Chapter 8: Chang Family’s Suining

   

 **Chapter 8: Chang Family’s Suining**

The group stopped in front of a guest room. The leader asked, "May I ask if the young lady of the Chang family is here?"

"I don't know her!" The boy guarding outside the room immediately responded.

The leader, Chang Ji, glanced at the boy and recognized him as one of the youngsters who had snuck into his lord's carriage the other day. He showed a token in his hand.

The boy looked at the object, puzzled—what was this? What did it mean?

Chang Ji felt a bit stuck and explained, "My lord is Tenth Young Master Wei, and we have been sent by him to invite the young lady of the Chang family."

The boy still showed no intention of moving aside. Just as Chang Ji frowned, the door to the guest room opened from within.

A "young man" appeared in front of them.

Chang Ji recognized this as the other boy who had snuck into the carriage the previous day. He asked sternly, "May I ask where the young lady of the Chang family is?"

The "young man" remained silent.

Could it be that she was standing right in front of him?

Seeing no response, Chang Ji tried to remain patient. "Please tell the truth, and you will be well rewarded."

The young woman finally spoke, "Perhaps I am the one you're looking for."

Chang Ji's eyes widened in shock.

That voice…

It was a woman? He hadn't realized it at all!

His lord had only said to find the people who had entered the carriage, but he had not mentioned that the young lady of the Chang family was one of them!

How could a young woman from a noble family in the capital disguise herself so convincingly as a man?

The young woman of the Chang family then asked, "Why is Lord Wei seeking me?"

Chang Ji composed himself and bowed. "My lord wishes to invite the young lady to stay at a separate residence for her safety. Once the matter in Hezhou is settled in a few days, we will escort you safely back home."

The young woman nodded and, without hesitation, began walking downstairs. Her swift decision caught Chang Ji off guard, and he quickly led the others to follow.

"My lord, I sincerely apologize..." The innkeeper, who had been keeping an eye on the situation from downstairs, approached with an apologetic expression.

He usually would have tried to intervene, but since these people were under the command of Tenth Young Master Wei from the capital, he feared that the young man upstairs might be involved in the ongoing case in the city and had revealed the location as requested.

Fortunately, it appeared that both sides were on friendly terms.

The young woman simply said, "No harm," and left the inn.

The streets were bustling, with young willow branches sprouting and the sunlight shining golden.

The young woman looked up at the clear blue sky.

Years ago, besides her childhood name, A Li, she had given that little girl the name "Suining."

But whose surname to follow had always been a subject of debate.

Looking at things now, it seemed she had taken after that foolish Chang’s surname.

Chang Suining.

"Sui" meaning peace throughout the years, and "Ning" meaning tranquility—an auspicious name indeed.

Yet, she had never seen little Suining grow up with her own eyes, and fate had not been kind. Little Suining had disappeared this very spring.

And by a strange twist of fate, from then on, she became Chang Suining.

"Miss Chang—" Chang Ji followed her out, gesturing to the carriage prepared beside them.

Chang Suining nodded and got into the carriage.

The boy, holding a hastily packed bundle, sat next to the driver.

As the carriage rolled forward, Chang Suining lifted the curtain slightly to observe the street.

Though the prefect magistrate's office had been raided by imperial investigators, the citizens remained calm, and there was no chaos in the streets. It was evident that Wei Shuyi handled matters not only swiftly but also with thorough care, leaving no loose ends.

And he had found her so quickly—

In this regard, he was nothing like his father, Wei Qin, or his mother, Duan Shi.

As thoughts of old acquaintances surfaced, Chang Suining's gaze turned distant, looking at her homeland.

Would she return to the capital?

Of course, there was no doubt.

That was her home, where her old friends were, and where unresolved matters from the past still lingered in her heart.

Moreover, she needed to uncover the truth behind A Li’s abduction before her fall into the water during the Lantern Festival in the capital. She couldn’t let A Li’s fate remain a mystery.

...

