After being severely insulted by Shaoyao the night before yesterday, Nian Ruting didn't say a word to her for two days in a row. She only watched coldly as she secretly left the Nian Mansion every day, and came back after an hour or two before going out again. , came back again, his eyes became more and more anxious, because he always returned without success.
The tightly guarded palace of Qian Kingdom is an extremely familiar place for Shaoyao, because she was once a "ghost" walking freely among the high walls of the palace, and she also knew some of the secret places in the palace.
Even when Duanmu Chen first became emperor, he learned that Shaoyao, one of the secret guards trained by Duanmu Yi, was missing and increased his precautions. However, the layout of the palace remained the same and could not stop Shaoyao's prying eyes.
After still getting no results, we arrived at a tricky place - the Su Mansion where people came in and out every day.
You can't kill Duanmu Chen, you don't dare to take hostages, you can't even alert the enemy, but it is almost impossible to find a book that must be extremely secretive.
Shaoyao's mission deadline is approaching. She must gain something within five days and leave the capital of Qian Kingdom, and rush back to resume her life day and night. Otherwise, everything she has chosen after escaping from the control of the royal family of Qian Kingdom will be in vain, including her own life.
Late that night, when Shaoyao came back with a gloomy face again, Nian Ruting talked to her again and called her Master, her eyes and tone were very respectful, as if the previous incident had never happened.
"Master, I have an idea. It may not be safe, but Master can consider it." Nian Ruting was almost strangled to death by Nian Shiqi. Although she survived, her vocal cords were damaged and have not been cured. Her voice was hoarse and dry. It's ugly. At first glance, people think she is an 80-year-old woman.
Shaoyao's impatience and disgust dissipated a lot after seeing Nian Ruting's pretending to be cute, "Say."
When she first came to the capital of Qian Kingdom, Shaoyao wore exquisite and colorful makeup. Although she stayed up day and night to avoid being seen by anyone.
Now, half a month has passed, Shaoyao has frizzy hair and a bare face, revealing her skin that is not young under heavy makeup. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes are obvious, and her eyes also reveal a fierce light when they are not looking at people, because they are anxious and stressed. , and I haven’t had a good rest for many days, and my lips are as dry and cracked as bark.
Shaoyao had no hope that Nian Ruting could come up with any good solutions.
But after Nian Ruting finished speaking, Shaoyao narrowed his eyes and looked at her intently, "They all thought you were dead, but Nian Ruxue is still alive."
Nian Ruting nodded immediately, "Yes, Master. As long as I pretend to be Nian Ruxue, I can catch that child of the Wan family and force Su Liang to hand over the secret records. If I be careful, I hope to succeed. Didn't Master say that the child has recently been You live in Sufu, but do you often go out?"
Shaoyao snorted coldly, "When he goes out, Su Liang is luring us to show up, idiot!"
Nian Ruting's face froze, she pursed her lips, and spoke again, "Then we can change someone else, it's not necessary to have that child. For example... Xing Yusheng's grandmother! I remember that she had a very good relationship with Su Liang, and she had been in public Protected Su Liang."
That happened during the martial arts competition, but Nian Ruting was deeply impressed because that martial arts competition caused her life to turn upside down and fall into the abyss.
Seeing Shaoyao frowning, Nian Ruting explained, "There must be no expert protection around the old woman, and she is old and in poor health. If she is a hostage, Su Liang will be obedient and worried that we will hurt her! We will be more careful when exchanging hostages!"
"But the master said..." Shaoyao was obviously a little moved, but still hesitant.
Nian Ruting knew what Shaoyao was worried about, "She has no time to counterattack! Even if she guesses the master, what can she do from such a distance? We must meet our conditions to save people."
Shaoyao was silent for a long time, looking at Nian Ruting's eyebrows, "I know you are pretending to celebrate the New Year like snow. Your feet are not intact. If you walk fast, people will see that you are lame. And your voice cannot be concealed."
Nian Ruting stretched out her hand to touch her neck, coughed twice, and wanted to imitate Nian Ruxue's speech, but when she opened her mouth, she heard her own hoarse and unpleasant voice.
Nian Ruting was immediately discouraged, and her face was distorted with disappointment and anger. She thought she had come up with a good plan to divert disaster to the east and kill two birds with one stone. As long as Su Liang could be convinced that Nian Ruxue did it, Nian Ruxue would be able to do it in the future.
If she appears again, she will die badly, and Su Liang and Gu Ling will definitely use their strength to investigate Nian Ruxue's whereabouts, find her and kill her.
"You're right." Shaoyao spoke again.
Nian Ruting was stunned, "Master means..."
