《Marrying Him Three Times After Transmigration》


 Chapter 1: Getting Married

    Chapter 1: Getting Married[Marriage]On the fifteenth of July, it''s advisable to make sacrifices, but not to marry.In the heart of Qian Country lays Su Village, deeply immersed in the autumn harvest season.When night falls, the last streak of crimson in the west is devoured, dissolving into the murky twilight.Groups of fatigued farmers, leading oxen, pulling carts, and lugging burlap sacks, trudge their way home after a long day of labor.A sudden blast of a suona startles a flock of sparrows into flight. The common people stop in their tracks and follow the sound with their gaze.They see a rickety litter, adorned with a clumsily tied, bright red flower, being carried hurriedly towards the east end of the village by two men.A heavily dolled-up matchmaker, panting heavily while struggling to keep up on her bound feet, still manages to maintain a facade of professional laughter. At first glance, she resembles a poorly painted wooden mask that one might find at a temple fair.Another man, chasing the litter, runs and blows the suona simultaneously. His melody is discordant, as if he is playing with his last, gasping breath."Whose family is choosing to get married today? Aren''t they afraid of bad luck?""Who else could it be? It''s Ning''s son! They say he''s on death''s door, and the wedding is meant to bring him good luck!""Has Su Daqiang really sold his granddaughter for just ten silver?""He sold a granddaughter, but not one of his own!""Then who is...""It''s the niece that came to him last year!""The one named Su Liang? What a dreadfully unlucky name!"...The litter creaks and groans as it finally comes to a halt, narrowly avoiding collapse.The matchmaker pounds on the door, causing it to reverberate loudly. As no one answers, her old face falls, and the powder on her cheekbones begins to flake off. She mumbles to herself, "Did they change their minds?"As the piercing suona continues to play, the matchmaker leans forward, raising her hand high. However, just as she is about to knock, the door suddenly swings open, causing her short and plump figure to tumble inside, ending up facedown in the dust.She scrambles to her feet, her forced smile barely forming when a stiff cloth bag lands in her lap."Hiss!" The matchmaker gasps in pain as she catches the bag, but her intrigued curiosity quickly outweighs the discomfort. She opens the bag, and her garishly painted lips stretch into a grin, "The bride is here, you should conduct the wedding ceremony while there''s still time!""Get lost!" This single word seems to be squeezed out of the teeth of a lean and stern-looking elder.The matchmaker shrinks back and exits, signaling for the litter bearers and the suona player to proceed.The elder glares at the worn-out litter outside, his fist clenching and unclenching. With a cold grunt, he slams the door and retreats.The matchmaker, clutching her money, hurries towards the west side of the village. Suddenly, the rapid sound of horseshoes approaching makes her stumble over and tumble into the shrubs by the road. Raising her head again, she sees a man on a horse galloping towards the east.The blurred silhouette of his retreating figure exudes an intimidating aura, and she swallows the curse that was about to escape from her lips.When Su Liang opens her eyes, she is surrounded by complete darkness. She intuitively believes she has landed in the Netherworld.Her memory is clear; she hasn''t reached the Naihe Bridge yet.Coming from a family of physicians and her own military experience, she plans to analyze the components of the anxiety relief soup later...With these thoughts, Su Liang calms down. Death is irreversible. She resigns herself to her fate, waiting for the Underworld''s attendants to guide her to Naihe Bridge where she''ll reincarnate.The cloth curtain sways in the cool night breeze.With a sneeze, Su Liang reaches to open the curtain, eager to see if Yanluo Hall is outside.Through the curtain, she touches a hand that feels warm.Startled, she questions if there''s a living person in the Underworld?The fragile litter curtain comes off easily when she gives it a gentle pull. Looking up, she sees the night sky covered in countless stars and a man standing right in front of her.His face is concealed in shadow, making it difficult to discern his features.But those eyes, oh, they are beautiful! They sparkle like stars, a sight to behold even in their warmthless glory."Get off." His voice is pleasing to the ear.However, Su Liang can''t ignore the feeling that something is wrong...Her gaze drops, and her pupils constrict. Traditional Chinese clothing?The man''s hand, encased in the fabric of the curtain, is held tightly in Su Liang''s grip, forgotten in her shock. Sensing something strange, she pinches it a couple of times.Despite no skin-to-skin contact, the feel is pleasing. His slender fingers are defined, perfect for playing the piano.Not a ghost, but a real, living person.Although Su Liang doesn''t show it, her mind is in turmoil: Is she still alive? Has she time-traveled?"Today, we get married. It''s time to conduct the ceremony." The man speaks again. His tone is indifferent, like the icy still water of a severe winter''s day.Su Liang: ...I...am...done...An elder with a stony expression approaches, tears off the curtain, forcibly parts the two, and removes the red silk flower from the litter, ordering Su Liang to hold one end.As Su Liang silently takes hold, she hears "Young master, the ''hour'' has come!"The muted voice emphasizes the word "hour" intentionally, its real meaning unclear.There seems to be the sound of horse hooves in the distance.Su Liang is yanked out and, before she could get a clear look at the young master, a bridal veil falls on her face, obstructing her view."Lift your feet."As Su Liang steps over the threshold, she is led further in.If this isn''t a dream, then it must be time-travel.But she had not received any memories of the original host, and was completely clueless about the situation. The only certainty was that her previously robust body was now weak, and resistance or escape seemed highly unwise.The ceremonial ritual wouldn''t matter much, as long as there was no wedding night, everything can be discussed.With that thought in mind, she intended to figure out the situation first."Bow to heaven and earth."Su Liang quietly asked, "Should I kneel?""No need." The same magnetically appealing young male voice replied.Good looking eyes, pleasing voice, he should not be ugly... Su Liang silently thought as she bowed.On hearing the command to "Bow to the ancestors", Su Liang turned to continue the ritual.If she were to remove the veil, she would see a spirit tablet on the table, but it was completely blank."The couple bows to each other!"Su Liang turned sideways, then, bumped into a head..."The ceremony is complete! Congratulations, sir!"However, Su Liang could discern that the congratulatory remarks were filled with undeniable melancholy, void of any joy.She was led into a room and sat down by the bed.The silken damask lightly fell onto Su Liang''s knees, then hung down. The man let go of her."You rest here," was said in a distant voice."Oh," replied Su Liang instinctively.Footsteps, a closing door, followed by an opening and closing door next door.Su Liang let out a sigh of relief, looked down at the exquisitely embroidered shoes on her feet, touched her throbbing pulse and realized it was true- she had traveled through time.As the surrounding became quiet, Su Liang pulled off the veil, barely making out the furnishings in the room, when suddenly the door burst open!A tall and robust young man strode towards Su Liang, his eyes sharp and not the one who had performed the ceremonious bows with her earlier.Dark attire, a waist sword, hair bound with a jade crown, posture upright. His stride brought a chill wind, causing an overwhelming suppressive feeling.He was a lot more handsome and imposing than the generals she''d seen in TV shows from her previous life."Who are you? Who let you in?" An old man appeared at the door.The man approached Su Liang, eyes glowing brilliantly, staring at her face. His words, however, were directed towards the old man behind him, "I am Nian Jincheng, the current grade-three Military Commander, here by order to arrest the Gu Family''s rebels. Anyone who obstructs me stands to die as well!"A shining token flew past Su Liang. She felt a surge of fury. Was the man who just married her a rebel?Having traveled through time, was she not even going to see tomorrow''s sun?Through the man in front of her, she saw the old man who had previously been unpleasant to her. Now, he seemed anxious, "Sir, I believe you must have mistaken your location. My master is a Ning, we have never heard of Gu."Nian Jincheng ignored him, still fixed on Su Liang, "Did you willingly marry him?"Su Liang thought... Saying "No" might clear her involvement? But, being certain if the "bridegroom" was a rebel isn''t confirmed yet. Trusting this aggressive general less, it''s safer if she stayed on the "groom''s" side.As long as he was safe, she would be fine.Thinking this, Su Liang lowered her gaze, timidly nodding as she clutched her red veil, "Yes..."Nian Jincheng''s eyes narrowed slightly, he said in a deep voice, "I met the rebels while passing by Su village. I am craving some alcohol, and since you are having a joyous occasion here, I thought to ask for a cup of wedding wine. Apologies for disturbing you."Su Liang thought... I...can''t...believe...you...The old man at the door visibly relaxed, hurriedly easing out with a smile, "It is a great honor for our Ning family to have a visit from you, Commander Nian. I will fetch your wine immediately!"Su Liang thought Nian Jincheng might leave, but he took out a Jade Hairpin from his bosom and placed it in her black hair. He stepped back, giving a formal salute saying, "I picked this up on the way. Congratulations on finding the man of your wishes. Consider this as a token of apology." As his words fell, he turned on his heels, and with great strides, he left.The door closed again with a thud."Commander Nian, a small token from our young master, please accept."Nian Jincheng took the jar of wine, looking at the slender silhouette reflected on the neighbor''s window. In the half-dark, half-lit environment, his grim face echoed, "I wish you both a prosperous future, growing old together.This I take my leave!"The sound of galloping horse hooves faded away and the courtyard became quiet again."Master, did he fail to recognize you, or...""He knows it''s me.""But if he plans to let you go, why come at all?""This wasn''t his decision. Plus, he isn''t the only one who arrived.""Thank heavens, he still remembers old times! But witnessing you married to a country girl must not sit well with him, after all, Miss Nian and you were betrothed since childhood.""I married a wife, and I now have nothing to do with the Nian family. Nian Jincheng understands my intentions. Gu Ling is dead, from now on, only Ning Jing exists in this world.""Alas! But how will this country girl be dealt with?""We''ll talk about it tomorrow."...In the woods outside Su village, the night wind howled.Nian Jincheng pulled up on the horse''s reins, and out of the darkness emerged eight men in uniform, each wearing a waist sword."I''ve confirmed that he is Ning Jing, the seventh son of the tea merchants of Xunyang, exiled by his family, now living here and just married. They are now in their wedding room," Nian Jincheng addressed coldly.A soft and gloomy voice came from behind, "I had just gone to the village for some hot water, missed bumping into you, Commander Nian!"Nian Jincheng''s hand tightened on the reins, listening to the man''s shrill laughter from behind, "I heard that this Ning Qi married a girl who, although beautiful, couldn''t read a word, was lazy, rude, and uncivilized. So, she can''t possibly be the capricious Master Gu."Nian Jincheng exhaled inaudibly, "Thank you for going through the trouble, officiate Han. Thus, we should look elsewhere!"


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 Chapter 2: 002. Living off a woman

    Chapter 2: 002. Living off a woman[Living off others]Su Liang pulled out the Jade Hairpin and examined it carefully.It was warm to the touch. The quality of the jade was better than any she had seen in museums in her previous life. The carving was exquisite and was clearly a work of high craftsmanship. Regardless of whether he''s a rebel or not, the one who exchanged vows with her was definitely not an ordinary person.The room was clean but simple, lacking any unnecessary decorations.The silk of her wedding dress was of poor quality, and the stitches were rough.Nian Jincheng had said that this place was called "Su Village".Although Su Liang did not know what she now looked like, upon looking at her hands, she could see that they were small and slim, yet they had developed calluses, and the left hand bore a burn scar.All of these signs clearly indicated that she was far from the definition of "wealth and nobility".Su Liang was at a loss as to her current situation and could only take one step at a time.Feeling hungry, she got up and felt dizzy, a sure sign of severely low blood sugar levels.The door opened again, and a thin old man walked in with a plate in his hand."Where did you get this hairpin?" the old man, with his eyes wide open, impulsively snatched the Jade Hairpin that Su Liang was still holding.Su Liang: ...this old man''s hostility towards her was rather obvious.Su Liang focused on the food that the old man had put on the table, walked towards it unsteadily, and said weakly, "It was given to me by General Nian. He said he picked it up."The old man''s expression darkened, and holding the pin, he left the room.Su Liang sat down; there was no porridge, no meat, only a plate of four desserts...In her previous life, she had never been a big fan of snacks and sweets, but now, driven by extreme hunger, she took a bite. Luckily, it wasn''t too sweet.After she had eaten two pieces, Su Liang picked up the teapot on the table and poured herself a cup of tea.By the time she had finished all four pieces of dessert and drank half a pot of cold tea, Su Liang had only one feeling: she wanted to eat meat even more. Steaming hot meat buns, fried chicken legs, braised pork, stewed pork ribs...Meanwhile, in the neighbouring room."Young Master, The young Master Nian actually gave that villager the engagement token that the old lady had given to Miss Nian during her lifetime! What is he trying to say?" The old man asked, visibly upset."It means nothing," Ning Jing, who was transcribing scriptures, did not look up.The graceful characters flowed out from his brush, perfectly imitating the writing of the Buddhist scripture he was copying."Miss Nian has deep feelings for the young master and always wears this hairpin... She certainly wouldn''t have asked Master Nian to return it!" The old man said sternly."It doesn''t matter," Ning Jing shook his head slightly."This is the old lady''s hairpin, Master. Please take good care of it! Maybe Miss Nian is still waiting for you, and when you see her again..." The old man carefully placed the jade hairpin on a book.Ning Jing put down his brush and looked at the old man with his serene and undisturbed eyes, saying, "Uncle Liang, you should leave now."The old man''s expression froze, and he knelt down, "The old lady was kind to this old servant. I swore to protect you with my life!""By sending me to this place, you have reciprocated her kindness." Ning Jing put down his brush and looked at the transcribed scriptures, "You have your own children and grandchildren. Reunion with them is your priority now. Do not worry about me any longer.""Master, with no one taking care of you, how can this old servant rest assured?" The old man''s face turned grim.Ning Jing remained silent and picked up his brush again.The old man had no choice but to stand up and sigh deeply, "This old servant will leave before dawn. I swear I will not reveal your secrets to others. But I have something I need to get off my chest. Master, you have great talent. If you had assisted the Marquis in the first place, the Gu family''s rebellion might have had a chance of success and they wouldn''t have been eliminated. I really don''t understand what you want, Master."Ning Jing replied lightly, "Uncle Liang, how do you know that the downfall of the Gu family is not what I wanted?"The old man was shocked and speechless for a long time.At dawn, carrying a bundle on his back, the old man stood at the door, saying in a deep voice, "This old servant is leaving now, Master, please take care of yourself! Last night''s marriage ceremony was just a temporary measure, it doesn''t count! Get rid of that villager as soon as possible, don''t let her tarnish your reputation!""Take care, Uncle Liang."The indifferent voice of Ning Jing echoed from the room, the old man sighed deeply, turned and disappeared into the thick morning fog.Su Liang slept until dawn. Sitting up from the bed, she rubbed her face, forcing herself to wake up.To avoid being burnt as a witch, she needed to find out who she was as soon as possible.With no clothes to change into, she was still in her red dress. Pushing the door open, she saw a... rather handsome man standing in front of the neighboring door.His black hair flowed down like a waterfall, and the angles of his side profile looked as if they had been intricately carved.He looked like an immortal descended from a painting.Before Su Liang could figure out how to greet him, Ning Jing looked over.Their eyes met.He looked no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, but his eyes were filled with a cold and mournful light.Fearing that saying too much might lead to mistakes, Su Liang waited for Ning Jing to speak first.As a result, Ning Jing only glanced at her silently, turned around, and went back into his room...A moist mist hit her face.The courtyard was spacious but empty, only enclosed by towering walls.Four tiled brick houses, Ning Jing and Su Liang respectively lived in the two in the middle last night, the far-left was the firewood room, and the far-right was the kitchen. The bridal sedan in the woodshed had been chopped into firewood by Uncle Liang.After a round, Su Liang found the toilet in the backyard.Fortunately, it was very clean. Although its primitive level made her quite unused to it, she could no longer be picky.The large water vat in the kitchen was full, Su Liang fetched some water with a wooden basin and rolled up her sleeves to wash.The water reflected her small face, painted with patches of red and green, which left Su Liang speechless. She actually slept all night with her face smeared with low-quality paint. Suddenly, she could understand why that old man disliked her.With this "dignified face," marrying that handsome man, she even despised herself.After changing the water twice and washing her face again, Su Liang sighed in relief.Thank God, her true appearance was not bad, though still immature, her facial features were delicate. There were no birthmarks or scars, and she would definitely be a beauty when she grew up.However... Su Liang found some purplish traces around her neck, as if someone had choked her.Could it be that she can time travel because the original owner was choked to death?But the original owner had just gotten married yesterday, who would harm her?The thick fog of early morning had dissipated, but Su Liang was still confused.The wedding dress was too long and had gotten dirty at the hem. She cut off a bit with a knife and rolled up the sleeves, never lowering them again.Her stomach was growling again, but when she opened the jars in the kitchen, all were empty.No rice, no flour, no vegetables, and no traces of cooking.The box on the chopping board still had four desserts that Su Liang ate last night, but she really didn''t want to eat these dry things first thing in the morning.Does that handsome man survive by eating the wind and drinking the dew... Su Liang muttered to herself and walked out of the kitchen to knock on Ning Jing''s door."What''s the matter?"What a pleasant voice... Su Liang cleared her throat and said, "There is no food in the house, how to eat?""Mrs. Bai will cook and send it over."Su Liang: ...Hired a cook? Looks like they are quite wealthy.Upon hearing the knock on the door, Su Liang went over.When she opened the door, there stood a simply-dressed elderly woman with a sad face, carrying a basket.As soon as she saw Su Liang, she grabbed her hand and pat it, "Miss Su Liang, now that you''re married, live a good life. Give birth to a son for Master Ning as soon as possible, then you will have someone to rely on for your whole life."Hearing this, Su Liang thought her surname was Liang.She didn''t pay attention to Mrs. Bai''s words. This skinny body, at most fifteen years old, having children was playing with fire.Seeing Su Liang not saying anything, Mrs. Bai didn''t think it was strange and handed over the basket, "This is breakfast."Su Liang took it. Mrs. Bai was embarrassed as she rubbed her hands, "Old Liang said Master Ning should eat the best. I always have my son buy the finest white flour and the best meat from the town, and using a lot of oil and sugar. Last time''s money, after deducting labor costs, all was spent.""Mrs. Bai, wait a moment, I will get the money," Su Liang said."Ah! No rush! No rush!" Mrs. Bai was overjoyed clearly this job was going to be profitable.Su Liang directly pushed open Ning Jing''s door and placed the basket on the table, "Mrs. Bai says she has run out of the money she was given last time."Ning Jing slightly shook his head, "I don''t have any silver."Su Liang was taken aback, "Wasn''t it you who gave the money?""Uncle Liang gave it," Ning Jing said."Where is he?" Su Liang asked. She just realized she hadn''t seen that old man who had a bad impression of her last night."He left." Ning Jing''s expression was still calm."Not coming back? And he didn''t leave any money for you?" Su Liang was at a loss, was he sure it wasn''t a bad servant who ran away with the money?Ning Jing was silent for a moment, then said, "He may have thought I had some."What a wasted opportunity for communication..."So what can we do?" Su Liang thought she at least wouldn''t have to worry about food and clothing, but reality was harsh.Ning Jing looked at Su Liang, his beautiful eyebrows slightly frowned, "Where is your dowry?"Su Liang was speechless.Whether she had a dowry or not is one thing, but even though he looks handsome, can he really be so shameless to live off a woman?!


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 Chapter 3: 003. Divine Stick

    Chapter 3: 003. Divine Stick[Cunning]"How can you leave without your dowry?"Ning Jing''s question made Su Liang realize that things were not as she had imagined.She was supposed to have a dowry?But apart from the shabby wedding clothes she was wearing, she had nothing else, not even a change of clothes.Was she really leaving?She just got married yesterday, where could she go?"I''m hungry, let''s talk after eating." Su Liang changed the topic, taking out the steaming buns from the basket.Madam Bai''s voice came, "Miss Su Liang?"Su Liang turned and went out, smiling slightly when she reached the door, "My Lady, I just got married, it''s too much trouble for you to bring food. They''ll gossip about me.""You don''t know how to cook!" blurted Madam Bai.Su Liang narrowed her eyes. She had only come here yesterday, and the neighbor already knew she couldn''t cook?It seemed her mother''s house wasn''t far away, probably in the Su Village, and she had a poor reputation."I have to learn somehow, can''t always trouble Madam Bai. Your guidance will be much appreciated," Su Liang sighed.Madam Bai''s face showed disappointment, and her enthusiasm disappeared. She exchanged a few perfunctory words and left.Su Liang turned around and saw a young figure entering the room.When she saw Ning Jing again, he had already washed up, his face clean and fair, eating a steamed bun leisurely.There wasn''t much meat in the bun, but it tasted decent.There were five buns in total, Ning Jing had two, and Su Liang had two.Seeing Ning Jing wiping his hands with a handkerchief and showing no intention of eating more, Su Liang grabbed the last bun and went outside.Although Ning Jing was as quiet as a Buddha, whenever his eyes looked at her, Su Liang felt uneasy, as if she was being seen through.She couldn''t continue like this.Su Liang stood at the door, holding the meat bun.Not far away was a winding stream, and dense vegetation covered the mountain behind the house.The house faced south, backed by the mountain and near the water.The village was divided into two sides by the stream, and a wooden bridge connected them at a distance to allow people to cross.There were more houses on the other side, and many farmers were going to work, carrying hoes, leading oxen, or pulling carts.She took a deep breath, feeling the refreshing and moist air.Just as Su Liang was wondering which way to go to ask for information, a small figure ran up to her.A seven or eight-year-old boy, wearing coarse clothes, his toes about to burst through the fabric of his shoes, eagerly ran up to Su Liang, staring at the white bun in her hand, and swallowed."Who are you looking for?" Su Liang asked."My grandma asked me to come and see if you want to buy vegetables from us," the boy looked up and asked.Madam Bai''s grandson?Su Liang needed vegetables, but she didn''t have any money."What''s your name?" Su Liang asked."Bai Xiaohu!" The boy gazed at the bun, licking his lips."Do you recognize me?" Su Liang smiled.Bai Xiaohu nodded, "Su Liang! My grandma and mom always talk about you! You''re Su Daqiang''s niece! I know!"Su Daqiang... Su Liang coughed lightly, "What have your grandma and mom said about me? Tell me, and I''ll give you the bun."Bai Xiaohu''s eyes brightened, nodding vigorously, "You can''t go back on your word!""Your grandfather is Su Daqiang''s cousin, named Su Yuanzhou! He''s a powerful doctor who treats nobles in the capital city!""My grandma said that the big house of Su Daqiang was built with money from your grandfather, who sent money and gifts to them every year. Their family didn''t have to work and enjoyed good food and drinks!""My mom said your grandfather offended a noble and his whole family was gone, leaving only you. You came to seek refuge with Su Daqiang last year!""My grandma said she only saw you once when you arrived and never saw you go out. Su Xiaoming''s mother went around saying that you were spoiled and lazy, disrespectful to elders, and bullied your siblings! Their family served you like an ancestor, feeding you well, emptying their savings!""But my mom said, that woman was just talking nonsense! You brought a lot of money with you, which they took away. They locked you up and made you do embroidery work without giving you food. Su Xiaoming''s mother went to the town to sell your embroidered products at the fair, making a lot of money. Neither she nor her daughter knew how to do it!""Ning provided ten taels of betrothal gifts for marrying someone to ward off his bad luck, and Su Daqiang sold you! At first, it was settled on Su Xiaodie, but then they said you met Ning and insisted on marrying him, so Su Xiaodie had to give in to you!""My mom even said that last month, there was a rich family''s young master in town who wanted to take a concubine, and he heard about your beauty, so he sent a matchmaker to see you. The betrothal gifts he offered were even higher, but Su Daqiang didn''t agree because he was afraid that you would be hard to control once you spread your wings!""Su Xiaoming''s mother is bragging everywhere that she gave you twenty taels of dowry, but my mom said it''s just her dog fart! If she gives you a son, it would take the sun rising in the west!"The more Su Liang listened, the colder her heart became.So-called relatives were just a group of wolves who would eat a person without leaving bones.She hadn''t forgotten the bruises on her neck."I haven''t been out, and I don''t know why Master Ning has come to our village. Who is he?" Su Liang knew nothing about Ning Jing, other than his good looks.Bai Xiaohu furrowed his eyebrows, "My grandpa heard that Ning Jing is the son of a wealthy family who made a mistake and had to flee. He was afraid of being found, so he came here to hide. No one knows where he came from, but we know that he is very wealthy!"In fact, he didn''t even have a single tael... Su Liang couldn''t help but comment.After Bai Xiaohu showed Su Liang the location of Su Daqiang''s house, he ran off nibbling on his Steamed Bun, forgetting that he was here to sell vegetables.Su Liang closed the yard gate and thought that she had to go to Su Daqiang''s house to get her "dowry." Otherwise, it would be difficult to have food and clothing.She turned around and saw a figure in blue standing under the eaves. Su Liang walked straight over."Are you a rebel?" Su Liang asked bluntly.Ning Jing''s expression was indifferent, "No."Su Liang asked again, "Why did you marry me, then?"Ning Jing looked at Su Liang, his lips opening slightly, "You begged me to save you, and I just happened to need a marriage."Su Liang fell silent.To avoid arousing Ning Jing''s suspicion, she asked vaguely.She had thought Ning Jing had other intentions when he married her, but she didn''t expect that the Original Master and Ning Jing had conspired together? To use each other?Considering Ning Jing said that she was originally supposed to leave after getting married.Su Liang guessed that this was probably the way the Original Master planned to escape from the wolves of Su Daqiang''s family, and the dowry Ning Jing asked for might have been intended as her travel expenses.Unfortunately, without a dowry, she even lost her life.Since Nian Jincheng didn''t capture Ning Jing, whether he was a rebel or not didn''t matter for now. Su Liang didn''t need to struggle with this matter.Having a fake marriage, without a ceremony and honeymoon, she would still be a free person. Not bad."You''ve...changed." Ning Jing spoke again.Su Liang''s heart beat faster. Could it be that Ning Jing knew the Original Master very well?"Your eyes." Ning Jing uttered two more words.Su Liang''s heart relaxed a little. She pulled on her collar, revealing purplish bruises on her neck, "I''ve already died once."She vowed to avenge the Original Master by her own hands!Ning Jing glanced over Su Liang''s neck and finally rested his gaze between her eyebrows. His eyes narrowed slightly before returning to normal.Su Liang felt as if he had seen something..."That jade hairpin was given to me by General Nian." Su Liang suddenly remembered. If she sold it, she should get a lot of money for it."Yes." Ning Jing did not deny it, although the jade hairpin originally belonged to his mother, "Give me the jade hairpin, and I''ll save your life."Su Liang was puzzled, "You will save my life?"It sounded like a future event. Was someone going to kill her? How did Ning Jing know?"You have a darkened forehead, and there will be a bloody disaster in the near future." Ning Jing spoke and then turned around to walk back into the room.Su Liang: ...The beautiful man suddenly turned into a psychic! What a psychopath!After drinking a cup of cold water, Su Liang moved her limbs. She was too weak.But there was no time for exercise; they had already run out of food, and she didn''t even have clothes that could be exchanged for something else.She had to deal with those wolves in her family.Without a kitchen knife, she found an ax for chopping wood and sharpened it until it shone brilliantly.Su Liang lifted the tablecloth, wrapped the ax in it, tied it to her back, and walked out the door with a spring in her step.After only a few steps, she looked back and saw a figure in blue following behind her."Why are you following me?" Su Liang didn''t understand.Ning Jing''s expression was indifferent, "I''m not doing anything."Su Liang: ...I''m tired. Whatever.So, that day, many people in Su Family village saw the newlywed Su Liang in her wedding dress walking ahead with Ning Jing following behind at a distance as they went to Su Daqiang''s house...


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 Chapter 4: 004. No Harm

    Chapter 4: 004. No Harm[No Harm]Su Daqiang''s house in the village was very conspicuous.Blue brick and big tile roofs, red lacquer gates, and even two stone lions standing at the entrance.During the day, the gate was tightly closed without a lock, indicating that someone was home.Su Liang didn''t bother with Ning Jing behind her, and gently pushed the door open only to have someone almost bump into her.She took two steps back and saw a plump young lady, dressed in a bright silk dress with heavy makeup, staring at her wide-eyed before screaming, "Ghost!" and running back inside...With that figure and attire, she must be living the good life.Seeing Su Liang as if she had seen a ghost, it showed that she knew Su Liang had already died when she left Su Daqiang''s house yesterday...The murderer of the original master is right here.Su Liang stood at the door, listening to the voices coming from inside."What are you yelling about? That slut isn''t breathing anymore, she can''t possibly come back!""That Ning fellow didn''t come to make trouble last night, maybe he''s too sick for the bridal chamber and hasn''t found out. Let''s wait until they send the little bitch back, and then we''ll demand an explanation!""He''s a refugee from another place, he definitely won''t make a big fuss! At that time, he''ll have to compensate us, no matter how much money he has, or we''ll go to the authorities! Say he killed our daughter!""If he dies of illness, that would be even better. The property would be ours!""We have to send someone to watch him closely, and not let that Ning fellow run away!""Right, right, right! Xiaoming, where''s your brother?""How would I know? He''s always going to town!""Then you go! Keep an eye on the Ning family!""Really... she''s really outside... it''s her...""Sis, you''re blind, there''s nobody outside..." A chubby boy ran into the courtyard and saw Su Liang standing at the door, smiling at him. His face turned pale, and he sat down on the ground, "Ghost... Ghost!"A few people rushed out from the main hall.No matter the age, every single one of them was plump in stature, out of place in this impoverished village but perfectly in line with Bai Xiaohu''s description: being pampered and supported by Su Liang''s grandfather, not working, and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.No need for interrogation now.A family of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!The good life was given by Su Liang''s grandfather, but Su Liang came to seek refuge, only to find herself trapped in a fire pit!Locked up and forced to work, making her embroider to earn money.Selling her off for ten silver taels was just a facade! Their true plan was to kill Su Liang, stuff her into the bridal sedan, and once she was carried to the Ning family''s home, use her death to further extort Ning Jing!It''s sinister and shameless; it makes one''s blood boil!In her previous life, Su Liang had seen so-called blood relatives fight and bleed for money and wealth, like sworn enemies under the same roof.Her "accidental" death in a car accident was most likely instigated by one of her brothers to eliminate competition for inheritance.That''s why Su Liang harbored no lingering attachment to her past life. Her relatives gave her no warmth, only lessons.For the original master, be it living or dead, she was always a cash cow to Su Daqiang''s family."Liang Girl, why did you come back today? Did Young Master Ning bully you? Tell Grandpa, Grandpa will support you!" The short and fat old man had regained his composure and looked affectionately at Su Liang.A plump middle-aged woman rushed over, twisting her body, "Oh! My poor daughter! You insisted on marrying Young Master Ning, and we couldn''t stop you. Tell Auntie, what wrongs have you suffered!"Su Liang''s slender arm was grabbed by a large hand, and with a hard yank, she was pulled inside the door.The door was quickly closed and bolted by Su Xiaoming.The next moment, Su Liang was treated to a top-notch Sichuan opera face-changing performance...Su Daqiang looked at her with a slanted gaze and snorted coldly, "Isn''t he the one you wanted to marry? Why are you back?"Mrs. Xun let go of her, the fat on her face trembling, "Don''t look at us like that! You stole the money from our home yesterday, and Xiaodie tried to take it back. She accidentally choked you for a moment, but it''s all right now, isn''t it?""That''s right! You stole the money! That''s our money!" Su Xiaodie suddenly raised her voice.Stealing money? Su Liang thought that the original master must have been counting on the dowry she believed she could take with her. That was probably what this family had promised to give her, in order to coax her into doing the embroidery work to make money for them. But now they must have gone back on their word.Su Xiaoming picked up a sharpening stone and threw it at Su Liang. At such a young age, his eyes were already full of resentment. "Little bitch! Thief! Go to hell!"Su Liang caught the stone and threw it back!She didn''t have a rule about not hitting children. Some so-called children were nothing but demons.A pig-killing scream echoed in the courtyard as Su Xiaoming clutched his thigh and rolled on the ground."You ungrateful wretch! You''re rebelling!" Mrs. Xun''s eyebrows shot up, and she rolled up her sleeves, her thick palm slapping towards Su Liang.Su Liang grabbed Mrs. Xun''s wrist and twisted it hard!"Ah!" Mrs. Xun screamed repeatedly.Su Xiaodie yelled, "Murder! Su Liang is going to kill someone!"Su Daqiang and his son Su Dafu charged at Su Liang, but she unbuckled the bundle on her back, threw off the tablecloth, and gripped the axe horizontally across her chest, sneering, "You say I''m going to kill someone? Then I''ll fulfill your wish.""You! Have you gone mad?" Su Daqiang''s neck shrank, "Put down the axe quickly!"Without hearing the sound of the door bolt sliding, the door suddenly opened.The tense atmosphere in the courtyard was interrupted.Su Liang turned her head and saw Ning Jing standing at the door, a look of bewilderment flashing in her beautiful eyes.Seizing the opportunity, Su Dafu lunged to snatch the axe from Su Liang''s hand, but she dodged nimbly. She swung the back of the axe forcefully on his back, sending him crashing to the ground face first!Ning Jing turned around, locked the door bolt from the inside, and then called Su Liang''s name."You want to stop me?" Su Liang scoffed.Not long ago, Ning Jing had been close behind her. She must have heard what Su Daqiang''s family said, but Su Liang had no time to worry about whether Ning Jing had discovered her secret.With an indifferent expression, Ning Jing said, "Qian Country''s criminal law states that those who kill five or more people will be executed by dismemberment."At this moment, there were exactly five people in Su Daqiang''s family, and Ning Jing didn''t exclude ten-year-old Su Xiaoming.Su Liang blinked, "So, should I come back at night?""That''ll do." Ning Jing nodded slightly.Su Liang had guessed correctly.Ning Jing was only reminding her that killing people in broad daylight would lead to legal trouble. It would be more fitting to kill on a dark and stormy night...Su Daqiang''s family completely broke down! They never expected that the previously subdued Su Liang would suddenly become a completely different person, so ruthless!"I''ll spare you for now." Su Liang said, but then she stepped forward and held the axe to Su Daqiang''s neck, "Where''s the money?"Su Daqiang shrank back, "No... No money..."Su Liang nodded, "Very well. First, I''ll cut your grandson, then give you some inspiration. If that doesn''t work, I''ll send a few more cuts. Take your time to think it over."Seeing Su Liang swinging the axe, Su Xiaoming was terrified and wet himself!Su Daqiang shouted, "Stop! I''ll give you the money!""All of it, not a penny less. That was originally mine." Su Liang said coldly.Seeing that there was no room for negotiation and Ning Jing was blocking the door, escape wasn''t an option. Su Daqiang reluctantly went back to his room and brought out an iron box."It''s all in here, not much left," Su Daqiang handed the iron box to Su Liang.Su Dafu tried to crawl up, but Ning Jing silently picked up a stone slab from inside the door and placed it on his back...Su Liang opened the iron box and saw only a string of copper coins. Her face darkened, "Are you playing me?"Su Daqiang stared, "The silver was in there last night! How come it''s gone now?"Cornered, Su Xiaodie blurted out, "My eldest brother went into grandfather''s room early in the morning. He must have stolen it again and gambled it away in town!"Speak of the devil, and the devil arrives.Hearing someone knocking at the door, Ning Jing unlocked it.A brawny young man with a strong smell of alcohol stumbled in cursing, "It would have been better to sell that damn girl to Liu Yuanwai''s son as a concubine and get ten more silver taels. Then I could have made up for my losses today! Wretched woman! An ill-fated, unlucky star!"This must be Su Daqiang''s eldest grandson, Su Daming.Only when the drunken Su Daming belatedly realized that something had happened at home did he stop fearing the axe in Su Liang''s hand. He strode towards her, "You rebellious girl! I should have sold you to the brothel a long time ago!"There was a significant height and size difference between Su Daming and Su Liang, and he managed to snatch the axe from her, changing the situation...Ning Jing watched as Su Liang was surrounded by Su Daqiang''s family, a cold gleam peeking from her sleeve.Su Liang remained calm. As Su Daming brought the axe down on her, she kicked it away, then lifted her leg and trapped Su Daming''s neck between her feet, slamming him to the ground!Moments later, an orderly row of whimpering, chubby figures lay on the ground.Now, their eyes on Su Liang were as if they''d seen a ghost."I''ll ask one more time, where''s the money?" Su Liang wiped the sweat from her brow. Her body was weak; she needed to recuperate."Daming lost it all!" Su Daqiang''s face was livid, whether from fear of Su Liang or anger at his eldest grandson was unclear.Su Liang didn''t believe him and went to search for the money herself.Seeing her enter the room, Ning Jing placed a stone slab on each of the Su family members'' bodies."Master Ning..." Su Xiaodie looked at Ning Jing with her multicolored face, "You see, Su Liang is a vicious and fierce woman. Don''t be deceived by her!"Ning Jing shook his head slightly, "It''s alright; I have no money."


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 Chapter 5: 005. Ba Zihu

    Chapter 5: 005. Ba Zihu[Ba Zihu]After a quarter of an hour, Su Liang walked out with a dark face, searching through several rooms but didn''t find a single piece of silver!But looking at how plump and well-fed Su Daqiang''s family was, how could they be penniless?Ning Jing wiped the stone under the tree in the courtyard and sat on it, watching the scene in silence.Su Liang picked up an axe and threw it at Su Daqiang!The axe spun twice in the air, grazed Su Daqiang''s nose and stuck into the ground!His face turned pale with fear, and he wet himself."Last chance, where''s the money?" Su Liang asked coldly.Su Daqiang reluctantly said he was in charge of the family''s money, but he couldn''t control Su Daming''s gambling habit. Whenever he got money, he lost it all gambling. Lately, they even had to give up their land to pay off gambling debts."If you lose so much, where does your food and drink come from?" Su Liang scoffed."You do good embroidery work and make a decent amount of money every month," Xun Family tremblingly spoke. "I secretly saved a bit, but Daming stole it a few days ago...""All my jewelry was taken by my eldest brother and sold!" Su Xiaodie also spoke up.Su Xiaoming, seeing that the adults had confessed, assumed that he too must say something and shouted, "Our family really has no money! Big brother still owes a lot of high-interest loans! But my grandfather said that in a couple of days, all of Ning''s son''s money will be ours!"Su Daqiang''s face stiffened!Su Dafu yelled angrily, "What do you know? Shut up!"The chilly glint in Su Liang''s eyes intensified.A gambling addict could ruin even the most prosperous of families.Although Su Daqiang''s house was large, it was now an empty shell. All the ready money had been gambled away by Su Daming and they had even amassed high-interest loans.Yet, their eldest son and grandson were treated like royalty and couldn''t be controlled. After all, there was still the money-tree that was Su Liang''s grandfather.Unfortunately, Su Liang''s family had an accident last year, and the big money-tree was gone. Su Liang, the little money-tree, "willingly entered the trap" and was being exploited to maintain this family''s luxurious, lazy lifestyle. Once she was old enough, they planned to sell her off for a large profit.The Original Master happened to get a chance to ask Ning Jing for help, and Ning Jing needed a marriage to achieve certain goals.As a result, Ning Jing became the sacrificial lamb in the eyes of Su Daqiang''s family. They conspired to uproot Su Liang, the money-tree that could no longer satisfy their desires, and use her as a bait to catch a big fish.Once they succeeded, they could have anything they wanted.Even if Ning Jing didn''t appear, the Original Master would eventually be completely drained by Su Daqiang''s family in some other way.In her two lives as a human, Su Liang never underestimated what a person could do for wealth ¨C and to what extent they could disregard morals.But at this moment, when she guessed the rough truth, her heart was still chilled to its core.It was just that the Original Master''s life had been so bitter.Yesterday, before getting married, she might have naively thought that she could finally escape the sea of suffering.In the end, her soul vanished like a wisp of incense in the wind...It seemed that one gambler, Su Daming, ruined a family, but in reality, they were all the same. Their hearts, livers, spleens, lungs, and kidneys were all rotten. Comparing them to pigs and dogs would only insult pigs and dogs.Su Liang even felt that she traveled to this world because the original owner''s resentment was so deep that she wanted to avenge her grievances through Su Liang.Simply killing them would be too merciful. They must be tortured and exploited like the Original Master ¨C forced to work tirelessly without food until they died in despair.That was Su Liang''s current idea.But how to do it, she hadn''t figured out yet."Where are my clothes?" Su Liang asked coldly. She had just left here last night, and the ten taels of betrothal gift that Ning Jing gave her had already been gambled away by Su Daming, but they couldn''t have taken her clothes away, could they?"They''re... in your room..." Mrs. Xun said with a bitter face, "Liang girl, I was wrong. I will..."Su Liang turned around and walked towards the backyard without paying any attention to Mrs. Xun''s "regret." It was nauseatingly insincere.She had already checked the rooms in the front earlier and didn''t find the Original Master''s room, so it had to be in the backyard.Even though she was mentally prepared, Su Liang was still furious when she saw the drafty shed in the backyard.The firewood room in the front yard was much more solid and spacious than this place!This lazy family didn''t work, so they didn''t keep any livestock, otherwise who knows where they would have made the Original Master live!She opened the door and walked in. The room was very clean but cramped, with only a worn-out small bed, thin bedding, and a broken-legged table with a sewing basket on top, which contained unfinished threads of various colors.Standing in the room, Su Liang could imagine the Original Master sitting by the table late at night, wrapped in a quilt, embroidering.No wonder her body was so weak; Su Liang had felt her eyes dry and sore when she woke up this morning.Not having enough food, not enough warmth, staying up late to embroider, and still having to serve that family of fat pigs - cooking, washing, cleaning. Being insulted and beaten.For a growing girl, given more time, she could be worn to death.There was a bundle on the bed.Su Liang opened it, and on top was an exquisitely embroidered Plum Blossom Screen, along with a few differently-patterned embroidered handkerchiefs.These must have been the last pieces of embroidery done by the Original Master before her death, which Mrs. Xun had taken away, ready to sell soon.Though the screen was small, it was a highly difficult double-sided embroidery. Judging by its level of intricacy, it must have taken countless days and nights of work to complete.Besides these, there were several sets of clean clothes and socks made from decent quality materials.These must have been brought by the Original Master when she arrived last year. If it hadn''t been for Su Xiaodie being too fat to wear them, they would have been taken long ago.With the screen and handkerchiefs in the same bundle, Mrs. Xun must have intended to sell them all together for money.To make money, they killed a person and even planned to sell their clothes and socks; it was truly merciless!Su Liang took off the poor-quality wedding dress and put on a plain skirt. It should have fit her perfectly, but it was now loose.She put the sewing basket in the bundle as well and tied it up again.Under the pillow, she found a yellowed medical book. When she picked it up, a red silk knotted heart ornament fell out, with a character embroidered on it in light blue thread."Yun" ...Su Liang, without the Original Master''s memory, could only guess that the Original Master had an admirer, surnamed Yun, or with the character Yun in their name, and had planned to flee Su Village and seek refuge with that person after the fake marriage with Ning Jing.With a sigh, Su Liang stuffed the medical book and heart knot into the bundle, picked it up, and walked out of the shabby room.Dark clouds gathered, and a storm was brewing.As Su Liang wondered where Ning Jing was, she looked up and saw him standing stably on a large pear tree in the courtyard. He was using her tablecloth to make a pouch tied to the tree branches, picking pears and putting them inside...Indeed, the old pear tree in Su Daqiang''s courtyard, with its golden pears weighing down the branches, was quite a delightful sight.Su Liang took her gaze back and looked at Su Daqiang''s family, who were huffing and whining under the stone slabs, her face icy.How could she make them live a life worse than death?Before she could think of a way, the door was suddenly smashed open, and a group of people rushed in!The man leading the group was a middle-aged, tall and thin, with triangular eyes, a Ba Zihu mustache, and a blue face."Where is Su Daming? Get out here and pay the debt!" A henchman shouted loudly.Ba Zihu''s gaze swept across the ground, frowning, and finally settled on Su Liang, sneering, "Su Daming''s sister is quite a beauty, definitely worth a good price! Grab her!"


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 Chapter 6: 006. Labor Contract

    Chapter 6: 006. Labor Contract[Labor Contract]Su Liang pulled the axe from the ground and looked at Ba Zihu coldly, "I''m not."Ba Zihu didn''t expect the seemingly weak Su Liang to dare resist. He raised his hand, stopping his followers who were about to rush over, and asked mockingly, "You''re not what?""I''m not Su Daming''s sister," Su Liang said.Ba Zihu had brought six tall and sturdy men with him, all carrying clubs, making them difficult to handle.Besides, these people were after Su Daming, and Su Liang wanted to see them hurt each other even more."She is! She''s my sister! My real sister! Master Hu Er, take her away to pay off the debt!" Su Daming quickly realized.Ba Zihu walked over, stomped heavily on the stone slab on Su Daming''s back, and snorted coldly, "It was agreed that you would repay the debt today, but I heard you went gambling again? You have money to gamble but not to pay me back? Go ask around, what happened to those who dared to owe me money in this area!"Su Daming''s face went pale, "I sent someone to send a message yesterday, pleading for Master Hu Er to give us an extension of three days..."The extension of three days coincided with Su Daqiang''s original plan: three days after Su Liang got married, they would go to Ning Jing to claim someone.The person had already been killed by them, and their real goal was extortion, just wanting money.It seemed that the high-interest loan Su Daming owed had also become a death sentence for the Original Master.The Original Master''s death was not caused by Su Xiaodie''s accident but a premeditated murder!"You really have the nerve to ask me to extend your deadline, but you don''t even come to do it in person, I have to come and claim the debt myself!" Ba Zihu kicked Su Daming in the head and stomped on him several times.Su Daming couldn''t dodge, gritting his teeth in pain, "Just use Su Liang to pay off the debt! She''s good-looking, she must be worth a lot of money!"Ba Zihu squinted his eyes and looked at Su Liang again, "You say you''re not Su Daming''s sister, so why are you in his house? Did you do all this to them?""I''m just a relative of this family, I used to live here temporarily, and I got married yesterday. To be exact, I was sold by them yesterday, and I came back today to get some things." Su Liang''s expression was indifferent."Since you''re the girl of this family, if Su Daming can''t pay back the money, you have to! I don''t care whether you''re married or not!" Ba Zihu waved his hand, and two men rushed towards Su Liang.In the blink of an eye, they were hit to the ground by the back of the axe, clutching their knees and sweating coldly.Ba Zihu''s expression changed rapidly, "She''s quite fierce! Go, catch her!"However, just as Ba Zihu''s words fell, and his men were about to rush over, he suddenly fell to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably."Master Hu is having a seizure again!"...The scene instantly became chaotic, and Ba Zihu''s men all surrounded him, at a loss for what to do."Step aside." The calm voice of the girl sounded from behind, and the men instinctively stepped aside. By the time they realized what had happened, Su Liang was already beside Ba Zihu."What are you doing?"The men lunged at Su Liang again."Bang!""Ah!""Hiss!""Who?"Just as the men were about to catch Su Liang, their heads were struck hard by a round object, and they all turned around to see someone else up in the tree.Half of the men rushed towards the pear tree, and the other half continued to chase Su Liang, but they were soon attacked by pears as well.Su Liang took the finest and longest embroidery needle from the Original Master''s sewing basket and pierced it into Ba Zihu''s Renzhong acupoint with a focused gaze!"What did you do to Master Hu?""Get lost!""Master Hu!"...Su Liang withdrew the needle and took the axe with her as she stepped out of the encirclement.Seeing the situation, the immobile Su Daqiang''s family''s eyes regained their spirit."That bitch killed Master Hu Er!""You little bitch, are you crazy?""You just wait to die!"Su Liang found it all too noisy.After Su Liang had pierced Ba Zihu with a needle, his men no longer cared about Ning Jing and surrounded him instead."What''s with the mourning? Get up!" Ba Zihu pushed down two of his followers, quickly stood up from the ground, and stared at Su Liang for a moment before clasping his hands in obeisance, "I didn''t expect Miss to be so skillful in hiding your talents. You definitely can''t be Su Daming''s sister, I apologize for my earlier offense." Not only were Ba Zihu''s subordinates dumbstruck, but the faces of Su Daqiang''s family also looked as if they had been struck by lightning."My grandfather was a doctor, so I''ve learned a bit." Su Liang said indifferently.As Ba Zihu''s epilepsy had plagued him for many years, he had never recovered so quickly before. Upon hearing this, he became even more polite to Su Liang, "Miss, if you can cure my illness, we can negotiate on the consultation fee.""She... How could she heal diseases?" Su Xiaodie, who had always been jealous of Su Liang''s looks and figure, was on the verge of madness, "She''s a scam!"Ba Zihu frowned, "Keep that fat woman''s stinky mouth shut!"Immediately, a follower went over, took off his dirty socks, and stuffed them into Su Xiaodie''s mouth.Someone then reminded Ba Zihu that there was someone in the tree.It was only then that Ba Zihu noticed Ning Jing and was immediately dumbstruck. With such looks and temperament, she could not be an ordinary person.Ning Jing leaped down from the tree, carrying a large bag of pears, and landed steadily on the ground.Ba Zihu''s eyes narrowed, she knew Martial Arts!A follower who was a relative of the Su family and knew some insider information went over to Ba Zihu''s and whispered a few words. "So, it looks like it''s Young Master Ning and Madame Ning, my apologies!" Ba Zihu said, pulling at the corner of his mouth."How much money does Su Daming owe you?" Su Liang asked.A follower took out a stack of IOUs with red handprints and said loudly, "The principal plus interest amounts to a total of 500 taels!"Su Daming''s face stiffened, "I only borrowed 50 taels!""I made the interest calculation very clear from the start. If you didn''t understand, that''s because you''re stupid." Ba Zihu snorted, "Your house deeds and land deeds are mortgaged in my hands, worth at most 50 taels. But if Madame Ning can cure my illness, I can give you a few more days'' grace.""Su Liang! Sister!" Su Daming seemed to have caught a lifeline, "You must have a way! Your grandfather was a famous doctor in the capital city! Help cure Master Hu Er! Our whole family will treat you like an ancestor!"Ba Zihu looked at Su Liang with even more respect.Su Liang shook her head, "I''m not related to this family. I have irreconcilable grievances with them."Ba Zihu immediately understood, "This family is fat and wealthy, but Madame Ning is so thin, must have suffered a lot! Besides, it''s only right to pay back the debts! Let''s see, how much more does Su Daming owe me after handing over the house and land deeds?""Master Hu Er, there is still a debt of 450 taels!""How many people in this household?" Ba Zihu asked."Counting the old and the young, there are six in total!"Ba Zihu sneered, "Today, I''m in a good mood. I''ll consider them all as strong laborers. They will be sent to the mine to work for one tael of silver a year. How many years can they pay off the debt?""One year, six taels, it will take them seventy-five years! But they won''t live that long!""I''ll show some kindness and take a loss. Bring the labor contracts, have them all press their fingerprints!"Upon hearing the words "labor contract," Su Daqiang''s entire family went mad, wailing and begging Su Liang to save them.Su Liang didn''t know what a labor contract was, but it seemed to involve being sent to the mine to do hard labor. Seeing the terrified and pitiful looks of Su Daqiang''s family, it must be something horrifying.However, the more horrifying and miserable it was, the more suitable it was for them.Ba Zihu had been subtly observing Su Liang the whole time, and seeing that she did not oppose the idea, but rather seemed quite satisfied, he urged his followers to hurry things up.By the time Su Daqiang''s family got up from the ground, Ba Zihu was holding the six labor contracts with their bloody fingerprints on them."Liang''er!" Xun''s shrill voice called out as she lunged towards Su Liang.Surprised, Su Liang took two steps back to dodge her.Seeing this, Ba Zihu gestured to his subordinates to assault Xun, signaling his favor towards Su Liang.Ning Jing came over with pears, glanced at Su Liang''s forehead briefly, and asked succinctly, "Shall we go?"Su Liang nodded, went into the kitchen, and filled a bamboo basket with all the remaining food and vegetables in Su Daqiang''s house."I''m not free today. We''ll talk about your illness another day." Su Liang looked at Ba Zihu.She didn''t want to offend such a local figure as it would be troublesome. As for whether she would treat Ba Zihu''s illness in the future, it would depend on his "sincerity".Ba Zihu didn''t dare to stop her, and as he watched Ning Jing and Su Liang leave, he promised to visit and discuss another day."Beat them! Beat them hard!"Behind them, Ba Zihu''s deliberately raised voice merged with the wailing screams of Su Daqiang''s family.Seeing an elderly neighbor poking her head out, Su Liang stopped and spontaneously explained, "I was married yesterday, but I forgot to take my dowry with me. I didn''t even have a change of clothes, so I had to come back to get them. I didn''t expect that Su Daming had owed a high-interest loan of 500 taels. The house and land deeds weren''t enough to pay off the debt, and the whole family signed labor contracts and is about to be taken away.""Labor contract?" The old woman''s eyes nearly popped out, showing the terrifying nature of labor."It''s really pitiful." Su Liang sighed, thinking to herself: Su Daqiang''s family working as slaves in the mine must be a beautiful sight to behold... I want to watch...


