Chapter 396: Don’t go overboard.

Translator: 549690339

Upon seeing Gu Ling again, Duanmu Chen spread his arms in welcome, “Are you sent by the heavens to protect me?”

Gu Ling circumvented Duanmu Chen’s embrace, walking towards the window expressionless. He looked outside at the charred remains of the Sleeping Palace, extinguished by the downpour. Anyone caught in the explosion inside the palace would certainly have been dismembered.

“Was anyone inside?” Gu Ling asked.

Assuming a serious demeanor, Duanmu Chen stood beside Gu Ling, shaking his head as he looked out, “No one. You mentioned danger, so I ordered everyone out.” The guards had originally been stationed around the perimeter and hidden spots.

At this moment, it was evident that most of the outer wall of the Sleeping Palace remained intact, thus anyone outside the wall would be unharmed.

“What happens next?” Duanmu Chen sighed, “If the culprits find out I’m not dead, won’t they come after me with more explosives? I can avoid them this time, but what about next time? Their power is too formidable to be deterred by ordinary guards.”

“Explosives are not as common as pebbles on the sidewalk,” Gu Ling, with a cursory look at the ashen haze above Duanmu Chen’s brow, remarked. The dark fog had vanished – perhaps temporarily, but at least the crisis had been temporarily averted.

However, as Duanmu Chen pointed out, the current problem was whether to pretend he was dead temporarily to dodge the threat. If the enemies intended to kill him and disrupt public morale and military spirit while launching an attack on Liang Country, even a fake death would grant them their wish.

But this reasoning doesn’t hold water. Even if Duanmu Chen dies, the Duanmu Family has no other contender for the throne at present. Neither Gu Ling nor Su Liang would let Qian Country fall into chaos. Hence, no matter if Duanmu Chen is dead or alive, the enemy’s goal will not be achieved.

Soon after, Gu Ling realized that the group’s real target seemed to be him all along. Yet this time, they were after Duanmu Chen. He wondered whether this had something to do with him. If they were hell-bent on killing Duanmu Chen, they could be intending to force him onto the throne?

While the reasoning was a little confusing, Gu Ling found this latter prediction more plausible.

“Are you divining the future in your mind?” Duanmu Chen questioned, noticing a shift in Gu Ling’s gaze.

Gu Ling glanced at Duanmu Chen, understanding his thoughts. But in such circumstances, it was better not to explain. As long as he doesn’t say anything, Duanmu Chen’s suspicions will remain unconfirmed. If he speaks up, there’s a chance more people will find out.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Gu Ling possesses the ability to foresee the future. However, his prescient powers are limited – perhaps equal to the claims of a street fortune teller’s declaration, “Your forehead is darkened, you’ll encounter a bloody disaster within the next three days.” The difference lies in the fact that most street fortune tellers spout nonsense and cheat people of their money, while Gu Ling… is a real fortune teller…

“The emperor should announce he suffered an injury and urgently summon me to the palace,” said Gu Ling.

Duanmu Chen nodded, “Why not Su Liang? She is the Divine Doctor.”

Gu Ling shook his head, “No, I am the Divine Doctor.” He had just recalled the threat to kill Su Liang that Mrs. Min and her daughter had spoken of. If Su Liang came to treat Duanmu Chen, and the two targets were together, he wasn’t sure what moves the enemy might make.

Duanmu Chen coughed lightly, “If you say so. Will you head home and wait for me to send someone to call you back?”

“Let the Empress Dowager make arrangements. Censor the news, don’t let the explosion’s news leak,” Gu Ling suggested, “You must stay here and remain unseen.”

Duanmu Chen answered solemnly, “Alright.”

Intending to leave, Gu ling looked outside at the gloomy skies and the pouring rain; Duanmu Chen frowned, “Could it be that the battle in Xuanbei City has begun?”

“Perhaps,” Gu Ling muttered, and left. If a battle were to ensue, dispatching reports would certainly take some time.

However, Xing Ji and Qiao Jing, despite receiving supposed news of Duanmu Chen’s death, wouldn’t easily believe it. Even if they did, it wouldn’t affect their original plan. Because they know that with Gu Ling and Su Liang in the capital city, chaos is far from inevitable.

Upon receiving the news, the Empress Dowager was drowned in sorrow, crying till she almost fainted.

It’s worth mentioning that when Duanmu Yi, who was still alive, got wind of the explosion in Duanmu Chen’s Sleeping Palace, he immediately called for Su Liang, “Summon Su Liang now, have her heal me!”