"That old woman from the Xing family, just her. Without hostages, things can't be done. I mean, what you said is that Su Liang didn't have time to counterattack. But she was thinking too much about the teacher." Shaoyao's tone softened.
few.
Nian Ruting blurted out, "But I can't pretend to be Nian Ruxue anymore."
Shaoyao's eyes were impatient, "Business matters are important, so don't think about using the opportunity to kill someone with a knife to get rid of your sister!"
"I'm not..." Nian Ruting wanted to explain.
Shaoyao interrupted, "That's it. We don't have to show up. We just need to find a river to escape easily."
Nian Ruting did not dare to mention Nian Ruxue again, but when she heard Shaoyao tell her to catch Mrs. Xing, her heart tightened, and she felt that Shaoyao wanted to use her as cannon fodder, "Master, my feet haven't..."
"But that doesn't affect your martial arts. I will keep an eye on you in the dark to protect you, just in case. This is the safest way. There were two slaves available for you, but you did something stupid and let them die as soon as you entered the city. How could it be possible?
Don't you think I brought you here to let you revisit your old place to see your lover?" Shaoyao looked stern.
"That's not what I meant. Master, don't be angry. I was just distracted." Nian Ruting became obedient again, "Master is right, this is the safest way."
Shaoyao looked at the dark sky outside and said, "I will go to Zhongxinhou Mansion to investigate and start tomorrow night."
"I'll go with Master." Nian Ruting said, "If there are no obstacles, there is still time to start tonight. It shouldn't be delayed."
"Okay." Shaoyao finished and put on a ghost mask.
Nian Ruting also wore a mask, but her mask was much prettier, with a "tear mole" inlaid with rubies at the corners of her eyes.
The master and apprentice left the Nian Mansion where they were hiding, and darkness returned to the mansion again.
…
After midnight, the Zhongxinhou Mansion was completely silent.
When Shaoyao and Nian Ruting sneaked in from the back door, they happened to hear the two women who were keeping watch at night whispering, "Tomorrow the old lady will go to Huguo Temple to fulfill her wish." "Since the little master was born, the old lady is happy.
, the monthly payment has gone up." "The master has gone to war again, and I don't know when he will come back."...
Shaoyao took Nian Ruting and hid in a dark corner. After listening for a long time, she dragged Nian Ruting away.
Stopping in the dark alley, Nian Ruting was very puzzled, "Master, why don't you do something tonight?"
"We are very unfamiliar with Zhongxinhou Mansion. We don't even know which house the old woman lives in, nor how many people are around her. What if Xing Ji really arranges expert protection for his mother? She will go to Huguo Temple tomorrow.
On the way, we will look for opportunities to take action again," Shaoyao said.
…
Today Lin Xueqing will go to Huguo Temple with Mrs. Xing to fulfill her vow.
"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?" Xing Yusheng took Lin Xueqing's hand and asked.
Lin Xueqing smiled and shook her head, "You can take care of the baby at home. Didn't you say you want to learn from Senior Brother Gu? Let's try it today." Her milk supply was low and she hired a nanny, so it shouldn't be a problem if she left for half a day.
"Okay then." Xing Yusheng nodded, "You guys come back early."
After arranging the carriage and escort, Mrs. Xing and Lin Xueqing set out for Huguo Temple together.
The first lunar month has just passed, and the spring is getting colder.
As the carriage passed through the busy market, Lin Xueqing opened the curtain to look outside. Mrs. Xing did not stop her. After a while, she reminded her to close the curtain to avoid freezing.
Lin Xueqing sighed, "Before giving birth, I felt it was too hard and I never want to give birth again. Now every time we see Nuan Nuan, my husband and I really want to have another daughter!"
Mrs. Xing smiled from ear to ear when she heard this, "Nuan Nuan is so cute, I really want to take her back to our home."
The grandfather and grandson sat together and talked affectionately, unaware that someone was watching them in the dark.
The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain where Huguo Temple is located. Lin Xueqing got off first and then helped Mrs. Xing down.
Although the temperature is not high, the sun is shining brightly today, and I don’t feel cold even when walking in the sun.
Lin Xueqing supported Old Mrs.
, insisting on walking on his own.
Beside the winding stone steps are dense woods, mostly pines and cypresses, which have not yet sprouted new leaves, and their dark green color is like a huge barrier.
Shaoyao first followed the carriage secretly, then sped up the mountain, and found Nian Ruting who had been ambush here at the turning point of the mountain road. She was dressed in common clothes and dressed like a woman going to offer incense. She could not wear a mask in broad daylight, Nian Ruting
Ruting had a disguise, and the appearance she wore was not that of Nian Ruxue, but she had a vague resemblance. Anyone who was familiar with Nian Ruxue could tell it at a glance.
