Chapter 318: 318. Tomorrow and again tomorrow

Translator: 549690339

The second day.

“Great God, good morning. Shall we head back today?” “Hmm… let’s talk about it tomorrow, you need to rest.”

The third day.

“Great God, shouldn’t we be leaving?”

“Hmm… there’s no rush, let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

After spending three days and nights with Gu Ling, Su Liang felt they couldn’t go on like this.

“Let’s end it tonight, sleep well, and set off tomorrow.” Su Liang said as she placed a pillow between her and Gu Ling.

Gu Ling’s hand stretched out from under the pillow and touched Su Liang before she grabbed it and threw it back, “Move again, and we’ll sleep in separate beds.”

This threat immediately took effect, and Gu Ling sighed softly, “Am I doing something that upsets you?”

Su Liang closed her eyes, telling herself not to look at him, lest she be seduced by his looks, “Great God, this kind of thing, too much of it is not good for the body.”

“It’s only been three days…” Gu Ling argued that he had only just begun and was already being stopped. Was this fair? Did it conform to human nature? His body was doing great!

“It’s not like we can’t do it tomorrow.” Su Liang blurted out.

Upon hearing this, Gu Ling’s deep laughter filled the room, “Oh, you said it, tomorrow.”

Sleepiness overtook Su Liang, and she fell into slumber quickly.

Woken up again by Gu Ling in the middle of the night, Su Liang was so exasperated she could hardly contain herself. Gu Ling whispered in her ear, “It’s a new day after midnight.”

Perhaps those in the throes of passion always loved to stick together. Su Liang felt it was okay, but Gu Ling seemed to hate not being by her side every moment since their wedding night, in various ways.

Su Liang had always called Gu Ling “Great God” not because of his cold demeanor, but because he was a versatile genius. He wouldn’t do anything unless he could do it exceptionally well, including being a man…

Although Su Liang’s body was in good shape and she was open-minded about such matters, she could still barely keep up with Gu Ling’s energetic youth.

Moreover, this place was not their home. And now, they didn’t have complete “freedom.” They had to return as soon as possible.

“How about we leave tomorrow?” Gu Ling looked at the fatigue between Su Liang’s brows and regretted bothering her last night.

Su Liang stared at him with a stern face, “You dare say ‘tomorrow’ again? Gu Ling clasped his hands together, bowing deeply, “My wife, please calm down.”

“What’s there to be angry about?” Su Liang thought to herself, as if he wouldn’t dare do it again!

“Think about how to deal with your perverted master.” Su Liang shook her head, “That man has a terrible character and a strong thirst for revenge. He might go after our friends.”

Gu Ling’s expression turned serious, “Ask Situ Xie to testify about Nangong Qian’s situation.”

Su Liang raised an eyebrow, “That’s an idea.”

Back in Liang Country, Situ Xie hadn’t said much about Situ Xiang.

Even if she went to ask him, the answer might not be the truth.

Now, things were different. Since they knew Nangong Lin and his daughter were no good, Su Liang and Gu Ling could use news about them as a bargaining chip to speak with Situ Xie again.

But first, they’d have to return to Jiaye City.

“By the way,” Su Liang suddenly remembered something, “I’m really curious about who in Yin Country suggested capturing Lian Shun’s entire family as hostages.”

The incident had passed, and aside from Lian Shan getting injured and losing her memory, and Lian Shun’s arm being broken by Fan Gang, the Lians were unharmed. Fan Tong had paid for his crimes in blood.

But Su Liang’s suspicions at that time had never been forgotten.

Perhaps it was after Fan Tong investigated the military commanders in Jiaye City that he devised such a plan. However, she wanted to confirm it.

The reason was still the one that first aroused her suspicion: The main general of Jiaye City at the time was Yuan Ye, and from what happened later, the arrest of Lian Shun’s entire family was to get rid of Yuan Ye, which was feasible. But Yuan Ye had a close grandson; wouldn’t it be more direct to arrest Yuan pei? Moreover, it would be much easier and better to control if they captured him alone instead of Lian Shun’s entire family.

The person who came up with the hostage plan must be very smart. They shouldn’t have chosen Lian Shun’s entire family over Yuan Pei, unless there were other reasons involved.

“Lian Shan’s amnesia may not be an accident,” Gu Ling said.

Lian Shan only knew some basic martial arts, and there were more than just Lian Shun who had better martial arts skills in the Lin family, including their uncles and cousins. In that case, why was Lian Shan the only one injured? According to the situation, the people sent by Yin Country to arrest the Lin family members must have been very strong and carefully planned. They must have used sedatives and the like, giving them no chance to resist. If Lian Shan was accidentally injured while fleeing from the danger, it would be unreasonable. If she was injured in the head after being captured, it would be even stranger.

