Jiawu Tiancheng

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Ning Jing and Su Liang returned to the house that Duanmu Chen had given them. It was late at night.

A lot of things happened today. She had not had time to take a closer look at this new home, nor had she counted the things Duanmu Chen had given her according to the contract.

The things that were originally written in black and white and stamped with red hands included "a house in the capital, with a garden and a pond in the house, with ten different fruit trees and ten different flowers; one hundred ancient books; two BMWs; one pound of tribute Dahongpao; five kinds of rare wood; seven kinds of precious jade; nine kinds of precious fabrics, etc."

Ning Jing, who was in charge of the move, counted and said that there were fruit trees, but whether they could bear fruit would be known in spring and summer. A lot of flower seeds were given, but there were only two kinds of ready-made flowers.

There were just enough ancient books, not one more, in the study.

The two horses were barely BMWs, in the stable.

There were no tribute Dahongpao.

Wood, jade, and cloth are all available.

Other furniture and daily necessities are also very complete.

"Do you still want Dahongpao?" Su Liang asked.

Today, the largest tea merchant in Gan Country is Ning Jing himself, and the Dahongpao specially supplied to the royal family also comes from the Ning family.

Ning Jing nodded, "Yes. If he can't give it, it will offset one of today's conditions."

Su Liang's lips curled slightly, "Very good. I have to go to Duanmu Chen tonight, otherwise, with his temper, I'm afraid he won't admit it tomorrow."

There is still some time before midnight, Su Liang took a general look at the things in the house, and there are no major problems with other things.

She changed into men's clothes and asked Ning Jing if he wanted to go.

"No." Ning Jing's voice came from next door.

This house is not small in the capital, and there are five courtyards that can be lived in, but Ning Jing chose the one closest to the garden and with the best scenery to live with Su Liang, just like when he was in Sujia Village.

Su Liang also agreed that this is the best.

First, it was convenient. They had to teach each other a lot of things. They could talk without meeting each other just because they were separated by a wall.

And in order to keep the secret, they did not hire servants. They had to do everything by themselves, including cleaning. The courtyard that was not used temporarily could be left idle.

Second, it was safer. After the people of Xunyang Ning were cleared out, the trouble was now on Su Liang's side.

As an orphan of the Su family, she had an old grudge with the second prince, and today she had a new grudge. She would not be able to live in peace.

Su Liang walked through the garden, left alone from the back door, and went to the fourth prince's mansion.

Ning Jing got up and followed silently after Su Liang left.

...

The fact that Su Liang secretly sneaked into the fourth prince's mansion during the day made Duanmu Chen realize that his guards had a big loophole, and he redeployed after returning from the palace.

Duanmu Chen had not rested yet, and was still looking at the papers of the previous imperial examinations in the study.

Duanmu Yi said that this year's imperial examination required all his adult sons to take the exam on the same day as the candidates for the imperial examination. He would personally review the answers of the princes to see how talented they were.

For this reason, after Duanmu Chen returned to Beijing, he studied late into the night and rarely went out unless there was something to do.

There was a noise near the window, and Duanmu Chen was startled. He looked over with a wary look and saw a familiar figure walking over.

Duanmu Chen breathed a sigh of relief, and then said unhappily, "Su Liang, what do you think of the Fourth Prince's Mansion?"

"Remind His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince that your guards must be strengthened, and be careful of assassination." Su Liang said.

Although Duanmu Chen agreed with Su Liang's opinion, he was still a little unhappy. "What you asked me to do has been done as you wished. Why did you come here in the middle of the night? Can't we talk about it tomorrow?"

"There is something that needs to be made clear today." Su Liang smiled, "First of all, thank His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince for fulfilling the contract, but there is something that the Fourth Prince may have missed."

Duanmu Chen frowned, "What?"

"A pound of tribute Dahongpao." Su Liang said.

Duanmu Chen's face darkened, "Do you and Ning Jing want to drink any good tea? There is not a pound of Dahongpao in the entire palace now, but the Ning family may have it! And they asked me for it!"

Su Liang chuckled, "The Fourth Prince admitted that he really didn't give it, so it's easy to say. Whether we have it or not is not the same as the Fourth Prince's promise to give it but not fulfilling it."

Duanmu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, "What do you want?"

