184. Tonight the moon is dark and the wind is high
When I got home, it was already night time.
Yan Yu made dinner and was waiting for them.
Seeing Su Liang wearing a wreath on her head, she couldn't help but sigh, "It's so beautiful! It must be a gift from Brother Ning!"
Su Liang shook his head, "It's from the lovely Zheng'er."
Yan Yu smiled and said nothing. Although Zheng'er was very clever, he was too young to do such delicate handwork.
And the most ingenious person in this family is Ning Jing. Su Liang’s original words.
Yan Yu didn't point it out, thinking that Ning Jing must have made it up himself and gave it to Su Liang under the guise of Zheng'er. It was really awkward.
Zheng'er had already been sent home by the two of them.
During dinner, Yan Yu asked again about their visit to Changchun Garden during the day. In the afternoon, Yan Yu heard about some disputes between the two princes.
"Someone used to be stubborn, but now he's much better." Su Liang was very positive about Nian Jincheng's progress.
When Yan Yu learned what happened, he couldn't help but laugh, "I really didn't realize it, he's pretty good at yin."
Su Liang smiled and said, "Ningjing told him that you can use the art of war even if you're not on the battlefield."
Yan Yu's eyes lit up, "Yes, he was originally a general, so he must be familiar with the art of war."
Ning Jing's thin lips parted slightly, "What's the name of today's show?" she asked Su Liang.
Su Liang thought for a while and said, "This play should be called 'A Sword Hidden in a Smile'."
Yan Yu raised her hands and praised, "That's right!"
"Let him teach you later. It will also be useful in business." Su Liang said.
Yan Yu nodded, "I want to ask him for advice. But when will he get out? I'm always worried that someone will find out about his flaws."
Su Liang put down his chopsticks and said, "Tonight the moon is dark and the wind is high."
Ning Jing put down the spoon and said, "I'm full." After saying that, she got up and went out.
In total, Yan Yu is a guest, but the central idea of Ning Jing and Su Liang's hospitality is "not to treat you as an outsider." Therefore, after Yan Yu moved in, he was basically responsible for the chores of cooking and washing dishes, and she was also very
willing.
While Yan Yu was clearing away the dishes, he asked Su Liang, "You haven't decided yet when Xiaonian will come back?"
"Let's talk after tonight. You should pack up and go to bed early, and close the door at night." Su Liang left after saying that.
Yan Yu felt that something was not quite right, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
While washing the dishes, Su Liang's words, "Tonight the moon is dark and the wind is high," came to Yan Yu's mind. She immediately looked back and looked outside. The wind had picked up, and dark clouds covered the moon.
Yan Yu took another look at Ning Jing and Su Liang's room. In the past, they would read or copy books until late at night, but tonight they turned on the lights so early, which was unusual.
Yan Yu felt that they might do something tonight.
She followed Su Liang's instructions, and after cleaning up, she went back to her room, closed the door, and went to sleep. She now made it a habit to put a dagger under her pillow.
…
Wangxiang Mountain.
Ningjing brought Duanmu Ao up from the pit. He was motionless with his eyes closed, as if he was dead.
Su Liang leaned over and took a breath. Although it was weak, he was still alive.
I was so hungry that I was extremely weak both physically and mentally.
Su Liang didn't plan to say anything else to Duanmu Ao, and worked with Ning Jing to fill up the hole and restore it to its original state.
Ningjing stuffed Duanmu Ao into a sack, carried it on his shoulders, and they went down the mountain together.
"It's too dirty. Last time I saw a pond over there, I threw it in to rinse it." Su Liang said.
After all, before Duanmu Ao died, he had to restore his identity.
Su Liang waited for about a quarter of an hour before Ningjing came back. Duanmu Ao almost drowned and almost froze to death.
Ning Jing already knew the security situation of the Second Prince's Mansion from Nian Jincheng and chose the best route.
