Chapter 125: Hello Chang’an
.png)
"IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON."
Chapter 125: Not a Simple Person
“That painting was originally done by the young lady for Old Madam Zhong,” Xi’er said.
Chang Sui'an was taken aback. “So, does this mean that painting was really done by Ning Ning?”
Xi’er nodded.
Although Chang Kuo had considered this possibility, he was still shocked as he turned to his daughter. “If that’s the case… then why didn’t anyone recognize it earlier, especially in the Dengtai Tower?”
“It’s because I am indeed skilled in two types of handwriting. It’s just that I never mentioned it before,” Chang Suining explained. “The calligraphy I copied from Princess Chongyue is genuine, and the painting in the tower was made to imitate Her Highness’s style—”
She continued, “Moreover, the painting they found was an old one from last year. Though it’s only been half a year, a lot has happened in that time, and I’ve forgotten many things. My character has changed, and so too have the works I create. I deliberately tried to align with Princess Chongyue’s style when painting earlier, which is why it managed to fool them.”
Chang Kuo was relatively easier to convince on this matter, as he had no understanding of calligraphy or painting. After hearing Chang Suining ’s explanation, he nodded in understanding.
He sighed in relief. “Fortunately, Ning Ning had this ability that no one knew about before. Otherwise, it would have been hard to explain today.”
He paused and then looked at his daughter. “It could also be considered a blessing from Princess Chongyue’s spirit.”
Chang Suining : “...It seems so.”
She didn’t linger on this topic of self-blessing but instead asked, “But... who exactly is Old Madam Zhong?”
Her own mental issues were already well known, so she made use of this advantage without hesitation.
Xi’er replied, “Old Madam Zhong was in charge of the girl’s household matters in the past. She watched over the young lady as she grew up and took care of all her daily needs. The young lady was very close to her since childhood.”
Chang Suining understood.
Without a mistress in the Chang household, it seemed reasonable that an older, trusted servant would be there to look after Ah Li.
She asked, “So, where is Old Madam Zhong now?”
“Old Madam Zhong passed away last winter,” Xi’er answered softly, her tone tinged with sorrow. She carefully observed the young lady’s reaction, worried that the painful memory might resurface, but she had no choice but to continue.
“Old Madam Zhong had been ill for a long time and had voluntarily moved to the countryside to recuperate last year, not wanting the young lady to be upset. The young lady later followed her to the estate, and Steward Bai and the young master hired the best physician in the city to stay by her side, but…”
“Before her death, Old Madam Zhong said she wanted to be buried back in her hometown in Bingzhou. After she passed, her son took her coffin back home.”
“Before sealing the coffin, the young lady personally placed some of Old Madam Zhong’s frequently used items inside, and that painting was something the young lady had made for Old Madam Zhong to be buried with.”
Chang Kuo furrowed his brows. “That should be in Zhong’s grave, then... Why is it in the capital?”
“I know!” Chang Sui'an said with certainty. “It must have been Wu Lin’s doing!”
“Wu Lin?” Chang Suining thought for a moment. “Old Madam Zhong’s son?”
Chang Sui'an nodded. “Exactly. It seems you remember him too!”
Chang Suining : “...”
It wasn’t that she remembered him, but just a guess based on what Xi’er had said.
Xi’er took over the conversation. “Wu Lin was always sneaky when he worked in the household. He relied on Old Madam Zhong’s close relationship with the young lady and often bullied the servants... If it weren’t for Old Madam Zhong keeping him in check, who knows what he would have done.”
“Before Old Madam Zhong passed, she suggested redeeming Wu Lin’s freedom so he could return to his hometown. I think it was because she was worried that after her death, he would cause even more trouble.”
Chang Kuo grunted. “Old Madam Zhong was a clever woman, but her son is truly hopeless.”
Seeing his daughter regard Old Madam Zhong so highly, he had once considered having Steward Bai train Wu Lin. However, the boy was not up to the task.
“I had Steward Bai return Wu Lin’s papers, without asking for any ransom money, and even gave him some silver to get by, as per your sister’s suggestion. With Old Madam Zhong’s savings, even if he returned to the countryside in Bingzhou, he should be able to live comfortably,” Chang Sui'an sneered. “How could he even go so far as to open his own mother’s coffin!”
Opening a coffin to take burial items was something no outsider could have done!
“Besides being sneaky, does he have any other bad habits?” Chang Suining asked. “Like gambling?”
“He doesn’t gamble, but…” Chang Sui'an trailed off, his face suddenly turning red.
Chang Suining understood. “Ah, that’s indeed an expensive habit. The items in the coffin must have been taken long ago.”
Chang Sui'an’s face showed an unspoken panic... Did his sister understand already?!
