Chapter 74: Stubborn Yet Short-lived
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**Chapter 74: Stubborn Yet Short-lived**
As Chang Suining and her three companions approached, the flute music came to an abrupt stop.
The flutist instinctively turned his body slightly.
It was a young man, barely in his twenties.
Spring had already arrived, yet he was still draped in a thick fox fur cloak. Despite this, he still appeared thin and frail.
His face was strikingly handsome but excessively pale, and his lips were slightly lighter in color than most.
Next to him stood a servant, who leaned in to whisper, "Young Master, this is miss Chang..."
Chang Suining had no idea what the servant had said, but since the other party stood by the riverbank, she couldn't pretend not to see him. She stopped about five or six steps away and raised her hand.
"Young Master Rong Wang."
The young man looked surprised at her words. "You recognize me?"
Chang Suining shook her head. "I guessed."
He paused, then suddenly understood. "That makes sense."
He smiled, a hint of self-deprecation in his expression. "There aren't any other sickly royal family members like me in the capital."
That was the truth.
But the reason Chang Suining could recognize him was quite different—his features bore a seven-part resemblance to his father, the Rong Wang. No one would believe he wasn't his biological child.
Recalling her former elder, Rong Wang, Chang Suining asked, "I heard that the Rong Wang's son was frightened and fell ill. Is he feeling any better now?"
This matter was somewhat related to her.
On the list Yu Zeng provided her, she saw the name of the Rong Wang's son and had asked Xi'er about him. To her surprise, Xi'er said he had fallen ill from fright during the prayer ceremony—
In other words, while she, the unfortunate one attacked by an elephant, had not been frightened, she had inadvertently scared the Rong Wang's son sick.
What a misfortune.
"I've already recovered..." Upon hearing her mention this, Li Lu appeared somewhat uncomfortable. "Please don't laugh at me, Miss Chang."
Chang Suining dismissed it lightly. "It's just a matter of luck; there's nothing to laugh about."
She was bold but didn't belittle those who were timid.
Those who were healthy had no right to mock the sick—just as those with good fortune should not rush to ridicule the unlucky, which only made them appear foolish.
As she watched the young girl and her maid head to the river to fetch water, Li Lu stood in a daze.
When he saw her skillfully fill two buckets to eight-tenths full and lift them effortlessly, his surprise deepened.
Watching the pair of mistress and servant walk away, Li Lu’s astonishment had not faded. "I heard a few days ago that the Marquis of Ying’s son was beaten by Miss Chang. I didn't believe it at first..."
Now, he couldn't help but worry about the Marquis of Ying's son's injuries.
"Isn't it so... the water she draws is quite substantial," the servant remarked, genuinely impressed. "Truly deserving of the daughter of General Chang."
Li Lu nodded. "Indeed."
The daughter of General Chang—he repeated the phrase in his heart.
"Young Master, there's a wind here; we should head back."
"Not yet." Li Lu gazed across the river at the green mountains. "The scenery here is splendid; it feels like my breathing has become smoother..."
As he spoke, he raised the flute to his lips again.
Hearing the ethereal flute music resound once more behind her, Chang Suining continued walking.
The Rong Wang was the youngest half-brother of the late emperor—
The late emperor referred to the father of the late crown prince, the late emperor Hongxiao.
Not long after the late emperor passed away, the late crown prince, who was supposed to inherit the throne, also died due to illness. In the ensuing chaos, the current emperor, who was the only remaining seventh prince at the time, Li Bing, was established as the new emperor after discussions among the late emperor’s officials.
However, after Li Bing ascended the throne, he revealed a depraved and foolish nature, ruling in a tyrannical manner. Subsequently, he fell ill with an unspecified spring sickness, suffering from chronic pain and becoming increasingly violent, which led to widespread discontent among the officials—
Three years later, during the great victory against the Beidi, when the Xuanzhe army returned to the court, Empress Dowager Ming, after numerous suggestions from various officials, advocated for the removal of Li Bing from the throne.
Not long after being deposed, Li Bing died and was buried with the honor of a prince, which is why people no longer referred to him as an emperor. When discussing the late emperor, they meant the late emperor Hongxiao.
The Rong Wang was the youngest of the late emperor's brothers, the youngest uncle of the late crown prince.
Now serving as the Prefect magistrate of Yizhou, the Rong Wang had only one son, Li Lu.
Due to Li Lu's frail health, he had always stayed in the capital to recuperate.
Though officially for recuperation, it felt more like being a hostage.
In her spare time these past few days, Chang Suining would ask Chang Kuo or Qiao Yubai about court matters. Yesterday, Qiao Yubai told her that after the current emperor ascended the throne, he considered selecting a royal family member as the crown prince to ensure the future succession, and they had considered making Li Lu the crown prince. However, Rong Wang and many ministers thought Li Lu was too weak to bear such a responsibility, and thus it was dismissed.