The Empress Dowager, upon hearing this, stared at Duanmu Yi with a stupefied gaze. She saw nothing but excitement on his face, paired with the thrill of potentially reclaiming the throne, completely agnostic to his son’s misfortune…

This left the Empress Dowager heartbroken; she sobbed, telling Duanmu Yi, “Even if Su Liang comes, she won’t be able to heal you.”

Duanmu Yi’s face stiffened as he regained his composure, realizing that if Duanmu Chen were truly dead, the throne would surely fall into the hands of Gu Ling and Su Liang!

Panicking, Duanmu Yi started shouting, “Someone help! Quick, help me!” He was anxious to take control of the situation.

However, the Empress Dowager moved towards the door, addressing the approaching guards, reassuring them that everything was under control and that they could leave.

Duanmu Yi’s verbal tirade echoed through the room as the Empress Dowager wept. She had no idea what was going on, nor if her son was alive. But she felt that it was best not to act on impulse at present. As she was unable to discern the situation and lacked the capability to handle such a crisis, she could only wait for Gu Ling and Su Liang, trusting that they would come to the palace if they heard about the incident. Duanmu Chen had mentioned that he absolutely trusts those two.

“Empress Dowager.”

A familiar voice echoed through the room. The Empress Dowager, tear-blinded, incredulously raised her head towards the approaching figure, “Chang’an?”

Duanmu Yi was also taken aback. Chang’an was typically inseparable from Duanmu Chen, so if he was safe, wouldn’t that mean Duanmu Chen was safe as well?

Making a silence gesture, Chang’an whispered, “The Emperor is safe.”

Duanmu Yi blurted out, “You haven’t turned into Gu Ling and Su Liang’s lapdog, helping them deceive us, have you?”

Chang’an: … If Gu Ling and Su Liang wanted the throne, they wouldn’t need such intricate schemes, nor would they need him.

The Empress Dowager ignored Duanmu Yi’s words, only asking Chang’an about Duanmu Chen’s whereabouts.

Chang’an didn’t answer directly but mentioned that he was still in the palace and imparted Duanmu Chen’s instructions for the Empress Dowager to announce to the public that Duanmu Chen was accidentally injured and Gu Ling has been summoned.

“Why Gu Ling? Shouldn’t it be Su Liang we should summon?” The Empress Dowager mused.

Chang’an explained, “Marquis Chang Xin Gu Ling claimed to be a Divine Doctor.”

The Empress Dowager nodded, “Okay.”Indeed, Gu Ling did possess medical skills, and this was not about finding someone to save Duanmu Chen.

Having arrived unnoticed, Chang’an then left just as stealthily, without raising any suspicion.

Likewise, the Empress Dowager led a group of people under the pouring rain to inspect Duanmu Chen’s Sleeping Palace. She ordered a strict lockdown of the Sleeping Palace and its information, announcing death as the penalty for anyone who disseminated information about the incident. She then immediately sent someone to Su Mansion to summon Marquis Chang Xin Gu Ling.

Su Mansion.

Locked in the underground clandestine room, Su Liang remained oblivious to the loud claps of thunder and the explosion from the palace. Unperturbed, she continued interrogating Mrs. Min.

“I know, your name is He Qianqian. Someone overheard you telling Min Rui that I must be killed. However, the cause and effect are unclear to me. I really don’t understand. What possible grudge exists between you, your husband, and me?” Su Liang asked coldly, looking at Madame Min.

The color drained from Madame Min’s face. She couldn’t remember when she had told Min Rui that they should kill Su Liang, but she had indeed said it. Her memory was in disarray, and what was more disorienting was the fact that she didn’t know how much Gu Ling and Su Liang had eavesdropped on and how much they knew. She was unsure how to respond.

In the secret chamber next door, upon hearing Su Liang say “I must be killed,” Min Rou’s face paled further. Her heart raced, and she firmly clenched her own sleeves, an instinctive reaction whenever she was nervous.

Min Rou was waiting. She was waiting for Madame Min to refute Su Liang’s accusation. She felt as if time had slowed down. Each breath she took made her feel suffocated.

“I never said I wanted to kill you. Your informant must have misheard. We have no grievances. Why would I want to kill you?” Madame Min finally responded.

