Chapter 382: 382. Lin Xueqing’s Self-defense Techniques

Translator: 549690339

Since being scolded harshly by Shaoyao the night before yesterday, Nian Ruting had not spoken to her for two days, only watching coldly as she left the Nian Mansion secretly every day, came back after one or two four-hour periods, went out again, came back, looking more and more anxious because she always came back empty-handed.

The heavily guarded Imperial Palace of Qian Country was an extremely familiar place for Shaoyao, as she had once been the “ghost” who could freely move within the high walls of the palace and knew some hidden places inside the palace.

Although when Duanmu Chen became the emperor, he learned that Shaoyao, one of the secret guards trained by Duanmu Yi, had disappeared and increased vigilance, the layout of the palace remained the same and could not block Shaoyao’s snooping and investigation.

After not having any gains repeatedly, she came to the difficult place—Su Mansion, where people came and went every day.

Unable to kill Duanmu Chen, dare not take hostages, and even unable to startle the snake, finding a book that must be extremely well-hidden was almost impossible.

The deadline for Shaoyao’s mission was approaching, and she had to get away from the capital city of Qian Country within five days with gains, travel day and night back to report, otherwise all her choices after escaping the control of Qian Country’s Royal Family would turn into nothing, including her own life.

On this late night, when Shaoyao returned with a gloomy face again, Nian Ruting spoke to her again, calling her master with a respectful look and tone, as if the previous incident had not happened.

“Master, I have an idea that might not be very reliable, but you can consider it.” Nian Ruting had nearly been strangled to death by Nian Seventeen. Although she had survived, her vocal cords had been damaged and she had never recovered, her voice hoarse and dry, really unpleasant. If one only heard the voice and did not see the person, he/she would think it belonged to an eighty-year-old woman.

Shaoyao’s impatience and disgust faded a lot after seeing Nian Ruting’s pretending-to-be-clever eyes, “Speak.”

When she first arrived in the capital city of Qian Country, Shaoyao wore a delicate and gorgeous makeup, even though she stayed hidden during the day and avoided being seen by anyone.

Now, half a month had passed. Shaoyao’s hair was frizzy and her bare face revealed her not-so-young skin underneath the heavy makeup, with obvious wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and a fierce look in her eyes when she wasn’t looking at people. Due to her anxiety, pressure, and lack of rest for several days, her lips were cracked like the bark of a dead tree.

Shaoyao had no hopes for any good ideas from Nian Ruting at all.

However, when Nian Ruting finished speaking, Shaoyao squinted her eyes and looked at her steadily, “They all think you’re dead, but Nian Ruxue is still alive.”

Nian Ruting immediately nodded, “Yes, master. As long as I pretend to be Nian Ruxue, and catch that child from the Wan Family, we can force Su Liang to hand over the secret scroll. With more caution, there is hope for success. Didn’t the master say that the child was recently staying at Su Mansion but often going out?”

Shaoyao snorted coldly, “He’s going out because Su Liang is luring us to show ourselves, fool!”

Nian Ruting’s face stiffened, and she pursed her lips, and spoke again, “Then we can change the target. It doesn’t have to be that child. For example…Xing Yusheng’s grandmother! I remember her relationship with Su Liang is very good, and she publicly supported Su Liang.”

That was what happened during the Military Exam back then, but Nian Ruting had a deep impression because that exam led her life to turn upside down and plunge into the abyss.

Seeing Shaoyao frowning, Nian Ruting explained, “That old woman surely doesn’t have any masters protecting her, and she is old and in poor health. If we take her as a hostage, Su Liang will listen to us and worry that we will hurt her! The exchange of hostages would be more careful!”

“But the master said…” Shaoyao was obviously tempted, but still hesitating.

Nian Ruting knew what Shaoyao was worried about, “She doesn’t have time to fight back! Even if she guesses it’s the master’s doing, what can she do from such a distance? She must meet our conditions to save people.”

