Chapter 71: She Knows How to Beat People
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Chapter 71: She Knows How to Beat People
"You...!" Ming Jin was so shocked and furious that he momentarily lost the ability to speak.
The two maids behind him were already flushed with anger, unable to say anything either.
"That's exactly why they tried to kill and silence us!" Xi'er concluded decisively. "That’s the whole truth!"
It made perfect sense! Chang Suining looked at Cui Jing. "General Cui, we are willing to confront this matter before Her Majesty."
"A bunch of filthy-mouthed lunatics...!" Ming Jin's face twisted as he sneered. "I have no time to bicker with you! Such vile lies must not sully my aunt's ears!"
"Why are you all standing there? Hurry and help me back!" he ordered.
Cui Jing ignored his attempt to slip away. "This is no small matter, Lord Ming. Please come with me to see Her Majesty."
As soon as Cui Jing finished speaking, two soldiers from the Xuanzhe Army blocked Ming Jin's path.
Ming Jin gritted his teeth. "General Cui, you’re certainly thorough!"
This Cui Jing really has no flexibility!
"Oh! Look, he's scared!" Ah Dian pointed at Ming Jin, his face lighting up with realization. "I get it! He did something dirty, and that's why he doesn’t dare face Her Majesty!"
Ming Jin's cheek twitched. "Shut up!"
Cui Jing glanced at Chang Suining and took the lead.
"Ah Zhi, stay behind and clean up here. Send the firewood to the wood storage, and then come find me," Chang Suining instructed, before following Cui Jing with Xi'er.
Ah Dian snorted at Ming Jin and strode off.
Ming Jin was fuming inside, while Cui Yuanxiang remained expressionless. "Lord Ming, please."
Ming Jin took a deep breath and sneered. "I’ll see if my aunt will believe these baseless accusations!"
With that, he shook off his guards and marched forward, only to stop with a hiss of pain as his wounds flared up, contorting his face.
The guards quickly supported him again.
Although they were supposed to be helping him, they were practically carrying him.
As Ming Jin gritted his teeth in pain, he glared intensely at Chang Suining.
Sensing his hateful gaze, Chang Suining glanced back. Her calm eyes were cold and indifferent, and the moment their gazes met, Ming Jin's eyes involuntarily shrank. The pain intensified, as if that wooden pole was once again smashing into him.
The flash of fear in his eyes didn’t escape Cui Jing's notice.
He's clearly afraid of being hit again.
Judging by the way Ming Jin was walking, Cui Jing quickly assessed the situation. The injuries weren't life-threatening, but the beating had been severe. It would take at least half a month to recover.
It was also clear that the person who hit him knew how to avoid causing fatal injuries, but the one who was beaten must have experienced the terror of death.
As Cui Jing turned his gaze away, it lingered for a moment on the young woman following half a step behind him. She knows how to hit.
People so skilled at beating others are rare.
She might not only be a martial arts prodigy but also a genius at beating people.
...
Waiting by the river in the back mountains, Wei Shuyi was still waiting for Chang Suining to come back for more water.
Soon, Chang Ji hurried back with news. "Miss Chang and Lord Ming got into a fight. She’s now with General Cui to meet Her Majesty, so it looks like she won’t have time to fetch water today."
Wei Shuyi was incredulous. "She fought with Lord Ming… Ming Jin? They fought?"
Chang Ji corrected him. "To be precise, Lord Ming got beaten up. I heard he can’t even walk now."
Wei Shuyi gave Chang Ji a doubtful look. "Are you sure? Was it Miss Chang who did it or General Dian?"
Chang Ji confidently replied, "I asked carefully. It was Miss Chang herself. She beat him with a wooden pole."
At first, it sounded absurd to him too, but after a moment, it somehow seemed fitting—after all, it was Miss Chang.
Even though she had just survived a life-and-death ordeal yesterday—
Even though the one she beat was the emperor’s nephew—
But… it was still Miss Chang.
The shock from witnessing her interrogate the couple from Zhoujia Village in Hezhou was still fresh in Chang Ji's memory.
From Hezhou to the capital, it seemed like Miss Chang’s hands hadn’t rested from beating people.
Wei Shuyi sighed with a hint of regret. "It’s only been a short while, and Miss Chang has added yet another heroic deed to her name."
"Let’s go," he said, turning around with a sigh. "We’ll wait somewhere else."
...
On the way to meet the emperor, Ming Jin barely managed to walk halfway before angrily exclaiming, "I can’t walk anymore! If you want to go, go yourselves! I have no energy to deal with you today!"