Min Rou’s heart relaxed slightly, but then she clenched her fist even tighter. She desperately wanted to believe her mother, but a voice at the back of her mind said: don’t be naive. Your parents are not what they appear to be. You don’t truly understand them, nor do you know what they have done behind your back…

Madame Min paused, and then continued, “I admit that Min Rui indeed intended to kill Old Master Qin. The reason should be quite clear to you. The Qin family rejected our marriage proposal back in the day. Min Rui has always harbored unrequited feelings for Qin Yuan, and he bears a grudge against Old Master Qin for looking down on him. I was coerced into it by Min Rui who blackmailed me with some compromising information. But all this is in the past and has nothing to do with you. I don’t want to explain too much. If you are planning to take revenge for Old Master Qin and pin it on me, you are seriously mistaken. It was not my idea and I had no intention of harming Old Master Qin, did I?”

Su Liang took a discreet glance at the wall behind Madame Min. Separated by just a wall, Min Rou was sitting there, must have heard every word her mother said.

Then Su Liang hummed lightly, “I’m well aware of this. Did you also ask Min Rui why he didn’t kill Xing Ji and his only son with Qin Yuan, Xing Yusheng?”

“When I asked that, I was merely being sarcastic. There was no other intention. Our marriage has been loveless for a while. I found out that he has only ever loved Qin Yuan—he only treated me as his substitute. And so…”

“Let me interrupt you for a moment.” Su Liang spoke with a neutral expression, “According to what my informant heard, it’s not that Min Rui doesn’t love you; only you don’t love him. You see him as a replacement for a past lover. He only stays with you because he has no other choice. You have always been the one in charge, as he was just a son-in-law who lived in your house. Am I correct?”

Mrs. Min’s face stiffened, “No matter what, our marital relationship is poor, we are incompatible. But for the sake of Rou, we haven’t separated. If you want to avenge Old Master Qin, go find Min Rui. Why are you holding me hostage?”

“Are you saying that even if I kill Min Rui, you wouldn’t care?” Su Liang sneered.

After a moment of silence, Madame Min replied, “Yes, I’ve long wanted to cut ties with him completely. So whatever he does, you really can’t blame it on me.”

Tears were welled up in Min Rou’s eyes, but they didn’t spill over. Filled with sorrow at first, as she listened, she found the whole situation increasingly absurd… It was highly ridiculous: her parents, whom she previously perceived as loving and devoted, were merely putting on a facade. They detested each other but hid it so well, all for her sake? Did they conspire and prejudiced against one another for the sake of their daughter? Did they scheme to kill Old Master Qin for her? Marriage proposals are decisions made by parents. If some are accepted, of course, some are turned down. Why did the Qin family have to agree to the Min’s proposal? Was it wrong and deserving of death for rejecting it?

Min Rou felt that her life, her knowledge of the past, everything had turned upside down in this moment. Her father, once gentle and refined, was a petty, psychologically twisted, paranoid man. Her mother, once gentle and virtuous, was a person who was self-interested and could not distinguish right from wrong.

Ridiculous, tragic, pitiful, and shameful…

“Old Master Qin escaped unscathed because we noticed and safeguarded him in time. However, I will still settle the score with Min Rui, just not now.” Su Liang looked at Madame Min, speaking coldly. “Back to the previous question, why do you want to kill me? My informant confirmed hearing it and the listener was my husband Gu Ling. This is why you were captured. If you cannot provide me with a reasonable explanation, you will die here in this place where no one knows. Don’t think I’m trying to scare you.”

Madame Min pressed her lips together, “If I said no, then it’s no. Keep asking, I have nothing to say.”

To Min Rou’s ears in the next room, Madame Min’s words were clear—it was as if she had done it but refused to admit.

And Min Rou could not understand why Min Rui and Madame Min said they wanted to kill Su Liang? Granting that Old Master Qin and Min Rui had a grudge, it could somehow be justified. But Su Liang was so young, and before this incident, she didn’t even know them.

Su Liang did not continue to interrogate Madame Min or resort to torture. Instead, she brought a glass of water over and forced it down Madame Min’s throat.

“It’s only a sedative, you won’t die. There’s no need to be nervous.” Su Liang looked disinterested as she watched Madame Min fell unconscious again after drinking.

Min Rou heard the door in the adjacent room open and close. The hand that had been clenching her sleeve loosened slightly, then tightened again. Soon, Su Liang appeared in front of her again.

“You heard it all.” Su Liang looked at Min Rou calmly, “Some things I didn’t say to your mother just now, because if I did, she wouldn’t confess even more. These few days, it has been Gu Ling who has been monitoring your parents. What she heard and saw is not just what happened earlier. You know about your grandfather’s affairs in the capital, but do you know what he came to do?”

Min Rou pressed her lips together in silence. Indeed, she had heard that her grandfather was also there, but she genuinely did not know what he came to do and why he had not shown himself.

