to ear, Bai’s grandmother couldn’t help but laugh, “The dumplings are almost ready, come inside soon!”
Last time they got meat dumplings from Su Liang’s house, Bai’s family found them incredibly delicious. Bail s grandmother went to learn how to make them from Su Liang and quickly picked up the skills.
It wasn’t until Liu Shi came out to call for them that the two children dismounted and ran back home.
Su Liang tethered the horse to a tree outside and went in to see Ning Jing sitting with Old man Bai under the eaves, with a lot of evenly split bamboo strips beside them. He had a half-woven small bamboo basket in his hands.
Old man Bai was skilled in bamboo-weaving, and he would weave some bamboo baskets and nets to sell during his leisure time. Today, Ning Jing came to mooch a meal, it started to rain in the afternoon and didn’t leave, so when Old man Bai was weaving bamboo baskets, Ning Jing joined to learn, and he had been learning for half a day.
Su Liang came in and Ning Jing didn’t even look up at her, just busy with his work.
She went to wash her hands, the dumplings were already in the pot.
Bai’s grandmother prepared two kinds of fillings, one meat and one vegetarian. The vegetarian filling was her own concoction, vegetable egg, for the first time.
This wasn’t the first time Su Liang and Ning Jing had eaten at Bai’s house. Bai’s living conditions had improved greatly recently, and the family was warm and lively. “Heartbroken” Bai He went to work in the county town and hadn’t returned home for several days.
Ning Jing, who was typically silent, praised the vegetarian dumplings made by Bai’s grandmother, she was delighted and told Ning Jing anytime he wants to eat, he just needs to tell her.
After dinner, Su Liang took her cloth bag, and Ning Jing led the horse, slowly walking home.
“We didn’t make it to the mine today, not because of the rain, but because we encountered an assassin on the way.” Su Liang said.
“Hmm.” Ning Jing responded.
“The military commander sent from the capital to replace Gai Yun’s position has arrived. Xing Yusheng gave him three books to bring to me, two medical books, and one book on poison.”
“Good.”
“There’s also a scented sachet. It was given to me by Xing Yusheng’s cousin, she said she made it herself. It was kind of strange. Do you know Miss Qin?”
“I don’t.”
“Then it shouldn’t be sent to you. Maybe she heard something from Xing
Yusheng and wanted to get to know me?”
“Hmm.” “You probably know the new military commander, Nian Jincheng.”
“Hmm.”
In the darkness of the night, Ning Jing’s footsteps didn’t falter, the side of his face was cold and indifferent, his voice as tranquil as ever.
Su Liang sighed, “Nian Jincheng was hit by a poisoned arrow protecting Duanmu Chen today, and I couldn’t do anything to help him. Duanmu Chen took him away to find a famous doctor, I wonder how he’s doing now. Should we go visit him?”
Ning Jing looked at Su Liang, “You’re lying. If someone was in trouble and you couldn’t save them, you wouldn’t wait until the end to mention it. Do you fancy Nian Jincheng?”
Su Liang blinked, “If I do, what do you think?”
Ning Jing stopped walking, standing still in the deep night like a statue.
After a moment, he said, “Not good. His family, they all have problems in their heads..”
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