Chapter 399: 399. Granddaughter

Translator: 549690339

Su Liang told Min Rou about her past experiences, which were more or less the same as what her family members knew, except for Gu Ling. Time travel and special abilities were not to be mentioned.

Although Min Rou informed her of the biggest secret on that island, including the events about the transmigrator Mo Yan, she lacked a concept of “transmigrators.” Besides, she was talking about other people’s experiences, not her own secrets.

Thus, Su Liang’s “exchange” also had its limits, only avoiding certain things and almost only telling the truth.

After listening, Min Rou couldn’t help but sigh, “You two are truly a match made in heaven.”

The love she had once imagined was like that of her parents. Now thinking about it, she only felt ironic and ridiculous.

After coming to the capital city, she was envious of her two elder female cousins’ marriages, thinking that they had found their perfect husbands and were living comfortably.

But after hearing Su Liang and Gu Ling’s story, Min Rou felt that the love between them was truly wonderful and interesting, without parental arrangements, matchmaker’s words, or love at first sight. The love stories in the traditional script were plain and boring in comparison.

Apart from love, Su Liang’s diligence and hard work along the way, even if she didn’t mention it, made Min Rou admire her deeply.

“Compared with you, my previous life was simply as bland as water,” said Min Rou, mocking herself.

However, Su Liang shook her head, “Your blandness is a peaceful and worry-free life, which is better than most people in this world. It’s because I had no one to rely on that I had to rely on myself and keep moving forward, never stopping, never being careless, or else I would be torn apart and devoured by the ‘tigers’ and ‘wolves’ that suddenly appeared.”

Min Rou was originally very innocent, and being carefree was the capital of innocence.

Understanding Su Liang’s meaning, Min Rou felt even more ashamed, “You’re right.” She listened to Su Liang talk about her past experiences, and the interesting points she heard were from a shallow understanding as an onlooker. In fact, those experiences were filled with danger and opportunities, and without enough strength and wisdom, one would fall into a hopeless situation.

“From now on, I have no home…” Min Rou’s face was bitter. Throughout today, she had been avoiding thinking about the fate her parents would face, but in any case, that once warm and harmonious home, which was created by the people around her, no longer existed for her.

Su Liang gently patted Min Rou’s shoulder, “Aren’t you envious of me? Your chance to grow independently has arrived.”

Min Rou: …She had no confidence in herself and was full of confusion at the moment.

Zhengzheng carried Gu Xiaonuan upstairs, saying her little sister was hungry.

Su Liang fed her daughter and Gu Xiaonuan stretched her little hand towards the window, making noises.

“The rain has stopped, and Grandpa Lin hasn’t arrived yet. Shall we take little sister out to play?” Zhengzheng asked.

Su Liang put the little hat Ji Yue Xuan had given Gu Xiaonuan on her head, “It’s cold outside, both you and Xiaoshu should put on extra clothes before going out.”

Su Liang intended to arrange Min Rou to stay in a courtyard closest to Yuanming Pavilion, but Min Rou voluntarily proposed to sleep in the underground secret room at night, “I won’t ask how you will eventually deal with my mother. But for now, she is still alive and needs someone to take care of her. I will stay below and won’t make rash moves.”

“I trust you. But I need to remind you, once you go back down, suppress your curiosity and don’t wander around or touch anything down there. Otherwise, there will be danger,” Su Liang warned. That was the maze created by Old Mu and Gu Ling’s master and disciple. Although Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu occasionally went down to play, they all remembered where they couldn’t go and what they couldn’t touch.

Min Rou said she understood.

Because of the rain, Lin Shuzhi arrived later than usual and saw Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu pushing Gu Xiaonuan to play by the lake, with Old Mu watching them in the pavilion. He greeted them with a smile and told them there would be no class today.

Ji Xiaoshu cheered and jumped, “Will there be class tomorrow?”

Zhengzheng frowned, “Xiaoshu, with that attitude, Master will scold you.”

