Chapter 154: 154. Martial Arts Champion (Second Update)
Translator: 549690339
“Nian Ruxue’s” path in the Military Exam drew to a close, amidst hushed gasps and incredulous murmurs.
The Gao Family members rushed onto the Combat Stage, and carried Gao Jiabao down.
The elderly Imperial Physician of the Gao Family urged his grandson to abandon the competition for the top three ranks, pointing out that it was already commendable to achieve the position of Martial Talent. Health was paramount and he must avoid combat until his injuries were entirely healed.
“I can’t leave.” Gao Jiabao’s face was virtually ashen.
Even if he did not have the qualification to continue the fight and wanted to forfeit, he had to stay and watch the remaining finals.
At that point, Duanmu Che was pleading on behalf of Gao Jiabao, “Father, Gao Jiabao has sustained severe injuries. Should he want to forfeit the ensuing battles, could he be allowed to leave for treatment prematurely?”
Duanmu Yi nodded, “If he wishes to forfeit, then he is the Martial Talent.”
Gao Jiabao harboured no resentment. Zhao Yang and the contender challenging him were both from martial arts families, bearing formidable strength. Even without his injuries, his odds of success were slim.
As for Su Liang, Gao Jiabao sincerely wished for her to become the Top Scholar.
Although their personal interactions were non-existent, limiting their encounters to the Combat Stage, he admired Su Liang to some extent.
Hence, upon confirming his place in the top three, Gao Jiabao chose to forfeit the ensuing ranking contests, thereby automatically securing the third place as the Martial Talent in this year’s Military Exam
“Nian Ruxue” was still conscious, but Duanmu Ao did not so much as glance at her, acting as if he had no relation to this disgraceful woman.
Nian Jinxing wanted Nian Jincheng to bring “Nian Ruxue” home, but Nian Jincheng claimed to use the toilet, and failed to return promptly.
As a result, Nian Jinxing, who was itching to leave with a turned face, had to brace himself under the public’s scrutiny, assisting “Nian Ruxue” to return home for medical treatment.
Duanmu Che spoke up, decided to retain “Nian Ruxue”, “Father, Lady Nian’s complexion isn’t great. How about letting Lady Su examine her first?” It was no secret that Su Liang had served as Duanmu Che’s physician.
Nian Jinxing’s facial expression became stiff. A sense of ominous foreboding filled his heart. Since when did Duanmu Che bother about others? Why would he hinder “Nian Ruxue’s” departure? He definitely wasn’t concerned about “Nian Ruxue’s” health!
Could it be that this was a fake and someone from the royal family already knew?! At this thought, Nian Jinxing’s hand trembled slightly, gripping onto “Nian Ruxue’s” arm tighter, he respectfully said, “I dare not trouble Lady Su may the emperor permit me to bring my sister home.”
Duanmu Yi’s gaze fell onto “Nian Ruxue’s” mask, his face stern yet awe-inspiring, “Where is Su Liang? Go and see where Lady Nian is injured.”
Nian Jinxing’s heart sank dramatically! At this moment, he clearly realised that trouble was imminent, colossal trouble!
This person was likely a stand-in that Nian Ruxue had found. If discovered, the Nian Family would meet their end!
However, Su Liang, having received the imperial command, brought her medicine chest over to the lowest part of the viewing platform, a smile gracing her face, “Master Nian, please allow me to care for your sister.”
Nian Jinxing somehow found Su Liang’s smile inscrutably eerie.
Nevertheless, he had no room for refusal, and had no choice but to entrust
“Nian Ruxue” to Su Liang.
“Nian Ruxue” was turning pale and breaking into a cold sweat. She was in so much pain that she couldn’t speak. Her right leg was completely incapacitated and was hanging awkwardly at her side.
The second round of the challenge had already begun, but numerous gazes were still on Su Liang and “Nian Ruxue”.
Su Liang lightly touched “Nian Ruxue’s” knee, causing her to scream out in pain, nearly fainting.
Su Liang stood upright, removing “Nian Ruxue’s” mask swiftly and naturally, before either “Nian Ruxue” or Nian Jinxing could react.
Nian Jinxing barely managed to hide his panic until he saw the face beneath the mask, and only then did he heave a sigh of relief.
“What are you doing…” “Nian Ruxue” glared at Su Liang, trying to push her away, “I don’t need your treatment!”
Su Liang took two steps back, calmly explaining, “I have a specially formulated painkiller pill that I wish to have Lady Nian take first, thus I had to remove the mask. The martial competition is over, why would Lady Nian be so anxious?
