Chapter 133: Hello Chang’an
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Chapter 133: She Wants to Choose for Herself
Under the scorching sun, a young man was replacing the tiles on the first tier of the tower’s eaves.
Cui Yuanxiang stood at the bottom of the ladder, handing new tiles up to the man on the eaves. After passing up the last tile, he climbed down the ladder, stepped back, and looked up at the man above, giving him a thumbs up.
"General Cui, the tiles are perfectly placed! With such a skill, if you decided to take your men and become tile workers, we wouldn’t have to worry about a livelihood!"
"..." Cui Jing, on the eaves, didn’t bother responding to his subordinate.
Two warrior monks stationed outside the tower stood still, their expressions serious. Although they didn’t speak, they couldn’t help but glance at the young man.
The Tienu Tower was maintained every year by specialists, so there should be no issue, but General Cui was incredibly meticulous, seemingly unable to tolerate even the smallest wear and tear. Yesterday, he had spent the whole day pulling weeds and clearing the stream; today, he was acting as a tile worker.
Was the Xuanzhe really so lacking in work?
Such a question also appeared in Chang Suining’s mind.
Or perhaps, like her, General Cui was also obsessed with accumulating merit?
At this moment, Cui Jing finished replacing the last old tile that he deemed unworthy. He looked up and seemed to sense something. He turned his head and spotted the young woman standing outside the tower courtyard.
As friends should, Chang Suining smiled at him. "General Cui."
Without using a ladder, Cui Jing jumped down from the eaves, landing steadily on the ground.
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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He took the cotton towel Cui Yuanxiang offered to him and wiped his hands before walking towards Chang Suining.
Chang Suining stood five steps away from the boundary line of the arrayed patterns on the ground, not daring to step forward, waiting for him to approach.
Cui Jing had likely been working on small tasks here for quite some time, as his boots were marked with dirt and moss. He carefully stepped over the intricate ground patterns, as if afraid to dirty the design.
Such a small gesture was understandable, but to Chang Suining, it seemed like he treated the Tienu Tower with a kind of reverence.
The Tienu Tower and Dayun Temple were built as symbolic structures for the Emperor’s ascension, and now, seeing him doing such unremarkable tasks, it made her wonder what the older members of the Cui family would think if they saw this. They would probably be so shocked they wouldn’t be able to eat for three days.
"Come to offer incense?" he asked.
Perhaps to make his work easier, his sleeves were rolled up, exposing his toned arms. The lines of his muscles were smooth and firm, much like the sharp contours of his shoulders and back, which were outlined by his sweat-soaked clothes.
Chang Suining nodded and glanced up at the tall tower behind him. "General Cui, you came here early to accumulate merit?"
The words "accumulate merit" made Cui Jing’s lips twitch slightly. "I arrived a couple of days ago and have stayed in the temple since then."
Chang Suining was even more surprised.
So, he had been working here for two whole days?
At that moment, a breeze stirred, and the sun was temporarily obscured by clouds, bringing some relief from the heat.
The two of them moved to sit under the Bodhi tree beside the stone bench to talk.
Cui Yuanxiang brought over a water jug. "General, water for you."
As he spoke, he grinned at Chang Suining and greeted her.
Cui Jing took the jug of water, hesitated for a moment, and then offered it to Chang Suining. "Would you like some water?"
It was clearly his personal water jug, and his offer was merely polite. Chang Suining shook her head. "General Cui, please cool down yourself."
Cui Jing didn’t insist. He removed the wooden stopper and tilted the jug to drink.
Sweat beads resurfaced on his face, sliding down the sharp line of his jaw and into his neck. As he drank, his Adam's apple bobbed, and the water slipped down beneath his clothes.
He drank about half the jug before putting it down and wiping his mouth.
"How’s the knife? Is it easy to use?" he asked casually.
Chang Suining was taken aback. "Knife?"
Cui Jing, who had been wiping his mouth, went silent.
Understood, I didn’t even look at it.
Cui Yuanxiang was momentarily stunned and looked at Chang Suining: "Madam Chang, haven't you opened the gift from the Grand General yet?"
Only then did Chang Suining realize: "…I haven’t had the time."
She had been busy these past few days and didn’t have the leisure to open it.
So, Cui Jing gave her a sword?
No wonder the box was so heavy.
Cui Yuanxiang felt it was almost unbelievable—could someone really resist opening a gift for three whole days? Doesn’t Miss Chang feel curious at all?
"Thank you, Grand General Cui," Chang Suining said. "It must have been an afterthought."
This wasn’t flattery, but rather the truth—there were very few weapons that didn’t suit her hand. Of course, when it came to truly well-matched weapons, her own Riyue sword and Wan Yue bow would be the best. But both of these were now with him in the Xuanzhe Manor.
Cui Jing simply replied with an "mm": "This sword is sharp. Be careful when you use it."
He continued, "With your current strength, it's still a bit unrealistic for you to wield Zhanxiu, so it’s better to try this one first."
Chang Suining: "…?"
So, he had heard the boast she made at the inn that day and even remembered it?
Cui Jing remained calm, speaking as though discussing weapons objectively: "Though this sword is light, if used well, it can be just as effective as Zhanxiu, General Chang’s sword."
Hearing this, Chang Suining became interested, her eyes lighting up slightly.
Not inferior to Zhanxiu?
Seeing her expression, Cui Yuanxiang added: "This sword can cut jade like mud, and there’s only one like it in the world. The Grand General said Miss Chang would definitely like it!"
Chang Suining smiled: "I do like it very much. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Grand General."
