The Doctor's Three-Time Marriage

Chapter 262 - 262: 262. Kill with a borrowed knife, good friends reunite

Translator: 549690339

Su Liang sat next to Yan Yu, both facing the misty cliff not far away.

Yan Yu couldn’t help but laugh, then she consciously looked around, lowering her voice, “Flower picker? Su Liang, you’re really something! A living, breathing lustful female bandit! ”

Su Liang stretched out her hand, holding Yan Yu’s chin, and winked at her, “Little beauty, just follow me.”

Yan Yu laughed and leaned on Su Liang’s shoulder, “Tell the truth, did you really fall for someone’s beauty? Taking advantage of them through acting!” Su Liang pushed Yan Yu away, coughing lightly, “What are you talking about? I am a decent person.”

“What decent person claims to pick flowers in broad daylight!” Yan Yu continued to laugh, finding Su Liang and Gu Ling very amusing. Even though they were obviously acting seriously, she found it hilarious.

“What’s wrong with picking flowers?” Su Liang looked serious, “I’ve even cut down trees.”

The two spoke softly, and when Yan Yu had laughed enough, they both got up and left.

The clouds behind the Huguo Temple were indeed beautiful, but Su Liang wasn’t really there to see the clouds.

After coming down from the mountain, there was still time, Su Liang decided to visit Wangxiang Mountain again. Su Yuanzhou’s family’s tomb had been relocated to their hometown, and she had arranged for trees to be planted on the original site to see how they had grown.

Su Liang sent Yan Yu home first, and then called Ren Dong to accompany her out of the city.

After dismounting at the foot of the mountain, the two walked up together. Ren Dong couldn’t help but ask, “Master, why did you bring back the fake coffin at that time?”

With her usual expression, Su Liang replied, “That was my life.”

Ren Dong was slightly startled. She thought Su Liang meant that the fake coffin had allowed her to live and saved her life.

But in fact, Su Liang wanted to set up a tomb for the original master.

As the sun was about to set, Su Liang stood at the location of Su Yuanzhou’s family’s graveyard, which was now a pine forest.

She had specifically instructed people to plant pines and cypresses since other trees would have lost their leaves during this season.

In just two months, there was no trace of the original graveyard, as if the pines and cypresses had always been there.

In the early winter, even the green of the pines and cypresses was as dim as the sky.

Su Liang walked around and confirmed that each tree had survived.

Watching her, Ren Dong thought Su Liang was mourning her deceased family members. She noticed a touch of bright color not far away and found a cluster of wild chrysanthemums blossoming among the withered grass. The small yellow flowers were vibrant and swaying gently in the wind.

Ren Dong took out her dagger and cut the wild chrysanthemums, removing the dead leaves and dust from the petals. Hearing Su Liang calling her, she hid the flowers behind her back as she turned around.

“Let’s go,” Su Liang walked out of the pine forest, her face calm, “It’s getting

late.”

“Yes,” Ren Dong nodded. Seeing that Su Liang had already walked ahead, she instinctively held the flowers over Su Liang’s shoulder and presented them in front of her.

Su Liang was stunned, “For me?” She smiled and accepted them. “They look nice.”

Ren Dong rubbed her hands awkwardly, “I just saw them over there…”

“We’ll clean them and dry them for chrysanthemum tea when we get back,” Su Liang carried the flowers as she walked forward.

Ren Dong’s lips twitched and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes. She quickly followed Su Liang.

By the time they returned to the city, it was dark and Su Liang went to Wan Family Restaurant for dinner again.

However, Gu Ling still didn’t show up. Ren Dong heard someone say that the beautiful Gu had gone to play by Jingyue Lake in the afternoon.

After having dinner, Su Liang also packed a few dishes for Yan Yu.

“Will that person be alright tonight?” Yan Yu asked Su Liang.

Su Liang shook her head, “Don’t worry, Yan Shiqi can’t do anything to him.” Gu Ling went to Jingyue Lake during the day, making it easier to justify going back at night.

Marquis Chang Xin’s Mansion.

Approaching midnight, the secret guard hiding in the tree yawned, watching from afar at Gu Ling’s room. He was used to Gu Ling rarely going to bed early.

But tonight was different from other nights.

