Chapter 173: The Art of Finishing ng Liang (X)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Shitang Dafan Ayi: “Sigh. No matter which dinsion it is, good people don’t always have happy endings.”
Laosiji Lianng: “I can’t believe what the ng’s did to the loyal man. Still, I appreciate ng Hun’s act. Loyalty should not be blind.”
Xiyan: “Host, can you help him? I feel so sorry for him.”
Liuyue Xiesandao: “Sa here. Reality is not a fairytale, but I still hope he can get what he deserves.”
Jiang Pengji was equally “profoundly moved” by the military chief’s account. Her eyes widened. “How could that be?”
ng Hun added, “rchants in ng County can account for my words. While the ng’s and their army were blocking the news, I do believe in the courage of people for telling the truth. Even if they are too afraid to say it, you can ask about the reputation of the ng’s in the region.”
Jiang Pengji was hesitant. Finally, she decided. “I sympathize with you, but the ng house is one of the greatest in Dongqing––even our King can’t afford to provoke them, let alone and my family! I mustn’t let you kill ng Liang, or else we’ll all die at the hands of the house!”
ng Hun listened with desperation.
She continued, “Still, I can let you go safely. You’ll leave Hejian tomorrow morning as soon as the town gate opens, and you’ll never return to kill ng Liang. Will you promise that? I’ll then pretend that nothing happened tonight.”
Her offer touched ng Hun, who replied with a bitter smile. “Langjun, you are generous, yet credulous. Aren’t you worried about yourself?”
“Why should I be?” she asked.
ng Hun exclaid, “Don’t be deceived! ng Liang never forgives, and he will rember every word I’ve said tonight! Langjun, you may pretend that nothing has happened, but what about him? When he returns ho and tells a distorted story to his family, they will certainly bla the Liu’s instead of thanking you.” That was the most likely thing to happen, given ng Liang’s traits.
As a result, Jiang Pengji struggled again. “No, he... he wouldn’t do that to .”
“Are you sure?” His tone was certain.
ng Liang was tense as he listened to the conversation. The people in front of him were determining his life, and he could neither run, fight, nor speak for himself.
He did not know why Liu Xi had left him, but he would surely be dead if the youngster was persuaded. He made noise to attract her attention.
“Hush!” A man noticed him and kicked his thigh as a warning. ng Liang shrieked.
“Langjun, have you heard about the past conflicts between the ng’s and your family? They would have erased the Liu’s were it not for your father’s discreteness and decisiveness.” ng Hun would not let the naïve langjun release his captive, and he thus blurted out, “The Liu’s lady was once ng Zhan’s wife!”
What? Jiang Pengji faked a natural, shocked expression and stumbled a step backwards. “Nonsense! How dare you attack my mother!”
ng Hun swore to heaven. “If that’s a lie, I’ll be struck by bolts and tornted in hell!”
Jiang Pengji cald herself down. “Why did you say that?”
ng Hun was not the type to exaggerate, so he told her the plain facts. “If I’m not mistaken, your mother is from the Gu’s in Langye. She married ng Zhan at a young age, but ng Zhan suspected that she was disloyal. As a result, he and his concubine constantly abused the lady and her son. A few years after their divorce, the lady remarried Officer Liu.”
The remarriage upset ng Zhan so much that, when ng Hun had served the house as a guard, he often heard the drunken master cursing the lady.
“ng Zhan has never forgiven the lady. Imagine what would happen if ng Liang returned to Cang and accused the Liu’s for helping against the ng’s! Do you think they would spare your family?”
Unlike the common military, ng Hun was more attentive and sensible.
He seed to have convinced Jiang Pengji, who tiredly rubbed her forehead. “What should we do, then?”
ng Hun tightened his lips and knelt down. He then bowed to her, his head knocking hard against the floor. “ng Liang must die! There’s no reason for saving him. Please, I plead for your rcy on !”
Jiang Pengji turned to one side to avoid his bow, and then gave him a hand to help him stand up. “Stand up straight like a man!”
ng Hun’s companions wanted to help him up, too, but he rejected stubbornly.
“Ever since my wife and daughter left, vengeance has been my only drive for living. I must take that b*stard’s life today, even if that ans I have to go to hell with him! Langjun, I know you are compassionate, and I won’t put you at risk... I beg you to let kill ng Liang! I will bear all the responsibility for his death!”
His entreaty roused Jiang Pengji’s empathy.
Before she replied, the man continued, “By that ti, you may cut off my head for the ng’s to prove the Liu’s innocence. The only thing I ask of is that you take care of these brothers of mine.”
When he finished, he again knocked his head on the floor. Jiang Pengji could feel the sounds echoing in her heart.
She had already calculated everything that he had said. Yet, when the scene unfolded in front of her, she was more touched than she imagined she would be––perhaps that was because of his sincerity.
“Stand up to speak to !” she repeated, that ti more seriously. “I must acknowledge the threat you ntioned. I can’t place my family at risk for the ng’s revenge.”
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