Chapter 46: The "Legacy" of the Former Crown Prince
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### Chapter 46: The "Legacy" of the Former Crown Prince
It wasn’t the first time he had seen his sister dressed in men's clothing, but… why was there a man’s robe readily available in her carriage?
In just a short while, not only had she changed into the robe, but her hair had also been unbound and neatly tied into a ponytail. Such speed… it would be a shame not to use this talent for magic tricks!
Inside the carriage, Xi’er was busy gathering the hairpins and decorative flowers that had been pulled off by the young lady, feeling utterly bewildered—though the young lady seemed to have forgotten many things, she also appeared to have suddenly learned many new skills. It seemed this peculiar forgetfulness had its own trade-offs.
“Xi’er and Ah Zhi are waiting in the carriage,” Chang Suining said. “Ah Che can come in with me.”
Everyone responded affirmatively.
Chang Sui'an snapped back to reality and hesitated before nodding.
Chang Suining followed closely behind him as they approached the entrance of the Xuanzhe Mansion.
Chang Sui'an presented Chang Kuo's token, and although the guards recognized him, they still conducted a thorough check.
Once verified, they were allowed to enter.
As Chang Sui'an stepped through the gate of Xuanzhe Mansion, Chang Suining experienced a brief moment of disorientation.
She looked up and seemed to see a young man clad in black armor entering through the door, familiar figures crowding around him—
“Your Highness has returned!”
“Your Highness, during the days you were away, Ah Dian has been misbehaving again!”
“He didn’t eat his meals properly, and he even broke the roof in the back hall!”
“Your Highness… I didn’t mean to!”
“Hahaha, stop scaring him with the prince!”
…
Chang Suining couldn't help but smile slightly.
“Ning Ning, Father also instructed me to do something else; I need to see a general,” Chang Sui'an whispered to his sister. “Can you wait for me in the front hall?”
Chang Suining nodded in agreement. “Brother, you can focus on your business. I won’t wander off.”
She just wanted to take a look inside.
This was a place she had dreamed of countless times while in a foreign land.
Everything here felt like a bonfire, fueled by her memories. No matter how long it burned, it would not extinguish, allowing her to feel warm even in the darkest, coldest moments.
“Don't be too nervous,” Chang Sui'an reassured her. “The people in Xuanzhe Mansion may look cold and stern, but they are all very kind. Father often says this is his second home, so you needn’t be afraid here.”
Chang Suining nodded.
Inside Xuanzhe Mansion, although there were no exquisite pastries offered and no pleasantries exchanged, it couldn’t be said to provide a welcoming experience. However, as soon as Chang Suining entered the front hall, a soldier brought her some tea.
The spacious hall was empty, feeling slightly desolate and cold. Chang Suining did not sit down but began to observe the decor.
The hall was filled with old items, all kept clean and bright.
She recalled the image of the young general taking off his sword and placing it on the rack.
Her gaze instinctively moved toward the rack, which stood empty—no sword and no bows or crossbows.
Bows and crossbows…
She had seen them in the possession of Cui Jing before.
The bow and crossbow called "Wanyue" were significant—whoever had the ability to take over the position of general of the Xuanzhe army would receive them from Chang Kuo.
Thus, it was only natural that they now belonged to Cui Jing.
But what about the sword?
After searching for a moment, Chang Suining finally spotted the sword named "Riyue" on the incense table at the front of the hall.
It lay there properly on a sandalwood stand, as if being worshipped…
No, not as if; it truly was being worshipped—
Chang Suining looked at the incense burner used for rituals, feeling a mix of emotions.
Behind the incense burner, the silver-white scabbard gleamed like snow, its faint glow seemed to contain countless fragments of memories from the past.
Chang Suining felt herself drawn toward it.
She often thought that people, war horses, and swords shared a bond; thus, they should all have names.
Having a name was like having a life, establishing a connection with the world.
This silent bond caused the young lady before the incense table to slowly raise her right hand.
“Impertinence—”
A voice, not loud but icy, suddenly scolded, “Who dares to meddle with the legacy of the former crown prince?”
Chang Suining turned at the sound.
Behind her stood a young woman dressed in light crimson official robes, flanked by palace servants and eunuchs. With a pale, cold face, she was Ming Luo, the county princess of Gu'an, who had just appeared at Marquis Zheng's flower gathering.
Meeting her gaze, which held a silent pressure, Chang Suining calmly explained, “I was momentarily lost in thought and meant no offense.”
Upon hearing this response and seeing the youthful face unadorned with too much makeup, Ming Luo’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Who are you, and why are you in Xuanzhe Mansion?” she asked in a condescending tone.
Now that they were close, Chang Suining felt a strange sensation rising in her heart once more.
Before she could respond, a figure hurriedly entered, raising his hand, “Lady Ming.”
Only then did Ming Luo shift her gaze from Chang Suining to the newcomer, speaking softly, “Is General Cui in the mansion? I have a message from the Holy Emperor that needs to be conveyed to General Cui.”
Cui Yuanxiang replied, “Lady, please wait; I’ve already sent someone to invite the General.”
Ming Luo nodded lightly.
“Eh? Young Lord, you’re here too!” Cui Yuanxiang exclaimed upon seeing Chang Suining, surprise quickly followed by realization. “I see now; you must have come with the Chang family’s young lord!”
Chang Suining nodded. “... Yes.”
She had figured it out—this “young lord” was genuinely addressing her from the heart, clearly not remembering their encounter days ago at Dayun Temple—or perhaps they still didn’t know that the person they had met on the road back to the capital was a young lady.
He was still viewing the “he” and the Chang family’s daughter as two separate individuals.
As the county princess was not Cui Yuanxiang’s superior, he felt no need to hold back. He pulled Chang Suining aside to speak privately.
“Young Lord… I’ve finally seen you!” Cui Yuanxiang spoke in a hushed tone, his excitement barely concealed.
Chang Suining looked at him in confusion.
Cui Yuanxiang continued in one breath, “A few days ago, I happened to see the Chang family’s daughter, and she seemed so familiar. After thinking about it for a long time, I finally realized last night… it’s because the Chang family’s daughter looks just like you!”
Chang Suining: “…”
This revelation was truly unnecessary.
Cui Yuanxiang was not exaggerating in the slightest.
The night before, he had tossed and turned, suddenly sitting up in bed as a realization dawned upon him, finally resolving the confusion that had troubled him for days!
But immediately after, another question arose.
If the young lord looked so much like the Chang family’s daughter, hadn’t anyone in the Chang family suspected anything?
“Have you ever met the Chang family’s daughter?” Cui Yuanxiang’s overwhelming curiosity made him particularly eager. “Was there a twin sister or older sister when the young lord was born?”
This was crucial for him!
If he didn’t figure it out, he wouldn’t be able to sleep!
As Chang Suining looked at him in disbelief, trying to suggest that he might need to drink some herbal medicine to regulate himself, footsteps from outside the hall made her instinctively look up.
The person who entered was Cui Jing.
However, he appeared somewhat different from the last time she saw him.
Chang Suining gazed at his face—he had finally made the effort to shave off that faint stubble.
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*Author's note: I secretly vowed to set my update times during the day once I regain my stockpile! (If I can get one…)*
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*(End of Chapter)*
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