Chapter 124: Hello Chang’an
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### Chapter 124: It Really Is Quite Similar (Seeking Monthly membership)
Ah Dian was also surprised: “Xiao A Li... where did you get so many beautiful colorful ropes?”
Chang Suining twirled her full wrist, admiring it: “All from the young ladies.”
Ah Dian exclaimed, “Then you’ll have plenty to cut later!”
In the capital, the custom during the Dragon Boat Festival is to tie colorful ropes on one’s wrist, then, when the first rain after the festival falls, cut the ropes with scissors and let them float away in the river, symbolizing the dispelling of misfortunes and seeking blessings.
“Then we’ll have to wait a bit longer for that rain,” Cui Jing said, glancing at the girl’s wrist again. “Otherwise, if it stops raining, I’m afraid Miss Chang won’t finish cutting them all.”
Chang Suining wasn’t worried: “It’s fine, as long as I have a sharp pair of scissors, whether it’s one rope or a hundred, it’ll all take just one cut.”
After all, she could manage it.
Her implication was clear—she could handle even more if they came.
“……” Cui Jing, hearing her insatiable words and glancing at his bare wrist, felt an acute sense of inadequacy.
This feeling of inadequacy wasn’t just his; even Ah Dian couldn’t stand it and, out of sympathy, tied another rope on him, saying apologetically, “Xiao Jing, I can only give you one more; the rest have to go to Uncle Chang and the others.”
Hearing such a statement, as if fearing he might cry, Cui Jing retracted his hand: “...You can go now.”
Seeing that he wasn’t upset, Ah Dian felt relieved and ran off to find Chang Suining’s companions.
Chang Suining lowered her sleeve to cover her overly adorned wrist.
Xi'er said, “With so many colorful ropes, they can surely help the young lady drive away all those evil little beings!”
“Evil beings are easy to drive away,” Chang Suining replied casually. “But petty people are always troublesome.”
Cui Jing seized the opportunity to ask, “Do you suspect that the actions of the Madam Jie today were orchestrated by someone else?”
“Mm, although my actions were enough to catch the Madam Jie’s attention gradually, finding out about my ties to Zhou Ding and obtaining that painting would require quite a bit of effort and time—”
Cui Jing looked at her: “That painting…”
“It’s indeed related to me,” Chang Suining said. “But it wasn’t given to Zhou Ding by me; it should have been in Bingzhou.”
“Bingzhou?” Cui Jing furrowed his brows; that was under his jurisdiction.
Chang Suining nodded.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” Cui Jing naturally inquired—after all, they were friends now, weren’t they?
Chang Suining replied just as naturally, “I haven’t sorted this matter out yet; if I need help later, I’ll trouble General Cui.”
She still needed to carefully ask Xi'er about why A Li’s painting was in Bingzhou and why it ended up “in a coffin.”
“Although the Madam Jie had reasons to see me as an outsider, they hadn’t met me yet, so it wouldn’t make sense for them to go to such lengths regarding me,” she explained. “What she did tonight, including the signals with that Zhou Er, seems more like they were entrusted by someone to tarnish my so-called reputation.”
Listening to her articulate thoughts clearly, Cui Jing nodded in agreement: “Do you already have a suspect?”
“It’s not hard to guess,” Chang Suining said. “I’ve offended a few people, and that’s plain for all to see—counting them on my fingers, it’s only two worth mentioning.”
Cui Jing: “…”
To be precise, it was three.
Noting his silent demeanor, Chang Suining immediately understood, feeling a bit apologetic, and added, “...I meant only two who hold a grudge against me.”
Her implication was clear: those she had befriended couldn’t be included.
Cui Jing found her words oddly pleasant but didn’t reply.
After all, dwelling on his own grievances wouldn’t enhance his reputation.
“Well then, that just leaves the Marquis Ying’s residence,” his voice was low yet firm.
The incident with Chang Miao at the Imperial Academy had occurred just three days ago, and the Chang family wouldn’t have had enough time to plan this out.
On the other hand, Ming Jin had been beaten at Dayun Temple two months ago; the timing and motive aligned perfectly.
“The person who closely interacts with the Madam Jie and can manipulate them, using such tactics, must be a woman,” Chang Suining stated bluntly. “That Madam Chang from the Marquis Ying’s residence is the most suspicious one.”
It was quite the coincidence; she had not only beaten Lady Chang’s son Ming Jin but also her nephew Chang Miao—tonight’s actions were likely fueled by both new and old grudges.
The painting was real, Madam Jie’s influence was real; they should have been certain to obtain it—but they had run into her, a mere fraud.
Cui Jing said, “That Madam Jie obviously intends to take everything upon themselves, and they likely won’t easily divulge the identity of this Lady Chang.”
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