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 Chapter 7: 007. Showdown

    Chapter 7: 007. Showdown[Showdown]When Su Liang and Ning Jing, one following the other, crossed a wooden bridge back to this side of the river at the Ning residence, the misfortune of Su Daqiang''s family had already spread quickly throughout the village.The words "labor contract" completely overshadowed things like "Ning Jing had a miraculous recovery the day after getting married to Su Liang" and "Su Liang even had no clothes to change after she got married" which would ordinarily have stirred up gossip.Throughout the village, it was known that Su Daming had a penchant for gambling.A fair few villagers, either out of jealousy for the wealth of Su Daqiang''s family or disdain for the complacency of their lifestyle, had often muttered remarks like "their family will one day be ruined by Su Daming''s gambling" behind their backs.And now, it had come true.By the time Lei Zheng, the village leader, rushed to the scene, Ba Zihu had already tied up the whole family of Su Daqiang, ready to take them away.Lei Zheng dared not offend the powerful Hu Er from the town and only made a symbolic protest.Ba Zihu didn''t show any arrogance either, he simply presented the debt note that Su Daming had signed, and the labor contract stained with the blood fingerprints of the Su family.Seeing this, Lei Zheng could only sigh, unable to utter a word.Involvement with gambling and usury invariably led to family ruin and personal catastrophe, sooner or later.Even if they lodged a complaint with the Government Office, the result would still be the same.Lei Zheng merely asked Ba Zihu about his plans for the house of the Su Family; Ba Zihu said he had made arrangements.A heavy rain was approaching. Many villagers returning from the fields personally witnessed the Su Family being whipped by Ba Zihu''s men and herded away like pigs.The wails of Mrs. Xun and Su Xiaodie, mother and daughter, could be heard throughout the half of the village.Su Liang just stood on the opposite bank of the river and watched coldly until they were out of sight, then she turned around and left.Bai Xiaohu ran over again, stood in front of Su Liang, and patted his chest, "My grandma asked me to check if you were still here; she was afraid you might have been taken away by Hu Er from the town as well!"Su Liang smiled slightly, "Thanks for your concern, I''m fine."Bai Xiaohu then ran away again in smoke.When Su Liang returned to the courtyard, she saw Ning Jing sitting by the window, holding a book; his side profile was as beautiful as a painting.Just as she was about to head into the kitchen to see what she could prepare for lunch, she heard Ning Jing calling her.As she sat down, Su Liang already had a guess about what would happen next."You are not Su Liang." Ning Jing''s cold gaze fell onto Su Liang''s face, without any beating around the bush.Su Liang countered, "Do you know me that well?"Ning Jing shook his head, "I don''t need to. If you had always been like this, there''s no way you would have been trapped by that family."Su Liang''s delicate eyebrows twitched slightly, unable to refute him."The original Su Liang is dead," Ning Jing stated firmly. Su Daqiang''s family had murdered Su Liang just yesterday. This seemed unbelievable, but the woman in front of him was definitely not the frail and bitter girl who had once sought Ning Jing''s help."Yes," Su Liang didn''t deny it. She had no wounds on her head, but had suddenly lost all her memory; perhaps she could come up with a reason to fool other people, but she couldn''t fool Ning Jing."How did you become her?" Ning Jing looked confused.But this question itself took Su Liang by surprise.Ning Jing was sure that her body was Su Liang''s, but her core had changed. Such a shocking truth, he had detected it when he was at Su Daqiang''s house, but he had never shown any signs of surprise. He seemed to be merely curious now?He didn''t even act as if he was seeing a ghost in Su Liang, let alone being surprised.Su Liang fell silent. This man was not simple, and the secret of her transmigration would be best kept away from a second person unless they trusted each other, or had sufficient bargaining chips to hold each other in check."If you want to know my secret, you''ll have to exchange it with your biggest secret," Su Liang said calmly.In fact, most of her secret had already been seen through by Ning Jing, the only things left to tell were who she was and how she had transmigrated here.The latter answer was simply "The will of the heavens, beyond human control".Therefore, refusing to talk wouldn''t benefit her, she might as well take this opportunity to probe Ning Jing''s secrets."My biggest secret..." Ning Jing''s eyes darkened as he fell silent.Su Liang waited until her stomach started to grumble, "If you don''t want to tell me, then don''t ask me anymore.""When I said that there is darkness in the center of your brows, and you will face a bloody disaster in the near future, I was telling the truth," Ning Jing began.Su Liang looked baffled, "Are you saying...your biggest secret is that you''re a real fortune teller?"Is he kidding?Ning Jing, a slight furrow forming on his good-looking brow, asked, "Fortune...teller...what does this mean?""It doesn''t matter." Su Liang shook her head, "Explain why this is your biggest secret." "I''ve been able to see a cloud of dark mist on the forehead of certain people fated to die since I was a child," Ning Jing said.Su Liang subconsciously touched the center of her own forehead with her finger, "You''re saying, you can see? Real dark mist?"Ning Jing nodded, "Yes. Those whom I see with dark mist on their forehead will die undoubtedly within three days. Unless, I intervene.""Wait, can you see any dark mist on my forehead right now?" Su Liang found Ning Jing''s statement quite startling, even more so than the fact of her transmigration to this world.Ning Jing shook his head, "No. I initially thought it was that family trying to kill you. Later, I realized that the dark mist suddenly appearing on your forehead was a sign of your intention to kill them."Su Liang''s gaze hardened.At that moment, Ning Jing had looked at her and said that darkness was looming in front of her. It was right when she was planning revenge for the original master.No wonder, Ning Jing had followed her to Su Daqiang''s house. Did he think she was going to be killed by that family?What shocked Su Liang even more was, "Not only can you see those about to die, but also the murderers? Is there a difference in the dark mist for both?"Ning Jing shook his head, "No difference.""Did you see the original Su Liang within those three days?" Suddenly, Su Liang remembered this.If Ning Jing had seen the original master within those three days, had there been no dark mist on her forehead?Ning Jing shook his head again, "I''d only seen her once, five days ago, and noticed nothing at that time.""So you mean, whether I want to kill someone or I am about to die, you can foresee it?" Su Liang mused, "The dark mist on my forehead disappeared because I changed my mind. I didn''t want that family to die quickly, and because of your timely reminder.""It''s not always observable. A High Monk once declared that the dying people I notice are those who are not supposed to die yet and need to be saved. Those intending to kill, whom I notice, are people who shouldn''t stain their hands with blood and need to be stopped," Ning Jing said."So eerie? Did you resolve all cases where you saw the dark mist? Were there any you couldn''t save or stop?" Su Liang asked.Was she supposed not to stain her hands with blood? She would rather believe that heaven intended Su Daqiang''s family to live and suffer, not die and be set free.Ning Jing sighed almost inaudibly, "Of course there are.""What''s your viewpoint regarding this ability of yours? Are you willing to save those irrelevant people?" Su Liang looked at Ning Jing as she asked.Ning Jing was silent again, but when Su Liang thought he wouldn''t answer, he shook his head, "I used to feel that it was a shackle. I have no obligation to do anything for irrelevant people. I covered my eyes with a black cloth, preferring to be blind to rebel against so-called fate. Until, my mother left when I couldn''t see."Su Liang frowned. She saw sorrow in Ning Jing''s eyes, but it was very restrained."I never saw my mother one last time and don''t know if a dark cloud had appeared on her forehead. She left behind a will, asking me not to see myself as a monster. This is a gift from heaven, I ought to make good use of it to ease my conscience. Otherwise, if I can''t see the sufferings of the unrelated, I also won''t have the chance to foresee the dangers of those who matter," Ning Jing spoke in a low voice.Su Liang thought that Ning Jing''s mother was too kind, but her words were correct. If he doesn''t use this special power, he might lose it someday.If he doesn''t save a stranger who isn''t supposed to die today, he may not be able to help even when he sees a loved one die tomorrow.All gifts from fate come with a hidden price.Perhaps Ning Jing has to save a hundred unrelated people before he has a chance to use his special ability to save a loved one or friend.The former requires a lot of effort.But the latter is priceless.Su Liang thought Ning Jing would confess whether he was a descendant of the rebellious Gu Family, but instead, she learned of a secret she''d never have thought of.Such a handsome man, a real fortune teller, in a good sense.Maybe others would think Ning Jing was crazy after hearing this, but Su Liang who had experienced transmigration did not doubt the authenticity of his words.Just like how Ning Jing, due to his special ability, wasn''t surprised about Su Liang''s soul transmigration.Since Ning Jing was so candid, Su Liang temporarily let her guard down, "What do you want to ask me?"Ning Jing glanced at the four desserts in front of him, furrowed his brows, and asked with a slight smile, "Can you cook?" 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 Chapter 8: 008. Employment

    Chapter 8: 008. Employment[Employment]Su Liang had just entered the kitchen when big raindrops began to pitter-patter down.She took out the food and vegetables from the basket and turned around in the kitchen. There were pots, firewood, and bowls and chopsticks, but no kitchen knife, and no oil, salt, sauce, or vinegar.Obviously, this kitchen''s original function was just for boiling water."Ning Jing." Su Liang called Ning Jing''s name for the first time.A figure in blue appeared in the corridor, "What''s up?""Go to Auntie Bai''s house and borrow a kitchen knife, some oil and salt. If there are other seasonings, take a little of each," Su Liang said.She only took ingredients from Su Daqiang''s kitchen.Ning Jing had brought back many pears, which she tasted. They were crispy, sweet, and delicious, but they couldn''t be eaten as a meal."Borrowing means returning," Ning Jing said."Then let''s buy it!" Su Liang remembered that she had brought a string of copper coins and told Ning Jing to get them from her room.After a while, Ning Jing stepped out in the pouring rain with a dark-colored oil umbrella.Su Liang took some white flour and two eggs, planning to make pancakes. She needed to eat something hot and starchy; otherwise, she felt she would soon pass out from low blood sugar.Ning Jing returned just as she finished mixing the batter.Seeing him put a heavy bamboo basket in the kitchen, Su Liang suddenly had a bad feeling.A knife and seasonings didn''t need such a big basket, right...Then she saw: two heads of cabbage, three white radishes, four carrots, a bowl of green bean sprouts, a handful of red dates, and two kinds of wild vegetables that Su Liang couldn''t name.Ning Jing took out the kitchen knife and the seasonings from the basket and handed them to Su Liang.Su Liang frowns and asks, "How much did these cost?""All of them," Ning Jing said.Su Liang was speechless. However, she still did not know the price of things in this world and couldn''t say for sure if Ning Jing had been ripped off."Did you always have someone serving you before?" Su Liang asked.Ning Jing nodded, "Yes."No wonder, he had no common-sense knowledge about life. Even if he wanted to buy vegetables, he shouldn''t have spent all his money. What if something urgent came up?"Do you need help?" Ning Jing asked."You start the fire," Su Liang put the vegetables in the corner, planning to eat this meal and then organize them.A moment later, thick smoke filled the kitchen, and Su Liang, with a blackened face, kicked Ning Jing out.She should never have had any expectations for this pampered and handsome man!"Sorry." Ning Jing stood at the door and wiped the soot off his forehead."You think about how to make money!" Su Liang said irritably.This teammate wasn''t very good for partnering up in daily life.Although she was not used to the primitive earthen stove, Su Liang still managed to make a decent lunch. She had been living independently since she was young, and this was a basic skill.Soft and fragrant radish egg pancakes, stir-fried bacon, cold mixed vegetables, and millet and red date porridge.Ning Jing tasted each dish, nodding his head in approval of Su Liang''s cooking skills.Considering that Ning Jing took the initiative to propose washing the dishes and pots, Su Liang''s opinion of him improved slightly.He might lack common life knowledge, but his attitude was very correct.However, Su Liang couldn''t help but roll her eyes when she heard the sound of porcelain breaking in the kitchen...And what left Su Liang speechless was that Ning Jing diligently washed all the vegetables clean! Even the many pears he had picked from Su Daqiang''s house!She tried to maintain a smile and told Ning Jing that the storage time of the vegetables would be significantly reduced after washing them."You want to hit me." Ning Jing put down his rolled-up sleeves, his insightful eyes detecting and pointing out Su Liang''s current mood.Su Liang''s face was full of black lines, "If I leave, and you have no money and don''t know how to do anything, how will you live?"Ning Jing thought for a moment and said, "I can earn money by copying books for people.""Fine." Su Liang had nothing more to say about this."Where did you come from?" Ning Jing suddenly took up the interrupted serious topic after lunch."Just like you don''t know why you have abilities different from ordinary people, I don''t know why I came here and became another person," Su Liang said indifferently. "I am from a world very different from here, and you wouldn''t know even if I told you."Ning Jing nodded slightly, "You know martial arts and medical skills, who were you before?""I was a doctor and a soldier," Su Liang said."In your original world, women can join the army? And they can also be doctors?" Ning Jing asked.Su Liang nodded, "Yes. Men and women are equal, and they can do the same things."Ning Jing seemed thoughtful, "Can men also give birth to children?"Su Liang: ...This guy''s thinking is quite advanced..."I hope I have the chance to see it." Ning Jing didn''t ask too many questions.Both returned to their rooms, and Su Liang planned to sort through the information they''d gotten today and think about the future.But as it was a cold rainy day, she went to bed and quickly fell asleep.In the evening, the rain stopped, and a gorgeous sunset dyed half the sky red.Su Liang opened the door, and saw Bai Xiaohu running in with a basket."Sister-in-law Ning, this is the wild chicken that Master Ning bought from my house! It''s been killed and cleaned!" Bai Xiaohu handed the basket to Su Liang, which contained a freshly slaughtered wild chicken.Su Liang was startled for a moment before hearing Bai Xiaohu happily say, "My mom says Master Ning is very good to you! He even paid extra to have my dad kill and clean the chicken, so you wouldn''t be tired!"Su Liang didn''t mind that the entire Bai family assumed she should be the one to kill the chicken. After all, Ning Jing was beautiful, so it was understandable that people would think she shouldn''t do such chores.She misjudged Ning Jing. Despite spending all their money, he had been somewhat aware of what he was doing."Thank you, Little Tiger." Su Liang took out the wild chicken, and filled half of the basket with big crisp pears that Ning Jing had cleaned.Bai Xiaohu was both shocked and delighted, "I know! Su Xiaoming''s pear tree is the best in our village, and the pears it bears sell for more than others!"Even if a farmer''s family had fruit trees, the good fruits were usually sold for money, and their children seldom got to eat them."Thank you, Sister-in-law Ning!" Bai Xiaohu hugged the basket and ran away.As Su Liang was thinking about how to cook the wild chicken, she heard Ning Jing ask from behind, "Do you still want to leave?"Having exchanged their biggest secrets, Su Liang directly asked Ning Jing, "Do you know where she originally planned to go?"Ning Jing shook her head, indicating she didn''t know.Su Liang remembered the knot that the Original Master had made with the "cloud" character and sighed softly, "I''m not her. I have no place to go and no one to find."She was alone, with no ties or concerns."Alright." Ning Jing said, "I want to hire you to do things for me."To outsiders, they appeared to be newlyweds, but in reality, they were strangers to one another.Su Liang frowned, "You don''t have money, and if you copy books for people, you might barely make enough for yourself to live on."She could make money by practicing medicine and live alone, but first, she needed to learn the rules of this business."I have." Ning Jing called Su Liang over.After entering the room, Su Liang saw Ning Jing open a locked wooden box.Her eyes widened.Jewelry and jade, brilliantly colored and radiant, each piece valuable and exquisite."Why did you say you have no money? Any of these items could be sold for enough money to support you for a long time." Su Liang was puzzled."I can''t sell them. It would invite trouble," Ning Jing shook her head.Su Liang understood. Valuable items like these always had owners, so if they were sold, people like Nian Jincheng could easily find their way here."You want to hire me to cook and do laundry for you with these unsellable treasures?" Su Liang was somewhat speechless.Ning Jing shook her head, "No, not to cook and do laundry, but to do other tasks.""What tasks?" Su Liang asked."You know martial arts and medical skills, have courage, and can help me save people or prevent assailants." Ning Jing explained."You should have no problem finding a master or a famous doctor to help you, right?" Su Liang asked."Yes, but finding someone who doesn''t think I''m a monster, and who won''t harbor ill intentions after knowing those things, is hard." Ning Jing said.Su Liang understood that Ning Jing saw her as a fellow traveler.And she wasn''t wrong.At least Su Liang wouldn''t betray Ning Jing. She couldn''t say the same for others. If word got out, Ning Jing would never have peace.Though the jewelry and jade were valuable and beautiful, Su Liang wouldn''t sell her future for these items that not only couldn''t be exchanged for money, but also ran the risk of inviting trouble.The reward was secondary.The key was that this matter concerned the lives of others, and she needed to be careful. Once she agreed, she would have to do her best and couldn''t easily renege or slack off."I''ll think about it." Su Liang didn''t immediately respond.


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 Chapter 9: 009. Little White Face

    Chapter 9: 009. Little White Face[Making Money]Half a chicken was used to make soup.A pear was peeled and diced, then added to the chicken soup, and the fragrance wafting in the air had a hint of sweetness.Half a white radish and half a carrot were cut into fine shreds, mixed into the batter with a little salt, and stirred well.Oil covered the bottom of the pan, and the batter was spread out to make pancakes, fried until golden brown on both sides.Half a basin of batter made seven pancakes, enough to eat.As Su Liang lifted the last pancake out of the pan, he turned to see Bai Xiaohu standing at the door with a bowl, staring eagerly at the freshly-cooked radish and carrot pancakes.The poor farmer''s family didn''t spend as much oil on cooking as Su Liang, and the aroma of oil and meat in the air made Bai Xiaohu salivate."Little Tiger?"At Su Liang''s call, Bai Xiaohu came to his senses and entered a little sheepishly with his bowl, "My grandmother steamed these Steamed Buns for you to take two! Don''t be picky, we only get to eat white flour during the New Year..."Su Liang smiled and took the bowl, "Your grandma''s steamed buns must be delicious, thank you." He then took out the buns, scooped a bowl of chicken soup with meat, and placed two pieces of pancake on top.With saliva almost dripping from his mouth, Bai Xiaohu waved his hands, "I''ll take the pears back, my grandmother has scolded me! I can''t take this!""Take it, I''ll have to ask your grandmother for her steamed bun recipe later." Su Liang smiled.Only then did Bai Xiaohu accept, and said earnestly, "You must definitely go!"...Mrs. Bai''s face darkened when she saw the food Bai Xiaohu brought back.Bai Xiaohu quickly explained that he didn''t ask for it, Su Liang insisted on giving it to him, and said he would come to their house another day to learn how to steam buns."Who says Mrs. Ning can''t cook? The chicken soup she stewed is so fragrant!"Mrs. Bai tasted half a spoonful with suspicion and was instantly stunned by the delicious taste. She sighed and shook her head, "She must have learned everything while being a slave in that Yuanwai Family. Poor girl!"...Having the chicken soup with pear garnish, Ning Jing complimented Su Liang, "Your cooking skills are quite good."The chicken leg was Su Liang''s by default, while Ning Jing had an extra pancake.As they both put down their chopsticks at the same time, Ning Jing said before Su Liang could speak, "You cook, I''ll wash the dishes."Su Liang thought this arrangement was excellent.Returning to her room, she tidied up the luggage she had brought back from Su Daqiang''s house. It was cold, and she needed to buy thicker clothing and socks.Moreover, she had to learn the text of this world as soon as possible, so she had to buy books and writing materials.She didn''t have a single copper coin left and was experiencing poverty for the first time in two lifetimes...Picking up the Plum Blossom Screen that the Original Master had embroidered, Su Liang sighed softly and put it away.This was the fruit of the Original Master''s hard work, and she didn''t plan to sell it for money.If one day she found that "Cloud" gentleman, she could give it to him, which might be what the Original Master had hoped for!Ning Jing boiled hot water, and Su Liang asked him how to brush her teeth."Wait."Ning Jing went back to his room and brought back an exquisite wooden box for Su Liang.When Su Liang opened it, she was surprised to see something similar to a toothbrush in this world. The handle had a smooth texture, seemingly made of jade, and the bristles were a bit stiff but neatly trimmed.There was also a small jar of green salt in the box.Ning Jing asked, "Do you know how to use it?"She nodded, "Yes, thank you." It was a luxurious item, obviously not for ordinary people to use, and must have been Ning Jing''s spare.He also gave Su Liang a new, soft cloth towel with excellent water absorbency."There is only one bathtub, so we''ll buy a new one for you tomorrow," Ning Jing said."It sounds like we have money," Su Liang said sarcastically.Ning Jing''s handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he said nothing, simply turned and went back to his room.When Su Liang finished washing and came out to pour water, she saw the light in the next room was off and thought he had gone to bed.As Su Liang entered her dreams, a dark shadow easily climbed over the high walls of the Su Daqiang residence.Fifteen minutes later, the shadow left.It returned, then left again...Before daybreak, Su Liang was awakened by a knock on her door.As she rubbed her sleepy eyes and opened it, Ning Jing was already dressed neatly, talking to Bai Xiaohu at the door.What was he doing up so early?Su Liang found it strange when Ning Jing turned to her, "Do you want to go to the market?""We have an ox cart!" Bai Xiaohu added.Just as Su Liang wanted to say there was no money to go to the market, she turned her head and saw four large bamboo baskets under the eaves, full of golden pears..."Sell them for money." Ning Jing walked over, and Bai Xiaohu had already run away.With an inexplicable look on her face, Su Liang asked, "Did you... steal these last night?"Seeing Ning Jing nod his head, Su Liang imagined the handsome man climbing walls to steal pears and bringing back basket after basket in the middle of the night, and thought his alternative way of making money was... fantastic!Bai Xiaohu''s father came over and helped carry the pears to the cart, his attitude was very friendly."Are you going to sell them?" Su Liang asked.Ning Jing shook his head, "Little Tiger''s family will help sell them. It''s agreed that they will get 20 percent of the profit."Su Liang suddenly had an idea, "Can you help me write something?"Ning Jing went back to his room to grind ink, and listened to Su Liang recite, then wrote it down.He quickly realized that it was the recipe for the chicken soup from the night before, but it had additional ingredients that they didn''t have at home, along with two medicinal herbs.He wrote the effects at the end: Nourishes and moisuturizes, beauty and health. "The words aren''t bad." Su Liang took a look and could probably identify them all, but she couldn''t write the traditional characters.When she finished quickly washing up and went out, Ning Jing was waiting for her outside, locking the door.The ox cart was by the bridge with Madam Bai and Bai Xiaohu sitting on it."Didn''t Young Master Ning say he wasn''t going?" Bai Xiaohu was surprised.Ning Jing''s expression was calm, "I''m going to buy something."There was little space on the cart, and the two of them sat down side by side, their shoulders close together.Su Liang didn''t mind, and, seeing that she was very calm, Ning Jing also casually sat down.It looked like they were husband and wife."Young Master Ning, hold onto your wife!" Madam Bai reminded.Bai Xiaohu snickered, "Hold her tight!"Su Liang coughed lightly, "His face is thin."The Bai family''s laughter filled the air, and Ning Jing silently glanced at Su Liang...On the way, the villagers they met all stared at Su Liang and Ning Jing."Why is Young Master Ning riding an ox cart?""Su Liang is really good-looking.""Isn''t Young Master Ning avoiding trouble here? Where is he going?"...Su Liang asked in a low voice, "Is it okay for you to be outside?"Ning Jing shook his head, "No problem."It took an hour for the ox cart to arrive at Luoyan Town.There was a market on the seventh day every month, and at this time, the good spots had already been taken by others.Bai Peng, Bai Xiaohu''s father, unloaded the items from the cart, and Madam Bai let Ning Jing and Su Liang go shopping on their own, with them helping to sell the pears."Which is the biggest restaurant in town?" Su Liang asked, picking up a pear."I know! Feiyan Restaurant! I heard that their dishes are expensive!" Bai Xiaohu pointed in a direction, looking envious, "Are you going to Feiyan Restaurant for dinner?"Madam Bai glared at Bai Xiaohu and told him not to be nosy.Seeing Ning Jing and Su Liang really heading towards Feiyan Restaurant, Bai Xiaohu sat on a stone with his hands on his face, lamenting, "They''re so rich!"In fact, the penniless Ning Jing and Su Liang were on the streets, attracting a lot of attention.It''s just that their appearance and temperament were too outstanding in this remote small town.It was also for this reason that when Su Liang entered Feiyan Restaurant and asked to see the manager directly, the waiter did not dare to neglect them, fearing to offend some big shot.The manager of Feiyan Restaurant was a short, fat old man. As soon as he saw Su Liang and Ning Jing''s overall bearing, he was quite polite, thinking they were friends of the owner.When he learned that Su Liang was there to sell a medicinal diet recipe, the cunning sparkled in the manager''s eyes, "First, take out the recipe and let''s have a look. It must be something fresh, delicious, and suitable for our price."Su Liang''s expression was indifferent, "No matter what I bring out, I''m sure the manager will say, your Feiyan Restaurant already has it."Being exposed, the manager laughed awkwardly and waved his hand, "In that case, just go sell it somewhere else!""I''ve heard that Luoxia Restaurant is not bad. Farewell." Su Liang turned around and left.When the manager heard of Luoxia Restaurant, his expression changed, "Wait!"Su Liang wasn''t surprised. On the way, she had overheard some passers-by saying that the business at Luoxia Restaurant was getting better and better, so she figured Feiyan Restaurant would be under pressure....Half an hour later, Su Liang reappeared at the market.Bai Xiaohu complained to her with a bitter face, "Our pears are too expensive, no one is buying." But selling them cheap was unbearable.Su Liang rubbed Bai Xiaohu''s head, "I''ve sold them all."The restaurant''s waiter came with a cart and loaded all the pears onto it.Madam Bai hurriedly asked what was going on.Su Liang explained that she had sold all the pears to Feiyan Restaurant."You''re really something." Madam Bai''s gaze towards Su Liang changed.Su Liang gave Madam Bai 20% of the original total price for the pears as agreed with Bai Xiaohu and Ning Jing.Madam Bai kept pushing the coins back, saying that they hadn''t sold the pears.Su Liang insisted on giving it. In cooperation with the Bai family, they had helped with a lot of hard work. It was her and Ning Jing who had changed their minds, so it was only right to give the money.But she didn''t give more than that.Unable to resist, Madam Bai accepted it and said that in the future, Ning Jing and Su Liang wouldn''t have to pay to ride their cart.Seeing Su Liang walk away, Bai Xiaohu muttered, "Selling the food to Feiyan Restaurant must be more expensive, right?"Madam Bai twisted Bai Xiaohu''s ear, "No matter how expensive it is, it''s their ability! What are you judging for?"Bai Xiaohu was just curious as to how Su Liang managed to sell the pears, and he didn''t think much of it. However, Madam Bai still warned him not to think always about taking advantage of others....The medicinal diet recipe and the pears were sold together for a total of forty-three silver taels.The manager was well-informed and was impressed with the effects of the medicinal diet. Su Liang asked for fifty taels, but he haggled down to forty taels and agreed to buy all her pears for three silver taels.He said repeatedly that if there were new recipes, they must be sold to Feiyan Restaurant, and the price was negotiable.In a good mood, Su Liang went to the bookshop where she had agreed to meet Ning Jing."I don''t know where this little white-faced guy came from, even daring to compete with Master Huang''s son for a woman! He''s looking for death!"Amid the noise, Su Liang turned her head, curious to see how white the little white-faced guy''s face was. But when she looked closely, her face was full of black lines.The person who should be helping her pick out books, Ning Jing, was surrounded by four strong men wielding clubs...  S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 10: 010. He must really like you

    Chapter 10: 010. He must really like you"[He must really like you]"Su Liang suddenly recalled that Bai Xiaohu had told her there was once a young master from the Yuanwai family who wanted to take the Original Master as a concubine, but Su Daqiang did not consent.Could it be...In an instant, Su Liang dismissed the thought.If the Yuanwai family was so domineering, they wouldn''t have waited until today to trouble Ning Jing.Therefore, she should have nothing to do with this matter involving two men fighting over one woman.Looking around, Su Liang noticed a fat young man holding onto a young woman, standing not far away.It was likely that the young woman was the one being fought over.No matter why Ning Jing had invited this trouble, Su Liang had no plans to intervene.Just then, Ning Jing locked eyes with Su Liang, extending her hand towards her and pleading softly, "Help me."Speechless, Su Liang looked towards the heavens...All eyes turned towards them instantaneously."Grab that pretty girl too!"Now Su Liang couldn''t escape even if she wanted to, so she broke through the crowd and rushed towards Ning Jing.Moments later, there were four more groaning ruffians on the ground.The audience''s eyes were about to pop out of their heads.Nobody could have imagined that a frail-looking young girl would know martial arts!Throughout, Ning Jing remained graceful and beautiful, now standing behind Su Liang, looking more effeminate..."She was sold into slavery."Hearing Ning Jing''s whisper, Su Liang took another look at the captured girl.Fifteen to sixteen years old, with fair skin, pretty features, and a mole on the tail of the right eyebrow.Her eyes were red-rimmed, teary but without tears, pleading silently to Su Liang."Do you know her?" Su Liang asked, shocked."She recognizes me," Ning Jing answered, "And she has a dark sign on her face."Su Liang narrowed her eyes, understanding the situation.At the young master Huang''s command, another group of people charged over.Ning Jing silently retreated two steps...Su Liang''s moves were quick, ruthless, and precise, but she was physically weak and had not had breakfast, so she felt somewhat exhausted.After knocking down the last man, a new group emerged from behind Young Master Huang."Madam Ning!"Upon hearing the voice, Su Liang focused and felt relieved.The person who had arrived was Ba Zihu, whom she had met the day before at Su Daqiang''s house, the one who lent money at high interest rates.Ba Zihu bowed with his hands folded in front, "Those two are friends of mine, could Young Master Huang...""What are you worth?" Young Master Huang sneered.Ba Zihu stood straight and laughed, "Young Master Huang, I heard the County Magistrate is being promoted, congratulations!"The color drained from Young Master Huang''s face! His arrogance in Feiyan Town was due to his distant relative who was a County Magistrate. Ba Zihu saying "promotion" was in fact a sideways demotion. The point was, he would no longer have jurisdiction over this area.In contrast, the Hu Family, was the true force to be reckoned with, and they had powerful support in the background."I will give you face! Let''s go!" Young Master Huang scrubbed at his face, pulling the young girl with him."Leave the girl." These words were spoken by Su Liang.After all that fighting, if she didn''t even save the girl, wouldn''t that be a waste of energy?"Madam Ning, may I ask why you want this girl?" Ba Zihu was very courteous to Su Liang."Old acquaintances," Su Liang said."This woman was bought by me!" Young Master Huang''s face had turned even darker."How much did Young Master Huang pay? Why not let Madam Ning have her, to give me face," Ba Zihu said."And if I don''t agree?" Young Master Huang ground out through gritted teeth."In that case, I will have to pay a visit to Master Yuanwai," said Ba Zihu whose men now blocked Huang''s path, "Master Yuanwai is always generous, perhaps I wouldn''t even need to pay."Recognizing Ba Zihu''s hidden threat, Young Master Huang''s face darkened: "Forty taels!"Su Liang took a bag of silver that Ning Jing passed to her, walked it over, and handed it to Ba Zihu.Ba Zihu opened it to have a look, "Exactly forty taels, does Young Master Huang want to count it again?"Young Master Huang aggressively walked away with the bag of money, leaving the young woman behind and taking his injured subordinates with him.Su Liang helped the girl up from the ground, as she whispered in gratitude, "Thank you, sister-in-law."Su Liang raised an eyebrow, sister-in-law? It appears she truly does know Ning Jing."I was just about to pay lady Ning a visit, and didn''t expect to meet you here." Ba Zihu bowed in a salute.Su Liang nodded, "Thank you very much. Come by Su village to get the prescribed medicine tomorrow."Ba Zihu was taken aback; he didn''t expect Su Liang to be so candid.Although he had just outmaneuvered Master Huang, he didn''t want to make a big fuss about it.His suggesting Master Huang to give up the girl to Su Liang, and Su Liang willingly paying for her, saved face for Ba Zihu."I should be the one thanking Lady Ning. Rest assured, I guarantee that Huang won''t trouble you again!"Ba Zihu added a few more words.Master Huang is a lecher, but he''s rather impotent in that area, having a somewhat perverted mind. If Su Liang hadn''t saved the lady today, her fate would have been grim.As for the Su Daqiang family of six, they had already been sent to the mines last night, leaving them no way out.The crowd dispersed.Su Liang, leading the lady, turned into a deserted alley, with Ning Jing following behind."Who are you?" Su Liang let go of her."Mr. Ning knows." The girl stood still, turning towards Ning Jing.Su Liang also turned back, staring at Ning Jing''s face, deep in thought.The events of their wedding night made her suspect that Ning Jing was a member of the Gu Family, currently using a fake identity.But it now seemed that "Ning Jing" is real.Could it be that he was using someone else''s identity? He dared to go out without fear of being discovered, could he possibly know the legendary Disguise Technique?Su Liang momentarily pushed aside her doubts, telling the lady, "He doesn''t like to talk. Answer my question!""My name is Yang Yu, I was betrayed by my enemies and sold here. I tricked Master Huang, telling him that if he bought me a book, I would obediently serve him. This is how I got the opportunity to leave. I didn''t expect to meet the seventh son of the Ning Family here. We had met once before.""If it weren''t for Mr. Ning and Lady Ning''s righteous rescue, maybe I wouldn''t be alive tomorrow." "Please help me to return home or notify my brother to come and pick me up. I will be eternally grateful!"Su Liang was initially puzzled as to why Ning Jing had openly stood up for Yang Yu. If he really wanted to rescue someone, he could have done it secretly.It turned out that Yang Yu was in danger and had managed to grasp a lifeline. She was uncertain whether Ning Jing would be willing to save her, understandably not wanting to let go of him.You could say that was only human nature.Su Liang observed that Yang Yu had a dignified manner and spoke well, never crying or whining. She made an effort to save herself, making Su Liang think this girl was worthwhile.The forty silver taels were gone, but saving a person was a noble deed. Initially, she didn''t want to intervene as she thought Ning Jing could handle it himself. She didn''t expect the pretty boy to actually want her to fight...She must make Ning Jing give her a piece of jewelry as compensation for her effort this time.As Su Liang was mulling over this, she was suddenly pulled behind Ning Jing.A black-garbed, masked man rushed over brandishing a long knife, aiming it at Yang Yu.Ning Jing kicked Yang Yu towards Su Liang and in a swift movement, grabbed the wrist of the assassin, giving it a vicious twist!Su Liang caught Yang Yu, who narrowly avoided being knocked down by Ning Jing''s kick, speechless."Thank you." Yang Yu rubbed her aching arm, took a deep breath, and whispered to Su Liang, "Mr. Ning must really like you."Su Liang paused for a second, then it dawned on her. Compared to how he treated her, Ning Jing''s behavior towards Yang Yu could be considered rude, this...The assassin''s wrist had been broken by Ning Jing, who was pinning him to the ground.Yang Yu walked over, pulled off the assassin''s mask, and said coldly, "It''s you!"The assassin, realizing his plan had been exposed, pleaded for his life, confessing that a Miss Yao had forced him to do this.It seemed that Miss Yao was Yang Yu''s cousin, who lived temporarily at the Yang Family. She was jealous of Yang Yu, and wanted to steal her fianc¨¦. She framed Yang Yu, which resulted in Yang Yu being sold."Miss Yao gave the traffickers a lot of money, trying to make sure they found a ''good family'' for Miss Yang. They specifically chose Master Huang, who only asked for forty taels, in order to humiliate and torment Miss Yang!""Miss Yao had me secretly follow Yang Yu to prevent her from escaping and wait for the right moment to kill her! Miss Yao also said she would make Young Master Yang believe that Yang Yu had eloped with someone else!"Yang Yu was livid, "And I treated her like a real sister! I was really blind!"Su Liang looked at Ning Jing, who had moved beside her, and quietly asked, "Why did you have to kick her? You don''t seem to know how to treat women delicately.""Women are troublesome, I don''t want to get involved." Ning Jing appeared indifferent.Su Liang: ... did he do it on purpose to avoid getting attention?"Shall I leave then?" Su Liang huffed.Ning Jing shook his head, "No need, I don''t consider you a woman." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 11: 011. Small bed

    Chapter 11: 011. Small bed[Bedside]"Miss Yang, please show some mercy and let me go! I have old and young relatives to care for, and it was only because Miss Yao threatened them that I made such a mistake..." The assassin handed over several broken silver coins and a fifty-two silver note.Yang Yu said coldly, "You were a servant of the Yao Family, but my Yang Family supported you and your master. Stop pretending to be pitiful!"With that, she turned around and handed the silver note and broken silver coins to Su Liang.Su Liang shook her head, "You take it as your travel expenses and head home."Yang Yu looked embarrassed, "It''s a long journey, and I am a woman alone..."Su Liang also realized that she was being too simplistic. This was ancient times, after all, and the chances of a woman traveling alone without incident were slim."I can go back and send a message to the young master to come to pick up the young lady!" The assassin offered eagerly."After you escape, you will run away. Do you think I''m stupid?" Yang Yu scolded, then mocked herself, "I am stupid, otherwise how would I have ended up like this?""What do you plan to do?" Su Liang asked directly.Yang Yu looked at Ning Jing, "Could you send someone to deliver a message to my brother?"Ning Jing shook his head, "I have no one to send."Yang Yu hesitated and sighed, "I''m sorry, I thought... If there''s anything you need the Yang Family''s help with, as long as I can safely reunite with my brother, I will do my best."Ning Jing looked at Su Liang, "Shall we shelter her for a few days?""I have no objections." Su Liang agreed.Yang Yu''s face lit up, "Thank you both!"The assassin named Yao Wei led them to where the trafficker was staying, but he was long gone.Ba Zihu sent someone with a carriage to take Su Liang home.Without any hesitation, Su Liang picked up a stone, knocked Yao Wei unconscious, and threw him into the carriage. She ordered the coachman to wait at the entrance of the town....Walking into the Book Shop, Ning Jing said, "Settle the bill."The manager smiled and brought out the neatly packed bundle of books and stationery items, counting the cost on his abacus, "These items cost a total of twenty-nine taels of silver and six coins. Wipe away the six coins, and it''s twenty-nine taels!"In total, she spent nearly sixty taels of silver, half of which was gone in an instant.But Su Liang had always believed that money is not saved, but earned.She needs to learn the words and laws of this world as soon as possible to feel confident.She brought some miscellaneous grains, brown sugar, red dates, various condiments, and some blood-nourishing medicinal materials from the Pharmacy.Then they went to the Clothing Store, picked out two thicker garments, found the price expensive, and switched to cheaper materials.Yang Yu knew Ning Jing bought those books for Su Liang and admired her even more. She was willing to spend a lot of money on books but was not concerned with her appearance."You should choose something to change into," Su Liang looked at Yang Yu.This was necessary, and Yang Yu didn''t put on airs. She chose a skirt made of the same material Su Liang had bought."Can you make underwear?" Su Liang asked Yang Yu quietly.Yang Yu nodded.So Su Liang bought a piece of the finest cotton cloth, scissors, rulers, needles, and thread, as well as a set of tools for making clothes.She had to make her underwear, and she could learn from Yang Yu.When they were about to leave, Su Liang remembered Ning Jing, "Do you need clothes?"Ning Jing didn''t answer and turned away.Yang Yu chuckled, "Master Ning must be upset that you neglected him. Pick something for him, and he will surely like it."Su Liang coughed lightly, "He just doesn''t like to talk, don''t overthink it.""The two of you are really interesting as a couple," Yang Yu couldn''t help but say.Su Liang thought, a charlatan and a lonely soul, how could they not be interesting...When they left the Clothing Store, Ning Jing was already sitting at a noodle stall."See, he was just hungry and thought we were taking too long shopping," Su Liang said.Yang Yu couldn''t help but smile, "Master Ning must be afraid that you''re hungry."When they approached him, Ning Jing said, "If you want to eat, order for yourselves."Yang Yu hesitated, but Su Liang laughed at her and gave her an "I told you so" look.The noodles were chewy, but the seasoning was not satisfying. They were only suitable for filling one''s stomach.After finishing the noodles, it was just past noon.The three of them walked into the market. Yang Yu thought Su Liang and Ning Jing were going to buy things. Instead, she saw Su Liang stop at a vegetable stand, bend down to talk to an old woman, and then stand up and ruffle a young farmer''s hair, showing a familiar manner."Master Ning," Yang Yu hesitated, then asked the question that had been on her mind, "Is your wife from a military family?"In Qian Country, very few women practiced martial arts, and she was impressed by Su Liang''s skillful fighting abilities.Ning Jing shook his head, "No."Seeing that he didn''t want to say more, Yang Yu didn''t ask further, but grew more curious about Su Liang''s background. She assumed that Su Liang''s appearance and temperament, coupled with her marriage to Ning Jing, made her no ordinary person....As soon as they got into the carriage, the driver raised his whip but hadn''t yet brought it down when Ning Jing said, "Wait a moment." He then got out of the carriage and walked away."Did Master Ning leave something behind?" Yang Yu asked.Su Liang shook her head, leaning against the carriage wall and closing her eyes to rest.Yang Yu thought Su Liang didn''t want to say anything, but in fact, Su Liang didn''t know what Ning Jing was up to either.After about two quarters of an hour, footsteps approached, Su Liang pulled back the curtain, and saw a handsome man carrying a large wooden tub coming over.It was the bathtub Su Liang needed. She had forgotten about it, but Ning Jing still remembered....On the way back to the village, Yang Yu kept looking at the scenery outside the carriage. The cool breeze blew in, she took a long breath, her eyes filled with gratitude for having survived the ordeal.Had she not run into Ning Jing and Su Liang, she didn''t know what would have happened to her next.The carriage stopped at the front door, and the coachman helped unload everything and carried it into the courtyard, while the unconscious Yao Wei was tied up and thrown into the firewood room."My Second Master said, if Mrs. Ning has any instructions, just go to the good luck gambling house in town to find him!" The coachman said, raising his whip and leaving....Yang Yu followed Su Liang into her room and sat down, looking around with undisguised surprise."Did you not expect that Young Master Ning Qi would live in such a place?" Su Liang asked.Yang Yu nodded, "I didn''t expect it. The Ning Family is one of the four major merchants in Qian Country, and the Seventh Son is from the main family, I thought that even if he was expelled from the family, he would have a wealthy life, with no worries about food and clothing."Su Liang asked curiously, "Who are those four major merchants?""Wan, Li, Ning, and Yang, respectively engaged in food, ceramics, tea, and silk businesses." Yang Yu said."Yang is your family?" Su Liang asked.Yang Yu nodded, "Yes, my eldest brother is now the head of the family.""So, the head of the Ning Family is..." Su Liang asked.Yang Yu looked through the window at Ning Jing, who was carrying things to the kitchen, and sighed softly, "It''s his father, Ning Zhihe, not a good person.""Did you know him?" Su Liang asked.Yang Yu shook her head, "Only met once. My elder brother said that Ning''s family leader is a hypocrite.""Do you know why he was expelled from the family?" Su Liang asked.Yang Yu sighed softly, "Rumor has it that he got drunk and set fire to the Ning Family''s warehouse, which stored precious tea leaves, and that it caused a huge loss to the family, who were almost charged with a crime. But it may not be true."Su Liang didn''t ask any further, just got up and went out.It was not until the evening that the Bai Family returned from town. Bai Xiaohu brought half a basket of eggs and a bunch of wild vegetables that Su Liang had agreed to buy from his family.Having been tense for many days, Yang Yu relaxed and fell asleep at the table, waking up when it was already dark.As she approached the kitchen door, she smelled the enticing aroma wafting out."There''s hot water in the pot for you to wash up. Get ready for dinner." Su Liang said as she took out the stuffed pastry she had cooked.Although Yang Yu was a little embarrassed, Su Liang didn''t seem to mind, so she didn''t say much.Braised chicken with radish, stir-fried leafy greens, and pan-seared meat buns.Su Liang also made two red sugar and red date eggs for herself and Yang Yu, with the sweet and fragrant aroma of the two medicinal ingredients added inside."Why don''t I have any?" Ning Jing couldn''t understand.Yang Yu covered her mouth and laughed, "Young Master Ning, this is to replenish qi and blood for women."Ning Jing didn''t appear embarrassed, looking at Su Liang and asking, "Can''t men eat qi and blood nourishing food?"Su Liang held her forehead, "Yes, very much so." She finished speaking, took Ning Jing''s bowl, and gave him half.Ning Jing tasted it, "Not bad."Yang Yu ate gracefully, complimenting Su Liang''s cooking and offering to clean up the dishes."You go teach me how to cut and sew clothes, let him clean up." Su Liang told Yang Yu to put things down.After her surprise, Yang Yu followed Su Liang to the door, suddenly turned back and asked Ning Jing, "Can you contact my elder brother, Young Master Ning?"Ning Jing shook his head, "I can''t."Yang Yu stared blankly, "Then why did you...""Your brother isn''t dead, and he''ll come looking for you." Ning Jing said indifferently.Yang Yu furrowed her brow, "What if he''s bewitched by Yao Qianqian and believes that I eloped with someone, and is so disappointed that he doesn''t come looking for me...""You don''t need such a foolish brother anyway." Ning Jing said.Yang Yu''s gaze turned firm, "That won''t happen. My brother must trust me enough to find me no matter what!"Yang Yu carefully taught Su Liang how to cut and sew clothes and make undergarments.The muscle memory of the original owner was still there. When Su Liang picked up the needle and thread, after a brief awkwardness, she quickly got the hang of it.Su Liang brought hot water for washing up, and after saying thank you, Yang Yu told her, "It''s late. You go get some rest, don''t worry about me."Su Liang was taken aback, as this seemed to be her own room.The bed was not big, and sleeping two thin girls would be crowded. The place was originally prepared by Ning Jing for the original owner, who was supposed to leave after marrying in. Su Liang was also not used to sleeping with others, so she planned to sleep on the floor.She asked Ning Jing for a mat, wiped it down, and hung it in the corridor.Ning Jing said he had a new set of bedding in his room, and Su Liang intended to go get it later."Young Master Ning must be waiting for you." Yang Yu said with a gentle smile.Su Liang: ... So this girl assumed that she was going to share a bed with Ning Jing next door. But explaining the situation would indeed be difficult."Su Liang." Ning Jing called her."Go ahead!" Yang Yu sighed again, "Though I''ve never seen a couple like you two, I still feel that your relationship is really good, with a kind of indescribable tacit understanding."Su Liang turned around, wondering what on earth Yang Yu was talking about? It was all fake, all of it!Entering Ning Jing''s room, she heard him say, "Your bed is too small to sleep two people, you sleep on this side."