Nian Jincheng used the excuse of being in a bad mood and asked his servants to stay away. He was alone in the room without lighting the lamp, lying on the bed with a dagger in his hand under the quilt, eyes open, waiting for peace to come.
The dagger was prepared for the killer. If Ning Jing was late, Nian Jincheng would have to deal with it on his own. Ning Jing had told him that if the situation went wrong, he would just use the poisonous smoke pill Su Liang gave him. It was the best thing to do and not worry about what happened next.
There is only a quarter of an hour left before midnight.
There were several noises coming from the back window. Nian Jincheng immediately sat up, lifted the quilt and got out of bed, fully clothed and without taking off his shoes and socks.
Just as he put away the dagger, Ning Jing and Su Liang came in.
Nian Jincheng breathed a sigh of relief and took the sack from Ning Jing.
"Turn around." Ning Jing said to Su Liang.
Su Liang was stunned for a moment, but immediately turned his back.
Nian Jincheng untied the sack and saw Duanmu Ao naked inside. The corner of his mouth twitched and Ning Jing asked him to dress Duanmu Ao.
When Ning Jing went to "boil" Duan Mu Ao, he took off all his dirty clothes and burned them. In order to prevent Duan Mu Ao from being stained with dirt, he also washed the sacks. As a result, the shoulders of Ning Jing's clothes were wet.
It was night now, so Nian Jincheng only needed to put on Duanmu Ao's inner clothes, without any shoes or socks, and then put him on the bed and cover him with a quilt.
"We have to hurry up." Nian Jincheng whispered.
Ning Jing patted Su Liang's shoulder. After she turned around, on her way to the bed, she leaned over and pulled out her usual double knives from her calf.
Duanmu Ao was awake and conscious after being repeatedly stimulated and tortured.
Seeing Su Liang appear with cold eyes, Duanmu Ao's eyes widened and he opened his mouth and said one word, "You..."
Two cold lights flashed, and Su Liang's two knives simultaneously pierced the quilt and penetrated Duanmu Ao's body!
Duanmu Ao kept vomiting blood and lost consciousness. Then he heard Su Liang's cold voice, "It is only right to kill someone to pay for their life."
Su Liang drew the knife, and the quilt was stained red with blood.
Su Liang cut Duanmu Ao's neck several more times in order to cover up the marks made by the whip when Su Liang tortured him.
Ningjing took out a piece of hemp rope that he brought with him and tied it on the beam.
Nian Jincheng opened the quilt and threw it to the ground. He pulled down the dying Duanmu Ao, dragged him from the ground, lifted him up, and tied his neck into a hemp rope.
From beginning to end, the three people were careful to avoid getting blood on their shoes and leaving no footprints.
"Take him away." Ning Jing said to Su Liang.
After Su Liang and Nian Jincheng left through the back window, Ning Jing glanced at Duanmu Ao who had expired, threw a colorless and odorless incense ball into the incense burner, and then disappeared into the room.
Time has come.
A dark figure avoided the guards of the Second Prince's Mansion and quietly approached Duanmu Ao's room.
As soon as I entered, I smelled a strong smell of blood.
Through the moonlight coming in through the window, he saw the man hanging from the beam. The killer felt bad and was about to leave when he heard someone outside shouting, "There's a fire! Come and put out the fire!"
The killer walked out along the same route and saw many people surrounding him. He was just trying to find a place to hide for a while, when he suddenly felt weak and dizzy. After taking a few steps, he fell to the ground.
A man appeared next to him, leaned over, stuffed a medicine bottle and a piece of blood-stained cloth into the killer's body, stuffed another medicine bottle into his hand, and left.
…
After Su Liang and Nian Jincheng left the Second Prince's Mansion, they went straight home.
After arriving home, Nian Jincheng said, "Is A Ling going to be okay?"
Su Liang shook his head, "Don't call him by that name until he regains his identity."
