BXBX NOVEL Chapter 271 - 271: 271. Best Friends
Chapter 271 - 271: 271. Best Friends
As a result, Lian Shun found out from Gu Ling himself, and his feelings could only be described as quite odd.
That night, Lian Shun came over again to invite Gu Ling for a walk in the snow.
Gu Ling refused, saying it was too cold.
However, Lian Shun’s enthusiasm couldn’t be stopped by the snowstorm. With gentle persuasion and amusing cajoling, he insisted on staying until Gu Ling gave in.
“Lingling, Aling, Xiaoling, Little Lingling, Xiaogu…”
Listening to Lian Shun’s affectionate calls through the door, Gu Ling slightly frowned. This person might have a quirky personality, but he seemed exceptionally enthusiastic about him.
Unable to focus with the noise outside, Gu Ling got up, opened the door, and Lian Shun, succumbing to inertia, fell into his arms. Then with a shove, Gu Ling sent him flying outside, landing in the snow…
“Xiaoling, you hit way too hard!” Lian Shun lay sprawled out in the snow, not getting up. “If you don’t go out with me, I’ll freeze to death right here.”
Gu Ling thought of Yan Shiba, who would act coquettishly towards Su Liang. However, one had to admit, even though Yan Shiba was quite annoying, Lian Shun wasn’t so bad.
Gu Ling returned to his room, and upon hearing the door close, Lian Shun looked up at the sky speechlessly as the wind blew snow onto his face. “He’s still not moved? He’s really like a big ice cube, how will Su Xiaoliang manage to win him over?”
If Su Liang was here, knowing that Lian Shun came to harass Gu Ling in the cold wind and snow just to help train him and make her pursuit easier, she would definitely be touched enough to throw a snowball at Lian Shun’s face and call him a “psycho”…
However, when Lian Shun was about to give up and get up, he heard the sound of the door opening again and quickly pretended to be still lying down.
Gu Ling wrapped himself in a dark cloak, put on a hood, and walked over to kick Lian Shun lightly.
Lian Shun pretended that he was dead and didn’t make a sound.
“If you like snow so much, how about I bury you in it?” Accompanying Gu Ling’s icy voice, a refreshing snowball hit Lian Shun’s face, and he.yelled as he sprang up from the ground, only to see Gu Ling already gathering a second snowball…
Then Lian Shun laughed, “So Xiaoling, you want to have a snowball fight with me? Come on!”
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Ling’s snowball hit Lian Shun’s open mouth with precision. The feeling of the snow merging with his teeth was just too exciting…
It took several deep breaths for Lian Shun to recover. Wiping the melted snow from his face, he stomped his feet, shook off the snow on his body, walked over, and hugged Gu Ling’s arm. “You put on the big cloak, so let’s go for a walk together!”
Gu Ling agreed readily this time, making Lian Shun want to hit him even more.
Xing Ji wanted to talk to Gu Ling, so Qi Jun volunteered to come over. Seeing two people walking towards him, one was Gu Ling, and the other was Lian Shun, who was actually holding Gu Ling’s arm?!
Qi Jun had a strange expression. Gu Ling didn’t like being touched, and he even complained in front of the emperor when Su Liang touched him. So why was he so close with Lian Shun? Could it be that he didn’t dislike Su Liang, but rather disliked women in general?
As they approached, Qi Jun was pondering this question. Gu Ling, noticing his exoression. suddenlv Dushed Lian Shun awav. causing him to fall back into the
snow…
Seeing this, Qi Jun’s mouth twitched, and he quickly went to help. “Master Lin, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I felt a little dizzy from falling earlier, but now that I fell again, I feel better, haha!” Lian Shun brushed off the snow from his body, smiling brightly. He had also seen Qi Jun’s strange expression and was afraid he’d say something to Su Liang.
“Hehe, that’s good.” Qi Jun nodded. “Are you two going out in such heavy snow?”
Lian Shun’s eyes narrowed, and he hooked his arm around Qi Jun’s neck. “Qi Xiaojun, I have to ask you something. Why didn’t you tell me that Su Liang was interested in Gu Ling before you arrived? Are you afraid of hurting my pride?”