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 Chapter 12: 012. Speaking about the Young Master

    Chapter 12: 012. Speaking about the Young Master[Young Master Yang]"So you''re sleeping in the firewood room?" Su Liang didn''t think that Ning Jing wanted to share a bed with her.He always seemed so pure-hearted and desireless, and it wasn''t an act.Moreover, during their time together, he had always treated Su Liang with great respect.Ning Jing''s expression was indifferent. "I suggested keeping Yang Yu here, so I can''t let you sleep on the floor. I have something to take care of.""Then how will you sleep when you come back?" Su Liang proposed, "How about we switch rooms with you?"If the bed was a bit bigger, she and Yang Yu could share it."No need to switch." Ning Jing left as soon as he finished speaking.Su Liang was a little suspicious that he was doing this just to give up the bed and "create trouble for himself."But since he was gone, she assumed he really had something to do.Entering the bedroom, she found that the bed had already been changed with new bedding. Su Liang decided to sleep there without feeling guilty and even brought in the newly bought bathtub for a hot bath.The next morning, when Su Liang got up and went out, she saw Ning Jing coming in, carrying a bundle."Where have you been?" Su Liang was curious.Ning Jing handed her the bundle, "I robbed the Yuanwai Family."Su Liang''s lips curled into a slight smile, "Next time something like this happens, remember to include me."After a rough count, there were nearly two hundred taels of silver in bills and coins.With this, the forty taels she had given Young Master Huang yesterday were taken back with interest. Very good."What about that matter? What have you thought about it?" Ning Jing asked again.Su Liang shook her head, "We''ll talk about it later." She planned to learn more about writing and law before deciding on her next move.For breakfast, they had Eight Treasures millet porridge and vegetable egg pancakes. There was also a cold side dish mixed with pear juice, which was crisp and delicious.Yang Yu was in charge of cleaning the dishes, and this time Su Liang didn''t stop her. Instead, she told Yang Yu to let her and Ning Jing talk and not to disturb them.With a "you guys can be sweet, just pretend I''m not here" look, Yang Yu closed the door from the outside, covered her mouth, and laughed, finding Su Liang''s straightforwardness adorable."Teach me how to write!" Su Liang took out the books and stationery she had bought in town yesterday.Ning Jing learned that the writing Su Liang knew was similar to this world''s but simpler, so he just said two words, "Exchange."Su Liang immediately understood.She wanted to learn, and Ning Jing would teach her.In exchange, she would teach Ning Jing the writing from her previous life."Deal." Su Liang nodded matter-of-factly.She liked Ning Jing''s "everything is a transaction, fair and reasonable" attitude.Ning Jing began to explain the primer to Su Liang, and she had no difficulty understanding it. The main purpose was to learn the characters....A big incident happened at the house of Yuanwai Huang, one of the wealthiest families in Feiyan Town!Early in the morning, they discovered that a lot of silver had gone missing, and they had no idea how it happened. Moreover, they couldn''t find any trace of the robbery. It was as if the silver bills and ingots had grown wings and flown away.As Yuanwai Huang was seething with anger, a servant rushed in with a panicked look, "Master, the young master is gone!"Upon hearing this, Yuanwai Huang nearly passed out. Then he heard that the young master wasn''t dead, but missing.This was very strange because just a quarter of an hour earlier, Yuanwai Huang had seen his son when it was already bright outside.Young Master Huang insisted that it was Hu Er who had kidnapped him and planned to take people to the Hu Family to kill him. But during the time it took for him to change his clothes, his son disappeared without a trace!Yuanwai Huang''s residence was in complete chaos....The sky was covered with dark clouds, and storm was coming.Hu Er, carrying several gift boxes, took a carriage to Su Family Village as agreed to get the prescription from Su Liang.However, just as they left Feiyan Town, they were stopped by someone."Which blind bastard..." Hu Er cursed as he pulled open the carriage curtain."It was him! He''s the one who took that girl away from me yesterday!"A bruised and swollen-faced fat man blocked the carriage, and Hu Er paused, "Huang Fatty?"A dagger brushed past Hu Er''s ear and stuck into the carriage, startling him and causing him to sit on the ground with cold sweat streaming down his face!"Get down!" The guard in the dark robe ordered coldly.Hu Er had no backup today and immediately went soft. He didn''t want to be killed.Looking past the man, he saw a young man in a blue robe standing in the woods not far away.The guard in the dark robe was impatient, kicking the cowering driver and grabbing Hu Er, dragging him into the woods."Master, it''s him!"Hu Er was thrown to the ground, and a hand helped him up."Could you please tell me, where is the young lady from yesterday?" The young man in the blue robe was in his early twenties, elegant and graceful, gentle and courteous....Yang Yu cleaned up the kitchen and began to wash the clothes she and Su Liang had taken off yesterday.The water was cold, and she wasn''t very good at washing, so her pace was slow. She got wet, and her delicate fingers turned red from the cold.She finished washing and was about to find a place to hang the clothes to dry when she realized the weather wasn''t good, and drying them outside would not be possible."So stupid..." Yang Yu grumbled about herself.Suddenly, she heard someone calling for Su Liang, so Yang Yu, still wearing her apron, came out of the kitchen and asked, "Who is it?"The door was forcefully opened, and seeing the person standing at the entrance, Yang Yu was taken aback. Tears filled her eyes as she lifted her skirt and ran towards him, "Big brother!"Ning Jing and Su Liang stood side by side at the door, watching the reunion of the siblings."You really are a fortune teller," said Su Liang. She didn''t expect the eldest son of the Yang Family to arrive so quickly.Soon, Yang Yu was leading her brother Yang Feng over."Big brother, it was Ning Qi and his wife who kindly saved me and took me in!" Yang Yu said, her eyes red, her face filled with joy.Yang Feng looked at Ning Jing, his gaze slightly condensed, "Took you in? You mean, letting you be a maid?"Su Liang was taken aback. However, seeing the Yang Family''s young lady wearing an apron, her clothes slightly wrinkled and damp, her face smeared with ash, and her hands red and wrinkled, it seemed true...Before Yang Yu could explain, Yang Feng snorted, "Ning Qi, you saved my sister, and you must have ulterior motives. Just tell me the truth.""Big brother!" Yang Yu was very embarrassed. Just now, Yang Feng had asked her if she had been "bullied" by Ning Jing, and now he was acting arrogant."My little sister is inexperienced and must not really believe that there are living Buddhas in this world, right?" Yang Feng''s gaze fell on Su Liang, with a faint hint of inquiry."Big brother, why are you behaving like this?" Yang Yu looked disappointed. "I insisted on doing the work myself. Isn''t it only right for us to help them if Ning Jing and his wife are in trouble?""You may leave now," Ning Jing turned and went back to his room."Su Liang..." Yang Yu''s face was full of regret. She was half a year older than Su Liang.Ning Jing always mentioned the transaction, but it wasn''t bothersome.Yang Feng, on the other hand, looked so sure that Ning Jing had ulterior motives in saving his sister. It was so presumptuous.Su Liang didn''t even bother to make eye contact with him, and only said two words to Yang Yu, "Take care."Yang Yu had a feeling that Su Liang was angry, but Su Liang didn''t give her a chance to explain.The door closed, and Yang Feng''s face showed a strange expression as he dragged Yang Yu away.Su Liang''s voice came from the room, "Young Master Yang, your forehead looks dark. Be careful; there may be a bloody disaster in the near future.""Little sister, did you hear that? She''s cursing me," Yang Feng said.Yang Yu looked serious as she shook off Yang Feng''s hand, "Big brother, you said that half of the family property belongs to me. When we get back, I want to give it all to my benefactors, and it''s none of your business!"Yang Feng shook his head, "Ning Qi is just trying to trick you. You''ve fallen into his trap."With the window open, Su Liang heard Yang Feng''s words and was speechless.Just now, Ning Jing had noticed the dark mist on Yang Feng''s forehead, and that was why Su Liang had warned him.She just thought that with Yang Yu being with Yang Feng, she didn''t want her to have an accident."He thinks you''re a down-and-out noble with the intention of using his sister to climb up in the world?" Su Liang pondered.Ning Jing''s slender fingers pointed at a certain place in the book, "This character."Su Liang lowered her head and read the word, "Hysteria."It meant insanity...


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 Chapter 13: 013. Finding the Pig

    Chapter 13: 013. Finding the Pig[Finding the Pig]After watching the carriage cross the bridge towards the village entrance, Master Hu Er, who had been hiding outside the door without showing his face, finally breathed a sigh of relief."Mrs. Ning?"The courtyard gate was open, and it was only after Hu Er had called three times that he saw the room door open."Come in." Su Liang stood under the eaves, looking at the gloomy sky overhead; heavy rain was about to come.With an awkward smile, Hu Er brushed the mud and grass off his body and walked up. "What''s the real story behind that young master just now?""You let him in?" Su Liang looked at Hu Er''s embarrassed expression and guessed the gist of the matter.Hu Er was somewhat awkward. "That young master was polite enough, but his servants were like evil spirits...""It doesn''t matter." Su Liang shook her head. "Regardless of who he is, we probably won''t see him again."Hu Er breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Su Liang would be annoyed with him for leading Yang Feng here and wouldn''t want to treat him anymore.She moved a chair under the eaves for Hu Er to sit on, then gave him a pulse diagnosis, asking him about the frequency and symptoms of his illness and his usual diet.Observing the thoughtful frown on Su Liang''s face, Hu Er asked worriedly, "This disease... can it really be eradicated?"Su Liang didn''t respond, but turned and went back into the room.She recited, and Ning Jing wrote down a medicinal prescription.There were also two medicinal diet recipes beneficial for epilepsy. The ingredients weren''t expensive, and having a meal once in a while wouldn''t cost much.When Hu Er received the prescription and saw the delicate and vigorous writing on it, he asked Su Liang uncertainly, "This... you''re giving it to me?""Your disease must be treated slowly, and there''s no use in rushing. Follow this prescription to take the medicine. Even if your seizures decrease, continue to take it. This may take three to five years. If you stop, you might relapse." Su Liang said seriously, "Those two medicinal diet recipes, have them occasionally, they''re good for your health. Remember, you must give up alcohol.""Three to five years is nothing. I''ve been living with this disease for thirty or forty years!" Hu Er''s face lit up with joy. "And there are even medicinal diet recipes. Aren''t you afraid that I might sell them?"Su Liang shook her head. "I promised to treat you, and the prescription is yours. What you do with it is up to you."Hu Er looked at the young girl, who despite her youthful appearance, was calm, composed, and had an exceptional temperament, and he bowed deeply to her. "Thank you, Mrs. Ning!"Over the years, he had seen many doctors and taken many medicines, all to no avail. Mysteriously, he had a strong faith in Su Liang.In the eyes of outsiders, Lord Hu Er of Feiyan Town was not a good person; he was a shrewd businessman.He was polite to Su Liang first because he had seen her skills and courage and felt a little apprehensive; second, he learned that Ning Jing came from a distinguished family, which made him even more cautious. Most importantly, he needed Su Liang''s medical skills.Hu Er took out the prescriptions and pulled two pieces of paper out of his bosom, handing them to Su Liang. "Although I actually had gifts for you today, unfortunately I ran into trouble on the way. This is my gift of gratitude to Mrs. Ning!"When Su Liang looked at the papers, she saw that they were the title deeds of Su Daqiang''s house and land.Although she detested that family so much that she wouldn''t live there, Su Liang still accepted the papers."Is the mine far from here?" Su Liang asked.Hu Er paused. "Mrs. Ning, do you want to ''pay a visit'' to that family?"Su Liang nodded; it was indeed her intention."The mine is run by the government, heavily guarded. While I''ve sent many gamblers in, I''ve never had the chance to take a look inside myself." Hu Er shook his head."Then forget it," Su Liang resolved. As long as she knew Su Daqiang''s family couldn''t come out, she would feel relieved.As Hu Er took his leave, he ran into Lei Zheng from Su Village halfway, and informed him about the deed of Su Daqiang''s house being transferred to Su Liang''s name from that day onwards.Lei Zheng, the village representative, was completely puzzled and couldn''t understand why Hu Er would start treating Su Liang with such respect.Hu Er offered no explanation. When he arrived at the entrance to the village, he noticed his follower driving a carriage over."Which bastard dared to disrespect our master? We''ll go wipe him out!" shouted one of the followers.Hu Er kicked him away. "Get lost! Whoever dares to blab about what happened today should worry for their life!"...After they got into the carriage, Yang Yu was silent and did not speak to Yang Feng.She was grateful to Su Liang and Ning Jing and liked them both. She thought they were the most interesting people she had ever met. However, she had not expected that her brother, whom she had been eagerly awaiting, would be so rude when he arrived."Little sister, you are too kind-hearted, which led to this catastrophe. Fortunately, it was not fatal. Convincing everyone that you just went to stay in another courtyard was indeed lucky. Forget about these things and these people." Yang Feng said earnestly.Yang Yu glared at Yang Feng. "Brother, you say it so lightly. How can I forget? And I don''t want to. When we go home, I want to bring generous gifts, and I will personally return to express my gratitude to Master Ning and Su Liang!"Yang Feng''s face darkened slightly. "Little sister, don''t be willful. Master Ning is ill, and the person in power now is Ning Qi''s eldest brother, Ning Yao, who is born out of wedlock. His birth mother was once a brothel girl, and many old people in the Ning Family want to find Ning Qi and bring him back."Yang Yu frowned. "Brother, what do you mean? Wouldn''t it be a good thing if Master Ning Qi could return to his family?""You''re thinking too simply. Ning Qi''s fall into this situation was entirely orchestrated by Ning Yao! Even if he doesn''t want to return to fight for power, Ning Yao will never tolerate his living!" Yang Feng predicted seriously.Yang Yu was even more confused, "Brother, if we help Master Ning Qi, if he becomes the head of the Ning Family in the future, it will benefit us!""Ning Yao''s sister got married and went to the capital city last month. Ning Qi has nothing and is no match for Ning Yao. There''s no need for us to meddle in their affairs." Yang Feng shook his head."Brother, you were so rude to Master Ning Qi just to make it clear that you want nothing to do with him? Do you plan to continue doing business with Ning Yao?" Yang Yu asked with a disappointed look."Of course we should do business with the Ning family. I still suspect that Ning Qi saved you with ulterior motives to gain control over the Yang family and counter Ning Yao. You''ve already been fooled by his outward appearance." Yang Feng''s face was serious, "Little sister, trust me, everything I say is for your benefit. He is impure from the start, don''t involve yourself with him, or give him a chance to take advantage."Yang Yu was so angry that her face turned red, "Brother, you are so suspicious!"Yang Feng frowned, "Little sister, what sort of magic soup has Ning Qi poured you? If you are attracted to his appearance, you should kill your affection now!""I do not fancy Master Ning Qi, I fancy his lady!" Yang Yu was irritated, "I''m not going home with you!"Yang Feng looked intrigued, "Just a common village girl, I suppose Ning Qi only got her to serve as his maid, he is just desperate, his ''lady''..."The carriage suddenly stopped."Master, there''s a fallen tree ahead, we can''t get through." The driver was a black-clad guard.Yang Feng got up and drew the curtain to look outside, only to find that they were not on the route they originally took, but in a dense forest.While Yang Feng was pondering, he suddenly felt a pain in his heart!He lowered his head and found fresh blood flowing out from a sharp dagger..."You!" Yang Feng looked as if he had been struck by lightning, unable to believe what he was seeing. His guard, Yang Wu, who had grown up with him like a shadow, was before him.Yang Wu pushed the dagger deeper, his always respectful face suddenly became arrogant, he sneered, "Do you know, you should call me big brother! Your father disgraced my mother while he was drunk, and I was the result. He knowingly denied me the legitimate name, thinking I knew nothing, and even arranged for me to serve you as a servant! You should thank me, kindly waiting for you sibling reunion, then sending you to your destination!"Yang Wu pulled out the dagger, Yang Feng coughed up blood uncontrollably, and fell off the carriage!Screams from Yang Yu came out from the carriage, but quickly subsided...It was pouring rain.Yang Wu stood in the rain, looking indifferently at Yang Feng and Yang Yu who were laying side by side on the ground.Yang Yu''s eyes were tightly shut.Yang Feng was covered in blood, his eyes wide open, staring hard at Yang Wu.Yang Wu bent down, pat Yang Feng''s face, and whispered in his ear, "That village girl has some skills, you should have trusted her."After taking all the valuables from Yang Feng, Yang Wu unhitched the horse pulling the carriage, whipped it and disappeared into the rain.Yao Wei, who had been knocked unconscious and tied up in the carriage, had a bloody hole in his neck. His blood dripped from the carriage, forming a dark line....As noon approached, Su Liang went into the kitchen and saw the laundered clothes of Yang Yu still in the basin, so she took them back to the room and hung them up to dry.When Bai Xiaohu called for her outside, Su Liang stepped out to see him looking distressed, "Our pigsty collapsed, and the pigs ran away. Have you seen them?"Su Liang shook her head, "No."Bai Xiaohu stomped his foot in frustration and ran back into the storm.Su Liang knew how crucial a pig, raised for half a year, was to a poor farming family, but she didn''t know the area well enough to help, especially with the strong wind and pouring rain.When she poured the lump soup she made for Ning Jing into the bowl, he raised his eyebrows slightly, "What is this?"While eating, Su Liang watched the scenery outside, wondering if Bai Xiaohu had found his pigs.Ning Jing scooped a spoonful into his bowl and tasted it. The noodle was chewy, vegetables and lean meats were finely shredded and perfectly cooked. The steaming hot soup, with the sour taste of rice vinegar and tingling sensation of black pepper, was delicious and comforting, especially suitable for a cold rainy day.When Su Liang put down her spoon, Ning Jing served the last bit into his bowl. Then Bai Xiaohu appeared at the courtyard gate."Little Tiger, did you find your pig?" Su Liang raised her voice to ask."Found it! Ning Sister-in-law, your relatives got into trouble!" Bai Xiaohu shouted, and the villagers behind him appeared, carrying planks and poured into the courtyard.Su Liang''s face paled. She quickly stepped out and saw the blood-covered siblings of the Yang family were laid down by the villagers under the eaves.Bai Xiaohu had seen Yang Yu yesterday, and at that time, Su Liang casually mentioned that she was a relative of Ning Jing.Su Liang didn''t doubt Ning Jing''s caution that Yang Feng might face a bloody disaster.However, Su Liang and Ning Jing both guessed that Yang Feng would not die, but kill someone. He would probably kill the young Master Huang who had almost assaulted Yang Yu. That wouldn''t be difficult.Therefore, Su Liang only lightly mentioned it to him. But she did not expect that the siblings would run into trouble so soon.Seeing that there were no wounds on Yang Yu, Su Liang stooped down to check, and noticed her reddened neck, her heart sank!"Is she dead?" Bai Xiaohu turned pale.Before his words fell, Yang Yu''s body shook slightly and she started to cough.Su Liang breathed a sigh of relief.No wonder Ning Jing had only seen the black mist on Yang Feng''s brow and not Yang Yu''s.This disaster was meant for Yang Feng.His condition was critical, but there was still a faint breath."Could you please help me carry him into the house?" Su Liang pointed to her room.Although Yang Feng was somewhat annoying, she couldn''t just watch him die.


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 Chapter 14: 014. Consultation Fee

    Chapter 14: 014. Consultation Fee[Consultation Fee]Su Liang stretched out her hand and pointed, directing a villager who was carrying Yang Feng to place him on the ground instead of the bed.Bai Xiaohu did not come in but pulled Ning Jing aside and motioned for him to lower his head."My dad said there is a dead person in the carriage," Bai Xiaohu whispered, his face pale, "My grandpa and my dad pulled the carriage from behind, not letting others see.""It''s fine," Ning Jing shook his head, adding, "He''s a bad guy."Bai Xiaohu breathed a sigh of relief, "That''s good!"Qian Country was renowned for its harsh criminal laws, and ordinary farmers were most afraid of handling homicide cases.Originally, Mrs. Bai only wanted to do business with Ning Jing and make some money to support her family, and they weren''t close.Things had changed since Su Liang married into the family, even though it had only been a short three days.The Bai family had felt Su Liang''s kindness and generosity, and they were deeply grateful.This time, when they encountered a problem, they instinctively protected Su Liang and Ning Jing.Otherwise, Yao Wei''s corpse would be exposed, and officers from the Government Office would soon come to investigate. Rumor had it that Ning Jing was hiding here, and getting involved in a lawsuit might cause serious trouble.Mrs. Bai, who returned home after herding pigs, came to see the situation, just in time to witness Yang Yu sitting up from the ground, her face full of horror!"Grandma, she''s still alive!" Bai Xiaohu shouted loudly, "He''s alive too!"Mrs. Bai clasped her hands, "Thank heavens..."Ning Jing took a string of coins and handed it to Mrs. Bai, asking her to divide it among the villagers who had helped them.Villagers who had carried the injured people back were delighted by this unexpected reward.Mrs. Bai divided the money equally, not including her own family members.After sending the villagers away, Mrs. Bai helped Yang Yu, who was shivering from the cold on the ground, stand up."Where''s my older brother..." tears streamed down Yang Yu''s face."In that room!" Bai Xiaohu pointed at the Su family''s room.As the door opened, they saw Su Liang, her hands covered in blood, squatting by Yang Feng''s side."Ning Jing, help me find some things." Su Liang spoke.Listening to Su Liang''s long list, Ning Jing jotted them down, fetched what he had at home, and brought them over."Mrs. Bai, do you have any old, unwanted bedding at your home?" Su Liang asked.Mrs. Bai hurriedly nodded, "Yes!"Bai Xiaohu returned carrying an umbrella, while Mrs. Bai went to the kitchen to help boil water.Yang Yu collapsed next to Yang Feng, crying so hard that she almost fainted."Shut up!" Su Liang frowned.Yang Yu covered her mouth, not daring to look but unable to stop herself from watching Su Liang''s every move, her heart pounding with fear.Ning Jing saw Su Liang sewing up Yang Feng''s wounds as if mending clothes and a flash of surprise flickered in his eyes."I''m going to the town to buy medicinal herbs. Is there anything else we need?" Ning Jing asked.Su Liang mentioned a few more types of medicinal herbs, Ning Jing nodded and headed into the rain.Father and son from the Bai Family pulled the empty carriage back into the courtyard and placed it in a corner.Bai Xiaohu brought back clean, tattered bedding, thinking that Su Liang would use it for the severely injured and dying Yang Feng.There were no doctors in Su''s village, so the villagers had to either go to the town or the nearest Songjia Village, where there was an elderly doctor.Old Mr. Bai asked, but Su Liang said she didn''t need his help.The rain became heavier, Old Mr. Bai wore a raincoat as he left the Ning Family house, he looked at the rising river with a worried expression on his face, "A lot of the crops will rot in the field."The Bai Family had little land but worked hard, so the autumn harvest had already been gathered. However, many families in the village had just started the autumn harvest.Earlier, villagers who helped find the pigs were the ones who had rushed home to salvage their harvests in the rain.Mrs. Bai brought over the hot water. Su Liang thanked her and asked her and her family to go home first.Village head Lei Zheng arrived just as Mrs. Bai stopped him at the door and informed him that Ning Jing¡¯s relatives came to visit him. On their way back, they encountered bandits who robbed and tried to kill them. Fortunately, no one died.Relieved to hear that no one had died, Lei Zheng then left.In this day and age, if a murder was discovered, the government would undoubtedly capture a "murderer."Those convicted of homicide were usually sent to the mine as laborers.Ning Jing had stopped Su Liang from killing someone at Su Daqiang''s house for this reason.Ning Jing ventured into town in the rain, hired a carriage to go to the county, and bought all the necessary medicinal herbs. With the remaining money, he purchased a horse and rode back just as the sky was getting dark."Are these what you wanted?" Ning Jing handed the items he had bought to Su Liang.Su Liang checked them and said, "Yes, that''s right. How much did it cost?"The ginseng looked good and must have been pricey."I have fifty coins left," Ning Jing replied.All the money, including what he had taken from Yuanwai Family''s house the previous night, had been spent.Su Liang: ...After I save Yang Feng, I''ll have to ruthlessly swindle him, otherwise it would be a breach of justice!Yang Yu, scolded by Su Liang, gathered herself, changed her wet clothes, soaked her hands in hot water, and looked at Yang Feng.Su Liang was cooking medicine in the kitchen.Ning Jing''s clothes were also soaked through. She wanted to return to her room but saw the carriage, walked over, dragged out Yao Wei''s body, put it in a linen bag, tied it with a rope, and dragged it out of the house.Su Liang cooked the medicine and fed it to Yang Feng before Ning Jing came back."Will my big brother die?" Yang Yu looked at Su Liang with teary eyes and asked.Su Liang shook her head, and Yang Yu''s face turned pale."It''s up to fate now." Su Liang said as she walked out the door.Thankfully they found him early enough, otherwise, even the Great Immortal couldn''t save Yang Feng due to the excessive blood loss.But with limited resources, they could only do their best and leave it to fate.Su Liang took her clothes to Ning Jing''s room, changed out of her bloody clothes, and entered the kitchen where Ning Jing had already heated the water.Cooking porridge, preparing pancakes.Ning Jing''s hair was wet, not tied up, draped over her head. She sat there stoking the fire, her profile beautiful like jade.Su Liang glanced at her and suddenly remembered something, "When you decided to take in Yang Yu yesterday, did you have any favor to ask of the Yang family?"Ning Jing shook her head slightly, "I have nothing to ask of the Yang Family."Su Liang frowned, "Just out of kindness?"Ning Jing glanced at Su Liang, her expression indifferent, "You haven''t agreed to stay and work for me yet, and you have nowhere to go. Yang Yu is a good person, and once you become friends, she might be useful in the future."Su Liang was stunned, not expecting Ning Jing to consider her in that situation.At that time, although they wouldn''t have left Yang Yu alone, they could have hired someone from the Escort Agency in the county town to escort her home and just paid them afterward.They could even have given the task directly to Hu Er, as it was a profitable and risk-free business that he should be interested in."Aren''t you afraid that I''ll become close to Yang Yu and leave with her?" Su Liang asked with a hint of sarcasm.Ning Jing shook her head, "You can go. But I still hope you''ll stay and work for me.""Thanks. I won''t go with Yang Yu, I''ll think carefully about that matter." Su Liang said.After dinner, Su Liang brought a share to Yang Yu and checked on Yang Feng''s condition, which wasn''t very optimistic. Whether he lived or died would depend on whether he could make it through the night.After dinner, Ning Jing spread the mat that Su Liang had cleaned last night in the outer room, and brought her bedding out from the cabinet.Separated by a screen, Su Liang slept on the bed, and Ning Jing slept on the ground.They told Yang Yu that if anything was wrong with Yang Feng, she should call them immediately.Yang Yu dared not close her eyes; she''d check Yang Feng''s breath and touch his forehead to see if he had a fever every now and then.The rain hadn''t stopped the next day. Early in the morning, Su Liang got up, washed up, and went to check on Yang Feng."Now that he''s awake, he''ll be fine." Su Liang sighed in relief. It was her first time saving someone''s life after crossing over, so she naturally hoped that the person would live.She turned her head to see Yang Yu''s face flush red and her mind a bit dazed. Su Liang reached out to touch Yang Yu''s forehead and found it burning hot."You''re amazing!" Yang Yu looked up to Su Liang and hugged her arm.Su Liang pulled her up and forced her to lie down on the bed, not letting her move. Then she went out to cook medicine.A while later, Su Liang finished cooking medicine for both Yang Feng and Yang Yu, and had them drink it.During this time, Bai Xiaohu came over and asked about Yang Feng. When he learned that Yang Feng was alive, he couldn''t help but exclaim, "He has such great luck!"Approaching noon, Yang Feng opened his eyes.Su Liang was cooking when she heard Ning Jing call her, so she came over with her apron still on."Where''s my sister..." Yang Feng looked at Su Liang and weakly asked."She''s fine." Su Liang was somewhat satisfied that Yang Feng''s first thought was to find Yang Yu."Ning Qi..." Yang Feng looked at Ning Jing standing behind Su Liang, "You saved us..."Ning Jing shook her head indifferently, "Not me, it was her."Yang Feng looked at Su Liang again, shocked, "You... how did you know... I was in danger..."Su Liang shook her head, "I don''t have the ability to predict the future, I just cursed you, don''t overthink it."Yang Feng''s face grew uglier, but then he saw Su Liang smile, "Young Master Yang, since you''re awake, let''s sign the labor agreement."Ning Jing passed over two prepared pieces of paper, which Su Liang held up for Yang Feng to see."The first time I saved your sister, and the second time I saved both of you. The money and labor we spent are all written clearly here. Although the total amount of silver spent was just over 300 taels, we can''t compare to you. This is all of our family''s wealth. To be fair, you have to compensate with your entire fortune. In consideration of Yang Yu, I''ll give you a discount; half of the Yang family''s property will do.""You... you''re taking advantage of my misfortune!" Yang Feng looked as if he''d known their hidden intentions all along and was saying "I knew you had ulterior motives and wanted something big!"Su Liang remained calm, "Of course, you can refuse. According to Yang Yu, it was your half-brother who tried to kill you. Even if you go back, it''s still uncertain whether you can retake the Yang family''s property.""I refuse... I''ll pay you back the 300 silver taels in full..." Yang Feng gritted his teeth in pain, having pulled at his wound.Su Liang nodded, "Alright. We talked about money first, now let''s talk about life. I saved your life, and I guarantee you''ll be as good as new. But I have a bad temper, so I charge random fees for my services. Initially, I wasn''t going to charge you any fees for considering Yang Yu, but now I''ve changed my mind."Yang Feng''s eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?""If you want to live, sign the labor agreement. The fee is to work in the mine. I think it''s very suitable for you," Su Liang sneered. "Otherwise, I''ll stab you again, throw you out, and we''ll be done with each other."


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 Chapter 15: 015. The Death of Yang Feng

    Chapter 15: 015. The Death of Yang Feng[The Death of Yang Feng]Having caught a cold, Yang Yuran fell into a deep sleep after taking her medication. She had no idea about the confrontation between Su Liang and Yang Feng.After tidying up the contract with Yang Feng''s fingerprint, Su Liang asked him a question, "Your Yang Family is one of the four major businesses in Qian Country, why didn''t you give some silver to show your gratitude when we saved your sister?"She thought Yang Feng''s behaviour was foolish.As the head of the prestigious Yang family, a businessman with such low emotional intelligence, was simply absurd.Yang Feng''s face stiffened, and after a moment of silence, he weakly said, "How was I supposed to know...that the only legitimate son of the Ning Family...would be short of money..."Su Liang shook her head, "This has nothing to do with Ning Jing''s financial situation. We could refuse, but you should not give nothing."Yang Feng''s complexion worsened, "I admit, because of some bad rumors, I had a deep prejudice against Ning Qi, and mistakenly thought he wanted to take advantage of my sister, so..."Su Liang sneered, "A villain''s mind.""Yes..." Yang Feng looked bitter, "I apologized to both of my benefactors... the contract has been signed, I will not go back on my word, otherwise my sister would probably disown me..."Su Liang then checked on Yang Yu''s condition. Her fever was already subsiding.As they stepped out of the door, a cold wind assaulted them amidst the heavy rain."We are penniless again." Su Liang sighed lightly.The remaining fifty coppers had all been used to buy eggs from the Bai family.Even if Yang Feng fulfills his promise, they wouldn''t know when they could actually use the Yang family''s money to achieve financial freedom.The rain was pouring hard.Ning Jing was making a fire and Su Liang hadn''t yet finished preparing lunch when they heard a loud knock at the door.The two of them walked out of the kitchen, just to see the front door being forced open and a group of government officials rushing in!"Which one of you is Ning Jing?" The head of the officials was stout, his face covered in flab."That''s me." Ning Jing''s face was completely calm."The county government received a complaint from Yuanwai Huang of Feiyan Town that his eldest son has disappeared without a reason. Someone saw you arguing with Mr. Huang the other day!" the chief interrogator questioned harshly, "Did you harm Mr. Huang? Better confess honestly!"Ning Jing shook his head, "No."The chief police officer snorted coldly and gave a sudden wave, "Search!"Seeing the officials charging into the house, Su Liang subconsciously wanted to stop them but was held back by Ning Jing."Your treasures..." Su Liang quietly asked. If they were discovered, it would cause big trouble."It''s fine." Ning Jing did not seem worried.Su Liang pondered. For the past two days, she had been living in that room and had not seen the box that Ning Jing used to store his jewels. He must have hidden it well.The search was completed quickly. They found no evidence related to Mr. Huang''s son.One of the officials leaned over and whispered, "Boss, the superior instructed us not to disturb Mr. Ning without any proof. But if we return so soon, it will be hard to explain to Yuanwai Huang!"The chief officer glanced towards the mountain behind the house, his eyes slightly narrowed. He raised his voice, "Search the mountain! If he is alive, bring him. If he is dead, bring his corpse!"Thus, the officials in their raincoats rushed out once more, heading for the back mountain.Su Liang looked puzzled, "You didn''t bury Yao Wei in the back mountain, did you?"Ning Jing nodded, "If the corpse is dug up, we''ll say that Yang Feng killed him and let them take him away."Su Liang coughed lightly, "You don''t trust him at all, do you?"Ning Jing counter-questioned, "Do you trust him?"Su Liang shook her head, "No. He''s just bending under pressure."After all, the disappearance, and even possible murder of Mr. Huang''s son, was the doing of Yang Feng. It would only be fair to hand him over.They continued to prepare their meal, and after eating, Ning Jing started teaching Su Liang how to write with a calligraphy brush.Su Liang found the brush hard to control, and she struggled to get the hang of it.Ning Jing fetched a calligraphy book for her to copy."The font is not bad, I like it." Su Liang flipped through the book. The handwriting was quite different from Ning Jing''s, elegant and flowing.Su Liang started copying earnestly. After some time, she heard commotion outside. She looked up to see the group of officials descending from the mountain. They didn''t come in this time, but left directly."They didn''t find Yao Wei''s corpse?" Su Liang was a bit surprised.In truth, she was also a little disappointed.After the contract incident, she disliked Yang Feng even more. She was reluctant to keep him at home and nurse him back to health. However, out of consideration for Yang Yu, she couldn''t simply throw Yang Feng out either.She was hoping that if the officials found a corpse on the mountain, they would take Yang Feng away.If Yang Yu was unsatisfied, she could go wherever she liked."I''ll go take a look." Ning Jing stood up.Su Liang put down the brush, "I''ll come too."After checking on Yang Yu, Su Liang put on a straw coat borrowed from Mrs. Bai, and Ning Jing held an umbrella. They locked the courtyard door and headed for the back mountain.The path up the mountain was slippery. Ning Jing walked in front, and Su Liang stepped in his footprints.When Ning Jing and Su Liang came around to the other side of the mountain, the rain had finally stopped.They reached midway up the mountain, Ning Jing came to a halt. Su Liang walked to him and found a freshly dug pit beside which lay something that the rain had washed over... a wild boar?!"Did you bury Yao Wei here yesterday?" Su Liang felt astounded.How did Yao Wei''s corpse turn into a wild boar?!Ning Jing walked a few steps to the side to examine the faint footprints under the tree.Examining closely, Su Liang realized that the wild boar hadn''t been dead for very long as blood was still flowing out.Even though she herself was a transmigrator, Su Liang did not believe that in broad daylight, there could be any true supernatural phenomenon."Did someone exchange Yao Wei''s corpse? Could Uncle Liang still be here, protecting you in secret?" Su Liang proposed a possibility.Ning Jing shook his head, "He left."It wasn''t Uncle Liang, but someone had certainly taken away Yao Wei''s corpse and replaced it with a wild boar.The wild boar was quite big. Su Liang thought for a while and then suggested, "Madam Bai and her family have been of great help. How about we let them sell this boar and split the money between our two families?""Okay." Ning Jing nodded, "I''ll stay and watch over it. You go and call them."...After coming down the mountain, Su Liang went straight to the Bai family''s house.To avoid raising any suspicion, she simply told them that she and Ning Jing had killed the wild boar.Little Tiger Bai was so surprised that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets, "A big wild boar? It was just raining, and you guys were up in the mountains hunting?"Even Su Liang felt that she and Ning Jing sounded somewhat crazy..."Did the county official come by? Was there any trouble?" Old man Bai asked Su Liang.Su Liang shook her head, "No problems. The son of Huang Yuanwai from the town has gone missing, we had a little conflict with them on the street. They searched for him and even combed the entire mountain, but they found nothing and left.""You guys went to help in the search, encountered a wild boar and killed it?" Little Tiger Bai had eager glints in his eyes, "That''s so cool! Even my dad has never managed to hunt a wild boar!"Bai Peng flicked Little Tiger Bai on the back of his head, "I am going to help Ning Jing and Madam Ning to transport the boar down."Su Liang smiled, "I came to ask Uncle Bai to help sell the boar. We''ll split the money equally."The Bai family was stunned. Bai Peng immediately declined the offer, but Su Liang insisted and urged them to accept, or else she would seek help from another family."Go quickly!" Madam Bai nudged her son.After these few days, she knew that Su Liang was straightforward and efficient; if she said she wanted to give something, she would.Old man Bai, together with his two sons, and Little Tiger Bai, who was always keen to join in on the excitement, grabbed some ropes and sticks and followed Su Liang up the mountain.Ning Jing was still waiting at the original spot, no one else had shown up in the meantime.By the time they carried the wild boar back to the Bai''s house, it was already dark.Old man Bai promised to deliver it to a restaurant in town early the next morning.Madam Bai had cooked dinner and insisted that Su Liang and Ning Jing stay and dine with them. She was also planning to bring food over to Yang Feng and his sister.Considering that Yang Yu must still be asleep, and not wanting to deal with Yang Feng anyway, Su Liang agreed to have dinner with Ning Jing at the Bai''s house.Little Tiger Bai suggested cutting off a piece of the boar''s meat to cook, but was immediately scolded by his mother.The boar needed to be sold as a whole.Su Liang chuckled, "Some other day we''ll kill another one and invite Little Tiger for a meaty feast.""You said it!" Little Tiger Bai''s face lit up in excitement, which was immediately followed by a joint scolding from his parents...Little Tiger Bai had a sibling who was only six years old, nicknamed Zhuzi, who was always sickly and rarely left the house.The Bai family was poor primarily due to Zhuzi, who required constant medication since birth. The family had even sold off two acres of their land last year to support him.Before dinner was over, Zhuzi had already fallen asleep in Old man Bai''s arms.Su Liang planned to find an opportunity to check on Zhuzi another day, as it was already quite late.Neither Ning Jing nor Su Liang minded eating the simple fare at the Bai family or had issues with Little Tiger Bai hanging around them.Su Liang was quite easygoing.Although Ning Jing had a frosty demeanor, he didn''t carry any air of arrogance.After they left, Old man Bai sighed in admiration, "That is true nobility."Just as Ning Jing and Su Liang left the Bai''s residence to return home, a figure silently leapt into the courtyard, dashed into Ning Jing''s room first, and then quickly appeared in the room where Yang Feng and Yang Yu were sleeping.Yang Yu was in deep sleep, but Yang Feng''s eyes were wide open, his gaze sinister.The figure advanced towards his side of the bed, kicking Yang Feng."Who?" Yang Feng''s face turned pale with shock.Suddenly, a ghostly mask loomed large in front of Yang Feng''s eyes, his gaze filled with horror. The next moment, an awl was being held against his throat!The piercing cold and sharpness of the awl caused Yang Feng to shudder. Accompanied by a clear "ding", a hammer hit the awl. Yang Feng''s neck was pierced, blood gushed out, and he drew his last breath within moments!"Su Jia Village, Ning Jing... Mission accomplished," The man in the ghost mask stood up, muttered to himself, and then disappeared without a trace. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 16: 016. Karmic Retribution

    Chapter 16: 016. Karmic Retribution[Retribution]The cold moon was like frost.When Ning Jing and Su Liang hurried to their doorstep, they heard the sound of a carriage and paused to look."Ah!"Yang Yu''s sharp scream came from their house, and Su Liang''s expression changed!Not waiting for the door to be opened, she ran, climbed, and leaped over the courtyard wall.By the time Ning Jing unlocked and entered the door, Su Liang had already entered the house."Big brother! Big Brother, wake up!" Yang Yu looked at the tragically dead Yang Feng, unable to stop sobbing.Su Liang lit a lamp and turned to see an iron spike in Yang Feng''s neck, startling her!She disliked Yang Feng and had even discussed with Ning Jing that if they ended up in a lawsuit because of Young Master Huang or Yao Wei, they would hand Yang Feng over to the Government Office. After all, it was Yang Feng who had caused the trouble.But she never expected that he would be killed!Ning Jing appeared behind Su Liang and saw the iron spike, his eyes narrowing!"Assassin?" Su Liang whispered.Ning Jing nodded. That iron spike was the trademark weapon of a notorious assassin."Is it for you or for him...?" Su Liang was asking Ning Jing, but she already had an answer in her heart.This was Ning Jing''s home.Yang Feng''s arrival the day before was an unexpected event, and only a few people in Su Family Village knew about it, let alone a previously hired assassin coming to commit murder.Moreover, if the Yang Family wanted to kill Yang Feng to seize the family property, they would not spare Yang Yu.Therefore, the real target of the assassin should be Ning Jing.Mistakenly killing Yang Feng might be because the assassin was only given accurate address information and asked about the people in the house.At normal times, the only young man here was Ning Jing.By coincidence, there was also a young woman in the room.And they were both lying still.At night, with only the two of them. If one didn''t know the Yang siblings were here, one would instinctively think this was Ning Jing and Su Liang.The strong smell of blood in the room made Su Liang feel suffocated, and she didn''t know how to comfort Yang Yu.At this moment, there was a knock on the door."Young Master Ning? Mrs. Ning?"Su Liang and Ning Jing both turned and went out.The carriage they saw just now was Xiaoliu, the servant sent by Hu Er."My master Hu Er sent me to check on you two. I''m glad you''re all right.""Young Master Huang from the Huang family is missing, and Master Huang is accusing my master Hu Er! But the night before, my master Hu Er stayed in the county town, and only returned to town yesterday morning after buying some desserts as gifts for Mrs. Ning. Many people can testify!""Our house was turned upside down, and nothing was found! My master was worried when he heard that the government officials came to Su Family Village today. He keeps thinking about you two!""There''s one thing my master forgot to tell Mrs. Ning yesterday.""The young master in blue brought two attendants with him. When he came to Mrs. Ning, there was only one attendant in black. The other one in white was arranged by the young master to deal with Young Master Huang.""My master overheard that the young master was not getting along well with the two of you and was afraid that he might frame you.""Young Master Huang was harmed by him. If someone sees that, it''s hard to say if it won''t implicate you.""Be extra careful!"After listening to Xiaoliu, Su Liang felt that something was wrong.If the attendant in white was simply dealing with Young Master Huang, it wouldn''t take much effort to finish the job and then reunite with Yang Feng and Yang Yu.But two days had passed, and he still hadn''t appeared.The strangest thing was that Yang Yu didn''t even know her brother had brought someone else besides Yang Wu. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have kept silent!Even after Yang Feng woke up, he didn''t mention that person at all.Either that person was in league with Yang Wu, or there was something fishy going on.If it were the former, there would be nothing Yang Feng couldn''t tell, and he wouldn''t hide it from Yang Yu.Su Liang tended to believe it was the latter."Thank you, Master Hu Er, for your concern and reminder. We will be careful." Su Liang wanted to give Xiaoliu some money for alcohol, but her purse was empty.Having conveyed Hu Er''s message, Xiaoliu left.Yang Yu''s crying in the room was heart-wrenching. Su Liang couldn''t help but wonder if the wild boar that had replaced Yao Wei''s dead body on the back mountain had anything to do with Yang Feng''s other attendant?But if he was a friend rather than an enemy, why did he hide instead of revealing himself directly?As Su Liang was about to ask Ning Jing what he thought, she suddenly saw him hurriedly walking towards the backyard and disappearing in the blink of an eye.A moment later, Ning Jing reappeared in front of Su Liang, gripping the neck of a person.He wore white clothes, which were stained with mud.Su Liang had already guessed the man''s identity."Young Master Ning, it''s a misunderstanding! I am Yang Wen, I mean no harm. I am only here to find my young master and lady!" The man in white raised both his hands."Why are you sneaking around?" Ning Jing asked coldly."I was not here yesterday, and I didn''t know what happened to the young master and lady. I wanted to find out the situation first." Yang Wen sighed."Why were you away for so long?" Su Liang asked.Yang Wen explained that he found shelter from the heavy rain after taking care of Young Master Huang."Lying," Ning Jing''s hand suddenly tightened.Yang Feng was not planning to stay in Su village, and Yang Wen should have gone to find him immediately, let alone hiding for two days from the rain."Ning... I... didn''t..." Yang Wen quickly had difficulty breathing, his eyes rolling back.Just as Yang Wen was about to suffocate, Ning Jing suddenly let go of him!He fell to the ground, coughing heavily."Yang Feng was murdered, a steel awl piercing his neck. If you can''t provide a reasonable explanation for your whereabouts during these two days, we can only assume that you are the killer of Yang Feng!" Su Liang said coldly.Yang Wen furrowed his eyebrows, looking incredulously at Su Liang, "The young master... is dead?"His expression seemed to say that he had just slipped in and was discovered by Ning Jing, completely unaware of what happened to Yang Feng."What about the lady?" Yang Wen asked with wide eyes."Can''t you hear her crying?" Su Liang huffed, "Last chance, tell me, why were you away for so long?"Yang Wen''s complexion was not good. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "I apologize for not being truthful. Now that things have come to this, there''s nothing that can''t be said.""Yesterday, Young Master Feng ordered me to settle the matter with the Huang family. I didn''t come back because he asked me to do another thing.""To go to Ning Family''s mansion in Xunyang City and find Young Master Ning Yao, and tell him the whereabouts of Ning Qi, the seventh young master.""Since the death of our master last year, Feng took over the family business, but there were many problems, and the losses were huge. He wanted to use Ning Qi''s information as a stepping stone to show his goodwill to Ning Yao and discuss cooperation."After hearing Yang Wen''s words, Su Liang was dumbfounded.Yang Feng''s arrogant and impolite behavior was all for this reason!He knew that Ning Jing saved Yang Yu, so he planned to sell out Ning Jing and gain personal interests!Su Liang thought Yang Feng was foolish, but he was not only foolish, but also selfish and malicious!The family head of Yang Family, one of the top four merchants in Qian Country, enjoyed a prestigious and powerful position, but that was not due to Yang Feng''s abilities.Inheriting his father''s business, he failed to even maintain the fortune, short-sighted, only pursuing profits, and morally corrupt!Let alone regarding Ning Jing as a benefactor, in Feng''s eyes, Ning Jing was not even a person at all.Yesterday, when Yang Feng didn''t even say "thank you," and just left with Yang Yu, he probably thought, "Ning Jing will be eliminated by Ning Yao soon, what a waste of effort to say even a word to this useless person."And that''s why even when threatened by the contract, Yang Feng still showed arrogance towards Ning Jing and Su Liang.Once sober, he signed the contract, but surely planned to leave in a few days and wait for Ning Jing and Su Liang to be killed by Ning Yao''s men.Shameless!`"The assassin tonight was likely hired by Ning Yao to kill me. I wasn''t there at that time, and they killed Yang Feng by mistake," Ning Jing''s expression remained indifferent.With a bitter expression, Yang Wen said, "I''ve been advising Feng, but he acted willfully - could this be retribution?""Why didn''t you go to Ning''s?" Su Liang asked.Yang Wen sighed heavily, "I cannot agree with Feng''s ungrateful behavior. Xiaojie has a kind nature, and she could never agree to it either. Nevertheless, Feng is obstinate, so I pretended to comply and planned to warn Ning Qi to be cautious of Young Master Ning Yao after they left.""I came over secretly when both of you were not here during the day. When I came back and found Feng awake, I learned about the situation; I left again for town to hire someone to send a letter to my family to stop Yang Wu from usurping power. When I came back again... "Clearly, Ning Yao had known where Ning Jing was all along.Yang Feng calculated everything, only to end up as Ning Jing''s scapegoat. The assassin he had been waiting for came early and luckily...It cannot be said that he was killed as a substitute. If the assassin had really encountered Ning Jing, he might have been the one to die.In short, Yang Feng wanted to help Ning Yao hurt Ning Jing, but in the end, he was killed by the people Ning Yao hired to murder Ning Jing.For this situation, there''s nothing to say but "serves you right.""Go in and explain everything to your lady," Su Liang said.When Yang Wen entered the room, Su Liang looked at Ning Jing, who was also looking back at him.They exchanged glances and then looked away."Someone is trying to kill you, what do you think?" Su Liang asked.Ning Jing asked back, "If a steel awl pierced my neck, would you be able to save me?""No," Su Liang shook his head."Then I''ll be careful," Ning Jing said."Won''t you consider moving to a different place?" Su Liang asked again.Ning Jing shook his head slightly, "You promised to hunt another wild boar for Little Tiger."Su Liang raised an eyebrow, "Yes, I won''t leave, the assassin has principles - they should only target you, not me. If you want to leave, please, feel free.""Nowhere to go," Ning Jing turned and went back to his room without another word.Su Liang stayed outside for a while longer, listening to Yang Yu''s crying weaken and eventually fade into silence.