At Cui Jing’s signal, Ming Jin was carried the rest of the way to the emperor.
Inwardly, Ming Jin cursed the ancestors of the Cui family, but outwardly, he cried injustice. "Aunt, I have done nothing improper… It’s all slander against me! You must stand up for me!"
Ah Dian immediately retorted, "But he was clearly engaging in filthy behavior with someone!"
And he didn’t forget to pull Chang Suining into it. "We all saw it! Isn’t that right, Little A Li?"
Chang Suining paused for a moment, then slightly turned her head and nodded.
The palace maids and eunuchs exchanged awkward glances.
Even someone as shameless as Ming Jin felt a wave of dizziness, as though he had been stripped naked in front of everyone—and not just once!
His voice trembled. "If you dare spew nonsense again, I’ll—"
"Ah shen!" Ming Luo frowned, cutting him off.
Jin means caution.
"Ah shen" was Ming Jin’s childhood name.
And clearly, there was a discrepancy between the name and its owner, who had yet to live up to it.
"Ah shen made a mistake and disrupted the peace of the temple. He must be punished," Ming Luo stepped forward, raising her hand toward the holy emperor in a gesture of apology. "I beg Your Majesty to issue a punishment."
Ming Jin frowned sharply. "Sister!"
Ming Luo glanced at him, her eyes carrying a silent warning.
Ming Jin begrudgingly swallowed his discontent.
"Utterly preposterous," the Holy emperor scolded coldly. "This prayer ceremony is of great importance. How dare you make such a scene?"
Cold sweat broke out on Ming Jin’s forehead, and he quickly kowtowed, no longer daring to argue. "I won’t do it again. Please, Aunt… Your Majesty, spare me this time."
"Guards," the holy emperor ordered, frowning, "expel Ming Jin from Dayun Temple immediately. Once he returns to the capital, confine him to his home for three months. He is not allowed to step outside."
"Aunt!"
Ming Luo turned to his oblivious younger brother and said, "Why haven't you thanked Her Majesty for her leniency?"
Ming Jin's tone was filled with reluctance. "I’ll accept my punishment!"
He straightened his upper body and pointed at Ah Dian and Chang Suining. "But they did injure me like this, which is also a fact. They committed violence in the temple, which is an unforgivable crime!"
The Holy Emperor’s eyes darkened as he looked at him. "You were the one who first attacked with a blade, and yet you still dare to behave so arrogantly here. Do you think my punishment is too light?"
Even someone as dense as Ming Jin could understand the underlying threat in these words. His heart tightened, and though filled with discontent, he had no choice but to fall silent.
"It... it was my mistake," he admitted, bowing his head. "I realize my wrongs and ask for my aunt’s forgiveness!"
The holy Emperor's expression remained cold. "Take him away."
Ming Jin dared not resist and, swallowing his anger, allowed the eunuchs to escort him away.
The Holy Emperor’s gaze then shifted to Chang Suining, his tone neutral. "Today’s events must have frightened you, Miss Chang."
Chang Suining lowered her gaze and calmly replied, "With Your Majesty handling the matter fairly, I feel completely at ease."
Of course, this wasn’t her true sentiment.
But such a resolution was entirely within her expectations.
This incident tarnished the Ming family's reputation and was not favorable for a religious occasion. It was destined to be handled discreetly.
The Holy Emperor looked at her. "This matter should not be publicized—"
Chang Suining understood immediately. "Yes, I understand."
Everything was going as expected. She knew when to take what was offered and had no reason to act foolishly by confronting the person sitting on the throne.
At least, not yet.
Right now, she couldn’t afford to be reckless.
The Holy Emperor nodded slightly, seemingly pleased with her prudence, then asked, "You’re still injured. Why were you in the back mountain?"
Chang Suining answered truthfully, "It’s just a minor injury. With nothing to do this morning, I went with my maid and the monks to fetch water and chop wood."
The Holy Emperor, slightly surprised, smiled. "You are quite devout."
However, Holy Emperor rarely had much interest in idle chatter, even if the girl before hee was somewhat intriguing.
"This matter is settled. Everyone may leave," she declared. "General Cui, please stay."
Chang Suining curtsied and left.
Ah Dian followed behind her.
"Little A Li, how did you do it?!" Ah Dian asked in disbelief. "We hit him, yet he’s the one getting punished!"
Chang Suining smiled. "Didn't I say I’d take care of it for you?"
"I thought you were bragging!" Ah Dian’s eyes lit up as he walked alongside her, continuing to ask, "But how did you actually manage it?"
"Because he was in the wrong."