Su Liang was stunned for a moment, “You mean… she was made to lose her memory because she knew something?”

“There is medicine that can do that.” Gu Ling said that he had recently experienced a near-loss of memory, and it was Nangong Lin’s actions that inspired him. When Su Liang brought up the Lin family members again, he thought of the amnesiac Lian Shan.

Su Liang’s expression was inexplicable, “Wouldn’t it be simpler to kill Lian Shan? After all, there were more than one hostage, and her death would not have affected the situation at the time. The Fan father and son had set up a trap to kill General Yuan Ye, so why did they spare Lian Shan? They are not the kind of people who are forced to act and don’t want to kill the innocent.”

“It shows that the proposal to capture the Lin family was not made by the Fan father and son.” Gu Ling’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Perhaps, there is a traitor in Jiaye City.”

Su Liang’s expression changed, “What kind of traitor would not care if Yuan Ye died but doesn’t want Lian Shan to die?”

Her first thought was Yuan Pei, the grandson of Yuan Ye, because he was Lian

Shan’s fiancé. Could there be unknown conflicts between the two generations?

But Su Liang thought of Yuan Pei in mourning clothes walking up to the Nancheng Building in Jiaye City, and stabbing Fan Tong with a sword. She also thought of him holding a bowl of clear water to collect Fan Tong’s blood to be offered in front of Yuan Ye’s spirit tablet… Su Liang shook her head, “I don’t think it’s Yuan Pei unless his disguise skills are better than Nangong Lin’s. But we should go back as soon as possible, and not let any more chaos happen.”

Not being able to explain to Duanmu Yi was secondary. The Lin family still lived in Jiaye City, and Nian Jincheng was there too. Su Liang didn’t want anything to happen to them.

“Alright,” Gu Ling agreed.

Su Liang packed her things, waiting for Gu Ling, who had gone out to buy dried food, to come back so they could leave. After returning to Xiangyue City this time, she hadn’t even left her house for several days.

Although they had mentioned the matter of having a child, the two had never seriously discussed it. And before their wedding night, Gu Ling specifically asked Su Liang how to avoid pregnancy, because she was only sixteen. For now, the consensus between them was that Su Liang would not have a child until she was eighteen, and they would discuss whether to have one later.

Su Liang tried to sort out the people and events in Jiaye City in her mind but still couldn’t figure it out. In addition to Yuan Pei, she thought it was also possible that there was a traitor within the Lin family.

At the moment, Su Liang didn’t suspect Che Yun. If she hadn’t taken out the antidote given by Lao Bai, Che Yun might have died. Gu Ling had seen the black mist appearing on his brow.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, Su Liang collected her thoughts, got up and saw Gu Ling enter.

“Fan Gang is on his way back to Xiangyue City,” Gu Ling had sneaked into General Fan’s mansion for information. After Fan Tong’s death, the Emperor of Yin Country sent Mu Ya’s uncle to take charge and summoned Fan Gang back to the capital.

Su Liang nodded, “Perfect. We’ll meet him and ask him clearly.”

Before leaving, Gu Ling held Su Liang for a while. Realizing that there might be a traitor in Jiaye City, they decided to return as soon as possible, and they could no longer delay time for the sake of pleasure.

Su Liang comforted Gu Ling by patting him, “We’ll have fun when we get back home.”

“Yes, I want to see the qipao you mentioned,” Gu Ling was still thinking about it.

Su Liang pushed him away, “You said clothes don’t matter.”

Gu Ling chuckled, “I also said you should wear all the clothes I’ve never seen before.”

Su Liang blurted out, “I thought you preferred me without clothes… ahem, let’s go.”

Gu Ling tilted his head and kissed Su Liang, “I like taking your clothes off.”

Su Liang’s face turned red, “Let’s go quickly!”

The two of them disguised themselves and left Xiangyue City.

As for Mu Ya’s death, Gu Ling didn’t hear anyone talking about it in the city.

Whether the royal family of Yin Country would blame her for the doll with Su Liang’s name on it didn’t matter.

As they passed through Hefeng City again, they didn’t go to see Yan Shiba or visit Nangong Family’s Mid-hill Villa. Instead, they left directly.

Jiaye City.

Lian Shun anxiously awaited the return of Su Liang and Gu Ling, but they were nowhere to be seen.