    S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 17: 017. Differentiate

    Chapter 17: 017. Differentiate[Separation]Hearing the horse neigh in the backyard in the middle of the night, Ning Jing opened her eyes, but she didn''t get up.When Su Liang got up early in the morning, he was already gone from the room.There was hot water boiling in the kitchen, and after Su Liang washed up, she still couldn''t see Ning Jing. There was also no movement in Yang Yu''s room, so she began to make breakfast.Just as the porridge was nearly done, Su Liang turned around and saw Yang Yu standing at the door.The previously optimistic young girl seemed to have all her vitality drained overnight, pale and weak, her eyes badly swollen.As their eyes met, Yang Yu spoke, her voice hoarse, "Su Liang..."Just calling out her name brought tears streaming down her face.Su Liang put down the spoon, and just as she reached out to support Yang Yu''s arm, she leaned weakly against her. "I''m sorry..." Yang Yu choked up."You didn''t do anything wrong." Su Liang sighed.However bad Yang Feng may have been, his care and affection for Yang Yu was genuine.Yang Feng had a close brush with death the day before, but Su Liang managed to save him. Yang Yu''s anxiety was momentarily relieved, but within a short span of time, she witnessed Yang Feng''s gruesome death.For her, this was a bolt from the blue."My elder brother..." As Yang Yu mentioned Yang Feng, her agony mixed with disappointment. "I was too naive to see the true nature of people, and even my only relative wasn''t the person I thought he was."Su Liang, not being good at comforting people, didn''t want to say something like "Yang Feng was just confused for a moment." The truth was clear to them both."What do you plan to do next?" Su Liang changed the subject.As Yang Yu sat on a small stool, the blazing fire in the stove cast a warm hue on her face, yet it could not penetrate her once joyful eyes, which now lacked warmth."I want to go home." Yang Yu spoke softly.Su Liang was somewhat surprised."To take my brother back for a proper burial, and to have my own revenge," Yang Yu said."To take revenge on Yang Wu? What kind of outcome do you want?" Su Liang asked.After a moment of silence, Yang Yu countered, "If he really is my half-brother, my father wronged him first, what do you think I should do?""Your father made the mistake, not you." Su Liang replied indifferently. "So what if you''re siblings? If he''s cold-hearted enough to kill you, you''d better take him out if you get the chance. You''re bound in a life-and-death relationship, and he chose it. If you''re soft-hearted, you''ll be the one to die in the end."Yang Yu nodded, "You''re right.""Actually, it''s not bad if you find a place to live peacefully." Su Liang did not object to Yang Yu''s revenge, but it was inevitably accompanied by great danger. Staking her life on it was not worth it."I know you care about me, thank you." Yang Yu looked at Su Liang, her eyes slightly softening. "If I wanted to stay, you would take me in, right?"Su Liang raised an eyebrow, "Then you, a young lady, can only be my maid, chopping wood, carrying water, cooking, and doing laundry. Are you up for it?"Yang Yu closed her eyes and said softly, "I''d be more than happy. But I still have unfulfilled wishes."Su Liang didn''t ask her what her wishes were, but she believed that they were not just about revenge.Just as breakfast was ready, Ning Jing returned from outside, holding a bunch of tender wild vegetables with dewdrops on them.It was the same kind Su Liang had eaten last night at the Bai Family. She had praised it and asked Bai''s mother where she had picked it from."I wanted to eat it, so I went and found some," Ning Jing said. It was the truth....Yang Wen was gone. He had ridden off on Ning Jing''s horse in the middle of the night, taking Yang Feng''s body with him. He was going to the county town to buy funeral clothes and a coffin, then hire escort masters to send it back home.Once everything was arranged, he would come back to pick up Yang Yu and catch up with the escort masters to travel together.After breakfast, when Yang Yu was about to clean up the blood-soaked bedding on the floor, Su Liang simply carried it to the backyard and burned it.Yang Yu was sitting at the table, with the iron awl that had killed Yang Feng in front of her. She looked up at Su Liang and asked, "Are you planning to leave this place?"Su Liang shook her head, "We have no plans to leave for now.""But..." Yang Yu''s gaze fell on the sharp iron awl, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, "Ning Yao knows that the Seventh Prince is here, and he won''t let you go."Su Liang was very calm, "We can''t avoid it forever."Yang Yu sighed and looked at Su Liang earnestly, "If one day you leave here and go somewhere else, be sure to send me a message so I know how to find you.""Alright." Su Liang agreed.Yang Yu was her second friend in this world.The first one was, of course, the fake husband and swindler, Ning Jing....Bai Family''s father and son, who had gone to town to sell the wild boar early in the morning, returned as noon approached.Bai''s wife brought Bai Xiaohu to give Su Liang the money."Feiyan Restaurant bought it. It was around 400 kilograms. At fifteen cents per kilogram, it sold for a total of six silver taels." Bai''s wife said as she opened the cloth bag, revealing six neatly-stacked taels.Bai Xiaohu grinned, "My grandpa said our family only needs one tael!"Su Liang took three taels, "We agreed last night, half for each family."In the end, Bai''s wife left with three taels, and Bai Xiaohu asked Su Liang when they would go hunting for wild boar again."In a couple of days, if the weather is good," Su Liang looked at the mountain behind the house, feeling more enthusiastic about hunting.However, since there had been heavy rain recently, the mountain was muddy and not suitable for hunting just yet."You have to bring me!" Bai Xiaohu exclaimed excitedly."As long as your parents agree," Su Liang said with a smile.Bai Xiaohu ran off as if flying, while Su Liang went into her room and placed the money on the table, sighing softly, "There''s no more meat at home, and there won''t even be vegetables tomorrow."Ning Jing put down the book in his hand, "Shall I try my luck at the gambling house?"Su Liang replied sarcastically, "You said last time you would copy books for people, and now it''s become gambling, Ning Gongzi, you''ve fallen.""You don''t agree?" Ning Jing asked.Su Liang shook her head, "I also want to go."Ning Jing picked up the book again, "Remember to practice your writing."...After lunch, Su Liang cooked another bowl of medicine for Yang Yu, who fell into a deep sleep after drinking it.Yang Wen, who had left in the middle of the night, returned on horseback at dawn and washed the carriage in the corner of the courtyard."Ning Qi Gongzi, can I borrow this horse and carriage?" Yang Wen asked somewhat sheepishly."Take it," Ning Jing nodded.Yang Wen bowed deeply, "I can''t thank you enough. If I can help the lady regain her property, I will come back to repay your kindness!"He had some silver on him, but he had already spent a lot of it, and with a long journey ahead, he had to save some money for the expenses, so he couldn''t afford to buy another carriage and horse.Furthermore, Ning Jing had no intention of using the carriage, which originally belonged to Yang Feng.In the room, Yang Yu, with tears in her eyes, hugged Su Liang and said goodbye."Is that Yang Wen trustworthy?" Su Liang asked."Yes, Brother Wen is an orphan adopted by my mother, and he has treated me like a real sister since we were young," Yang Yu said with a muffled voice."Anyway, in the future, be more careful with people and things," Su Liang advised.Yang Yu''s eyes were filled with determination, "We will definitely meet again!"Soon after, Yang Yu boarded the carriage, still wearing the clothes Su Liang had bought for her. Finally, she took one last deep look at Su Liang and lowered the curtain, "Let''s go.""Take care, both of you! We''ll meet again!" As Yang Wen finished speaking, he raised his horsewhip and drove the carriage away.After the carriage left the Su Village, Yang Wen said, "Miss, I will send you to a safe place first, then I will deal with Yang Wu, and come back to take you home. Is that alright?""No," Yang Yu''s voice was cold, "I know what I have to do."Yang Wen sighed deeply, "I thought staying here wouldn''t be a bad thing for the lady."Yang Yu spoke softly, but with determination, "This place is nice, but I owe Su Liang money and my life. How can I stay here with a clear conscience, letting her take care of me? I will go back, take back everything from the Yang Family, and give it to her."Yang Wen was stunned, "Does Lady Ning know about this?""She doesn''t expect anything from me; this is something I wish for myself," Yang Yu said, "From now on, Su Liang will be the most important person in my life." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 18: 018. Plum Blossom Screen

    Chapter 18: 018. Plum Blossom Screen[Plum Blossom Screen]After Yanyu left, Su Liang took the used bedding to the backyard to dry on a tree.After thoroughly cleaning the room, the unpleasant smell of blood finally disappeared.At dusk, Bai Xiaohu brought two of his playmates to see Su Liang."My mother told me that Su Xiaoming''s house is yours now?""There are still so many pears on their tree! We all saw them!""Such big pears!"Su Liang smiled lightly, "Can you all climb trees?"The three boys nodded enthusiastically."Ning Jing." Su Liang called for Ning Jing.The window was open, and Ning Jing''s cold, indifferent voice came from inside the room, "I''m not going.""Then heat up some water and cook the porridge." After Su Liang finished speaking, she left with Bai Xiaohu and his friends.After borrowing a large bamboo basket from the Bai family, they walked over the wooden bridge. While walking, they heard the three children discuss that the heavy rain had damaged two bridges in the village, which needed to be repaired. Each family would contribute and also offer labour.As they crossed the bridge, they ran into Lei Zheng and Su Bai.Upon seeing Su Liang, Su Bai showed courtesy. He mentioned the bridge repair but did not ask the two wealthy individuals, Ning jing, and Su Liang, to contribute more money. Instead, he stated that since her family couldn''t offer labour, they would have to pay an extra person''s wages.Su Liang directed Lei Zheng to visit Ning Jing at home....Upon hearing a knock, Ning Jing got up to answer it.After hearing Lei Zheng''s request, he went back to his room to fetch money."We need to pay for an extra person''s labour." Lei Zheng counted the money and found it insufficient.Ning Jing shook his head slightly, "We can offer labour."Lei Zheng was taken aback, looking unconsciously at Ning Jing''s slender physique, clean clothes, and flawless face..."I''ll do it," Ning Jing said, and then he went back inside.Lei Zheng was puzzled, Ning Jing, who barely had a few coins to his name, actually decided to labour himself? Lei wondered how such a person could perform manual work!...Su Liang set foot in Su Daqiang''s courtyard again, which became cold and quiet in just a few days, similar to a house long abandoned.Bai Xiaohu and the others competed with each other to climb the tree.The pear tree was not too tall, and Su Liang told them to be careful.One of the boys plucked a golden pear, bit off a large chunk, and then remembered to ask Su Liang, "Can I eat it?""Go ahead." Su Liang said and walked towards the main room.Neither she nor Ning Jing planned to live there, and they didn''t want anything from the house. Considering they needed money, she decided to sell everything off after checking all items.In this world, even used goods can be sold without difficulty.As for the house, she decided to keep it for the sake of the pear tree.The shabby dwelling of the original master, where he lived for over a year, had collapsed after a heavy downpour.The backyard had a neat vegetable plot, certainly maintained by the original master.Su Liang lifted and steadied the fallen bean pole, picked a handful of beans, two eggplants, and returned to the front yard.Each of the three boys had finished eating a pear and were tucking the picked pears into their pockets.Bai Xiaohu saw Su Liang climbing the tree with ease and was astonished, "Can you climb trees too?"Su Liang simply smiled without answering, picked a pear, wiped it with her sleeve, and took a bite. The juice was sweet.In the end, they picked a basketful of pears. There were still some small ones left on the tree."Can I take one home for my grandpa?" The slightly shy Boy Erniu pulled at his clothing and asked."As much as you can carry is yours." Su Liang smiled.The other two looked at Bai Xiaohu, somewhat in disbelief.Bai Xiaohu lifted his chin and grinned, "I told you, Sister Su Liang is very generous!"They took off their jackets, filled their pockets with pears, and ran off.Su Liang carried the basket and walked home with Bai Xiaohu under the fading sunlight.When it was time to part ways after crossing the bridge, Su Liang turned to Bai Xiaohu and said, "I have a favor to ask your family."...By the time she returned home, it was already dark.Su Liang entered the kitchen where the aroma of bubbling porridge filled the room.Ning Jing stood facing away from the entrance, his arm moving slightly, busying himself with something.After putting down the pears, Su Liang went over to see Ning Jing with a frown, stirring a large basin of dough..."What are you trying to do?" Su Liang asked, puzzled."Making pancakes." Ning Jing put down his chopsticks, a hint of embarrassment flashed through his eyes. "I saw you doing it. I added too much water, then added flour, and then realized there was too much flour..."Su Liang: ... he doesn''t need to be this industrious...The shredded radish on the side was finely and evenly cut.The vegetable basket was empty.The flour bag was nearly empty as well."Tomorrow we''ll go to town to buy some stuff." Su Liang took over the basin of dough.But Ning Jing said, "We need to repair the bridge tomorrow."Su Liang paused, "Didn''t we pay for that today?""They need labour, so I''ll go." Ning Jing calmly stated.Su Liang looked at him, deep in thought, "Are you... experiencing life?""Experience?" Ning Jing shook his head slightly, "It''s just life.""Fine. So you go and repair the bridge, and I''ll go into town." Su Liang affirmed his grounded lifestyle.Bai Peng came over to confirm the message that Bai Xiaohu had brought."I don''t understand how to sell these household items either. Uncle Bai, help sell whatever you can and keep twenty percent of the money as a reward for the trouble," said Su Liang.Bai Peng agreed and said he would handle it early the next morning, leaving the bridge repair work to his younger brother.Su Liang gave Bai Peng several pieces of the baked white bread he had made, but Peng declined repeatedly."Uncle Bai, take it. I won''t be home tomorrow, and Ning Jing is going to fix the bridge. Come over to our place for lunch," said Su Liang.Bai Peng was surprised, "Lei Zheng asked Ning Jing to fix the bridge? That''s both exhausting and dirty. He isn''t equipped for that! I''ll talk to Lei Zheng and offer some more money."Su Liang shook her head, "Just call him Ning Jing. He wanted to do it."...That night Su Liang moved back into her old room, writing on a couple of pages before bed.She also wrote two new medicinal diet recipes, intending to sell them at the Feiyan Restaurant the next day.As for the gambling house, she might visit it for fun but wouldn''t actually stake money there....Early in the morning, just before dawn, Ning Jing was called away.He stood out amongst the strong men of Su Village, holding shovels, and felt out of place.Except for Bai Xiaohu''s uncle Bai He, no one dared to talk to Ning Jing.Someone muttered, "If he can''t even afford a few coins, he is poorer than my family! Does he look like he can work?"However, when the real work began, this "pretty face" shocked everyone.How is he not afraid of getting dirty?He''s so strong!He actually hasn''t complained about being tired?In short, Ning Jing proved through his actions that although he might be handsome, he was not weak or delicate.As a result, a new village rumor started circulating about Ning Jing''s upbringing: Even though he came from a wealthy family, he had been mistreated because he lacked the love of his parents.After a while, someone shouted, "Master Ning, your wife is looking at you!"Ning Jing looked up and saw Su Liang waving at him in the distance.Su Liang waved at Ning Jing and continued on her journey to the village.Discovering that Ning Jing had a good temperament, someone shouted, "When will Master Ning become a father? He owes us a round of drinks!"Ning Jing was taken aback.When he didn''t respond, assuming he was shy, everyone started laughing....Su Liang carried a half-basket of pears and walked toward the town. Halfway there, while taking a break to drink water, she saw a carriage."Which way to Su Village?" The coachman asked loudly.Su Liang pointed out the direction and quickly continued on her way.When the carriage arrived at the village, it stopped in front of Su Daqiang''s house, and a girl in a peach-colored jacket got out.The door was locked. With no sign of anyone at home, an old woman from the neighboring house came out to ask who she was looking for."Is this Su Xiaodie''s house?" Asked the girl."Ah, yes!" The old woman confirmed."Where are her family members?" The girl asked, furrowing her brows."They owed money to loan sharks and were all sold to the mines!" Said the old woman, "What do you want with Su Xiaodie?"The young girl didn''t answer, quickly rushed back to the carriage, whispered a few words, then came back to ask the old woman what day Su Xiaodie had been sold and who owned her house now.The old woman scoffed upon hearing that the girl''s master had paid a deposit and was looking for Su Xiaodie to collect the embroidery.She pointed to the other side of the creek, "The embroidery was done by that girl, Su Liang, who married and moved over there. Now this house is hers! Su Xiaodie didn''t know how to embroider at all!""Su Liang?" The girl repeated the name, pulled out several copper coins, and handed them to the old woman....By noon, the men repairing the bridge were all sweating heavily. Among them, Ning Jing, who had been working without slacking, still looked fresh.Bai Xiaohu ran over, "Big Brother Ning! Someone''s here to see Sister Su Liang!"Lei Zheng looked up at the sky and announced a break, telling everyone to come back after lunch.Ning Jing returned home with Bai Xiaohu and saw a carriage parked at the front door, with a girl in a peach-colored jacket standing nearby.When the girl first saw Ning Jing''s face, she was smitten."If you need anything, ask Big Brother Ning! He''s Sister Su Liang''s husband!" Bai Xiaohu announced loudly.The girl snapped out of her trance, her face a little red, and spoke softly, "My young lady ordered a double-sided embroidered plum blossom screen. It has been a while since it was due for delivery, so we came to pick it up ourselves."Ning Jing was unfazed, "Who did you make this agreement with?""Su Xu''s family, they received five silver taels as advance payment," the girl said."You should look for them then, it has nothing to do with Su Liang," Ning Jing said.The girl''s face stiffened slightly, "But I heard that previous embroidery was done by Su Liang..."A young woman''s voice came from inside the carriage, "Young Master, that Plum Blossom Screen is very important to me. If you deliver it, we can negotiate the price."Bai Xiaohu harrumphed, Master Ning and Sister Su Liang don''t need money! Master Ning goes to work because he''s a real man, not a pretty face!The next moment, he saw Ning Jing nod, "Fine."The girl''s face lit up, "Then hurry and give us the plum blossom screen!""A million taels of gold," Ning Jing''s lips slightly parted.The girl''s eyes widened, she looked at Ning Jing incredulously, "What did you say?""Isn''t the price negotiable?" Ning Jing countered."But that doesn''t mean... a million taels of gold? What kind of joke is this?" The girl was visibly annoyed.Ning Jing maintained his calm demeanor, "My wife''s embroidery is worth this much, non-negotiable. If you can''t afford it, no need for pleasantries."


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 Chapter 19: 019. Conspiracy

    Chapter 19: 019. Conspiracy[Conspiracy]"I paid the deposit for the Plum Blossom Screen, and I provided all the embroidered threads. The agreed price at the time was thirty taels. Now, I am willing to give an additional fifty taels on top of the deposit." The lady in the carriage said.The maid immediately chimed in, "You should accept the offer while it''s still good! My lady''s status is...""Liuliu!"The maid named Liuliu covered her mouth as if she had almost leaked a huge secret.Bai Xiaohu felt that fifty silver taels were a lot! But Ning Jing didn''t care!Ning Jing turned and walked towards the Bai Family, Bai Xiaohu asked in confusion, "Brother Ning, where are you going?""To your house," Ning Jing replied.Bai Xiaohu remembered that Su Liang gave his dad a few white cakes last night, which were fragrant, soft, and delicious, inviting the Bai Family to treat Ning Jing to a meal today.Bai Xiaohu ran after him, while Liuliu became annoyed, asked Ning Jing to stop, but no one paid attention.Liuliu stomped her foot, "Miss, although that man is very handsome, he is in shabby clothes and lives in such a place. He must be short of money! This is his way of threatening us to raise the price!"The curtain of the carriage jiggled, revealing a light pink skirt, "If he wanted to raise the price, he would not have left."."Then what should we do? Madame Xing''s birthday is just around the corner!" Liuliu clenched her handkerchief. Glancing over, even Ning Jing''s shadow was gone. Her brows furrowed, "In any case, we had a deal with the Su Xu''s family. Su Liang is their niece after all. If we leave the money here and take the goods, both the silver and goods are settled, what can they do about it? Even if they go to court, we are in the right!"The lady in the carriage spoke after a moment, "That''s not appropriate. The fewer people who know about this matter, the better. This absolutely cannot be made a big fuss."Liuliu sighed, "The lady is right. In case Madame Xing finds out that it was not my lady who embroidered...This servant should die for her nonsense! Now, what should we do?""Su Liang... what was her husband''s name?"Liuliu shook her head, "I don''t know. But that man really doesn''t look like someone from this village. He''s even better looking than Young Master Xing!""What does it matter if he''s good-looking? He''s just a lowly commoner. You go find someone to inquire about the details of Su Liang''s husband." "Yes, Miss," Liuliu replied....As Bai Xiaohu was eating, he went out again to check on things, only to find that the carriage and the people were gone from the entrance of Ning''s house.Mrs. Bai, after learning about this, suddenly recalled something and hurriedly said to Ning Jing, "Su Dafu''s daughter is a gossip, telling everyone that her daughter Su Xiaodie embroidered flowers and sold them for a high price, as if no one knows what Su Xiaodie''s real character is! It''s said that the one who bought Su Liang''s embroidery is a nobleman from the county town, who instructed not to sell any embroidered items to anyone else, nor could anyone know about it!""Why?" Bai Xiaohu scratched his head, curious.Bai He had a decent appearance, had studied for two years before, and gave up due to his family''s financial problems. However, he was still a bit smarter compared to other young people in the village.Mrs. Bai''s focus was on the "nobleman from the county town," worried that Ning Jing would offend someone and be retaliated against.However, Bai He discovered the trick, "That nobleman might be taking Sister-in-law Ning''s embroidery as her own to gain some benefits. Otherwise, she wouldn''t be so secretive.""What nobleman? She didn''t even show her face, I think she''s too ugly and afraid of being seen!" Bai Xiaohu said.And this also confirmed Bai He''s guess."Brother Ning, what should we do? Will she send someone to steal the Plum Blossom Screen?" Bai Xiaohu asked with a furrowed brow.Ning Jing''s expression was indifferent, "No need to worry about it."Mrs. Bai stuffed a steamed bun into Bai Xiaohu''s hand and told him to eat up.Ning Jing exchanged the white cake that Mrs. Bai had specially set aside for him with Bai Xiaohu''s steamed bun.Bai Xiaohu dared not eat it, fearing he would be beaten, but he heard Ning Jing say, "Change the taste.""I''m going to find my brother!" Bai Xiaohu tore the cake in half and went looking for Zhuzi.Mrs. Bai sighed softly, "Sister-in-law Liang was forced by the Su family to embroider day and night when she first got married. Her eyes were full of red bloodshot! Now that you''re protecting her, unwilling to exchange her heart''s work for money, she''s finally enjoying the fruits of her labor!"The Bai family firmly believed that Ning Jing loved Su Liang deeply.However, the real owner of the Plum Blossom Screen had already passed away, and now Su Liang was unwilling to exchange her precious work for money.As for Ning Jing, he knew about this matter and did exactly what Su Liang would have done.Fifty silver taels were indeed not a small amount for Ning Jing and Su Liang now, but they didn''t lack this sum of money.After the meal, Ning Jing and Bai He went back to work."...Mrs. Bai told Bai Xiaohu to take his younger brother out to play but not to go far and to stay vigilant in case the "nobleman from the county town" really sent someone to steal the Plum Blossom Screen.Bai Xiaohu patted his chest and said he would keep a close eye on Ning''s house, and not even a mosquito would be able to fly in!Zhuzi blinked his innocent face, "Brother, it''s cold now, there are no mosquitoes."...As for Su Liang, when she left the house, it was late morning. By the time she walked to the town, it was almost noon.Feiyan Restaurant was doing good business, and Su Liang was recognized as soon as she appeared at the door."Miss, you''re here!" The manager saw Su Liang, with a big smile on his face, and hurriedly invited her in.Su Liang thought it must be because her medicinal diet sold well last time."These pears, does Miss''s family have any more? I''ll send someone to pick them, we can negotiate the price." The manager asked.Su Liang shook her head, "There''s only one pear tree, and the remaining ones are not good-looking."Last time she sold four baskets of pears with the medicinal diet recipes for three silver taels.This time, before Su Liang could speak, the manager offered her one silver tael for half a basket of pears.The price was unusually high.Seeing that Su Liang didn''t show any joy at the good price but looked puzzled instead, the manager thought that she was not an ordinary person and explained with a smile, "The owner''s friend''s elder loved the medicinal diet that you made with the recipe last time, and only wants to eat pears from your family!"Su Liang then understood why the manager was so enthusiastic."Do you have any other medicinal diet recipes, Miss? Our restaurant will buy them all! The boss said that as long as the recipes are good, this is the price per recipe!" The manager said and held out a hand to show her the price."500 taels?" Su Liang asked.The manager''s mouth twitched, "50 taels."Su Liang smiled, "Alright. But these recipes have been passed down in my family, not made up by me, and there aren''t that many. If not for my family needing money, I wouldn''t sell them."The manager nodded repeatedly, "How many recipes do you have, Miss?""Two." Su Liang took out the medicinal diet recipes and handed them to the manager.The manager found her straightforward, and without even looking at them, he ordered someone to fetch the money.Finally, Su Liang got a total of 101 silver taels, and with an empty stomach, she decided to have lunch at Feiyan Restaurant.The manager recommended a few signature dishes, and Su Liang ordered one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a main course.After waiting for a while, the dishes were served. They looked exquisite but the taste was just fair.Su Liang didn''t plan to sell all the medicinal diet recipes she knew at once. Although she could make a fortune, she and Ning Jing didn''t need that much money for now, sufficient food and clothing were enough.Seeing Su Liang leaving after finishing her meal, the manager asked her again where she lived, saying that he wanted to reserve her family''s pears for next year and would send someone to pick them when the time came...Su Liang gently refused, "If I don''t need money next year, I won''t sell my family''s pears."...After leaving the restaurant, Su Liang planned to go to the medical hall to take a look, and buy some food and meat when it was time to leave.The medical hall was located at the end of the street and was called Bao''an Hall, with a tea house opposite to it.Seeing many people in line, Su Liang found it strange. In an ordinary small town, there shouldn''t be so many patients on a normal day.She heard someone say, a nobleman who was temporarily staying in Feiyan Town''s Qiuming Manor was ill, and a famous doctor from the capital city was invited.The famous doctor would start to sit in Bao''an Hall for consultation today and would be there for three days.A famous doctor from the capital city? Su Liang thought of the grandfather of the original owner, Su Yuanzhou, who was said to be a famous doctor from the capital city too.Having no memory of the original owner, Su Liang thought for a moment and decided to avoid it. If she encountered someone who knew the original owner, she could only pretend to have amnesia, which would be troublesome.Without going to the medical hall, Su Liang bought some food, some meat, and a big piece of ribs, then took an ox cart at the entrance of the town after paying a few copper coins....Feiyan Town belonged to Bei''an County.At this moment, County Magistrate Huang Jin had a gloomy face, and a girl in pink clothes sat not far away, her head lowered, and her eyes red."You just said that the embroiderer''s husband is surnamed Ning and lives in Sujia Village in Feiyan Town?" Huang Jin asked coldly.Huang Wanwan nodded, "Yes, Father. The Plum Blossom Screen is in their hands, but they are not willing to sell it. Countess Xing''s birthday is approaching, and I have already said that we would get the screen...""That man surnamed Ning is not a commoner either." Huang Jin said coldly.Huang Wanwan was stunned, "He lives in a village and has mud all over him, how could he be somebody?"Huang Jin didn''t solve Huang Wanwan''s confusion, and let out a sigh, "Didn''t expect those embroidered items would catch a noble''s eye. We must seize this opportunity. As long as you can marry Crown Prince Xing, even as a concubine, you''ll enjoy endless wealth and honor in the future.""If I marry well, it will also help my father and brothers." Huang Wanwan quickly said.Huang Jin snorted coldly, "That Ning is involved in a lawsuit over a human life. It''s better to get rid of him and save him from going around spreading rumors, ruining your good fortune!"Huang Wanwan''s face relaxed, "I''ll leave it to Father''s judgment. As long as my marriage is settled, I''ll find a chance to injure my hand, and I can rest easy. Only, Father, you just said that Ning is not a commoner..."Huang Jin sneered lightly, "He''s just a merchant''s son who was expelled from his family! Compared to the Xing Family, he''s nothing!" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 20: Planting the blame

    Chapter 20: Planting the blame[Framing]The ox cart entered the village, passing the bridge under repair, and someone shouted, "Young Master Ning, your wife is back!"Su Liang was a bit surprised to see the villagers teasing Ning Jing.This person has a cold and aloof appearance, but deep down, he''s very easygoing, with no flaws except that he doesn''t smile or speak much.Their eyes met, and Su Liang nodded slightly in greeting but didn''t get off the cart.Ning Jing looked away and continued working.By the time Su Liang returned home with her bamboo basket on her back, Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi came running over.Bai Xiaohu grinned, "Sister Su Liang! You''re finally back!"Zhuzi shyly looked at Su Liang and called out, "Sister ..."Su Liang chuckled and ruffled Zhuzi''s fluffy little head."Sister Su Liang, someone wants to buy your Plum Blossom Screen today! They said they made a deal with Su Xiaoming''s mother!" Bai Xiaohu told Su Liang about the Plum Blossom Screen.Su Liang was stunned, "Who was it?""The woman in the carriage didn''t show her face, but there was a maid. My grandma said it''s a noble from the county town, my uncle said ..." Bai Xiaohu earnestly repeated what Bai Dame and Bai He had said during lunch.Su Liang originally thought Xu Family had sold the original master''s embroidery to the Embroidery Workshop, but she didn''t expect there to be a fixed and "mysterious" buyer.Since they made those requests, Bai He''s guess was also what Su Liang thought.Someone had always been passing off the original master''s hard work as their own, and now they wanted to get the Plum Blossom Screen.It seemed like they gave up and left today, but this matter probably wasn''t over..."Brother Ning said you could sell it to them. Guess how much they''re willing to pay?" Bai Xiaohu grinned.Su Liang raised an eyebrow, "A thousand taels of gold?"Bai Xiaohu''s eyes widened, "How did you know?"Su Liang''s lips curled slightly, "I''d charge that much too."Once home, Su Liang put down her basket, let Zhuzi sit down, and took his pulse.Bai Xiaohu hurriedly said, "My dad went to town to sell furniture today and heard that there''s a famous doctor from the capital city sitting at Bao''an Hall for three days. He''s planning to take my little brother to see the doctor tomorrow!"Bai Peng carried out Su Liang''s request, taking Su Daqiang''s furniture to town in the morning and helping fix the bridge when he came back.Su Liang hadn''t run into Bai Peng, but she did know about the "famous doctor treating patients for three days" event."Alright, then let''s go have a look." Su Liang nodded.She had her own ideas about treating Zhuzi.But for the Bai Family, a famous doctor from the capital city was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which the commoners queuing outside the Medical Hall today couldn''t afford to miss.Plus, Su Liang needed to learn about this world''s medical skills and the types of medicinal herbs to practice medicine....As the sun set, the bridge in the village was repaired.Ning Jing saw the smoke from his house from afar; upon entering, the aroma wafted from the kitchen.Su Liang turned and saw that Ning Jing''s pant legs and shoes were covered in mud, but his clean, handsome face didn''t look like he had just come back from fixing the bridge."What did you make?" Ning Jing asked."Braised ribs with green beans and rolls."A dish that Ning Jing had never heard of before, the name of which he could understand the first part, but the last three words seemed inexplicable.The ribs were fresh, the green beans were picked the night before, and the rolls were made by Su Liang.There were vegetables, meat, and staple food in one pot.Additionally, she boiled a cucumber and egg soup to cut the grease. Cucumbers and eggs were both bought from the Bai Family.After Ning Jing washed up and changed his clothes, Su Liang served a bowl of food with half of it being ribs, telling him to take it to the Bai Family as a treat for the two children and to thank them for helping watch the house today.Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi were both very happy.Bai Dame ran after Ning Jing, reminding him to keep an eye out at night....Ning Jing tasted a green bean first and nodded slightly, "Not bad."The green beans, soaked in meat juice, were still sweet, crisp, and tender.Tasting a piece of the roll, Ning Jing nodded again.The spare ribs were tender and delicious, with the perfect flavor.After a sip of the fresh and refreshing soup, she felt comfortable all over."There may still be trouble with the Plum Blossom Screen," Su Liang said."Are you going to keep that screen forever?" Ning Jing asked back.Su Liang shook her head, "I want to give it to her real family or friends as a keepsake. She seems to have an admirer, with the surname Yun or with ''Yun'' in his name."Ning Jing''s beautiful brows creased slightly, "If you plan to give the Plum Blossom Screen to that ''Yun'', how will you explain that you are not her?"Su Liang was stunned for a moment, "That''s a problem. We can talk about it later, but definitely not selling it."...It was late at night.In Ning Jing''s room, there was no light, the window was open, and she sat by the window, watching the light from the next room spill onto the ground.Su Liang was focused on practicing her writing, and after writing a lot, she finally found her groove.Hearing a noise from behind the house, Ning Jing put on her wide-brimmed hat, covered her face with a black cloth, and disappeared into the room....A group of officials were heading up the mountain."Boss, haven''t we searched here before? Why did the Magistrate order us to come again?""Yeah! We didn''t find anything when searching the mountain during the day! It''s impossible to see anything in the middle of the night!"Hearing the complaints from different voices, the head catcher shouted, "Shut up! The Magistrate ordered us to come because someone has provided important clues! Find them quickly and don''t miss any place!"A team of officials walked through the mountain with lanterns, searching carefully.Walking at the end was the head catcher and another man who looked similar to him."Big brother," the man pulled the head catcher and asked in a low voice, "What''s going on?"The head catcher looked around and whispered, "The family at the foot of the mountain has offended the Magistrate, so the evidence has been arranged for the murder. After finding the bloody clothes of young master Huang on the mountain, we will arrest them!"Before the head catcher finished speaking, two stones flew through the wind, hitting them heavily!A ghostly shadow appeared, and the two of them fell unconscious to the ground.One after the other, the officials fell down, even without a chance to make any sound.Until the last one, staring wide-eyed as the "ghost" floated in front of him, a palm struck him unconscious......Su Liang rubbed her sour neck, yawned, got up, and went out, planning to go to the bathroom in the backyard.A figure in black landed lightly in the courtyard, and Su Liang''s eyes narrowed, "Who?""It''s me." The "shadow" spoke, a familiar voice.Su Liang''s heart eased, "Where have you been?""The back mountain." Ning Jing removed the wide-brimmed hat and black cloth. She came over with something in her hand."What is that?" Su Liang had a feeling something happened."Bloody clothes." Ning Jing told Su Liang that the Magistrate had tried to pin young master Huang''s death on them.Su Liang frowned, "The Magistrate? Could it be that the young lady who wanted the Plum Blossom Screen is the Magistrate''s daughter?"Otherwise, it would not be such a coincidence.Ning Jing took the bloody clothes to the backyard and burned them.As for the officials, they were all unconscious, dragged by her into the woods outside the village."Since she wants the Plum Blossom Screen so much, it''s a pity not to extort her heavily." Su Liang snorted coldly.The common people shouldn''t fight with officials.But if the officials want you dead, it''s another story.Su Liang didn''t want to cause trouble, but she wasn''t afraid of it either.The original master was oppressed so miserably, and that "buyer" should not be missed."Good, let''s go to town tomorrow," Ning Jing nodded. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 21: Took mine, return it back.

    Chapter 21: Took mine, return it back.[You took mine, now give it back]The mist was heavy, and the chill in the air was deep.Bai Peng drove an ox cart with Liu''s sleepy Zhuzi on board.Ning Jing and Su Liang were also there.Su Liang disassembled the Plum Blossom Screen, carrying the two-sided embroidered plum blossom with her.When they passed the woods, Ning Jing asked Bai Peng to stop and found that the government officials were gone.By the time they arrived in Feiyan Town, the sun had just risen.Bao''an Hall had not yet opened, but there were already more than a dozen people waiting outside.Bai Peng sighed regretfully, saying they should have come earlier.After parking the ox cart, Bai Peng and his family of three joined the line.Zhuzi was weak and couldn''t bear the cold wind.Seeing that the Tea House across the street was open, Su Liang bought the cheapest pot of tea and two plates of signature desserts, gave several copper coins to the waiter, and then asked Mrs. Liu and Zhuzi to sit in the Tea House. They would join Bai Peng when his turn was nearly up."We''ll drink a little hot tea and then head to the county town. Don''t let the tea and the desserts go to waste," Su Liang said.Bai Peng and Mrs. Liu both knew that Su Liang was trying to help in a way they couldn''t refuse, and they secretly appreciated her kindness.The waiter, after receiving the tip, warmed up and promised to provide hot water for free after they finished their tea.Leaving the Tea House, Su Liang asked Ning Jing, "Do you know where Qiuming Manor is?"Ning Jing pointed in one direction."Who lives there, some nobleman? The famous doctor from Bao''an Hall was invited by them," Su Liang said.Ning Jing shook his head. He didn''t know either.The two hired a carriage to go to the county town. As they passed Bao''an Hall again, Su Liang lifted the curtain and saw an old man with white hair and beard being ushered in. He was probably the renowned doctor from the capital city...."Father, what should we do?" Huang Wanwan hadn''t slept well, and her complexion was poor.Huang Jin wore a gloomy face. "I never expected Ning Jing to be protected by a master, even in this state!""Doesn''t this mean that getting the Plum Blossom Screen is impossible?" Huang Wanwan''s face turned pale. "The day after tomorrow is Lady Xing''s birthday, and I''ve done so much for it...""If we weren''t pressed for time, I could send someone to inform the Ning Family, and someone would take care of Ning Jing!" Huang Jin snorted coldly.His thinking aligned with that of Yang Feng.Just as the father and daughter were at a loss, the maid reported from outside the door, "A person named Su Liang sent an invitation for the young lady to meet at Mingxiang Building."Huang Jin and Huang Wanwan''s expressions changed at once!Isn''t Su Liang the very person who troubles them?They would never have imagined her daring to take the initiative to seek them out."It must be Ning Jing''s idea! He must know your identity now!" Huang Jin''s eyes flashed. "It seems he has a request, and his previous refusal was merely due to dissatisfaction with the price.""But if he raises the price to ten thousand taels of gold, who could afford it?" Huang Wanwan frowned.Huang Jin shook his head. "He won''t. You go and meet him to see what he really wants. As long as his request isn''t too outrageous, agree to it first and then talk about getting the Plum Blossom Screen."Huang Wanwan got up and walked to the door, then suddenly remembered something. "Father, while Ning Jing is away, why not send someone over to his home to search around?"Huang Jin nodded, "Good!"...Bei''an County is located in the north of Qian Country. The county town is much busier than Feiyan Town.Mingxiang Building is the best-located and highest-class tea house in the city.Su Liang chose an elegant room on the second floor overlooking the street, ordered the most expensive tea, and two signature desserts."As your family is the largest tea merchant in Qian Country, what do you think of this tea?" Su Liang suddenly remembered Ning Jing''s identity.However, she had always suspected that "Ning Jing" was a fake identity and that he was actually a descendant of the rebellious Gu Family.But since Ning Jing had never mentioned it and Su Liang hadn''t asked, it wasn''t important for the time being.Ning Jing took a sip and shook his head slightly. "It''s not as good as plain water."In her previous life, Su Liang had been born into a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Her elders were somewhat elegant and required the younger generation to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.Unfortunately, she didn''t find calligraphy interesting when she was young, or else she wouldn''t have to practice writing late into the night now.But she had earnestly studied chess and tea ceremony.The tea at Mingxiang Building just wasn''t up to par.However, the osmanthus cake tasted quite good.Seeing Su Liang finish a piece, Ning Jing also picked one up and tasted it.The sound of the door opening from the neighboring room could be heard."Young master, please wait here. The osmanthus cake is being made and will be ready soon!"Su Liang planned to buy another box of the fresh osmanthus cake to take away....Huang Wanwan entered the room with Liuliu, and hesitated for a moment.She didn''t really believe Liuliu when she mentioned numerous times that Ning Jing was "extremely good-looking."However, upon seeing him today, she realized that Liuliu hadn''t exaggerated at all.This man indeed had a face like jade and an extraordinary temperament.When Huang Wanwan regained her composure and looked at Su Liang, she felt even more astonished and bewildered.Her small face, without makeup, had a translucent, porcelain-white complexion, exquisite and delicate facial features. Her hairstyle was casual, and her clothes were ordinary, but her clear and composed temperament made the elaborately dressed Huang Wanwan look vulgar in comparison.Before going out, Huang Wanwan had learned from Huang Jin that Su Liang was the granddaughter of the famous doctor from the capital city, Su Yuanzhou. She had grown up in the capital city, and only came to Bei''an County last year.This was information Huang Jin had just discovered, as they hadn''t taken Su Liang seriously before."Miss Huang?" Su Liang looked at Huang Wanwan.In the next room, a tall and sturdy man heard the sound and frowned. He stood up and moved to the wall, listening attentively.Huang Wanwan took a seat and pulled out a handkerchief, asking, "Why has Lady Ning invited me here today?""If Miss Huang truly didn''t know why we were here, you wouldn''t have come." Su Liang said as she poured a cup of tea for Huang Wanwan.Huang Wanwan took it and signaled Liuliu to stand outside."I sincerely want to buy the things you two have in your possession. Name your price, and as long as it''s not too outrageous, we can negotiate." Huang Wanwan''s smile was somewhat unnatural.Ning Jing didn''t speak, not even giving her a glance.Although Su Liang appeared easy to talk to, it made Huang Wanwan feel that she had been seen through, producing an inexplicable disquiet within her."Miss Huang is straightforward," Su Liang nodded and smiled lightly. "Previously, I was held captive by my malicious relatives and forced to embroider day and night. So, these works should all be in your possession, right? Now that I''ve jumped out of the fire pit and gotten married, I''ve decided not to do any more embroidery. As such, I wanted to keep the Plum Blossom Screen as a memento. However, if Miss Huang sincerely wants to buy it, the fixed price is five thousand taels."Huang Wanwan was choked by her tea upon hearing this.And the man in the next room''s expression darkened drastically!"Miss Huang, drink slowly." Su Liang patted Huang Wanwan on the back. "You should know our original identity, right? If that double-sided embroidered Plum Blossom Screen were taken to the capital city, it could truly sell for five thousand taels. As a virtuous official, Official Huang can''t take out such a large sum of money for Miss Huang to buy a mere decorative item. We understand that. In fact, we came here today to take back the embroidered works you bought from my dark-hearted relatives at a low price."Huang Wanwan never expected that Su Liang not only wanted to retrieve the Plum Blossom Screen, but also intended to take back all of her previous works?!"What kind of rationale is there for taking back something that''s been paid for in full?" Huang Wanwan''s forehead was covered in cold sweat as she felt increasingly uneasy.She was even more worried that Su Liang and Ning Jing would escalate the matter, making it impossible to settle."I''m only living at Su Xu''s house, but my household registration isn''t there. I''m not part of their family, and our property shouldn''t be mixed. Although I embroidered the items, I didn''t voluntarily give them to Su Xu''s family for sale. They took them by force, and they didn''t even give me the money. According to Qian Country''s criminal law, Su Xu''s family has committed the crime of encroaching upon my property. And Miss Huang, by purchasing these stolen goods, you should return them to me, their original master. Miss Huang, you''re not at fault as you didn''t know. I''ll compensate you for the money you spent and then take it up with Su Xu''s family." Su Liang''s expression was calm.Huang Wanwan''s face became pale and contorted with anger. "According to your logic, you should go after your aunt to get your belongings back, not me!"Su Liang smiled lightly, "Miss Huang doesn''t understand the law, so you can go home and ask your father about it. If we really arrest Su Xu''s family, the result would be the same. The items belonged to me, but were stolen and ended up in your hands. It''s only fair that you return them to me. It''s a simple matter."As she spoke, Su Liang''s gaze fell on the handkerchief in Huang Wanwan''s hand. "The handkerchief you''re using is also one I embroidered. Of course, you can deny that you bought these items and claim that they were embroidered by either you or your maid. We can all go to the county government and ask your father to preside over the case. I have witnesses and evidence, but if Miss Huang or your maid can publicly embroider an identical item, I''ll drop the matter. What do you say?""You!" Huang Wanwan''s face froze. "Those items were all burned by accident and are gone now!"Su Liang sighed lightly, "I must get my belongings back. It seems that Miss Huang doesn''t truly want to negotiate. Let''s go to the county government and argue their case then!"Seeing Su Liang and Ning Jing about to leave, Huang Wanwan became completely disoriented, stood up, and knocked over the stool. "Stop! What do you want in order to leave me be?""We are short of money, but there''s no negotiating on this matter." Su Liang''s eyes were slightly cold.Did Huang Wanwan deserve sympathy? She took advantage of the original master''s embroidered works, pretending they were her own for personal gain, let alone setting Su Liang and Ning Jing up on a murder charge just for a Plum Blossom Screen, pushing them to the brink of death¡ªshe was downright malicious!Though they said they wanted to "hit her hard," Su Liang wasn''t here for the money.As an unmarried lady, Huang Wanwan''s most important asset was her reputation.Su Liang was here to sue her and just wanted to give her a heads up first...


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 Chapter 22: 022. Return to the Original Owner

    Chapter 22: 022. Return to the Original Owner[Return of the Stolen Item]In an instant, Huang Wanwan''s face, which had been carefully adorned with blush and powder, lost all color as if struck by frost or lightning.She rushed over to grab Su Liang''s arm, and her voice broke as she spoke, "Madam Ning, wait!"Su Liang pushed Huang Wanwan away, her expression indifferent. "What else does Miss Huang have to say?""Those...those embroidery pieces from before are all at my house! I just liked them too much and, in my confusion, didn''t want to return them to you! Though my father is the County Magistrate, I honestly didn''t know about such laws! I''ll go home now and get them for you! You don''t need to compensate me for the money I spent!" Huang Wanwan said with a fawning expression, her face regaining a bit of color. Her apricot eyes rounded as she stared at Su Liang, waiting for her to nod in agreement.Instead, Su Liang laughed. "There''s no need for Miss Huang to make another trip. We can go to the county government to retrieve them. Shall we go together?""No!" Huang Wanwan''s voice was shrill. "You...you wait here! I''ll treat you to tea and snacks!"Su Liang scoffed, "As the old saying goes, people who are overly attentive for no reason are either thieves or swindlers. Miss Huang''s sudden enthusiasm makes me feel uneasy. I''m afraid that once you leave, what we''ll be waiting for is not the return of our item, but being thrown into jail instead. Your father went through a lot of trouble to frame us for the death of Mr. Huang from Feiyan Town, as we experienced firsthand last night."Huang Wanwan''s face turned red as if someone had grabbed her throat, and she lunged at Su Liang again. "Nonsense! How dare you slander a court-appointed official!"Su Liang dodged Huang Wanwan and followed Ning Jing out the door. "Miss Huang, go home quickly and get those embroidery pieces. We''ll wait for you at the county government."Huang Wanwan rushed out, screaming at the top of her voice, "Someone, come here! Arrest them! They killed someone!"All eyes in the tea house turned towards them, and the door to the neighboring room opened.Ning Jing''s face was cold and indifferent, while Su Liang smiled calmly. "There were only the three of us in the room, and Miss Huang is fine. How could she say we killed someone? If there is another homicide case, that''s perfect, since we''re going to the county government anyway, waiting for Miss Huang to accuse us."Everyone knew that Huang Wanwan was the daughter of the County Magistrate, but she had no authority to make arrests or decide cases.Seeing that Su Liang and Ning Jing had an extraordinary bearing despite their ordinary attire, no one dared to rush forward and help Huang Wanwan.As Su Liang and Ning Jing came downstairs, the Osmanthus Cake was freshly baked. They bought a box of Osmanthus Cake before leaving the tea house."Miss..." Liuliu helped Huang Wanwan."Let''s go home! Hurry!" Huang Wanwan, known as the number one beauty in Bei''an County, always dressed meticulously when she appeared in public. Today, despite her clothes being in order, she screamed and shouted in public, her expression disheveled, looking like a shrewish fishwife.After Huang Wanwan left, the Mingxiang Building was bustling with people trying to guess what had happened and wondering about the identities of Su Liang and Ning Jing.A man who had heard everything in the next room left the Mingxiang Building with his Osmanthus Cake and rode his horse towards Feiyan Town....There were always some idle onlookers gathered outside the county government.When they saw Su Liang and Ning Jing enter the Yamen, a crowd of people swarmed around them.In Qian Country, when someone reported a case, it was the duty of the master to receive and record it and then decide whether to "file it" as a case.The half-asleep master saw that there was work to be done. He gestured for Su Liang and Ning Jing to stand at the entrance and not to walk further inside."Who are you, and who do you want to accuse?" the master asked loudly."My name is Su Liang, and this is...my husband. We live in Su Village in Feiyan Town. We accuse Miss Huang Wanwan, daughter of the County Magistrate, of buying stolen goods and demand the return of our property." Su Liang spoke loudly.The master was so startled that he almost fell off his chair.There was an uproar inside and outside the Yamen!"Stop talking nonsense!" The master''s face turned angry. "If you can''t produce evidence, it''s slander!"Su Liang took out the double-sided Plum Blossom Screen embroidery and explained the whole story.When she finished, the master was sweating profusely, regretting that he shouldn''t have given her a chance to speak in the first place. Now that the news had spread, there was no way to stop it!"Just now at the Mingxiang Building, the kind-hearted and reasonable Miss Huang promised to return the original item. We are waiting here to make the truth clear in front of everyone, so that my unscrupulous relatives don''t have a handle to blackmail Miss Huang in the future." Su Liang said loudly.The onlookers chattered amongst themselves."Why would Miss Huang buy someone else''s embroidery?""She didn''t know about it. What''s wrong with buying things?""Exactly! Now that she knows, Miss Huang even said she would return it!""Yes, we should all bear witness to this, so there are no misunderstandings in the future!"...The Huang residence at the back of the county government was in chaos.Huang Jin never expected that Su Liang and Ning Jing would come not to sell the Plum Blossom Screen but to retaliate!He never thought they would be so bold, and their methods so ruthless!"Father, think of something quickly..." Huang Wanwan cried, gasping for breath.A voice came from outside, "That person named Su Liang is waiting outside the Yamen, and the master has asked for a decision from the County Magistrate on how to handle her."Huang Furen clenched her teeth in anger, "Rebels! Send someone to say they saw them kill that Huang person from Feiyan Town. Arrest them first, and we''ll talk later!"Huang Jin''s face was ashen. "It''s too late! If we arrest them now, it will only make people suspect me of favoritism! I''m about to be transferred, so I can''t give others any grounds to criticize me!"Huang Furen crushed her handkerchief in frustration. "You are the most powerful person in Bei''an County. Who dares to stand in your way?"Huang Jin said angrily, "The Crown Prince of Bei Jingwang is in Feiyan Town! If word reaches him..."Madam Huang''s face stiffened, "This... he won''t get involved, will he?""He wouldn''t have, but this fool had to use other people''s embroidery to save face, and even gave it all to the Crown Prince!" Huang Jin glared at Huang Wanwan, wishing he could tear her apart.He completely forgot that not long ago, he had praised Huang Wanwan for her cleverness and hoped to climb higher through her marriage..."What are we waiting for? We must act quickly before the matter gets out of hand, arrest that troublemaker, and suppress the news!" Madam Huang''s expression was anxious.Huang Jin stood up abruptly and rushed out of the door....More and more people gathered outside the County Magistrate''s office, and the news of the County Magistrate''s daughter being sued spread like a storm.At the same time, Huang Wanwan''s accusations against Su Liang for murder at Mingxiang Building also spread.Connecting the two events only fueled people''s imagination...Huang Jin appeared in court, sat up straight, and heavily struck the gavel.Su Liang frowned, worried that they would have to kneel. She hadn''t considered this.If she was ultimately deemed guilty of "disrespecting court officials" because she refused to kneel, it would be a joke.Just as she was thinking this, a path opened up among the crowd outside the Yamen.Huang Jin''s face changed dramatically, and Su Liang turned her head to see a tall man pushing a wheelchair into the Yamen.On the wheelchair was a young and handsome weak-looking man, and the pearls on his jade crown sparkled dazzlingly in the sunlight.Huang Jin hurriedly greeted him, bowing with his hands together, "Master should have just sent someone to give instructions, why did he come personally?"Su Liang thought, this must be the distinguished guest who is staying at Qiuming Manor in Feiyan Town.Xing Yusheng''s gaze swept over Su Liang''s face, then looked at Huang Jin, and coldly said, "My grandmother heard that the embroidery gifted by your beloved is purchased and not personally stitched as she claims. She asked me to return it to the original owner."Everyone was shocked!If Huang Wanwan unknowingly bought stolen goods, it wouldn''t matter whether she used them herself or gave them away.However, if she claimed that the embroidery she purchased was indeed her own work and gave it to others, then the problem would be much more significant!Huang Jin''s face turned extremely ugly, "That wretched girl! How could she do such a disgraceful thing! I will personally bring her to apologize to the old lady!""I heard that your beloved made unfounded accusations in Mingxiang Building, claiming someone to be a murderer without any evidence, and that she was even more domineering than Master Huang." Xing Yusheng said coldly.Huang Jin was sweating profusely, "She... she''s been a bit crazy lately...""If she''s suffering from hysteria, then keep an eye on her and don''t let her scare others." As Xing Yusheng spoke, he handed the brocade box on his lap to Su Liang, "Return it to the original owner."Su Liang took it and opened it to see several neckerchiefs, sachets, fan bags, and handkerchiefs, all for men, and all finely made.Apparently, Huang Wanwan used the embroidery originally stitched by the Original Master to please this young master.The purpose was clear as day."Master Huang, Miss Huang''s handkerchief was also stitched by me, please have her return it." Su Liang looked at Huang Jin.Huang Jin immediately sent someone to find Huang Wanwan, making it clear that he hadn''t taught his daughter properly, but due to his busy schedule, he was completely unaware of her actions.Su Liang handed the embroidery and Plum Blossom Screen to Ning Jing, and returned the box to Xing Yusheng."Miss, please keep it." Xing Yusheng shook his head."This isn''t mine." Su Liang insisted on returning it. The box seemed costly.Xing Yusheng sighed softly and let his attendant take it.Soon after, Liuliu returned with a bundle containing several handkerchiefs and two exquisitely embroidered skirts."Please inform Miss Huang how much she has spent on these, and I will compensate her accordingly." Su Liang said."No need!" Huang Jin quickly waved his hand."Thank you, Master Huang." Su Liang nodded. She never really intended to pay.Xing Yusheng spoke again, "I heard that these two are suspects in a murder case? Master Huang, do you have any evidence?"Huang Jin''s expression tightened, "Someone saw them having a public conflict with the young master from Feiyan Town, and he went missing the next day.""So, it''s still unclear whether this young master Huang is dead or alive? Were these two the only ones he had offended in his life?" Xing Yusheng asked rhetorically.Huang Jin shook his head, "I am still investigating.""Once you find out, let me know." Xing Yusheng said."Yes." Huang Jin nodded.Xing Yusheng turned his wheelchair around and looked at Su Liang again, "I wonder if the two of you are free today? My grandmother has invited you."Just as Su Liang was about to decline, Ning Jing whispered in her ear, "His complexion is dark...""In that case, we must do as he insists." Su Liang nodded.