Shaoyao signaled to Nian Ruting that she was coming soon and be ready.
In order to avoid unnecessary complications, we agreed not to hurt anyone or kill anyone. The main reason was that we were afraid that we would not be able to leave after exchanging hostages.
Although Shaoyao was once a secret guard trained by Duanmu Yi and had strong martial arts skills, she knew very well that she was no match for Gu Ling. The Su Mansion was now crouching tiger, hidden dragon, and she cherished her life. Her purpose was not to assassinate anyone. She did not want to cause trouble, and acted in a certain way.
To be cautious.
The voices of Lin Xueqing and Mrs. Xing talking came over.
"Are you tired, grandma? Let's take a rest on the stone platform in front."
"You walk so slowly and stop and go, so you don't need to take a break."
Nian Ruting's eyes narrowed and she held the dagger through her sleeve.
Through the gaps in the needles of the pine tree, Nian Ruting saw the figure approaching the planned location. She felt Shaoyao gently push her left shoulder, and she rushed out from her hiding place!
…
Lin Xueqing was looking forward to waiting for her child to be older, so she took her son and Gu Xiaonuan to climb the mountain together. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure flashing out of the woods. She was stunned at first, and then subconsciously blocked Mrs. Xing in front of her.
Behind him.
Everything happens very quickly.
Nian Ruting appeared suddenly. When the guards reacted, she was already in front of Lin Xueqing.
Lin Xueqing was not familiar with Nian Ruxue, and Nian Ruting's disguised appearance did not immediately make her have any special feelings. At this moment, Lin Xueqing's mind was filled with the self-defense techniques that Su Liang had taught her.
Although Lin Xueqing had been pregnant for ten months and had been in confinement for a long time, she had not exercised for a long time. But after her body recovered after confinement, she felt that she had gained weight and had fat on her waist. She recently started practicing martial arts again and reviewed her previous self-defense techniques.
She is a woman, not suitable for attacking below... Lin Xueqing analyzed it quickly in her mind, and then her body reacted naturally. Nian Ruting found out that Mrs.
, then he aimed the two fingers together and inserted them into Nian Ruting's right eye!
This movement has been practiced many times before, but it was just a simulation. This was the first time Lin Xueqing used it, and her mind was filled with Su Liang's serious instructions: Be fast! Be ruthless! Be accurate! Don't be afraid!
It felt disgusting and oozing, but Lin Xueqing couldn't care less. She heard Nian Ruting's screams and Old Mrs.
Such as the dagger stabbed by Ting.
What happened in an instant, Mrs. Xing's face turned pale. She saw Lin Xueqing running over, her hands covered with blood. The image of this usually gentle and lovely granddaughter-in-law suddenly became extremely tall in Mrs. Xing's eyes.
Nian Ruting was besieged by four guards. One of her eyeballs was poked by Lin Xueqing. Her strength was greatly reduced and she lost her mind.
Just as Lin Xueqing came to Mrs. Xing's side, held her hand, and breathed a sigh of relief, another figure appeared behind them like a ghost, grabbed Mrs. Xing's arm, and pulled her back.
"Grandma!" Lin Xueqing's expression changed drastically.
Upon seeing this, the guard left Nian Ruting to rescue Mrs. Xing, but it was already too late.
Shaoyao led Mrs. Xing into the dense forest and quickly disappeared.
Nian Ruting got a chance to escape, but because she was blind in one eye and her vision was limited, she panicked and didn't take the planned retreat. She walked through a forest and found that there was a cliff in front of her.
Nian Ruting walked to the edge of the cliff, flinched, then stepped back and ran in the other direction. The blood from her eyes flowed across her cheeks and chin, dripping to the ground.
…
When Su Liang received the news, he was practicing swordplay by the lake. Gu Ling, Gu Xiaonuan and Zheng'er were playing in a pavilion not far away.
Qi Yan rushed over with an ugly expression, saying that Mrs. Xing and Lin Xueqing met an assassin on the way to Huguo Temple, and Mrs. Xing was captured.
"Is Xueqing okay?" Su Liang's expression condensed.
Qi Yan shook his head, "Madam, everything is fine. General Lin has already led his troops to search the mountain. Please leave this to the master."
Su Liang took a piece of paper handed over by Qi Yan. There were traces of being pressed by stones on the paper. Lin Xueqing found it in the hiding place of Nian Ruting. It was also a part of Shaoyao's master-disciple plan.
But at this moment, Su Liang still didn't know the identity of the enemy. The only thing written on the paper was that at midnight tonight, by the riverside outside the city, the secret records of Mu's organization will be exchanged for Mrs. Xing.
Gu Ling came over, took the piece of paper, saw the words "Secret Records of the Organization", and said coldly, "Situ Xie's people."