So, this Rong Wang's son had narrowly missed the opportunity to be the crown prince.
Fortunately, it was just a near miss.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy this flute music now.
From the recent events with the Pei family, it was evident that the so-called restoration of power by the current emperor was merely a means to stabilize public sentiment—
The struggle for power always tightens gradually, step by step.
Just as the current emperor had ambitions for the throne but still chose to establish Li Bing as the new emperor, the three years of chaos under Li Bing’s foolish reign were also when she seized the opportunity to gain power and consolidate support.
Some aristocratic officials would secretly scorn the current emperor, often mocking her greatest talent as having given birth to a pair of short-lived children.
These two children brought her glory while alive.
When they died, the timing was just right, allowing her to gain the greatest benefits.
—Stubborn enough, yet short-lived enough.
Chang Suining tightened her fingers around the wooden bucket, gazing at the path ahead.
At that moment, a figure in deep blue appeared from a side path and caught her attention.
It was Cui Jing.
"Little A Li, you are indeed here!" Ah Dian, who followed Cui Jing, quickly walked over and took the water bucket from Chang Suining’s hands. "Let me help you!"
He had come to Dayun Temple to find Chang Suining, but as a man, it was inappropriate for him to constantly stay by her side, so he had been arranged to be in the Xuanzhe army by Cui Jing.
Chang Suining hadn't seen Cui Jing for the past few days, and now that they had met, she recalled the incident with Ming Jin and said, "Thank you, General Cui, for that day."
"Why are you thanking me?" Cui Jing said with an expressionless face. "I didn't help with anything."
Implying, after all, that it was not him who had fought.
Seeing he was also heading back to the temple, Chang Suining walked alongside him and said, "I meant for spreading the news about my fight with Ming Jin—"
Cui Jing paused slightly. "Why do you think it was my doing?"
Chang Suining replied, "I guessed."
Then she added, "It’s easy to guess, right?"
Cui Jing: "…"
Why did it seem like his rhetorical question made him look foolish?
"It was just a convenient thing to do." He didn’t deny it further.
Chang Suining then asked, "Why did General Cui want to help me spread this news?"
"So that everyone knows, which might make Ming Jin a little cautious in the future."
Chang Suining nodded, just as she had suspected.
She asked again, “Then why is General Cui helping me?”
“Little A Li, do you even need to ask?” Ah Dian, walking at the front, replied without looking back. “Of course, it’s because we’re all family!”
Cui Jing did not confirm or deny this. “Miss Chang had a conflict with Ming Jin because of a senior—he is from the Xuanzhe Mansion, and this matter should have been resolved by me.”
Chang Suining understood; so that’s the reason.
“But Ah Dian is also my friend and family,” she said. “This is something I should do.”
“What’s there to argue about?” Ah Dian suddenly put down the water bucket, turned around, and faced the two of them. He first grabbed one of Chang Suining’s arms. “Little A Li, you and I are family—”
Then he grabbed Cui Jing’s arm. “Little Jing, you’re also my family!”
As he spoke, he suddenly pressed Chang Suining’s hand onto the back of Cui Jing’s hand. “So, the three of us, oh, and Uncle Chang... the entire Xuanzhe Mansion is one big family!”
Chang Suining: “……”
Cui Jing: “……”
Ah Dian looked at them with eager eyes. “I’m not wrong, right?”
Cui Yuanxiang, standing to the side, looked at the two hands pressed together awkwardly, his expression complex.
He never expected that the first time the General would hold a woman’s hand, it would be in such a situation.
And Ah Dian was known for his great strength…
This was akin to forcibly asking—are you touched?
In this scenario, they could only respond—unable to move, paralyzed.
With the external pressure and hopeful gazes, the two could only nod.
Cui Jing: “Hmm.”
Chang Suining: “That’s right.”
Ah Dian let out a satisfied “heh” and finally released them.
Chang Suining shook her wrist, which had been squeezed a bit painfully.
Cui Jing quietly withdrew his hand behind him, acting as if nothing had happened, looking straight ahead.
Ah Dian cheerfully picked up the water again and walked forward.
“Ming Jin is used to being arrogant; even if he has some reservations, it won’t be too much.” Cui Jing continued the previous topic. “You need to be more vigilant in the future.”
Chang Suining nodded.
She had heard this many times recently, which showed just how reckless Ming Jin was in his actions.
“If you encounter trouble in the city, if there’s time, you can seek out the Xuanzhe army for help.” Cui Jing, worried she might not understand, added, “During the day, the Xuanzhe army will be patrolling the city.”
Chang Suining instinctively replied, “But they don’t know me and may not easily believe what I say, right?”
