Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: 226. Poisoning

Chapter 226: 226. Poisoning

Translator: 549690339

The moon outside the window was bright and spotless, the room only illuminated by the soft glow of fireflies.

Su Liang and Gu Ling sat very close to each other, their breaths detectable.

Su Liang stared at the fireflies, while Gu Ling stared at her eyes brimming with laughter.

“Hey, Great God.” Su Liang started, her voice instinctively lowered.

Gu Ling responded, “Hmm?”

“Do you know why fireflies glow?” Su Liang asked.

Gu Ling shook his head, “I would like to hear more.”

“Fireflies emit light from their light organs. It begins with the nerve impulse transmitted to the light-emitting cells, which releases the originally suppressed luciferin. There is a phosphorous chemical in the cells of fireflies called luciferin, which, under its own catalyst, oxidizes and the resulting energy is released in the form of light,” Su Liang recalled the explanation she saw online in her previous life.

Gu Ling frowned slightly, “Do you think I understand?”

“Actually, I don’t quite understand either, ” Su Liang shook her head.

Gu Ling asked, “Nerve impulse? Why the impulse?”

Su Liang chuckled lightly, “It’s usually for mating. Male fireflies emit light to attract female fireflies, similar to a peacock’s display.”

Gu Ling was taken aback for a moment, but Su Liang didn’t look at his expression and didn’t notice.

Fireflies fluttered out through the open window. Su Liang lit a lamp and seriously said, “Luckily your jade pendant glows at night. I found it this time, but keep it safe. Don’t lose it again.”

Gu Ling left, “Yes, thank you, General Su.” He picked up a food box at the door and walked away quickly.

Su Liang went to the window, looked up at the moon for a while, and thought about the training plan she had made for the new recruits. The physical constitution of these new recruits was far worse than those she trained in Xuanbei City, so she needed to make progress gradually.

As for the competition between the new recruits and the elite squad in a month, Su Liang was not very worried.

Not because she thought she could win, but because she didn’t care. Duanmu Yi wanted to test her skills and consider whether to promote her through this, but she didn’t care about promotions. She had thought that if Duanmu Cheng disappeared and she aroused Duanmu Yi’s suspicion and was no longer valued, it would not be a bad thing. Now, she just let things take their natural course and do her job well.

As for her training of new recruits, it was to improve their physical fitness in the right way, to teach them to be qualified soldiers, rather than growing them prematurely to defeat the elite squad in a month.

Nevertheless, Su Liang still planned to assess the strength of the elite squad the next day. Even if it wasn’t for the competition, she wanted to see what the level of the strongest soldiers in the Forbidden Army was.

By the time Su Liang read through the training plan she had written in the afternoon again, it was already late at night.

After a brief wash, Su Liang went to bed.

On the other hand, in the new recruit camp where Gu Ling stayed, the conditions were very rudimentary. Gu Ling chose to sleep in a position close to the wall where it still wasn’t possible to avoid having someone on one side, close but not adjacent.

It was Qiu Ming, the new recruit who was selected with Gu Ling to follow Su Liang. He was talkative, and had already shared where his home was, how many people were in his family, why he joined the army, when he arrived in the capital city, how many clothes he brought, and how much silver he had left.

Out of politeness, Gu Ling also shared his situation. His whole family was gone, his father’s dying wish and the like.

“Hey, Han Su, are you asleep?” Qiu Ming turned over and called Gu Ling in a whisper.

Gu Ling was turned towards the wall, heard him but did not respond, so Qiu Ming stopped talking.

Now that Lin Bojun had his own family, he no longer lived in the military camp. Unless there was something important, he always tried to get back home for dinner.

When he arrived early at the camp the next day, he went to watch Su Liang training the new recruits.

The morning mist had just receded. The cold, serious female voice on the training ground gave commands, sounding exceptionally melodious.

Lin Bojun waited for Su Liang’s team to run past him and waved at her.

“Qiu Ming, come forward and continue!” Su Liang had chosen Qiu Ming, who had carried on running until the end the previous day and was very popular, to be the team leader.

Qiu Ming led his team to continue running, and Su Liang walked over to Lin Bojun.

“I didn’t stop Gao Jiabao when he insisted on following you,” Lin Bojun said with a smile, “but you didn’t even make him your assistant?”

Su Liang shook her head, “He requested for fairness.”

“That’s good. You should understand him better than me since you both came out of the same Military Exam,” Lin Bojun stated and then looked towards the new recruits in the distance, “I heard there’s a boy in there who’s very handsome?”

Su Liang casually remarked, “The overall attractiveness of our new recruit camp is not low. If we’re talking about the best looking one, it’s a kid with the last name Han, with Gao Jiabao being the second. But in comparison to Second Brother Lin…

“And?” Lin Bojun instinctively asked.

“Second Brother Lin would rank third,” Su Liang joked.

Lin Bojun scoffed, ‘Yu Jin said that I’m the most handsome.”

