Chapter 127 - 127:127. Xiao Muyun (Second Update)
“I didn’t seduce the Second Prince…” Nian Ruxue’s face was pale, and she couldn’t stop crying.
Nian Jinxing sneered, “The Second Prince was injured. You said you hadn’t seen him. So how come there is today’s imperial marriage?”
It was originally agreed that Nian Ruxue would enter the palace, but the emperor suddenly changed his mind and married her to the Second Prince, which was obviously related to what happened in the back mountain of Huguo Temple yesterday.
Duanmu Chen just said that the imperial marriage was Nian Ruxue’s own fault.
Everyone in the capital city knew that the Second Prince was an errant prince. Who would believe that a woman who had a relationship with him was innocent?
Nian Jitang roughly dragged Nian Ruxue up and took her into the front hall, closing the door and telling the servants to get lost.
Old Madam Nian and Nian Jitang’s couple sat there with serious faces. Nian Jinxing’s expression was uncertain as he looked at Nian Ruxue, who was crying non-stop on the ground, “What exactly happened? Explain it clearly!”
Nian Ruxue choked out, “Yesterday, my carriage broke down so I let Siqi go back and inform them to send another carriage to pick me up. I went alone to the back mountain of Huguo Temple to enjoy the scenery, but I didn’t expect to meet the Second Prince there…”
Nian Jitang cursed angrily, “Fool! Fool! Fool!”
Madam Nian gritted her teeth, “You used to be praised for being smart. How could you be so muddleheaded? If the Second Prince touched you, how could the emperor still want you?”
“No! The Second Prince didn’t touch me!” Nian Ruxue tearfully said, “I swear!”
Nian Jinxing sneered, “He didn’t touch you, so you injured him to escape? You’re unexpectedly fierce and courageous!”
“It wasn’t me!” Nian Ruxue hated bitterly at this moment. The one who hurt the Second Prince must be Su Liang, who was with Qin Yujin!
After leaving Huguo Temple, Nian Ruxue thought that any problems afterwards would have nothing to do with her, but she never expected that an imperial marriage would fall from the sky!
“If it wasn’t you, then who?” Nian Jinxing ridiculed, “If you know anything, hurry up and clarify!”
Nian Ruxue’s expression changed constantly. She didn’t know how badly the Second Prince was injured, nor what he had said to the emperor.
If the Second Prince said that he had something to do with her, and she hurt him in self-defense, this imperial marriage would happen, she would push Su Liang out, and no matter how she defended herself, nobody would believe her. That’s right, the Second Prince must have lied, otherwise it would never end
like this!
Duanmu Ao had a grudge against Su Liang, so he could directly say that Su Liang attacked him without mentioning Nian Ruxue, which would only displease the emperor.
This was also the reason why Nian Ruxue was confident that Su Liang would be the one in trouble next, and she just had to enjoy the show.
Nian Ruxue couldn’t understand Duanmu Ao’s thoughts about suddenly arranging the imperial marriage.
At this moment, Nian Ruxue suspected that Duanmu Ao was harming her, but she never thought that the real catalyst for this imperial marriage was Fourth Prince Duanmu Chen, who had nothing to do with the affairs of Huguo Temple. She thought Su Liang was just an orphan girl and it didn’t matter if she offended her.
But Su Liang, who had just returned to the capital city, was not without a background.
Old Madam Nian slammed the table heavily, “Xuexue! What are you hiding? Did the Second Prince really tarnish your innocence?”
Nian Ruxue came back to her senses, “Grandmother, the Second Prince really didn’t do anything to me yesterday. I swear! Someone appeared at that time, and I took the opportunity to escape. I don’t know why the Second Prince was injured, nor what he said to the emperor!”
Nian Jinxing narrowed his eyes, “Someone appeared at that time? Who?”
“It’s Su Yuanzhou’s granddaughter, her name is Su Liang. She’s skilled in medical skills and was treating Old Master Qin. She went to Huguo Temple with Qin Yujin yesterday.” Nian Ruxue said.
“Su Yuanzhou?” Nian Jitang frowned, “Didn’t his whole family die out?”
“I don’t know why there’s still a surviving member of the Su Family, and she’s in the capital city. But the matter of the Su Family is related to the Second Prince, or else he wouldn’t let me go as soon as he saw Su Liang!” Nian Ruxue said with red eyes, “Grandmother, father, mother, elder brother, what I’m saying is true! Yesterday, I told you that I hadn’t seen the Second Prince because nothing happened between us, and his injury had nothing to do with me. I was afraid that if I told the truth, you would blame me for being careless! I don’t have the courage to hit the Second Prince!”