Qi Jun glanced at Gu Ling and shook his head seriously. “It’s because Marquis Chang Xin rejected my master. I thought telling others about it would damage my master’s self-esteem.”
“You’re just making excuses. Su Xiaoliang couldn’t care less about that, and besides, am I just anyone? I’m her best friend!” Lian Shun snorted. “I was going to have a serious talk with Gu Xiaoling about how he actually doesn’t like Su Xiaoliang, and have his eyes checked to see if there’s a problem.”
Qi Jun could not help but chuckle. “I’ll be sure to write a letter to my master about this.”
Hearing the words “writing a letter,” Gu Ling’s eyes flashed slightly.
Qi Jun almost forgot the important matter and remembered that Xing Ji was waiting at the military camp to meet Gu Ling, so he hurriedly spoke as Lian Shun was about to lead Gu Ling away.
“He doesn’t know the way, I’ll accompany him there.” Lian Shun said, pulling
Gu Ling forward and turning back to Qi Jun, “I also want to write a letter to Su Xiaoliang, give it to you tomorrow morning! Send them back to the capital together! ”
“Alright.” Qi Jun agreed.
Lian Shun accompanied Gu Ling to meet Xing Ji, and discovered that Xing Ji had also prepared some food and alcohol.
As Lian Shun was about to sit down, he heard Xing Ji say, “I want to speak with
Marquis Chang Xin alone, you should leave first.”
Lian Shun was stunned for a moment, then smiled and patted Gu Ling on the shoulder, “Then I’ll wait in your room, and accompany you for the night!”
Gu Ling shook his head slightly, “No need.”
Lian Shun had already reached the door, “Don’t be nervous, I really don’t like men. There’s just something I need to talk to you about. You’re leaving early tomorrow morning.”
After Lian Shun left, Gu Ling took a seat. Xing Ji looked at him with a complex expression, “In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown up so much.”
Gu Ling’s expression was indifferent, “I don’t remember when I met Marquis
Zhong Xin.”
Xing Ji shook his head and smiled, pouring wine for Gu Ling, “You haven’t seen me, but I’ve seen you. Back then, you were young and, by chance, saved Yu Sheng’s mother. When I heard about it, I wanted to see the most beautiful young master in the capital city that was rumored, so I found an opportunity and sneaked into the capital city to see you. It’s been ten years since then.”
Gu Ling did not follow up on Xing Ji’s reminiscing of the past, because he really didn’t know about the events Xing Ji mentioned. He asked bluntly, “What does Marquis Zhong Xin want from me?”
“I heard that there’s a girl in the capital city who pursued you?” Xing Ji asked with a smile. Qi Jun didn’t tell Lian Shun and Che Yun but told his father and Xing Ji about it.
Gu Ling nodded, “Su Liang.”
“You don’t like her?” Xing Ji asked.
Gu Ling’s expression was indifferent, “What does this have to do with Marquis
Zhong Xin?”
Xing Ji laughed, “Actually, she is my adopted daughter, but outsiders don’t know it. I heard that she has feelings for you, so I wanted to ask what you think. ”
“Miss Su is very talented, but I’m not interested in women.” Gu Ling said indifferently.
Xing Ji frowned, “You mean…”
“I’m not interested in men either. I’m used to being alone and don’t want to change.” Gu Ling said. Hearing this, Xing Ji sighed, “Habits can be changed.”
Gu Ling remained silent.
Xing Ji didn’t continue on the topic and instead talked about Gu Ling going to Liang Country.
Gu Ling returned to the General Mansion and went to find Lin Boyan first.
Lin Boyan had caught a cold and had taken medicine before going to sleep, so when Gu Ling woke him up, he looked very tired.
“Qi Jun is sending a letter to the capital city, you write to your family and give it to him.” Gu Ling said.
Upon hearing this, Lin Boyan got out of bed. Gu Ling then said, “I want to write a letter to Su Liang.”
Lin Boyan rubbed his forehead, “Alright, I’ll prepare an envelope for you. Bring it to me when you’re done writing.”
Gu Ling went to find Lin Bojun again, informing him that he could write a letter to Qin Yujin.
When Gu Ling returned to his own courtyard, Lian Shun was already asleep on his bed, and there was a letter he had written to Su Liang on the table, not yet sealed.