This is the person they know who is most interested in the secret records of the agency and knows that the secret records are in their hands.
Su Liang had to breastfeed Gu Xiaonuan later and couldn't leave for the time being, so she asked Gu Ling to check on the situation.
When Gu Ling saw Lin Xueqing, she had already returned to Zhongxinhou Mansion, her eyes were red, and the blood on her hands had not yet been washed away.
"Senior brother..." Lin Xueqing choked and told Gu Ling what happened in detail.
"I didn't think about it at the time, but now that I think about it, that woman looks a bit like Nian Ruxue." Lin Xueqing said in a deep voice.
"Did she speak?" Gu Ling asked.
Lin Xueqing shook her head and remembered again, "Her voice was very rough."
"I'll go to Huguo Temple and have a look. That group of people wants something and they won't hurt your grandmother." Gu Ling said to Xing Yusheng.
"What they want..." Xing Yusheng asked with a frown.
Gu Ling looked calm and said, "I will give it to you."
When they arrived at the scene of the incident, Gu Ling met Lin Bojun. His soldiers were looking for blood stains and footprints in the mountains.
Gu Ling didn't find any other useful clues, so he went into the palace after going down the mountain.
Duanmu Chen had already received the report and when he saw Gu Ling coming, he immediately asked what was going on.
After listening, Duanmu Chen sighed, "I didn't expect Mrs. Xing to be so courageous." If Lin Xueqing hadn't blinded the eyes of the person who wanted to arrest her, the outcome of the matter would not have been like this. It is still unclear what the other party's goal is.
It was Lin Xueqing or Mrs. Xing, but no matter what, her counterattack was meaningful.
Gu Ling did not explain that it was Su Liang who taught him, he only said that he wanted to see Duanmu Yi.
Duanmu Chen was puzzled, and Gu Ling said that one of the assassins looked a bit like Nian Ruxue.
Duanmu Chen was stunned, "She is still alive?" He had almost forgotten about that incompetent and hypocritical fake talented woman.
"I think it's Nian Ruting." Gu Ling said.
If Nian Ruxue is really Nian Ruxue, if she has to disguise herself, Lin Xueqing won't be able to see it. Otherwise, she won't be "a bit like".
Gu Ling thought of Nian Ruting. They thought Nian Ruting was dead, but they didn't watch Nian Ruting die, they heard about it. Nian Ruting's vocal cords were injured and her voice was hoarse.
Duanmu Chen finally understood why Gu Ling wanted to see Duanmu Yi.
Together they found Duanmu Yi, who was sunbathing in the imperial garden. When he saw Gu Ling, he didn't look good, and even Duanmu Chen didn't bother to pay attention.
"My father originally said that Nian Ruting should be executed. Who did he ask to do it?" Duanmu Chen got straight to the point.
Duanmu Yi said nothing, but frowned.
"Father, this matter is very important." Duanmu Chen said again.
After a while, Duanmu Yi said two words, "Peony."
And Shaoyao is a traitor.
"Damn it, that bitch is probably still alive. If it's Shaoyao and Nian Ruting, it seems they are loyal to Situ Xie." Duanmu Chen believed in Gu Ling's intuition.
…
When Su Liang learned of Gu Ling's guess, she couldn't help but sigh, "If it's really Nian Ruting, her fate is too great."
"Who is Nian Ruting?" Zheng'er asked curiously.
Su Liang looked at Zheng'er and thought about the assassination on the Lantern Festival. Was Shaoyao and Nian Ruting also responsible?
Gu Ling felt the same way.
As for the secret record, Gu Ling promised to give it to him, but it was just a temporary "copy" he spent most of the day on. A layman couldn't see the problem at all, and an insider had a hard time understanding it, but he had changed all the key points.
, it is impossible to make a real machine weapon.
It was dark, and there was no news from Lin Bojun. Su Liang thought that Nian Ruting should have escaped.
…
"I thought Master would leave me alone." Nian Ruting's voice was hoarse, and half of her face was covered with dried blood. Her right eye was wrapped in cloth and sprinkled with hemostatic powder. The eyeball was broken, and there was no need for treatment.
.
She was almost caught, but Shaoyao went back and rescued her.
Shaoyao sighed, "You are the only apprentice I have left. We will follow the original plan for tonight's affairs. You are in the dark and I am in the dark."
The angry Nian Ruting did not hear clearly what Shaoyao was saying. She gritted her teeth and said, "That Lin Xueqing, I will gouge out her eyes and crush her!"
Shaoyao sighed, "When it's done, I'll avenge you as my master." But what she was thinking was that this idiot was still useful as a shield. She would continue to push her out tonight. She must get the secret record. She would love her to death...