"We have to settle the accounts clearly for our cooperation, so that I won't take advantage of His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince, which would be bad." Su Liang said seriously, "If His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince can't give Dahongpao, then use something else to offset it."

Duanmu Chen snorted, "Use what?"

"Today I owe His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince two favors, one pound of Dahongpao, how about offsetting one?" Su Liang asked.

Duanmu Chen glared at Su Liang, "I knew you were up to no good when you came here in the middle of the night! Do you have to settle it so clearly?"

Su Liang raised his eyebrows, "If His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince is talking to me about friendship, then why don't we write off all the accounts between us? I have no objection."

Duanmu Chen suddenly wanted to smash the inkstone on Su Liang's face...

Chang'an, who came to deliver midnight snacks, heard Su Liang's voice coming from the room, and felt bad. Because Duanmu Chen said not long ago that if Su Liang came next time and still walked in as if there was no one, they would all be useless...

Hearing Duanmu Chen calling for someone, Chang'an took the midnight snack in and saw Su Liang standing in the room in men's clothes, smiling at him, "Excuse me."

"Do you want to eat?" Duanmu Chen asked Su Liang.

Su Liang shook his head, "I dare not eat. What if after eating, His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince said that there is a fee for it, which is equivalent to a pound of Dahongpao, and I will lose a lot."

Changan was shocked to see his master grab the inkstone and throw it at Su Liang after hearing what he said!

Su Liang caught the inkstone steadily, put it on the table beside him, and smiled slightly, "If this is a gift for me, I will refuse it, I want the Dahongpao."

Changan: ... He knows what's going on. There is really no Dahongpao. Duanmu Chen said this morning that as long as Su Liang doesn't find it today or finds it but doesn't ask for it, he will not admit it tomorrow.

"Are you going to participate in the martial arts examination next month?" Duanmu Chen looked at Su Liang coldly.

Su Liang nodded, "I have this plan."

"You can have a discussion with Changan, and I will agree to offset one condition." Duanmu Chen said.

Changan thought Su Liang would definitely refuse.

Who knew she nodded readily, "Okay, please teach me, Guard Chang."

Changan coughed lightly, "Actually my last name is Yuan."

"Okay, Guard Changan, please." Su Liang walked out.

Changan: ...

Duanmu Chen pushed open the window with interest, "Let's fight in the yard. Changan, if you lose, go back to your hometown to farm."

Changan calmed down and asked Su Liang if he wanted to use weapons.

Su Liang leaned over and pulled out two slender sharp knives, which flashed a chilling light in the dark night.

Duanmu Chen and Changan's eyes were fixed.

Changan used a long sword, and the fight started soon.

Duanmu Chen stood up and walked out, standing in the corridor, watching intently.

This was not the first time he saw Su Liang fight, but before, it was just a move, and Su Liang's true strength could not be seen. It could only be seen that she was brave and intelligent.

As Duanmu Chen's confidant, Changan's martial arts were naturally good.

Duanmu Chen knew some boxing and kicking skills, which were very average.

At first, he felt that Changan had the upper hand, and Su Liang was always on the defensive.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the situation reversed, Su Liang turned from defense to offense, and her moves were very precise, as if she had figured out Chang'an's tricks. Although she held two swords in her hands, she occasionally used one of them as a sword, and her moves were flexible and varied.

This competition lasted only a quarter of an hour in total, and ended with Su Liang's initiative to stop.

"It's just a competition, I think His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince should be satisfied?" Su Liang put away the sword and looked at Duanmu Chen.

Duanmu Chen nodded slightly, without asking for a winner, "Let's stop here today."

"Then the two favors I owed His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince will be written off." Su Liang said.

Duanmu Chen frowned, "What two? It was agreed to cancel one!"

"The big red robe will cancel one. Just now, His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince asked me to compete with Chang'an and agreed to cancel one condition. This is the second one." Su Liang said.

Duanmu Chen was speechless, "I mean, you and Chang'an will compete, and I agree to use the red robe to offset one condition!"

Su Liang shook his head, "Either the two can be offset together, or I can get the red robe before midnight."

Chang'an felt that his master wanted to hit Su Liang with the inkstone again...

"Chang'an!" Duanmu Chen snorted.

Chang'an responded quickly.

"Go find a red robe!" Duanmu Chen said.

Chang'an was dumbfounded.