“Master is not at home though,” Ji Xiaoshu looked behind and saw no one, feeling a bit disappointed. “I was just thinking, maybe Master has returned and is hiding somewhere nearby, waiting to pick me up and scold me!”

Zhengzheng: …So, Ji Xiaoshu purposely said he hoped there would be no class tomorrow to test if Gu Ling had returned? In other words, he was looking forward to being scolded? Speechless…

Lin Shuzhi laughed and entered Yuanming Pavilion, where he saw Su Liang coming down from upstairs.

“Is Master looking for me or Gu Ling?” Su Liang asked.

“He’s still not here?” Lin Shuzhi asked. He hadn’t seen Gu Ling at home these past few days.

Su Liang nodded, “He’s gone out.”

“Is everything okay in the palace?” Lin Shuzhi hinted.

Su Liang nodded again, “The emperor is well.”

Lin Shuzhi sighed in relief, “That’s good, that’s good.” Although he knew that even if Duanmu Chen died, Qian Country wouldn’t be in chaos, he still hoped that Duanmu Chen would be fine. First, Duanmu Chen was indeed suitable for sitting on the Dragon Throne. Second, Gu Ling and Su Liang didn’t want to be pushed into that position.

“There is still no news from the north. I don’t know whether they’ve already started fighting,” Lin Shuzhi sighed deeply.

Su Liang felt that even if they hadn’t started fighting yet, it would be soon. The driving force was Mo Yan and his portable space. Once the turmoil in the capital was resolved, she and Gu Ling had to quickly consider how to handle the war in the north and eradicate the hidden danger in Liang Country.

Su Liang didn’t take the initiative to say more about the current situation, and Lin Shuzhi didn’t ask further. After chatting about the children for a while, he got up and left.

Min Ministry Mansion.

At dusk, Old Minister Min came to Min Rui’s courtyard again.

Min Rui woke up once, moved a little, and before he could make any noise, Gu Ling dragged him out from under the bed, knocked him out again, stuffed him with sedatives, and kicked him back.

At this time, Gu Ling, disguised as Min Rui, sat across from Old Minister Min.

“Rui’er, have your wife and Rourou returned to where you used to live?” Old Minister Min asked.

Gu Ling nodded slightly, imitating Min Rui’s voice, “Maybe they will go back, or maybe they will find another place to avoid the limelight.”

Old Minister Min sighed deeply, “I don’t know if I will see Rourou again in my lifetime.”

“You will,” Gu Ling said.

Old Minister Min was taken aback by his confident tone. He hesitated, then glanced at the door, lowered his voice and asked, “Rui’er, is everything you said about the past twenty years true? Are you hiding anything?”

Gu Ling remained silent.

Old Minister Min’s face grew increasingly uneasy, “Don’t make any mistakes! If someone is forcing you to do something, speak up immediately. Don’t hide anything. Although our Min Family can’t compare to the Qin Family’s glory, we are loyal to Qian Country, and the emperor is very lenient. You can’t do anything to harm the country!”

“What if I do?” Gu Ling asked.

Old Minister Min’s face turned white instantly, “If you dare do such treacherous things, I can only expel you from the family! I can’t let the entire Min family be buried with you!”

Gu Ling nodded, “I understand. Don’t worry; nothing like what you’re worried about is happening.”

Old Minister Min was somewhat annoyed. He raised his hand as if to hit Gu Ling, but stopped halfway and glared at him, “Watch your words! Remember that!”

Gu Ling nodded again, indicating that he remembered.

After Old Minister Min left, Gu Ling had dinner alone. The dinner served for Min Rui was light in taste and not delicious. Gu Ling ate just to fill his stomach, thinking of Su Liang enjoying a lively meal with the children in Yuanming Pavilion. He wished to return there immediately, but he couldn’t. He had to stay here, waiting for He Wei, who might appear.

Cen Man secretly approached, intending to replace Gu Ling, but she didn’t find him. Thinking that something had changed, she returned home to discuss with Su Liang.

“He’s not there?” Su Liang frowned. She had been waiting for Gu Ling to come back and tell him the information she had learned from Min Rou today.