Suddenly, he saw Gu Ling’s door open, and Gu Ling walked out. The secret guard’s expression changed and in the next moment, Gu Ling leaped into the air towards a certain direction.

The secret guard hurried to catch up, and soon saw Gu Ling leaving the Marquis Chang Xin’s mansion.

When it was confirmed that Gu Ling was heading towards Mirror Moon Lake, the secret guard still didn’t know what he was going to do.

The night at Mirror Moon Lake was quiet, and at this time, even the sound of insects and bird calls was difficult to hear.

The secret guard saw Gu Ling stopping in a tree and observing attentively. He chose to hide in another tree at a safe distance and looked towards the edge of Mirror Moon Lake, his eyes narrowed, there were people there!

Under the dark night, a silver mask shone brightly, quite conspicuous, and the mask only had one eye hole. That must be Yan Seventeen, the master of Yanyun Building!

But at this distance, the secret guard could not hear Yan Seventeen’s voice, only seeing him standing by the lake with two people, seemingly waiting for someone.

“Master, it’s already past midnight. Maybe that person won’t show up,” said one assassin.

Yan Seventeen clenched his teeth, “Could she think that I wouldn’t dare to touch her?”

“Should we go to Su Mansion?” suggested another assassin.

However, Yan Seventeen narrowed his eyes, recalling how every time he mentioned capturing Su Liang to accompany Yan Eighteen, Yan Eighteen couldn’t help but laugh wildly, as if really looking forward to him going to trouble Su Liang. Did this mean that Yan Eighteen was certain that if he went after Su Liang, he would end up in trouble himself…?

Yan Seventeen was a bit hesitant. Although it was recently heard that Su Liang was pursuing Gu Ling, his train of thought was that Yan Eighteen’s good sister actually had the same taste in men, and he didn’t think of the possibility that Gu Ling could have been the deceased “Ning Jing”. After all, Yan Seventeen’s understanding of the relationship between Su Liang and “Ning Jing” was far worse than that of Yan Eighteen’s.

yan Elgnteen’s woras just maae yan seventeen deeply suspect tnat tnere was an expert protecting Su Liang.

Another quarter of an hour passed, and still, no one showed up. Yan Seventeen finally decided to give up. Ever since that night he was repelled by Gu Ling’s palm, Yan Seventeen had wavered on his original plan, not daring to go after Gu Ling again, and even being very cautious about looking for Su Liang.

After all, what he wanted from Yan Eighteen was already under his control, and capturing Gu Ling or Su Liang had little practical meaning for him. To a large extent, he had lost his rationality due to being provoked by Yan Eighteen. After being suppressed by Gu Ling’s strength, Yan Seventeen’s rationality slowly returned.

He couldn’t make any more trouble… At this moment, Yan Seventeen decided to leave the capital with Yan Eighteen first, find a place to marry her, and when Yan Eighteen became pregnant with his child, where else could she run?

With this thought, Yan Seventeen said, “Let’s go!”

The secret guard kept watching. Seeing no one show up and Yan Seventeen about to leave, Gu Ling followed him secretly, and so did the secret guard.

After several twists and turns, Yan Seventeen entered a mansion.

The secret guard saw Gu Ling leave and head towards the Imperial Palace.

In the middle of the night, Gu Ling sought an audience at the palace gate. Duanmu Yi sensed that something had happened, so he didn’t get angry and let Gu Ling in.

“This humble official went to Mirror Moon Lake today for leisure and lost my mother’s jade pendant. I found it late at night and went back to find it, only to see Yan Seventeen by the lake as if waiting for someone.” Gu Ling reported that he had followed Yan Seventeen and had confirmed the location of Yanyun

Building’s assassins. He asked Duanmu Yi to send people to encircle and rescue Nian Jincheng.

Duanmu Yi never expected that the situation would develop in this way; before this, he still doubted whether Nian Jincheng was really in Yan Eighteen’s hands.

However, no matter what, Duanmu Yi would not let Yanyun Building off.

Every country had assassin organizations, but the unwritten rule was not to provoke the royal family, so everyone would live in peace.

The time Yan Eighteen had kidnapped Nian Jincheng and Nian Ruting while simultaneously severely injuring and humiliating the fifth prince, Duanmu Che, was a serious provocation against the royal family’s authority.