"Oh... I get it!" Ah Dian exclaimed, suddenly enlightened. "It’s because he did something disgraceful!"
Having discovered what seemed like a foolproof trick, he continued excitedly, "From now on, whenever I see him, I’ll just say I caught him doing something indecent! That way, he won’t dare bully me!"
"..." Chang Suining’s smile froze slightly. "It’s not something you should use recklessly."
Realizing she might have set a bad example, she quickly corrected him, "You must use it wisely, not frivolously. And don’t mention those four words lightly—people will laugh at you if you say them too often."
Ah Dian seemed to partially understand and, though feeling a bit disappointed, nodded. "Alright, I’ll listen to you."
Nearby, Xi’er quietly let out a sigh of relief.
She’d never heard so much talk of "indecent matters" in her life.
As they walked, Ah Dian suddenly let out a silly laugh.
Chang Suining looked at him. "What’s so funny?"
"I’m happy!" Ah Dian puffed out his chest, smiling innocently. "Xiao A Li, I’m really happy today! The last time I was this happy was... well, last time!"
Chang Suining smiled, though her heart felt a bit heavy. She asked, "Does Ming Jin bully you often?"
"Yeah!" Ah Dian nodded. "He’s a bad person!"
Then, feeling downcast, he added, "But the people at Xuanzhe Manor told me he has a powerful father and aunt. If I hurt him, I’d be punished... That’s why they don’t let me leave the manor alone."
Chang Suining looked ahead. "That’s because they don’t want you to get hurt."
"Yeah, but today you hit him, and you didn’t get punished!" Ah Dian quickly cheered up again, looking at her with admiration. "Xiao A Li, you’re amazing!"
Chang Suining sighed. "I’m not amazing."
Today, she had merely seized on Ming Jin's weakness.
If it had been a straightforward confrontation, given her current status, how could she have gained any advantage?
"It’s usually unwise to provoke such people lightly."
"Then why didn’t you back down, Miss Chang?" Wei Shuyi appeared from a side path.
He asked casually, and Chang Suining responded just as casually, "If backing down would bring peace, I’d gladly retreat."
"But if retreating would only embolden the other party," she continued in a matter-of-fact tone, "then it’s better to hit them first and talk afterward."
People like Ming Jin would only grow more aggressive if you backed down. The only way to deal with them was to beat them soundly so they'd let go.
Besides, the grudge between him and Ah Dian had long been established, so this was just one more incident.
Wei Shuyi nodded with a smile. "Quite reasonable. Did it feel good to hit him today?"
Chang Suining nodded. "It was alright."
"I had a great time!" Ah Dian beamed.
"Ming Jin has long been accustomed to throwing his weight around in the capital. He’s bound to bear a grudge after suffering such a setback today, and he may seek revenge later," Wei Shuyi warned. "You should be careful."
Chang Suining nodded.
She knew more trouble would come.
And it wouldn’t stop with just this. Her future troubles would only multiply—because she didn’t plan on staying quiet and compliant.
In this world, there were too many things she couldn’t tolerate, too many losses she refused to accept, and too many people she wanted to protect.
Heaven had given her a second chance at life, perhaps precisely so she could stir up some trouble.
In her past life, she had been very obedient. By her reckoning, she had long passed the age of obedience—people should grow more willful with time, or what’s the point of living?
"Don’t worry. My Xiao A Li is really strong!" Ah Dian told Wei Shuyi proudly, as if he’d regained his confidence.
Chang Suining: "I’ve already told you I’m not strong."
Ah Dian stubbornly insisted, "You are!"
Chang Suining sighed and nodded, relenting, "It doesn’t matter. I’ll be strong in the future anyway."
Her tone, though meant to placate a child, carried a certain seriousness that made Wei Shuyi smile. He couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of anticipation, as if waiting for a flower to bloom—
Although, someone like him had long since lost interest in watching flowers bloom.
But the girl before him clearly didn’t intend to be a flower—
She may have started as a small sapling, but she seemed determined to grow into a towering tree.
Could a sapling really become a great tree?
Wei Shuyi looked at the girl beside him with a smile. "There’s something I’ve been curious about. I wonder if you, Miss Chang, could enlighten me."
"Of course," Chang Suining nodded. "Otherwise, I doubt you’d sleep well."
Having followed her from the back mountain to here, it was clear this man was the type who couldn’t rest until he got his answers.
Wei Shuyi let out a clear, bright laugh. "Miss Chang, you truly understand me."
"I tossed and turned all night, pondering something, but I still couldn’t figure it out." With no one else around, he finally asked what had been on his mind.
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