Chang Kuo cleared his throat and said seriously, “Someone must have gone to Bingzhou specifically to find him and gather information about Ning Ning’s private matters—”
Chang Suining then asked Xi’er, “Does he know about my dealings with Zhou Ding?”
Xi’er nodded, her expression troubled. “There was a time when Old Madam Zhong warned me to be cautious, fearing that Zhou Ding would deceive the young lady… Once, as I was leaving, I noticed Wu Lin skulking behind a wall, looking as if he was eavesdropping.”
“That settles it!” Chang Kuo slammed the tea table. “That money-grubbing rat!”
He immediately called Steward Bai forward. “Send someone to Bingzhou quietly to bring him back. Even if Wu Lin burrows into a rat hole, dig three feet if you have to and catch him!”
Steward Bai acknowledged the command.
“He doesn’t seem particularly clever, so it’s unlikely he’ll have useful information,” Chang Suining remarked. “But a treacherous man like him, one who bites the hand that fed him, should be found as soon as possible—”
Otherwise, who knows how much more household information he might reveal.
Chang Sui'an couldn’t help but grumble, “Such people are a menace wherever they go. We never should have let him return to his hometown!”
Chang Suining agreed but saw little use in dwelling on it. “Consider it a lesson learned.”
Chang Kuo then asked, “And tonight, regarding the Madam Jie… Ning Ning, do you have anyone in mind?”
Chang Suining nodded without hesitation. “Madam Chang from the Marquis Ying’s household.”
Hearing this, Chang Kuo wasn’t surprised, indicating he had considered it too. He spoke in a grave tone, “She’s avenging her son.”
Though angry, his mind remained clear. “But she wouldn’t handle this personally. Madam Jie would never implicate her, and if we can’t get direct evidence from Wu Lin… we won’t be able to move against her for now.”
As Xi’er handed her a cup of warm tea, Chang Suining took a sip and responded casually, “It’s enough to clarify things for now; there’s no rush.”
Seeing her calmly sip her tea, Chang Kuo fell silent for a moment before asking, “Does Ning Ning think her father is useless?”
Chang Suining looked up at him. “Why would you say that?”
Chang Kuo’s tone was frustrated. “My daughter has been wronged, and even knowing who’s behind it, her father can’t just march over and give them a piece of his mind…”
“If that’s useless, then wouldn’t that make the Marquis Ming’s household even more so?” Chang Suining chuckled. “When I struck Ming Jin, they didn’t dare confront me openly either; they just resorted to petty schemes in the shadows. And they still failed. So, if anyone should be embarrassed, it’s them.”
She placed her teacup down and added with a smile, “For all their power as the Emperor’s maternal family, they’re still so constrained. Without evidence, Father, you can’t simply storm over, and there’s no shame in that.”
“In fact, if anything, they’re cautious because of Father’s status and reputation. Without you backing me, would I have managed to strike Ming Jin so smoothly?”
Hearing her words, Chang Kuo couldn’t help but laugh, feeling some of his frustration dissipate.
He was not the kind of person who thoughtlessly acted, nor was he new to navigating the treacherous waters of the capital’s elite. But even the most capable parents feel a sense of failure when they can’t instantly redress a wrong done to their child.
Parents feel they should always be able to do anything for their children.
And this feeling was something Chang Suining could understand.
Although she’d never been a parent, she could never stand to see those around her wronged—perhaps the same sentiment she’d felt the first time she’d worn her brother’s robe as a child.
“But don’t worry, Ning Ning,” Chang Kuo promised. “I’ll find an opportunity to settle this score for you eventually!”
Chang Suining didn’t feel she’d been at a loss tonight. Although Madam Chang hadn’t shown her face, Madam Jie had, and she wouldn’t escape the consequences. To her, this incident was minor, but she had a habit of keeping her accounts in order, whether the grudge was big or small. She couldn’t rest easy if she hadn’t settled her scores completely.
But what she cared about most now was finding out who had orchestrated her poisoning in her past life.
With this thought, she said, “Besides this matter, there’s something else I’d like to discuss with Father.”
Chang Kuo didn’t like her wording. “What do you mean by ‘discuss’?”
Unable to get immediate justice for his daughter was already painful enough. He would have welcomed her asking a hundred favors right now!
So, this wasn’t a favor; this was filial piety!
“I’d like to borrow a few skilled men from Father—discreet ones who can keep out of sight,” Chang Suining said, quickly making up an excuse. “It’ll help guard against the Ming family’s people.”
Chang Kuo was momentarily stunned, then smiled warmly. “A good idea! I agree!”
He immediately called Steward Bai. “Old Bai, bring them in!”
Chang Suining : “?”
