Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: 180. Singing Opera

Chapter 180: 180. Singing Opera

Translator: 549690339

Ning Jing and Su Liang rode to Duke Qin’s Mansion.

Halfway there, Su Liang suddenly remembered, “Did Xing Yusheng only mention the dethroning of the crown prince? Did he say who would be the new crown prince?”

Ning Jing shook her head, “No.”

Su Liang casually said, “Besides a certain someone, there shouldn’t be any other choice.”

Duanmu Cheng was dethroned. His younger brother, Duanmu Ao, was even more of a loser than him.

The youngest brother, Duanmu Che, was not only sickly but also a “madman” with a bad reputation.

Considering all aspects, Duanmu Chen was the best choice.

Su Liang believed that appointing Duanmu Chen as the crown prince was only a matter of time and wouldn’t take long.

When they arrived at Duke Qin’s Mansion, Ning Jing was taken by the heir of Qin to meet Old Master Qin, while Qin Yujin took Su Liang to the garden.

“Have you heard?” Qin Yujin asked quietly.

Su Liang nodded, “About the dethroning of the crown prince? Your cousin came to tell us purposely.”

“I don’t know what exactly happened, it’s so sudden.” Qin Yujin didn’t think that Su Liang was secretly involved, but she was just too surprised and couldn’t help bringing it up when she saw her best friend.

Su Liang smiled, “The Emperor must have his reasons for doing so.”

Qin Yujin chuckled, ‘You’re right.”

Ning Jing saw Old Master Qin, who was radiant and full of spirit, his health completely recovered.

In front of all the male guests, Old Master Qin cheerfully asked Ning Jing,

“Have you set a wedding date yet?”

Ning Jing shook her head slightly, “Not yet.”

“Would you like me to choose a good date for you?” Old Master Qin was quite enthusiastic about this.

Ning Jing nodded gently, “Thank you.”

Old Master Qin laughed, “Wait for me to check the calendar thoroughly and choose the best date for you.”

Everyone knew that Old Master Qin had previously suffered a stroke and it was Su Liang who had cured him. It was normal for him to care so much about Su Liang and Ning Jing.

Lin Shuzhi, accompanied by his two sons and Xing Yusheng, arrived at the mansion.

He first picked up Lin Xueqing from Lin Mansion and came together, only separating after entering the mansion.

As they sat down, Xing Ji arrived alone, without bringing his current wife, Miao’s family, and other children.

Actually, even if Xing Ji had brought his wife and Xing Yusheng’s half-siblings, the Duke Mansion would have treated them well according to etiquette.

Yesterday, Miao’s family had also mentioned it, asking Xing Ji to bring her and their children along.

But Xing Ji still refused.

“Wishing my father-in-law as much happiness as the East Sea and a life as long as Mount Nan.” Xing Ji greeted him.

Old Master Qin smiled warmly, “Please sit down, no need for more formalities.

Next time, bring your wife and children along. I haven’t met them yet.”

Xing Ji hesitated for a moment, “Yes.”

A theater stage had been set up in the garden, and Lady Qin had invited the troupe from Changchun Garden to perform a few plays celebrating the birthday.

When most of the guests arrived and the play was about to start, Qin Kang invited the male guests to the garden.

Xing Yusheng accompanied Old Master Qin to change clothes.

“Grandfather, why do you want my father to bring that woman and their children to our house? Are you really serious or just saying it out of politeness?” Xing Yusheng asked directly.

Old Master Qin sighed softly, “It’s polite talk, but also true.”

Xing Yusheng was puzzled.

Old Master Qin spoke earnestly, “Although your father is my son-in-law, to tell the truth, I didn’t really get to know him until he arrived in the capital city.”

Xing Yusheng frowned, “What does grandfather want to say?”

Old Master Qin patted Xing Yusheng’s hand and said, ‘Your father isn’t a bad person. He and your mother’s fate were a cruel joke; your mother was just unlucky. I used to blame your father, but in my heart, I actually blame myself for not protecting my daughter and letting her marry far away from home.”

