Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: 210. The Moonlight is Truly Beautiful

Chapter 210: 210. The Moonlight is Truly Beautiful

Translator: 549690339

Su Liang’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

Gu Ling was the first person she had met in this world and her most important friend. They had been living together for more than half a year. Prior to that, he always lived with Ning Jing’s identity, and she only knew about his good looks but hadn’t seen his true face.

However, when Gu Ling took off his mask, his black hair fluttered, revealing his full face. Su Liang rolled her eyes to the sky, “You’re insane!”

She hadn’t expected that the face behind the mask would be one she wasn’t unfamiliar with. It was “Wen Gu” who had disguised himself when he was with her in Xuanbei City.

Gu Ling looked at the furious Su Liang and gently opened his thin lips, uttering four words, “For safety reasons.”

Despite herself, Su Liang kicked Gu Ling in the leg, lightly snorting, “You’re clearly teasing me on purpose. If you’ve disguised yourself, why wear a mask? Trying to be mysterious!”

Gu Ling nodded slightly, “Double safety. Teasing you is also true.”

Su Liang narrowed her eyes, staring at Gu Ling, her tone deep, “Is teasing me fun?”

Gu Ling nodded again, “It’s interesting. Don’t you think?”

Suddenly, Su Liang revealed a faint smile, “Yes, it’s really interesting. Now, immediately, remove the disguise and let me see what you look like, otherwise, don’t blame me for not recognizing you! I’m going back to the capital anyway to mourn my late fiancé. You’d better let me see clearly who you are, or else…” “Okay,” Gu Ling said.

Su Liang snorted lightly, “That’s more like it. In consideration of our past pleasant cooperation, I won’t hold it against you. Hurry up and remove the disguise!”

Just then, Fang Tongling’s voice came from outside, “General Su, are you alright?”

Su Liang furrowed her eyebrows; she had almost forgotten about the Forbidden Army outside the door.

“Never mind.” Su Liang snatched the Little Yellow Hairpin from Gu Ling’s hand, originally meant for him, “Wait for me to see your true face before considering whether to give it to you. If it’s not good looking, then no gift. It’s not very safe right now, so I’ll leave first. If you want to stay and rest, feel free to do so, but we can’t leave together.”

“That’s fine,” Gu Ling said, “You go first, I’ll come and find you.”

Su Liang glanced at Gu Ling’s face again, silently kicking him a second time before turning to leave.

Gu Ling lowered his head, looked at the two footprints on his robe, and didn’t care.

Fang Tongling didn’t hear Su Liang’s response and, afraid something was wrong, climbed over the wall to enter.

Just after touching the ground, he saw that the light in Su Liang’s room had been extinguished. The door opened the next moment, and she walked out carrying a bundle, her pale little face revealing a chill in the moonlight.

Fang Tongling quickly bowed, “General Su…”

“I’m going to ride a horse, and follow you back to the capital,” Su Liang said, heading towards the backyard.

Soon after, the sound of horseshoes was heard, and Su Liang rode away, Fang Tongling led his men to catch up. After crossing the bridge, they headed towards the entrance of the village.

Amidst a few barks, the quiet little village returned to its peaceful state at midnight.

Su Liang’s room lit up again, Gu Ling, holding a red candle, walked out from the inner chamber, and saw a paper packet on the table.

He ignited the oil lamp on the table with the red candle, gently blew out the wax candle and placed it aside. Opening that paper packet, he smelled an enticing meat aroma.

It was the game which Su Liang, Little Tiger Zhuzi, and Erniu had hunted while playing on the mountain yesterday. She had only kept one plump wild rabbit and let the children take the rest home.

Originally planning to leave the next morning, Su Liang had marinated the wild rabbit during the day and let it cool, intending to take it with her on the journey.

Gu Ling went to the kitchen, where the water in the vat was still full. After scooping water to rinse his hands, he returned to his room, sat down at the table, tore off a rabbit leg, took a bite, and nodded slightly. It was a familiar taste, definitely made by Su Liang. She had her own secret marinating ingredients, which were different from those used by Aunt Bai.

Gu Ling ate half of the rabbit, wrapped the rest, and tidied up the table out of habit. After washing his hands again, he returned to the room he had occupied for a long time.