The Xuanzhe army is known for its strict military discipline; they aren’t exactly approachable.
Cui Jing stopped walking.
He took a copper token from his waist, which was finely crafted in the shape of a fish. In his hand, he split it in two.
Cui Jing handed one half to Chang Suining. “Keep this. If you encounter danger, you can seek out the Xuanzhe army nearby; they will definitely help you.”
Cui Yuanxiang was stunned.
Though this token wasn’t an official order to mobilize the Xuanzhe army, it was a personal item of the general. Seeing it was like seeing the general himself in the army. Why would the general suddenly give half of it to Miss Chang?
Wasn’t the general lost in the idea of family after hearing those repeated words?
Ah… in the end, it was all because the Cui family treated the general too coldly, leading to this few casual words causing the general to get carried away!
This showed just how much the general craved the warmth of family.
Thinking of this, Cui Yuanxiang was nearly brought to tears.
What’s Miss Chang still hesitating for? Hurry up and accept it!
The general had finally opened his heart; if she rejected it, his heart might lock itself up forever!
Chang Suining had only asked casually, but unexpectedly, Cui Jing had given her this token, and she was momentarily taken aback.
Ah Dian urged, “Little A Li, take it! We’re family, so don’t be so formal!”
Seeing that Cui Jing was not just being polite but genuinely sincere, Chang Suining reached out to accept it. “Thank you, General Cui.”
Cui Jing then continued walking forward. “There’s no need to thank me; it’s better than nothing—”
“……” Chang Suining looked at the copper token in her hand.
Xi'er almost couldn’t bear to listen anymore.
“Better than nothing?”
The dignified leader of the Xuanzhe army, the personal copper token of the Cui family’s legitimate eldest grandson… if that’s “better than nothing,” then she would truly have nothing!
Cui Jing hadn’t finished speaking. “You still need to be self-reliant.”
Chang Suining nodded, saying, “Don’t worry, General Cui; I’m good at that.”
After some time adjusting to this body and understanding the current situation, she felt the ground beneath her feet was familiar, and the people beside her were known faces. Except for a slight unease around her father, which left her a bit dazed—now she could finally relax some of her defenses and become a little more at ease.
In those three years with the Northern Di, she had almost forgotten how the “old self” had lived and spoken.
Now, she seemed to slowly find herself again.
Hearing this boastful remark, Cui Jing turned to glance at the young woman beside him.
She was looking ahead, her eyes particularly bright.
After Cui Jing returned to the temple, he began dealing with official business, while Chang Suining took the empty bucket and went to fetch water from the back mountain again.
After making this trip back and forth four times, the sun gradually rose higher, and the Prince of Rong, sitting on a large rock by the river, couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Chang, aren’t you tired?”
“Just one last trip,” Chang Suining wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and casually asked, “Aren’t you going back, Prince Rong?”
Li Lu smiled and said, “I’m just about to head back.”
As he spoke, he looked once more at the green mountains across the river. “This place has beautiful scenery; it’s a pity we have to leave the temple tomorrow.”
“Are the nobles leaving the temple tomorrow?” A little novice nearby, upon hearing this, looked at Chang Suining and her companions, saying in a low voice, “What a pity…”
No one would help them work anymore.
An older monk beside the little novice softly scolded him, “...You shouldn’t have such a lazy heart.”
The little novice was taken aback. “I just think it’s a pity. How would you know what I think is a pity?”
Oh! He got it!
Unless the senior brother had the same thoughts as him!
The little novice looked at his senior brother with a gaze as if he were a thief. The monk’s face turned red, and he quickly chanted “Amitabha Buddha” several times.
Finally, recalling the insights he had from listening to the abbot’s sermon yesterday, he tried to reconcile with himself, attempting to accept his true feelings.
This was only human nature...
After all, who wouldn’t like a benefactor who was hardworking and earnest?
Amitabha Buddha, he had accidentally accepted it too thoroughly and had even started looking forward to the next blessing ceremony.
……
The seven days of prayer had ended, and the royal entourage set off to return to the capital.
From the serene mountain temple, they returned to the bustling court, where the turbulent waves shifted from obscurity to clarity.
The next day, during the morning court session, the handling of the Pei family was finally settled.
Pei Min was dead, and all those involved would be held accountable, their properties confiscated. Those found innocent would not be implicated—
In an instant, members of the Pei family were either imprisoned, exiled, or demoted. Even the remaining survivors, unable to grieve for their losses, hurriedly took their families and left the capital.
With the former gathering place of the Pei family, Jing Shan Fang, being searched and cleared out, the once illustrious Pei family fell into decline and separation.
After a spring rain, sharp voices sometimes echoed from the Jingye Temple outside the capital.
(End of this chapter)
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