Shaoyao was silent for a long time, looking at Nian Ruting’s eyebrows and eyes, “I know you’ve pretended to be Nian Ruxue. Your foot is not completely healed, and walking fast will reveal that you are a cripple. Also, your voice cannot be concealed.”

Nian Ruting reached out and touched her throat, coughed lightly, and tried to imitate Nian Ruxue’s speech, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she heard her own hoarse and unpleasant voice.

Nian Ruting suddenly lost her spirit, her face twisted with disappointment and anger. She thought she had come up with a good strategy to divert the disaster and kill two birds with one stone. As long as Su Liang could believe that it was Nian Ruxue who had done it, Nian Ruxue would never have a good ending when she appeared again in the future, and Su Liang and Gu Ling would definitely use their power to investigate Nian Ruxue’s whereabouts and kill her.

“You’re right.” Shaoyao spoke again.

Nian Ruting was stunned, “What does the master mean by… ”

“The old woman from the Xing Family, let’s choose her. Without any hostages, the task can’t be completed. And what I mean is that you’re right about Su Liang not having time to fight back. I might have been overthinking.” Shaoyao’s tone softened a lot.

Nian Ruting blurted out, “But I can’t pretend to be Nian Ruxue anymore.”

Shaoyao’s eyes were impatient, “Prioritize the main issue, and stop thinking about using someone else’s hand to kill off your sister!”

“I’m not…” Nian Ruting wanted to explain.

Shaoyao interrupted, “It’s settled. We don’t have to show up, we just need to find a river for an easy escape.”

Nian Ruting dared not mention Nian Ruxue anymore, but when she heard Shaoyao say she was going to capture Old Lady Xing, she had a hunch that Shaoyao wanted to use her as cannon fodder, “Master, my foot hasn’t… ”

“But that doesn’t affect your martial arts. I’ll watch and protect you in secret, just in case. That’s the safest way. There used to be two servants who could help, but you got into trouble as soon as you entered the city and sent them to their deaths. Do you think I brought you here to reminisce about your past love?” Shaoyao’s expression was stern.

“I didn’t mean that, master, don’t be angry. I just lost my focus just now.” Nian Ruting became gentle and obedient again, “The master is right, this is the safest way.”

Shaoyao looked at the dark sky outside, “I am going to investigate Marquis Zhong Xin’s Mansion, and we will take action tomorrow night.”

“Let me go with master,” Nian Ruting said, “If there is no obstacle, there is still time to take action tonight. We cannot afford to delay.”

“Okay.” Shaoyao finished speaking and put on a ghost mask.

Nian Ruting also put on a mask, but hers was much nicer. A drop of “tear mole” was inlaid with a red gemstone at the corner of her eyes.

The master and disciple duo left the Nian Mansion where they had been hiding, and the mansion once again plunged into darkness.

After midnight, Marquis Zhong Xin’s Mansion was quiet.

When Shaoyao and her disciple Nian Ruting sneaked in from the backdoor, they overheard two old maidservants talking in a low voice, “Tomorrow the old lady is going to Huguo Temple to fulfill her vows”, “Since the birth of the young master, the old lady is happy, and our monthly income has increased”, “The master has gone to war again, who knows when he will be back”…

Shaoyao pulled Nian Ruting, hid in a dark corner, listened for a while, and then left with Nian Ruting.

When they stopped in the dark alley, Nian Ruting was puzzled, “Master, are we not taking action tonight?”

“We are not familiar with Marquis Zhong Xin’s Mansion, we don’t even know which room the old lady lives in, or how many people are with her. What if Xing Ji really arranged a master to protect her mother? We will wait for an opportunity to take action on her way to Huguo Temple tomorrow.” Shaoyao said.

Today, Lin Xueqing went to Huguo Temple with Old Lady Xing to fulfill their vows together.

“Are you sure you don’t need me to accompany you?” Xing Yusheng asked, holding Lin Xueqing’s hand.