Su Liang was very calm, "It's not impossible, but the weight of the agreed one catty cannot be a bit different. The agreed red cannot be other pink, rose red, jujube red, or other colors. Now there is still a quarter of an hour before midnight, I will wait here."

Chang'an received Duanmu Chen's gaze and felt speechless. In a quarter of an hour, where can you find a pure red robe that weighs exactly one catty? Which decent person would make a bright red robe without any other colors? Is it used to ward off evil spirits?

Duanmu Chen saw Changan was in trouble, went back to the room with a dark face, grabbed the inkstone and walked out, and threw it at Su Liang again, "This is for you!"

Su Liang took it, held it in his hand, nodded and smiled, "Thank you, His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince, for everything today. I hope we can still have such a pleasant cooperation in the future. Goodbye."

After saying that, he turned around and left with the inkstone.

Duanmu Chen saw Su Liang's figure disappear in the night, and the anger on his face subsided. He looked at Changan, "How strong is she?"

Changan said seriously, "Miss Su's strength should not be underestimated!"

Duanmu Chen thought, "Who taught her martial arts? If she had such strength before she went to Sujia Village, the Su family would not have been in trouble at all."

"Could it be Mr. Ning?" Changan asked.

Duanmu Chen snorted, "They have only known each other for half a year. If Su Liang only used half a year to learn martial arts and tied with you, would you still have the face to live?"

Changan: ... He knew that he would be scolded in the end. But to be honest, he felt that Su Liang's martial arts could not be evaluated by ordinary standards. It was not high, but it was very strong.

Chang'an reported his feelings to Duanmu Chen, and Duanmu Chen turned back to his room, "What a pity, I finally made her owe me a favor, two at a time, but it was all gone in an instant. But her weakness is also obvious, she values ​​friendship. Forget it this time, she will need my help next time."

…

Su Liang took the inkstone back home and saw that the light in Ning Jing's room was on. It seemed that he had been reading since she left and had not slept yet.

She walked to the door, did not knock, and simply told Ning Jing about what happened to Duanmu Chen tonight.

"His inkstone is good, do you want it?" Su Liang asked.

The door opened a crack, and a slender white hand stretched out.

Su Liang put the inkstone on it, retracted his hand, and closed the door again.

…

Su Liang slept well on the first night he spent in his new home in the capital, and got up early in the morning to practice martial arts.

The martial arts arena is large and can be used for horse racing.

Su Liang ran a few laps. After returning, Ningjing heated up hot water. She took a bath, changed clothes, and made breakfast. The sun had just risen.

"I have to visit Mrs. Xing today, will you go?" Su Liang asked.

"I won't go." Ning Jing still refused.

Su Liang nodded, "That's fine. If you're fine, you can go and play with Zheng'er."

Ning Jing shook his head, "I have something to do today."

But there was no intention to explain.

Su Liang didn't ask. After breakfast, she packed up, took the gift for Mrs. Xing, and rode out alone.

When they arrived at the Zhongxinhou Mansion, the palace staff who came to issue the marriage decree had just left.

Xing Yusheng explained that the servants of the Xing Mansion were very respectful to Su Liang and invited her directly to Mrs. Xing.

Xing Ji and Xing Yusheng, their father and son, were both there.

Xing Ji originally asked An to leave, but when he learned that Su Liang was coming, he sat down again.

"Girl Liang, come quickly!" Mrs. Xing greeted Su Liang cheerfully, holding a bright yellow marriage edict in her hand.

Su Liang walked over and saluted Xing Ji.

"No need to be polite, I should thank you for your help to the Xing family and your care for Yu Sheng." Xing Ji was very polite, looking at Su Liang with a faint judgment.

Mrs. Xing, La Suliang, sat down next to her and asked Xing Ji to do what he should do. "I've seen it. As an elder, I didn't even prepare a greeting gift, so I just told lies."

Xing Ji nodded, "It's my lack of etiquette. I'll make up for it next time." After saying that, he left.

Mrs. Xing drove Xing Yusheng away, pulled Su Liang, and asked her to help connect Xing Yusheng and Lin Xueqing and create opportunities for them to cultivate their relationship.

"You know Yu'er's temperament. He never likes to force others to make things difficult for him. But if he doesn't take the initiative, he might miss it. I like Xue Qing very much. After she comes in, I want to feel more comfortable and move in with Yu'er. I won’t stop you from going out to live,” Mrs. Xing sighed, “At this age, I have gone through a lot, and I have seen clearly that even if we are a family, there are always differences. He can control people but not his heart, so why bother? I just want my children and grandchildren to be safe, everything else is secondary."