He had people ready?
Chang Kuo said nothing, merely smiling.
The truth was, he’d been prepared for a while.
He’d anticipated her request, knowing her penchant for handling things herself. How could he not have assigned a few more people?
Before long, Steward Bai returned with a group of ten people in sturdy clothes, all of whom appeared well-trained.
Looking at them, Chang Kuo declared, “From today onward, you will be responsible for the young lady’s safety. You are to obey her orders without requiring approval from anyone else—just carry out her instructions.”
The ten people responded in unison, bowing to Chang Suining .
The leader introduced himself. “My name is Chang Ren. Please feel free to command us, young lady.”
Chang Suining : …That’s quite a sharp name.
She nodded. “Thank you all for your efforts from now on.”
After dismissing Chang Ren and the others, Chang Kuo lingered to chat with his daughter for a while longer, then left the study with his two children.
“What do you plan to do with the two young beggars brought back today?” Chang Kuo asked casually.
“I thought I’d keep them in the manor for a while to assess their character and skills, then make arrangements. What does Father think?”
Chang Kuo nodded. “Good. Hand them over to Chu Xing for training first.”
Whether they were a black cat or a white cat, whether they were capable or not, since they were in the manor, they’d better be trained first.
Chang Suining nodded approvingly.
Physical strength came first.
“Father,” she suddenly called.
Chang Kuo looked at her with a warm smile. “Yes?”
Chang Suining turned to him, her eyes serious but smiling. “Thank you, Father.”
For everything he’d done—today and in the past—for Li Shang, for A Li, and now, for Chang Suining . She owed Old Chang her gratitude.
Old Chang might seem rough and impulsive, but he had a soft, gentle heart.
He was a good subordinate, and an even better father.
With a smile, Chang Kuo gave her a light tap on the head. “What are you thanking me for? Talking nonsense!”
Chang Suining tilted her head up, beaming at him. “I’ll be sure to take good care of you in the future, Father.”
She had always been prepared to look after Old Chang in his old age—after all, he had often sworn that he’d never marry, saying that wives were too much trouble.
And yet, before she knew it, he had turned around and brought back a little calf to raise as his own…
Hearing her, Chang Kuo laughed heartily, clearly delighted. “Good! Even without mentioning anything else, our Ning Ning could support her old man by selling her paintings alone!”
“One of my sister’s paintings can sell for four thousand taels!” Chang Sui'an calculated, feeling astonished. “She could support dozens of fathers without breaking a sweat!”
Chang Suining nodded without modesty.
Although that four thousand was partly due to hype, it was true—if it came down to it, she could sell her calligraphy and paintings to make a living for both of them. That kind of life wouldn’t be so bad.
She gazed ahead with a faint smile. It was almost dawn, the summer night soon to be over.
It had been a night filled with events, seeming unusually short, with many people still wide awake.
At Marquis Ying’s manor, Ming Jin had just awoken from a dream in which he’d seen Chang Suining harshly punished. Waking up smiling, he immediately asked about the incident at Dengtai Pavilion. Learning that she’d emerged unscathed and had even stolen the spotlight, he cursed furiously, smashing everything in sight.
Meanwhile, Madam Chang of the Marquis Ying household sat in her chair, a man and woman dressed as servants kneeling before her.
The man bowed his head, his voice trembling. “…The person swore he’d seen the Chang family lady’s paintings with his own eyes and described the scene with such conviction. Who would’ve thought he was fooling me!”
The man’s expression shifted, frustration evident. “His lies were outrageous, Madam. Please, allow me to go to Bingzhou…”
He was cut off by Madam Chang’s cold laugh. “Ridiculous. You want me to send you to Bingzhou so you can fall right into their hands?”
The man’s face paled. “Madam…”
With a frosty expression, Madam Chang ordered, “Take them both away.”
“Madam!”
“Spare us, Madam!”
Their pleas faded quickly as they were dragged from the room.
After a brief silence, the old maid beside her asked quietly, “Madam, should I send someone to see Madam Jie?”
“What for?” Madam Chang pressed a tired hand to her brow, eyes closed. “Must I remind her what to say and what not to say?”
“Understood.” The maid pondered. “It appears this Chang family girl isn’t just a reckless brute after all…”
Madam Chang sneered. “Indeed, I underestimated her.”
She had already heard the details of what happened at Dengtai Pavilion. In retrospect, it was clear that the failure was due not only to the painting but also to the Lady Chang herself.
“She’s not one to be trifled with.” Madam Chang’s voice was slow and chilly. “Next time, I’ll have to think things through a bit more.”
* * *
►►CLICK HERE FOR ADVANCE CHAPTERS◄◄
Comments
Post a Comment