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 Chapter 23: 023. I collect money

    Chapter 23: 023. I collect money[I''ll take the money]Watching Su Liang and Ning Jing board Xing Yusheng''s carriage, Huang Jin''s expression darkened, "Wanwan has developed hysteria, invite a doctor to our house to treat her!"Onlookers hadn''t dispersed yet, and with those words, Huang Wanwan''s reputation was thoroughly ruined.But she had deceived Crown Prince Bei Jingwang and the old lady first, and then publically slandered others later. If she wasn''t "crazy," the consequences would be unbearable for Huang Jin....The carriage moved, Xing Yusheng covered his mouth with a handkerchief, coughing repeatedly.Bright red blood spread on the snow-white handkerchief, and he leaned against the carriage wall, barely managing to sit up."Master, are you alright?" asked a follower outside."I''m fine." Xing Yusheng wiped the blood from his lips, looking at Su Liang and Ning Jing who were sitting across from him. "You two aren''t locals, are you?"Su Liang spoke but didn''t answer his question, "Thank you for today''s events."At the tea house, when they were about to leave, Su Liang noticed the man coming out from the neighboring room, who was one of Xing Yusheng''s followers.Even if Xing Yusheng hadn''t appeared, Su Liang would have dealt with Huang''s father and daughter. But because he stepped in, the matter was resolved more quickly and they didn''t have to worry about Huang Jin harming them anymore.Xing Yusheng shook his head slightly, "No need to thank me. This matter is related to me."After speaking, his spirit seemed to drain away, and he closed his eyes to rest.Those that Ning Jing saw with "darkened glabella" were either dying or murderous.Xing Yusheng was obviously not going to live much longer.As to whether she should treat him, Su Liang planned to decide after arriving at Qiuming Manor....When the carriage returned to Feiyan Town, Su Liang lifted the carriage curtain, and not far away was Bao''an Hall. Approaching noon, a long queue still stretched outside."Sister! Sister!"Zhuzi, led by Liu, walked out of the Medical Hall. Seeing Su Liang in the carriage, his eyes lit up, and he let go of Liu''s hand to run toward her.Xing Yusheng opened his eyes, and with the swaying of the carriage curtain, Su Liang''s figure disappeared.Meanwhile, Ning Jing was holding a box of desserts, eating osmanthus cake elegantly..."Stop the carriage," Xing Yusheng commanded.As the carriage halted, he immediately spotted Su Liang in the crowd, holding a child in her arms, and smiling tenderly as she spoke softly.The child looked up at her, full of reliance...."This is the prescription given by famous doctor Feng from the capital city for Zhuzi," Bai Peng held a piece of paper with a delighted expression."Can I have a look?" Su Liang asked.Bai Peng hurriedly handed it over, "I almost forgot, your grandfather was also a famous doctor in the capital city; you can read and understand medicine!"After examining the prescription, Su Liang felt that the medication would be too strong for Zhuzi, and a few of the ingredients were expensive. Consuming them long-term would be unaffordable for the Bai Family.Thus, Su Liang''s opinion of Doctor Feng''s medical skills and ethics was somewhat diminished."If Uncle Bai and Aunt trust me, I will prepare the medicine for Zhuzi to take back." After reading the prescription, Su Liang felt more confident about treating Zhuzi.Bai Peng misunderstood and quickly waved his hand, "Of course, we trust you, but we can''t let you pay for it!"Su Liang smiled, "I''m not paying, just helping to prepare the medication, after all, I know a little about it. You can pay me back later.""That''s great!" Liu looked grateful, "We really don''t know anything at all, and we wouldn''t be able to tell if the medicine was incorrect!"Su Liang put away the prescription, "You can go ahead, Ning Jing and I have other matters to attend to."...The carriage stopped, Su Liang got out, and before her eyes were verdant ancient cypress trees.The servants in Qiuming Manor were well-trained, walking both lightly and quickly.When they arrived at Chuihua Gate, a tall and thin nanny greeted them with a curtsy and led Su Liang and Ning Jing to meet the old lady. Meanwhile, Xing Yusheng was pushed by his follower in another direction."Master, that girl looks like a martial artist," a follower mentioned Su Liang jumping off the moving carriage and landing steadily.Xing Yusheng frowned, "Has Qi Jun come back with their information?"A burly guard quickly approached, "Master, we''ve found out!"...After passing several gates, they entered a quiet courtyard.In the courtyard was an ancient ginkgo tree, its golden leaves quite a sight.As the wind blew, yellow leaves drifted down like dancing golden butterflies."Old Madam, the guests have arrived." A maidservant standing at the door lifted the curtain.Upon entering,sSu Liang saw an amiable elderly lady in elegant attire being supported as she came forward, "I took the liberty of inviting you two here because I wanted to meet the truly skillful people.""Old Madam is too kind," Su Liang felt it couldn''t be that simple.A maidservant brought warm water for Su Liang and Ning Jing to wash their hands, and then the meal was served.The meal was both rich and exquisite; Old Madam Xing specially introduced two nourishing medicinal dishes.Now Su Liang understood; the "elder of the owner''s friend" mentioned by the Feiyan restaurant''s manager referred to the Old Madam in front of her.After lunch, they had tea and snacks.While the two drank tea, Old Madam Xing, who excused herself to change clothes, saw Xing Yusheng."That girl is the granddaughter of Su Yuanzhou?" Old Madam Xing was startled."Grandmother, do you know Su Yuanzhou?" Xing Yusheng inquired.Old Madam Xing shook her head, "I''ve only heard about him. He was very skilled in medicine, but he followed the wrong master and implicated his family. I didn''t expect him to have a granddaughter still in this world.""That young man is the seventh legitimate son of Ning Family, a tea merchant from Xunyang. He made a mistake last year and was expelled from home, yet he managed to hide here," Xing Yusheng sighed lightly.Old Madam Xing grasped Xing Yusheng''s hand, "Huang Wanwan..."Xing Yusheng''s expression darkened slightly, "Grandmother, you happened to see Huang Wanwan''s embroidered handkerchief and got reminded of your late niece. Huang Wanwan deceived you with her sweet words, and I only accepted her gift to make you happy, not because I truly liked her."Old Madam Xing''s eyes reddened, "Yuyu, you love this quiet place and don''t want to go home. I just couldn''t bear to see you so lonely and wanted to find you a companion... Today I met Su Miss. Both her appearance and temperament are extraordinary, and she''s quite likable. Unfortunately, we just missed our chance."Xing Yusheng shook his head, his eyes dim, "Grandmother, I don''t have much time left to live, why harm others?"...Seeing Madam Xing and Xing Yusheng together, Su Liang guessed that the grandmother and grandson had already discovered their identities.Madam Xing requested to see the Plum Blossom Screen.As soon as Su Liang presented it, Madam Xing held it in her arms while weeping profusely.Xing Yusheng explained that Madam Xing once had a dearly loved granddaughter, who was also his fianc¨¦e, but she had passed away due to illness. That cousin of his was an expert in embroidery, and her works were strikingly similar to Su Liang''s.That was also the direct reason why Huang Wanwan could get close to Madam Xing.Before the young lady passed away, she mentioned that she wanted to embroider a Plum Blossom Screen as a birthday gift for Madam Xing.Regrettably, the plum blossoms did not come into full bloom, and the elder sent off the younger instead."I don''t know if you''d be willing to part with this item? If five thousand taels are not enough, I can add more." Xing Yusheng proposed to buy the Plum Blossom Screen.After hesitating for a moment, Su Liang still refused, "The deceased has passed away. Having that object in front of Madam Xing would only add to her grief."Xing Yusheng''s expression paused for a moment, and he looked deeply at Su Liang, "I was short-sighted."A nanny brought over a steaming bowl of Decoction Medicine, "Young Master, it''s time to take your medicine.""Leave it for now." Xing Yusheng furrowed his brow.The nanny urged, "It will not be good if the medicine gets cold."Su Liang did not forget the purpose of her visit, "I''ve learned some medical skills from my grandfather. May I take a look at Crown Prince Xing''s medicine?"It was as if the nanny hadn''t heard, urging, "Young Master, quickly drink the medicine while it''s still hot so that Madam Xing doesn''t have to worry."Xing Yusheng''s expression was displeased, "Bring it to Ning Madame."The nanny came over with a stern face, carrying the medicine.Su Liang sniffed it and then requested to see the prescription."Go fetch it." Xing Yusheng ordered."I''ll take the pulse for the Crown Prince Xing." Su Liang thought that since she had come already, and as Ning Jing had noticed the "dark mark on the forehead," it seemed he was a person who should be saved.After a brief interaction, neither the grandmother nor the grandson was detestable, so she went straight to the point.Xing Yusheng was not surprised outwardly, but he was confused inwardly. Su Liang had been cold towards him all the way but suddenly started caring about his condition out of nowhere.After checking the pulse, Su Liang got the prescription that the famous doctor from the capital city, Old Master Feng, had given Xing Yusheng. She also got the prescriptions he had been using for a long time before.Xing Yusheng started coughing again, and the nanny hurriedly brought the medicine to let him drink.Just as the medicine was about to enter his mouth, Su Liang''s eyes became sharp, "Wait!"...The autumn wind was desolate, and the ginkgo leaves in the courtyard fell one after another.Madam Xing wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.Xing Yusheng instructed his confidant to immediately call Old Master Feng back and gather all the servants in the villa for supervision.He also brought all the unused medicinal materials to Su Liang."The prescription is not wrong. But this bowl of medicine contains something that wasn''t in the prescription." Su Liang smelled it first, then tasted a little, still unsure.Madam Xing''s expression became incredibly solemn, "Is it poisoned?""It''s not poison, but for Crown Prince Xing''s body, it would have a similar effect to arsenic in the long run." Su Liang sighed slightly.She picked out a few key ingredients, all very expensive and of high quality, but they had been tampered with.Xing Yusheng was already ill, and if he drank this medicine any further, he would not live for more than a few days.The medicine itself was not poisonous.If Xing Yusheng died, it would only be considered a natural death. By then, if the problematic medicinal materials were destroyed, no traces would be left.This kind of method required the guidance of an experienced expert.That famous doctor surnamed Feng, who had come specifically for Xing Yusheng, should not only prescribe medicine but also care about the medicinal materials used.Su Liang suspected that he might also be involved.Madam Xing quivered with anger, "No wonder...Yu''er has been getting worse despite using the best medicine!"Xing Yusheng''s face was ashen, and he most likely already had a suspect in mind."Good girl, you must have inherited your ancestor''s true teachings. Is there still hope for my Yu''er?" Madam Xing clutched Su Liang''s hand tightly, tears shimmering in her eyes, full of pleading."I can prescribe a treatment for the Crown Prince Xing. If supplemented with acupuncture, it might save his life." Su Liang said.Xing Yusheng had someone bring the four treasures of the study.The silent Ning Jing suddenly spoke, "I''ll write down what you say.""Alright." Su Liang didn''t think much of it, and she was also afraid she might write some words incorrectly.After the prescription was written, it was handed over to Xing Yusheng.Qi Jun, the attendant, had fetched Old Master Feng from Bao''an Hall and brought him back along with the servants. He also provided Su Liang with the silver needles used by him.After Su Liang administered the acupuncture treatment to Xing Yusheng, he felt some relief in his chest."Please stay at the villa and feel free to ask for anything you need." Madam Xing pleaded for Su Liang to stay.Su Liang politely declined, "There are still matters at home, and I will come back tomorrow. I suppose you two also need to deal with family affairs."Madam Xing gave a bitter smile, "It''s a pity that I''ve lived to such an age yet failed to see people clearly. If you hadn''t come, my Yu''er might have been killed by those with evil intentions!"...Qi Jun drove Su Liang and Ning Jing back home, while Su Liang first prepared several treatments for Zhuzi.At the door of their home, Qi Jun left with the carriage, indicating that he would come to pick Su Liang up and take her to Qiuming Manor the following day.Ning Jing unlocked the door. As they entered, Su Liang asked him, "Do you know about the affairs of Bei Jingwang Mansion?""The current Princess Bei Jingwang is not Xing Yusheng''s biological mother." Ning Jing revealed everything with a single statement.Su Liang sighed, "So-called nobles are terrible."Ning Jing''s expression was flat, "Remember to maintain a distance from Xing Yusheng."Su Liang snorted lightly, "It was you who asked me to save him."Ning Jing nodded, "I will charge him for your medical treatment."


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 Chapter 24: 024. Consultation Fee

    Chapter 24: 024. Consultation Fee[Consultation Fee]Su Liang asked Ning Jing to write a new prescription for her, and she took the medicine she had prepared for Zhuzi to the Bai Family."This medicine must not be cheap, right?" Madam Bai looked worried.Su Liang told them the actual price, and the Bai Family members sighed with relief."Doctor Feng''s prescription was damaged, but I memorized it. I asked Ning Jing to rewrite it. Keep it safe, and when you go to the town to get the medicine, you can be sure it''s right if the price matches." Su Liang handed over the prescription she had prepared for Zhuzi to Bai Peng.Whether Dr. Feng intended to harm Xing Yusheng was still uncertain.If Su Liang directly said she didn''t approve of Dr. Feng''s prescription and insisted that Zhuzi take her medicine, the Bai Family might not agree.After all, Dr. Feng was a famous doctor in the capital city, while Su Liang''s medical skills were unknown to others.As long as Zhuzi''s health improved, there was no need for further explanation.After explaining to Mrs. Liu how to decoct the medicine, Su Liang beckoned Bai Xiaohu to come over, "I have a task for you."Bai Xiaohu''s eyes lit up, "Are we going hunting for wild boar tomorrow?"Su Liang shook her head, "I won''t be free tomorrow, but I''ll call you when I am. Right now, there''s something more important."Bai Xiaohu puffed out his chest, "No matter what Sister Su Liang asks me to do, I can handle it!"Su Liang chuckled, "You''re going to help Zhuzi exercise."Bai Xiaohu froze, "But my brother can''t be exposed to the cold air!"Seeing the confused looks on the Bai Family members'' faces, Su Liang explained that Zhuzi''s body was weak and needed gradual exercise. It wasn''t good for him to always be cooped up at home.Old Mr. Bai tapped his dry tobacco pipe, "That makes sense! If we keep raising him like this, he''ll become like a little girl and more susceptible to illness. As the old saying goes, children grow tougher with each fall!"Bai He also agreed with Su Liang''s opinion."So, what am I supposed to do?" Bai Xiaohu asked Su Liang.Su Liang took Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi outside, pointed to a flat open space, and told him to take Zhuzi jogging every day.On the first day, they would run one lap; on the second day, they would run a little more.Gradually increase the intensity.If Zhuzi couldn''t keep up, he could walk instead."Sister, I can do it!" Zhuzi said with a serious expression.Su Liang cautioned him, "Don''t force yourself. If you''re tired, rest.""I''ll watch my little brother and make sure he doesn''t slack off or get too tired!" Bai Xiaohu patted his chest, promising to complete the task.Madam Bai gave the medicine money to Su Liang, who accepted it....When Su Liang returned home, she heard a noise in the backyard and went to see Ning Jing washing clothes by the well."Did you collect the medicine fee?" Ning Jing asked, looking up.Su Liang nodded, "Yes."Helping the needy but not the poor is important. It''s good to help others, but one must know their limits.Ning Jing continued washing the clothes, and Su Liang went back to her room to practice her calligraphy.Dinner was red date millet porridge, minced meat with eggplant, and wild vegetable pancakes."So, you plan to live here for the long term, occasionally helping others with their medical needs?" Su Liang asked Ning Jing.Ning Jing nodded but then said, "I want to take the Imperial Examination."Su Liang was taken aback, "A sudden decision?""You could say that." Ning Jing replied."When are you taking the exam?" Su Liang felt it strange. This man seemed as carefree as Xianxian, so why did he suddenly want to take the Imperial Examination?"In half a month." Ning Jing replied.Su Liang was puzzled, "Are you going back to Xunyang City? Or can you take the Imperial Examination anywhere in Qian Country?"To her knowledge, from ancient Imperial Examinations to modern college entrance exams, all were related to household registration. Otherwise, it would create chaos.Ning Jing had mentioned before that Su Liang''s household registration was not in Su Family Village but still in the capital city.This was confirmed by Uncle Liang and Su Daqiang''s family before the marriage.As a result, when Su Xu''s family took Su Liang''s property, it was an encroachment.When Ning Jing told Su Liang about this, he also mentioned that household registration management in Qian Country was very strict and did not allow random migration.At the time, Su Liang casually asked and learned that Ning Jing''s household registration was not in Bei''an County either."You can''t take the exam elsewhere. However, if the Crown Prince Bei Jingwang recommends you, there will be no restrictions on household registration." Ning Jing said.Su Liang raised her eyebrows, "Is this your plan for the ''consultation fee'' you will collect from Xing Yusheng?"After Ning Jing briefly explained, Su Liang understood.The Imperial Examination in Qian Country was based on choosing candidates from different provinces, with the court strictly limiting the number of admissions from each region.Examining students from other regions took up quota space, which was unfair to local students and prohibited by law.Faking household registration for the Imperial Examination was considered cheating. If discovered, the penalty would be decapitation.However, there were exceptions.The court always encouraged nobles to participate in the Imperial Examination to prove their talent, without being restricted by household registration.However, due to their inherent privileges and even hereditary positions, they didn''t need to seek an official post through this route.As a result, as long as they participated, they would increase the number of extra admissions for local candidates without taking up channels intended for commoners to succeed.If they passed, their rankings were separate and did not affect the placement of other candidates.However, examinations were fair despite the differences in background. The Qian Country''s Imperial Examination system was very strict, making cheating difficult.Some noble candidates failed at the Court Examination and couldn''t even become scholars.Due to the loss of face, fewer and fewer noble families started participating in the exam, and "eligibility transfer" occurred.That is, noble sons and daughters would recommend friends or subordinates to use their special qualifications to take the Imperial Examination, which the court had no objections to.Once they passed, the recommender would be known as someone with a keen eye for talent.Of course, Crown Prince Bei Jingwang had this privilege.He was almost dead, and the possibility of him participating in the imperial examination in person was almost non-existent.As long as Xing Yusheng recommended him, Ning Jing could take the exam anywhere."Do you want to be an official?" Su Liang was still puzzled.Ning Jing thought for a moment and replied, "Let''s see how it goes."Su Liang: ...Deciding to participate in the imperial examination on a whim, and whether or not he would be an official if he got in, would be up to him at the time?This person was very indifferent, seeming to not want to do anything, but also seemingly able to do anything..."You''ve been copying Buddhist scriptures, are you confident?" Su Liang asked.Ning Jing shook his head slightly.Su Liang instantly understood: also up to fate..."Alright, the person you wanted to save was originally someone you saw that wouldn''t live much longer. This request is not excessive," Su Liang said.After finishing the main topic, Ning Jing cleaned up the dishes, and Su Liang was about to return to her room when she suddenly remembered another matter, "Our household registrations are not here, so is our marriage legally protected?"Ning Jing''s expression was indifferent, "Qian Country values filial piety, and unauthorized marriages without parents'' orders and registration are not recognized if the parents do not approve."Su Liang coughed lightly, "What do we count as then? Elopement?"Ning Jing spoke two words, "Secret Marriage."Su Liang knew he was speaking seriously, but still felt a hint of inexplicable embarrassment...There was no conversation that night.On the next day, Qi Jun came to pick them up, and Su Liang and Ning Jing went to Qiuming Manor again.The beautiful scenery in the manor remained the same.But the tranquility and peace of yesterday had turned into an invisible tension today.There were fewer servants, their heads hung even lower, and their steps became lighter.When they saw the old lady Xing, she couldn''t hide her exhaustion, and the tall and thin nanny beside her had disappeared."Doctor Feng returned to the capital overnight," the old lady Xing said.Su Liang did not inquire about the twists and turns behind this.Xing Yusheng was carefully dressed today, sitting in a wheelchair pushed over. He was dressed in jade and luxurious clothes, but his complexion was still very poor.Su Liang gave him acupuncture first.The medicine was prepared and sent over by the maid, and the old lady Xing signaled for Su Liang to check it first. She checked it, and it was alright, so she gave it to Xing Yusheng to drink.During the process of picking up the people, Qi Jun had conveyed the old lady Xing''s invitation to them, wishing for them to stay in Qiuming Manor.However, Su Liang declined the invitation. Both she and Ning Jing harbored secrets, and it was inconvenient for them to get too close to outsiders.While having tea, the old lady Xing asked with a smile, "When does Master Ning plan to take Miss Su back to Xunyang City to meet her elders?"Su Liang understood it in her heart.Having discussed the matter last night, only with the approval of Ning Jing''s parents could Su Liang indeed become his legitimate wife.The old lady Xing knew that Ning Jing was banished from his family, yet she still asked this question, showing her concern for Su Liang.In the eyes of outsiders, as the only legitimate son of the Ning family, Ning Jing would likely be welcomed back by the family as long as he wanted to return."In a few days," Ning Jing said.The old lady Xing held Su Liang''s hand and sighed repeatedly, "You are also pitiful. At the end of the year, you''ve barely come of age, and you''ve been married off by those conscienceless relatives. You two... haven''t consummated the marriage yet, have you?"Su Liang saw the old lady Xing staring at a certain place on her face, could she tell? Or was it because she was too young and felt that Ning Jing wasn''t so cruel?Xing Yusheng was stunned for a moment, looking at Su Liang with a slightly condensed gaze.Su Liang told the truth, "No."Old Lady Xing''s eyes brightened a bit and looked at Ning Jing, "May I ask why Master Ning wanted to get married here?"Ning Jing looked at Xing Yusheng and said, "She wanted to marry me."The old lady Xing frowned, and Xing Yusheng closed his eyes.Ning Jing''s statement was true, and Su Liang did not deny it. The relationship between them was complicated, and the details could not be shared with outsiders, nor was there any need to explain to outsiders.She could feel that the old lady Xing seemed to have some intention of "breaking up" her and Ning Jing, although it was not malicious.In some ways, Ning Jing was indeed not a good match.As expected, the old lady Xing soon proposed to recognize Su Liang as her goddaughter, and asked whether Su Liang would like to go and live with her at Bei Jingwang Mansion.If the original master was sitting beside the old lady Xing at this moment, it would be a great opportunity to fall from the sky, a perfect chance to leave her miseries behind and embrace a bright future.But today''s Su Liang was only here to treat people and didn''t need to be rescued by anyone."I appreciate the kindness of the old lady, but I am doing well now and I don''t want to leave temporarily," Su Liang tactfully declined, "I will do my best to treat the crown prince, and also ask the crown prince for help in another matter."Xing Yusheng immediately asked, "What is it?"Su Liang explained Ning Jing''s desire to participate in the imperial examination in Bei''an County."I didn''t expect Master Ning to have such ambition. I will arrange this matter," Xing Yusheng said with a frown, looking at Ning Jing, "But I have a question I want to ask Master Ning to clarify."Ning Jing nodded, and heard Xing Yusheng ask, "If you hadn''t met me, would you not have taken the exam?"At this point, it was too late to rush back to Xunyang City to take the exam."That''s right," Ning Jing replied."Hiding in a small village, will your brothers let you go? If you encounter troubles in the future, how will you protect her?" Xing Yusheng didn''t know why he was upset. It turned out that Su Liang suddenly cared about his illness yesterday because of Ning Jing...Ning Jing''s expression was calm, "You don''t need to worry about it, Crown Prince."The old lady Xing sighed deeply, "Miss Liang, think it over carefully, and don''t rush to answer. We will arrange for Master Ning''s examination as soon as possible."Su Liang smiled, "Then consider this as the medical fee for treating the crown prince."This was the first time Xing Yusheng saw someone who actively wanted to get close, but always politely kept their distance.Su Liang was just short of saying directly: I am treating the illness, and you are helping me as a reward. There''s no debt between us. It''s just a transaction and there''s no need to talk about feelings.After Su Liang and Ning Jing left, the old lady Xing looked regretful, "How nice it would have been if I hadn''t recognized the wrong owner of the handkerchief in the beginning!"Xing Yusheng sighed softly, "She must really like Ning Jing." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 25: 025. Little Women and Crisp Eggplant

    Chapter 25: 025. Little Women and Crisp Eggplant[The little woman and crisp eggplant]The carriage entered the village, seeing that Su Daqiang''s house door was open, Su Liang and Ning Jing got off the carriage."I''ll leave you here, you can go back." Su Liang said.Qi Jun drove the carriage away, and Ning Jing and Su Liang entered, only to see Bai He standing by the wall with a broom in his hand and an unhappy look on his face.From next door came sounds of cursing and beating, Listening carefully, the nasty and filthy words were unbearable to the ear.Bai He came back to his senses, walked quickly over, "My elder brother has transported the last carriage of furniture to sell in town. I''ve come over to clean up this side."Last night, the wind blew and many leaves from the pear tree fell. They had all been swept into one pile.The yard was very clean, and the room with the door open was empty."Thank you for your hard work." Su Liang nodded, "We were passing by and saw the door open. We came over to pick some vegetables to take back."Bai He forced a smile, "There are quite a few beans and eggplants in the backyard that can be picked up."At this moment, a scream came from next door, followed by the voice of an old woman gritting her teeth, "You shameless slut, how dare you cry? You seduce men every day, you''re shameless!""Annoying!" The impatient voice of a young man.The voice of the old woman just now suddenly softened, "Xingzhe, go study now. Tell your mother what you want to eat, I''ll cook it for you."...When it finally quieted down next door, Su Liang recalled that she had met an old woman from that family before, probably the one who had been scolding just now.Bai He''s hand holding the broom was throbbing with blue veins as he went to move the stone slab with a straight face.In the backyard, Su Liang picked beans while Ning Jing carefully selected ripe eggplants.Hearing that there was a sound at the front, Su Liang came over with a handful of beans. Bai He stood just at the doorway.Outside the door was the old woman from next door, and behind her was a thin, haggard young woman.Seeing Su Liang, the dull face of the old woman stiffened for a moment, then she put on a smile, "You are here, that''s good! This is a family matter, no need to involve outsiders! Just tell me, it''s fine."As she spoke, the old woman tried to push Bai He away and walk in, acting as if she and Su Liang were family members.Bai He didn''t say a word, and blocked her way."What do you need?" Su Liang asked."Isn''t your brother going to take the examination in the county next month? Recently, he has been studying day and night. I came to pick some vegetables, cook meat for him, and nourish his body!" The old woman spoke lively about her son.Su Liang''s expression was faint, "This is not your home.""When your Elder Uncle was alive, he wasn''t so stingy! I even gave some vegetable seeds. What''s wrong with picking a few vegetables?" The old woman pouted, "It should be said that you''re already married, this house and land, no matter how they are, shouldn''t be assigned to let you occupy it!""The title deeds were given to me by Su Daqiang''s creditor, Hu Er from the town. Lei Zheng is clear about the situation. If you have any objections, you can go to him." Su Liang said.The old woman glanced at Su Liang, "Don''t scare me with those trivial matters! I just ask you, can I pick these vegetables?""No," Su Liang refused.The old woman spat on the ground, "As if anyone cares! Wait until my son Xingzhe becomes a scholar next month, don''t come to flatter me then!"With her words, she turned around and angrily twisted the little woman, who was bowing her head, muttering curses, "Why are you still here? Trying to seduce that Bai guy? Misfortune bringer! Unlucky ghost!"Bai He stared at the slender back of the little woman, took two steps forward but then withdrew abruptly, slamming the door shut!Su Liang asked him about it. Bai He said that the neighbor''s surname was also Su, and he was a relative of Su Daqiang.Just now, that old woman was Niu, by relationship she was Su Daqiang''s niece by marriage.Niu had three sons; the eldest son, Su Xingyun, died of a sudden illness last year, leaving behind a young widow, the little Liu who had just been beaten and scolded by Niu. She was married from the same village as Bai He''s sister-in-law Liu.Niu''s youngest son, Su Xingzhe, was currently the only scholar in the village. He would be participating in the Court Examination next month. Once he succeeds, he would become a scholar.Even before Niu became a scholar''s mother, she acted very arrogantly, not putting anyone in her sights."Does Liu Huilan have children?" Su Liang asked.Bai He shook his head, "No children.""Then why didn''t she go back to her parents'' house?" When Su Liang saw Liu Huilan earlier, she couldn''t help but think of the original master who had been abused by Su Daqiang''s family. Living at others'' mercy, being humiliated and beaten, even working like an ox only brought more suffering.Bai He sighed deeply, "Her parents'' house had originally planned to take her back and then find another marriage for her, but that old devout woman wouldn''t let her go, saying that Liu Huilan was born a Su family''s person, and would die as Su family''s ghost. Liu''s family thought that if Su Xingzhe became an official after getting the scholar title, they could benefit from it, so they simply stopped caring about Liu Huilan''s life.""Treating the daughter-in-law as a maid, not needing much to eat, serving the whole family, and being able to curse and beat her casually, how could they let her go?" Su Liang thought of the Original Master again.If Su Daqiang hadn''t owed a high-interest loan, and if Ning Jing, the "fat sheep ready for slaughter", had not appeared, Su Daqiang''s family would not have married the Original Master away so early. Instead, they would have kept her around to continue making embroidery and earn money, while having a free slave to serve the whole family.Seeing Bai He''s expression, Su Liang had a hunch that he had unusual feelings for that little Liu.But people''s words are terrifying. Even if he had the heart, he could only watch from afar and do nothing.Ning Jing carried a purple round eggplant and came over. Bai He picked up the broom again, "You guys go back first, I''ll sort out the backyard."...While crossing the bridge, Ning Jing suddenly said to Su Liang, "That person named Liu Huilan may be about to die."Su Liang was startled, "Did you see it again?" The black fog...Ning Jing nodded, he had watched from behind Su Liang just now."How can we save her? We can''t just go to her house and watch." Su Liang found it a bit difficult.But for those who were seen by Ning Jing as having "black foreheads", they would either die or kill within three days.Liu Huilan doesn''t seem like someone capable of murder, it''s much more likely that she would be killed by someone.Other than keeping an eye on her, there isn''t much else to do....After dinner, Bai Peng came by and handed the money from selling the furniture and items to Su Liang.A total of seven taels and five qian. As agreed, Bai Peng received one and a half taels of silver as a labor fee.Su Liang got the key back, saw the dark night outside, and thought of Liu Huilan. She asked Ning Jing if they should go and check on her.Ning Jing put down the pen in his hand, "You are very good at working for me."Su Liang snorted lightly, "When we go back this time, remember to settle the payment."The two went to Su Daqiang''s house first, locked the door from the inside, and went to the backyard.A wall apart, it''s Su Xingzhe''s backyard.Su Liang gestured to Ning Jing, after you.Ning Jing ran a few steps, leaped up gracefully, and crossed the wall.Su Liang''s eyes brightened, this must be the legendary light skill! She wanted to learn it!Although she didn''t know this skill yet, a low wall like this was not difficult. She took a running start, jumped, and climbed over it in one breath.There were pigs and chickens in this backyard, and it stank."Brother-in-law, while the water''s hot, wash your feet."Hearing the young woman''s voice, Su Liang and Ning Jing silently approached the back window of a room."Leave it, massage my shoulders for me." This must be the scholarly Su Xingzhe.Taking advantage of his widowed sister-in-law for a shoulder massage, shameless."Brother-in-law, it''s late, I should go back first..."The sound of a basin being knocked over."Huilan, I know you''re suffering. After I pass the exam and become an official, I will take you in as my concubine after I marry!""Brother-in-law, what are you doing? No...let go of me!""Quit being shameless when given a little face!"...The woman cried for help in despair, but all the people under the same roof seemed deaf and mute.Obviously, they all tacitly approved of Su Xingzhe''s shameless behavior, completely disregarding Liu Huilan as a person.Just as Su Liang was about to intervene, Ning Jing slapped out at him!With a sudden loud noise, a big hole appeared in the intact wall.Su Xingzhe yelped in panic, "Ghost...ghost!"Liu Huilan seized the opportunity to break free and ran out crying.After a commotion with chickens flying and dogs jumping, the family believed that Su Xingyun was unhappy with Su Xingzhe''s attempt to possess Liu Huilan and had shown his spirit to stop him.Niu Family clasped her hands together, chanting some words, "Da Yun, don''t blame your brother, it''s all this little slut''s fault. She shamelessly seduced your brother. If you''re angry, blame her!"She then gritted her teeth, "If Zhe gets frightened into an accident, I''ll skin that bitch alive!"Through the hole Ning Jing made, Su Liang heard and saw everything clearly.Su Xingzhe raised his neck and said, "It''s her deliberately seducing me!"Su Liang just wanted to vomit...Ning Jing tugged on Su Liang''s sleeve and pointed at Liu Huilan''s room.Su Liang quietly approached, heard the sound of a chair falling, her expression changed, and she broke down the door and entered.The room was pitch black, with a person hanging from the beam.Su Liang took out the kitchen knife she carried with her and cut the rope.Liu Huilan coughed and curled up on the ground, her eyes filled with despairing deathly stillness."You''ll be able to leave here soon, just wait a little longer." Su Liang deliberately pinched her throat, whispered into Liu Huilan''s ear, and quickly left.Liu Huilan''s consciousness was hazy, she didn''t see Su Liang clearly, and thought it was a god''s act of mercy, that Yama King didn''t take her...With a loud rumble, one after another.The walls of Su Xingzhe''s house collapsed.The pig ran away.The chickens flew away.The kitchen suddenly caught fire....Su Liang returned to the neighboring backyard and saw a certain celestial being who had just finished wreaking havoc on Niu Family''s house, holding a round eggplant, "Can we make Crisp Eggplant again tomorrow?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 26: 026. Fight a battle

    Chapter 26: 026. Fight a battle[Starting a Fight]The early morning sun had just risen.Su Liang had just opened the door when old lady Bai came over with her basket.Recently, the Bai family had gotten some accidental income and there was hope that Zhuzi''s condition might improve, which had eased old lady Bai''s furrowed brows somewhat. "Li, I just picked some wild vegetables. I know you like them, want some?"Su Liang invited Old Lady Bai in and took a handful of fresh wild vegetables to the kitchen.Seeing the kitchen all tidy and in order, old lady Bai praised Su Liang as a domesticated woman.But really, Su Liang just cooked. Washing dishes, tidying, and cleaning were all Ning Jing''s jobs.As Old lady Bai was chatting, she brought up Su Xingzhe''s family, "You wouldn''t know since you didn''t leave the house, but something big happened to old lady Niu''s family last night!"Gossip seemed to be in the nature of women.Su Liang played ignorant and seeing her interest, Old Lady Bai launched into her story."Old lady Niu''s eldest son had always been in poor health. He was newly married, but lost his life in less than a month without leaving a son or a daughter. In my opinion, the young daughter-in-law, who hasn''t given birth yet, should go back to her natal home and find someone else to marry. Why must she be condemned to live a widow''s life?""Old lady Niu just wouldn''t let Liu Huilan leave. She makes her serve the entire family and beats and scolds her every day. The things she says, they are truly filthy! If my daughter were treated like this, I would have my son knock on their door! You can''t bully people like this! All of this just because they have a scholar in their family and no one dares to offend them!""And guess what? Last night, their wall collapsed, the pig ran away, the chicken flew away, and there was even a fire! Not a single person was seen! People are saying it''s haunted!""Just now when I was picking vegetables and I passed by their house, the pigs still haven''t been found.I think Old Granny Niu will definitely invite a Taoist priest to cast out the evil spirits!"Without quite deriving pleasure from her misfortune, Old Granny Bai was, at least, able to vent some of her anger.Bai He had studied in the town''s school with Su Xingzhe. But after Zhuzi was born weak and frequently sick, requiring constant medication, which the Bai family could not afford, Bai He had to drop out of school.Ever since then, old lady Niu frequently put Old lady Bai down and her sharp, sarcastic character had earned her deep resentment from Old lady Bai.Old lady Bai had always felt that her younger son, Bai He, was smart and had the makings of a scholar. However, due to their family''s financial situation, they couldn''t afford to keep him in school which caused her great distress.On a few occasions, when Old lady Niu made sarcastic remarks publically, Old lady Bai had nearly lost her patience and rushed over to shut her filthy mouth!"Maybe it really is haunted." Su Liang said seriously, "Does our village have a Taoist priest?"Old lady Bai shook her head, "Our village doesn''t, but the town does.""Is it effective?" asked Su Liang.Old lady Bai lightly scoffed, "That''s just an old con artist who cheats money away from people!"A light bulb went on in Su Liang''s head as she figured out a way to help Liu Huilan escape her bitter life...A rescue should not be aborted half-way. If Liu Huilan doesn''t leave the old lady Niu''s house, the tragic events of last night will sooner or later repeat themselves.Having shared the most explosive gossip in the village with Su Liang, Old lady Bai, quite satisfied, left with her basket."Can I borrow one of your clothes?" Su Liang came in and asked Ning Jing.Ning Jing didn''t ask what she needed it for and took out a green changpao.Su Liang tried it on, but it was too big."It''s yours." Ning Jing said."Thanks." Su Liang took the clothes back to her room, and after some simple tailoring, the outfit fit just right.The next time Ning Jing saw Su Liang, she was in male attire with her hair rolled up in a bun.A girl yet to have her hairpinning ceremony, she resembled a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy at first glance.Su Liang also took a straw hat from Ning Jing''s room¡ªit was left behind by Uncle Liang."I''m going to town, do you need me to buy anything?" Su Liang asked.Ning Jing shook his head, "No.""If Qi Jun comes to pick me up, tell him to wait a while." As Su Liang finished speaking, she was already stepping out with bright and brisk steps.There was a shorter path from the village to the town, which Bai Peng had shown to Su Liang.The path was narrow, suitable neither for carriage nor for carrying loads, so it was not frequently used by others.Taking the shortcut, Su Liang reached Feiyan Town very quickly.After asking people for directions, she found the old Taoist priest who usually set up his stall at the intersection.The Taoist priest was in ragged clothes, but his eyes sparkled with life.Su Liang kept her straw hat low, revealing only her pointed chin, and got straight to the point, "Today, if someone from Su Village comes to ask the priest to cast a spell, the priest must tell them that the widowed daughter-in-law and the younger brother-in-law are in clash due to their zodiac signs, and they need to be separated with great distance.""I never lie." The Taoist priest scoffed lightly.Su Liang took out a silver coin, "Priest, they truly are in clash."The Taoist priest''s eyes lit up and he quickly snatched the silver coin, stuffing it into his chest, flicking his duster, "Young master, rest assured, I will have a good look."Not long after, a man hurried over to invite the old Taoist priest, and they headed in the direction of Su''s Village....Su Liang cut a chunk of fresh meat, bought some miscellaneous grains and condiments, and with her basket, prepared to take the shortcut home.Before she could leave Feiyan Town, a carriage pulled up beside her."Miss Su?"Hearing Xing Yusheng''s voice, Su Liang stopped and saw Qi Jun driving the carriage, with another guard, Qi Yan, who looked similar to him sitting beside him. The two were biological brothers.Xing Yusheng sat in the carriage, looking at her in surprise."It really is Miss Su!" Qi Jun laughed and said, "When the Crown Prince said you looked alike, I didn''t even recognize you!""You guys are... going to my house?" Su Liang asked."I always bother you to come over to treat me and I feel bad about it. I also wanted to get out and see the world." Xing Yusheng explained.Su Liang nodded and got on the carriage."Ning Jing didn''t come?" Xing Yusheng looked at Su Liang''s outfit which seemed to be similar to Ning Jing''s, but smaller. After taking off the straw hat, she looked just like a handsome, jade-faced young man."He''s at home." said Su Liang, "The color on Crown Prince Xing''s face has improved over the past few days.""All thanks to you." Xing Yusheng said formally, "When you''re out on your own, disguising as a male is indeed more convenient, but you still need to be extra cautious."Su Liang understood that Xing Yusheng had misunderstood, but she didn''t bother to explain.Xing Yusheng then took out a refined jade token and handed it to Su Liang, "Ning Jing''s exam in Bei''an County is all set. Just bring my token when it''s time to go. Whether he passes or not will depend on his own abilities.""Many thanks." Su Liang accepted.The carriage rolled through the village, passing Su Xingzhe''s home, which was crowded with onlookers.Seeing Su Liang draw back the curtains to look outside, Xing Yusheng asked, "Is this house celebrating something happy today?"Su Liang nodded, "Yes, it''s a joyful affair." ...The carriage stopped. Su Liang was the first to alight and she saw Ning Jing standing at the entrance of the house, looking right at them.By the time Xing Yusheng was seated in the wheelchair with the assistance of Qi Jun and Qi Yan, Su Liang had already briskly walked towards Ning Jing, handing him both the basket and the jade token.Xing Yusheng withdrew his gaze and took in the surroundings.This place was even more rustic and authentic than Qiuming Manor. The Ning''s house was nothing extraordinary, it looked like an ordinary household in the village.The reason Xing Yusheng was here today was that he was genuinely puzzled about what attracted Su Liang to this place, making her utterly indifferent to living as a granddaughter to the Old Dowager of Bei Jingwang Mansion, entering the Prince Mansion as the daughter of a noble family, and enjoying luxury and wealth. Besides, she hadn''t grown up here from a young age.Besides the jade token, Xing Yusheng also brought many gifts with him.Top-grade tea leaves, ginseng, bird''s nest, entire bolts of silk and cotton cloth, priceless antique vases, eight types of desserts, and a basket full of grapes that ordinary people would neither have the opportunity to eat nor have ever seen before.Qi Jun wheeled Xing Yusheng into the house, while Qi Yan carried the gifts in."These are all prepared by my grandmother, so please accept them," said Xing Yusheng.Su Liang smiled, "Respectfully following the command. Please convey my thanks to old Madame."In Ning Jing''s room, Su Liang applied acupuncture to Xing Yusheng.Ning Jing sat by, watching closely, making Xing Yusheng feel a bit uncomfortable.Xing Yusheng held good feelings towards Su Liang, as he had never met such a free-spirited, composed lady who was so capable and independent. However, since Su Liang had already married Ning Jing, Xing Yusheng didn''t harbor undue thoughts.The Old Dowager, his grandmother, had more than once expressed her regret about Xing Yusheng''s missed opportunity with Su Liang and truly liked her as well.But Xing Yusheng knew very well that regardless of whether it was the deceptive Huang Wanwan from before or the current Su Liang, the Old Dowager only ever wanted to find him a concubine.Xing Yusheng could use his illness as an excuse to stay away from home for a long time, but he had no say in choosing his crown princess. Even if the Old Dowager supported him, it would be in vain if the prince and the princess didn''t agree.He could reject his family''s arrangement and refuse to marry. But if he wished to marry legitimately, he could not avoid his family''s intervention.This morning, the Old Dowager had even mentioned that as soon as Xing Yusheng''s health improved, he should return home, and his marriage should be arranged as soon as possible.Even if Su Liang hadn''t married Ning Jing, Xing Yusheng didn''t believe she would accept being a secondary wife.Just yesterday, Xing Yusheng had received news that due to the Gu family''s rebellion and subsequent execution, the marital agreement between Marquis Chang Xin''s son, Gu Ling, and Miss Nian of the Nian Family, was cancelled. His stepmother, now the Princess, wanted her biological son to marry Nian Ruxue.The Old Dowager thought an alliance with the military family of Nian, which received favorable imperial attention, was a good thing for Bei Jingwang Mansion. Moreover, since she had met Nian Ruxue before, she thought her family should consider Xing Yusheng first if the two families were to form an alliance. ...The window was open.As soon as Su Liang put away the silver needles, she saw Mrs. Bai come in again, and Little Tiger and Zhuzi also ran in.Zhuzi''s little face was flushed as if he had just been running around.Seeing that there were guests at home, Mrs. Bai was hesitating whether to leave or not. Then Su Liang came out and announced that Ning Jing''s friend had come to visit.Mrs. Bai pulled Su Liang aside and gave her an update on the latest developments of the drama at the cow lady''s house."They really invited that old Taoist priest from the town! We all went to see it. The priest went around the cow lady''s house, asked their family about their zodiac signs, guess what happened in the end?" Mrs. Bai looked eager for Su Liang to inquire further.Feigning curiosity, Su Liang asked, "Did the Taoist say there were ghosts?""It''s the middle of the day, if there were ghosts, he wouldn''t be able to see them!" Mrs. Bai shook her head, "The old Taoist said Liu Huilan and Su Xingzhe''s zodiac sign are in conflict! If they don''t separate immediately, Su Xingzhe will be plagued by misfortune! You should have seen the cow lady''s face then, just like a stone in a stinky pit!""So that''s how it is. Does this mean they are going to drive Liu Huilan away?" asked Su Liang.Mrs. Bai huffed, "The cow lady is counting on Su Xingzhe passing the examination and becoming a high official. As soon as she heard that Liu Huilan would harm Su Xingzhe, she immediately threw Liu Huilan out! Said she is no longer part of the Su Family, and to never set foot in the Su village again! Even said she was going to the county government office today to move Liu Huilan''s household registration back to her maiden home! To completely sever all ties with the Su Family!"Su Liang smiled, "That''s also a good thing.""Absolutely!" exclaimed Mrs. Bai, "I hope she remarries into a good family!"Su Liang didn''t tell Mrs. Bai that her beloved youngest son Bai He seemed interested in Liu Huilan.She acted covertly, intending to save Liu Huilan''s life, but as for matters of marriage, she had no interest in playing matchmaker, nor could she.Even though Mrs. Bai seemed genuinely sympathetic towards Liu Huilan now, if Liu Huilan wanted to marry Bai He, it would be a whole different story....After Xing Yusheng left, Ning Jing suddenly said to Su Liang, "If you hadn''t refused Lady Xing yesterday, she would definitely have arranged for you to marry Xing Yusheng, as a concubine."Up until the last two words, Su Liang was not surprised, she had sensed it before. But hearing those last two words, she still stopped for a moment.Being a "concubine" was something quite unreal for the time-traveling Su Liang.Later, Little Tiger Bai secretly came over and shared his family''s "gossip": his grandmother was so angry, she nearly fainted, because his uncle said he wanted to marry the young widow who just got chased away by the cow lady...Su Liang didn''t say anything, just gave Little Tiger Bai a box of desserts, and told him to take it back and share it with Zhuzi.Human nature is complex, from certain aspects, the lofty Lady Xing and Mrs. Bai were not much different.As long as their own interests were not affected, they weren''t stingy with showing their kindness.But if Su Liang wanted to use a debt of gratitude as a condition to marry the Crown Prince Bei Jingwang, Lady Xing would probably think she was daydreaming, even if she did save Xing Yusheng''s life.And while Mrs. Bai pitied Liu Huilan, wishing she marries into a good house, but when it comes to her own son, that simply cannot happen!Su Liang jokingly said, "If women could also participate in the Imperial examination, that would be nice. I''d secure a good status for myself. That way, if I fancied a noble son one day, I wouldn''t have to just be a concubine."She didn''t think that Lady Xing or Mrs. Bai were all that wrong, everyone has their own position.Lady Xing believed her noble grandson should only be matched with a highborn lady, and Mrs. Bai simply hoped that her precious son could marry a maiden. None of these were excessive.Ning Jing said, "You can participate in the military exam."Surprised, Su Liang asked, "Women are allowed to take the military exam?""There are female generals in enemy countries who have mocked the women of the Qian country for only knowing how to embroider. So the Emperor allowed women to participate in the military exam, but to date, no woman has gained merit in the military exam.", explained Ning Jing."Do I have to fight level after level until I get to the capital?" Su Liang asked, highly interested.Ning Jing shook his head, "There''s no need. Before the civil examinations in the examination hall, those participating in the military exam will all go to the capital to compete. There''s only an age limit, one must be under thirty. Do you really want to participate?""Maybe I will, maybe I won''t. We''ll see." Su Liang said casually, "Your martial arts seem very good, how about, we go outside and have a spar?"