Everything was still the same. The bedding was stored in the closet. He had taken it out to air for a night when he returned half a month ago, but had left after only one night.

Gu Ling took out the bedding and spread it out. After washing up, he lay down to sleep.

The next day, before dawn, he got up, took the half rabbit and.left for the back mountain.

As the sun rose in the east, Gu Ling stopped beside a large, inconspicuous stone in the shady part of the mountain. He took out Su Liang’s medicine hoe he had brought from home and began digging up the weed-covered land next to it.

If Su Liang were there, she would have known what the box Gu Ling was digging out was.

She had seen it before, Gu Ling’s treasure, but it couldn’t be sold or discovered, as they were all related to the original Gu Family.

Among them was a jade hairpin that Gu Ling’s mother had once given to Nian Ruxue, then put in Su Liang’s hair by Nian Jincheng, and Uncle Liang had taken it away and returned it to Gu Ling.

Gu Ling crouched down, took out the key, and opened the box. Everything

inside was still there.

He took out a long brocade box, opened it, and inside was the jade hairpin that Su Liang had once worn.

In addition, Gu Ling took out a jade token engraved with the word “Changning” from the box, locked it again, buried it back in its original place, and restored it to its original state.

On his way down the mountain, not yet home, Gu Ling saw Bai Xiaohu and

Zhuzi wandering around, and heard them calling for “Sister Su Liang.”

Though the main gate was locked, both children knew that Su Liang must have left.

After a while, the two brothers ran away, and Gu Ling quietly descended the mountain, entered through the back door, and returned the medicine hoe to its original place.

Noticing that two eggplants were almost ripe, Gu Ling picked an empty basket, took them down, and put them in, then picked a tender pumpkin the size of a forearm.

At dawn, Su Liang had already left Bei’an County and was galloping in the direction of the capital city. Fang Tongling and his party were almost left behind, but they still followed her closely.

Su Liang planned to shake off these people, but she couldn’t be too obvious, nor could she take an unusual path, as it would arouse suspicion.

After a day and night of rushing, even Fang Tongling and his men could hardly bear it, and their horses needed to drink water and eat hay.

Finally, they saw Su Liang stopped in front, and Fang Tongling breathed a sigh of relief, urging his horse closer, “General Su, let’s rest for a while. No matter how anxious you are, you have to take care of your health!”

Su Liang didn’t say anything, dismounted, and went into an inn.

Fang Tongling specially booked a guesthouse for Su Liang, and they stayed next door, so she could ask for anything at any time.

Su Liang rested for a while, and the waiter brought hot water and meals. She ate alone, and it was already dark outside.

After a simple wash, Su Liang went to bed to sleep, as she had to continue rushing the next day.

Before going to sleep, she thought of Gu Ling and didn’t know when he would catch up.

In the middle of the night, Su Liang suddenly woke up from her dream, sensing someone by her bed. Her eyes were alert, and her hand had already gripped the dagger under her pillow.

“It’s me.” A not-so-familiar voice.

Su Liang loosened her grip, lifted the quilt and sat up, dressed neatly.

Seeing Gu Ling still wearing a mask, Su Liang snorted lightly, “Is there another disguise under the mask?”

Gu Ling shook his head, “No.” Su Liang’s eyes brightened slightly, “Then take it off!”

“Really want to see?” Gu Ling asked.

“Nonsense!” Su Liang glared at him, “We’ve known each other for so long, and I don’t even know what you look like. Do you think it’s appropriate?”

Gu Ling shook his head, “It’s not. Let’s go then.” Su Liang was startled, “Where to?”

“Change places, I’ll show you.” Gu Ling said.

“I can’t just disappear for no reason now.” Su Liang said as she put on her shoes and got off the bed.

“Come back before dawn and don’t get discovered.” Gu Ling opened the window.

In the summer night, there was a faint scent of flowers in the breeze.

Su Liang followed Gu Ling, and after several leaps, they left the inn, walked through two small alleys. and she noticed that Gil Ling was carrying a basket in

his hand.

The two didn’t go too far, and finally stopped in a quiet grove.

Su Liang thought that now she could finally see the other person’s true face.

Who would have known that Gu Ling would take out a round eggplant from the basket, “It’s ripe, it will spoil if we don’t eat it.”

Su Liang: …She wants to smash someone’s head into an eggplant!

