Chapter 15: Old Chang's Blood Earns
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**Chapter 15: Old Chang's Blood Earns**
It wasn’t entirely his fault that he couldn’t recognize the person at first; the dim lighting made it difficult to see clearly. However, at this moment, Chang Kuo studied the figure in the candlelight of the carriage and felt that this reason was not the main one.
The primary reason was that this child had changed far too much.
The war in the south had been raging for nearly two years, and he had not returned home in that time, leaving his impression of the girl stuck in her fourteenth year.
If one were to speak of her features, she had indeed matured a great deal, but it was more than just that; it seemed that everything else had changed dramatically as well.
Was it because she was disguised as a young man?
Chang Kuo couldn’t quite put his finger on it, and inevitably, his attention was more focused on the perplexing situation before him.
“May I ask, Young Master Wei, what exactly is going on here?” Knowing that his little girl had always been soft-spoken and introverted, Chang Kuo instinctively turned to Wei Shuyi for answers.
Wei Shuyi glanced at Chang Suining before explaining how she had been abducted to Hezhou.
“What?!” Chang Kuo exclaimed in shock. “Such a thing has happened?!”
He was both surprised and angry. “For such a significant matter, why didn’t that brat Sui'an send word to me? What kind of person is he to let his elder brother down like this?!”
As he spoke, his right hand slammed heavily on the small table in the carriage, making a loud “bang” as the frail little table cracked under his palm.
“…” The carriage shook slightly, and Wei Shuyi instinctively steadied himself against the wall of the carriage.
Chang Suining looked at the cracked table, finding it particularly satisfying.
It broke quite nicely.
Even though he had become “Old Chang,” he was still a robust Old Chang.
Seeing the girl stare silently at the crack in the table, Chang Kuo felt his heart breaking. He raised both hands, wanting to comfort the girl’s shoulder, yet he hesitated, unsure of how to touch her without frightening her. He struggled to keep his voice steady, afraid it might startle her: “How… How did this happen?!”
“Did they hurt you?”
Noticing that the girl was neither crying nor speaking, Chang Kuo felt helpless. “Are you scared?! Suining… don’t scare your father!”
Chang Suining’s heart tightened: “Father?”
She actually called him “Father”?
So what about in the future…?
Hearing that awkward “Father,” Chang Kuo’s eyes turned red, and he nodded, gently patting the girl’s shoulder. He looked at Wei Shuyi and said, “Young Master Wei, my daughter Suining has been weak since childhood and timid. I’d appreciate it if you could explain this matter…”
Wei Shuyi’s brow furrowed slightly.
Weak and timid…
Though General Chang was a martial general, he was exceptionally humble.
He glanced at Chang Suining, not detailing her brave deeds, but generally said, “I was also entrusted with the secret letter from Lord Yu, which informed me that Madam Chang had been lost near Hezhou. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be of much help. Ultimately, it was still Madam Chang’s good fortune that she could turn peril into safety.”
With that phrase, “good fortune,” he encompassed all her brave acts.
As for what to say or not to say, that was a matter concerning the Chang family.
Chang Suining subconsciously looked over, only to see a hint of unspoken amusement in Wei Shuyi’s eyes.
“How fortunate that this misfortune turned out to be a blessing! Surely, there must be divine protection!”
Chang Kuo was immensely relieved, yet felt apologetic toward the girl before him. “Suining, are you angry at your father for not returning home in two years, neglecting the family? It’s truly my fault, and I regret that Suining has suffered…”
As he spoke, he felt more and more ashamed and self-reproachful. He then vowed, “But don’t worry. Once we return home, I’ll teach that brat Sui'an a lesson; I’ll break his leg for sure!”
Chang Suining: “…”
Old Chang’s way of expressing remorse was to break his son’s leg?
“And those scoundrels who abducted you! I’ll personally tear them limb from limb and grind them into meat paste!”
Chang Kuo’s emotions swung between rage and paternal affection.
Yet he was still somewhat at a loss as to how to properly express this love; being a rough man, he had always been flustered when interacting with the delicate girl over the years—
At this moment, seeing that the girl had grown taller than two years ago but was even more slender, he felt both guilt and heartache. He pulled out a dry pancake from the side, unwrapped the oiled paper, and handed it to her: “Here, eat a pancake to calm your nerves!”
Seeing the dry pancake suddenly produced, Wei Shuyi had an understanding—Madam Chang’s family was not ordinary folk.
Chang Suining looked at the dry pancake and then at his rough, cracked hands.
After a moment, she reached out to take it and brought it to her mouth for a bite.
The military rations were only meant to fill the stomach, naturally lacking in flavor.
However, with that bite of pancake, she truly felt… she was home.
Seeing Old Chang and tasting that pancake, she finally felt like she was really back home.
It was like being guided back to her homeland, laid to rest, and buried in her native soil…
The girl lowered her head and earnestly ate the pancake, her drooping eyes slightly reddening.
“Slow down, don’t choke!” Chang Kuo poured a bowl of water and handed it to her.
Chang Suining took it and gulped it down in one go. When she raised her eyes, she met Chang Kuo’s eyes, which were still filled with tension and worry.
The girl curved her lips and smiled at him.
Chang Kuo was taken aback for a moment before a silly, endearing smile quickly spread across his weathered face in response.
That playful smile looked rather foolish, causing Chang Suining to laugh even more, her eyes sparkling with joy.
So this would be her “Father” in the future. The vicissitudes of life truly were unpredictable.
In truth, she had never called anyone “Father.”
Her original father was beyond reach.
But Old Chang was already much older than her; by age, he indeed could be her father.
Moreover, having lived and died together for many years, she had always regarded him as a trustworthy family member. Therefore, calling him “Father” wasn’t a loss for her.
Of course, Old Chang was definitely the one who profited.
Chang Suining fought back her tears and continued eating the pancake.
Wei Shuyi watched this unfold and chuckled, saying, “Young Miss Chang, if you’re like this, how can I explain my harsh treatment?”
Hearing this, Chang Kuo laughed heartily, finally taking the time to repeatedly thank Wei Shuyi.
“Reporting to the Great General, Young Master Wei has taken a young lad along in General Chang’s carriage, saying he has personal matters to discuss with Tenth Young Master Wei. He specifically sent someone to inform the General.” Cui Yuanxiang was conveying this information.
“Understood.” On the horse, Cui Jing said nothing more.
“I wonder who that young lad following Young Master Wei is? He looks to be about fifteen or sixteen.” Cui Yuanxiang said curiously. “It seems that General Chang is quite nervous about that young lad.”
Cui Jing did not respond.
Cui Yuanxiang, used to the General’s demeanor, knew he was generally not very curious about anything and would not care much.
Oh, except for the Xuanzhe army and the war, and… the matter regarding the Great Cloud Temple in the capital.
He was not very clear on the secrets hidden in the Great Cloud Temple, but he knew it contained matters of great importance to the General.
Everyone, please don’t hoard the chapters ah ah ah! I really will have my heart broken! It’s worse than the mouth of Chang Ji!
(I’ve recently started working hard to save drafts, hoping that once this book is published, I can manage to do double updates, so that I can turn over a new leaf and start afresh _(:з」∠)_
(End of Chapter)
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