In fact, what Su Liang was worried about was that Yan Shiba would hear her. She was very strong, and they might not be able to detect her if she was hiding nearby. And Yan Shiba would really appear suddenly at Su Liang's house.
"Yeah." Nian Jincheng nodded, "Will he be okay?"
Su Liang said calmly, "We'll find out when he comes back."
Nian Jincheng: ...This sounds very much like someone’s way of speaking.
"Is Yan Yu still at home?" Nian Jincheng asked.
"Here." Su Liang said, "Go wake her up and say that she is safe. She is very worried about you."
Nian Jincheng nodded, then hesitated, "How about tomorrow."
"Go now." Su Liang insisted. Surprises should come sooner rather than later.
"Okay." Nian Jincheng was used to Su Liang and Ningjing arranging things for him.
Ningjing has not returned yet, but Su Liang is really not worried. He has grasped the information in advance and made careful arrangements. There is little possibility of an accident in tonight's drama.
For example, Ningjing burned Duanmu Ao's dirty clothes. The hemp rope he brought to hang Duanmu Ao was stolen from Duanmu Sheng's house. The incense and antidote he put on the killer were not made by Su Liang.
, but bought it from the black market.
Su Liang dissolved the ready-made medicine, specially customized a more powerful fragrance and an inferior antidote with half the effect for Duanmu Ao, and put them back into the original bottles.
Ningjing took a piece of Duanmu Ao's handkerchief, dipped it in blood, and put it on the killer's body, thus making it appear that he had wiped the knife that killed Duanmu Ao with the handkerchief.
When there was a fire in the Second Prince's Mansion, Ningjing sneaked into the servant's room, pushed down the oil lamp, leaving no trace, and confirmed that the servant in the room ran out.
There are many people putting out fires, and their footprints are messy, which will cover up the footprints left by them.
The only clue left behind in Duanmu Ao's death is that the killer "because he bought a low-quality drug, he fainted and was unable to escape after killing Duanmu Ao."
Nian Jincheng knocked on Yan Yu's door. When Yan Yu woke up and heard his voice, she let go of the dagger in her hand, got out of bed and opened the door. Afraid of danger, she didn't take off her clothes while sleeping.
"You're back?" Yan Yu was really surprised, "Are you okay?"
While Nian Jincheng was waiting outside, he had already used the potion given by Su Liang to wash off the disfigurement on his face.
Seeing Yan Yu looking at him with bright eyes, Nian Jincheng felt soft and nodded, "I'm fine."
"Are Su Liang and Ning Jing okay?" Yan Yu went out and saw the lights in Su Liang's room turned on. He breathed a sigh of relief, "They didn't even tell me that they were going to save you tonight."
"Ningjing hasn't come back yet, but he should be fine," Nian Jincheng said.
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Yu saw Ning Jing walking in from the entrance of the courtyard. He was wearing night clothes and holding a small mouse made of black cloth covering his face. His face was cold, as if he had returned from a night trip.
Nian Jincheng didn't ask anything and saw Ning Jing turning into the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Yan Yu was curious.
Nian Jincheng told her what happened.
Yan Yu clicked his tongue and marveled, "You are too awesome! That shameless and vicious second prince died well! The eldest prince was planning to kill him, but he was not unjust at all in taking the blame!"
Nian Jincheng felt a little embarrassed when he was praised, "I just listen to their arrangements."
"Su Liang praised you today, saying that you used to be a stubborn person, but now you have learned how to 'hide a sword in your smile'." Yan Yu said with a smile.
Nian Jincheng knew that Yan Yu was sincerely praising him, but it always felt like he was scolding him.
"I'll boil some water for you. Are you hungry? If you want to eat something, I'll cook it for you!" Yan Yu said.
"No, it's so late and I'm disturbing you. You should rest quickly." Nian Jincheng waved his hand.
"You're welcome, I'm not an outsider." Yan Yu said with a smile, "I'm awake now, but I can't fall asleep either. I'm going to ask Su Liang and Ning Jing if they want to eat midnight snacks. You all worked hard."
