嫩草影院地址一二三

Chapter 212 - 212: 212. Count me as the winner

But she was psychologically prepared. Unable to cry, she maintained a stony face, expressing her grief in her silence.

Seeing Qin Yujin with reddened eyes, and Lin Xueqing yet to utter a word, her sobs choking her speech, Su Liang hugged her. She gently patted her back and thought to herself, if the real Ning Jing has a spirit in heaven, he will see that there are people in this world who genuinely cared for him.

“Liang, if you want to cry, just cry.” Qin Yujin held Su Liang’s hand. Su Liang shook her head but didn’t stop Lin Xueqing from crying. Emotions need to be vented.

Xing Yusheng and Qi Jun came again. As soon as they exited the car, they saw an unfamiliar man and woman talking to the guards at the door.

The guards were arranged by Duanmu Chen and did not leave after Su Liang returned.

Xing Yusheng walked over and asked, “Who are these people?”

“Master Xing, this lady claims to be the younger sister of Lord Ning,” one guard replied.

Xing Yusheng’s gaze fell on the fair-faced young woman, dressed simply and obviously pregnant. He heard Qi Jun whispering in his ear, “Master Ning originally had a half-sister who was still alive. Her name is Ning Xiner and she’s the third son’s concubine in the house of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Revenue.”

After Ning Jing was framed and expelled from the Ning Family, the real power in the Ning Family fell into his half-brother Ning Yao’s hands. Ning Xiner, Miss Nine of the Ning family, married into the Sun family in the capital last year as the concubine to the illegitimate third son of the Sun Family.

It was a marriage plotted meticulously by Ning Yao in order to curry favor with the official families in the capital city. But even though the Ning Family was one of the four major businesses of Qian Country, his sister didn’t even have the qualifications to be the main wife of a bastard of an official family. Pushing it, she could only be a small concubine.

To avenge the real Ning Jing, Gu Ling obliterated all the scum in the Ning Family in Xunyang. Only Ning Xiner, who was in the capital at that time, was left.

The wife of the third son of the Sun family had died in difficult childbirth last year. Having yet to remarry, they didn’t dare to seek out “Ning Jing” for kinship.

Sun was “Ning Jing’s” supervisor in the Ministry of Revenue. They convened amicably, but he never mentioned this concubine of his son.

It wasn’t until half a month ago, the day after “Ning Jing” died, the Sun family elevated Ning Xiner’s status.

When Su Liang returned today, Ning Xiner and her husband came to visit.

“What are you here for?” Xing Yusheng asked coldly. Even though he didn’t know all the twists and turns, he was sure of one thing, Ning Jing didn’t have any brothers or sisters.

Ning Xiner, with reddened eyes, said timidly, “I just wanted to see my seventh brother.”

“Wait outside.” Once Xing Yusheng finished speaking, he walked in with Qi Jun.

Ning Xiner and her husband waited outside.

“Master, I believe the Sun family wants to use Ning Xiner to claim the Ning Family’s assets,” said Qi Jun. He had investigated Ning Xiner in his spare time while pretending to be Ning Jing and working at the Ministry of Revenue. When her parents and brothers met disaster, she was spared from being thrown out by the Sun family because she was pregnant. She hadn’t given birth yet, and it was rumored to be a son.

Qi Jun believed that the Sun family had initially let Ning Xiner, a merchant’s daughter, enter the household out of avarice. It was rumored that Ning Yao had given her a very generous dowry and gifted the Undersecretary Sun many valuable antiques and curios.

Not all the officials in the capital were wealthy, only those who came from noble families.

With “Ning Jing” taking back the Ning Family, the Sun family’s path to wealth via Ning Xiner was blocked.

But now, with “Ning Jing” dead, the matter of who would inherit the Ning Family’s fortune was attracting much attention behind the scenes.

Although Ning Xiner wasn’t a legitimate member of the Ning family, her family name was Ning, after all.

Xing Yusheng listened to Qi Jun’s input and coldly snorted, “Dream on! Since Ning Jing has gone, even if Su Liang doesn’t want his possessions, it isn’t the turn of that bastard sister and her natal family!”

“I wonder if Miss Su will claim the Ning Family’s properties. If she does, it may invite disapproval,” Qi Jun objectively analyzed.