Gu Ling picked it up and opened it, seeing that Lian Shun wrote in the letter that they had known each other since they were young, and they were the best of friends. He asked Su Liang to rest assured that he would definitely train Gu Ling well…
Restoring the letter to its original state, Gu Ling went to the bedside and pulled Lian Shun up.
“You’re back.” Lian Shun rubbed his eyes, “What did Uncle Xing want from you?”
“It has nothing to do with you. Hurry up and say what you want to say, and leave when you’re done.” Gu Ling sat on the bed and pushed Lian Shun away as he leaned over.
“Tell me, how did Su Liang pursue you?” Lian Shun asked with great interest.
“I don’t want to say.” Gu Ling shook his head.
“Is it that you don’t like Su Liang or you just want to be alone?” Lian Shun asked.
Gu Ling didn’t answer.
Lian Shun’s expression was clear, “I see, it’s not that you don’t like her, it’s just that you’re used to being alone and don’t want to change, right?”
Gu Ling nodded slightly, “Yes.” There was no choice, according to Su Liang’s planned plot, he could only act it this way.
“Wrong! Totally wrong!” Lian Shun sat cross-legged, looking serious, “Gu Xiaoling, just because you’re used to being alone, it doesn’t mean it’s right and good!”
“I don’t need others to tell me what’s right and what’s good.” Gu Ling said.
“I’m not just anyone, I’m your friend you’ve known since you were little, you’ve eaten my oranges, and I’ve been beaten up for you!” Lian Shun snorted lightly.
Gu Ling: .
“To be serious. If you really don’t like Su Xiaoliang, let it be, although I think it’s impossible, but you are just too unsociable, this really isn’t good.” Lian Shun frowned, “In the past, your home was a mess, causing you not to interact with others, but that’s all gone by; now you’re alone without any meddling elders, how free you are! You can make any kind of friends you want, and if you want to abduct me back home as your brother, no one would hang you on a tree and beat you!”
Gu Ling shook his head, “I don’t want to.”
Lian Shun laughed out loud, “You can think about it, I’m willing!”
Gu Ling was silent, and Lian Shun cleared his throat, “I was just making an analogy. You’re not used to interacting with people? I’ll change your habits!”
“No need.” Just as Gu Ling finished speaking, he picked Lian Shun up horizontally, threw him out the door, and then threw his shoes out too.
“Hey, my letter!” Lian Shun had just started speaking when the letter came out through the door gap.
Lian Shun put on his shoes, took the letter out and stuffed it into his bosom, knocked on the door again, “I’ll ask Uncle Xing for permission to go to Liang Country with you! Gu Xiaoling, see you tomorrow!”
Gu Ling finished his letter to Su Liang and handed it to Lin Boyan. By the time he returned to his room and lay down, it was almost midnight.
The wind howled outside the window, and Gu Ling took out the hand-string Su Liang had given him from his arms, put it on his wrist, played with the beads on it, closed his eyes and muttered to himself, “I’m not used to being alone anymore… Su Xiaoliang, you have to take responsibility for me…”
The next day, before Gu Ling and his party set off, Qi Jun received many letters. There were those written by the Lin Family Brothers to their family, one from Lin Boyan to Su Liang, and one from Lian Shun to Su Liang.
Qi Jun planned to stay in Xuanbei City for the New Year with his father, so he arranged for someone else to go back to the capital and deliver the letters.
Lian Shun indeed went to find Xing Ji, saying he wanted to go to Liang Country with Gu Ling, and his reason was that he was a southern kid and wanted to see the snow in Liang Country…
Xing Ji actually wanted to leave Lin Bojun behind and let Lian Shun go. He thought it was not quite prudent for the emperor to send both of Lin Shuzhi’s sons to Liang Country together.
Xing Ji didn’t think anything would go wrong on their journey, but one couldn’t help but worry about the unexpected.
However, Lin Bojun was sent to Liang Country by the Imperial Edict, and he was just passing through Xuanbei City. Xing Ji had no authority to keep him here, but he could send Lian Shun along with him.
In Xing Ji’s view, Lin Boyan and Gu Ling were not sociable people. Although Lin Bojun was outgoing, he was too upright. Lian Shun, who was good at dealing with various situations and getting along with others, would provide a more stable travel companion.