Lin Xueqing shook her head with a smile, “You stay at home and watch the children. Weren’t you going to learn from Gu Ling? Try it today.” Her milk was insufficient, so she had hired a wet nurse, thus leaving for half a day shouldn’t be a problem.

“Alright then.” Xing Yusheng nodded, “Come back early.”

After arranging the carriage and guards, the Old Lady Xing left for Huguo Temple with Lin Xueqing.

It was just past the first month of the lunar year, and the weather was still cold.

The carriage passed through the bustling market, Lin Xueqing lifted the curtain to look outside. The Old Lady Xing didn’t stop her, only reminding her after a while to close the curtain, so she wouldn’t be too cold.

Lin Xueqing sighed, “Before giving birth, I felt it was too hard and never wanted to do it again. Now every time I see Nuannuan, both my husband and I want to have another daughter!”

Old Lady Xing chuckled, her mouth could not close, “Nuannuan is so adorable that I really want to take her back to our house.”

The grandmother and granddaughter sat together talking warmly, unaware that they were being watched in the shadows.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain where Huguo Temple was located. Lin Xueqing got off first, then helped Old Lady Xing down.

Although the temperature was low, today was a sunny day, and it didn’t feel cold when walking in the sunlight.

Lin Xueqing supported Old Lady Xing to slowly climb the stairs, with the servants and guards following behind them. Although Old Lady Xing could have used a sedan chair, she insisted on walking by herself after recuperating her health under Su Liang’s guidance in the past two years.

The winding stone path was lined with dense woods consisting mostly of pines and cypresses. The dark green color resembled a giant screen without any new buds yet.

Shaoyao first followed the carriage secretly, then sped up to the mountain and found Nian Ruting, who had been ambushing at the predetermined bend of the mountain road earlier. She was dressed in plain clothes and disguised as a woman going to worship with incense. It was broad daylight and impossible to wear a mask, so Nian Ruting disguised her appearance, which resembled Nian Ruxue’s face. Anyone familiar with Nian Ruxue would recognize her at first glance.

Shaoyao signaled Nian Ruting that they were coming, and to get ready.

To avoid accidents, they agreed not to harm or kill anyone if possible, mainly because they were afraid they would not be able to leave after the hostage exchange.

Although Shaoyao used to be a secret guard trained by Duanmu Yi and had high martial arts skills, she was very clear that she was no match for Gu Ling. The Su Mansion was now filled with hidden talents, and she cherished her life. Her purpose was not to assassinate anyone, so she didn’t want to cause trouble and acted very cautiously.

The sound of Lin Xueqing and Old Lady Xing talking came over.

“Grandmother, are you tired? Let’s take a rest at the stone platform ahead.”

“We’ve been walking so slowly and stopping often; there’s no need for a special rest.”

Nian Ruting’s eyes focused, and she gripped her dagger through her sleeve.

Peering through the gaps in the pine needles, Nian Ruting saw a figure approaching the planned location. She felt Shaoyao gently push her left shoulder, and she sprang out of her hiding place!

Lin Xueqing was daydreaming about taking her son and Gu Xiaonuan to climb mountains when they grew up, when she suddenly saw a figure flash out from the woods through the corner of her eye. She froze for a moment, then instinctively shielded Xing Laotaijun behind her.

Everything happened very quickly.

Nian Ruting appeared suddenly, and by the time the guards reacted, she was already in front of Lin Xueqing.

Lin Xueqing was not familiar with Nian Ruxue, so the disguised Nian Ruting’s appearance did not immediately give her any special feelings. At this moment, all Lin Xueqing could think of were the self-defense techniques Su Liang had taught her.

She had not exercised for a long time due to her pregnancy and postpartum period, but after recovering, she thought she had gained weight and had flesh around her waist. Recently, she started training again and reviewed those self-defense techniques.

