Three days later, Chang'an came to inform Su Liang that Nian Ruting had died in the prison.
It cannot be said that the torture was completely useless. Chang'an gave Su Liang a transcript of the testimony. Duanmu Chen had read it first and thought it contained nothing of value.
Su Liang watched it from beginning to end, and it was a bit confusing. Nian Ruting was probably on the verge of madness and collapse at that time. Among them, Nian Ruting explained how she was spared by Shaoyao, and when their master and apprentice went to Liang Kingdom. The purpose of returning to Qian Country.
But regarding the assassination on Shangyuan Festival, Nian Ruting still insisted that it was caused by peony and had nothing to do with her.
Nian Ruting said that she knew where Nian Ruxue was and could help arrest him and make him meritorious.
Su Liang shook her head and put down her testimony. If Nian Ruting really knew where Nian Ruxue was, she would have either killed her long ago, or she would have confessed long ago without waiting until now. This was just her death struggle. .
What Su Liang really cared about was the "someone" who wanted Gu Ling alive. Nian Ruting mentioned it, but did not give any more useful information.
Duanmu Chen didn't think too much about this. Su Liang told him that it was suspected that some mysterious force came out to help Situ Xie. There may be many reasons for Gu Ling to stay alive. The simplest one is that maybe a woman fell in love with him. Beauty is not such a strange thing.
Duanmu Chen had already followed Su Liang's suggestion three days ago and issued a secret order to secretly send more troops to Xuanbei City. Nian Jincheng and Lin Wei could not leave Kasyapa City. It was too obvious. They must be being watched by Situ Xie's eyes. But Sisters Lonicera and Baiyang can, and their strong martial arts and assassination skills will also be useful after arriving in Xuanbei City.
…
On this day, Zheng'er was pushing a cute stroller and taking Gu Xiaonuan to play in the garden. Lao Mu was swinging a rattle beside him, bouncing his head to the beat, making Gu Xiaonuan laugh.
Suddenly, Zheng'er saw a figure behind a big tree not far away, and immediately stopped, "Mr. Mu, there is someone there!"
Amidst the tinkling of the rattle, Lao Mu took a step forward and stood in front of Zheng'er and the stroller. His old eyes narrowed, "Who is it? Come out!"
If he were an assassin, he wouldn't dare to break into the Su Mansion in broad daylight. If he were a thief, it would be even less possible.
The next moment, two people came out from behind the big tree, one old and one young. They looked very similar to the combination of Lao Mu and Zheng'er.
Lao Mu felt that the old man looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere.
As for the kid... Lao Mu lowered his gaze and saw a cute kid with big eyes looking at him curiously.
The old man was Ji Yuebai's master Li Hong. Lao Mu had indeed seen him before, in the Su Mansion, but he only saw him entering Yuanming Pavilion from a distance and did not say hello.
"We are from the Yan Kingdom." Li Hong let go of Xiao Zhengtai's hand and said to Lao Mu.
Lao Mu didn't pay attention, and the young lady quickly ran past him.
"Is this my sister?" Xiao Zhengtai looked at Gu Xiaonuan in the stroller with bright eyes.
Zheng'er frowned, "Who are you? This is my sister, not your sister."
Xiao Zhengtai smiled and said, "I am from your family!" He raised his little hand to compare Zheng'er's height, "I am taller than you, I am your brother!"
Zheng'er was speechless and was about to turn around and go back while pushing the stroller.
Lao Mu already knew the identities of the young man and the young man. Su Liang mentioned that Gu Ling had an apprentice coming to stay recently. It must be this young prince from the Yan Kingdom. He looked very noble indeed.
Li Hong felt a little embarrassed listening to the conversation between the two children, so he quickly came over and pulled his disciple over, "Let's go say hello to your master and master first."
"What's his name?" Lao Mu asked.
Xiao Zhengtai replied, "My name is Ji Tianyang! My nickname is Xiaoshu!"
Zheng'er blinked. His name was Wan Zhengyang, and the last word was the same. But why wasn't Ji Tianyang's nickname Tiantian or Yangyang?
"Because I like climbing trees the most." Ji Xiaoshu explained with a smile.