Seeing that Gu Ling also brought tools and seasonings for roasting eggplants, Su Liang really had no words.

“I have something to tell you.” Gu Ling said, gathering a bunch of firewood and starting a fire.

Su Liang sat down next to him, opened the cloth cover of the basket, and saw a familiar pumpkin. It had originally hung on the vine at the back wall of her house; she had stared at it for half a month but didn’t get to eat it before she left.

“Just say it.” Su Liang said.

Gu Ling asked at the same time, “Can the pumpkin be roasted?”

“This one is too tender; it won’t taste good roasted. I was going to make pumpkin egg-filled dumplings, but I didn’t have time.” Su Liang frowned, “Is this the important thing you want to tell me?”

Gu Ling shook his head, “No. I want to find Uncle Liang.”

Su Liang was stunned, “You drove him away half a month ago. Why do you want to find him again? Are you going to Liang Country to join your grandfather?”

“I don’t want to hide like this anymore.” Gu Ling said, cutting the washed eggplant in half and handing it to Su Liang.

Su Liang took out her sharp knife, wiped it clean, crossed it over the fire, put the eggplant on it, and pulled out a couple of sticks to keep the fire from getting too big.

“Didn’t you enjoy the secluded life before?” Su Liang asked, “Now that Ning Jing’s identity is gone, it’s actually very simple for you want to find another place to hide.”

With Gu Ling’s strong abilities, there’s no need to worry about being discovered by others as long as he doesn’t want to be.

Although Su Liang was objectively analyzing Gu Ling’s situation, he countered,

“Do you really want to part ways with me?”

“That’s not the same thing.” Su Liang shook her head, “I just don’t understand why you want to find Uncle Liang. If you don’t want to hide anymore and choose to go to Liang Country, we can only part ways.”

“I want to remove the rebel label.” Gu Ling said.

Su Liang suddenly realized, “You plan to use your grandfather to negotiate with the Qian Country’s royal family so they won’t bother you anymore?”

Gu Ling nodded slightly.

“Great idea!” Su Liang immediately agreed, “Didn’t Uncle Liang say that your grandfather values you a lot? From your attitude, you must not believe it. No matter what intentions he has for finding you, as a powerful prince in Liang Country, if he is willing to negotiate with the Qian Country royal family and declare to the world that you are under his protection, the Qian Country royal family may not continue to hold onto you. After all, it was your father who rebelled, and you didn’t do anything!”

The Qian Country royal family can’t catch Gu Ling, let alone kill him. But because of Gu Family’s rebellion, he can’t openly appear in public. He certainly can’t go anywhere with a group of assassins following him, since he’s still at the top of the Qian Country royal family’s wanted list.

Furthermore, the biggest problem isn’t even with him.

If Gu Ling were alone and went anywhere, it wouldn’t be a big issue if he were discovered. If he were bored, he could even tease the Qian Country royal family by moving around everywhere, making it impossible for them to catch him and infuriating them.

The key is that Gu Ling’s sensitive identity makes it impossible for him to openly interact with anyone.

The Qian Country royal family can’t catch him, but anyone involved with him won’t have an easy time.

“I should have known not to drive Uncle Liang away at the beginning.” Su Liang said, “No, Ning Jing’s identity had to die first; otherwise, there would be problems. Now it’s perfect. After I finish roasting the eggplant and you eat it, you can go to Liang Country to find your grandfather! You won’t be able to catch up with Uncle Liang anymore!”

As Su Liang spoke, the eggplant softened. She took out a small knife, cut a few slits, and sprinkled Gu Ling’s seasoning evenly on it. The scent immediately filled the air.

Once the eggplant was roasted, the two of them took half each, using a cloth to hold it, and prepared to eat.

Su Liang stared at the wood carving mask on Gu Ling’s face, with a look that seemed to say, “I want to see how you can eat with a mask on.”

This time Su Liang didn’t say anything, Gu Ling held the eggplant with one hand while the other hand’s two fingers pinched the bottom of the mask, lifting it up, and smoothly took it off.

The moon was directly overhead.

The white moonlight shed through the gaps of the trees and sprinkled on Gu Ling’s face. Su Liang stared blankly, not knowing what Gu Ling looked like before, but now that she looked at his face, she felt it was just right, perfectly matching the title of “Capital City’s Number One Beauty,” and his character.