“How many people do you need?” Duanmu Yi asked Gu Ling.

“To deal with Yanyun Building, ordinary soldiers would be sent to their death. Only masters could stand a chance in battle,” said Gu Ling.

Duanmu Yi’s eyes were fixed, “You go back first, I will make arrangements.”

Gu Ling knew that Duanmu Yi didn’t want him to see the power of the royal family’s masters, as this was a matter of utmost secrecy.

However, Gu Ling had already achieved his goal. Even if Yan Eighteen was in that mansion, it didn’t matter to Gu Ling. He didn’t see the black mist on Duanmu Yi’s forehead, meaning that even if someone died tonight, they were all people who deserved to die.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Gu Ling went straight back to his mansion. Duanmu Yi’s spies were watching him, and he didn’t have contact with anyone else or go to other places.

However, this secret guard originally should have reported to Duanmu Yi after his shift was over at midnight, about Su Liang chasing Gu Ling to Huguo Temple during the day, and a shocking conversation the two had on the back mountain. But he had yet to find the opportunity.

The night was deep and silent.

Over a dozen shadows left the Imperial Palace, quickly heading in one direction.

After returning from Jingyue Lake, Yan Shiqi prepared to leave the capital city tnat mgnt. TO prevent yan snit)a rrom maK1ng a scene, ne aruggea ner witn sedatives and had her sleep through it, ordering two trusty men to take her away first in case it delayed their journey.

“Can… can I not leave?” Nian Ruting couldn’t help but ask Yan Shiqi, “I didn’t do anything wrong. I want to stay and find Gu Ling. You also want me to be with him, right? So that Yan Shiba won’t…”

Already in a bad mood, Yan Shiqi heard Nian Ruting’s deluded expectations, and slapped her, “Shut up! Either leave or I’ll kill you right now! ”

Nian Ruting covered her face and lowered her head, not daring to say another word.

A subordinate came to report that the brothers in the capital city had gathered, and they were ready to depart. This was because after Yan Shiqi had wrested the position of Master from Yan Shiba, he had not yet purged Yanyun Building of those with ulterior motives. He planned to return this time to rectify Yanyun Building, so they took all the assassins in the Qian Country’s capital city with them this time.

Yan Shiqi put on his mask, “Let’s go!”

As soon as his voice fell, the sound of arrows breaking through the air rang out. Yan Shiqi’s eyes narrowed, and he saw more than a dozen dark figures approaching menacingly and emitting a murderous aura.

Unprepared, the first wave of arrows immediately killed several assassins.

Yan Shiqi had no idea that these people were the personal guards of the Qian Country’s emperor. Presuming that they were masters sent by Su Liang, he thought that Su Liang tricked him into going to Jingyue Lake tonight in order to secretly follow and find his hidden location. The former “friendship” with Su Liang had made Yan Shiqi careless!

In fact, if Yan Shiqi had known that these masters were sent by Duanmu Yi, he would have certainly chosen to betray Su Liang and expose her collusion with

Yan Shiba.

Unfortunately, Yan Shiqi didn’t think that far, and Duanmu Yi’s personal guards couldn’t possibly reveal their own identity, even deliberately concealing it. As a result, Yan Shiqi firmly believed that they were all sent by Su Liang.

On one side were professional assassins, while on the other side were also, essentially, professional assassins.

When the two sides met, it was inevitably a bloody and life-or-death battle .

Nian Ruting hid herself at the beginning of the fight, hoping to find an opportunity to slip away.

As he found the opponents to be highly skilled and ruthless, with a growing number of casualties, Yan Shiqi also became focused on escaping.

Finally, when Yan Shiqi was cornered by three people, he found Nian Ruting hidden there, and without hesitation, grabbed her to use as his human shield.

It was dim, and Duanmu Yi’s personal guards could not see Nian Ruting’s face clearly. Duanmu Yi had instructed them to capture Yan Shiba alive. Being the only woman on Yan Shiqi’s side, Duanmu Yi’s personal guards mistakenly believed that Nian Ruting was Yan Shiba. They had no time to think about why Yan Shiba was so weak, and they did not use lethal force.