As a woman, I shouldn’t go for the lower body… Lin Xueqing quickly analyzed in her mind, and her body naturally responded. Nian Ruting temporarily changed her plan to grab Lin Xueqing when she found Xing Laotaijun pushed away but did not expect Lin Xueqing to bend down and evade her control. Then, Lin Xueqing aimed her two fingers at Nian Ruting’s right eye and ruthlessly stabbed into it!

She had practiced this move many times before, but it was always just simulation. This was the first time Lin Xueqing really used it, with Su Liang’s serious teachings in mind: Be fast! Be fierce! Be accurate! Don’t be afraid!

The sickening and chilling sensation of her fingers in the eye disgusts her, but she had no time to care; Lin Xueqing heard Nian Ruting’s screams and Xing Laotaijun’s gasps, the guards’ swords arrived next to her, she instinctively withdrew her hand and quickly retreated, just in time to avoid the dagger Nian Ruting had stabbed at her.

In a split second, Xing Laotaijun’s face turned pale. Watching Lin Xueqing run up to her with blood-stained hands, the gentle and adorable image of her daughter-in-law suddenly grew incredibly tall in her eyes.

Nian Ruting was surrounded and attacked by four guards. With her injured eye, her strength was greatly reduced, and she had lost her reason.

Just as Lin Xueqing reached Xing Laotaijun, grasped her hand, and breathed a sigh of relief, another shadow appeared ghostly behind them, grabbed Xing Laotaijun’s arm, and dragged her back.

“Grandmother!” Lin Xueqing’s face changed drastically.

Seeing this, the guards abandoned Nian Ruting to save Xing Laotaijun, but it was already too late.

Shaoyao dragged Xing Laotaijun into the dense forest, quickly disappearing from sight.

Nian Ruting did get a chance to escape, but because she had become blind in one eye, she panicked and took the wrong path, running through the woods only to find herself facing a cliff at the other side.

Nian Ruting walked to the edge of the cliff, shrank back, then retreated and ran in another direction. Blood from her eye flowed down her cheeks and chin, spattering on the ground.

When Su Liang received the news, he was practicing with his sword by the lake. Gu Ling, Gu Xiaonuan, and Zhengzheng were playing in the pavilion not far away.

Qi Yan rushed over with an ugly face, saying that Xing Laotaijun and Lin Xueqing had encountered assassins on their way to Huguo Temple, and Xing Laotaijun had been taken away.

“Is Xueqing okay?” Su Liang’s face darkened.

Qi Yan shook his head, “Madam is fine. General Lin has already led the soldiers to search the mountain and told me to hand this over to the Master.”

Su Liang took the piece of paper handed over by Qi Yan, which had been pressed by a stone, found by Lin Xueqing at Nian Ruting’s hidden location, and was part of Shaoyao and her apprentice’s plan.

But at this moment, Su Liang still did not know the identity of the enemy. The paper only read, “Tonight, at midnight, by the river outside the city, exchange Mu Family’s secret scroll for Xing Laotaijun.”

Gu Ling came over, looked at the paper, and upon seeing the words “secret scroll,” he said coldly, “Situ Xie’s people.”

He was the only one they knew to be most interested in the secret scroll and knew they had the scroll in their hands.

As Su Liang had to feed Gu Xiaonuan later and couldn’t leave for a while, he asked Gu Ling to check on the situation.

When Gu Ling saw Lin Xueqing, she had already returned to the Marquis Zhong Xin’s mansion, her eyes red and her hands still stained with blood.

“Brother…” Lin Xueqing choked up and told Gu Ling the details of what happened.

“Now that I think about it, that woman looked a bit like Nian Ruxue,” Lin Xueqing said solemnly.

“Did she say anything?” Gu Ling asked.

Lin Xueqing shook her head and then remembered, “Her voice was quite hoarse.”

“I’ll go check on the situation at the Huguo Temple. They have a purpose and won’t harm your grandmother,” Gu Ling told Xing Yusheng.