Cen Man looked worried, “I didn’t see anyone. Could something have happened?”

Su Liang believed that the group’s objective today was to blow up Duanmu Chen. He Wei was cautious, and it was unlikely that he would kill Min Rui in broad daylight, but he might go to the Min Family mansion tonight.

With that in mind… Su Liang suspected that Gu Ling might have disguised himself as Min Rui, waiting in the room for He Wei to show up and then capture him.

“It should be fine,” Su Liang said to Cen Man, “Could you please go over there again, Master, and stay there to see if there will be any movement tonight? Be careful.” In case of any problems, Cen Man and Gu Ling could join forces, which would increase their chances of success.

Upon hearing this, Cen Man went to the Min Family mansion again.

That night, many people were sleepless.

Duanmu Chen was still in the Library Pavilion. To avoid drawing attention, he didn’t light any lamps. He couldn’t sleep or read, so he lay in bed tossing and turning, thinking about the terrible smoke that rose from the explosion in the Sleeping Palace during the day. If it weren’t for Gu Ling protecting him recently, he would have already died more than once… As Duanmu Chen thought about this, he clenched the nail gun in his hand. The cold iron bump warmed by his body temperature could not calm his restless heart.

Min Rou was sitting in the Underground Secret Room, watching her mother, Mrs. Min, lying beside her. Her mind was filled with memories from her childhood and the present, which made her thoughts chaotic and complicated.

Old Mu didn’t sleep either. Seeing that Gu Ling wasn’t home, he knew that things were becoming more and more unsteady, and he needed to stay awake to protect Su Liang and the children.

Su Liang was reading, waiting for Gu Ling to come back.

Gu Ling lay on Min Rui’s bed, waiting quietly all night. Cen Man, who was just a wall away, was also waiting. But the Min mansion was quiet all night, and no one came.

It was almost dawn.

Gu Ling sat up on the bed, frowning in thought. He had to leave; he couldn’t stay here forever. Min Rui was not that important, but he might know some useful information. Gu Ling couldn’t let him see He Wei when he was awake; it would startle the snake in the grass.

At this moment, it was very quiet outside. Gu Ling went out the window and saw Cen Man.

Cen Man hesitated for a moment and then asked in a low voice, “Xiaogu?”

Gu Ling nodded. “Master, you go back first and tell Su Liang that I’m fine here. I’ll be home later.”

Without asking any further questions, Cen Man left.

Gu Ling returned to the room and dragged Min Rui out from under the bed. He then pricked an acupuncture point on Min Rui with a needle.

Min Rui quickly woke up and heard a cold voice near his ear, “Do not scream. Even if you get people’s attention, your father won’t protect you and go against me.”

Min Rui’s face stiffened. It was Gu Ling, and he knew that Gu Ling was telling the truth. Regardless of Min Rui’s fatal problems, even if he were innocent and blameless, Old Minister Min wouldn’t dare offend Gu Ling for his son’s sake. Even if Gu Ling demanded Min Rui’s life.

“Whatever I ask you next, answer honestly, and I may consider sparing your life for your father’s sake. Otherwise, your attempt to kill Old Master Qin is enough reason for me to kill you,” Gu Ling said coldly.

Min Rui looked panicked, “What… what do you want to know?”

“About that island. Who is the Island Master?” Gu Ling asked.

Min Rui suddenly recalled Gu Ling saying “your father-in-law wants to kill you” before passing out the previous day, and thought of Mrs. Min who had deceived him and left. With a sullen heart, he looked at Gu Ling and said, “If I tell you everything I know, will you really let me go? I was captured back then, and I had no control over what happened afterward.”

Gu Ling nodded, “That depends on whether you can provide useful information.”

“I trust your character and that you won’t go back on your word,” Min Rui said to Gu Ling, trying to reassure himself. At this point, he had no other choice. By compromising with Gu Ling, he still had a chance to save his life. As for his wife and daughter, he had no time to care for them or rely on them.