This finally gave Yan Shiqi the opportunity to breathe, and after getting struck by a sword, he broke through the window and left.

“Help… help…” Nian Ruting, covered in blood, weakly called out twice before falling unconscious.

In the end, only Yan Shiqi managed to escape. All other assassins of Yanyun Building in the capital city were eliminated.

The battered Nian Ruting was brought to the palace and presented before

Duanmu Yi.

Very few people knew the true appearance of the female assassin leader Yan Shiba, and Duanmu Yi’s personal guards had not seen Nian Ruting’s face clearly either.

After wiping the blood from Nian Ruting’s face, Duanmu Yi stared at her and frowned deeply, “Fools! She is not Yan Shiba at all!”

“Your Maiestv. forgive our mistake. There was onlv one woman there.” A

woman, wearing a mask and with a dark red Shaoyao embroidered on her collar, knelt down and pleaded guilty.

“Wake her up!” Duanmu Yi said with a solemn face.

Nian Ruting, who had already been seriously injured, was forcibly awakened by someone, lying on the ground, trembling all over.

“Why are you still alive? Where is Nian Jincheng?” Duanmu Yi asked sharply.

Nian Ruting was pulled to her knees, and after seeing her surroundings and Duanmu Yi’s face, she seemed to have found her savior, “Your Majesty… Your Majesty… Save me!”

“I’m asking you, where is Nian Jincheng?” Duanmu Yi’s eyes were cold.

“Nian Jincheng…” Nian Ruting, having lost too much blood, her consciousness was already somewhat blurred, “He… I don’t know… I don’t know… Gu Ling… I want to see… I want… to see Gu Ling…”

As she spoke, Nian Ruting fell into unconsciousness once more.

Duanmu Yi’s expression changed when he heard Nian Ruting mentioning Gu Ling’s name. After a moment of silence, he spoke again, “Take her to treat her injuries.”

As soon as the people left, the bloodstains on the ground were quickly cleaned up.

Duanmu Yi sent someone to summon Gu Ling to enter the palace immediately.

When Gu Ling received the news, it was already daylight. Dressed in plain clothes, he walked through half of the palace in the morning mist and met Marquis Duanmu, who looked exhausted.

“Last night, I had dispatched people to eliminate more than a dozen Yanyun

Building members hiding in the capital. Yan Shiba was not among them, and Yan Shiqi escaped with serious injuries. There was no trace of Nian Jincheng,” Duanmu Yi said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Gu Ling knew that there must be a group of highly skilled masters with Duanmu Yi, otherwise, they would not be able to compete with Yanyun Building.

“However, there’s one person who might know something.” Duanmu Yi looked at Gu Ling and said, “You should know her, she claimed to have saved your mother many years ago, and your mother arranged a marriage for you because of this, but there was a misunderstanding and the wrong person was chosen.”

Gu Ling’s face was calm, and he listened as Duanmu Yi sighed softly, “Miss Nian Ruting of the Nian Family was supposed to be your fiancée. She was also forced by Nian Ruxue to get involved in that incident, and it’s not that she was innocent. Later, she fell into the hands of assassins and had a narrow escape from death. If you plead for her, I will pardon all her crimes.”

Gu Ling’s expression was indifferent, “There was indeed a misunderstanding that year. My mother didn’t arrange my marriage as a reward for someone giving her a little help.”

Duanmu Yi frowned, “What do you mean by that?”

Gu Ling replied, “My marriage with the Nian girl was actually arranged by Gu Yuan. He conspired with Nian Jitang in secret, and in order not to arouse the emperor’s suspicion, he feigned gratitude towards my mother and even took her hairpin as a token for the marriage agreement. Nian Ruxue was chosen by the Nian Family to marry into the Gu Family, and Nian Ruting was not chosen because she was not as shrewd as Nian Ruxue. If it were truly arranged by my mother, she would never have gotten the wrong person.”

Duanmu Yi’s face darkened, “Is that true?”