Su Liang nodded, "Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings."

"That's the reason." Mrs. Xing held Su Liang's hand and said with a smile, "I always feel that you are the lucky star of our Xing family. There is something else I need to explain to you today."

Su Liang heard Mrs. Xing mention the incident of Xing Yusheng's poisoning.

"I only have a son. When he was young, he was wanton and playful, always running away. It was the Miao family that he met first. He is the daughter of a minor official and is distantly related to the Nian family. The late emperor granted Ji'er a marriage, and he had no choice but to marry him. She could admit it. She was supposed to break up with the Miao family and let her find another husband, but unexpectedly she decided on Ji'er instead. She didn't cry or make trouble, but refused to get married and insisted on keeping her body safe for Ji'er. "Mr. Xing looked confused.

"My daughter-in-law, Qin Xiang, is a lady in the family. She married Ji'er far away. Everything went well and I liked it too. But as soon as she entered the house, she found out from the gossipy servant that Ji'er had a girl he was in love with. , she is a high-spirited person, and she has had a thorn in her heart since then.”

"When Ji'er married Qin Xiang, he promised his father-in-law and uncle that as long as Qin Xiang gave birth to a son within five years, he would never take a concubine in his life. I am dissatisfied with this matter, but Ji'er has promised the Qin family , and I know his temperament, so I can only accept it. The Qin family made that request because they know best what kind of temperament Qin Xiang is. "

"I hope Ji'er will forget Miao and live a good life with Qin Xiang. In the first two years, Ji'er didn't look for Miao, and Miao didn't look for him. He and Qin Xiang got along very well, and Qin Xiang was pregnant with Yu'er. "

"I always hope that Mrs. Miao will get married as soon as possible without causing problems, but she didn't do anything wrong, she just doesn't want to get married. Her family is still thinking about clinging to Ji'er, so let her go. I can't force her to marry anything. people."

"That year, it rained heavily for many days in the north of Qian Kingdom. The Miao family went out to burn incense. The carriage rolled down the mountain and the person was missing. The Miao family did not look for it quickly, but instead came to look for Ji'er."

"It took three days before Ji'er rescued Miao. I thought at that time, if Qin Xiang and Ji'er had trouble, I would be the villain and find a place for Miao as soon as possible."

"But Ji'er has nothing to do with the Miao family, and he has no intention of taking the Miao family as his concubine, but Qin Xiang insists on letting the Miao family come in. She thinks that she ruined the marriage between Ji'er and the Miao family and gave birth to Yu'er. After that, I won’t let Ji’er touch her again.”

"The three of them are more stubborn than the other. There are many things that are right and wrong. It's hard to tell. Yu'er naturally feels that it's his father who can't deal with his mother, and they're still having trouble with each other now."

"When I returned home, I found out that Yu'er was poisoned. It was related to the Miao family, but she was not the one who did it. It was a naughty slave next to her who did it behind her back, and the Miao family was instigating it behind her back."

"Those people have been dealt with. Over the years, although I have never liked Miao, I understand her. She only has Ji'er in her heart. She is timid and stubborn, but she is not a bad person. Otherwise, Yu'er would have been ill for so long. "I have suspected her for a long time. She doesn't like Yu'er, but she really doesn't have the courage to harm him."

Old Mrs. She cut her off with her own hands when she was involved, but there is no evidence that she and Yu'er are not getting along. From now on, the descendants of the Xing family will no longer have to worry about their future. There will be no throne for them to fight for. , not a bad thing.”

Su Liang did not doubt what Old Lady Xing said. At this point, there was no need to cover up for anyone. If Miao was really vicious and shrewd, how could she let her stay with Xing Ji and raise her grandchildren?

As for the emotional entanglement between Xing Ji, Qin Xiang and Miao, it can only be said that fate is playing tricks on people.

In Su Liang's opinion, things like imperial edicts granting marriages will most likely not have a good result.

Even outsiders said that Qin Xiang was sent by the court to monitor Xing Ji. There were conflicts between the couple from the beginning, and Xing Ji could not predict that he would become a couple with the eldest daughter of the Qin family who was far away in the capital. It was normal for him to fall in love with a gentle, considerate and unrepentant girl when he was a teenager.

