Ning Cheng was currently rushing day and night towards Medical City.
Yesterday, he'd received three urgent letters from the army, the imperial city, and Cloud Realm Trade Consortium. All of them urged him to return and prepare for battle.
Everyone was saying that even if Medical City fell into Gu Beiyue's hands, they could still find a reason to wage war against the south central regions' commander-in-chief's estate. Moreover, they had to take advantage of the fact that Han Yunxi and Long Fei Ye hadn't returned to the south central regions' commander-in-chief's estate to send out their troops. Otherwise, the longer things dragged on, the worse it'd be for them.
Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue had reprimanded Medical City for its inhumanity in front of everyone. Now that they were in charge, they wouldn't punish Tianning for the war between the two nations. If they did, then they'd be smashing their own feet with a rock. It'd definitely attract the attention of those within Medical City who'd take the chance to cause trouble.
Unfortunately, Ning Cheng didn't want to go to war, because he still didn't know what Long Fei Ye was doing at Celestial Mountain. Before figuring out what Long Fei Ye was up to, it wasn't a wise choice to start a war.
Ning Cheng had set his sights on Han Yunxi. As long as he kidnapped Han Yunxi, he could force Chu Qingge to reveal the Shadow Clan's whereabouts. Moreover, kidnapping Han Yunxi could also threaten Long Fei Ye. Compared to fighting in close quarters, it was much more worth it.
Kidnapping someone was a sinister move. Ning Cheng could only accept it. Now that Long Fei Ye wasn't by Han Yunxi's side, this was their best chance.
There were still two more days before Ning Cheng would reach Medical City, but Ning Jing knew nothing of this. Although she'd married into the Tang Clan on a mission and Cloud Realm Trade Consortium knew she was only using Tang Li, she was still a daughter-in-law of the Tang Clan.
She knew less and less about Ning Cheng's movements and Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's affairs. Even Ning Nuo had forced her to give up on some of the consortium's businesses. Now, she only had one mission, which was to take down Tang Li and facilitate the cooperation between the Tang Sect and Cloud Realm's arms trade.
Ning Jing, who used to be the head of the family, had unknowingly become a chess piece. Sometimes, she would think that she was just like Ning An, unable to get rid of the shackles of the family mission. Should she still serve the family wholeheartedly?
At this moment, she was leaning against the window, staring at the moon in a daze. No one knew what she was thinking. She was so lost in thought that she did not even notice Tang Li coming in.
She had taken off the men's clothing she wore during the day and was now wearing a pure white nightgown. Her ink-black hair was scattered behind her head and her delicate face was devoid of makeup. Looking at her, Tang Li couldn't help but wonder how simple and pure she'd be if she hadn't grown up in Cloud Realm Trade Consortium.
However, would he like a pure and innocent girl?
While she was bathing, he had secretly gone to find Han Yunxi and the rest. He assumed that she'd soak for a long time, but she was done so quickly.
He tiptoed behind Ning Jing and suddenly wrapped his arms around her, burying his head in her neck to sniff. "Jing Jing, you smell so good!"
Ning Jing didn't move, but said coldly, "You went to find Han Yunxi?"
Tang Li was alarmed. His arms around her waist stiffened. Ning Jing glanced down at his hands before a cold, meaningful smile rose to her lips.
Tang Li quickly recovered his composure and hugged her tighter. "Heheh, you guessed right. I'm on good terms with Long Fei Ye, so I can be considered friends with her. Now that Medical City is in her and Gu Beiyue's hands, of course I have to go and congratulate them. "
That was a very reasonable reason!
Ning Jing fell silent for a moment before she pried his hand away and shoved him aside. "Congratulations? Then why didn't you bring me along?" she raged. Why did you have to sneak off while I was bathing? You weren't just going to congratulate them, were you? You liar! "
"I really was going to congratulate them. Last time, you and your little brother got into a huge argument with them. Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue are both prejudiced against Cloud Realm Trade Consortium. If I brought you along, they might not even want to see me!"
Tang Li seemed to be explaining sincerely, but his heart was already in a mess. He was extremely vexed. He shouldn't have impulsively run off to find Han Yunxi and the rest. A shrewd woman like Ning Jing would definitely be suspicious.
He could only use his friendship with Long Fei Ye as an excuse to dispel her suspicions. If he kept denying it, it would only make her more suspicious.
Ning Jing looked at Tang Li without a word, but only smiled coldly.
Tang Li grew even more flustered. This was the first time he'd been in such a wretched state after competing with this woman so many times.
"Jing Jing, don't be angry. I know Cloud Realm Trade Consortium has grudges with them, and you don't like them either. But I'm doing this for your own good. The Tang Clan can ignore Medical City, but your Cloud Realm Trade Consortium has plenty of connections with them, right? "
When Tang Li saw that Ning Jing was still expressionless, he could only brace himself and continue. "Jing Jing, if Cloud Realm Trade Consortium has any dealings with Medical City in the future, I can be the middleman, right? When the time comes, won't your little brother come to us for help? Won't he have to see your face then? "
Finally, Ning Jing nodded. "Very good."
Tang Li was about to explain further when Ning Jing suddenly picked up a vase and threw it at him. "Tang Li, tell me, have you taken a fancy to Han Yunxi?"
Urk …
Tang Li gave a start, but quickly recovered his wits. He almost laughed out loud, but managed to hold it in.
So Ning Jing was jealous. He thought his relationship with Han Yunxi had been exposed! What a false alarm!
"Answer me," Ning Jing rushed in front of him.