Because Su Liang and “Ning Jing” were not yet officially married. If calculated properly, in many people’s eyes, if the Ning Family had no other descendants, Ning Xiner had more of a claim to the Ning Family’s estate than Su Liang.

The master and servant entered the courtyard and heard Lin Xueqing crying.

Xing Yusheng sighed deeply. As soon as he entered, he saw Lin Xueqing leaning on Su Liang, her eyes swollen from crying.

“Xueqing, don’t do that. Su Liang is already distraught enough,” Xing Yusheng tried to comfort her.

Qin Yujin also said, “Yes, don’t cry any more. If Ning Jing’s spirit is watching, he would hope for you two to be well.”

Xing Yusheng broke the gloomy atmosphere in the room by mentioning Ning

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Su Liang was stunned for a moment. She knew about this person but had completely forgotten her. She wondered if Gu Ling had simply forgotten about her or deliberately ignored her.

Regarding Ning Xiner suddenly popping up now with the backing of her in-laws, Su Liang certainly understood what the Sun family wanted to do.

“What do you think of the Ning family’s properties?” Xing Yusheng asked Su Liang.

Su Liang said coldly, “Ning Jing said before he died, the Ning Family has two masters, him and me. Now that he’s gone, all his belongings are mine. No one else can touch them!”

Xing Yusheng nodded, “Then let Ning Xiner get lost.”

Su Liang knew that this would make her look greedy, but that didn’t matter. Ning Xinxin was just a pawn manipulated by Ning Yao, and Su Liang had no interest in her anymore. But if she thought she could use the surname “Ning” to seek anything, she was being delusional.

Indeed, Gu Ling had told every steward in the Ning Family that Su Liang was his adopted sister and the only mistress of the Ning Family besides him. If something happened to him one day, everything in the Ning Family would belong to Su Liang.

Su Liang didn’t lack money. Even if she were to donate all of the Ning Family’s assets to charity in the future to console the departed soul of Zhen Ningjing, she wouldn’t possibly let Ning Xinxin get a single cent.

After much persuasion, Su Liang managed to convince Lin Xueqing to leave.

Xing Yusheng also left saying he would kick Ning Xinxin and her husband out.

At last, when all the guests were gone, Su Liang finally let out a sigh of relief. She went to the garden and saw someone fishing, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat that shielded his face.

“Have you not caught any fish after such a long time?” Su Liang pointed out the empty bucket.

Gu Ling sat unmoving, “none of them are the squirrel.”

Su Liang held her forehead, “Poor creature, being targeted by you. But have you ever thought, perhaps Qi Jun might have caught and eaten your squirrel when we were not at home?”

She Imew that Gu Ling had marked that fish but felt it was unnecessary, really unnecessary.

The hand that Gu Ling was holding the fishing rod with paused for a moment,

“Why not?” Su Liang was curious.

Gu Ling said, “I feel that it’s still there.”

Su Liang shrugged, “If you trust your intuition that much, you can keep fishing.” Then she brought up the issue of Ning Xinxin with him.

Gu Ling simply said two words, “Kick out.”

Replied Su Liang lightly, “The Sun family might think that for the sake of my good reputation, I would voluntarily give up the property of the Ning Family and even mend relations with Ning Xinxin so she could perform the last rites for Ning Jing. Well then, I’m willing to bet that the Sun family won’t dare to openly rob me unless they have given up on their image.”

So what if they accused Su Liang of ill intent? Ning Xinxin’s identity as Miss Ning was questionable itself. Moreover, she was already married.

Su Liang was a pragmatist and she didn’t care about the fictitious reputation.

After watching Gu Ling fish for a while, Su Liang felt it was boring and decided to return.

Not long after Lin Xueqing left, Lin Shuzhi came. Su Liang could only gather her energy to deal with him.

Lin Shuzhi told Su Liang about “Ning Jing’s” last meeting with him before his death. His words were interrupted by tears, “I know you were still in his heart, even though he was too stubborn to admit it. And then this happened. Even though he didn’t leave any messages, I saw him grow up since he was a child and I know he was kindhearted. He definitely wouldn’t want you to be sad for him. You are still young, you have to look ahead, and you still have a long way to go.”

Su Liang nodded, “Master, don’t worry, I understand.”