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 Chapter 27: 027. Moral Kidnapping

    Chapter 27: 027. Moral Kidnapping[Moral Coercion]The door was locked from the inside, and the two of them began to practice unarmed martial arts in the spacious courtyard.When Ning Jing saved Yang Yu on the street before, she had already witnessed Su Liang''s skills.And this was Su Liang''s first time seeing Ning Jing make a move.If there were spectators, they would definitely feel that Su Liang''s moves were fast, fierce, and accurate, while Ning Jing seemed slow, yet able to dismantle moves, giving a sense of using little effort to do a lot.One was as sharp as a knife, the other as free as the wind.They both halted their moves simultaneously; Ning Jing was relaxed and composed while Su Liang seemed a bit out of breath."You haven''t used your full strength," Su Liang said.Ning Jing didn''t deny it, "You''re not at your real strength either."Su Liang''s delicate body now limited her, and she could only exert less than half of her strength from her previous life."I must start practicing as soon as possible. What weapon are you good at?" Su Liang was curious.Ning Jing answered, "A long sword."Su Liang asked, "Can you teach me swordsmanship and lightness skills when you have time?""Sure," Ning Jing nodded, "So, will you stay and work for me?"It was that same question that never got an answer.Su Liang declined, "I can only trade it for a plate of Crisp Eggplant."They agreed to be roommates; Su Liang would cook, and Ning Jing would do the dishes.However, if they wanted more dishes, they''d have to "pay extra"."Deal," Ning Jing agreed.The knocking on the door sounded, and he went to open it.Bai He''s face didn''t look good, his gaze crossed Ning Jing and looked at Su Liang."If you have something to say, say it to me," Ning Jing didn''t invite him in.Su Liang guessed the reason Bai He came, so she didn''t go to him either."I''d like to ask you to persuade my parents..." Bai He started to talk about his intention to marry Liu Huilan.After he finished talking, Ning Jing shook his head, "For such a matter, you need to figure it out yourself." He closed the door immediately after finishing.Recently, the two families had become closer, so Bai He probably thought Ning Jing and Su Liang could help change the minds of Old Bai and his wife.However, some things outsiders just can''t interfere with.Bai Xiaohu hurried home, "Little Uncle didn''t even get inside before Brother Ning chased him away!"Mrs. Bai angrily said, "Even outsiders know he''s being a fool, so they don''t bother with him! I don''t know what Liu Huilan did to hook his soul!"Eldest daughter-in-law Liu''s family was knitting shoe soles and remained silent. Liu Huilan was her biological cousin, and they had a good relationship. But in this matter, even she was an outsider who couldn''t say a word....For lunch, Su Liang cooked the Crisp Eggplant that Ning Jing ordered and fried a plate of Thousand Layer Meat Cake. She washed the wild vegetables sent by Mrs. Bai, steamed them with a little bit of flour, mixed with the sauce."If you want to make money, you could open a restaurant." Ning Jing once again praised Su Liang''s cooking skills.Su Liang nodded, "If I really open a restaurant one day, I''ll hire you as the manager. Just standing there, young ladies and wives will definitely flock to dine, enjoying both delicious food and a pleasant view of a handsome man."Ning Jing frowned, "You''re treating me like a vase?"Su Liang smiled, "Is it wrong to praise your good looks?"...After lunch, Ning Jing took out the treasure box he had once shown Su Liang, "You can choose three items."Yang Yu, Xing Yusheng, and Liu Huilan.Although Su Liang had voluntarily saved those people, according to the agreement, Ning Jing still had to reward her."Is this jade hairpin also an option?" Su Liang picked up the jade hairpin Nian Jincheng had put in her hair on the night of their wedding.Seeing Mr. Liang''s reaction at that time, Su Liang guessed that this might originally belong to Ning Jing. Maybe it was a token of love he had given to someone?Ning Jing shook his head, "No, not this one."Su Liang put down the jade hairpin, seemingly unconcerned. She chose a golden bracelet, a jade pendant with a golden edge, and an emerald ring. Ning Jing collected the rest of the items.Su Liang asked Ning Jing for a locked wooden box and put the original owner''s embroidery and three pieces of jewelry in it. The used embroidered items had been washed, dried, and tidied up.Since her transmigration, Su Liang had only seen and eaten one type of fruit, pears. Today, she received grapes from Xing Yusheng and found them exceptionally delicious after a taste.As it was getting darker, Mrs. Bai came over once more, never mentioning Bai He and Liu Huilan''s matters. She only told Su Liang that the pig from Mrs. Niu''s family had been found."She''s offended too many people in ordinary times. I don''t know who did it, but they fed her pig rat poison!" Even though Mrs. Bai despised Mrs. Niu, she couldn''t help but sigh at this.A pig was an essential asset for a farming family. Now, Mrs. Niu''s family had suffered a huge loss.The dead pig was found in the mountains, and almost every household had rat poison, so even if they reported it to the county government, they might not be able to find out who did it.As for the "mastermind" Su Liang, she only felt a little sorry for the pig, not for Su Xingzhe''s family."There''s one more thing, it''s just my guess." Granny Bai whispered to Su Liang, "You may not know, but ever since Su Daqiang''s family sold themselves as laborers, that old cow has had her eye on their house! Now her house''s wall has collapsed, and the house is broken. It can be fixed, but she might take the opportunity to seize your house! You have to be careful!"Su Daqiang''s house was the best in the village. The old cow''s family had been supporting Su Xingzhe''s studies for years, and they were so poor that they didn''t have the money to build a new house, which was very broken.The old cow had mentioned this matter to Su Liang just yesterday.Su Liang thanked Granny Bai, who mentioned in passing that she was going to propose a marriage for Bai He soon.Su Liang just smiled and congratulated her.As Granny Bai left, Su Liang ate a few grapes and was about to continue practicing calligraphy when she heard someone knock on the door again."Ning Jing." Su Liang suspected that Granny Bai was right.Ning Jing opened the door and saw Lei Zheng, Su Bai, several Su family clan elders, and the old cow couple, leading two dirty children outside."Where''s Liang Girl? Let her come out. We have something to say!" Old Cow said."She''s sleeping." Ning Jing replied indifferently.Su Bai sighed, "Young Master Ning, there was a strange incident in our village last night. Did you hear about it? Xingzhe''s house collapsed, and now the whole family has no place to live. Xingzhe is the only scholar in our village, and he''s going to take the Court Examination next month. He needs a quiet place to live. The rich family''s house is empty now, and they want to move in temporarily until their house is repaired.""Young Master Ning''s family is rich, and he doesn''t lack that little money. Just give the house to Xingzhe. In the future, when he gains fame and becomes an official, he won''t forget your kindness." One of the clan elders spoke up.People joined in one after another.From the tone of their voices, if Ning Jing and Su Liang did not agree, they would be considered stingy, heartless, and shortsighted.Ning Jing''s lips slightly parted, "Fifty taels."Old Cow shrieked, "It''s originally Su family''s house, why can''t we live there? And you still want money?"Su Bai sighed, "That house was bought by Liang Girl from Hu Er, the gambling house owner in the town, for fifty taels. Why not let Xingzhe write an IOU, owing it first, and when he passes the examination and gets a reward from the county government, he can pay it back."The house was actually given to Su Liang by Hu Er. Su Bai knew this but deliberately said otherwise because he didn''t want to offend Ning Jing and Su Liang. But the clan elders pressured him, and fearing that Su Xingzhe might really make a name for himself, Su Bai didn''t want to offend anyone, so he played the peacemaker.Old Cow began to wail, "My Boy Zhe has been studying all these years, and he''s finally making his way. Now he doesn''t even have a place to live! If he doesn''t make it, it''s all your fault! His mood is bad, and you still force him to write an IOU. How can you be so heartless! You are cutting off the lifeline of our whole family!"The two children got the hint and started crying, throwing themselves at Ning Jing.Ning Jing frowned and dodged. The two children fell to the ground and cried even harder.Seeing this, Old Cow immediately started a scene, "You all saw it, he hit my grandson! All of you with the surname Su, watching your own children being bullied by outsiders!"Su Bai saw Old Cow''s shamelessness, his forehead twitched, and he yanked the two children up from the ground, "Stop making a fuss! Xingzhe is a scholar, where would he do things that take advantage of others? In the future, when he gains a reputation, he will be criticized! Even for his future, this IOU must be written!"The clan elders frowned upon hearing this because Su Bai''s words were not unreasonable.But Old Cow quickly responded, "Don''t try to scare me! As long as they give us the house, why can''t we take it?""Not giving." Ning Jing remained expressionless."Call Su Liang out! See if she has the heart to watch our entire family freeze to death outside!" Old Cow shouted, "Su Liang! Come out! Come out and look at your nephew! He can''t survive!"Su Liang, annoyed, put down her brush and came out.As soon as she saw her, Old Cow wailed even harder and pinched her two grandsons to make them cry louder.Su Liang pulled Ning Jing behind her, grabbed the children who were pushed toward her and threw them back, coldly looking at Su Bai and the clan elders, "Is there only one vacant house in the village? None of your houses have empty rooms? If they can''t live in my house, will they freeze to death outside tonight?"Su Bai''s face stiffened, "Not really...""Since you all sympathize with Su Xingzhe, value his scholarly identity, and believe he has a boundless future, why not take him into your own homes, serve him well, and once he passes the examination, he''ll surely remember your kindness." Su Liang snorted coldly, "With such a great opportunity, I''m sure the elders would be more than happy to do so, so why should a cold-blooded and malicious junior like me step in? Uncle Bai, don''t you agree?"Su Bai was embarrassed by Su Liang''s sharp sarcasm and didn''t dare to speak.In fact, Old Cow''s house was not seriously damaged; they had intentionally collapsed it to seize Su Liang''s house.But Su Liang hated moral kidnapping the most. A group of old people, with two pitiful-looking children, trying to stimulate her maternal instinct?Sorry, she didn''t have that at all.Even if Old Cow''s house was deliberately destroyed by her and Ning Jing, who told them to exploit and humiliate the little widow, almost driving her to death?A counter-kidnapping left the clan elders and Lei Zheng speechless."We want your house! Your house is the best!" Old Cow''s eldest grandson shouted, revealing their true intentions hidden behind their pathetic acts.Su Liang slammed the door shut, and heard Su Bai''s voice outside, "Go back and let Xingzhe write the IOU first, then come back! Or go live with your brother first!"Then there was Old Cow''s crying and cursing, and the two children crying even more heartbreakingly.Su Liang remained unmoved. That family would never really write an IOU to buy the house, and what kind of scholar was Su Xingzhe, who bullied even his widowed sister-in-law?When the two of them reached their respective rooms, Su Liang suddenly stopped Ning Jing."What?" Ning Jing asked.Su Liang snorted lightly, "Aren''t you also going to take the Court Examination? Do well on it. Hopefully, when the results come out, it will make that whole family so angry that they''ll vomit blood."Ning Jing nodded, "Okay. I want steamed dishes tomorrow."Su Liang rubbed her forehead, "Deal!" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 28: 028. Unexpected Guest

    Chapter 28: 028. Unexpected GuestSu Liang was a woman of action.Yesterday, she said that she wanted to practice martial arts more intensively. By daybreak today, she was already running laps in the courtyard. In the morning, she found some tools and set up makeshift equipment like parallel bars and sandbags in the yard.Ning Jing was originally reading a book in his room, but later he moved a chair to the courtyard. Su Liang was busy with her work and didn''t even ask him for help.If outsiders were present, they would see a petite girl wielding a heavy hammer to nail wood planks while a certain man stood idly by.By the time Xing Yusheng arrived, Su Liang had already finished setting up and even tried out the equipment."These are..." Xing Yusheng was very curious about the new additions in the yard.Su Liang didn''t want to explain too much, so she took the book from Ning Jing''s hands, pulled him up from his chair, and smiled, "These are his toys."Xing Yusheng was taken aback, "Master Ning, could you show me what these are used for?""Won''t show you," Ning Jing reclaimed his book and turned away, leaving Xing Yusheng with a cold back view."Master Xing, don''t feel offended. He is just like that," Su Liang said with no guilt in ''throwing Ning Jing under the bus''. She showed familiarity with Ning Jing to prevent Xing Yusheng from having any romantic ideas about her. It would be troublesome.Xing Yusheng smiled, "Master Ning is quite mysterious."Today, he brought gifts again. Two sets of new bedding, two fat wild chickens, and a basket full of bright red hawthorns."Qi Jun caught the wild chickens yesterday. The red fruits are from the manor," Xing Yusheng said."Thank you," Su Liang accepted the gifts and proceeded to perform acupuncture on Xing Yusheng.Ning Jing came over to watch. Xing Yusheng asked if he was learning medical skills from Su Liang.Ning Jing shook his head, "I just want to see someone get pricked by needles."Xing Yusheng: ... He had no grudge with Ning Jing... Crawling into all sorts of weird hobbies...Su Liang felt instead that Ning Jing''s nonsense, just like hers, was aimed at keeping Xing Yusheng from prying into their lives.After the acupuncture, Xing Yusheng proposed playing chess with Ning Jing, but was also rejected.Finally realising his unwelcome presence, Xing Yusheng abandoned his thought of befriending the couple and left with his entourage.In the carriage, Qi Yan showed a resentful face, "Master, they don''t appreciate your kindness!"Xing Yusheng sighed lightly, "Don''t take it to heart. Su Liang accepted my gifts and was willing to treat me. How is that not appreciating? It''s my one-sided intention to become closer that was subtly rejected.""A destitute merchant''s son is acting all high and mighty!" Qi Yan huffed."Don''t underestimate him," Xing Yusheng shook his head, "He is not an ordinary person. His current circumstances are only temporary.""How so? Other than his good looks, what skills does he have? It''s clearly Miss Su who is capable!" Qi Yan argued."Then why do you think Su Liang is willing to be with Ning Jing?" Xing Yusheng countered.Qi Jun laughed, "Perhaps, it''s simply because Ning Qi is handsome."Xing Yusheng paused, "That... Although I don''t think Su Liang is a superficial person, it''s not impossible."As they were leaving the Su village, Xing Yusheng suddenly asked, "Comparing looks, do I fall short of Ning Jing by a lot?"Qi Yan shook his head, "Master, you are much more handsome than him!"Meanwhile, Qi Jun spoke the truth, "You''re not that far off."Qi Yan knocked Qi Jun, "Anyway, in subordinate''s opinion, none of the young men in Qian Country can match master, except for the famous beauty, the son of Marquise Chang Xin, Gu Ling!""When did you see that Master Gu?" Qi Jun asked."When the Princess was around, she once sent me to the capital city to deliver a gift to Master Gu, haven''t I told you this?" Qi Yan scratched his head.The curtain of the carriage lifted, revealing Xing Yusheng''s puzzled face, "What happened?"Qi Yan told the story. Years ago, the mother of Xing Yusheng passed away after going to the capital city to visit relatives. Not long after she left the city, she encountered the young crown prince of Marquise Chang Xin, Gu Ling.Gu Ling was all alone, insistent on having the then Princess Qin personally escort him home, and would not accept anyone else to do it.Though they originally thought Gu Ling was unreasonable, due to his young age, the kind-hearted Princess Qin decided to comply and returned to the capital.That same day, they heard that a severe landslide had happened on the road Princess Qin was originally planned to take. If anyone had passed through, they would surely be buried."Someone plotted to assassinate the Princess at that time. As to why it didn''t succeed, no one knows. The Princess thought that it was Master Gu who saved her, but she never made it public. She would just secretly send my father to send Master Gu a birthday gift every year. That year, after my father injured his leg, she sent me. Since Qi Jun was travelling with you at that time and wasn''t home, he didn''t know about it," Qi Yan explained."Why didn''t Mother ever mention this to me?" Xing Yusheng was perplexed.Qi Jun sighed lightly, "Marquis Chang Xin and my father have had longstanding grudges, and my mother, who was simply thankful for Master Gu''s unintended rescue, could not afford to have more involvement with him."Xing Yusheng remembered that after Gu''s incident, his stepmother wanted his brother to marry Gu Ling''s fianc¨¦e, Nian Ruxue. His grandmother thought that it was better if Nian Ruxue married him, and suddenly felt some discomfort. "Have you heard anything about Gu Ling, who escaped from the capital, being caught?"Qi Yan shook his head, "I haven''t heard about him being caught. In the middle of last month, General Nian Jincheng, who was ordered by the emperor to capture Master Gu, visited here!""Nian Jincheng?" Xing Yusheng''s eyes narrowed."Yes, him. The only friend in the rumour of Master Gu, who is cold and arrogant, is General Nian. It was said that two years before the Gu Family''s incident, Master Gu mostly stayed at Huguo Temple, and no one could see him except for Nian Jincheng," sneered Qi Yan, "As you can see, that Nian Jincheng is nothing but a capricious person!"Qi Jun frowned, "The imperial edict is difficult to disobey. If he didn''t do that, the Nian Family wouldn''t have been able to clear their involvement with the case of Gu Family''s rebellion."Qi Yan snorted, "If he actually catches him next time and uses Master Gu''s life as a merit to flatter himself, do you still think he has any misgivings?""This matter has nothing to do with us. Stop talking about it. Watch your words to prevent trouble," Xing Yusheng finished, dropping the curtain. His heart, however, felt heavy.Knowing the relationship between his mother and Gu Ling, Xing Yusheng was certain that he would not agree to Grandmother Xing''s arrangement and have any involvement with Nian Ruxue.After a long time, a sigh came from the carriage, "I hope Gu Ling is living a peaceful and quiet life somewhere unknown."Qi Jun asked Qi Yan, "How beautiful is Crown Prince Gu?"After a moment of thought, Qi Yan replied, "It''s hard to describe. There''s a saying in the capital that Gu the beautiful person''s smile could captivate the entire city, but no one can get his smile. After I heard it, I went back and told the princess about it. She laughed as she had seen Gu, the crown prince, when he was little and said that Gu was a hundred times cuter than our crown prince."Xing Yusheng: ...As if he were adopted......After lunch, Ning Jing washed a plate of hawthorn, took one, took a bite, frowned, and put it down. "Su Liang."Su Liang, who was reading a book in the next room, responded."Can''t I eat the red fruit raw?" Asked Ning Jing."Of course you can. There''s an old saying that boys love sour, girls love spicy. Unfortunately, pregnant women can''t eat red fruits." Su Liang replied seriously.Ning Jing: ...Aunt Bai brought some more wild vegetables, sharing with Su Liang the latest gossip about the old cow''s family."I heard they came to claim your house last night? How shameless!""And you have no idea what happened next!""The rich man in the village, Ma Erhui, has a few vacant rooms, he warmly invited them to live there, providing food and drinks. They aren''t even related, and that family is just about taking advantage of others, they have no shame!""Guess what? Ma Erhui''s daughter, you don''t know her, her name is Xiufang, she is quite a handful usually, she and Su Xingzhe spent the night in the same bed!""Ma Erhui''s daughter-in-law is insisting that it''s Su Xingzhe who took advantage of her daughter, causing a ruckus in the village. Old cow is claiming that the Ma''s family drugged Su Xingzhe, and Xiufang is shamelessly seducing her son. The two families are fighting terribly, Su Xingzhe''s face even got scratched and bloodied."Aunt Bai spoke with her spit flying, and Su Liang was dumbfounded.In the beginning, she and Ning Jing just wanted to help Liu Huilan survive, but they didn''t expect such a dramatic turn of events."When I went to pick some wild vegetables, I saw the old cow sitting on the ground crying, and she started cursing you! She blamed everything on you, saying it''s all because you are ruthless, otherwise they wouldn''t have moved to the Ma''s place and this wouldn''t have happened!" Aunt Bai said angrily.Su Liang remarked, it''s normal for bad things to happen to bad people. If the old cow dare to fight with her, she would welcome it...However, as the only educated person in the Su family village, Su Liang didn''t think this incident would cause too much trouble.The Ma family must have been scheming, otherwise they wouldn''t have been so eager to help.Su Xingzhe fell into their trap, but he wasn''t entirely innocent.Later, Su Liang heard that it was Su Xingzhe who agreed to marry Ma Xiufang as his concubine after passing the public servant examination and getting married....Ning Jing brought the hawthorn out."If you are free, could you go to the town and buy a couple pairs of shoes for me?" Su Liang said.They forgot to buy shoes when they bought clothes last time.The original owner only had two pairs of shoes. Embroidered shoes were not suitable for exercising, and she had been active these days. She broke a pair of shoes during her morning run, and another pair broke just now, so she couldn''t go out.Su Liang had already paid Aunt Bai to help make shoes, not caring whether they looked nice, but whether they were suitably comfortable and durable. However, they wouldn''t be ready for a while.Ning Jing held up the hawthorn.Su Liang instantly caught on, "Buy some more sugar and I''ll make it for you."After getting the money, Ning Jing went out on his own, taking the shortcut to the town.Halfway there, he noticed someone nearby, yet he didn''t turn back....As soon as he entered the clothing store, Ning Jing took out the paper with the shoe size cut by Su Liang, asking to buy shoes of that size.The shopkeeper lady praised Ning Jing for being a good husband and showed him a pile of embroidered shoes to pick from.Ning Jing chose the two most expensive pairs, and bought another two pairs for himself."Young man, how about some hair accessories? These are the latest styles from the county town. Buy some for your lady back home, she will definitely be pleased!" The shopkeeper lady took out a box of colorful hairpins to promote.However, Ning Jing glanced at the deserted wood hairpins next to them. The carvings were rough.He asked for the price and picked four.After buying all the sugar, Ning Jing saw someone selling mushrooms on his way out of the town. He bought the mushrooms along with the basket, and headed back to the village with his purchases. He didn''t meet anyone on the way.When he got home, he found an uninvited guest standing at the door."Master!" A middle-aged man with red eyes fell to his knees as soon as he saw Ning Jing. "Master, please go home! If you don''t go back, the elder master will be killed by your elder brother!"Ning Jing seemed not to have heard him. He walked around him, entered the house, and handed the purchases to Su Liang.Su Liang checked the shoes and affirmed that Ning Jing''s taste was trustworthy. The shoes looked great."That man, what''s his story?" Su Liang asked.Not long after Ning Jing left, someone came knocking at the door, claiming to be from Ning''s family in Xunyang City. Su Liang simply said that Ning Jing was not at home and asked him to wait outside."His forehead is darkened." Ning Jing said without emotion.Su Liang raised her eyebrows, "Is he dying or..."Ning Jing shook his head, "He''s come to kill me." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 29: 029. Unlucky Devil

    Chapter 29: 029. Unlucky Devil[Tough Luck]Su Liang tried on the shoes that Ning Jing had bought and they fitted perfectly.The mushrooms were excellent, which she planned to use for a chicken stew.As for the hawthorn that Ning Jing wanted, Su Liang originally wanted to make candied hawthorn, but without bamboo sticks, she decided to make Sugar Snowball which doesn''t require sticks.Ning Jing rolled up his sleeves, listened to Su Liang''s instructions, and began to wash and pit the hawthorns."What''s the name of that guy?" Su Liang who was frying sugar suddenly asked.Ning Jing looked indifferent, "It doesn''t matter."Su Liang suspected he didn''t know, because he wasn''t the real seventh son of the Ning Family.But, indeed, it didn''t matter.The sun was setting.When Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi arrived, they saw a middle-aged man standing at the door, so they curiously asked, "Who are you?""I am here to find my young master. Could you please let him know? If my master does not agree to return home, I''ll just wait here." The middle-aged man sighed."Bro, he''s here for Brother Ning." Zhuzi said.Bai Xiaohu pushed the door open, pulled Zhuzi in, and immediately shut the door, whispering, "Ignore him! Don''t let him in. He must be someone Brother Ning and Sister Su Liang dislike!"...Su Liang turned around and saw two young boys standing at the door with sparkling eyes.The newly made Sugar Snowballs were enticing. The white sugar frosting cloaked the hawthorn, fading its original vivid red color to a soft, blurry hue, like a plum bathed in the snow ¨C it was absolutely charming!The sweet aroma wafted in the air and Ning Jing was about to pop a piece into his mouth with his slender fingers.Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi both swallowed simultaneously.Su Liang waved at them, "I just made these, not sure if they''re good or not. Come and have a taste!"Bai Xiaohu took out a handful of sour dates from his pocket, "These are from a tree behind my house. Some of it has ripened and it tastes very good!"Round and plump dates, crisp and sour-sweet.Seeing Su Liang liking them, Bai Xiaohu mentioned that there were many of such trees on the mountain behind his house."I''ll take a look someday." Su Liang laughingly said.The two boys ate quickly and the small bowl of Sugar Snowball which she gave them was soon gone.Su Liang refilled a big bowl for Bai Xiaohu, "Don''t eat too much at once, especially Zhuzi, don''t have any more today. Take it home and get your grandparents to taste it. It can stay fresh for a few days.""Thank you, Sister Su Liang!" Bai Xiaohu took the bowl and sprinted off, with Zhuzi following him, his footsteps were steadier than before....She finished making the mushroom stewed chicken, as darkness fell, a tempting aroma wafted around the courtyard.Bai Xiaohu, who came back to return the bowl, took away another bowl of meat and got scolded by the old man Bai when he returned home."When you are leaving someday, write me a cookbook." Ning Jing suggested, "I can buy it."Su Liang nodded, "No problem. We can''t spend our money forever, we need to think of a way."Their life was simple, but not frugal, especially when it came to food.Su Liang was too fragile, she needed good food for nourishing her body.Ning Jing was initially the type of person who only ate to avoid starvation, but Su Liang''s food was his exception.Putting down the chopsticks, Su Liang looked out of the window, "Since he is here, it isn''t right not to let him in..."...The front gate creaked open, the middle-aged man huddled in the corner stood up immediately, "Young Master!"Ning Jing didn''t say a word, he turned around and went back.Looking at the open door, the middle-aged man came to his senses, hurried in, and closed the door behind him.When he entered the room, he saw Su Liang lazily sitting at the table with a plate of Sugar Snowballs and a plate of plump grapes next to her.The middle-aged man quickly gave a bow, "So this must be the lady of the Seventh Young Master of the Ning Family? Sorry for the inconvenience. My name is Zhao Ming, I am the fourth housekeeper of Ning Mansion."Su Liang returned the question, "If I go to the Ning Family in Xunyang, can I really become a respectable lady?"Zhao Ming was stunned, then chuckled, "The master spoils the Seventh Young Master the most, of course, he would recognize you as the Seventh Young Master''s wife.""He spoils him the most yet still drove him out of his home?" Su Liang couldn''t help but show a bit of sarcasm.Zhao Ming sighed again and again, "That was just a temporary solution out of no choice. Now that the storm has passed, the master has sent me to bring the young master back home.""You must have inquired about who I am, right?" Su Liang asked.Zhao Ming nodded, "Indeed, the lady grew up in the capital city and is also from a distinguished family.""Distinguished, not quite. But times have changed. If I go to Ning Family with my current status, I can at best become a concubine, and would have to endure people''s contempt. If so, I might as well not go." Su Liang said."Then what about the young master..." Zhao Ming looked towards Ning Jing."He can go with you. But I''ve supported him for so long with my embroidery work, surely there should be something for me too, right?" Su Liang hinted."Thank you for... your care for our young master." As Zhao Ming was speaking, he took out a hundred-silver banknote.Su Liang took it with a smile, "Indeed, a wealthy household. Even a fourth housekeeper carries so much money around."Zhao Ming chuckled awkwardly, "It''s for emergency needs when we travel.""Knowing I used to live in the capital city, and you''re giving me this small sum of money. Are you trying to beggar off street kids?" Su Liang''s countenance suddenly changed."I do not carry that much with me. Once we return home, I will report to the master and he will arrange to reward you." Zhao Ming said.Su Liang shook her head, "I am the kind of person who only trusts in hard cash. Hand over five thousand taels and you can take him with you."Zhao Ming''s face froze, "Miss Su, the master is seriously ill and waiting for the young master to return home, we cannot delay. Once we return home...""Cut the crap, I don''t believe you." Su Liang cooled her face, "You can leave now. Without five thousand taels, let''s not talk."Zhao Ming turned to Ning Jing, "Young Master, this..."Without any expression on his face, Ning Jing said, "The thing I dislike most is owing someone. If the Ning Family is reluctant to pay even this small amount, then I don''t need to return."Not long after, Zhao Ming was kicked out and walked away quickly from the Su Family''s village.There was a carriage waiting at the entrance of the village. Zhao Ming boarded it, his face sank, "To the county town!"...The next day, when Zhao Ming returned, Xing Yusheng, who had come to seek medical treatment, hadn''t left yet.Noting the emblem on Qi Yan and Qi Jun''s waist swords, representing Bei Jingwang Mansion, Zhao Ming turned pale and kept his distance.Seeing Ning Jing enjoy the Sugar Snowball dessert, Xing Yusheng asked about it. Learning it was made from the red fruit he''d brought the previous day, he tasted it out of curiosity and complimented effusively.Su Liang suggested he take some back for Madame Xing.As Xing Yusheng was leaving, he noticed Zhao Ming, "Who is that man?"Summoned by Qi Yan, Zhao Ming revealed that he had come from Ning Family of Xunyang to take Ning Jing back.Xing Yusheng''s face fell, "Lady Ning, who is my adopted sister, if she doesn''t approve, who dares to meddle? Be careful, or you''ll lose your head."Shaken, Zhao Ming realized too late of what he was saying, Xing Yusheng had already left in his carriage....Qi Jun chuckled, "It seems Miss Su didn''t agree to being the crown prince''s adopted sister."From within the carriage, came Xing Yusheng''s melancholic voice, "Can''t I support her unilaterally?"Qi Yan sighed, "That lady is odd. Anyone else would''ve clung to the prince, but it seems the prince must pursue."Qi Jun laughed, "I wonder if they''ll return to the Ning Mansion.""They won''t." Xing Yusheng was certain."What if they do?" Qi Yan asked.Xing Yusheng humphed, "Su Liang agreed to treat me, she hasn''t done so. Why would she go now? Ning Jing, on the other hand, can.""If only Miss Su remains, we could invite her to the prince''s mansion to be a mansion physician!" Qi Yan was elated.Qi Jun coughed lightly, "Brother, even the old lady and the prince don''t hold such influence, stop dreaming."...Zhao Ming took out a stack of silver banknotes and respectfully handed them to Su Liang, "This is five thousand taels, a token of my gratitude for Miss Su for caring for our young master."Feigning surprise, Su Liang accepted, "It''s only been a night, where did you get this?""From the Money House in the county town," replied Zhao Ming, "The old man gave me a token, seeing as young Master might need money on the way home.""I see." Su Liang faintly smiled, "There seems to be a misunderstanding here, I asked for five thousand taels of gold. Such a valuable son, wouldn''t five thousand taels of silver be too little?"Zhao Ming looked aghast, "Miss Su, Please don''t make things difficult for me. The old man''s sickness is really severe, that token only permits withdrawal of up to five thousand taels, there isn''t any more.""What a pity, I''ll trouble you to run some errands again." Su Liang didn''t show any sympathy.Zhao Ming turned to Ning Jing, who was engrossed in his book and didn''t glance up.After hesitating for a while, Zhao Ming spoke again, "I met the crown prince of Bei Jingwang Mansion just now, outside. He claimed to be Miss Su''s adopted brother. I was ignorant, I made reckless remarks yesterday. Miss Su''s status is definitely suitable for the seventh prince as his official wife, the old man would surely be overjoyed. Please return with the young master!""Sure, I could, but I''m not interested, I just want money." Su Liang shook her head.Embarrassed, Zhao Ming said, "Miss Su, since you''ve acknowledged the prince as an adopted brother, surely you''re not short of money?"With a cold laugh, Su Liang asked, "Are you teaching me how to do things?"Zhao Ming hastily apologized, "No, I didn''t mean to...""I want to eat grapes." Su Liang declared.Ning Jing quietly put his book down, washed his hands, and began to peel grapes for Su Liang..."Go back and tell your master, Ning Jing is mine now. If he wants to have him ''move'', it won''t be that easy."The emphasis Su Liang put on the word ''move'' triggered a slight tremor in Zhao Ming''s sleeve-covered hand....As she watched Zhao Ming sullenly leave, Su Liang mused out loud, "So this is what it feels like to bluff with borrowed power.""There was an assassin before him, likely he was sent to collect my body. Seeing I''m still alive, they plotted to lure me away and attack me on the road." Ning Jing''s expression was neutral, "With this development, they will be even more determined to kill me, and you."Su Liang shook her head, "Some people were always determined to eliminate you, it doesn''t matter if they are more determined now."Ning Jing nodded, "I guess.""If they do decide to take me out too, it changes nothing. You could foresee any physical danger to me." Su Liang was quite complacent....Bei''an County.A man faced away from Zhao Ming, studying a painting on the wall, "No wonder my brother spent so much on hiring Yan Shiba to assassinate him, but the seventh prince still didn''t die. Turns out, he found his backup."Bowing his head, Zhao Ming said, "The one related to Bei Jingwang Mansion is the woman with the seventh prince."Being lustful enough to pursue the seventh prince and greedy enough to blackmail us for five thousand taels. The man coldly scoffed."So now..." Zhao Ming appeared disturbed."Since we''re already here, I wanted to finish the seventh prince myself, but if he and his woman don''t know what''s good for them, then forget it." The man laughed coldly, "My elder brother paid the highest price, and according to the rules of Yanyun Building, they''re accountable for a failed mission. They''ll execute Yan Shiba and then take over the unfinished task."...The next day, meeting Xing Yusheng again, Ning Jing took a closer look at him."Is there something dirty on my face?" Xing Yusheng felt puzzled.As if sparked by a thought, Su Liang pulled Ning Jing aside and they began to whisper."He''s again...""Mhmm.""Is it the people who wanted to poison him before, thinking that since they already failed once, they might as well go all out and kill him directly?""That''s what I think as well."...Turning around, Su Liang gave Xing Yusheng a smile. Suddenly he felt a shudder, "About my claim of being your adopted brother to that servant from Ning family, I was wrong. Please don''t mind."Su Liang produced a silver needle, pointed it at Xing Yusheng''s forehead, "I heard there are hot springs in Qiuming Manor, can we stay there for a few days?"Xing Yusheng cleared his throat, "Of course, I thought there was a problem." He felt vaguely scared..."Great." Su Liang nodded her head.For some unknown reason, Xing Yusheng asked again, "What if I don''t agree?" He followed his question up with an embarrassed change of topic.After pondering a moment, Su Liang said, "If you don''t agree, then you won''t be leaving today."Xing Yusheng laughed, "Can I stay here?"Turning a page, Ning Jing commented under his breath, "You''re sleeping in the Firewood Room."


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 Chapter 30: 030. Yan Shiba

    Chapter 30: 030. Yan Shiba[Yan Shiba]As the Crown Prince Bei Jingwang, there was no way he could sleep in the Firewood Room.Moreover, Xing Yusheng was more than happy to invite Su Liang over for a visit, and Ning Jing was just tagging along.When they were about to leave, they ran into Auntie Bai who asked when Su Liang would be back; Su Liang replied that they would be back in two or three days.Worried about someone breaking into their home, Ning Jing and Su Liang each brought a suitcase with them.As the carriage left Su Family Village, Xing Yusheng asked Ning Jing, "Did you send the people from Xunyang City away?"Ning Jing was engrossed in his book and did not answer, so Su Liang replied instead, "Yes, they left. I asked them for five thousand gold taels to release Ning Jing, but they only brought five thousand silver banknotes, so they went back to get more."Xing Yusheng''s mouth twitched slightly, "It''s almost like you''ve kidnapped Ning Jing. If they really brought the money, would you let them go?""Since they didn''t really intend to take Ning Jing back home, they wouldn''t be willing to actually give so much money. Since it won''t end well anyway, I might as well extort some money for spending," Su Liang said with a smile.Xing Yusheng coughed lightly, "If you need money, you can always tell me.""I am not short of money; extorting the Ning Family is just for fun," Su Liang said.Xing Yusheng glanced at the seemingly uninvolved Ning Jing, sighed deeply, and said, "You are really kind to him."Su Liang knew Xing Yusheng misunderstood her enmity towards Ning Family was because of Ning Jing being expelled from it, but in fact, it was Zhao Ming who had first intended to kill Ning Jing, and she merely counterattacked a little.No need for explanation.Ning Jing read his book all the way, while Xing Yusheng chatted with Su Liang about various topics.Xing Yusheng was surprised to learn that Su Liang had lost her memory and forgot everything about the capital city, "What about your medical skills...""I haven''t lost all my memory, I''m not a complete idiot," Su Liang replied.Xing Yusheng sighed softly, "If you want to know about your past, I can send someone to the capital city to investigate and tell you.""That would be great, thank you," Su Liang did not refuse his offer.This matter was important; although she didn''t think of herself as the Original Master, no one apart from Ning Jing knew about it and she couldn''t tell anyone else.She needed to learn as much as possible about the people and events related to her current identity in order to prevent unforeseen situations.Whatever could be found out was not a secret anyway.Qi Yan, who was driving the carriage, spoke up, "Master, shall I take a trip to the capital city to investigate Lady Su''s past and inquire about Young Master Gu''s whereabouts?"Su Liang was surprised by his words and instinctively looked at Ning Jing.Ning Jing''s expression remained unchanged, still focusing on the book in his hands.Xing Yusheng''s expression darkened abruptly, "We''ll discuss it when we get back."Qi Jun frowned, signaling Qi Yan to shut up.Gu Ling was a wanted criminal by the court, so Qi Yan''s careless mention of the matter made Xing Yusheng sound like an accomplice despite them not knowing each other.It was only due to a previous connection between the late Princess Bei Jingwang, from the Qin Family, and Gu Ling that Xing Yusheng started paying attention to Gu Ling''s information.Although Su Liang had saved Xing Yusheng''s life and he admired her and wanted to be her friend, it was far from absolute trust, and discussing deeper matters was inappropriate.Qi Yan usually had no filter, but he had realized his mistake and didn''t dare to speak anymore.Xing Yusheng didn''t want to make matters worse and didn''t explain, pretending to be tired and closed his eyes to rest.The three words "Young Master Gu" left an impression on Su Liang; she had a feeling they were related to Ning Jing.As the carriage entered Qiuming Manor, Xing Yusheng arranged for Su Liang and Ning Jing to stay in a secluded small courtyard with hot springs.Knowing that they had not consummated their marriage, he prepared two adjacent rooms for them.Elder Lady Xing was getting on in years, and Xing Yusheng''s health was not good, so no one used the hot springs in the villa regularly. They needed to be cleaned before they could be used the next day.Taking a hot spring bath was just an excuse Su Liang used; she didn''t really care about it.Seeing Su Liang again, Elder Lady Xing mistakenly thought she had come to change her mind and was very enthusiastic.When she learned that Su Liang was just there for a hot spring bath, she couldn''t hide her disappointment, telling Su Liang to enjoy herself and not feel restrained....Qi Yan was kneeling in front of Xing Yusheng, being scolded by Qi Jun, "How many times has Father told you, calamity comes from loose lips? If you keep speaking carelessly and get caught when we return to the Prince Mansion, you''ll only cause trouble for the Master!""That''s enough," Xing Yusheng frowned, "Since Su Liang agreed to let me look into her past, it means she trusts me. I also believe she won''t do anything about your slip of the tongue today.""But, there is also Ning Jing..." Qi Yan looked worried.Xing Yusheng''s expression was inscrutable, "I can''t see through him, but Su Liang likes him so much that she should trust his character."Qi Yan weakly said, "What if Lady Su is just infatuated with Ning Jing''s good looks...""Didn''t you say Ning Jing''s looks were far inferior to mine?" Xing Yusheng snorted lightly.Qi Jun kicked Qi Yan, motioning him to shut up."Whether it''s Su Liang''s matter or Gu Ling''s news, we cannot let more people know. Which of you two..." Xing Yusheng looked at Qi Jun.Qi Jun hurriedly said, "Master, let my brother go! He''s been to the capital city and is good at gathering information!"Qi Yan''s expression changed, and he heard Qi Jun continuing, "I don''t trust him to take care of the crown prince."Xing Yusheng, watching his two brothers arguing, sighed helplessly, "I''ll deduct three months'' allowance from both of you."..."In response to the Old Madam''s question, Young Master Ning is reading, while Madam Ning is writing," reported the maid who had served the tea.Old Madam Xing nodded, "It''s good that they''re ambitious. Yuyu, you''ve been in poor health these years and have not made many friends. Since Ning Jing plans to take the imperial examination, and Su Liang''s medical skills are so impressive, they can help you."Xing Yusheng sighed lightly, "Grandmother, they saved my life first. I can''t repay them enough, let alone take advantage of them."Old Madam Xing shook her head, "You''re overthinking it. Ning Jing wants to succeed, and you can help him. In return, he''ll help you in the future. It''s a win-win.""Even so, I can''t help Su Liang," said Xing Yusheng. Gossiping was a small matter."If she''s going to be with Ning Jing for the long term, they''ll work as a team," explained Old Madam Xing.Xing Yusheng still disagreed, "Ning Jing can take the imperial examination far away all because of Su Liang''s medical fee for saving my life. How can it be considered a favor from me? If he passes the examination, it''ll be through his own efforts.""You''re still too young, and like to argue about these details. In time, you''ll see that your grandmother only wants what''s best for you. I''ve already sent someone to the Prince''s Mansion to retrieve all the precious medical books, to be gifted to Su Liang," said Old Madam Xing.Xing Yusheng knew that his grandmother had her own agenda, but he couldn''t help but support the book-gifting idea, so he said no more....After dinner, Su Liang suggested that Ning Jing play a few rounds of chess with Xing Yusheng.Since she and Ning Jing both suspected someone might be planning to assassinate Xing Yusheng, the potential crisis might happen at night. However, their residence was a distance away from Xing Yusheng''s, making it difficult for them to protect him."Of course, it''s a good idea," Xing Yusheng said, liking the proposal.However, Ning Jing shook his head, "I''m tired."Xing Yusheng, whose health truly required him to sleep early, had grown accustomed to Ning Jing''s dismissive attitude...Declining Xing Yusheng''s offer to have someone escort them, Ning Jing carried a lantern and walked back to their residence with Su Liang."Do you plan to go in secret?" Su Liang asked quietly."Would you rather I play chess with him until midnight, then say I don''t want to leave and sleep with him?" Ning Jing replied sarcastically.Su Liang imagined Ning Jing and Xing Yusheng sleeping together and couldn''t help laughing, "Why not?"Ning Jing stopped in his tracks and frowned at Su Liang, whose face was full of amusement, "Stop whatever you''re thinking right now."...In the dead of night, a cold wind blew.A dark figure had just entered Qiuming Manor when someone stopped them."Yan Shiba?" A cold, indifferent male voice."And you are?" A slightly hoarse young woman''s voice."Ning Jing." Ning Jing stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight.The figure dressed in black narrowed her eyes, "Impossible!""Ning Yao must have offered the highest price for my life. You killed the wrong person, and according to the rules of Yanyun Building, your death is imminent," Ning Jing said, looking at the figure in black. "I''m no longer your target. Killing Xing Yusheng won''t save you either. Run for your life."The figure sneered coldly, "It seems that Yanyun Building has a traitor. Otherwise, how could you conveniently escape and wait for me here! I won''t kill you tonight, but I will capture you and redeem my sins by bringing you to my foster father!"Ning Jing leaped away, luring the figure in black out of the manor....Su Liang yawned and put down her pen.As the candlelight flickered, Ning Jing jumped in through the open window."So soon? Have you resolved it?" Su Liang asked."More or less," answered Ning Jing."Where''s the assassin?" Su Liang noticed that Ning Jing''s clothes were torn but had no bloodstains."She escaped," said Ning Jing.Su Liang frowned, "Won''t she come back again?"Ning Jing began telling Su Liang about Yanyun Building and the infamous assassin Yan Shiba in recent years.Su Liang was stunned, "You mean the ''Iron Needle'' who killed Yang Feng instead of you last time? She''s a woman?"Ning Jing nodded, "Since her mission failed, the next person to come after me and Xing Yusheng will be the master of Yanyun Building, Yan Sui."Su Liang had a thought, "You deliberately let Yan Shiba go because Yan Sui would kill her, and it would be best if they both ended up injured? What if she can make Yan Sui spare her?"Ning Jing''s expression was aloof, "Talking about emotions with a person who profits from the trade of human lives is as absurd as Old Madam Xing wanting someone like you to become a concubine."Su Liang coughed lightly, "This analogy is very fitting. If Yan Sui comes and you kill him, can you take his place as the leader of the assassins?"The candlelight flickered as Su Liang''s fair face tilted up, her eyes smiling, not hiding her little expectation.Ning Jing turned away, "Go to sleep; you can have whatever you want in your dreams."