Li Hong: ...Actually, Ji Tianyang's original nickname was Jingjing, which was given by Ji Yuebai, because Ji Tianyang was very "active" during pregnancy, and Ji Yuebai hoped that his son would not be too noisy when he was born. Who knew that Ji Tianyang would leave?
He ran around and wanted to climb up when he saw a tree, just like a little monkey, so I simply changed his nickname to Xiaoshu. Because he felt that calling him Jingjing was not only meaningless but also too funny...
Zheng'er then asked, "You were hiding behind the tree just now. Did you want to climb the tree?"
Ji Xiaoshu nodded, "That tree is so beautiful. I wanted to climb up and have a look, but my master caught me!"
Li Hong was really embarrassed now. He explained that because their trip was secret, they did not go through the front door, but through the garden through the back door. Before that, he had also sent a letter to Gu Ling to say hello. Ji Xiaoshu's "
He was addicted to climbing trees and was too playful. Li Hong was catching him when Lao Mu and Zheng'er saw him.
Lao Mu laughed loudly, "Very good, kids just want to have fun! Come to our house and play whatever you want!"
Ji Xiaoshu ran to the stroller again, looked at it curiously, and asked Zheng'er if he could give it a try.
Zheng'er was not very happy, but thinking that he was a guest from afar and it would be impolite to refuse, he gave way halfway and said he would push it with Ji Xiaoshu.
As a result, the next moment, Ji Xiaoshu pushed the stroller forward, while Zheng'er fell one step behind and let go.
"Stop!" Zheng'er chased after her, "Give my sister back!"
Ji Xiaoshu ran faster, "It's my sister!"
Gu Xiaonuan was drowsy in the car, not caring about what the childish boys were arguing about...
Lao Mu looked at Ji Xiaoshu's back and thought that things were going to be even more lively at home.
…
Su Liang was a little surprised when she saw Lao Mu and Li Hong coming to find her, "Where is Xiaoshu?"
Zheng'er's voice came from outside, "I'm a month older than you!"
Another louder voice said, "I'm half a head taller than you!"
Su Liang looked out of the bed and saw Zheng'er "confronting" with another little boy. Gu Xiaonuan was sleeping soundly in the car in the middle.
It seems that Ji Xiaoshu is a bit taller than Zheng'er.
Zheng'er said seriously, "Master said that I am the great disciple!"
Ji Xiaoshu smiled brightly and said, "Senior Brother, please take good care of me in the future."
Zheng'er was dumbfounded. Aren't they arguing about who is the boss? What kind of tricks does this kid have?
The next moment, Ji Xiaoshu grabbed Zheng'er's arm and said, "Senior Brother, I just came here and I'm not familiar with this place. You have to take good care of me. Now, I'm hungry!"
The last three words were so eloquent and confident.
Su Liang couldn't help but laugh, Ji Yuebai's son was really lively, smart, and cute, and he tricked Zheng'er as soon as he came.
But Zheng'er quickly reacted and told Ji Xiaoshu, "Then you have to listen to me."
Ji Xiaoshu nodded, "No problem!"
However, countless facts later proved that Ji Xiaoshu listened, but not completely. It went in with one ear and out with the other. It’s not easy to be a senior brother!
When Zheng'er and Ji Xiaoshu returned to Yuanming Pavilion with Nuan Nuan, Li Hong held the tea cup and coughed twice, reminding Ji Xiaoshu that he had promised to behave well on the way here.
Ji Xiaoshu walked up to Su Liang in a polite manner, then threw herself into Su Liang's arms and called out enthusiastically, "Master's wife!"
Li Hong: ...Now I feel like I can never take it away again...
Su Liang smiled and rubbed Ji Xiaoshu's head, "Xiaoshu is hungry? What do you want to eat?"
This child has very white skin, lively eyes, and is naturally cunning.
"It's delicious." Ji Xiaoshu said, sniffing and smelling the aroma of Su Liang, and suddenly felt a little depressed, "I miss my mother."
Su Liang sighed slightly. Ji Xiaoshu was born to Ji Yuebai's first wife, but his wife passed away due to illness when Ji Xiaoshu was three years old. The current queen of Yan Kingdom is not Ji Xiaoshu's mother.
Before Su Liang could comfort him, Ji Xiaoshu laughed again, "Where is my master? My father said he is the most beautiful person in the world!"
At this moment, Gu Ling appeared at the door, wearing an apron and holding a kitchen knife.