“I heard from Yusheng that you are going to send Ajing back to Xunyang City tomorrow. I won’t go because I won’t be able to help you. Your second brother can accompany you on this journey.” Lin Shuzhi said solemnly.

Su Liang had anticipated this and shook her head to refuse, “There’s no need. My second brother just got married recently. He should stay in the capital. I can do this alone. Moreover, I have already asked for leave from the Emperor, planning to stay in Xunyang City for a while after burying Ning Jing, to get familiar with the business of the Ning Family.”

Seeing Su Liang insist, Lin Shuzhi gave up, “Well, you have always been the most resourceful, if you want to be alone for a while, I won’t let others bother you. I hope you can sort out your feelings and come back soon.”

Su Liang sent Lin Shuzhi away and called for the two stewards of the Ning Family in the capital to arrange the matters of sending “Ning Jing” back to Xunyang City the next day.

Ning Xinxin and her husband had been driven away by Xing Yusheng. As to what the Sun Family would fabricate about Su Liang, she couldn’t care less.

Su Liang also knew that an important reason why the stewards of the Ning Family dared not “rebel” was that she was not easy to provoke. She held dual positions in the military and the medical fields and was a favorite of the Emperor in the capital city. Even the Sun Family, who only aimed to morally kidnap her, would not be able to cause much trouble.

As the sun was setting, Chang’an paid his respects and brought Duanmu Chen’s greetings, asking Su Liang about her plans for leaving the capital the next day.

“No need for his Highness, the fourth prince, to trouble himself. The Ning Family has capable people in the capital city. Everything has been arranged.” said Su Liang.

“Don’t worry about the Sun family, Su Miss, they won’t bother you anymore,” hinted Chang’an.

Su Liang wasn’t surprised that Duanmu Chen already knew that Ning Xinxin had been here and planned to help handle the matter and she didn’t refuse. She simply asked Chang’an to convey her gratitude to Duanmu Chen.

Su Liang had Chang’an withdraw his guards, and he complied.

As for the issue about the blood-written words, Duanmu Chen didn’t ask Chang’an to mention it to Su Liang again because he knew Xing Yusheng would tell her.

Su Liang did not agree with Xing Yusheng’s proposal to rebel. One of the reasons was that Xing Yusheng himself did not have the ability to do so. Even if he really wanted to do it, he would need Xing Ji’s support. Xing Ji however was not an ambitious man. On the contrary, he valued loyalty and hoped for a stable family life. Moreover, it was truly unnecessary. Duanmu Yi’s act of covering for his son did not equate him to a tyrant. Su Liang wanted revenge for a personal grievance and it was not necessary to create such an uproar, sacrificing innocent people.

Actually, Xing Yusheng also realized it would not be appropriate when he calmed down. Therefore, when he met Su Liang, he just mentioned it once and never brought it up again after being denied by her as he had expected.

The Su Mansion calmed down and the kitchen received fresh food ingredients from Su Liang which the steward had brought in. She was a little hungry and was thinking about what to make for dinner. She didn’t bother about someone who had gone fishing and hadn’t returned yet.

Just when she had finished washing the vegetables, she heard footsteps. Turning around, she saw Gu Ling walking in carrying a wooden bucket.

“Did you catch your little squirrel?” Su Liang looked into the bucket.

A fat fish in the bucket was flapping its tail, hitting the sides of the bucket and swimming around.

“How do you know that it’s the squirrel? If you call it, will it respond?” Su Liang joked.

Gu Ling’s thin lips opened lightly, “Su Liang.”

Subconsciously, Su Liang responded.

Then Gu Ling said, “You are Su Liang. But you are not a fish, you don’t know how a fish responds.”

Surprised, Su Liang blinked her eyes, “You are not me, how do you know that I don’t know how a fish responds?”

Gu Ling spoke up, “You are not me, how do you know I don’t know that you don’t know how a fish…” Before he could finish his sentence, apparently realizing how silly it was, he ended this potentially endless loop of conversation, “I’m hungry.”

“I’m also hungry. Acting is exhausting. You promised to cook tonight,” Su Liang added.

“I only cook fish.” Gu Ling said, taking out the fish from the wooden bucket.

“Gu Ling.” Su Liang called him.

“Huh?” Gu Ling responded.

With a light laugh, Su Liang said, “You heard it. That’s how a fish responds.”