Nian Jinxing’s expression was indescribable, “Then what’s the deal with this imperial marriage? Someone must have said something to the emperor.”
Old Madam Nian said angrily, “The Second Prince was just injured. The emperor would naturally ask him about the cause. I think the Second Prince is trying to tarnish Xuexue’s innocence in order to possess her!”
The atmosphere was silent.
Even Nian Ruxue began to doubt whether what her grandmother said was the truth.
Nian Jinxing thoughtfully said, “Initially, the Su Family’s entire family died mysteriously. Perhaps the Second Prince didn’t mention that Su Liang to the emperor at all, fearing that the old case would be overturned and become a big issue. If it were me, I would get rid of Su Liang secretly so that there would be no loose ends. But the Second Prince still had to explain why he was injured, so he pulled you in. The emperor knew his nature, so if he only said that in his love for beauty, he impulsively offended you and was accidentally hurt by you, the emperor must believe him. When the Second Prince’s attendants were dismissed, they only saw the Second Prince and you together, not knowing that Su Liang appeared later, otherwise, they wouldn’t have let the Second Prince get hurt.”
The faces of the Nian Family members turned ugly, and Nian Ruxue was gritting her teeth in hatred!
Nian Jinxing sighed, “You were touched by the Second Prince. How could the emperor possibly want you again? Blame yourself for being careless.” “He didn’t touch me!” Nian Ruxue was furious.
Nian Jinxing scoffed, “Why are you being angry with me? If you have the ability, tell the emperor. Do you think the emperor will believe you?”
Old Madam Nian looked disappointed.
Nian Jitang wanted to tear Nian Ruxue apart.
Madam Nian sighed repeatedly, blaming Nian Ruxue for being careless and getting into such trouble. It not only ruined the Nian Family’s original plan but also displeased the emperor. It was simply more harm than good.
Nian Ruxue listened to the accusations, so angry that she almost vomited blood. The outcome was even worse than accepting her fate and becoming the Crown Prince’s Imperial Concubine!
All blame goes to that bitch Su Liang! If it wasn’t for her injuring the Second Prince, how could it have escalated like this!” Nian Ruxue gritted her teeth, “I’m going to write a letter to my second brother. As long as he achieves great success, he can ask the emperor to revoke the decree!”
“Even if the imperial marriage is canceled, you won’t be able to enter the palace again,” Nian Jinxing sneered.
“If I can’t enter the palace or marry a prince, I want to be the main wife!” Nian Ruxue’s eyes were red, as if she was making a vow.
When Su Liang and Ning Jing found out that Nian Ruxue was married to Duanmu Ao as an imperial concubine, the news was already known to everyone in the capital city.
Many people sympathized with Nian Ruxue, as they were all aware of Duanmu Ao’s character.
Su Liang sighed softly, “If Nian Jincheng were in the capital city, he might ask me to clarify for Nian Ruxue that there is nothing between her and the second prince, risking defying the imperial decree and asking the emperor to retract the marriage edict. If I say Nian Ruxue was trying to frame me at that time, would Nian Jincheng think I’m slandering her?”
Ning Jing’s expression was indifferent, “You have a lot of free time, teach me
Medical Skills.”
Su Liang: …Understood, Ning Jing’s meaning was — what’s the point of saying so much nonsense?
If anyone said that Ning Jing didn’t care about Nian Jincheng, Su Liang wouldn’t believe it.
However, Ning Jing didn’t care about Nian Ruxue at all, and for now, Nian Ruxue couldn’t affect Nian Jincheng. So for Ning Jing, none of her matters were worth paying attention to.
Ning Jing had already learned quite well the acupuncture and moxibustion that had been taught earlier.
Su Liang would write down the textbooks she had learned when she studied medicine in her previous life according to her memory for Ning Jing to read.
Ning Jing had already read what Su Liang had written and needed explanations.
The morning passed in this way, and Su Liang went out alone in the afternoon, riding a horse to Duke Qin’s Mansion.
Upon arriving and seeing Lin Xueqing and Xing Yusheng there, she was not surprised at all.
After finishing the acupuncture, Lin Xueqing wanted to leave with Su Liang, and Xing Yusheng also said it was time to take his leave.