So, when it was time to set off, Lian Shun carried his luggage and climbed into Gu Ling’s carriage. With one hand lifting the carriage curtain and the other arm around Gu Ling, he said goodbye to Xing Ji.
Seeing this scene, Xing Ji thought it was a good arrangement. He hoped Lian Shun’s enthusiasm would balance out Gu Ling’s coldness.
“Don’t worry, Marquis. King Yue of Liang Country is the grandfather of Marquis Chang Xin, and he won’t make things difficult for them,” Che Yun said, standing next to Xing Ji.
Xing Ji shook his head, “Perhaps that’s where the trouble lies. When Situ Xie asked the emperor to pardon Gu Ling, he might not have cared about his grandson but had ulterior motives.”
“Marquis Chang Xin wouldn’t side with the Liang royal family, would he?” Che Yun frowned.
“Of course not, ” Xing Ji sighed slightly, “but I’m afraid some people will not leave him be. By the way, is there any news about your younger brother?”
Che Yun’s eyes dimmed, “No. There’s something I’d like to ask for your help with. ”
Xing Ji nodded, “Just speak your mind.”
“My parents are in poor health. The harsh winters in the north are getting harder for them to bear as they age, and staying in this sad place never allows them to move forward. I won’t give up looking for my brother, but I’m afraid it will take too long, and my parents may not hold on. Recently, I’ve been hearing Lian Shun talk about how warm and comfortable the winters are in the south, and I’d like to take my parents to the south for a change of environment. I can resign from my military duties to go home, but I fear they might not agree to move. If I were to receive an imperial order to relocate to a southern post in the army, perhaps I could persuade my parents to go with me.”
Upon hearing this, Xing Ji patted Che Yun’s shoulder, “You are very filial. Although I wanted to groom you as my successor, it’s good for you to go to the south. With the alliance between Qian Liang and Liang Country, Yin Country might become restless again, and they need young and strong generals like you there. I will send a request to the emperor today, and I believe he will agree.”
“Thank you, Marquis!” Che Yun bowed in gratitude, and Xing Ji helped him up.
When Su Liang received the letter from Xuanbei City, she was helping Yang Yu try on wedding dresses.
“Wow! So beautiful!” Lin Xueqing entered and exclaimed as she approached Yang Yu. She handed the letter to Su Liang, “Sister Su, my brother sent you a letter, and so did Master Lin!”
Su Liang took the letter and stood up to leave, but was stopped by Lin Xueqing, “Sister Su, read it here and let me see my brother’s letter later. I’m afraid he’s only going to tell good news and not bad. It’s so cold in the north, and I’m worried he’ll get sick!”
Su Liang thought there must be one letter written by Gu Ling in the two, probably Lin Boyan’s letter, and she couldn’t let Lin Xueqing see it.
“I’ll get scissors to open the letter.” After saying so, Su Liang went to her room, while Yang Yu and Lin Xueqing stayed in the study room.
After closing the door, Su Liang opened Lin Boyan’s letter, which contained two pieces of paper. One was filled with writing, and the other had only four characters on it.
Two different handwriting styles.
One was written by Lin Boyan, with four characters, “Be well, don’t worry.” It was perfect to show Lin Xueqing later.
The other letter, filled with words, was from Gu Ling, describing the scenery he saw on the way, what he usually ate, and how he confessed to the Lin family brothers when they found out. Lin Boyan came down with a cold, but it was nothing serious. Lian Shun claimed to be his best friend, but he was just being self-conceited.
Su Liang chuckled, “My best friend is you. ”
After hiding Gu Ling’s letter, Su Liang opened Lian Shun’s. It described how he met Gu Ling when they were young, including when his grandfather beat him.
“Su Xiaoliang, don’t worry! I’m going to Liang Country with Gu Xiaoling, and I’ll train him well! By the time he returns to the capital city, he won’t reject you anymore! Aren’t you moved? Who is your best friend, after all, if not me?” Su Liang couldn’t help but smile, “My best friend is Gu Xiaoling.”
Already in Liang Country and riding a horse in the cold wind after losing a chess game to Gu Ling, Lian Shun sneezed twice and muttered to himself, “Su Xiaoliang must have received the letter by now. She must be very touched and thinking of me..”