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 Chapter 31: 031. Close blood relatives

    Chapter 31: 031. Close blood relatives[Blood is Thicker than Water]It was still dark when Su Liang woke up.The bedding and pillows at Qiuming Manor were too soft, and she was not used to it.Having lost her sleepiness, she got dressed and washed her face with cold water. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by a wave of crisp, cold air.As it would be inconvenient to do her morning exercises in someone else''s house, Su Liang decided to go to the mountain top to watch the sunrise.Before she could step out of the courtyard, a creaking sound made her turn to see Ning Jing standing under the corridor."If you want to leave, you can tell me. I won''t stop you."Su Liang:...She stepped out and ran into an old housemaid."I''m going to the mountain top to watch the sunrise." She informed, wanting to avoid Xing Yu Sheng and his old grandmother thinking she had disappeared."Not far behind her, Ning Jing glanced at the sky and silently followed."If I were to leave, I wouldn''t do so without my belongings." Su Liang said.Ning Jing''s face looked even colder amidst the hazy morning fog, "It was my misunderstanding. But with your 5,000 taels, you don''t need a bundle."That amount of money was enough for Su Liang to enjoy financial freedom for years."You don''t want me to leave?" Su Liang asked.Ning Jing nodded, "I want to hire you to work for me."Su Liang:...Here we go again. She had no plans to leave now but didn''t want to make any promises easily.The two chatted on and off.You''re not repulsed by Xing Yu Sheng''s grandmother?" Ning Jing asked.Because she wanted me to be Xing Yu Sheng''s concubine?" Su Liang shook her head, "That''s not so bad. People are never perfect. She gave up the idea after I refused. She treats me well in hopes that I''ll treat Xing Yu Sheng well. Besides close relatives, who gives without expecting something in return?"Ning Jing nodded slightly, "Even close relatives aren''t necessarily so.""You..." Su Liang stopped suddenly, wanting to ask if Ning Jing was the wanted crown prince, but the question became, "What''s the name of the crown prince mentioned by Qi Yan yesterday?"Gu Ling." Ning Jing''s expression didn''t change.Su Liang repeated the name and smiled lightly, "What a coincidence, it has the same meaning as my name."Ning Jing remained silent, and Su Liang didn''t ask any further questions.However, some things had already been spoken without words.Upon reaching the mountain top, the sky had grown a little brighter.To the east, layers of clouds were stacked like a mountain range, with a faint red glow filtering through the clouds.The sun was about to rise.However, as the light grew brighter, it did not break through the clouds.It was overcast by the time the sky turned completely bright.Su Liang couldn''t help but sigh, "I''m just not fated with sunrises."In her previous life, she loved mountain climbing and had climbed many famous mountains. But every time she eagerly awaited the sunrise, even checking the weather forecast in advance, she was always met with bad fortune¡ªa cloudy day or rain....As Xing Yu Sheng got up and washed his face, a servant reported that the two distinguished guests had gone up the mountain to watch the sunrise."This early?" Xing Yu Sheng was surprised and then exclaimed, "Their relationship is really good!"He imagined that before dawn, Ning Jing and Su Liang hand in hand, maybe Ning Jing carrying Su Liang on his back, climbed the mountain together, enjoying the magnificent moment when the sun burst from the east¡ªthe height of romance...When Xing Yu Sheng saw Su Liang, he smiled and asked, "I heard Ning Jing carried you up the mountain this morning? Was the sunrise beautiful?"Ning Jing, who was drinking tea nearby, still looked as if none of this concerned him.Su Liang''s eyebrows knitted slightly, "Who made up such rumors?"Just as Xing Yu Sheng was about to say he was just joking, he heard Su Liang say earnestly, "It was clearly me who carried him."Cough..." Ning Jing choked on his tea.Xing Yu Sheng''s face was filled with shock, the words "So you really are keeping a pretty boy and spoiling him that much" written all over it...When he realized Su Liang was joking, he started teasing Ning Jing.However, Ning Jing calmly wiped the tea off the table and said, "The mountain path was difficult, and she insisted on carrying me."When one person jokes about it, it''s a joke. But when two people say the same thing, it becomes the truth.Xing Yu Sheng was filled with envy.Later, when Xing Yu Sheng''s grandmother mentioned seeking a marriage alliance with Nian Ruxue again, he solemnly refused, stating that because of his poor health, he needed to marry a crown princess who could carry him up the mountain to watch the sunrise.Xing Yu Sheng''s grandmother looked worried, "Did the poison not get cleared out properly, and now it''s gotten to his brain?"But that''s a story for another time....Xing Yusheng didn''t know what had happened the previous night, and was just thinking about entertaining Ning Jing and Su Liang properly.Since Su Liang suggested going to the hot springs, Xing had already prepared everything for them, so it would be impolite not to go.However, Ning Jing refused, saying that he wanted to play chess today.Xing Yusheng: ...This pretty boy is really spoiled by Su Liang!So, Xing Yusheng, who had been twice rejected when he voluntarily offered to play chess with Ning Jing, could only accompany him with a smile.As a result, Xing Yusheng, who prided himself on his good chess skills, was totally defeated and became very depressed.After Su Liang finished soaking in the hot springs, Xing Yusheng had already left because he had to take medicine.After changing her clothes, Su Liang saw Ning Jing sitting under a tree in the courtyard, reading a book, the colorful leaves falling like dancing butterflies."I''m going to give Xing Yusheng acupuncture," Su Liang said.Ning Jing looked up, "Go later."Su Liang thought he had something, so she went over and sat down, "What''s the matter?""Enjoy the cool breeze," Ning Jing said.Su Liang just felt baffled."Your face," Ning Jing explained, still being as laconic as ever.Su Liang suddenly realized, touched her face and found it was still warm. It seemed that the rosy color from the hot spring had not yet faded."Are you afraid that Xing Yusheng will be attracted to me?" Su Liang grabbed two leaves and handed one to Ning Jing.Ning Jing took it, "It''s not fear, but you two are not suitable.""Aside from being a concubine, in what way are we not suitable?" Su Liang asked."He''s too stupid," Ning Jing said coldly, "If you two are together, you might not be able to help but kill him one day."Su Liang nodded, "Indeed. He doesn''t even know he''s being fed poison daily. If it weren''t for meeting you, I would have seen the Yama King by now."Seeing that Ning Jing was about to put the leaf in his book, Su Liang laughed and said, "Let''s have a tug-of-war."After Ning Jing listened to Su Liang explaining how to have a "tug-of-war" with the leaf stalks, he threw away the leaf she gave him, then picked another one...Su Liang thought Ning Jing would find it too childish and refuse to play, but didn''t expect him to have a strong desire to win.When it was time for Xing Yusheng to come for acupuncture, he walked in to see the two sitting opposite each other at the table, each holding a leaf and pulling...Xing Yusheng was puzzled, "What are you two doing?"After Su Liang finished explaining, he coughed lightly, "Very interesting. Who won?""I did," Su Liang said with a light smile.Xing Yusheng also laughed, suddenly feeling more balanced. No matter how good Ning Jing was at chess, he still lost at the leaf tug-of-war.However, when Xing Yusheng later mentioned the incident as a joke to his two subordinates, Qi Yan laughed, but Qi Jun said, "Crown Prince, Ning Jing might have deliberately let Miss Su win.""Why?" Qi Yan asked, "He didn''t give our prince any face when they played chess together!"Qi Jun looked serious, "Ning Jing was trying to please Miss Su. Of course, he wouldn''t let our prince win."Xing Yusheng: ... Can those two stop being so lovey-dovey before Su Liang is even of age!...Ning Jing said that if Yan Sui personally took action, he would definitely come to kill him first.That day, Ning Jing and Su Liang left Qiuming Manor and went home, taking the carriage sent by Xing Yusheng.Xing Yusheng still went to Su Family Village to give acupuncture on time, and Ning Jing never saw the black mist appear on his forehead again.Lady Xing was very happy, because Xing Yusheng''s complexion improved day by day, and he was no longer so weak that he needed a wheelchair, being able to walk upright now....On a dark and windy night.A petite figure in black clothes knelt on the ground, back straight, "Father, please give me one more chance. I''ll definitely smash Ning Jing into pieces!""Number Eighteen, I had high expectations for you, but I didn''t expect...sigh! If the rules of Yanyun Building are broken, how can I convince my followers?" an old and deep male voice said.After a moment of silence, the old man spoke again, "But, you are my daughter. Although not of my flesh and blood, you are my close relative, and we can''t treat you like others."The figure in black raised her head, her eyes slightly bright, "Father...""Take a break for a while and recover your injuries well. As for Ning Jing and Xing Yusheng, I will personally handle them," the old man said."Thank you, Father," the figure in black stood up."Bring me the account book and give it to Number Seventeen to manage for now," the old man said.The figure in black shook her head, "Father, for safety''s sake, I have destroyed all the account books, and they now exist only in my mind."The old man''s eyes suddenly became deep and dark, "Hehe, in that case, so much the better. Take this medicine to heal your injuries."A bottle of medicine gleamed like jade, and the figure in black slowly approached the old man.When there was only one meter between them, the two drew their swords almost simultaneously and stabbed at each other! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 32: 032. Kill with a borrowed knife

    Chapter 32: 032. Kill with a borrowed knife[Borrowing A Knife to Kill]"Sixth Master, the Seventh Young Master and Su Liang are living well! They even visited Qiuming Manor a few days ago! Today, I learned of a piece of news: Crown Prince Bei Jingwang has recommended someone for the Imperial Examination, using his token in Bei''an County to participate in the Court Examination! That person is most likely the Seventh Young Master!" Zhao Ming''s face is ugly.Ning Huan listened with his usual expression until he heard the second half, his eyes suddenly narrowed, "What? He is participating in the Imperial Examination?""The Seventh Young Master has loved literature since he was a child. He didn''t participate in the examination three years ago, due to the lady''s illness and death. If he really passes the exam this time and becomes an official..." Zhao Ming sighed repeatedly.Ning Huan was silent for a while, his eyes gradually filled with ruthless determination, "Yan Shiba failed, and there is no guarantee that Yanyun Building won''t fail again, so we must think of a plan as soon as possible.""It seems Sixth Master has an idea?" Zhao Ming asked.Ning Huan nodded slowly, "Didn''t you say, Su Liang has sent all her relatives from the Su Family Village to work in the mine?""It was the Su Family''s prodigal son who owed a high-interest loan, but if the Seventh Young Master and Su Liang are willing to help, they won''t end up in such a miserable situation. Moreover, the creditor has always been close with Su Liang." Zhao Ming said.Ning Huan sneered, "Let''s use the tactic of borrowing a knife to kill someone!"...Yesterday, Hu Er visited Su Liang in the village and met Xing Yusheng who was leaving. Knowing his identity, Hu Er was extremely respectful.He had been taking the medicine prescribed by Su Liang, which had alleviated his symptoms, and his complexion improved significantly. He returned specially to express his gratitude and to ask Su Liang to take his pulse again.Today is the first day of the month, and the Court Examination begins on the ninth day.Last time they went to town, Ning Jing bought some books, but they were all miscellaneous texts.Su Liang asked Ning Jing what the Imperial Examination would cover.Ning Jing answered, "I''ll tell you after I''ve taken it."...Su Liang was reading late into the night when she heard someone knock forcefully on the door.She and Ning Jing both opened the door and walked out.Lei Zheng, Su Bai, looked anxious, "Not good! Your house is on fire!"Su Liang subconsciously looked back, fire? Where?"Not here! The house over there!" Su Bai anxiously stomped his foot, "I''ve called people to help put out the fire, you should go over there quickly too!" He turned and rushed away.Standing at the entrance, Su Liang and Ning Jing could see a blazing fire in the distance, right where Su Daqiang''s house was.On their way across the bridge, Bai Dame''s family caught up, carrying basins and buckets in hand, also receiving notification to help put out the fire.In contrast, Su Liang and Ning Jing were empty-handed, casually strolling under the moonlight..."I don''t know who the hell did it!" Bai Damen was very angry."It could be the cow..." Liu''s wife blurted out, but didn''t dare to finish.Su Liang also suspected that it might have been the work of Niu Pozu''s family.It was because Su Liang hadn''t "gifted" that house to Su Xingzhe''s family, causing Su Xingzhe¡ªwho had yet to marry¡ªa concubine that hadn''t even entered the door, which had become a great joke. In the end, they could only patch up the house and make do with it.In any case, everyone in the Su Family Village knew that Niu Pozu hated Su Liang to the core, claiming that if Su Xingzhe didn''t pass the scholar''s exam, it would be Su Liang''s wicked heart that caused it.However, when they arrived at the scene and saw that the neighboring Niu Pozu''s house was also burned, Su Liang felt that it probably wasn''t them.All the members of the family had been rescued, Niu Pozu was crying and cursing, while her grandson''s scream was tragic.Su Liang saw Su Xingzhe. He was fairer than the young men of the same age in the village, not bad-looking, and resembled a weak scholar.But when she thought of Su Xingzhe trying to violate the widow that night, Su Liang felt that this man''s studies had gone to the dogs."Save my house first! Save my house!" Niu Pozu shouted."You don''t need to save that house of mine." Su Liang told Su Bai.The blaze was fierce, and she didn''t want anyone to be injured because of it. After all, it was just an empty house, the only pity was that old pear tree, which had already been swallowed by the fire and could not be saved.Su Bai sighed, commanding the villagers to save Su Xingzhe''s house with all their might.Bai Damen cried out in pain, so Bai He helped her back home.Firelight illuminated the honest faces of the villagers, and Su Liang asked Ning Jing softly, "Is there anyone here with dark foreheads?"Ning Jing surveyed the crowd and shook his head, "No."These people were mostly young and strong, without any sign of disaster or disease."Let''s go back." Su Liang turned around.Niu Pozu, sitting on the ground and crying, suddenly rushed over and grabbed Su Liang''s sleeve firmly, "You offended someone, which caused my house to be burned! You have to pay!"Su Liang: ...To be honest, this old devout woman''s mind was quite nimble...Liu''s wife, who had not left yet, hurriedly stepped forward to pull her, "Auntie Niu, it is not right to speak like that! Who knows if it was your family who offended others? It caused poor Liang''er''s house to be burned!""It was their house that started the fire first!" The old cow screeched.Su Liang seemed thoughtful, "Maybe it''s an enemy of your family who used the blindness trick and deliberately set our house on fire first?"The old cow''s face stiffened as Liu''s wife pulled her away. "Old cow, stop making trouble! When your family''s Wenchu star passes the exam and becomes a scholar in a few days, you''ll have everything you want, won''t you?"There was an eerie tone to Liu''s words.Not having an education didn''t mean she didn''t understand the principle of "killing by applauding."Su Xingzhe''s cold gaze locked onto Liu''s wife for a moment, then landed on Su Liang''s face.Su Liang''s expression was light. "Let''s go."As the old cow''s crying gradually faded away, Su Liang and Ning Jing returned home, still clueless about who had set the fire.Someone was indeed trying to harm them, especially Ning Jing, but what use would it be to burn an empty house?Xing Yusheng, who had been visiting every day recently, thought that Su Liang''s courtyard was too empty and had sent some valuable tree species, which were planted two days ago.Ning Jing locked the door and walked in, took a glance at the trees, and suddenly said, "The moonlight is not bad tonight."Su Liang looked back and looked up at the night sky.The moon was completely blocked by dark clouds.Ning Jing spoke two more words, "Come here."Su Liang didn''t move, "I want to sleep.""No, you''re not sleepy," Ning Jing shook her head.Su Liang: ...Who could tell her what was wrong with this guy?Suddenly there was a slight noise coming from the room behind her, and Su Liang''s expression instantly hardened as she walked towards Ning Jing.The two stood side by side in the courtyard, and Ning Jing spoke, "There are always despicable people trying to harm me, what should I do?""How about... Move to a different place?" Su Liang suggested."What about here then?" Ning Jing asked."The house over there burned down, might as well burn this side down too! It''s not like there''s anything valuable here!" Su Liang said."Well, burn it, then go?" Ning Jing said.Su Liang had a little hint of laughter in her tone, "Great! You''re finally willing to leave this ghostly place! Circle some firewood! I''ll start the fire!"Then, the two slowly walked around the house a few times, finally stopping outside the door."Ignite it!" said Ning Jing.As soon as the words fell, two shadows burst out from two separate rooms!There was no firewood arranged in the courtyard at all. Su Liang and Ning Jing each held a tied rope, precisely looping it around the necks of the two intruders!When Su Liang lit the candle and saw the captured people, she almost didn''t recognize them at first.One was Su Dafu, the other Su Daming.The father and son once had fat all over their bodies; after laboring in the mine for only half a month, they were now thin and ghastly, ugly and sinister, glaring at Su Liang with eyes that seemed to want to tear her apart."You guys..." Su Liang''s expression was inexplicable, "How did you get out?"Hu Er had said that the mine was under the control of the government and heavily guarded; escaping would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.So, was someone "buying" them out?After all, people could be sold in, and if there was enough money, they could naturally be ransomed out.Su Liang hadn''t been worried before because Su Yuanzhou''s incident had left the Su Daqiang family with no wealthy relatives, and even their poor relatives had a terrible relationship with them.But it was clear tonight.Su Dafu and Su Daming were being used as tools to kill Ning Jing and Su Liang. With or without someone''s guidance, they used a "lure-the-tiger-away-from-the-mountain" tactic: starting a fire to make Ning Jing and Su Liang leave the house, taking the opportunity to sneak into their room, and waiting for them to fall asleep so they could strike...If Su Liang were to do such a thing, she would choose to hide under the bed and strike upward with a knife.Ning Jing had been reading in the courtyard during the day, and the chair was not put back, and Su Dafu bumped into it, changing direction, realizing someone entered the courtyard, and then he called Su Liang to stop.Although Su Liang knew martial arts and Ning Jing did not see her life in danger at the time, they were still cautious as they did not know who the intruders were.After claiming to set fire, they finally forced the intruders out."You are not Su Liang! You are a ghost! A demon!" Su Dafu stared fiercely at Su Liang''s face, and laughed coldly, "You can''t fool me! My niece, Su Liang, is dead! We killed her ourselves, leaving her breathless! She''s not this capable! She doesn''t know martial arts at all!"Without waiting for Su Liang to speak, Ning Jing emotionlessly tightened the rope, killing Su Dafu in an instant.Then, he turned to the frightened Su Daming, "You can confess who is behind this, or... go follow your father."


    sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 33: 033. Ning Jing is not at home

    Chapter 33: 033. Ning Jing is not at home[Ning Jing is not at Home]The words Su Dafu said before he died made Su Liang''s heart skip a beat.This is a world where people believe in ghosts and gods.And there are obvious differences in character between her and the Original Master.People in the capital who knew the Original Master would be surprised by Su Liang''s transformation, but it could be explained by the major changes in her temperament after encountering misfortune. After all, she had left the capital for a year.After arriving in the village, Su Liang had no contact with anyone outside of Su Daqiang''s family.However, Su Daqiang and his family witnessed Su Liang dying and coming back to life overnight, as if she had become a different person.At first, they thought that Su Liang had not really died, but now they have changed their minds.It may seem like nonsense, but many people will believe it. Even those who used to be close to Su Liang in the village might consider her a demon.When Ning Jing looked at Su Liang again, there was a dark fog appearing in her brow.Thinking of killing Su Daqiang''s family was not the first time. Last time Ning Jing stopped her because their deaths would implicate her in a murder case.This time, Ning Jing still did not let Su Liang take action."I said, are you really going to spare me?" Su Daming looked terrified."Yes." Su Liang nodded, "He just acted too quickly earlier. I never wanted you to die, I just wanted to see you suffer while alive."As if recalling some terrifying event, Su Daming shook his head continuously, "No... I don''t want to go back to the mine! I won''t go back!"As a result, Su Daming had no idea who had redeemed them, and the person had disguised themselves extremely well, with no distinct features.The other four were still in the mine, waiting for their "missions" to be completed before they could be redeemed.Ning Jing stood up, "Take him and go with me."Shivering, Su Daming picked up Su Dafu''s corpse and followed Ning Jing out of the door.Seeing Su Liang standing up, Ning Jing turned back and said, "Stay at home and wait for Xing Yusheng to come tomorrow. Go and stay at the villa with him."Su Liang thought Ning Jing was just going to deal with the father and son, but it seemed that he wouldn''t be back for a while?Without waiting for Su Liang to ask, Ning Jing dragged Su Daming with a rope, followed by Su Dafu''s corpse, and headed for the back mountain.Su Liang walked out of the house and saw Old Bai and Bai Peng bringing buckets of water back across the bridge.The fire at Su Xingzhe''s house had been put out, and the fire at Su Daqiang''s house was gradually shrinking as it almost burned out."Why are you standing there, Liang girl? Is everything alright?" Old Bai asked loudly.Su Liang replied, "It''s fine; I''ll go back after taking a look."As for the real culprit behind the arson, there was no need to reveal it.The house of Granny Niu was not affected. According to Bai Dameng, Su Daming, who indulged in eating, drinking, and gambling, was disgusted with "other people''s children" like Su Xingzhe, and the two families had deep conflicts.If Granny Niu''s family knew who did it, they would blame Su Liang again.Many villagers who were oppressed by Su Daqiang''s family would inevitably blame Su Yuanzhou for continuously providing them with money. And indeed, there were consequences....When she woke up, the sky was bright.Su Liang opened the door, and the courtyard was quiet. The newly planted pines and cypresses were surrounded by a dark green glow in the sunlight.Ning Jing''s room was empty, and the book he hadn''t finished reading last night was on the table. The bookmark inside was a ginkgo leaf picked by Su Liang in Mrs. Xing''s courtyard at Qiuming Manor.The golden "little fan" was surrounded by ink-colored words, and it still looked like it was floating in mid-air.She heated up two of the steamed buns from the day before without cooking anything else.As she was eating, Bai Dameng came to the door."Their house is really unlivable now! It''s burnt beyond recognition, and they can only move back to Su Erhui''s house to borrow a place to stay!"Su Liang nodded, "That''s fine, in-laws."Bai Dameng smirked, "What kind of in-laws are they! Forget it! It''s just a pity that your lovely house has been burned down to nothing!""I''ll give the deed to Lei Zheng and ask him to help sell it," Su Liang said."That''s a good idea since you two don''t need it anymore. If it wasn''t next to Su Xingzhe''s house, my family could have bought it to build a house for our second child to live in after getting married." Bai Dameng regretted."Is the marriage settled?" Su Liang asked with a smile.Bai Dameng sighed, "Not yet! The girl I like, our second child doesn''t agree with. He''s still hung up on that one... "Bai Dameng''s voice paused, and she laughed awkwardly, "This kind of thing can''t be rushed."Su Liang knew that Bai Dameng was against Bai He and Liu Huilan being together but didn''t want to say it directly. It seemed that Bai He hadn''t given up yet.Regarding this, Su Liang only had some polite words to say.After Bai Dame left, Su Liang went to Su Daqiang''s house once more.The furniture had all been sold off. The walls were scorched black.Not long ago, the old pear tree that had been laden with fruit was now reduced to half a carbonized stump.In the backyard, half of the collapsed shack''s wooden board was left unburned in the corner, with a purple-black eggplant squashed underneath.Su Liang gently sighed, and was about to turn around and leave when she spotted something and walked over.At the location of the original master''s bed, there was a hint of purple in the pitch-black brick seam, which looked like the partially scorched eggplant had been buried.But the color was wrong.She picked up a stick to pry apart the broken bricks and poked around, revealing a grayish-purple jade pendant in front of her eyes.Once cleaned, its mysterious and beautiful violet color was undoubtedly genuine and valuable.This couldn''t belong to Su Daqiang''s family. It must have been hidden on the original master''s body, then buried under the bed when she saw the true colors of her family, and hadn''t been found.Su Liang packed the jade pendant away, planning to keep it with the remaining embroidery of the original master. If she met someone who genuinely cared about the original master, she would give it to them.Upon looking around, she found nothing else.She took the land deed and the original house deed to Lei Zheng Su Bai''s house.After stating her purpose, Su Bai said the land was well-located and easy to sell, being close to Su Xingzhe''s house.He sighed, "Liang Girl, I''m your clan uncle, don''t blame me for being nosy, but has Young Master Ning ever mentioned taking you home with him?"Su Liang shook her head.Su Bai looked at her sympathetically, "In that case... Sigh! You two should live a good life together!"Su Liang knew that if Ning Jing''s parents disowned her as their daughter-in-law, she would have no connection to Ning Jing.Su Bai asked about Xing Yusheng, and upon learning that Su Liang had medical skills, his eyes lit up!"Liang Girl, this isn''t something you can''t tell others, is it?" Su Bai asked, "Our village is small and has never had a doctor. For treatment, we have to go far away! If you could treat people, that would be great!"He then looked at Su Liang expectantly.Su Liang thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright."Su Bai clapped his hands in excitement, "Good, good, good! I''ll tell everyone! If someone comes for treatment, charge the consultation fees!"Su Liang knew that practicing medicine in the village wouldn''t earn much money, but there would be lots of opportunities for practice. There were still gaps between what she had learned in her past life and the actual situation in this world.After returning home, Su Liang waited, but the punctual Xing Yusheng didn''t show up.Approaching noon, Su Liang was cooking when she heard a knock on the door.It was Qi Jun. He had rushed over on horseback, looking hasty."My family''s old lady and the crown prince left for the capital early this morning," Qi Jun said.Su Liang was taken aback, "What happened?"Qi Jun sighed, "The emperor is selecting a husband for his favorite Sixth Princess and has sent someone to summon the crown prince."Su Liang saw Qi Jun''s solemn expression and knew that the princess''s marriage selection was probably just an excuse.Xing Yusheng had mentioned that his maternal family was in the capital, but he had never been there.Su Liang guessed that the emperor wanted to "kidnap" the vassal king''s son using a grandiose reason."I''ll write another prescription for you to take with you. Acupuncture will assist in a quicker recovery, but it won''t hurt without it," Su Liang said, turning and entering the room.Qi Jun came here for two reasons: one was to inform Su Liang, and the other was for Xing Yusheng''s illness.Su Liang quickly wrote out the prescription and handed it to Qi Jun, adding, "Actually, your crown prince''s recovery may have been too fast, which isn''t necessarily a good thing."Qi Jun''s expression changed, and he bowed, "Thank you for the reminder, Miss Su. I will pass the message on to the old lady and the crown prince.""Please ask them to take care," Su Liang handed Qi Jun a few steamed buns for him to eat on the road.She also asked if Ning Jing using Xing Yusheng''s jade token for the Imperial Examination would be affected, and Qi Jun assured her it wouldn''t and not to worry.After saying his thanks, Qi Jun quickly rode off.As he left Su Family Village, he realized he hadn''t seen Ning Jing this time.And Su Liang only remembered after Qi Jun left that Ning Jing had asked her to go to Qiuming Manor with Xing Yusheng today, but the latter had suddenly left without even a chance to say goodbye.When night fell, Su Liang had a simple dinner and sat in her room reading a miscellaneous book Ning Jing had bought her.Unconsciously, it had gotten late. She put down the book and went to wash up.Just as she was about to enter the kitchen, she suddenly heard the sound of a heavy object falling in the backyard!Su Liang''s eyes narrowed as she grabbed the iron awl from the table and hid it in her sleeve, blew out the lamp, hid behind the door, and held her breath... sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 34: Come with me

    Chapter 34: Come with me[Follow me]The door was half-open, allowing the bright moonlight to cast a swath of white inside.As the footsteps approached, the white on the ground trembled and was engulfed by a large, dark shadow.The shadow''s outline was that of a person''s elongated upper body.Su Liang clenched her iron cone, her eyes fixed on the figure but not seeing it move.A faint and weak female voice said a moment later, "Ning Jing?"Su Liang was a bit confused. Could it be Ning Jing''s friend?"Yan Sui wants to kill me...and you...We can only survive if we join forces..."The sound of someone falling to the ground reached her ears as the flat shadow suddenly gained substance.The smell of blood filled the room. Su Liang pressed the iron cone against the person''s throat, making sure she was really unconscious before she finally exhaled a sigh of relief.This iron cone had been used to pierce through Yang Feng''s neck in this very room.And tonight, its owner, Yan Shiba, had come.Ning Jing''s guess wasn''t wrong. Yan Shiba wanted to talk about feelings with Yan Sui, and here was the result.To kill or to save, that was the question.Yang Feng''s death was of no consequence to Su Liang. He had betrayed Yang Yu''s savior for personal gain, which would have indirectly led to Ning Jing''s death.Yan Shiba would no longer kill Ning Jing, but Yan Sui still had a high chance of hunting him down.So, it was quite realistic for Yan Shiba to say "we can only survive if we join forces."Su Liang lit a lamp.Yan Shiba was wrapped in a thick cotton quilt, blood seeping through but not dripping onto the ground.Su Liang thought that this was her way of avoiding leaving any traces to throw off pursuers.If Yan Shiba had left a blood trail while coming here, Su Liang would have had to run away immediately. Staying here would be too dangerous.Removing Yan Shiba''s mask revealed a deathly pale face.This famous assassin of the past two years seemed to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, with a soft, round face and gentle, dull features. Lying still with her eyes closed, she looked delicate, beautiful, and harmless.Opening Yan Shiba''s cotton quilt, the sharp smell of blood intensified. There were four penetrative wounds on her chest that she had hastily staunched herself. The clothes inside were saturated with blood, their original color indistinguishable.Yan Shiba had no weapons like knives or swords on her, only a small hammer.It was a matching set with the iron cone in Su Liang''s hand.Su Liang put the hammer and cone aside and fetched a straw mat to lay Yan Shiba on.Now, the leftover medicine and gauze from treating Yang Feng would come in handy.After cleaning and staunching Yan Shiba''s wounds, Su Liang was drenched in sweat. These injuries were far more severe than Yang Feng''s, yet Yan Shiba had held on to find Ning Jing, while also evading her pursuers. Her determination was astonishing.However, Yan Shiba certainly wasn''t Ning Jing''s friend.Su Liang guessed that Yan Shiba had chosen to come to this place at her most desperate moment, having witnessed Ning Jing''s strength before, betting that he would save her before joining forces to combat Yan Sui.After all, this was an assassin who couldn''t even trust her own foster father. How could she have any true friends willing to help her?As dawn approached, Su Liang had done all she could. Exhausted, she sat by the table and drank a cup of leftover cold tea from the night before.There was a knock on the door. Before leaving, she glanced again at Yan Shiba on the floor, whose eyes remained closed.Opening the door, she saw Er Niu, who had once gone pear-picking with Bai Xiaohu.Er Niu''s knee was dirty, as if he had fallen, and his eyes were red. Choking on his words, he couldn''t even speak."Don''t worry, what happened?" Su Liang asked."My grandfather... my grandfather is about to die..." Er Niu burst into tears.Su Liang had heard from Bai Xiaohu that both of Er Niu''s parents had succumbed to illness, so he had been relying on his grandfather for survival.Perhaps Lei Zheng had gone house to house telling people they could come to see her for medical treatment? Or maybe Bai Xiaohu had told Er Niu about her medical skills.After asking Er Niu to wait, Su Liang put on an outer layer to cover the bloodstains on her clothes, picked up her silver needle, locked the door from the outside, and ran with Er Niu towards his home.As the door locked shut, Yan Shiba suddenly opened her eyes and looked around. She had thought the person behind the door last night was Ning Jing, but it turned out to be a woman...Er Niu and his grandfather lived in a broken cave halfway up the mountainside, not even having a bed to sleep on.The emaciated old man lay on a pile of dry grass, covered by a worn quilt, with only the occasional sound of coughing proving that he was alive."Grandpa, Sister Su Liang is here to treat you!" Er Niu knelt beside him, gripping his hand and crying.The old man struggled to lift his head to look at Su Liang and muttered, "The granddaughter of...Distant Voyage..."Er Niu also had the last name Su, and his grandfather was called Su Dakuan. His family had been reduced to poverty due to illness, and they had sold everything they could.Su Liang called him Grandpa Dakuan, took his pulse, and found that he didn''t have any serious illness. Long-term exhaustion and hunger had destroyed his health.Erniu is quite robust. It must be because his grandfather works tirelessly and even skimps on his own meals to provide for his grandson.Su Liang applied a silver needle on Su Dakuan, asked Erniu to boil some hot water, and let him drink some."I''ll go home and write a prescription, and ask Little Tiger''s father to help get the medicine," Su Liang said.Erniu looked at Su Liang with teary eyes, "Will my grandpa not die?"Su Liang shook her head and went on to persuade Su Dakuan, "If you pass away, Erniu will be left all alone in this world, and there will be no one to care for him when he is bullied. It would be so much better to live, recover, and watch him grow up and get married!"Su Dakuan held Erniu in his arms, crying bitterly.The sun came out, and it was warm and cozy.Su Liang and Erniu moved Su Dakuan outside, and she asked Erniu to watch over him, saying she would come back later.The villagers she met on her way back home asked if Su Liang was indeed able to treat illnesses.Su Liang said she knew a little.After returning home, she first wrote a prescription, then went to Bai Peng and asked him to fetch the medicine from the town.As it happened, Bai Peng was going to get medicine for Zhuzi today; he hurriedly agreed and insisted on refusing the money Su Liang offered for his trouble.Su Liang returned home and saw that Yan Shiba was still asleep, so she started cooking.Xing Yusheng had previously delivered a lot of grain, so Su Liang cooked a pot of white porridge and made some egg pancakes.She ate a pancake, then scooped out half of the porridge, placed a few pancakes in a basket, and went to Erniu''s house again.When Erniu saw the golden-brown egg pancakes, his eyes widened, and he couldn''t help swallowing."Give your grandfather some porridge, and let him eat a little less of the pancakes," Su Liang instructed Erniu.Erniu lowered his head awkwardly, "My family has no money..."Su Liang patted his shoulder, "Just write an IOU. Once your grandfather is better, you both can work together to pay me back.""Sure...sure...we''ll pay back," Su Dakuan said weakly, but his eyes were full of determination as he looked at Su Liang.Erniu also nodded firmly, "Yes!"Su Liang knew that these two, grandfather and grandson, did not want to take advantage of others. Otherwise, even if they sold their misery, they wouldn''t be living in such abject conditions.In this way, it would give them a motivation.It also prevented others in the village from demanding equal treatment when they found out that Su Liang was treating Su Dakuan for free.Su Liang didn''t lack money, but it was a separate matter whether she charged for her medical services or not.Later, Bai Peng returned with the medicine and also brought a clay pot.Su Liang taught Erniu how to decoct the medicine before leaving and told him to call her immediately if anything went wrong.When Su Liang returned home and entered the room, Yan Shiba was already awake, looking at her.His appearance was gentle, but his eyes were as sharp as blades."You''re awake?" Su Liang''s expression was indifferent.Yan Shiba opened his mouth to speak, and his voice was hoarse, "Where''s Ning Jing?""I don''t know." Su Liang shook her head, "But I know who you are. If you want to find him, just wait here.""You have medical skills?" Yan Shiba stared intently at Su Liang."Otherwise, you would have met the Yama King already," Su Liang said."Why did you save me?" Yan Shiba asked coldly."I mentioned this earlier. You''re searching for Ning Jing, but since he''s not home, you''ll have to wait, and for that, you need to be alive. If he comes back and says I shouldn''t save you, then I''ll kill you again," Su Liang snorted, "If the people hunting you down arrived, I would hand you over to save myself.""Your medical skills are impressive," remarked Yan Shiba as the fierceness in his eyes faded a little.Su Liang remained silent.Yan Shiba continued, "Why not come with me?"Su Liang: ...What the hell?"Once my wounds heal, I don''t need to ally with Ning Jing, but I do need a doctor," Yan Shiba''s eyes were deep and mysterious, "You are a good choice."Su Liang couldn''t help but roll her eyes."If you want money, I have plenty. If you like handsome men, aside from the missing Gu Ling, the capital city''s number one beauty, I can capture any other notable beauties for you to play with, as long as you desire," Yan Shiba said arrogantly, yet somehow, one couldn''t help but believe that she could deliver on her words.A thought struck Su Liang, "Do you know Gu Ling?""He was a previous target, but I never found him," Yan Shiba said."Because you fear Ning Jing and had nowhere to go, you came to him. Thinking that I am easier to control, you''ve decided to choose me instead?" Su Liang saw through Yan Shiba''s thoughts."Heh, very smart. I like you even more now," Yan Shiba said in a gloomy tone, "Men in this world are all unreliable. If you follow me, you won''t regret it."Before Su Liang could say anything, a familiar, cold male voice came from outside the door, "No need to save her, just kill her." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 35: 035. Who is the employer

    Chapter 35: 035. Who is the employer[Who is the employer]Ning Jing was standing outside the door, exhausted from his journey."Here to find you, kill or mutilate however you like." Su Liang came out, temporarily not asking where Ning Jing was the past two days.Ning Jing handed over a cloth bag.Su Liang took it, opened it, and inside were over a dozen yellow wild fruit. She didn''t recognize them, but they looked delicious.She took them to the kitchen, washed them clean, and put them in a small bamboo basket. She tried one - they were soft, glutinous, and juicy, with a sour and sweet taste.When Su Liang decided to listen to Ning Jing and Yan Shiba talking, Ning Jing came out of her room and went back to his own.Su Liang ate a fruit and entered the room, seeing Yan Shiba lying on the ground with a cold face and not killed."I''m hungry." Yan Shiba looked at Su Liang.Su Liang called Ning Jing, "Your guest is hungry. Will you feed her something?""It was you who saved her; you decide." Ning Jing''s voice came through the wall.Su Liang''s expression was uncertain, "What did he just say to you?"Yan Shiba snorted softly, "He told me not to think of doing anything to you. He treated me as if I were to take away his woman.""I am mine, not anyone else''s." Su Liang shook her head."Very good." Yan Shiba''s lips curved slightly, "I thought you fell in love with Ning Jing, but it turns out he can''t leave you. In that case, I want to take you away even more."Su Liang was speechless. What kind of absurd competitive desire was this? What did they consider her to be?Since Ning Jing didn''t kill Yan Shiba, it meant he was saving her. Su Liang couldn''t let her starve to death.She heated the white porridge and brought it over, feeding her a bowl.Only then did Yan Shiba know Su Liang''s name and expressed her liking for it...After drinking the porridge, Yan Shiba drank another bowl of medicine and fell asleep again.By the time Su Liang saw Ning Jing again, he had washed and changed clothes, recovered his original appearance, and was sitting in the kitchen drinking the remaining white porridge."Where did you go?" Su Liang asked."I was dealing with that family." Ning Jing said."That family..." Su Liang hesitated, "You went to the mine?"Only Su Dafu and Su Daming were released, with four more working as labor in the mine.Ning Jing nodded lightly.Su Liang was very surprised. She had heard from Hu Er that the nearest mine was in Bei''an County, not far from here. Ning Jing didn''t have a car or a horse, had only been gone two days and a night, and had even sneaked into the mine to kill people. No wonder he was so exhausted when he came back; it must have been because he hadn''t slept at all."The night Su Dafu and Su Daming were released, Xu Shi and Su Xiaodie died." Ning Jing said.The survival of the fittest in the mine was very cruel, with mostly men of strong and youthful age and very few women. Su Dafu and Su Daming were able to protect Xu Shi and Su Xiaodie while they were around, but as soon as they left, the fate of those two women was predictable.Su Daqiang and Su Xiaoming, both old and young, were also beaten half to death.Ning Jing disguised as a soldier to sneak in. When he found them, the grandfather and grandson duo tried to save themselves by revealing that there was a demon in Su Village..."Who ordered Su Dafu and Su Daming to kill you?" Su Liang asked."Ning Huan, Xingliu." Ning Jing answered tersely, "Zhao Ming came with them.""And them?" Su Liang asked."Dead." Ning Jing''s expression was indifferent, "Su Dafu mentioned you to Ning Huan."Su Liang understood at heart. If it was known by the Ning family, they would definitely make a fuss about it.This matter must be settled thoroughly and not handed over to others, causing more people to know."Thanks." Su Liang said.Ning Jing went to deal with the people who wanted to kill him, but if it wasn''t for Su Liang''s secret, he wouldn''t have to go to such lengths."As for Yan Shiba..." Su Liang asked."Keep her for now." Ning Jing said, "She''s highly skilled in martial arts. If you need to leave one day, she can protect you."Su Liang raised her eyebrows, "Didn''t you say talking about feelings with an assassin is too naive?""I meant she shouldn''t talk about feelings with Yan Sui. She still retains her humanity and has some naivety. Make some friends, and you may need them later." Ning Jing explained.No matter if it was Yang Yu, Xing Yusheng, or Yan Shiba, they all came into contact with Su Liang because of Ning Jing.Su Liang knew that Ning Jing wanted to save these people, not because they were of special ability or had saved people, but because they were unrelated to their identities. He didn''t want to make friends with them and didn''t need repayment.At the same time, he had been providing Su Liang with opportunities to help others.He had repeatedly said that he hoped Su Liang would stay to work for him, but he was also paving the way for her life after leaving him."Didn''t you want me to stay? You should have made me dependent on you, with no support but following you." Su Liang said.Ning Jing''s expression was indifferent, "You can consider it a case of mercy."Su Liang: ...So openly calculating? Very well!"Let''s talk about it later." Su Liang had her judgment, but since Ning Jing said so, she decided to put aside the few points of emotion that had just sprung up in her and consider it again.In a moment, she asked Ning Jing if he was confident enough to deal with Yan Sui."Yan Shiba also injured Yan Sui''s fatal point; he won''t come for now." Ning Jing said, "You should heal her as soon as possible. When the time comes, let her deal with the trouble from Yanyun Building on her own."This was also one of the reasons for keeping Yan Shiba. She would fight against those people from Yanyun Building who wanted to kill Ning Jing."Okay." Su Liang indicated she would do her best.After making dinner, Su Liang let Ning Jing go to Erniu''s house to deliver food. Ning Jing found out that while he was away for two days, everyone in the village knew about Su Liang''s medical skills, and she had already started practicing medicine.When Ning Jing went to Erniu''s house, he put down the food and was about to leave when Erniu chased him out, "Brother Ning! You have to treat Sister Su Liang well!"Ning Jing looked back and saw Erniu''s round eyes shining brightly in the dim twilight, filled with deep concern and waiting for his answer.Ning Jing nodded slightly before turning around and leaving.At the door of his home, Su Liang rushed out again in a hurry. A child in the village had a fever, and she was asked to come over and examine him.Ning Jing did not go with her, took the food by himself, and heard Yan Shiba calling him from next door.After finishing his meal and sending the dishes to the kitchen, he went to Su Liang''s room.Yan Shiba''s voice was cold, "You and Su Liang are not husband and wife.""What does it have to do with you?" Ning Jing retorted."She suits my temperament very well, so once I recover, I will take her away. Don''t blame me for not informing you in advance," Yan Shiba said."She won''t go with you," Ning Jing said.Yan Shiba sneered, "Well, let''s wait and see!"By the time Su Liang returned home, it was completely dark, and Ning Jing had gone to bed.Dinner was still warm in the pot, she ate some and went to feed Yan Shiba, also helped her get up and go to the backyard for a restroom break.Yan Shiba looked up at the sky, her pale face was illuminated by the cold moonlight, making her look even more lifeless. "Actually, I knew that I might die when I went back that time."Su Liang paused and looked at the moon as well.The crescent moon reminded her of how her grandmother had held her when she was young, telling her the story of Chang''e flying to the moon. Her grandmother''s voice was old and warm, but she had lost all her relatives ever since her grandmother passed away"Do you know why I still went back?" Yan Shiba asked Su Liang, as though she were asking herself too.Su Liang replied, "You thought you were special.""Heh, how ridiculous!" Yan Shiba sneered, "He raised me with his own hands and always talked about father-daughter affection with me. But when I wanted to talk about my feelings, he turned his back on me.""Emotions are just tools he uses to control you. If you believe in them, you lose," Su Liang remembered those so-called relatives who had morally kidnapped her in her past life."But even if I know the result, I will still go back," Yan Shiba''s eyes turned cold. "If he''s still my adoptive father, that would be good. But if he turns his back on me, it''s life or death. I won''t choose to flee and hide, letting him feel good!"The ruthless Yan Shiba is not reckless. She is gambling and prepared for defeat."The previous owner of Yanyun Building, my father. Yan Sui once swore to my dead father that he would protect me with his life. Now that I think about it, if it weren''t for the elders my father had recruited, he would have killed me long ago. This time his attempt to kill Ning Jing failed, and he finally has a reason to take action against me. But I have been prepared for this; all the secrets of Yanyun Building are in my head, and he can''t afford the consequences of them leaking out!" Yan Shiba said coldly.Su Liang was intrigued, "You mean, information about the past employers?"Yan Shiba looked at her deeply, "Do you want to cooperate with me? Just kill Yan Sui, and I will be the building''s owner! By then, you can walk across this world diagonally!"Su Liang finally understood that Yan Shiba was testing her and tempting her.Yet, to be honest, the future owner of Yanyun Building has great appeal, ensuring safety and huge wealth.But Su Liang refused, "Crabs walk diagonally. I wish you success." "If you don''t help me, you won''t get any benefits in the future!" Yan Shiba snorted coldly, "Don''t be fooled by Ning Jing''s appearance! He, a son of a merchant who was expelled from his family, has such hidden martial arts skills. His intentions must be enormous! He married you because your medical skills are useful. Be careful not to end up just being a pawn!""If he is as you say, what''s the difference between you and him?" Su Liang countered.Yan Shiba laughed, "Little sister, the biggest difference between him and me, of course, is gender. He wants to deceive your heart and your body completely consumed and then kicks you away. Don''t come crying to me! If you''re with me, your sister will ensure that you live a free and happy life!" After thinking for a while, Su Liang said, "It sounds really good. How about this: after you recover, help me with one thing. If it succeeds, I will agree to your request."Yan Shiba nodded, "You say.""I always admire the rumored Crown Prince Gu. Bring him to me," Su Liang said.Yan Shiba was slightly startled, "Gu Ling? You like him?" "I want to see how good-looking the first beauty in the capital rumored is," Su Liang said.Yan Shiba laughed, "Interesting. Then it''s a deal!"As if unintentionally, Su Liang asked, "By the way, who hired Yanyun Building to kill Gu Ling?"Without thinking, Yan Shiba blurted out, "Nian Ruxue."Su Liang was surprised, she knew this name, Gu Ling''s fiancee. What grudge could there be? "I promise, as long as I help you find Gu Ling, you''ll leave Ning Jing and go with me," Yan Shiba once again confirmed with Su Liang after lying down.Su Liang absentmindedly nodded, "Mhm."But she knew that the person in the next room might be the missing Gu Ling, and Yan Shiba would never find out....Captial city of Qian Country.After Nian Jincheng returned from the palace to report his mission, he had just sat down to drink some water when a servant reported that the fourth young lady had come.Nian Ruxue, dressed in white, entered and dismissed the servant, staring coldly at Nian Jincheng, "Second brother, where''s my jade hairpin?"Nian Jincheng shook his head, "It''s just a hairpin. Just forget about it if you lost it.""It was you who took it, give it back!" Nian Ruxue''s face showed anger.Nian Jincheng didn''t deny it anymore, "I didn''t want to see you hurt by Gu Ling anymore, so I threw it away."Nian Ruxue pulled off a sword from the wall and pointed it at Nian Jincheng, "Second brother, don''t lie to me, you know where he is. Tell me or I''ll die right in front of you!"Nian Jincheng saw that Nian Ruxue had placed the sharp sword against her own neck, and his face changed, "What are you doing? Put it down!"Nian Ruxue''s eyes were resolute, "Second brother, father is forcing me to be an imperial concubine for the crown prince, can you really bear to see me marry someone I don''t love? Just tell me where he is, and I''ll go find him, even if it means roaming the world with him, I''m willing!"Nian Jincheng snatched Nian Ruxue''s sword and said coldly, "I don''t know! Can you wake up? The jade hairpin was given to you by Gu Ling''s mother, not by him! He left you, expressing his intentions. You are willing to roam the world for him, but do you know he doesn''t want it at all?. Don''t be foolish!"Nian Ruxue seemed to have all her strength drained in an instant, her eyes welling up with tears, "I hired people from Yanyun Building to find him, but there''s been no news... "Nian Jincheng looked at Nian Ruxue incredulously, "Are you crazy? You''re going to have him killed?""No, I know the assassins won''t kill him. I just want him to come back and find me. He''ll understand," Nian Ruxue murmured.Nian Jincheng frowned, "Cancel your order to Yanyun Building now!"Nian Ruxue shook her head, "Unless second brother tells me where he is, you must know."Nian Jincheng had a vision of a frail figure in a wedding dress, he said impassively, "Perhaps by now, he''s already married and has children."Nian Ruxue stared at Nian Jincheng in disbelief, "You...what did you say? He...he got married?"Nian Jincheng didn''t answer any more and left with a flick of his sleeve."It''s impossible... it''s impossible... he''s so proud, who could possibly catch his eye?" Nian Ruxue shook her head, but couldn''t help her tears from flowing. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 36: 036. Cool Sister

    Chapter 36: 036. Cool Sister[Liang Sister]"Liang Sister, let''s sleep together.""Liang Sister, with such a serious injury, can you bear to see me lying on the cold ground?""Liang Sister..."Su Liang sat up, looking impatient, "Shut up!"Instead of being annoyed by the words, Yan Shiba''s eyes sparkled with even more interest. "Liang Sister, your name is so beautiful. What''s wrong with calling it? Liang Sister, Little Liang''er, Liang Beauty..."With a blank expression, Su Liang got out of bed, found a piece of cloth, pinched Yan Shiba''s chin, stuffed it into her mouth, turned around, and lay down, all in one breath.Yan Shiba still wasn''t angry. If she could make a sound, it would be a hearty laugh.There was no bed, but the ground wasn''t cold. Su Liang had put the clean old bedding on for her with the new quilts and mattresses sent by Xing Yusheng.The next morning, Su Liang removed the cloth and the first thing Yan Shiba did was call out, "Liang Sister."Su Liang threw the cloth on her face and walked out the door.Entering the kitchen, Ning Jing was boiling water."Why not let her sleep in your room?" Su Liang suggested.Ning Jing replied with silence."Then, let her sleep in the firewood room!" Su Liang said.Ning Jing nodded, "Very well."So, after Su Liang fed Yan Shiba breakfast and heard her call "Liang Sister" a few more times, she put down her bowl and carried her horizontally with the bedding.Yan Shiba looked surprised and delighted, "Is Liang Sister going to carry big sister out to bask in the sun?"It was a cloudy day, and Yan Shiba didn''t see the sun. Su Liang put her in the firewood room.The bedding was laid on the wooden planks, and she was placed beside the pile of firewood."Liang Sister, do you hate big sister so much? If you don''t like something about big sister, I''ll change it..." Yan Shiba pinched her throat and pretended to be heartbroken.Su Liang looked at the fearsome assassin, who was now being coquettish towards her, which was simply terrifying..."You can move too, so go to the toilet by yourself," Su Liang said.Yan Shiba looked at her somberly, "Since Liang sister knew I could move, but still insisted on carrying me, then she must have wanted to hold me, right?"Su Liang touched her forehead, wondering why this person was so talkative. Was this in line with an assassin''s professional ethics?"I''m going to town. If someone comes, you don''t have to pay attention to them," Su Liang said."Is Ning Jing going with you? Then big sister wants to go too," Yan Shiba said.Su Liang left her with her back, allowing her to understand on her own.This morning, Ning Jing had delivered lunch to Erniu''s house and brought some grain, then let Erniu cook it by himself. Su Dakuan looked a bit better than yesterday.Before they left the house, the family who had called Su Liang last night came to the door, saying the child''s fever had gone down.Ning Jing put on a straw hat and hurried the cart across the bridge.Su Liang sat in the cart, eating the wild fruits brought back by Ning Jing yesterday, asking him where he had picked them."The mine," Ning Jing said.Su Liang thought: ...He even picked fruits on the way to kill someone. He really has a taste for leisure.On the way, they met Su Xingzhe walking to town, who stepped aside to let them pass. Ning Jing didn''t show any intention of giving him a ride with the cart as he drove on.Su Xingzhe lowered his head to cover the gloom in his eyes, and when he raised his head again, he had resumed his gentle scholar demeanor.When they arrived at Feiyan Town, Ning Jing drove the carriage straight to the pharmacy.Working as a doctor in the village, Su Liang needed a medicine box and some basic medicinal materials, which they came to purchase today.They bought quite a few things, but there was no medicine box in the pharmacy. The manager said that it needed to be made by a carpenter.They had lunch at Feiyan Restaurant.As soon as Su Liang entered, the manager greeted her enthusiastically, disappointed to find out that she wasn''t there to sell vegetable recipes. The two medicinal diet recipes she had provided had brought a lot of business to the restaurant.While eating, Su Liang heard someone say that Magistrate Huang was leaving office and being transferred on the first day of the month, and a new magistrate would be taking office in the next few days.Also, on the day when Magistrate Huang was transferred, a gang of robbers had entered the Yuanwai Family''s home in Feiyan Town and stolen quite a few items."Serves him right! Who made Yuanwai Huang do so many evil things these years by relying on the magistrate''s power?"Su Liang listened and saw a familiar face entering the restaurant. It was Hu Er."Mr. Ning, Mrs. Ning!" Hu Er saw them and quickly approached, bowing his hands in salute.The other guests in the restaurant were surprised, not knowing the identity of Ning Jing and Su Liang, which made Hu Er, the local bully, so respectful."We''re just here for a meal, and we''ll be going back soon," Su Liang said with a smile."Please let me treat you!" Hu Er hastily said and motioned for the waiter to add dishes."No need," Su Liang shook her head.Hu Er chuckled and said to the waiter who ran over, "Tell your manager, these two are my friends, from now on whenever they eat at Feiyan Restaurant, put it on my tab!"The waiter was quite surprised and quickly agreed before looking for the manager.Hu Er then invited Su Liang and Ning Jing to his house as guests, but Su Liang declined, saying she had things to do today....At this moment, the sick Yan Shiba, who had been left alone at home, was drinking cold white porridge and peering through the crack in the firewood room door, squinting at the lush greenery of the pines outside and muttering, "Sooner or later, I''ll slaughter Ning Jing and kidnap that girl!"...Bei''an County.In the County School, the candidates who were about to take the Court Examination sat with serious expressions, listening to the precautions.There were two distinct groups, which could be seen from their clothing and appearance.On one side, they wore the uniform of the County School, blue shirts and white linings, and blue square hats.On the other side, they wore coarse clothes, some even patched.The former were all attending the County School with the Masters, who could afford the expensive fees. The latter couldn''t afford the fees, so they had to study at home and only set foot in the County School at this time.Su Xingzhe was one of the latter.He had studied at the town school and only attended the County School for half a year, as he could no longer afford the tuition and had returned home.The main examiner was an elderly scholar with gray hair. After he finished speaking, he let everyone disperse.As Su Xingzhe was about to leave, he heard someone call his name. It was the old master who had been sitting next to the main examiner.The others'' gazes at Su Xingzhe suddenly changed.Feeling apprehensive, Su Xingzhe followed the old master in the direction where the main examiner had left."What''s his background?""He''s from Su Family Village, such a poor wretch!""Why does the chief examiner want to see him?""Who knows!"Other students discussed and lingered nearby, waiting to see when Su Xingzhe would come out....Su Xingzhe entered and bowed humbly, only to hear the chief examiner ask, "Do you live in Su Family Village?""Yes, I live in Su Family Village." Su Xingzhe thought of the essays that all the examinees had submitted half a month ago. Could it be that his essay had caught the chief examiner''s eye?With this thought, he couldn''t help but feel excited.But the chief examiner''s tone changed, "In Su Family Village, there''s someone named Ning Jing. Do you recognize him?"Su Xingzhe paused and saw the chief examiner''s displeased look. He hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Yes, I know Young Master Ning Jing.""Do you know his background?" asked the chief examiner.Su Xingzhe shook his head, "There are some rumors, but they''re unconfirmed, so I don''t dare to speak recklessly.""What rumors?" the chief examiner asked."Some people say he''s a disgraced young master from a noble family, hiding out in the village." Su Xingzhe''s voice lowered a bit."Haha," the chief examiner suddenly laughed twice, "The first half is not wrong, but the second half is pure nonsense. Since you two live in the same village, do you know he''s also taking the Court Examination?"Su Xingzhe shook his head, "I didn''t know about this.""He''s not registered in Bei''an County, but has been recommended by Crown Prince Bei Jingwang to take the exam here. Today, the people at the County School were careless and forgot to inform Young Master Ning about something he needs to pay attention to. You should go and tell him when you return." The chief examiner said.As soon as Su Xingzhe heard the words "Crown Prince Bei Jingwang," his heart pounded. He remembered that a few days ago, a carriage had been going to Ning Jing''s house. He could tell at a glance that the carriage was extraordinary, but he had never seen the people in the carriage. Could it be the Prince''s Mansion''s crown prince?Seeing Su Xingzhe in a daze, the chief examiner''s face became unhappy, "Su Xingzhe, did you not hear what I said, or are you unwilling to comply?"Su Xingzhe looked scared, "I will definitely pass on the message!""And this." The chief examiner took out something wrapped in cloth, "Give this to Young Master Ning. Don''t say anything more and don''t open it to look."Su Xingzhe hurriedly took it and put it in his book box....When Su Xingzhe, lost in thought, walked out of the County School, someone pulled him into a nearby alley. A group of students wearing County School uniforms surrounded him, led by the richest young master from the Wang Family."What did the chief examiner want with you? Tell us everything, or else..." the young master of the Wang Family sneered.Someone tried to grab Su Xingzhe''s book box, but he quickly protected it. However, being outnumbered, he was quickly knocked to the ground, and the book box fell into the hands of the young master of the Wang Family."All these broken books, such a poor scholar!" The young master of the Wang Family let go of the book box, and it fell to the ground, scattering its contents.Su Xingzhe told them about Crown Prince Bei Jingwang recommending Ning Jing to take the exam in Bei''an County, but insisted that the chief examiner didn''t give him anything. The cloth-wrapped item had been tied to his leg when he had the chance to go to the toilet."I didn''t expect our small place to have a noble." The students were only surprised and didn''t have much reaction after hearing about it. After all, Ning Jing, as a special examinee, wouldn''t take away their opportunities.After everyone left, Su Xingzhe got up from the ground, picked up his books, and walked slowly out of the alley. He hired a carriage to take him to Feiyan Town, entered a tea house, and spent the remaining money on his body to rent a private room....Su Liang and Ning Jing returned home in the afternoon, and a carriage was parked outside the door.It was the housekeeper from Qiuming Manor. He said that Madam Xing had ordered them to sort out the remaining good ingredients in the manor and send them over, a whole cartload of dry goods that could be stored.Su Liang accepted them.As soon as she entered the door, she heard Yan Shiba calling "Liang Mei Mei" non-stop.After the people from Qiuming Manor left, Su Liang opened the firewood room. Yan Shiba said she was starving to death and wanted to eat meat. She wanted Liang Mei Mei to hold her and let her get some fresh air.Su Liang gagged her mouth again, and the whole world seemed to quiet down.Madam Bai made Su Liang a pair of shoes and sent them for her to try on.The shoes fit perfectly. Su Liang thanked Madam Bai, who had already received the money. She gave her a piece of the meat they had cut that day.Madam Bai at first refused but took it after Su Liang said that Ning Jing''s friend had sent them too much, and they couldn''t eat it all before it went bad. She then had Bai Xiaohu deliver some wild vegetables.Bai Xiaohu was about to leave with the snacks Su Liang had given him when he heard Ning Jing call him."Brother Ning, what''s the matter?" Bai Xiaohu asked."Who in the village knows how to do woodworking?" Ning Jing asked.Bai Xiaohu thought for a moment and said, "The best craftsman in our village is Erniu''s grandfather! But he''s sick now, and he''s sold all of his tools, so he can''t do it anymore! The next best is Su Erhui''s father!"...Su Liang made lean meat porridge and Ning Jing sent two bowls to Erniu''s house.Su Dakuan was grateful and didn''t know what to say. When he heard Ning Jing wanted to learn woodworking from him, he agreed repeatedly.For dinner, Su Liang put the food next to Yan Shiba and walked away, ignoring her feeding requests.At night, Su Liang put down her book, ready to go to bed, and heard a knock on the door.As soon as she heard the door opening, Yan Shiba in the firewood room began to call her, "Liang Mei Mei, I''m thirsty."Su Liang asked Ning Jing to see who was coming, and she went to get Yan Shiba some water.When she opened the door, Su Xingzhe, with a bruised face and disheveled appearance, was standing outside.With an indifferent expression, Ning Jing asked, "What''s the matter?"Su Xingzhe relayed what the chief examiner had said today and presented the cloth parcel, "This is what the chief examiner told me to bring back to you. I was watched and beaten, and I couldn''t find a carriage, so I came back late."Ning Jing didn''t take it, but said two words instead, "Wait a moment." Then, he turned around and went back inside.After a while, Su Xingzhe saw Ning Jing coming out with a burning stick of firewood. In his daze, the cloth parcel was ignited.Su Xingzhe quickly let go and stepped back. In the blink of an eye, the cloth parcel turned into a ball of fire."You... do you know what was inside?" Su Xingzhe''s face looked bad.Without a word, Ning Jing closed the door.Recalling how he had frantically flipped through the scrolls inside the cloth parcel in the tea house during the day, and how he had deliberately injured himself to justify his late return, Su Xingzhe realized that what he had cared about was worthless in Ning Jing''s eyes...It wasn''t the exam papers for this Court Examination, but the mock test papers issued by the chief examiner. It wasn''t considered cheating, but obtaining it would be of great help.The excitement of an unexpected gain was shattered by the closed door and the cold wind blowing in his face. All that was left for Su Xingzhe was deep inferiority and embarrassment.As he turned to leave, he clenched his fist and told himself that he must make a name for himself...Su Liang saw Ning Jing returning and asked him what happened.After Ning Jing briefly explained, Su Liang pondered, "Did he sneak a look at what was inside?""Shortcuts don''t necessarily lead to success." Ning Jing walked back into the room.From the firewood room, Yan Shiba''s exaggerated voice came, "Liang Mei Mei, Sister is cold. I want to sleep with you."Su Liang closed the door to her room, thinking that she would let Yan Shiba leave as soon as she recovered. Having such a noisy person for protection was more than she could bear... 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 Chapter 37: 037. Sworn Brothers and Sisters