As he spoke, Old Master Qin’s eyes reddened, and Xing Yusheng hurriedly comforted him.

“It’s alright.” Old Master Qin waved his hand and took a deep breath. “It’s all in the past. If your mother has a spirit in heaven, seeing you live well and soon getting married, she must be happy too. You should stop quarreling with your father. He’s not easy either, and he has not just you as his son, but other children as well. He’s not my son, so he’s a guest when he comes here, and it’s different for you. If he never lets the other children in his family go out and meet people, what does that mean? In time, even if they were originally good, they might start to cause problems. You can move out after marriage and live far away, but can your grandmother not care? Can you not care about your grandmother?”

Xing Yusheng remained silent.

“You’re straightforward, with clear love and hatred, which is not a bad thing.” Old Master Qin looked at Xing Yusheng and said, “But ask yourself, do you really want your father to abandon the woman who has accompanied him for many years and his other children? Would that make you happy?” Xing Yusheng shook his head, “I haven’t thought that way.”

“Grandfather knows.” Old Master Qin said, “I just want you to stop being stubborn and let go. Your father has been like this just because he’s considering your feelings, but there’s really no need for that, and it’s not good for you or them to keep being stiff like this.”

Xing Yusheng’s face darkened slightly, “Is grandfather asking me to make nice with that woman?”

Old Master Qin shook his head, ‘Grandfather is saying so much just to make one point: you should have a good talk with your father and clarify everything. The others are his responsibility, and you don’t have to worry about them. The Xing family should be harmonious and not create trouble, so you and your grandmother can live peacefully!”

Xing Yusheng understood in his heart that Old Master Qin was saying all this for his benefit.

“I will find a chance to talk with him.” Xing Yusheng nodded.

As the grandfather and grandson went to the garden, Old Master Qin began to gossip, “What’s going on between Ning Jing and Su Liang? Their marriage seems to be just talk, like they’re joking around.”

Xing Yusheng cleared his throat, “Grandfather, don’t think too much about it. They’ve always been like that.”

Old Master Qin asked quietly, “So who likes whom more? I really can’t tell!”

After carefully considering Xing Yusheng’s answer to Old Master Qin, “Su Liang said herself that she likes Ning Jing, but Ning Jing doesn’t like her.”

Old Master Qin was displeased when he heard this, “Impossible! Ning Jing’s eyes aren’t blind. If he doesn’t like Su Liang, what kind of girl does he want?” “Exactly!” Xing Yusheng completely agreed.

Although Su Liang had asked Ning Jing to bring Nian Jincheng along to strip all the trees in Changchun Garden, this was the first time she had watched the garden’s opera troupe perform, and she was quite interested.

Qin Yujin laughed and said, “I thought you wouldn’t like this.”

Su Liang said that she liked it very much. In her previous life, her grandmother was a fan of opera, loved listening to it, and even sang a few classic pieces herself.

“Brother, sit here!” Seeing Ning Jing coming over, Lin Xueqing hurriedly gave up the seat next to Su Liang for him.

Ning Jing didn’t stand on ceremony and directly sat down.

Qin Yujin turned her head and saw Lin Bojun smiling at her, showing a row of big white teeth, brighter than sunshine.

She smiled faintly, took back her gaze, and stood up. ‘You guys watch, I’ll go greet the guests.”

Others were socializing, and there were several couples in love. Su Liang and Ning Jing sat in the front row, eagerly waiting for the show to start.

“Have you seen it before?” Su Liang asked.

Ning Jing shook his head, “I’ve seen it before.” He had come across opera performances in the past, but had never really watched them closely. The first act was an auspicious birthday performance, which many people in the audience had seen before, so it wasn’t very novel.

But Su Liang found it quite exciting and applauded several times.

But before the first act had finished, someone from the palace arrived. The Empress Dowager was unwell, and the Emperor ordered Imperial Physician Su Liang to enter the palace immediately.