The subsequent entanglements, whether emotional or responsible, many things happened and there was no turning back.

"I have been nagging you so much without realizing it. I know that the Lin family must think that the Xing family is not simple, and they are afraid that Xueqing will be wronged if she marries here. Regarding this, please rest assured. I am still alive, and I have the final say in the Xing family." Old Lady Xing looked serious.

She told Su Liang so much about the past of the Xing family, but in fact she just wanted to tell Su Liang that the Xing family is more complicated than the Lin family, but not so terrible.

Old Lady Xing knew that the Lin family trusted Su Liang very much, and this marriage was also promoted by Su Liang, but there are still variables now, and she didn't want Xing Yusheng to miss Lin Xueqing.

"Don't worry, old lady, I will make these situations clear to the Lin family." Su Liang nodded, "Xueqing often goes to play with Yujin, let Xing Shizi go to accompany Mr. Qin more."

Old Lady Xing smiled when she heard it. Lin Xueqing went to the Qin family, and asked Xing Yusheng to go too, so that the two of them could have more contact and cultivate feelings.

There are many blind marriages in this world. The Xing family was granted a marriage and was willing to give the Lin family room to choose. In the hearts of the Lin family, this is already a big plus.

Old Lady Xing invited Su Liang to have lunch. After she left the Zhongxin Marquis's Mansion, she went to the Qin Guogong Mansion to give acupuncture to Old Master Qin.

…

Duanmu Chen entered the palace again to report that the second prince Duanmu Ao was attacked in the Huguo Temple.

"Have you found the real murderer?" Duanmu Yi asked.

Duanmu Chen did not nod, "I only found the most suspicious person, but there is no direct evidence. If the second prince has any clues, maybe we can confirm whether this person is the real murderer who hurt him."

"Who?" Duanmu Yi asked.

Duanmu Chen answered respectfully, "The fourth young lady of the Nian family, Nian Ruxue."

Duanmu Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, "What evidence?"

Duanmu Chen explained, "Xing Shizi of the Zhongxin Marquis's Mansion was in the Huguo Temple at the time. He accidentally saw Nian Ruxue coming out of the back mountain alone. She looked uneasy, and his subordinates also saw it. Qin Yujin, the eldest lady of the Qin Guogong Mansion, and Lin Xueqing, the young lady of the Lin Mansion, were looking for a girl who was traveling with them at the time. They also saw the fourth young lady of Nian. She said that she went to the back mountain alone to see the scenery and did not meet anyone."

In fact, these are not evidence, but Duanmu Chen stopped here.

He knew that Duanmu Yi and Nian Ruxue had had a private meeting, but this matter was a secret. Duanmu Ao must not know, otherwise he would not dare to tease Nian Ruxue in the Huguo Temple.

Duanmu Chen guessed that Nian Ruxue and Duanmu Yi did not really have a relationship, otherwise Nian Ruxue would have entered the harem long ago.

But the cancellation of Nian Ruxue's engagement with the prince meant that Duanmu Yi intended to have her.

Now, Duanmu Chen actually said nothing, but left enough room for imagination.

Duanmu Ao is a well-known pervert.

Nian Ruxue is a beautiful lady who is alone.

What will happen when the two are alone in the back mountain of Huguo Temple?

If nothing happened, why did Nian Ruxue hurt Duanmu Ao? Why did Duanmu Ao say he knew nothing?

Even if Duanmu Ao just touched Nian Ruxue, she was dirty in front of Duanmu Yi.

Even if "Nian Ruxue hurt Duanmu Ao" means that Nian Ruxue is loyal to Duanmu Yi.

"Father, I haven't asked Miss Nian Si about this matter yet. Should I order her to enter the palace now? The clues are vague. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. Someone else hurt the second emperor. But I think that if someone deliberately murdered the second emperor, the second emperor was unconscious, but the murderer spared his life, which is strange." Duanmu Chen said seriously.

Duanmu Yi's face was as gloomy as water, "No need to ask. This matter ends here."

Duanmu Chen nodded, "Yes."

"Draft an imperial decree, granting Nian Ruxue to the second son as a concubine. You will go to the Nian family today and deliver the imperial decree." Duanmu Yi said coldly.

Duanmu Chen looked surprised, and then lowered his eyes and said, "Yes, father."

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