Glancing at Su Liang, Gu Ling pointedly made to throw the fish he intended to put into the wooden basin at her instead.

Subconsciously, Su Liang covered her head with her hands, thinking that Gu Ling was going to hit her with the fish, and thought to herself that he really couldn’t take a joke.

But the fish ended up flipping its tail into the basin, and Gu Ling took a kitchen knife to stun it.

Su Liang murmured melancholically, “The poor little squirrel.”

Gu Ling retorted, “Then don’t eat it.”

Snorting lightly, Su Liang said, “You wish.”

It turned out that Su Liang still had to prepare dinner, as Gu Ling only cooked the squirrel fish as he promised, and he even needed Su Liang to instruct him.

However, Su Liang had always believed that there was nothing Gu Ling couldn’t learn if he wanted to. The fish he prepared was even more delicately and evenly cut than what she made.

The two of them collaborated in the kitchen to prepare dinner, with little difference from their previous shared cooking experiences, even somewhat improved, as someone was no longer just a sidekick.

“By the way, are you the one who severed the corpse’s hands?” Su Liang suddenly remembered.

Gu Ling nodded, confirming her guess.

“To avoid being discovered?” Su Liang asked.

Gu Ling shook his head and raised his left hand.

There, Su Liang saw the fragrant wood hand string she gave him on his wrist, and was taken aback, “Right. If you didn’t cut off his hands, you would have to put this thing on him. Hu Er sent a pair of fragrant wood dragon and phoenix pendants as a wedding gift. If you don’t want them, they’re mine.”

“They’re all mine,” Gu Ling said.

Nonchalantly, Su Liang nodded, “If you want them, they’re all yours. They’re antiques, and the carving is superb. You like carving, you can learn from them.” Once the squirrel fish was done and taken out of the pan, dinner was ready.

After tasting a bit, Su Liang praised it, “The little squirrel is truly delicious.”

Only after a few bites did a familiar female voice come from outside, “Sister

Liang!”

Gu Ling picked up the squirrel fish and his bowl and utensils and quickly disappeared into the inner room.

Su Liang’s outstretched chopsticks failed to grab anything. She turned her head to see Yan Shiba barge in and lunge at her…

Su Liang didn’t dodge. She put down her chopsticks and let Yan Shiba hug her.

“Sister Liang, when I heard that the pretty boy was dead, I hurried back here to see you. Are you okay?” Yan Shiba took a good look at Su Liang’s face, grinned, “You haven’t lost weight,” then her gaze fell on the food, “You still have the mood to cook? I knew it, you never liked that Ning pretty boy!”

Gently, Su Liang pushed Yan Shiba away, her expression indifferent, “He’s gone. I don’t want to hear any more nonsense from you.”

Yan Shiba coughed lightly, then took a seat where Gu Ling had been sitting just before, “Alright, alright. I won’t speak of it anymore. Let Ning Jing rest. In the end, who killed him? Do you need me to help you take revenge?”

“Did you finish your business in Yin Country?” Su Liang countered.

The moment Yan Shiba heard this, her face turned into a scowl, “Don’t mention it! Those bastards from Yin Country even dare to trick me! It was a traitor from Yanyun Building who wanted to get rid of me, collaborated with an assassin group from Yin Country, and set a trap for me! Yan Shiqi died saving me!”

Su Liang, furrowing her brows, asked, “Did you escape and came back here?” As she said this, she reached to take Yan Shiba’s wrist to feel her pulse, “Your internal injuries are severe.”

A moved expression appeared on Yan Shiba’s face, “I knew it, I’m in Sister

Liang’s heart. ”

Su Liang shook off her hand, “Talk properly. Is Yan Shiqi really dead?”

“If he is dead, he’s dead. It saves me from his daily nagging, which was annoying me to death.” Yan Shiba said nonchalantly, “He willingly chose his fate, it wasn’t me who forced him. You can’t call me cold-blooded because of this, there are just people who are that despicable, there’s nothing we can do!”

Su Liang felt that Yan Shiba hadn’t changed at all. Those matters had nothing to do with her and she didn’t want to comment on them.

“Get some medicine for me, once I recuperate, I’ll take people to go seek revenge!” A chilling light flashed in Yan Shiba’s eyes as she reached for Su Liang’s chopsticks, “I’m starving. Let me eat something!”