Su Liang nodded, “Of course. What does Second Brother Lin have there?” Lin Bojun quickly handed over the food box in his hand to Su Liang upon

hearing her remark, “I got too caught up with chatting and almost forgot the main point. This is the breakfast Yu Jin prepared for you, and there are some desserts she made with my sister-in-law. Little sister and Yu Sheng visited last night, and she even wanted to deliver meals to you every day until my father persuaded her. ”

Su Liang accepted it, “Thank you to sister-in-law and Yu Jin. Has Xueqing moved next door to my house?”

Lin Bojun nodded, “She moved there yesterday. You weren’t home, which disappointed my little sister.”

“She’s married, why is she still clinging to me?” Su Liang shook her head, “I think your brother-in-law wouldn’t be disappointed.”

“That’s true.” As soon as Lin Bojun finished speaking, someone called him from afar, and he walked away.

Su Liang waited for the team to run in front of her again, instructed Qiu Ming to run two more rounds before eating breakfast.

Su Liang’s gaze met with Gu Ling’s once again. She thought about asking Gu Ling to carry the food box and join her for breakfast, but quickly dismissed the idea. If she showed special treatment to a new soldier and people suspected that she was attracted to Gu Ling, that’s okay, but it could arouse suspicion of those who know some inside information and are suspicious by nature that Ning Jing might not be dead.

For instance, Lin Bojun who knows “Ning Jing” is a martial arts expert, or Duke Duanmu Yi and his son Duanmu Chen from the royal family, or Lian Shun who taught her the Disguise Technique.

Therefore, Su Liang went off alone with the food box that Lin Bojun had given her. Gu Ling casually withdrew his gaze and continued training with others, and after the training, they went to have breakfast together.

There were no tables in the military camp for meals, some people stood, others squatted or sat on the ground.

Gu Ling had just sat down under a tree with his breakfast when Qiu Ming and Gao Jiabao came over.

“Are you close with General Gao, General Su?” Qiu Ming asked.

Gao Jiabao shook his head, “We are friends, but not close. She keeps a proper distance from everyone.”

Qiu Ming looked wholly understanding after a moment, “Right, Su Liang had a fiancé before, it’s a pity he was so young.”

Gu Ling didn’t say much, instead he listened to Qiu Ming and Gao Jiabao talk about the contest that would take place in a month. They both placed great importance on it and hoped to win, believing that losing would disappoint Su Liang.

“You know how to do martial arts, right, Han Su?” Qiu Ming asked.

Gu Ling nodded, “Mhm.”

“I do too, my dad’s an Escort Master, I grew up in the Escort Agency, and I learned some martial arts from my uncles. But I think being an Escort Master is uninteresting. I originally wanted to join the military in Xuanbei City, but I happened to come across the Forbidden Army recruiting in the capital city while passing by. It’s a rare opportunity!” Qiu Ming said with a smile, “My family doesn’t even know I’m in the capital city. When we get a chance to leave the camp, I want to write a letter to them to let them know I’m safe.”

Gao Jiabao then said, “I’m going home tomorrow. You can give the letter to me, and I’ll help you send it.”

Qiu Ming’s face lit up, “That’s great! Thank you, General Gao!”

“I’m like you guys, just call me by my name.” Gao Jiabao quite liked Qiu Ming.

Gu Ling’s gaze swept over Qiu Mings forehead and he ate a bite of his steamed bun with an unchanged expression.

The breakfast Qin Yujin prepared for Su Liang was abundant, she couldn’t finish it and left two steamed buns in her room. The other delicate and delicious desserts were untouched.

That morning, Su Liang gave the new soldiers a brief overview of the upcoming training plan and then started their first official day of training.

Many new soldiers couldn’t hold on for long, but Su Liang was far stricter than the day before. Without harming their bodies, she required them to persevere.

Approaching noon, half of the day’s training was over. Su Liang had worked up a sweat and was ready to wash up.

She hadn’t been back at her home for long when Qiu Ming and Gu Ling came to bring her food and water.

The small courtyard where Su Liang lived originally had a stove, but it had not been used for a long time. Lin Bojun had people clean and repair it in the morning, and they also prepared dry firewood and a new tub, specially for Su Liang’s use.

Gu Ling was heating the bathwater for Su Liang when she asked them if they had eaten yet.

After hearing from Qiu Ming that they had not, Su Liang said, “Then you go eat first, and take his portion while you’re at it. So you won’t go too late and miss out.”

Qiu Ming then hurriedly ran off.

Su Liang gave the steamed bun she saved from the morning to Gu Ling, “Yu Jin made it. If you think it’s too cold, toast it over the fire.”

While talking, Su Liang felt that Gu Ling’s standard of meals had precipitously decreased since joining the army.

Gu Ling wiped his hands, took it, and started eating without reheating it.

“In my opinion, you might as well find an excuse to withdraw. You’ve already experienced it, and it’s only going to get harder from here.” Su Liang suggested. Mainly because she felt that Gu Ling had not improved his skills or mentality by leaving his comfortable life to come here to experience hardship. It was unnecessary.

Gu Ling shook his head, “No.”

Su Liang shrugged, “As long as you’re happy. If the food here doesn’t fit your taste, I have desserts in my room. I’ll save them for you. You can take them whenever you want, just make sure no one sees you.”