Ning Jing’s features were gentle, while Gu Ling’s face had a few more appropriate angles, as if carved from marble, making him look colder. His eyebrows were like ink paintings, his eyes like cold stars, his nose was high, and his thin lips were slightly pursed.

Su Liang thought that “skin as smooth as cream” was only used to compliment women, but now she truly felt that some people were born with ice-cold muscles and jade bones, even just sitting in this desolate forest, in ordinary clothes, they were still stunningly beautiful.

“Have you seen enough?” Gu Ling’s thin lips opened slightly.

Su Liang came back to her senses, coughed lightly, “Great God, having such a face is truly enviable! If you hadn’t hidden yourself before, countless women would have gone crazy for you!”

Su Liang suddenly understood Nian Ruxue’s obsession with Gu Ling.

Seeing Gu Ling start eating roasted eggplant, Su Liang realized that she also had half an eggplant in her hand which had burnt her right hand a bit.

Su Liang held the grilled eggplant with her other hand and took a clean pair of chopsticks that Ning Jing had brought, eating and asking Gu Ling, “Do you take after your father or your mother in appearance?”

Gu Ling said, “Both.”

“Then they must both be exceptionally beautiful.” Su Liang said.

“Are you envious of me?” Gu Ling asked while looking at Su Liang.

Su Liang smiled, “Not really, I’m just complimenting you for being beautiful. I’m quite satisfied with my own appearance.”

Gu Ling finished eating and wiped her hands with a handkerchief, asking Su

Liang, “Would you be infatuated with me?”

Su Liang nodded, “Yes, if we didn’t know each other, and I saw such a stunning beauty like you, I’d have to remind myself to run away as fast as I could!” Gu Ling paused, “Why would you run?”

“Don’t you know the old saying? The more beautiful the person, the more likely they are to deceive others.” Su Liang said seriously.

Clouds covered the moon.

Gu Ling’s face was half-lit, half-shadowed, “I haven’t lied to you.”

Su Liang smiled brightly, “I’m just kidding. Everyone loves beauty, and having such a peerless beauty as my brother makes me feel better. If Great God, you could give me a smile, that would be even better.”

Seeing Su Liang’s sparkling eyes, Gu Ling was silent for a moment, “I’ll try to learn later.

Su Liang held back her laughter, giving a thumbs-up, “Great God, your habit of learning is admirable, and I look forward to the results of your learning.” “What about the gift?” Gu Ling asked.

“Oh, right.” Su Liang took out the little yellow hairpin, stretched out her hand, and inserted it into Gu Ling’s hair. After examining it, she nodded repeatedly, “It looks good!”

After roasting and eating another eggplant, the two put out the fire and stood up.

Su Liang stepped forward, and just like last time, gently hugged Gu Ling and quickly separated, “This is our farewell. I hope everything goes smoothly for you in the future.”

Gu Ling bent down to pick up the basket on the ground, “I didn’t say I was leaving.”

Su Liang held her forehead, “Didn’t you say you were going to find Uncle Liang and your grandfather?”

“Yes, but not now.” Gu Ling said.

Su Liang: …Indeed, she didn’t say she was leaving tonight; it was her own assumption, awkward…

“Do you want to escort me back to the capital city? It’s really not necessary.” Su

Liang said.

Gu Ling asked in return, “How do you make the pumpkin egg-filled dumplings?

Su Liang exclaimed, “You want to make them yourself?”

“I can’t waste the pumpkin at home.” Gu Ling said.

Su Liang chuckled lightly, “Okay, I’ll tell you how to make them, and you’d better remember.”

By the time they walked out of the woods, Su Liang had detailed the process of how to make pumpkin egg-filled dumplings for Gu Ling.

When they reached a small alley not far from the inn, Gu Ling stopped.

“I’m going back, I need to get back on the road tomorrow. Great God, you should find a place to make dumplings and eat.” Su Liang waved her hand.

“Tomorrow night, at the hour of Hai.” Gu Ling had disappeared as soon as the words fell.

Su Liang was stunned for a moment, realizing that Gu Ling was going to personally make dumplings and share them with her?

Not only did the Great God become even more beautiful, but she was also willing to cook… Su Liang looked up at the sky, thinking about how beautiful the moonlight was..