The carriage stopped in front of a secluded residence within the city.

Wei Shuyi was traveling incognito, so he had taken up residence here temporarily.

"Miss Chang, please rest here. If you need anything, just ask the servants," Chang Ji explained in detail.

"My lord also said that no one will know of your presence in Hezhou. You can rest assured of that."

 

"Thank you." Chang Suining paused before the small courtyard where she was to stay and asked, "How did Lord Wei know I was here, and why is he helping me?"

Chang Ji’s face showed a trace of caution as he hurriedly explained, "My lord was entrusted by Head Eunuch Yu of the Department of Palace Affairs to look out for you in Hezhou."

Recalling the various young women in the capital who had gone to great lengths to approach his lord, he quickly added, "My lord is busy with official matters and is not currently here. Since it was a favor, there's no need to express thanks."

But the young woman seemed momentarily stunned, her attention not on his lord but rather on the name mentioned. "Head Eunuch Yu—Yu Zeng?"

Chang Ji’s brow twitched.

How did this young woman dare to address Head Eunuch Yu by name?

But seeing her waiting for his answer, he nodded. "Yes."

Chang Suining was somewhat surprised.

Ah Zeng had come a long way; he was now Head Enunch, overseeing the Department of Palace Affairs.

She considered asking who currently sat on the throne of Dazheng, but she didn’t want this seemingly less-than-sharp Wei family attendant to think she was a fool, so she refrained from inquiring further.

Seeing that she didn’t ask anything else, Chang Ji quietly relaxed and, after bowing, took his leave.

The maidservants assigned to take care of Chang Suining were very attentive. "A tailor will come this afternoon to measure and make clothes for you, Miss. Do you have any preferences in colors or patterns?"

"No need to trouble yourselves," Chang Suining replied. "Men’s robes are more convenient for traveling."

The maid was surprised but didn’t question it, simply agreeing and then asking, "Is there anything specific regarding your daily meals or needs that we should pay attention to?"

This question got to the heart of the matter.

Chang Suining answered seriously, "More meat with every meal, but not too fatty."

Eating more meat meant having more strength—a habit ingrained in her over the years.

The maid smiled and nodded, leaving to make arrangements.

"Since the matter in Zhoujia Village is resolved, I must return to the capital." Chang Suining placed a pouch of money on the table and spoke to the boy standing nearby. "Take this silver with you."

The boy hesitated, realizing what she meant, and suddenly knelt before her, his words stumbling. "I... I have no parents and nowhere to go. I may only know how to cook, but I will learn whatever you need. I’m willing to do anything—just don’t send me away!"

Looking at the boy who seemed to see her as his last hope, Chang Suining asked, "Do you wish to stay with me long-term?"

"Yes! You saved me, I—"

Chang Suining interrupted his excited speech. "But I don’t have enough money to give you a regular salary at the moment."

Though she understood her current identity, it was still too soon to make any promises.

The boy, however, looked surprised. "You’ve already been kind enough to give me work, why would I need more money?!"

Chang Suining was speechless.

Was this some kind of test of her moral integrity?

Seeing his overly sincere eyes, she remained silent for a moment before saying, "Don’t say that out loud."

Otherwise, she might end up pulling a millstone for life.

The boy nodded, half-understanding.

"Alright, get up. After lunch, come with me on an errand," Chang Suining said.

The boy, overjoyed, quickly agreed.

...

In the afternoon, Chang Suining left the residence and sat down in a bustling teahouse.

"Make way!"

 

With a loud shout, the sound of hooves approached, and a group of riders sped through the streets, causing the people to step aside.

Sitting by the window, Chang Suining watched as the soldiers passed by, her eyes widening slightly. She murmured, "Is that... the Xuanzhe Army?"

  

"You recognize the Xuanzhe Army?" The waiter, who had been refilling her tea, struck up a conversation.

Chang Suining nodded slightly. "Yes."

Recognize them?

She did more than just recognize them.

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