Gu Ling nodded, “Every word I say is true, please let the emperor see the truth. The Nian Family indeed had the intention of rebellion, but it had nothing to do with Nian Jincheng. He was loyal to the emperor, but was despised and hated by the Nian Family, including Nian Ruting. After committing serious crimes for her own selfish desires, she deliberately tried to accuse Nian Jincheng and have him jailed. This woman is lawless, unscrupulous, and vicious in heart, yet she has survived in Yanyun Building to this day, either joining hands with those heinous assassins, or being their plaything. The so-called marriage agreement has nothing to do with me from the beginning, and I find all the women in the Nian Family repulsive.”

Duanmu Yi seemed to be thinking. What Gu Ling said about Nian Ruting’s deeds was true. As for the inside story of the marriage agreement between the Gu and Nian families, it was the first time Duanmu Yi had heard of it.

However, given the reasonable and well-founded arguments made by Gu Ling, and even going so far as to say that he finds them repulsive, Duanmu Yi’s original plan to give Nian Ruting to him was naturally unfeasible.

Duanmu Yi sighed, “In that case, when Nian Ruting wakes up, I will have someone interrogate her thoroughly, in the hope of finding Nian Jincheng’s whereabouts. You can go.”

Just as Duanmu Yi’s voice had dropped, a report came from outside the

Imperial Study, “Your Majesty, someone outside the palace claims to be Nian

Jincheng.”

Duanmu Yi’s face changed slightly, and seeing Gu Ling’s brow furrowed as well, he ordered, “Go to the Side Palace.”

Gu Ling went to the Side Palace, knowing that Duanmu Yi did not want him to meet Nian Jincheng face to face and tip him off.

Yang Yu was nervous throughout the morning, as today was the day Nian Jincheng was scheduled to return to the capital.

“Will the emperor believe it?” Yang Yu asked Su Liang again.

Su Liang was making dumplings, “Don’t worry, your man is just sometimes foolish, not stupid.”

Yang Yu touched her forehead, “I’m just afraid he’ll slip up and give something away.”

Su Liang was very calm, “He’s been taught how to answer such simple questions. Just say he doesn’t know anything else, and there won’t be any slip-ups. Don’t scare yourself. Come help me make dumplings.”

“I don’t have an appetite.” Yang Yu shook her head.

Su Liang snorted lightly, “This is a loving meal I made especially for Gu beauty, your man should be able to eat it too.”

Yang Yu hesitated for a moment, then sat down next to Su Liang, “Alright.”

Approaching noon, word had spread throughout the capital that Nian Jincheng had returned, and people were talking about it.

When Gu Ling and Nian Jincheng came out of the palace together and arrived at the Wan Family Restaurant, it caused a stir.

The two friends, who had not been seen together in public for many years, seemed to have passed the emperor’s test and restored their identities.

When they went up to the second floor, Su Liang came out of a private room, holding an exquisite food box in her hands, “Marquis Gu, this is a delicious meal I made for you, please give it a try!”

The onlookers watched with glittering eyes: …It’s starting again! It’s starting again! Big news! The Top Scholar Su actually cooked for Gu beauty! Will Gu beauty throw the box on the ground?

Gu Ling’s expression was indifferent, “I don’t need it. Please don’t do this again, Miss Su.”

However, Nian Jincheng next to him bowed and said, “Miss Su, it’s nice to see you again.” He took the box from Su Liang and patted Gu Ling on the shoulder, “Aling, don’t disregard Su Miss’s kindness.” Then he pulled Gu Ling into their private room and thanked Su Liang, “Thank you!”

The onlookers: …No doubt, Gu beauty won’t eat it, it will all end up going to Nian Jincheng.

What the onlookers didn’t know was that, after closing the door, the box was in Gu Ling’s hands. He opened it and put it on the table, the plump dumplings steaming hot, and there was even a small bowl of Su Liang’s special dipping sauce, very vinegary.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had this.” Nian Jincheng sighed, grimacing in relief and picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Gu Ling moved the box in front of him, “This is mine.”

“Weren’t you not wanting it?”

Gu Ling didn’t answer, but continued eating the dumplings, and in the end, didn’t share any with the begging Nian Jincheng. The atmosphere in the room, where the rumored reunion of friends was taking place outside, was unspeakable “warm.”

Meanwhile, in the next room, Yang Yu thought that Nian Jincheng was finally safe, and had eaten the dumplings she had personally made. She felt a great weight lift off her heart, and her smile was especially sweet….