Su Liang didn’t let her succeed, “Come back to get the medicine in an hour. I don’t serve meals here.”

“It’s been such a short time since we last met and you’ve become so stingy?” Yan Shiba stood up and said, “Fine, fine. An hour is long enough for me to go and see the beautiful Cloud. I’ll be going!”

As soon as Yan Shiba finished speaking, she left. She had severe internal injuries and didn’t notice that there was someone else in the room.

Su Liang closed the door, and Gu Ling, carrying a squirrel fish as well as bowls and chopsticks, came out. He put everything back in its original place without stealing any food.

Since Gu Ling prepared the fish, he asked Su Liang to help wash the dishes, which Su Liang thought was reasonable.

Once they cleaned up the kitchen together and heated up the water, Su Liang went back to her room to prepare medicine for Yan Shiba.

An hour later, Yan Shiba returned right on time with a worse look on her face, “Damn! Didn’t get to see brother Cloud, and was mistaken as an assassin by an old monk, even got slapped by him!”

“Could you stop bothering Cheng Yun in the future? He is a monk now and it’s not appropriate to be with you.” Su Liang seriously suggested to Yan Shiba.

Yan Shiba giggled and pinched Su Liang’s chin, “My little beauty, if you come with me, I’ll leave him!”

Su Liang rolled her eyes and threw the medicine at Yan Shiba, “Get out!”

Yan Shiba had no intention of staying anyway. She needed to find a place to recuperate. Before leaving, she said to Su Liang, “After I deal with those pests, I’ll continue to help you find your beautiful Gu. Don’t get involved with any other ugly men!”

The night deepened.

Su Liang finished packing her luggage for tomorrow. Seeing Gu Ling still reading in her room, she asked him, “Where will you sleep? Your room has a dead body. If you don’t want to go there, take your bedding and shift to another courtyard. ”

Gu Ling closed the book he was holding, stood up and said, “I’m going to plant a tree.”

Su Liang paused, “What?”

“The tree Xing Yusheng sent.” Gu Ling was already out the door as he finished speaking.

Su Liang then realized what he meant. There was a pomegranate tree lying in the garden, which Xing Yusheng had sent half a month ago. Because “Ning Jing” met with misfortune, no one had taken care of it yet and it had still not been planted. It rained twice in the meantime, the tree should still be alive.

The moonlight was bright, the night breeze cool, and the lake lightly rippled.

Gu Ling had dug a hole for the tree long ago, by the lake. He dug it again and then he and Su Liang together put the tree in and covered it with soil.

Gu Ling walked in front and Su Liang followed behind him. Together, walking around the tree, they compacted the soil.

Looking at Gu Ling’s back, Su Liang suddenly made a sneak attack!

The two were circling the tree, making moves at each other. After several rounds, Su Liang was pushed towards the lake. She almost fell into the water but was caught by Gu Ling.

Taking advantage of the situation, she threw herself into Gu Ling’s arms but spun around just before they touched and pushed him towards the lake.

The phrase “All is fair in war” almost escaped Su Liang’s lips, but she was taken aback seeing Gu Ling truly falling into the water.

“Mighty God, were you planning to take a bath?” Su Liang asked with doubts. Because with Gu Ling’s ability, even if she was successful in her sneak attack, he could have still managed to get back to the shore before falling into the water.

Gu Ling’s head surfaced, his hair soaking wet, he looked at Su Liang with clear and cold eyes and commented on her martial arts, “You’ve progressed.” Su Liang nodded, “You weren’t here, but I kept practicing diligently.” “You may leave.” Gu Ling said.

Su Liang froze for a moment, “You’re not planning on coming back up?” Gu Ling uttered two words, “Taking a bath.”

Su Liang turned around shaking her head and waved without turning back, “I won’t disturb you.”

Walking a few steps ahead, Su Liang stopped, not turning her head, said, “Mighty God, you don’t seem to have any clean clothes to wear after the bath. You didn’t just say you were going to take a bath because I nearly pushed you into the water, did you?”

Hearing the tease in Su Liang’s words, Gu Ling who had already come out from the opposite side looked at her silently and disappeared without a word.

Su Liang didn’t hear any response, and when she turned back, there was no one in the lake.

“I’ve indeed made progress. I’ve won this battle tonight.” Feeling cheerful, Su Liang went back to sleep..