After Yuan Pei dissolved his engagement with Lian Shan, he seldom visited the Lin family. However, Lian Shun went to see him almost every day and refrained from gathering everyone for drinks, fearing awkwardness if Yuan Pei and Che Yun met.

Apart from missing his wife, Nian Jincheng was doing well. Lian Shun took good care of him, and he got along well with Che Yun in official matters.

Che Xiao was outgoing and always stuck with Che Yun, seemingly having a great brotherly relationship.

However, this was only what outsiders saw.

Behind closed doors, communication between Che Yun and the family of three became less and less frequent, as he always avoided Che’s parents.

But every night, Che Xiao would visit Che Yun alone, claiming it was for the two brothers to play chess, yet they never played a single game.

One day, when Che Xiao arrived, Che Yun was drinking alone.

Che Xiao opened the door, calling “Brother”, but after closing the door, he called “Master”.

Che Yun didn’t even spare him a glance, “Get out.”

“There is an important matter today.” Che Xiao sat down, “Master is troubled because of Lian Shan, right? Marrying a woman you don’t like is indeed unpleasant.”

“Get out!” Che Yun stared coldly at Che Xiao.

However, Che Xiao smiled slightly, “Master, I have thought of a way that can help you solve the problem.”

“Don’t touch her.” Che Yun said coldly.

Che Xiao shook his head, “Master is overthinking. My master didn’t kill Lian Shan back then, so how can he harm her now? Since Master doesn’t want to marry her, why not let her marry me instead?”

Che Yun frowned, “What are you saying?”

“I know she likes Master. But women can change. Once, she even had a fiancé who later fell in love with someone else. I may not have the ability to snatch her heart away from Master, but there’s another way.” Che Xiao lowered his voice, “Hire some thugs to kidnap her, drug her, and I’ll ‘accidentally’ find her and save her. In order to detoxify her, I’d have no choice but to do ‘that’. Once she becomes my woman, she can only marry me. As long as we plan carefully and leave no traces, no one will suspect.”

As soon as Che Xiao finished speaking, Che Yun slapped him hard, “Shut up!”

Without being angry or annoyed, Che Xiao rubbed his face and sighed, “Never mind if Master doesn’t like my idea. But why get so angry? I was only trying to help relieve Master’s burden.”

“Where is your master?” Che Yun asked coldly.

“Master is looking for him? I’ll go get him right away.” Che Xiao stood up.

Che Yun sneered, “No need. Next time you see him, tell him to inform me first about whatever he wants to do! He’s not allowed to act on his own!”

Che Xiao nodded, “Alright, I’ll pass the message to my master.”

Just as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside the window, “Master, may I come in?”

Che Yun’s face darkened, “Come in!”

Soon, a shrewd and thin middle-aged man appeared in the room, none other than the military strategist Fan Tong had previously recruited.

“Master.” Che Xiao bowed respectfully.

The middle-aged man nodded slightly and bowed to Che Yun, “Master.”

“Haven’t I already said, do not come to find me unless it’s necessary?” Che Yun said coldly.

The middle-aged man replied, “The Master has a message for you.”

Che Yun’s eyes narrowed as the middle-aged man handed him a letter from his pocket.

Che Yun took the letter, unfolded it, and fOund a blank sheet. However, this was not the first time he had received such a letter. He held it over the flame of the candle, and soon the dark text appeared.

This was a letter from Situ Xie. After reading it, Che Yun burned it.

“Did the Master have any instructions?” the middle-aged man asked.

Che Yun said coldly, “He wants me to find a way to get rid of Gu Ling and Su

Liang as soon as possible.”

Che Xiao looked surprised, “It seems that after this incident, the Master thinks that those two are the biggest obstacles. If it weren’t for their intervention, Yin

Country and Qian Country would have already been at war.”

Due to geographical reasons, it was difficult for Liang Country and Yin Country to go to war, and once they did, Qian Country couldn’t avoid getting involved.

But whether it was the royal family of Liang Country or the royal family of Yin Country, they both understood the principle of allying with distant powers to attack nearby ones, and their greatest wish was for the other two countries to

night each other, the mercer the better.

This time, Yin Country’s aggression was actually provoked by a spy placed by Situ Xie next to Fan Tong. Unfortunately, Gu Ling and Su Liang stopped the plot in its tracks.

“What does the young master plan to do?” The middle-aged man asked Che

Yun, “If the Master only wants to deal with them, and if you don’t want to kill Su Liang, I have a drug here. As long as you can control her and make her take it, she will forget her past and stay by your side.”