Ji Xiaoshu's eyes widened, "Master...Master?"
"Come here." Gu Ling looked calm.
Ji Xiaoshu immediately hid behind Su Liang, "Master, are you going to chop me down?"
"Come here." Gu Ling said again.
"Go on, he was just making delicious food and forgot to put down the kitchen knife." Su Liang explained.
"Master knows how to cook? That's amazing. Unlike my father, who only knows how to eat." Ji Xiaoshu said and ran towards Gu Ling, bowing his hands in a polite manner, "Master, my disciple is polite."
"Yeah." Gu Ling nodded and stretched out his hand, thinking he was going to touch Ji Xiaoshu's head. In the end, his hand went directly to the back of Ji Xiaoshu's collar, grabbed him, lifted him up, and turned around to walk out.
Li Hong: ...He thought Ji Yuebai's way of raising children was outrageous enough. What was Gu Ling doing? Do all his children raise like this?
Li Hong turned to look at Gu Xiaonuan in the stroller, and then he saw her appearance clearly. His eyes softened instantly, and he smiled and said to Su Liang, "Your love is so beautiful." As for Ji Xiaoshu, Li Hong was only responsible for taking care of her.
He sent it over, and Ji Yuebai said that he would go back to Yan country immediately after letting him deliver it. He had other things to do, so there was no need to stay here and watch.
Li Hong felt that he could rest assured that Su Liang, the master's wife, was here, and there was also Zheng'er who could be Ji Xiaoshu's playmate. Zheng'er seemed to be a well-behaved and sensible child. As for letting Ji Xiaoshu learn martial arts, it was only a secondary matter.
, the most important thing is to be happy.
Ji Yuebai also has other children now, and his other children all have mothers. Ji Yuebai said that Ji Xiaoshu always likes to climb up trees and hide when others are not paying attention, just to attract his attention.
But helplessly, Ji Yuebai is an emperor. He has too many things and people to pay attention to, and he does not have enough energy and time to accompany the son who loves him the most. He also found that Ji Xiaoshu was even more unhappy after entering the palace.
, so after receiving Gu Ling's letter and learning that Gu Ling agreed to accept his son as his disciple, he thought over and over again and decided to send Ji Xiaoshu to live with Gu Ling and Su Liang for a while.
It's not that Ji Yuebai doesn't care about his son and wants to dump him to someone else. He just wants Ji Xiaoshu to change his environment and adjust his mood. If he thinks it will be better for him, he will treat him as if he is going out to study and play. If it were someone else, it would be fine with Gu Linghe.
Su Liang and his wife, Ji Yuebai, are completely at ease, trust their character and admire their strength.
Ji Yuebai even investigated the relationship between Zheng'er and Su Liang, and felt that Gu Ling and Su Liang must be very capable of dealing with their children.
As for whether Ji Xiaoshu wants to go back and when to go back, Ji Yuebai plans to let him decide by himself. If Ji Xiaoshu says he wants to go home, Gu Ling and Su Liang will definitely send him back.
However, Ji Yuebai certainly didn't expect that Ji Xiaoshu was sitting obediently on the small bench, helping Gu Ling light the fire.
"Master, I am taller than Wan Zhengyang, why is he the senior brother?" Ji Xiaoshu asked a question that was not so obedient.
Gu Ling looked calm and said, "First come, first served."
"Okay. Then why does Master know how to cook? My father can't." Ji Xiaoshu asked.
Gu Ling asked while chopping vegetables, "Why can't you?"
Ji Xiaoshu was stunned for a moment, "I haven't learned it before."
Gu Ling looked calm and said, "I have learned it."
Ji Xiaoshu scratched his head with the twig in his hand, that's it?
His stomach growled, and Ji Xiaoshu said weakly, "Master, I'm so hungry." This master is really good-looking, but he's also really cold and stern. He's a little scared, and he really wants to find Xiangxiang's master!
Gu Ling picked up a plate and handed it over. Inside were the small steamed buns he had fried. The outside was golden, steaming, and fragrant.
Ji Xiaoshu's eyes lit up and he stood up, threw away the twig in his hand, reached out to grab it, frowned again, raised his hand to show Gu Ling, "Master, my hands are dirty." It meant that he needed to be fed.