Man Ya, who had been keeping an eye on this side, wondered aloud, “Lady Su means well, why would this lady Nian look scared? Didn’t she say that she wore the mask to ward off the leering looks of men in the competition? Could she believe that Lady Su, a woman, would have the hots for her too? I find Lady Su far more beautiful than Lady Nian!”
At her words, more people turned their attention to “Nian Ruxue” on this side.
“I am unaware of why Lady Nian refuses to let me treat her, but it’s the Emperor’s orders. Please cooperate, Lady Nian, I mean no harm.” Having said this, Su Liang bent down to open the medicine chest, took out a vial of liquid, and poured it onto her hand.
“This is for cleaning my hands.” Su Liang explained.
Nearby, Lian Shun’s eyes lit up and he spoke quietly, “Little Cheche, that must be a cleanser for disguise makeup made by Su Xiaoliang! The show is about to begin!”
Su Liang spread the liquid on her hands, then took out another vial, poured out a pill, and approached Nian Ruxue gently, “Please calm down, Lady Nian, it will be much better after taking this medicine.”
“Nian Ruxue”, as Su Liang expected, refused to open her mouth. Su Liang maintained her smile, “The emperor is watching.”
“Nian Ruxue” finally opened her mouth, but not wide enough.
Su Liang naturally extended her hand, slightly raised “Nian Ruxue’s” chin, placed her fingers at the side of her mouth, causing her to open her mouth wide, then tossed in the pill and let go, reaching for the water flask.
The next moment, Lian Shun exclaimed, ‘What’s happened to her face?”
The people on the viewing platform, looking down from above, could clearly see that “Nian Ruxue’s” face, where Su Liang had touched, showed clear marks. It wasn’t that something extra was added, but rather, it was as if something was suddenly missing from those areas of her face!
Man Ya blurted out, “Disguise! It must be a disguise potion! She’s a fake!” The crowd erupted into chaos!
Su Liang held the water flask innocently, “I always cleanse my hands with a specially prepared medicinal solution before treating others.”
Despite his worst fears coming true, a glimmer of insight flashed through Nian Jinxing’s mind. He abruptly grabbed “Nian Ruxue’s” shoulder and harshly demanded, “You’re not my younger sister! Who are you really? What have you done with my sister?”
Su Liang: … This eldest son of the Nian family is quite cunning. If this person is proven to be a spy impersonating Nian Ruxue, whether Nian Ruxue is captured or killed as a result, it can still save the Nian family!
But the mischief-loving Man Ya piped up again. “Emperor Qian, if one has real abilities, they could just take the military exam themselves. Who has the time to pass examinations on behalf of others? How is it that I never come across such good fortune? It must be because the real Miss Nian is incapable, and hired a substitute!”
Man Ya was not a simple character; he saw through the truth at a glance.
Although Nian Jinxing had been quick-witted in his desperation, he could not fool those who had truly experienced power struggles.
“General Man shouldn’t slander without evidence! Your Majesty, it must be this woman who harmed my fourth sister! She wanted to impersonate my fourth sister! She must be a spy sent by someone unknown!” Nian Jinxing spoke in a grave voice. “Even if the Nian family were filled with the audacity of bears and leopards, we would not dare to commit such grievous acts of deceiving the Emperor!”
Duanmu Yi’s expression was grave. “Bring someone, seize him. Su Liang, reveal the true face of ‘Nian Ruxue’! The imperial examination of the Qian Country cannot tolerate any cheating or fraud!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Su Liang dutifully replied.
“Nian Ruxue” turned as pale as death, immobilized by the two people gripping her, as Su Liang removed the disguise from her face before everyone’s eyes, revealing her true identity.
Many people had forgotten that the Nian family had a fifth daughter, but Qin Yujin recognized Nian Ruting, and her face reflected her shock.
Upon seeing Nian Ruting’s face, Nian Jinxing was stunned as if struck by lightning. He stared at her, unable to utter a word!
If it was a stranger, he could argue that the stranger is a spy. But this impersonation of Nian Ruxue was actually his own younger sister!
Soon enough, everyone came to know that she is Nian Ruting, who was sent to the countryside estate of the Nian family for treatment.
While the challenge contest on the combat stage was yet to conclude, everyone’s attention was directed elsewhere.
The manipulation of the Nian sisters, Ruxue and Ruting, was simply unbelievable.