Su Liang usually carried a medicine box with her, but today she came to celebrate a birthday, and it was considered inauspicious to bring a medicine box to the door, so she didn’t bring it.

She said she had to go back to the mansion to get the medicine box first, and the old eunuch who came urged her to hurry up.

Seeing Su Liang looking at him, Old Master Qin quickly said, “Go ahead.”

But not only Old Master Qin, many people in the scene had doubts in their hearts, feeling that the Empress Dowager suddenly falling ill might be related to the crown prince being abolished.

Everyone else thought that Su Liang was summoned because of her medical skills.

But Xing Yusheng still felt that things were not simple. If the abolition of the crown prince was really related to Su Liang, her going to treat the Empress Dowager might lead to trouble.

Xing Yusheng looked at Ning Jing, but in a moment of distraction, he had disappeared.

“Where is Ning Jing?” Xing Yusheng asked Lin Xueqing.

Lin Xueqing pointed in the direction where Su Liang left, “Elder brother Ning went with sister Su. Sister Su said riding a horse is faster and asked elder brother Ning to accompany her back to get the medicine box.”

“That’s good.” Xing Yusheng inexplicably let out a sigh of relief.

Su Liang and Ning Jing did not travel with the old eunuch from the palace.

Su Liang said that after she rode back to the mansion to get the medicine box, she would enter the palace immediately and it would be faster.

After the two of them rode through the main street of the capital city, Yang Yu spotted them from his shop and quickly dropped everything to chase after them, but they were already out of sight.

Once inside the house, Su Liang quickly said while walking, “In case the Empress Dowager wants to torture me, the Emperor won’t stand up for me. He probably wants to take this opportunity to undercut my power.”

“Mm.” Ning Jing shared the same feeling.

“I can only play it by ear,” Su Liang said. “Think about how to get Nian Jincheng to withdraw.”

Su Liang took the medicine box and left. After walking a few steps, she noticed that Ning Jing was following her.

“Are you still going to the Qin family to listen to the opera?” Su Liang frowned. Ning Jing shook his head, “I’m going to the palace. To be your assistant.”

Su Liang was stunned, “Alright. Since the Empress Dowager is ill, I’ll say I need your help, and no one should stop you. Let’s go.”

When the two of them arrived at the palace gate by horse, the old eunuch who went to Duke Qin’s mansion to invite Su Liang had not yet returned to the palace.

When it was heard that Su Liang was summoned by imperial edict to treat the Empress Dowager, no one dared to stop her, and she and Ning Jing entered the palace smoothly. They were led to the Ci’an Palace, where the Empress Dowager was staying.

When they arrived, they found that Duanmu Yi, the Empress, and almost all the adult princes and princesses were present.

The recently abolished Duanmu Cheng sat in the corner with his head down, beside him was Nian Jincheng disguised as Duanmu Ao.

Duanmu Chen glanced at Su Liang and Ning Jing, and quickly looked away.

“No need for formalities, hurry up and treat the Empress Dowager!” Duanmu Yi’s expression was heavy, and his gaze fell on Ning Jing, but he did not say anything.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Su Liang responded, and with Ning Jing holding her medicine box, they walked inside.

“You go in alone!” Duanmu Yi said coldly.

Su Liang took the medicine box from Ning Jing and went in alone, while Ning Jing stood outside waiting.

The atmosphere was oppressive, and no one dared to speak recklessly. As soon as Su Liang entered, she saw several imperial physicians kneeling not far away.

The ailing Empress Dowager lay on the bed, surrounded by a group of palace maids and nannies, silent as cicadas in the cold.

She walked over in the eerie silence and began to speak, “Your Majesty summoned this humble servant to come and treat the Empress Dowager.” “Come here.” A low and hoarse female voice replied.

Su Liang approached the edge of the bed, holding her medicine box, and as expected, the next moment she heard a voice commanding her to “kneel down”.

Su Liang didn’t kneel but held the Empress Dowager’s wrist, taking her pulse.