    Chapter 37: 037. Sworn Brothers and Sisters[Sworn Siblings]At first, when Lei Zheng notified every household to seek medical treatment from Su Liang, everyone was skeptical about her medical skills.But after she successively treated the elderly and children, word of mouth spread, and the villagers who greeted her on the street increased.It helped that Original Master''s grandfather, Su Yuanzhou, was a famous doctor in the capital city. Su Liang''s medical skills did not arouse suspicion.Erniu was asked by several people whether Su Liang charged money for treating his grandfather. Erniu told the truth, she didn''t charge, but there was an IOU, which had to be repaid later.Some people muttered behind their backs, "Su Liang and Ning Jing are so rich, but they even charge money for treating these poor people. It''s really unkind."Bai Dame came to find Su Liang, "Your money didn''t come from the wind either. Why should you provide free treatment? They should know where they stand. They are all lazy and taking advantage. Don''t take it to heart! If they really dare to default, just go to Lei Zheng!"Su Bai was fair and warm-hearted and had some prestige in the village.Su Liang insisted on charging consultation fees, knowing this situation would happen, and didn''t care about it.Bai Dame mentioned Bai He''s marriage again, with a hard-to-conceal joy. This time the girl was an niece from her mother''s side. She was beautiful and curvaceous, and she looked like someone who could bear sons. This time, they wouldn''t let Bai He have his way.Su Liang just smiled and said a few kind words, not knowing how Liu Huilan was doing after returning to her parents'' house. Presumably, she would be married off soon.These days, Su Liang added a sedative ingredient to the medicine she boiled for Yan Shiba. After drinking it, she felt extremely sleepy and deeply suspected that Su Liang deliberately drugged her to avoid being called "Sister Liang."However, Su Liang justified saying that resting more is vital for recovery and asked her not to be suspicious.Ning Jing went to deliver food to Erniu''s house every day. Sometimes, he stayed there for half a day. Su Liang thought he went out for a stroll, so she busied herself with her own affairs.On the 7th of August, Ning Jing once again returned from Erniu''s house with a medicine box.It was made from a Huanghua pear five-drawer cabinet that was dismantled from Qiuming Manor. Su Liang didn''t even know when Ning Jing had moved the cabinet away.The medicine box was not big, with a plain and generous appearance. The handle was smooth, and it was equipped with a strap, which could be carried or carried on the back.Inside, it was divided into three different-sized spaces, delicate and practical.Su Liang tried it and found it lighter than she had imagined."Thank you. Today, I''ll let you order the dishes," Su Liang said with a smile."Sister Liang, I want to order too! Whatever he sends you, I''ll send ten!" Yan Shiba, who was awake, immediately tried to make her presence felt."Alright, today you can both order whatever you want." Su Liang was in a good mood, even towards Yan Shiba, she became gentle.As a result, Ning Jing said, "I don''t want to eat what she wants."Yan Shiba got angry, "I won''t eat what he wants either, and Sister Liang, you''re not allowed to cook it!"Su Liang took the medicine box back to her room, "Don''t order anymore, eat it or not.""I love whatever Sister Liang cooks, unlike someone, always picky." Yan Shiba gloated.Ning Jing didn''t bother with her.Yan Shiba, who had been eating with Su Liang and Ning Jing since yesterday, clung to Su Liang all the time, giving Ning Jing a bad face. She was a head taller than Su Liang, and her round face and apricot eyes made her look completely unrelated to being an assassin."The exam will be held the day after tomorrow. Do we need to stay in the county town beforehand?" Su Liang asked."What exam?" Yan Shiba looked puzzled.When Yan Shiba learned that Ning Jing was going to participate in the imperial examination, she sneered, "I always knew he had great ambitions. When he passes the examination and becomes an official, he''ll definitely marry a lady from a wealthy family and kick you aside! You should come with me today!""I''ll go by myself tomorrow." Ning Jing answered Su Liang''s question."I''d like to see it, too." Su Liang was slightly curious, as Qian Country''s imperial examination system was similar but not identical to the historical imperial examination she knew."Let''s go together then." Yan Shiba followed up."You stay at home." Su Liang said.Yan Shiba''s eyes flickered, and she agreed, not knowing what had come to her mind.Su Xingzhe didn''t spread the news that Ning Jing would also participate in the imperial examination, and even his family didn''t know. When he came back injured that day, he just said he had a fall on the way.The next day in the afternoon, Ning Jing rushed to take Su Liang away from Su Family Village and headed for the county town.Su Xingzhe had left early in the morning, and many people saw him off at the village entrance. Niu Dame cried so much that her nose and tears mixed together. If you didn''t know, you would think her son was never coming back.On the way, Su Liang suggested that she drive the car, and Ning Jing exchanged seats with her."You can read for a while." Su Liang said.However, Ning Jing took out the wooden hairpin he had bought from the clothing store previously and carefully carved it.When they arrived in the county town, both inns were fully booked.Su Liang simply drove the cart in a big circle, saw a rental flag hanging, and directly asked if they would rent or sell. After some haggling, she spent 300 taels to buy a small mansion not far from the County School.The mansion was very clean, with a well, a millstone, and an old pomegranate tree with twisted branches. Near Mid-Autumn Festival, the bright red pomegranates weighed down the branches.Su Liang asked Ning Jing to clean up while she went out to buy two sets of beddings, cookware, and some ingredients.As the sky darkened, the smoke from the kitchen in the small courtyard wafted, and the smell of meat attracted curious neighbors."I''ll wash the dishes, you go read a book." Su Liang suddenly felt like a worried mother preparing her child for the high school exam.Seeing Su Liang suddenly smiling, Ning Jing asked, "Why are you laughing?"<>Su Liang curved her eyebrows and eyes, "For a moment, I felt like you were my son."Ning Jing expressionlessly got up and returned to his room.Su Liang cleaned up the dishes and found a delicate wooden hairpin at the place where Ning Jing had just sat. The wood material was very ordinary, but the carved pear blossom on the hairpin was lifelike.Su Liang knocked on the door, "You forgot your hairpin.""It''s for you." Ning Jing''s cold voice came out.Su Liang was stunned. What did she mean?"I bought it when I bought shoes. I wanted to practice carving." Ning Jing explained.Su Liang praised, "Your carving skills are pretty good, thank you."The two lived together, and this wasn''t a big deal. Before, Ning Jing said he was interested in woodworking and learned it. The wooden hairpin was bought for practicing carving because he was interested.In short, Ning Jing had always been interested in all the things he had never done before, but he had no interest in women.Early the next day, Su Liang made breakfast for Ning Jing and cooked a few meat buns for him to eat for lunch.The exam lasted one day, and there was a break at noon, but no food was provided. It was to avoid someone tampering with the food, so everyone had to bring their own."If you end up as the top scorer, I''ll cook ribs for you." Su Liang stood at the door and handed a basket loaded with dried food and stationery to Ning Jing.Ning Jing''s favorite dish was the braised ribs with green beans that Su Liang had made once before.As he was about to turn around and leave, he heard Su Liang sigh, "I really feel like I''m sending my son off to take the exam."Ning Jing''s beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed, looking at Su Liang again, he saw her black hair adorned with pear blossoms, making her unpowdered clear face look lovely. When she smiled, the foggy morning seemed to brighten up a few degrees.Before he could say anything, Su Liang went to pick pomegranates, saying she wanted to take them back to the village.Ning Jing silently carried the basket and walked into the hazy morning fog.Before entering the examination room, Ning Jing ran into Su Xingzhe, who wore a brand-new outfit and greeted Ning Jing across the crowd.Su Liang picked a basket of pomegranates, fed the horses, cleaned up the courtyard, and then left.Many people were waiting outside the County School, looking either anxious or expectant.Su Liang went to a pharmacy in the county town to buy some medicinal materials. She passed by a clothing store while shopping, bought two sets of clothes and two pairs of shoes for Yan Shiba, and two sets of men''s clothing for herself.At the entrance of the blacksmith shop, she entered out of curiosity and bought two daggers, one knife, and two long swords.Both daggers were for self-defense, one hidden in her sleeve and the other on her calf.She intended to give one long sword to Ning Jing and keep one for herself, as she wanted to learn swordsmanship.The knife was for Yan Shiba; she had left her original weapons behind in order to get rid of the pursuers.After delivering the items home, Su Liang went to a restaurant for dinner, where she overheard people discussing the current Court Examination and the talented scholars of Bei''an County."Have you heard? The examiner''s sample test paper was stolen by someone yesterday!""Isn''t that thief guaranteed to be a scholar then?"" Haha, if he gets caught, he''s dead!"...Su Liang suddenly remembered the item the examiner had Su Xingzhe give to Ning Jing, which Ning Jing burned without even looking at it. She had a strange feeling that these two events might be connected.Feeling someone watching her, Su Liang turned her head and saw a young nobleman with a handsome face and elegant manner, raising his cup and smiling at her.Su Liang nodded slightly and left shortly after paying the bill.Not long after, the young nobleman also left the restaurant and headed towards the county government office."Master, do you know that young lady?" The attendant asked.The man shook his head, "I just think she''s very special.""If the person who stole the sample test paper can''t be found and this becomes known to our superiors, I''m afraid Master will be punished for negligence." The attendant frowned.The man''s expression was calm, "I have a plan in mind."...When Ning Jing came out of the examination room, he met Su Xingzhe again. He looked relaxed and seemed to have performed well.They would have to wait five days for the results, and Ning Jing and Su Liang left the county town that day after staying in the house they bought for just one night."How did you do?" Su Liang asked."I''m not sure." Ning Jing replied.Su Liang: ...Fine. We''ll see when the results come out....By the time they returned to the village, it was already pitch dark.They ran into Lei Zheng, Su Bai, who waved to Ning Jing to stop the carriage."Ning Gongzi, Liang girl, everyone knows about your situation now." Su Bai sighed.Su Liang was confused. Their situation?She heard Su Bai say earnestly, "You two are not a real married couple. You didn''t even have the marriage ceremony. Now Su Daqiang''s family is gone, and Ning Gongzi doesn''t plan to take you back with him. You should part ways. Afterwards, you can each marry someone else, so no one can gossip.""Uncle Bai, about this..." Su Liang guessed what had happened.Su Bai sighed deeply, "It was your sister who told us. Ning Gongzi has a promising future, and if he can''t give Liang girl a proper status, then let her be. She''s not like you, if her reputation is ruined, how will she marry in the future?"As expected, Yan Shiba stirred up trouble while Su Liang and Ning Jing were away, revealing their fake marriage and saying they hadn''t even held the wedding ceremony, let alone consummated their union. It was just an excuse for Su Liang to get out of the Su Daqiang''s family.Since there was no blessing from their parents, they couldn''t even be considered living together in secret.Ning Jing glanced at Su Liang and said calmly, "It''s my negligence. We are not husband and wife, we are sworn brother and sister. I will trouble Uncle Bai to help clarify the misunderstanding." 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 Chapter 38: 038. The Thief and the Chief Suspect

    Chapter 38: 038. The Thief and the Chief Suspect[Yan Shiba leaves, Court Examination results released]Out of good intentions, Su Bai, who was originally worried about being too meddlesome, didn''t expect Ning Jing to be so forthright, while Su Liang even gave him several big, red pomegranates.Watching the carriage cross over the bridge, Su Bai sighed softly, "Looking at it this way, they really aren''t a match for each other."Otherwise, Ning Jing could have said that they would consummate their marriage after Su Liang came of age, rather than openly declare that they were now sworn siblings.This meant they were not together and would never be together.Carrying the pomegranates back home, Su Bai thought that he should clarify this matter more clearly to the villagers. After all, Ning Jing had asked him to do so.As the carriage reached the door, it seemed as if Yan Shiba had been waiting inside the whole time. Hearing the noise, she opened the door and enthusiastically greeted "LiangMeiMei" as she approached.Her wounds were severe, but under Su Liang''s medical treatment and care, she had recovered well. She had been bumming meals at Mrs. Bai''s house these past two days and hadn''t gone hungry at all.Before Su Liang could get off the carriage, Yan Shiba deftly jumped up, hugging her tightly, "LiangMeiMei, you''re finally back!"Su Liang did not mention the incident of running into Su Bai earlier. When the carriage stopped, both she and Ning Jing alighted, and Ning Jing carried the pomegranates and other things they had purchased.It was getting very late, but Su Liang and Ning Jing had not eaten dinner. Yan Shiba had already eaten, but she claimed she wasn''t full.Su Liang washed her hands and cooked three bowls of pork and egg noodles.Just as she finished, Yan Shiba, dressed in the new clothes Su Liang had bought for her, swayed over gracefully. Stretching out her arms and spinning around, she asked Su Liang if the new clothes looked nice on her."Ning Jing bought them." Su Liang said.Yan Shiba scoffed lightly, "He buys me clothes? He would only cut me and complain that I stained the ground."Su Liang nodded, "On this point, you''re quite self-aware.""Liang-MeiMei!" Yan Shiba leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Su Liang busy at work. Lowering her voice, she said, "There won''t be a good outcome following Ning Jing. How about tonight, your sister takes you away with her?"Su Liang replied very calmly, "How about you take him away instead? I actually want to live on my own."Yan Shiba pulled a disgusted face, "Then I''d rather leave by myself!""So be it."Both Su Liang and Ning Jing''s voices rang out simultaneously, with their words matching exactly.Yan Shiba rolled her eyes dramatically, "You''re both so full of yourselves!"On the surface, everything appeared harmonious.The three of them sat together eating steaming hot, fragrant noodles. Yan Shiba asked questions left and right, and Su Liang gave terse replies.After they finished eating, Yan Shiba took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, but Su Liang snatched it away."This was embroidered by LiangMeiMei, right? It''s so pretty, give it to your sister." Yan Shiba shook Su Liang''s arm as she pleaded.Su Liang''s expression suddenly became cold, "No. If you''ve taken anything else of mine, hand them over too."Yan Shiba didn''t expect Su Liang to turn her face over a handkerchief, her laughter deepened, "I really like that plum blossom embroidered cloth, how about I buy it from you for a hundred thousand taels?"Without any hesitation, Su Liang shook her head, "It''s not for sale. I''ve bought clothes and weapons for you. If you need them, take them. Now, please leave."Seeing that Su Liang was serious, Yan Shiba''s laughter suddenly vanished, "What''s wrong with you, LiangMeiMei?""Nothing''s wrong. I saved you, you''ve recovered, so it''s time for you to leave." Su Liang said."Are you blaming your sister for revealing that your marriage is fake?" Yan Shiba said, her gaze suddenly turning to Ning Jing. She sneered, "So, it''s my fault? Ning Jing, don''t think I don''t know what''s in your heart! You''re a man, to have a beautiful, understanding, and capable girl like LiangMeiMei serving you, you must be quite pleased with yourself, right? You only care about your own future; have you ever considered hers? She saved me once, and I can''t let her be ruined by you!"Su Liang knew these words were also meant for her to hear, "Yan Shiba, pretending to be married is a fact, and I didn''t mention it earlier because I didn''t care. You''re being too nosy."As for the issue of how Su Liang would marry in the future mentioned by Su Bai and Yan Shiba, she truly didn''t care.The key was that Ning Jing pretended to be married to Su Liang to avoid being chased by the people behind Nian Jincheng.At the time, when Su Bai brought it up, Su Liang had intended to deny it, but Ning Jing admitted it first, so she didn''t say anything else.Although the possibility was small, if the court still had people watching Ning Jing, revealing the fake marriage could arouse suspicion.After all, a down-and-out merchant''s son wouldn''t need to pretend to be married to conceal anything, but the hidden descendant of a rebel might..."LiangMeiMei, do you really hate me that much? In your heart, am I not worth even a bit compared to Ning Jing?" This question sounded sorrowful, but Yan Shiba''s tone contained only curiosity and exploration.She noticed that Ning Jing and Su Liang''s relationship was strange ¨C there was no romantic love, but it seemed as if they had known each other for a lifetime as close friends. The strange thing was they had only been married for less than a month, and even the marriage was fake.Su Liang looked at Yan Shiba, her eyes calm and candid, "I don''t hate you. But we''re not the same kind of people. I chose to live with Ning Jing, and you have your own path to follow."In plain terms, the three of them were brought together for various reasons, unrelated to feelings.Yan Shiba was bound to be dismissed eventually. The main reason was that she didn''t know Ning Jing and Su Liang well. When they first teamed up, they began by exchanging secrets, and nobody else knew those secrets.Suddenly becoming her murderous self again, Yan Shiba leaned in close to Su Liang, her eyes dangerously cold, "I''ve never tried so hard to please someone in my life. You, aren''t you afraid of angering me?"Su Liang remained serene, "Would Yan Shiba try to please others? You just find me interesting and want to play with me."Hearing this, Yan Shiba''s eyes suddenly narrowed, and she laughed coldly, "LiangMeiMei, your sister asks you one last time, do you want to come with me?"Su Liang shook her head, "I''ll give you one last answer ¨C no. Remember what you said, if you ask me the same question again, you''ll be a dog."Ning Jing, who was quietly drinking soup, choked.Yan Shiba reached out to grab Su Liang''s neck but seeing that Su Liang remained unafraid, she suddenly turned to look at Ning Jing, "You''re actually hoping that I''ll do something to her so you''ll have an excuse to kill me!"Ning Jing nodded gently, indicating she had guessed correctly.Yan Shiba let go of Su Liang, sighed deeply, and said, "Never mind."Su Liang thought she was leaving, but instead, she picked up a big pomegranate from a nearby bamboo basket and handed it to Su Liang. "Peel this pomegranate for me, and I''ll leave."Su Liang took out a small knife and a clean bowl, cut off the top of the pomegranate, sliced it along the membrane, and tapped it gently with the knife. Soon, she had a bowl of beautiful and crystal-clear pomegranate seeds, which she handed to Yan Shiba.With a bundle on her back containing clothes, medicines, and a knife bought for her by Su Liang, Yan Shiba held the bowl and walked out while eating. She said, "Sister Liang, if I ever see you again in this lifetime, I''ll repay your kindness."When she reached the center of the courtyard, Yan Shiba stopped and looked back. "Little rascal, can''t you say something to keep your sister here? Even if it''s just a show!"Su Liang waved to Yan Shiba from the porch, "Take care.""I''ll be back!" As Yan Shiba''s words fell, she leaped over the wall and disappeared into the vast night.Su Liang returned to her room and saw Ning Jing learning to peel a pomegranate. She asked seriously, "Should we hide?""Dodge Yan Sui? No need. Yan Shiba will take care of it, or be taken care of." Ning Jing shook her head.Su Liang wasn''t thinking about Yan Sui, but seeing Ning Jing looking unconcerned, she thought she might have overthought it.As for Yan Shiba, she had to go because it was time for her to leave anyway.In such a life-and-death situation, she couldn''t just stay here and live in luxury. Whoever took control of the situation was crucial.Before the announcement of the results of the Court Examination, Su Liang and Ning Jing never left the village.After buying a sword, Su Liang started learning swordsmanship from Ning Jing and intensified her training.Besides practicing swordsmanship, reading, and writing, Su Liang also treated the villagers'' illnesses, and even patients from neighboring villages began to come.Other than teaching Su Liang swordsmanship, Ning Jing also washed dishes, cleaned, and learned woodworking from Grandpa Erniu. After every lesson, she''d bring home some practical small items.Thanks to Su Liang becoming a doctor, their reputation in the village improved. With Su Bai''s help in clarifying the truth, the majority of the villagers believed and accepted that they were not husband and wife, but siblings.Hu Er visited once and was shocked when he learned the truth. He brought news that a new County Magistrate would be taking office the day after the Court Examination, a very young man with a remarkable background."What kind of background can a mere County Magistrate have?" Su Liang was curious.Hu Er pointed in a direction, "Bei''an County has the largest iron mine in Qian Country. This is not an ordinary place. I heard that someone has been smuggling a large amount of iron ore to Yan Country. Our new County Magistrate is a secret envoy sent by the court to investigate the smuggling!"In this era, iron ore was an extremely important resource, the foundation of a country''s weaponry. Selling iron ore to enemy countries was not just simply smuggling, but an act of treason."If even we can find out this kind of secret, isn''t it dangerous for the County Magistrate if he''s really a secret envoy?" Su Liang asked.Hu Er didn''t seem to care, "Miss Su has a point. But as a commoner, I don''t deserve to worry about the court''s affairs. Let''s just wait for the results to be announced and celebrate with Mr. Ning by throwing a banquet!"As for the fate of Su Daqiang''s family, Hu Er had already mentioned it during his last visit. Although Ning Jing and Su Liang didn''t say anything, he had guessed that it had something to do with them....August 14th.On the day of the announcement of the examination results, Ning Jing and Su Liang didn''t go to the county town.In the early morning, Su Liang found out that tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival and decided to make mooncakes. After describing her plan to Ning Jing, he sat in the courtyard under a tree and began carving the molds.A group of government soldiers came to Su Family''s village, beating gongs and drums, followed by many villagers, who came to watch the excitement. Even the Town Chief and the wealthy landowner had come.Up to this day, not many people knew about Ning Jing taking the Imperial examination. Seeing the celebration procession entering Su Family''s village, everyone naturally assumed that Su Xingzhe had become a scholar and ranked in the top three, as only they would warrant such a grand event.The cowherd''s family, who had been living in Su Erhui''s house, was overjoyed upon receiving the news, and the villagers came to congratulate them as well.However, Su Xingzhe, trying to maintain his composure, had expectations mixed with a strange sense of unease...The examination paper given to Ning Jing by the Chief Examiner was indeed the same one used in the Court Examination. Su Xingzhe racked his brains, thinking that it must have been intended for Ning Jing to reference the standard answers, to ensure his position as the Examination Chief.There were specified fonts for answering the examination questions, which judges couldn''t see to avoid cheating by the examinees.Su Xingzhe wanted to take a gamble. After hesitating, he wrote the standard answers. After all, he had seen Ning Jing burn the paper with his own eyes, and when the Chief Examiner reviewed the papers, he would treat his answers as Ning Jing''s special case. Once the results were fixed, they could not be changed, and no one would dare cause a fuss.Sure enough, the celebration procession stopped near Su Erhui''s house.As Su Bai greeted them with a cheerful face, he saw several court bailiffs with shackles and chains emerge from the procession. They shouted, "On the eve of the Court Examination, a sample examination paper was stolen from the Chief Examiner. Upon investigation, the thief who cheated with the sample paper was Su Xingzhe. Where is he?"All the people present were stunned.The heavily made-up cowherd''s wife''s eyes were wide open as she screamed, "Impossible! This must be a mistake!"Su Bai stared at the government officials in front of him, clearly there to celebrate, and was completely baffled. How did they suddenly start making an arrest?Just then, a loud voice shouted, "There are two Examination Chiefs in this year''s Bei''an County Court Examination. One is Ning Jing, the young master from Su Family''s village. Which way to his house?" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 39: Take away

    Chapter 39: Take away[Taken Away]Su Xingzhe was staying in Su Erhui''s house, with his own separate room.He put on the new clothes given by Su Erhui in the early morning, but later changed back to his old clothes.He heard the sounds of drums and gongs approaching, stopping outside. His anxiety subsided, and he could no longer suppress his excitement. He paced a few steps, sat down, picked up a book, and waited for someone to invite him in. At that time, he had to appear calm and composed.The chaotic footsteps grew closer, and Su Xingzhe couldn''t help but curl his lips, but quickly retracted them.The moment the door opened, he stood up abruptly. The surprise he had practiced earlier, he now appeared particularly affected due to nervousness.At the same time, Old Lady Niu''s cries, like floodwaters bursting through a dam, suddenly rushed into his ears!The word "thief" caused his face to change from red to white, then from white to blue in an instant.As the book fell to the ground, Su Xingzhe was stunned, and in a moment, he was locked in shackles by several strong bailiffs.He was practically carried out, his feet dangling in the air, passing through the crowd and exiting the house.Old Lady Niu''s cries, Su Erhui''s curses, and the villagers'' mocking whispers mingled together, but Su Xingzhe couldn''t hear any of it. He seemed to be in a soundless world, where the sky had collapsed, and he could only stare blankly and do nothing..."Are you Su Xingzhe?" The constable asked in a cold tone.There was no need for Su Xingzhe to answer. The villagers whom he offended in the past confirmed his identity one after another."Su Xingzhe was bold enough to steal the exam template from the chief examiner on the eve of the Court Examination. The evidence is irrefutable. Take him away!" The constable waved his hand resolutely, his forceful determination reminiscent of a chopping blade on the execution ground, severing Su Xingzhe''s life."Wrongful! Wrongful!" Old Lady Niu cried and fainted.Su Xingzhe''s father and brothers rushed up to block the way, saying that he was at home on the eve of the Court Examination and had not gone out. They could all testify to that.However, the constable sneered, "Family cannot testify."Su Erhui, who once thought of Su Xingzhe''s future prospects and meticulously planned to let him become his son-in-law, now only felt bad luck and kicked him out. He shouted, "We only took him in out of kindness. We don''t know anything else!"On the eve of the Court Examination, Su Xingzhe did not leave the house, and other villagers had not seen him. They couldn''t prove that he had been at home the whole time. What if he had sneaked out before daybreak and didn''t come back until nightfall? Who knew?Su Bai wanted to say something, but the constable''s words, "The evidence is irrefutable," made him hesitate and eventually give up. Cheating in the Imperial examination was a matter of life and death, and as a minor village head, he didn''t know the truth and couldn''t say much.When the celebratory procession started playing and marching forward again, Su Xingzhe finally regained some clarity. With a pale face, he asked blankly, "Where... where are they going?"The constable slapped Su Xingzhe''s face hard, "To congratulate the case-topper! Ning Jing! He has honestly earned his top rank!"A bolt of lightning struck Su Xingzhe''s mind. He was dumbfounded and went mad."It''s Ning Jing! He framed me! He colluded with the chief examiner to frame me!" Su Xingzhe shouted at the top of his lungs.The constable slapped Su Xingzhe left and right, making his head spin, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth, and rendering him unable to speak."Ning Jing, the crown prince''s friend, framed you? What are you worth? Do you dare to slander the chief examiner? Add one more crime!"Thinking back to what happened that day, Su Xingzhe wondered what reason Ning Jing could have had to frame him. Right, his mother had conflicts with Su Liang, and his family wanted to take over Su Liang''s house! It must be so!But before Su Xingzhe could explain, the constable slapped him again, knocking him unconscious.Su Bai led the congratulatory procession to Ning Jing''s doorstep, followed by a large crowd of onlookers.Granny Bai and her family were both frightened and delighted. They didn''t know that Ning Jing had taken the Court Examination, let alone that he had ranked first.However, when Granny Bai heard about Su Xingzhe''s matter, her first reaction was not to gloat but to express her disbelief, "How could he have the ability to steal something from the chief examiner''s house?"...The door was opened by Su Liang, who was wearing an apron. Ning Jing was still sitting in the courtyard, carving mooncake molds under a tree.Among the people in the congratulatory procession, a man stared at Su Liang''s appearance and was momentarily taken aback.When she heard Su Bai excitedly mention that Ning Jing got the top rank, Su Liang didn''t seem surprised and just smiled slightly, "Thank you all.""Tomorrow, the County Magistrate will host a banquet to entertain the scholars of this round. Mr. Ning, please make sure to attend." The leader of the group was courteous.Su Liang thought that this might not only be because he ranked first, but also because Ning Jing was recommended by Crown Prince Bei Jingwang.She looked back and saw that Ning Jing had no intention of coming over, so she accepted on his behalf, "Alright."Su Liang accepted the reward of fifty taels for the case-topper but refused gifts from the Town Chief and the rural gentries. Accepting the latter would imply a relationship.After the officials left, the villagers came forward one after another to offer their congratulations.Su Liang remembered something, asked them to wait, and went back in to bring out the remaining half basket of pomegranates she had taken from the county town earlier.Each family who came to congratulate received one.The bright red pomegranates were pleasing to the eye. The villagers thought they brought good luck, and some even said they would take them home for worship.Bai Xiaohu muttered, "Sister Su Liang''s family must have too many pomegranates to eat."Liu''s mother glared at her son, telling him not to blurt out such truths.Indeed, they had only picked a small portion of pomegranates from the tree in the county town last time. This fruit wasn''t convenient to eat and there were only two of them, so they couldn''t eat too many.In the end, only the Bai family was left outside. Su Liang invited them in to talk and suddenly asked, "Did Su Xingzhe pass the exam?"Zhuzi shook his head, "He got arrested!"Su Liang was very surprised, "Arrested?"The two children took turns telling Su Liang about Su Xingzhe''s family''s downfall from heaven to hell.After listening, what else could Su Liang not understand? Even if Su Xingzhe was brave, how could he possibly know where the chief examiner''s sample paper was hidden? Besides, such important papers would never be stolen by a country scholar, right?It must have been the so-called sample paper that the chief examiner asked Su Xingzhe to convey to Ning Jing after visiting the County School that day.At that time, Su Liang had suspected that Su Xingzhe might take a peek, and now the facts were in front of her.It was not a backdoor for Ning Jing opened by the chief examiner but a trap to frame him. Su Xingzhe, who was blinded by greed, jumped into it!However, Su Liang was puzzled. The chief examiner of Bei''an County had no grudge against Ning Jing, so why did he do this?Was it because the wealthy Ning family in Xunyang could "make the ghosts push the millstone"?Or was it because Ning Jing was recommended by Crown Prince Bei Jingwang and thus targeted by Bei Jingwang Mansion''s enemies?What a troublesome constitution. Su Liang looked at Ning Jing and thought."Big Brother Ning, what''s this?" Bai Xiaohu curiously looked at the mold Ning Jing had carved.Zhuzi''s eyes sparkled brightly, "There are flowers inside!"Su Liang smiled, "Let''s make mooncakes together tomorrow for the festival."...Su Bai escorted the celebration party to the entrance of the village. One of them asked, "I wonder who the young lady from Ning Gongzi''s family is to him?"Su Bai solemnly replied, "They are siblings."Looking at Su Xingzhe being taken away, Su Bai sighed repeatedly. If he were really convicted, he would never be able to return.Su Bai also heard Su Xingzhe continually saying that Ning Jing framed him deliberately, which was quite puzzling. It was not like Ning Jing stole the sample paper and put it in his house, but the officials didn''t search it either.Moreover, Su Bai thought Ning Jing couldn''t possibly do such a thing....County government."The task entrusted by the master has been completed. I just didn''t expect Ning Jing to be unscathed," the chief examiner of the Court Examination said respectfully.The gentleman in the main seat dressed in fine clothes had a playful expression, "He can befriend Xing Yusheng; he indeed has some tricks. I will meet him tomorrow."The door opened, and a man walked in. The well-dressed gentleman waved his hand, and the chief examiner bowed and left."Have you seen Ning Jing?" The well-dressed young man asked.The man nodded, "I have seen him." Then he recounted his experience after arriving at the Su Family Village.Finally, he said, "Ning Jing has a younger sister, she''s the young lady we met at the restaurant on the day of the Court Examination. The one our master said seemed a bit special.""Oh?" The well-dressed young man was very surprised, "She is actually Ning Jing''s sister?""She is not a blood-related sister, but sworn siblings. The young lady is a doctor with good medical skills. She originally grew up in the capital city. Her grandfather, whom our master may know, is called Su Yuanzhou."The well-dressed young man''s eyes narrowed, "Who?""Su Yuanzhou." The man repeated.The well-dressed young man''s face darkened, "Wasn''t his whole family supposed to be dead? How come there''s a granddaughter still alive?""When I found out about her identity, I was also puzzled. I don''t know how she escaped, and there was no news from the capital. The people here don''t even know what crime Su Yuanzhou committed."After a long silence, the well-dressed young man sneered, "Tomorrow, I will have a good chat with Ning Jing and ask him to hand over Su Liang. When we return to the capital, we will take her and execute!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 40: 040. Pretentiousness

    Chapter 40: 040. Pretentiousness[Pretending to be Noble]"It smells so good!"Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi stared at the freshly baked mooncakes, swallowing their saliva non-stop.Both Aunt Bai and Mrs. Liu praised Su Liang for her clever hands and dexterity, as the mooncakes she made looked so beautiful that people couldn''t bear to eat them."The one with clever hands and dexterity is Ning Jing, who carved the mold." Su Liang said, putting two mooncakes into a plate and handing it to Bai Xiaohu, "Be careful, it''s hot. Wait a while before eating.""Okay!" Bai Xiaohu led Zhuzi out, and Ning Jing appeared at the kitchen door.Su Liang held another plate with a mooncake and handed it to him, "Be careful, it''s hot. Wait a while before eating."Upon hearing this, Ning Jing''s outstretched hand paused in midair for a moment, and he suddenly recalled Su Liang''s previous statement that "for a moment you reminded me of my son." No matter how he heard it, it now sounded like coaxing a child...Ning Jing sat down beside the stone table in the yard, facing two brothers with tiger-head faces who squeezed together, grinning at him with wide smiles."Will Brother Ning be able to become a top scholar in the future?" Bai Xiaohu asked.Ning Jing nodded, "I''ll try.""Since sister Su Liang is not Brother Ning''s wife, can she marry me? I will grow up quickly! Then we can have delicious food every day!" Zhuzi''s little face was incredibly serious.Ning Jing nodded, "You can ask her."Zhuzi really wanted to run over to ask Su Liang, but he was held back by Bai Xiaohu, "Little brother, it won''t work. By the time you grow up, Sister Su Liang will have grown old!"Su Liang, who came to serve tea: ...Bai Xiaohu continued, "Brother Ning, if Sister Su Liang marries someone else, you won''t have any more delicious food!"Ning Jing''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and the two little fellows had already buried their heads in the plate, starting to gnaw at the mooncakes....Half of the finished mooncakes were given to Aunt Bai, and after they were sent away, Su Liang asked Ning Jing, "What do you think about Su Xingzhe''s case? Who is framing you?"Ning Jing shook his head, "I don''t know.""We can''t even live peacefully here. I think the killers from Yanyun Building and this framing are just the beginning. I really need to consider going to find Yang Yu." Su Liang sighed softly.Ning Jing was silent for a moment, "Leave the recipes before you go.""No problem." Su Liang nodded briskly, "You have to teach me the light body skill first. Half of the silver will be yours at that time.""Alright." Ning Jing nodded slightly.It wasn''t that she was scared, but Su Liang felt that Ning Jing was too troublesome, as his suspected double identity would inevitably bring double trouble.Just one thing was certain. Both Ning Jing and Gu Ling were being targeted by hired killers from Yanyun Building.There may come a day when Yan Sui would strike in the middle of the night. Although Ning Jing was highly skilled in martial arts, Su Liang had enough self-awareness to know that she had no chance of winning against the real masters of this world. Even martial arts training required time to accumulate.Su Liang chose Ning Jing over Yan Shiba, but in fact, she didn''t necessarily need companions.As Ning Jing had said earlier, Su Liang was wealthy, and she had already learned a lot about the Qian Country. She could very well move elsewhere and live by herself. Her mention of going to find Yang Yu was just one possibility.There was noise outside, and Su Liang put down her teacup, "That family is coming to make trouble."Su Xingzhe claimed in public that Ning Jing had framed him. Though the claim was baseless, his family would not let it go easily.Su Liang opened the door to see Old Mrs. Niu being supported by her two sons, wailing as they approached.Upon seeing Su Liang, Old Mrs. Niu''s eyes became murderous, she pushed her sons away and lunged forward, cursing, "You damn slut! It''s all because of you that my son is ruined!"Su Liang dodged and coldly said, "Throwing a tantrum and making a scene in the village won''t do you any good. If you think you have been wronged, go to the county government and beat the drums for justice!" With that, she slammed the door shut.Su Bai, who had rushed to the scene, scolded Su Xingzhe''s brothers and hurriedly pulled their mother away, sighing deeply, "Before the Court Examination, was Xingzhe really at home all the time?""He was at home!" Old Mrs. Niu bulged her eyes and swore to the sky, "If I am lying, may I be struck by thunder and lightning, and my descendants be cut off!"Even Su Bai was frightened by Old Mrs. Niu''s fierce oath, and he couldn''t help but feel suspicious. It seemed there was really something fishy about it.Moreover, even the villagers who disliked Su Xingzhe, including Su Bai, felt that he didn''t have the courage or the ability to steal the chief examiner''s test papers.Though Su Bai sympathized with Su Xingzhe for his years of hard study leading to such an end, he saw that hisn family was relentless and said, "What''s the use of causing a scene here? That day, Xingzhe didn''t leave home, and neither did Young Master Ning and Liang. I saw it with my own eyes. Don''t bite people indiscriminately! If you want to go to the county government, just insist that Xingzhe was at home that day!"Old Mrs. Niu suddenly grabbed Su Bai''s arm, "You go and testify! Say that you saw my son at home that day!"But Su Bai hadn''t actually seen Su Xingzhe that day, and he refused to lie or get involved in the messy situation.After a lot of pulling and tugging, Old Mrs. Niu''s family finally left.Just as Su Bai was about to leave, the door opened again, and Su Liang handed him two pounds of mooncakes.This made Su Bai, who was originally going to ask Ning Jing for help in "inquiring" about Su Xingzhe''s situation, unable to say the words in the end....Early the next morning, the two of them left the village by carriage. As they passed by the village entrance, they heard someone say that Su Xingzhe''s family was going to the county government to beat the drums for justice today.Su Liang drove the carriage, dressed in the men''s clothing she had bought from the county town last time, looking like a handsome young man.Although she had mentioned leaving the day before, she didn''t plan on leaving so soon, as she wanted to learn some more martial arts from Ning Jing.As for the recipes that Ning Jing wanted, she was already writing them.The carriage arrived at the county town, where they went to the house they had bought the day before the Court Examination.The house was still very clean, having only been left for a few days. After a simple tidying up, they picked a large basket of pomegranates to take back to the village."There''s so many... Do you want to try pomegranate juice?" Su Liang suddenly suggested.It was rare for Su Liang to ask for Ning Jing''s opinion before making food, so of course, he wouldn''t refuse.Without seeing how Su Liang made it, Ning Jing waited for a while, and she brought a bowl of rose-red liquid, "No additives, try it!""Thank you." Ning Jing picked it up, took a sip, and despite his cold and calm demeanor, his face involuntarily twisted from the sourness. He put it down and pushed it towards Su Liang, "You haven''t tasted it?"Su Liang laughed happily, "I''ve had it before in Turkey!"Ning Jing drank a glass of water, still feeling the sourness in his throat, "You did it on purpose.""You like experiencing life, don''t you? It would have been better with honey." Su Liang knew that honey existed in this world, but it was rare, expensive, and not available in small places.Almost time, Ning Jing left the house and went to the restaurant where the County Magistrate was hosting a banquet.As soon as Ning Jing entered the restaurant, someone came up to greet him. "Young Master Ning, we''ve been waiting for you!"Ning Jing followed the man upstairs and saw all the scholars from Bei''an County and the newly appointed County Magistrate, Mai Fei.Everyone''s eyes fell on Ning Jing, and he bowed his hand to Mai Fei. "Sir.""Young Master Ning is both talented and handsome, no wonder you caught the eye of Crown Prince Bei Jingwang." Mai Fei''s lips were tinged with a faint smile.The gazes on Ning Jing, who should have been the only top scholar of Bei''an County, were filled with subtle hostility.Ning Jing took his seat and the banquet began.After trying a few dishes, Mai Fei put down his chopsticks. He sipped his tea, frowned, and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief before spitting it out. At first, he made some polite conversation, but his expression gradually faded.The banquet ended quickly.Ning Jing also felt that the food in the restaurant was not good. Fortunately, he had told Su Liang earlier to save some food for him, so he could eat when he got home.Just as Ning Jing was about to leave, the man who led him upstairs stopped him again, saying that Mai Fei had invited him to Mingxiang Building for tea....Ning Jing entered the elegant room of Mingxiang Building, where Mai Fei had already changed into a brocade robe.The air was filled with the refreshing and pleasant fragrance of tea, not the most expensive tea of Mingxiang Building, but brought by Mai Fei himself."Young Master Ning, please sit." Mai Fei waved his hand to dismiss the servant.Ning Jing took a seat but didn''t touch the tea in front of him. "What do you want, Sir Mai?""No need to be nervous, Young Master Ning. I admire you and am curious about your relationship with Crown Prince Bei Jingwang.""We just know each other. Crown Prince Xing gave me a helping hand." Ning Jing said."Hehe." Mai Fei changed the subject. "I heard that your sister is a doctor?""Are you asking about the eighth young lady of the Ning family?" Ning Jing countered.Mai Fei shook his head. "Su Liang, Miss Su.""She is a doctor." Ning Jing answered."Do you know her past?" Mai Fei asked."She doesn''t even know it herself." Ning Jing said.Mai Fei''s eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?""Before I met her, she had been seriously injured and lost her memory." Ning Jing said.Mai Fei snorted lightly. "She can still practice medicine after losing her memory?""She only forgot her past, not become a fool." This was what Su Liang had said to Xing Yusheng back then."Do you believe that?" Mai Fei asked with a smile.Ning Jing nodded. "I do.""So, you know nothing about her time in the capital city? It''s also a good thing that her sins won''t implicate you." Mai Fei said, observing Ning Jing''s expression, which remained unchanged."What sins?" Ning Jing asked."Her grandfather Su Yuanzhou treated the second prince''s wife and ended up killing her. Fearing punishment, he took his family and committed suicide by hanging, but I didn''t expect there to be a cowardly granddaughter who secretly ran away." Mai Fei sneered.Ning Jing shook his head. "It wasn''t her fault. There was no trial, no conviction, no sentencing. She just refused to be forced to commit suicide, and I don''t see anything wrong with that. Does Sir Mai think that Su Yuanzhou''s offenses should involve nine generations of his family?"Mai Fei''s face darkened slightly. "She was the second prince''s wife and the eldest granddaughter of Prime Minister Xiao. She died at the hands of Su Yuanzhou! So what if it implicates nine generations?""If there is an Imperial Decree to punish nine generations, Su Liang would be a fugitive, that''s one argument. But now there is no judgment, Sir Mai, what do you want to do?" Ning Jing countered."Young Master Ning, as long as Su Liang is discovered by certain people in the capital city, she will undoubtedly die, and it will affect your future. Do you still want to continue defending her?" Mai Fei looked intently at Ning Jing as he asked.Ning Jing shook his head. "I''m not defending her. It''s just that Sir Mai asked, so I answered. But I still don''t know, Sir Mai, what do you want to do?"Mai Fei laughed. "I have some distant relatives in Prime Minister Xiao''s mansion, so I am aware of the inside information and want to give you a friendly reminder. Don''t publicize this matter. This is a sedative. As long as you hand Su Liang over to me, I can help you smooth things out and make your path smoother in the future.""Alright," Ning Jing nodded in agreement.Mai Fei watched Ning Jing leave with a mocking expression on his face. "Faking being high-minded."When Ning Jing returned home, Su Liang was practicing swordsmanship under the pomegranate tree.After completing a set of swordsmanship smoothly, Su Liang asked Ning Jing, "How was it?"Ning Jing shook his head. "Too slow.""Yeah!" Su Liang agreed and felt that she needed more practice. "How about the new County Magistrate?"Ning Jing took out the sedative Mai Fei had given him. "This is his gift for you."Su Liang was puzzled. "What is it?""He asked me to drug you and send you to the capital city to be executed." Ning Jing said.Su Liang was stunned for a moment. "Did I kill his entire family in the past?"After listening to Ning Jing''s explanation of what had happened, Su Liang felt something was wrong. "Assuming everything he said is true, how could someone so concerned about Prime Minister''s matters end up a mere County Magistrate? Is he really a special envoy from the capital city?"Ning Jing''s thin lips opened slightly. "The fourth prince, Duanmu Chen."Su Liang was very surprised. "Duanmu Si? Mai Fei? You know him?"Ning Jing shook his head. "Prime Minister Xiao is his maternal grandfather, and the wife of the second prince is his first cousin.""No wonder. He probably thought no one would recognize him in this small place. But if he''s here to investigate the smuggling of the Iron Mine, he shouldn''t be targeting someone as insignificant as me." Su Liang said."Are you still leaving?" Ning Jing asked.Su Liang sighed. "I thought you were an annoyance, but I didn''t expect my troubles to be bigger. What should we do about this sedative?""No rush. He has a dark complexion and is likely to encounter a bloody disaster in three days. If he dies, he won''t bother you anymore." Ning Jing said. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.