When Nian Jincheng saw Yan Yu walking out, he originally wanted to go back to his room to change clothes, but he followed him, "Then I'll light the fire for you." He had seen Su Liang cook at Ningjing.
"Okay!" Yan Yu nodded.
Ningjing washed her hands in the kitchen and went back to her room, not sleeping yet.
Yan Yu asked them what they wanted to eat, and Su Liang said she wouldn't eat it, and neither would Ning Jing.
"How about forgetting it," Nian Jincheng said.
"I'm hungry." Yan Yu said with a smile, "Hurry up and light the fire. I also want to hear you talk about the past two days."
Nian Jincheng sat down on the small stool, added firewood to the stove, and watched the flames burn. He told Yan Yu about his experiences in the past two days, and his heart gradually warmed up.
In the end, Yan Yu made two bowls of noodles, and she and Nian Jincheng ate them in the kitchen.
"Tomorrow when the matter is exposed, the eldest prince will definitely say that Su Liang killed the second prince and slander him." Yan Yu said.
Nian Jincheng hummed, "Su Liang carefully prepared this scapegoat for him, and he is determined to bear it!"
…
Early the next morning, the news that the new crown prince Duanmu Ao was assassinated last night shocked the entire capital!
Duanmu Chen got up early in the morning and was about to go into the palace to visit Queen Mother Wan to express his filial piety. When he learned that Duanmu Ao died tragically, he was stunned for a long time.
He had a hunch that it was Su Liang who did it. He thought that that girl really dared to think and do it, and she would take action after finding out everything. She was not sloppy at all.
Soon, someone came from the palace, and Duanmu Yi asked Duanmu Chen to enter the palace immediately.
On the way into the palace, Duanmu Chen was thinking about how he should respond if there was any evidence pointing to Su Liang. No matter what, he must lead the suspicion to Duanmu Sheng, but it must not be too obvious. Even now, there are still people
I suspect that Su Liang is in a group with him.
When Duanmu Chen saw Duanmu Yi, he was in Ci'an Palace, and the Queen Mother Wanshi and the Queen Xiao Wanshi were crying one after another.
Duanmu Chen found it strange that Duanmu Ao's body was not carried into the palace. If they wanted to cry, they should go to the coffin to cry, right?
As a result, Duanmu Chen soon learned the real reason why Wan and Xiao Wan were crying in the palace: not only because Duanmu Ao died tragically, but also because the murderer was Duanmu Sheng! Duanmu Yi wanted to execute Duanmu Sheng!
Duanmu Chen was stunned, although he couldn't show it on his face.
He thought that Su Liang would kill, and that no matter which one of Duanmu Sheng or Duanmu Ao died first, Su Liang would be suspected, and it would be difficult to kill the other one.
Duanmu Chen also thought that if Duanmu Ao or Duanmu Sheng died, Su Liang would lead the suspicion to the living one.
But I never expected that the coffin seemed to be finalized all of a sudden!
Duanmu Yi's face turned livid, "The killer who killed the second child bought something wrong with the incense and antidote. He knocked himself out and did not escape. He belongs to the boss."
Duanmu Chen believed that Duanmu Yi said that he must have found out clearly. Although there are dead soldiers, sometimes even if the dead soldiers don't speak, they may not be able to find out the master behind it.
Duanmu Chen felt at this moment that Duanmu Sheng had really sent a killer to kill Duanmu Ao, and maybe he wanted to take the opportunity to frame Su Liang.
The fact that the killer was knocked unconscious by his own drug... Duanmu Chen thought it was bizarre, not impossible, no matter how he thought about it, but his intuition was that Su Liang must be involved!
"Come here, please ask Imperial Physician Su to come and treat your mother." Duanmu Yi finished speaking, no longer paying attention to Wanshi and Xiao Wanshi's cries, and left Ci'an Palace with Duanmu Chen.