“He came to assassinate the emperor, he had already made one attempt, but failed, and is still planning the next action.” Su Liang said.

Min Rou frowned, and then heard Su Liang say, “Because the owner of your island is in collusion with the royal family of Liang Country, preparing to help them unify the world. We had found this out earlier, we just didn’t expect it to be related to your parents. I suspect they wanted to kill me at the behest of Liang Country’s emperor, Situ Xie, but I cannot confirm this, because the person who is thought to be your grandfather has not come to bother my husband and I for the first time. The last time he came was at the end of last year when he was discovered tracking Gu Ling from the shadows and almost killed her.”

Min Rou’s grip tightened, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I believe, that of all the things that happened in the shadows, you really don’t know any about them.” Su Liang said, “I’m just explaining why you and your mother were brought here. You are a smart person, you should know, your parents are actually spies. Regardless of whether they have done anything or not, based on their identity and what your grandfather has done, according to the laws of Qian Country, the Min Family should be executed to the ninth degree, including you, as well as other innocent people of the Min Family.”

Min Rou stared at Su Liang, “Then why don’t you turn us over to the emperor? What are you trying to do?”

“What I am doing is at the behest of the emperor, not something my husband and I decided on our own.” Su Liang said flatly, “We need to know more information in order to deal with your grandfather and the people behind him. If you cooperate, naturally you will be safe, and those who don’t know in the Min Family will also be safe. But if you don’t say anything, it will be taken as you choosing to side with your parents and grandfather.”

Min Rou shook her head, “You won’t harm my grandfather’s family, you’re not that kind of person.”

Su Liang suddenly laughed, “You know me that well? Indeed. No matter what happens, even if your grandfather succeeds in killing the emperor, and the event falls into the hands of my husband and I, we would not harm your grandfather’s family. After all, they have not done anything wrong.”

Min Rou frowned at Su Liang, then heard her continue to say, “I don’t want to make things difficult for you, but I hope you can understand, choose to do the right thing.”

“I don’t understand the tensions of the world, but why does my grandfather helping Liang Country have to be wrong? Could Qian Country, or you, be the only ones to unify the world? Would that be right?” Min Rou retorted.

“I’m not talking about the grand policy of the world. Your grandfather is a subject of Qian Country. Your grandfather is helping the royal family of Liang Country to assassinate the emperor of Qian Country, showing that he doesn’t care about the lives or deaths of your grandfather’s family. Of course, your grandfather does care about you. Last night, he planned to have your mother take you away. As for your father, your grandfather said he would take care of him. He doesn’t care about the lives or deaths of the others in the Min Family. Don’t you care either? Or do you wager that I won’t harm the Min Family, that I might even protect them? But why? Because I’m reasonable, is the reason that you all can do as you please? Are your grandfather and your paternal grandfather only different in their positions? In terms of your own standards, who is good and who is evil, can you truly not judge?” Su Liang said coldly.

After long silence, Min Rou looked at Su Liang and slowly shook her head, “My parents were wrong, you have already caught my mother. Catching my father is easy, I have nothing to say. I am not clear about what my grandfather is doing, and I can’t stop it. But other people on that island are also my relatives, I won’t betray them, I won’t let you destroy our home.”

Su Liang snorted lightly, “That’s your home, but it might not be the home of others. You are well protected, you only see the good things. Those evil deeds that can’t be seen in the light, just because you haven’t seen them, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. With the behavior of your grandfather and your parents, you really think that the home you speak of is some kind of paradise?”

Min Rou’s face stiffened, but she still remained silent.

Su Liang heard Gu Ling calling her from not far away and responded, “I’m here.”

Gu Ling came over quickly, glanced at Min Rou with an indifferent look, then said to Su Liang, “The emperor’s sleeping quarters have been destroyed by explosives.”

Min Rou’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she blurted out, “Is the emperor dead?”

“Is he okay?” Su Liang asked with a frown. She hadn’t expected those guys to act in broad daylight.

Gu Ling shook her head, “He’s alright, he wasn’t in there.”

Su Liang sighed, looked at Min Rou and said, “I suspect that the next person your grandfather wants to blow up is me. You should be aware of what explosives are, right? This is not a weapon ordinary people would use. Since you are unwilling to confess, I cannot find out why your grandfather wants to kill me, and thus can’t resolve the conflict. Therefore, you should stay by my side for the time being. When your grandfather comes to kill me, I’ll have you serve as my shield. Do you think that’s unreasonable?”

With a bitter and confused look on her face, Min Rou slowly shook her head and said softly, “It’s not unreasonable.”