“Cousin, please send Xueqing home for me.” Qin Yujin winked at Xing Yusheng. She had arranged for a carriage to pick up Lin Xueqing from her house this morning, so Lin Xueqing couldn’t return by herself, creating an opportunity for Xing Yusheng.
“I want to ride a horse with Sister Su! Let’s go shopping!” Lin Xueqing grabbed Su Liang and wouldn’t let go.
Su Liang shook her head, “Your senior brother is waiting for me at home.”
“Why are you in such a hurry to go back since you’re not marrying my senior brother?” Lin Xueqing launched a counterattack.
Su Liang: … Can’t refute.
“You guys go have fun.” Xing Yusheng indicated that he understood Su Liang and Qin Yujin’s intentions, but there was no need to be in such a hurry.
“Why don’t we all go to my house?” Su Liang suggested.
“Great!” Lin Xueqing’s eyes lit up, “Father was talking about finding a day to go and warm up the house for Senior Brother Ning and Sister Su! I’ve been wanting to see it!”
So the three young ladies rode in the carriage, Xing Yusheng rode Su Liang’s horse, and they all went to Su Mansion.
On the way, Qin Yujin mentioned the matter of Nian Ruxue being granted a marriage, sighing softly, “I really didn’t expect it.”
It was not a question of whether they sympathized with her or not, but rather that she had known Nian Ruxue since she was a child and felt quite sentimental seeing her end up like this.
Lin Xueqing spoke seriously, “One should always be true to oneself in dealing with people and things. This is her own doing.”
The silent Xing Yusheng nodded beside her, thinking that his fiancée was indeed a sensible and good girl.
“Sister Liang, you should be very careful. The second prince probably won’t let you off easily.” Qin Yujin was worried.
Su Liang smiled slightly, “I have a plan.” The next time she saw Duanmu Chen, she would ask him about the progress of the matter they had discussed earlier. She had come to the capital city to investigate the cause of the Su Family’s death and seek justice for them.
It was initially determined that the former second prince’s wife, who was said to have been killed by Su Yuanzhou, was the granddaughter of the current Prime Minister, and a first cousin of Duanmu Chen on his father’s side.
Duanmu Chen may not have cared about his deceased cousin, but he would definitely want to deal with the second prince, who was the crown prince’s full brother. On this matter, he and Su Liang shared a common enemy.
The carriage reached the main street of the capital city, and Su Liang asked Qi Jun to stop at the Wan Family Restaurant.
She had sent Wan Hui a cookbook earlier, and Wan Hui said that after adding the new dishes, the business of the restaurant had been booming lately.
Su Liang thought that preparing a table of dishes for guests was a bit troublesome, so it was better to ask the restaurant to deliver ready-made dishes later.
The carriage stopped, and Su Liang got out, asking Qin Yujin and Lin Xueqing to wait in the carriage, saying that she would be back shortly.
After ordering the dishes and setting the delivery time, Su Liang was about to leave when she was stopped by a strange young man, “I thought I recognized Miss Su. My young master has invited you.”
Su Liang was startled, “Who is your young master?”
“Miss Su doesn’t recognize an acquaintance?” The young man looked surprised.
Su Liang knew in her heart that this person must have known the Original Master. Since she was about to investigate the affairs of the Original Master’s family, it wouldn’t hurt to meet whoever came to the door.
Su Liang left the restaurant, telling them to go home first as Ning Jing was there. She had something to deal with and would go back by herself later.
Xing Yusheng wanted to ask further questions, but Su Liang had already turned and reentered the restaurant.
Thinking that nothing would happen in the bright daylight and the busy restaurant, and that Su Liang always had her own opinions and was very powerful, Xing Yusheng left Su Liang’s horse behind and got in the carriage, heading to Su Mansion first.
“Miss Su, please come in. My young master is inside.” The young man led Su Liang to the door of an elegant room.
Su Liang pushed the door open and saw a man in brocade robes with his back to her, looking at the calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall.
The sound of the door closing rang behind her, and the man turned to look at Su Liang, his eyes filled with surprise and delight, “I didn’t expect that you would still be alive.”
Su Liang’s expression was calm, “I’m sorry, but I lost my memory after suffering a severe injury before. May I ask who the young master is?” The man in brocade robes froze, “You don’t remember me?”
Su Liang nodded.
The man in brocade robes sighed softly, “My grandfather is the current Prime
Minister, and my name is Xiao Muyun..”