“What do they want?” Xing Yusheng asked with a frown.

Gu Ling’s face was calm, “I’ll give it to them.”

When they arrived at the scene, Gu Ling saw Lin Bojun. His soldiers were searching for bloodstains and footprints in the mountains.

Gu Ling didn’t find any other useful clues, and went to the palace after coming down the mountain.

Duanmu Chen had already received the report and immediately asked about the situation when he saw Gu Ling.

After listening, Duanmu Chen sighed, “I never thought that Madam Xing would be so bold.” If it wasn’t for Lin Xueqing blinding the eyes of the person trying to capture her, the outcome wouldn’t have been like this. At present, they could not confirm whether the target was Lin Xueqing or Old Madam Xing, but in any case, her counterattack was meaningful.

Gu Ling did not explain that it was Su Liang who taught her. He just said that he wanted to see Duanmu Yi.

Duanmu Chen was puzzled. Gu Ling said that one of the assassins looked somewhat similar to Nian Ruxue.

Duanmu Chen was stunned, “Is she still alive?” He had almost forgotten about that incompetent and hypocritical fake talented woman.

“I think it’s Nian Ruting,” Gu Ling said.

If it were really Nian Ruxue, she would have disguised herself so that Lin Xueqing couldn’t recognize her, and if she didn’t disguise, it wouldn’t just be “somewhat similar.”

Gu Ling thought of Nian Ruting. They thought Nian Ruting was dead, but they didn’t see her die, they just heard. And Nian Ruting’s vocal cords were injured, making her voice hoarse.

Duanmu Chen finally understood why Gu Ling wanted to see Duanmu Yi.

Together, the two found Duanmu Yi, who was sunbathing in the Imperial Garden. He didn’t have a good expression when he saw Gu Ling, and even ignored Duanmu Chen.

“Who did Father Emperor order to execute Nian Ruting at that time?” Duanmu Chen got straight to the point.

Duanmu Yi didn’t speak, but his eyebrows furrowed.

“Father Emperor, this matter is very important.” Duanmu Chen said again.

A moment later, Duanmu Yi said only two words, “Shaoyao.”

And Shaoyao was a traitor.

“Damn it, that bitch might be really alive. If it’s Shaoyao and Nian Ruting, it seems that they are loyal to Situ Xie now.” Duanmu Chen really believed in Gu Ling’s intuition.

When Su Liang learned of Gu Ling’s speculation, he couldn’t help but sigh, “If it’s really Nian Ruting, she has a big life.”

“Who’s Nian Ruting?” Zhengzheng asked curiously.

Su Liang looked at Zhengzheng and began to wonder if the assassination on the Lantern Festival day was also done by Shaoyao and Nian Ruting.

Gu Ling had the same feeling.

As for the secret scroll, Gu Ling said he would give it, but it was one that he had “copied” in half a day. Outsiders couldn’t see any problems, and insiders would have a hard time understanding, but he had altered key parts, making it impossible to make real mechanisms and weapons.

It was getting dark, and there was still no news from Lin Bojun’s side. Su Liang thought that Nian Ruting must have escaped by now.

“I thought Master wouldn’t save me.” Nian Ruting’s voice was hoarse, half of her face covered with dried bloodstains. Her right eye was wrapped with cloth, sprinkled with hemostatic powder. The eyeball was broken, and there was no need for medical treatment.

She was almost captured, but Shaoyao turned back and rescued her.

Shaoyao sighed, “I only have you as my disciple now. Tonight, we will proceed according to the original plan, you in the open, me in the shadows.”

Angry, Nian Ruting didn’t hear clearly what Shaoyao said. She gritted her teeth and said, “That Lin Xueqing, I will definitely gouge out her eyes and crush them!”

Shaoyao sighed, “After the mission is completed, I will help you with your revenge.” But what she was thinking was, this fool is still useful as a shield, and she will continue to push her out tonight. The secret scroll must be obtained, whether she lives or dies…