“The place is called Xingluo Island, and the Island Master is called Mo Yan, about the same age as my father,” Min Rui opened up and started to talk about what he knew.

But as a son-in-law who was not well-liked by his father-in-law, Min Rui’s status on the island was lower than that of his daughter, Min Rou, and had little contact with Mo Yan.

The most crucial point was that Min Rui did not know the location of the island and was entirely unfamiliar with Mo Yan’s portable space. “Mo Yan has a powerful treasure. I don’t know what it is, but my father-in-law, He Wei, knows and wants it. However, he doesn’t plan to kill Mo Yan, perhaps because he can’t kill him.”

Gu Ling thought this might be the portable space that Su Liang mentioned, and it might not be an object that could change ownership. If Mo Yan died, it might disappear.

“Why did you say you want to kill Su Liang?” Gu Ling asked.

Min Rui hesitated for a moment before revealing a crucial piece of information. “It’s because of her appearance. After He Qianqian saw Su Liang for the first time, she told her father that Su Liang must be killed because Su Liang looks very similar to Mo Yan’s daughter. If Mo Yan sees her, they may not get what they want.”

Gu Ling narrowed her eyes. Was there such a thing? Did Shen Qingxue follow Mo Yan back then?

“I have never seen Mo Yan’s daughter. By the time I arrived on the island, she was already gone, and it seemed to be a taboo to mention her. All the people on the island were not allowed to mention her, which led me to believe that Mo Yan was not married and had no children,” Min Rui continued.

Finally, Min Rui began to lament how he was captured years ago and how he was looked down upon by the He family over the years. He said that he wanted to kill Old Master Qin only because he was impulsive and was bewitched by Lady Min, and he now regrets it.

Gu Ling took out a medicine bottle from her bosom, poured out two pills, pinched Min Rui’s chin, and stuffed them into his mouth under his horrified gaze.

Soon, Min Rui’s whole body stiffened, showing symptoms similar to a stroke. He can open his mouth but can no longer speak clearly.

After that, Gu Ling dragged Min Rui from the ground, put him on the bed, covered him with a quilt, and left.

Not killing Min Rui for now was only to prevent He Wei from noticing anything unusual, not to let him off the hook.

Gu Ling returned home, and her two disciples were practicing in the morning.

Ignoring Ji Xiaoshu’s enthusiastic call across the lake, Gu Ling went straight back to Yuanming Pavilion.

“Senior Brother, Master seems to be in a bad mood. She didn’t even come to beat me up!” Ji Xiaoshu shared his discovery.

With a speechless expression, Zhengzheng wondered if Gu Ling hitting him meant she was in a good mood? Although the fact was more or less like that, he thought it was strange…

When Gu Ling went upstairs and saw Su Liang, she had just finished feeding Gu Xiaonuan.

The couple looked at each other and found that their eyes were both bloodshot.

“Wash up, eat breakfast, and then take a nap,” Su Liang said, putting Gu Xiaonuan back into the crib.

Gu Xiaonuan saw Gu Ling and stretched out her little hands high, babbling and asking for a hug.

But Gu Ling opened her arms and embraced Su Liang instead.

“Great God, you’ve been working hard lately,” Su Liang gently patted Gu Ling’s back.

“It’s alright,” Gu Ling sighed softly. “I just miss you a lot.”

Su Liang chuckled, “We’ve only been apart for less than a day. Great God, behave, wash your hands, and let’s eat. Min Rou revealed many important things yesterday, and I’ll tell you about them later.”

Gu Ling let go of Su Liang. “Tell me now. Min Rui also confessed, but he doesn’t know much.”

Then Su Liang took out the drawings she got yesterday and showed them to Gu Ling, and the two exchanged the information they had obtained.

Su Liang initially thought that the information she had obtained from Min Rou completely covered what Min Rui knew, until Gu Ling mentioned the reason He Wei and his daughter wanted to kill her.

Su Liang was stunned. “Could I possibly be… Mo Yan and Shen Qingxue’s… granddaughter?”