Gu Ling put the plate on the chopping board, then went to cut vegetables, "There is water over there, wash it yourself."
"Oh." Ji Xiaoshu pouted. Of course he knew he had to wash his hands, but he was too hungry and wanted to eat immediately, and he would have to light the fire later.
Ji Xiaoshu washed his hands, took out a handkerchief from his arms and wiped it, folded the handkerchief and put it on the small stool, then ran to the chopping board, picked up a small fried dumpling that was still warm, and took a bite.
It was stuffed with fresh meat and had a crispy exterior. Ji Xiaoshu thought it was delicious, so he quickly finished one and asked Gu Ling eagerly, "Master, can I have another one?"
Gu Ling shook his head, "No."
Ji Xiaoshu immediately lowered his head, silently turned around and walked to the small stool, picked up the handkerchief and held it in his hand, sat down and looked at the fire in the stove.
The next moment, Gu Ling came over and asked Ji Xiaoshu to get up and go to the side.
Ji Xiaoshu stood up and moved a small stool to the side, and saw Gu Ling picking up the iron pliers, leaning over and pinching a piece of black coal from the stove.
Ji Xiaoshu pursed her lips and said nothing. She turned her head and glanced at the door. She really wanted to run out, but think about it, he was brought over by Gu Ling holding a kitchen knife. He wouldn't be beaten if he ran out...
Seeing Gu Ling crack open the piece of black charcoal, Ji Xiaoshu smelled an alluring sweet aroma and couldn't help but swallowed. Is that actually food?
The next moment, Gu Ling looked over and Ji Xiaoshu immediately stood upright.
"Come here." Gu Ling said.
Ji Xiaoshu moved over silently. The closer he got, the more attractive the thick fragrance became.
Then, Gu Ling handed Ji Xiaoshu the sweet potatoes that had just been roasted and opened in a small bowl.
Ji Xiaoshu's eyes widened. Was it really edible? He had never seen it before. It was so amazing that it was made from the fire.
Ji Xiaoshu put down the bench and took the small bowl. Gu Ling handed over a small wooden spoon with a cute wooden carved bunny on the handle.
Ji Xiaoshu touched the little rabbit's ears, and soon his attention was completely attracted by the roasted sweet potato. He dug a little with a spoon and put it into his mouth. It was sweet, soft and glutinous, and melted in his mouth.
"It's so delicious!" Ji Xiaoshu laughed so hard that his eyes narrowed.
This was a sweet potato specially given to Mrs. Bai's family in Sujia Village years ago. There was only one left. Gu Ling originally roasted it and wanted to give it to Su Liang, but thinking that this kid must have never eaten it, she gave it to him.
There was only the skin of the roasted sweet potato left in the bowl. Ji Xiaoshu put the bowl on the chopping board and looked at Gu Ling who refused to let him eat the second bun. He felt that he was not so hungry anymore. He turned around and saw Gu Ling scooping something out of the pot.
When the things came out, he smelled a different aroma.
So, when Ji Xiaoshu sat on the small bench again, he had half a bowl of milky white fish soup in his hand.
After drinking the fish soup, Ji Xiaoshu sighed happily, "It tastes really good."
Gu Ling took the bowl and asked Ji Xiaoshu, "Do you still want to eat steamed buns?"
Ji Xiaoshu blinked and shook his head, "I don't want to eat it." It turned out that his master's refusal to let him eat the second bun was not stingy, but because there was something more delicious!
"Let's go out and play." Gu Ling waved her hand.
Ji Xiaoshu was stunned, "Master caught me, didn't you want me to light a fire?" The posture at that time was so scary, as if Gu Ling had finally caught a kid who was lighting a fire and would never let him go.
Gu Ling tapped Ji Xiaoshu's forehead with her finger, "Didn't you say you were hungry?"
Ji Xiaoshu blinked again, "Master, you heard me telling senior brother that I was hungry, so you brought me here to eat delicious food?" He waited for a while after he came, because...the buns were too hot just after they came out of the pot.
?The sweet potatoes are not roasted until the heat is high, and the fish soup is not ready yet!
Gu Ling didn't answer and turned around to continue chopping vegetables.
Ji Xiaoshu hesitated for a moment, then rushed over, hugged Gu Ling's leg from behind, and then ran away quickly, shouting as he ran, "Master! Help! Master is going to hit me!"