Che Yun’s eyes were freezing, and he blurted out, “You might as well give me the drug instead!”

The middle-aged man sighed deeply, “Then, Young Master, think it over carefully, and let me know your decision later. After all, those two haven’t returned to Jiaye City yet, so there’s no hurry.” With that, he left with Che Xiao.

Che Yun watched the ash from the burned letter fall on the table, his eyes quickly calming down.

Five days after leaving Xiangyue City, Su Liang and Gu Ling “bumped into” Fan Gang’s delegation, who were returning to the capital by imperial decree.

After following them for half a day, the two sneaked into the inn where Fan Gang was staying in the middle of the night, used sedatives, and kidnapped him without anyone noticing.

The chaotic graveyard in the wilderness was chilling at night.

Fan Gang woke up groggily, feeling a headache and a sore neck. Seeing the dark shadow in front of him, he screamed, thinking he had seen a ghost.

“We meet again.” Gu Ling spoke, imitating Lian Shun’s voice.

Fan Gang couldn’t believe his eyes, “Lian… Lian Shun?!” Of course, he wouldn’t forget the incident where he shattered Lian Shun’s arm bones bit by bit.

“Your father died to pay for Yuan’s life. But capturing my whole family and hurting me and my sister— I came specifically to settle this score with you,” Gu Ling said coldly.

“No… you can’t kill me…” If Fan Gang wasn’t afraid of death, he would have saved his father in the first place. At his words, his face turned pale, “It wasn’t my idea! I didn’t do it!”

“If it wasn’t you, it was your father. He died, and it’s only fair that the son pays for the father’s debt.” Gu Ling drew his sword and pointed it towards Fan Gang’s right arm, “You shattered my bones, and I will peel your flesh bit by bit until only bones are left.”

Fan Gang was so scared that his body stiffened and he blurted out, “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t my father! It was the military adviser! It was the military adviser who suggested capturing your whole family!”

Gu Ling’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Su Liang, who was hiding behind a nearby tree, was slightly taken aback. Military adviser?

“It was all that man’s idea! His name is Si Yun, he’s cunning and has many schemes. He was the one who personally captured the Lin Family members!” Fan Gang said fearfully.

Sure enough, when Gu Ling pressured Fan Gang about Si Yun’s background, he said that Si Yun was the brother of a concubine his father took in two years ago. Originally a businessman due to his extremely sharp mind, he was trusted by Fan Tong.

“Where is he now?” Gu Ling asked coldly.

“After my father died, he disappeared, probably afraid that I would want to settle scores with him! If it weren’t for my father listening to him, how could anything have gone wrong?” Fan Gang looked at the shining sword and trembled all over, “It has nothing to do with me… Si Yun was the one who suggested it, and my father agreed. I didn’t have the right to oppose! Your arm was injured by me, you can injure me the same way, but don’t kill me! Your sister… your sister’s injury was done by Si Yun, she was brought back like that!”

Su Liang suspected that Si Yun was a spy. The spy who instigated the leading Yin Country military commander to attack Qian Country’s master must be easy to guess.

For many years, Liang Country has been trying to join forces with Yin Country to attack Qian Country, and they have tried several times. If it weren’t for Yin Country’s constant wavering—agreeing to the plan only to refuse to send troops, hoping to see Liang Country and Qian Country suffer mutual losses—the situation in the world would have long been different.

After suffering losses several times, the royal family of Liang Country planted spies among the military commanders of Yin Country, instigating the Yin Country army to attack Qian Country, and actively provided an excellent opportunity to launch an attack. Once they started fighting, Liang Country would be the most benefited party.

The position of military adviser was extremely important, and Fan Tong would not trust someone of unknown origin whom he had only known for a short time. The spies of Liang Country had been deployed for many years and were very meticulous.

“My sister lost her memory when she was caught?” Gu Ling asked coldly.

Fan Gang shook his head, “I don’t know… I only saw that she was injured, I didn’t know about her memory loss! My father said he wanted to kill her, but…

but I didn’t let him! I saved your sister!”

This statement was obviously false. Fan Tong may have indeed said that he wanted to kill Lian Shan, but Si Yun must have been the one to stop him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken the injured Lian Shan back and found someone to treat her.

After asking for a description of Si Yun’s appearance, Gu Ling killed Fan Gang with a sword. Fan Gang also had a hand in killing Yuan Ye, and if Gu Ling let him go, he might seek revenge on the Lin Family members and leave trouble behind.

After that, the two set off again in the direction of Jiaye City..