“Ok.” Gu Ling nodded, and suddenly asked Su Liang, “Have you ever seen a peacock displaying its feathers?”

“I have, in the zoo, they’re very beautiful.” Su Liang replied, “Aren’t there peacocks here?”

Gu Ling said that there were in Yin Country, but he had only heard of them and had never seen them himself.

Thus Su Liang casually said, “Maybe one day, when I have a chance, I’d like to visit Yin Country.”

Qiu Ming came to deliver her dinner that day. Gu Ling did not appear, so Su Liang had no chance to tell him stories during the dinner.

Because Gu Ling was living with others, him disappearing in the middle of the night would easily arouse suspicion.

Therefore, when Su Liang didn’t see Gu Ling appear before preparing to sleep, she thought it was normal.

But when she prepared to leave the following morning, she noticed that the desserts she had left on the table specifically for Gu Ling, two pieces from the top plate, had disappeared without a trace…

It can’t be anyone else, Su Liang didn’t know when Gu Ling came last night.

In the afternoon, Su Liang saw the elite team of the Forbidden Army’s training for the first time. This team was carefully selected, all tall and strong, decent at martial arts, some having been on the battlefield, their skills far surpassing those of the new soldiers.

“I do not know how the Emperor will test you, but I have faith in you,” Lin Bojun said to Su Liang.

Su Liang shook her head, “I will gradually increase the intensity of the new soldiers’ training, but it doesn’t matter ifwe win or lose.”

That night, Qiu Ming again came to deliver dinner to Su Liang.

Su Liang was not very hungry and instructed him to leave after setting the food down.

“Yes, General Su.” Qiu Ming respectfully excused himself.

But just as he was leaving, he saw Gao Jiabao arrive. Although he had voluntarily joined the new recruits for training, he was still technically a junior officer and could move freely within the military camp.

“Your letter has been sent by someone!” Gao Jiabao had just returned home in the afternoon and just got back to camp, bringing something in his hand that Old Physician Gao had given him to bring to Su Liang.

Hearing this, Qiu Ming hastily expressed his thanks to Gao Jiabao.

“I have brought something delicious for you and Han Su.” Gao Jiabao took out an oil paper package from the basket he held and handed it to Qiu Ming: “Sauce Pork Knuckle, a signature dish from Wan Family’s Restaurant in the capital city.”

Qiu Ming was elated and happily accepted it.

Gao Jiabao, carrying the basket, headed toward Su Liang’s room.

The moment Qiu Ming turned around, his eyes cooled….

“I don’t know what your tastes are. This is made by my mom.” Gao Jiabao took out a box of osmanthus cakes along with a miscellaneous book borrowed from Old Physician Gao. The book contained some medical knowledge.

Su Liang gratefully tasted a piece of the osmanthus cake and nodded her head: “Delicious.” Having not finished her sentence, she picked up the book.

Gao Jiabao wasn’t surprised. Seeing that Su Liang hadn’t touched her dinner, she told him, “If you haven’t eaten, you can eat it here. I’ll have the osmanthus cake when I get hungry.”

To avoid getting back home too late, Gao Jiabao indeed did not eat dinner at home. Thinking that he still had something to ask Su Liang, he accepted her offer without further ado.

Since Su Liang was reading, Gao Jiabao quietly ate his meal, intending to ask his question after he finished.

The room’s door and windows were open. The wind rose outside, rustling the leaves of trees.

Gao Jiabao put down his chopsticks while Su Liang was still concentrating on her book.

“I have something to ask you…” Gao Jiabao had just begun to speak when he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes turned red.

Su Liang closed her book and looked over, “What is it?”

Upon seeing the change in Gao Jiabao, her expression changed. She tossed the book aside and tried to check his pulse.

But before her hand could touch Gao Jiabao’s arm, he abruptly stood up, drew his waist sword, and lunged it at Su Liang!

“Gao Jiabao!” Su Liang quickly dodged.

But Gao Jiabao seemed to not hear her, attacking Su Liang as if he were in a frenzy.

Su Liang’s heart sunk deep! There was a problem with the dinner tonight! He must have been poisoned! And the poison was originally aimed at her. If she had eaten it and uncontrollably turned into a maniac killer, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Su Liang stabilized her mind, dodging Gao Jiabao’s attacks while looking for an opportunity to control him.

At the same time, Qiu Ming, carrying the sauce pork knuckle Gao Jiabao had given him, found Gu Ling, saying he wanted to share.

“It looks delicious! You didn’t eat much for dinner, come and try some!” Qiu Ming said with a smile.

Gu Ling’s expression was indifferent: “It’s too greasy, I won’t eat it.”

Hearing this, Qiu Ming put the pork knuckle he was about to pass over back, but he didn’t eat it. Instead, he was going to put it back in the oil-paper bag: “Then we’ll eat it tomorrow. It’s too late today.”

Gu Ling’s gaze once again fell on Qiu Ming’s forehead, then quickly shifted to the sauce pork knuckle he had put away, his eyes focusing!

When Qiu Ming looked up once again, Gu Ling was already no longer in sight..