“Emperor Qian, it seems she has always been wearing a mask to prevent people from discovering her true identity. After all, even with a disguise, certain mannerisms would give her away, so it’s safer to hide behind some concealment. Man Ya scoffed, “This fifth Miss Nian also had the qualifications to participate in the military exam. She stubbornly chose to fight for her sister, truly a demonstration of sisterly love!”
Duanmu Yi did not intend to trivialize the issue. When Nian Ruting was first eliminated in the initial round of chaos, she lost her value.
Nian Jinxing and Nian Ruting were forced to kneel on the ground while Su Liang quietly returned to her original position with her medicine box in silence.
While this might not be the most severe case of fraud in the history of the imperial examination of the Qian Country, it will certainly be the most sensational.
“Who is the main conspirator?” Duanmu Yi demanded coldly.
Nian Jinxing replied gravely, “Your Majesty, I know nothing about this!”
“I am the mastermind!” Nian Ruting’s voice was weak but very resolute, “I was jealous that my fourth sister was better than me in everything, so I wanted to live in her place!”
Man Ya chuckled dismissively, “You are more beautiful than your fourth sister, and your status is not inferior to hers. I’m curious, how is she better than you? And in which aspect? Would the heavens strike the Nian family with lightning if Miss Nian Five entered the military exam with her own identity?”
“Your Majesty, it was all my idea, it has nothing to do with my fourth sister or anyone else!” The expression on Nian Ruting’s face was urgent as she tried to explain.
But at this point, no matter what reason she gives, it won’t hold water in the face of the facts.
“Take them away. Arrest everyone in the Nian Mansion and interrogate them thoroughly!” Duanmu Yi ordered coldly.
“Your Majesty! It was really all my idea!
I beg Your Majesty to rescind the punishment!” Nian Ruting cried out.
Su Liang massaged her temples, what exactly was going through Miss Nian five’s mind? It seems she is another person under the control of Nian Ruxue, trying desperately to protect Nian Ruxue even at this point. But the more she spoke, the more mistakes she made. Her words added fuel to the fire! What was left of Nian Ruxue had now been utterly destroyed…
Sure enough, as soon as Nian Ruting finished speaking, all eyes in the court were on the second prince, Duanmu Ao.
His face alternated between green and pale, he was seething with rage, gritting his teeth, “The Imperial Marriage was an act of grace by our Emperor. The Nian family despises the imperial power, daring to offend the heavens. I request that the entire Nian family be executed!”
It wasn’t until this point that Nian Jincheng, who had left earlier under an excuse, finally returned.
“Brother! You have to beg the Emperor on our behalf! We really didn’t know anything about this!” Nian Jinxing cried out.
Everyone was watching Nian Jincheng’s reaction and waiting to see if Duanmu Yi would also arrest him.
Man Ya “kindly” cleared Nian Jincheng’s doubts in a sarcastic tone that was very close to the truth.
“General Nian, you should beg Emperor Qian for mercy! You just returned to the capital last night, so you must not be aware of this.” Man Ya public displayed a quite unusual attitude toward Nian Jincheng.
Instead, Nian Jincheng knelt down and said loudly, “I had left home and was not aware of what they have done. I believe that His Majesty will find out the truth. Whoever made a mistake, the law will punish them severely to serve as a warning to others!”
This plea for mercy completely shattered the hopes of Nian Jinxing and Nian
Ruting…
Nian Jincheng was also asked to cooperate with the investigation.
At this moment, the second round of the challenge contest finally ended. The winner was Zhao Yang, but he had also been badly injured.
As a result, Zhao Yang took the initiative to forfeit his right to compete in the subsequent competition for the Top Scholar.
Duanmu Yi granted it and announced that there would be no second place in the current military exam. Gao Jiabao and Zhao Yang ended in a tie, but both were titled as Martial Talents.
“Auntie is the Top Scholar!” Zhengzheng cheered jubilantly.
Su Liang felt a little dazed. She had been preparing for a final battle for a long time, and she didn’t expect that she would not even have to fight much before she became the Top Scholar?
However, her preparations found value, as Man Ya once again challenged the
Martial Artis Champion, Su Liang.
Duanmu Yi publicly asked if Su Liang dared to accept the challenge.
Declining would embarrass the Qian country. Losing would also bring shame to the Qian country.
Therefore, Su Liang soon had to face a real battle. Only if she won, her goals of becoming the Top Scholar would possibly be realized. If she lost, she would certainly bear disgrace..