“How dare you defy me? Guards, drag her out and execute her with a beating!” The Empress Dowager cried sternly.

Everyone outside heard it loud and clear.

Duanmu Chen was not surprised at all. Although he didn’t know the details,

Duanmu Cheng’s sudden removal was directly caused by Su Liang. The Empress Dowager did not want to accept this result, so she resorted to using this method to manipulate Duanmu Yi, who was always very filial.

Duanmu Chen felt that today, when the Empress Dowager claimed to be sick and asked for Su Liang, she might really want to vent her anger by killing Su Liang.

“Mother, please calm down, your health is important,” said Duanmu Yi solemnly.

“My words don’t matter anymore, I’ve been bullied by a lowly girl, and no one cares. What’s the point of living?” The Empress Dowager started to cry, “Just go! All of you go! I don’t need you to care about my life or death!” Duanmu Yi frowned, “Su Liang, you must not disobey the mother’s wishes!”

The young Empress sighed, “Your Majesty, just now, the Empress Dowager asked Su Liang only to kneel and kowtow, and she refused.” Duanmu Yi gave the young Empress a cold glance.

The young Empress dared not speak anymore.

Su Liang, hearing Duanmu Yi’s words, continued to take the Empress Dowager’s pulse, undeterred.

The Empress Dowager struggled, but Su Liang held her down firmly, not allowing her to move. Su Liang looked serious as she said, “Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your illness is severe, and for the sake of your health, I must act against your wishes.”

As she finished speaking, Su Liang pulled out a golden needle and struck the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager widened her eyes, cursing angrily, “You… are you trying to murder me? Guards! Come quickly!”

Su Liang raised her voice, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. I am treating the

Empress Dowager. If anything goes wrong, I accept any punishment.”

After just a few needles, the Empress Dowager calmed down, unable to move as she lay there, her eyes seeming to want to tear Su Liang apart.

“Her Majesty’s liver is overheated, which causes irritability. I will apply needles for forty-nine days, and I guarantee that she will feel better and more at ease,” Su Liang said earnestly.

“Your Majesty…” Before the Empress Dowager could say anything more, Su Liang held her down again.

“Your Majesty, be careful, moving too much might hurt you,” Su Liang said gently.

By the time the treatment was finished, the Empress Dowager had noticeably

canneu uuvvll.

Duanmu Yi sighed deeply, “Mother, don’t get so upset in the future. As for the

Crown Prince’s affair, I have my own plans.”

“You are bewitched by this wretched woman!” The Empress Dowager was angry again. “She framed Chengsheng, why don’t you believe in your son and instead trust this suspicious woman? In my eyes, she is a spy! To ruin the Qian Country’s order!”

Su Liang calmly stood to the side, listening, as if the accusations weren’t about her.

“Mother, I have already looked into this matter. She has nothing suspicious about her,” said Duanmu Yi.

“In my eyes, she’s a disaster! Sent to punish me! If you want me to get better, you must behead her!” The Empress Dowager said coldly.

Su Liang sighed, “Your Majesty, since the Empress Dowager suspects that I am a spy, I hereby request to resign from my position and leave the capital to return to Xunyang City to sell tea with my fiancé. Please grant my request.”

Ning Jing’s voice came from outside the door, “I also request Your Majesty to allow me to resign and leave the capital.”

Duanmu Yi frowned, “Stop this chaos, both of you! Leave now!”

Su Liang’s gaze passed Duanmu Yi, giving a provocative look to the Empress Dowager: I want to leave, but your son won’t let me, he wants me to hold my official position, so there’s really nothing I can do.

As Su Liang turned to leave, the Empress Dowager started to cause drama again.

When Su Liang left the palace with Ning Jing, she said, “Why don’t we really go back and sell tea leaves?”

Ning Jing looked at Su Liang, “I think you’re more suited to be a performer.”

“What talents do I have?” Su Liang wondered aloud. Ning Jing spoke mysteriously, “Sing opera..”