"I … I …" Tang Li was wild with joy. He couldn't tell if he was happy because Ning Jing was jealous, or because Ning Jing didn't suspect anything.
"What about me? If you don't explain yourself today, I won't go back to the Tang Clan with you! "
Ning Jing punched him, but Tang Li immediately grabbed her hand and wrapped it around his own. He pulled her close and said, "Come, come, let your husband smell you. Heheh, compared to your fragrance, your husband prefers the smell of your vinegar. "
Ning Jing wanted to push him away, but unfortunately, she couldn't. Tang Li was simply a hungry wolf. He sniffed behind her ear, her neck, and even went all the way down along her neckline. Ning Jing's heart was beating wildly.
She had long known about his bad side.
As long as he had a bad idea, she knew what he would do tonight.
As expected, his hands began to move restlessly.
"Let go!" Ning Jing's tone was very bad, but Tang Li pretended not to hear it.
Ning Jing didn't hesitate to press on his weakest part and said angrily, "Explain yourself, or I'll cripple you!"
"Are you willing to do that?" Tang Li's voice suddenly became gentle.
"Try me if you don't believe me!" Ning Jing said coldly.
"Instead of explaining, I'd rather love you with my actions." Tang Li smiled.
"Pervert!" Ning Jing suddenly raised her hand and slapped Tang Li's face. Tang Li was stunned and quickly let go of his hands.
Ning Jing was also stunned. She was the one who slapped him, but she was shocked. When Tang Li let go of his hands, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat and she didn't know what to do.
Tang Li covered the side of his face that was burning. He lowered his eyes and didn't look at her. He said lightly, "I thought I've already explained it clearly. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."
After he finished speaking, he turned and left. Ning Jing stood in place for a while before she recovered her wits. She didn't think she was wrong, but … but why did her heart clench?
Bastard Tang Li, he just left like that? Where was he going? Was he not going to come back to sleep tonight?
Ning Jing bit her finger as she furrowed her brows.
In the apricot grove, Tang Li had repeatedly spoken up for Han Yunxi and the rest. She had suspected that Tang Li and the Long Fei Ye couple had a close relationship.
Before, Tang Li hadn't been in charge of the Tang Clan. Tang Li and the Long Fei Ye had been on good terms in private and didn't involve the Tang Clan. But now that Tang Li was the clan head, what if he and the Long Fei Ye continued to be friends? Would the Long Fei Ye one day be able to use the Tang Clan as well?
Or perhaps the Tang Clan and the Long Fei Ye couple were secretly working together in the first place? But did they intentionally hide it from Cloud Realm Trade Consortium?
Actually, she wasn't jealous today, but giving Tang Li a way out. She never thought that she'd end up with a slap on the face.
Ning Jing had never been so flustered in her life. She finally realized that it was impossible for her to remain calm and rational when faced with this man.
No matter what, she had to tell Ning Cheng that Tang Li had gone to see Han Yunxi behind her back. But she'd already written the secret letter and burned it herself.
She sat on the bed and stared blankly at her hand that had just slapped Tang Li. She sat like that until midnight when she heard movement outside the door. She quickly lay down and pretended to be asleep.
Tang Li had returned.
She heard the door close, his light cough, and the sound of him changing his clothes. She gritted her teeth as her mind turned into a mess.
Tang Li lay down, but he didn't hug her like he did every night. Instead, he turned his back to her.
In the darkness, Ning Jing's eyes were wide open as she focused on the person beside her. Unfortunately, Tang Li didn't turn around until daybreak.
She hadn't slept a wink all night, but so had Tang Li. Still, their moods were the complete opposite. Tang Li thought that it was worth it to take a slap to dispel Ning Jing's suspicions. He could use this chance to give her the cold shoulder. He'd just received a secret report that Long Fei Ye was going to send out his troops ahead of schedule. If he could take over Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's arms trade soon, it'd be a huge setback for Ning Cheng and a huge boost for Long Fei Ye.
Thinking up to here, Tang Li woke up early and tidied himself up. Ignoring Ning Jing, he left the house again.
They wouldn't leave Medical City for the next few days, because there was still a great show to watch after the medical skills competition.
This afternoon, the medical academy's Head Elder, Vice Head Academy, and Council of Elders would publicly put Gu Yuntian on trial and officially rehabilitate the Poison Sect.
Early that morning, Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue were drinking tea in the courtyard. Han Yunxi was looking at a secret list of names. She never expected Gu Beiyue's influence in Medical City to be so great. Many of Medical City's famous families and important members of the medical academy were on good terms with him.
"You … how did you do it?" Han Yunxi asked in confusion. Before Gu Beiyue revealed his true medical skills, these people shouldn't have taken him seriously.
"A few years ago, I secretly gathered a group of disciples from the aristocratic families. Fourth Young Miss Ren was one of them. We established the Apricot Woods Association to discuss medical skills together. We regularly visited poor areas and practiced medicine for free," Gu Beiyue replied.
Han Yunxi was about to ask where Gu Beiyue had learned his medical skills when Gu walked over with sleepy eyes. "Tsk tsk, it looks like a good deed, but in reality … it's not a good deed."
These aristocratic family disciples weren't just the future of their families, they were also the future of Medical City. In truth, Gu Beiyue had already stolen a large chunk of Medical City's foundation.
"Brother Gu, it looks like Medical City will be yours sooner or later?" Gu chuckled. Perhaps it was because Gu Beiyue's medical skills were better than his, but Gu had an inexplicable sense of worship for him!
Gu Beiyue hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Xiao Qi, you've done a great service this time, but don't go this afternoon, alright?"
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