Cui Jing glanced at his talkative subordinate.
Cui Yuanxiang, sensing his superior’s displeasure, silently stepped back.
"There is something I need to discuss with the Grand General," Chang Suining said to Cui Jing. "The night before last, I sent someone out of the city. They encountered the curfew, so I used the copper token you gave me…"
She wanted to explain properly, as it was more appropriate to do so.
Cui Jing only nodded.
He didn’t say anything, nor did he ask anything.
His indifferent attitude made Chang Suining even more curious: "General Cui, aren’t you going to ask why I sent someone out of the city with the copper token at night?"
Cui Jing looked at her with a calm expression: "Since I gave it to you, how you use it is none of my business."
If she wanted to say something, she would. If she didn’t, he wouldn’t ask.
Chang Suining raised an eyebrow: "What if I used it to kill people or start a fire?"
At this moment, two monks nearby muttered "Amitabha" upon hearing her words.
"You may kill or set fire as you wish, but when you’re caught and brought to court, you’d better say that you stole this token," Cui Jing said with a tone that drew a clear line.
The two monks immediately recited the Buddhist mantra again.
Chang Suining smiled and nodded: "I will say so."
The monks, likely concerned about being silenced prematurely, quickly walked away.
Seeing the serious expression on the young woman’s face, Cui Jing’s expression softened. He silently smiled for a moment.
Though she wasn’t afraid or hesitant, she couldn’t truly commit evil acts—if he didn’t even have the basic judgment of people, he wouldn’t have so easily given her the copper token.
Chang Suining relaxed and smiled as well. At that moment, a cool breeze rose, and she looked toward the sky: "Looks like it’s going to rain."
Summer rains came suddenly. Just as her words finished, a roll of thunder sounded in the distance.
Chang Suining stood up: "I’ll go to the main hall to offer incense."
It might be hard to walk if the rain gets heavier.
As she rose, large raindrops began to fall in front of her.
"…" The rain was heavy and fast, so Chang Suining could only retreat under a tree.
"Let’s go to the pagoda courtyard to take shelter," Cui Jing suggested.
Though the Tienu Pagoda didn’t allow people to enter freely, they could still shelter under the eaves of the pagoda courtyard.
"No need," Chang Suining refused without a second thought. The formation around the tower was designed to repel people like her—if she entered, she feared her life would end there.
Fearing her refusal might seem too unusual, she added: "Just here is fine."
Cui Jing had already risen and reminded her: "Standing under a tree during a thunderstorm is dangerous, you might get struck by lightning."
Chang Suining silently looked up: "…True." Between the formation that could harm her and the risk of being struck by lightning…
Today, it seemed as though she was enduring a tribulation.
At this moment, Cui Jing turned and walked towards a nearby rock garden. After a brief moment, he returned.
His shoulders were soaked from the rain, and in his hands were a few green banana leaves.
He said nothing more, just handed them to her.
Chang Suining paused for a moment before reaching out to take them: "Thank you, General."
She handed some of the leaves to Xi’er. The two of them used the leaves to shield their heads, jogging through the rain toward the main hall.
Watching their figures disappear into the rain without looking back, Cui Jing casually picked up the water kettle from the stone table and went back to the front of the pagoda to shelter from the rain.
"Grand General, aren’t you going in?" Cui Yuanxiang asked.
Cui Jing shook his head.
His clothes were drenched with both sweat and rain, and entering the pagoda would risk disturbing the "Heavenly Lady."
"Just here is fine." He looked at the curtain of rain in front of him and repeated the words Chang Suining had said earlier.
…
The rain stopped in the afternoon.
Chang Suining had lunch at the temple with Wu Jue and casually asked him: "Father Wu, have you ever heard of the most impressive birth chart in history?"
Wu Jue thought for a moment and said: "There was a founding emperor from several dynasties ago…"
Chang Suining: "Could you write it down for me?"
Wu Jue was puzzled: "Why do you want me to write this down?"
The young woman’s expression was innocent: "To broaden my knowledge."
Wu Jue chuckled: "Since when did you become interested in birth charts and fate?"
But he still took paper and pen and wrote it down for her to see.
Chang Suining took it, nodded in satisfaction.
Very good, she could just change the birth year, make a few adjustments, and it would be hers.
This time, she would choose her own fate.
"This person’s birth chart is indeed noble, but the earthly branches are all in conflict, which could easily harm close relatives…" Wu Jue sighed.
Chang Suining nodded in understanding: "Their close family members will be sacrificed to the heavens…"
That suited her better.
…
After leaving Dayun Temple, Chang Suining boarded the carriage driven by Chang Ren and arrived at the estate.
She first went to see Ah Zhi.
"Where is the person?"
"Please follow this servant, my lady."
Ah Zhi led her to the estate’s cellar used for storage.
With Chang Suining’s instructions, Ah Zhi didn’t speak further once they entered the cellar.
The cellar was dim, and Ah Zhi carried a lantern, revealing a person whose hands and feet were bound and whose eyes were covered with a black cloth.
Yu Xue was huddled by a pile of wine jars, her face pale with fear as she shrank back, hearing footsteps. She cried out in panic: "Who are you? Why have you brought me here? Who do you work for?"
"I don’t know anything…"
"Please, let me go…"
"I don’t want to stay here, please…"
Her voice trembled, fluctuating between high and low, with fear, anger, unease, and restlessness all crossing her face.
Chang Suining watched her for a long time, frowning slightly.
"I want to go out! I want to go out!"
Yu Xue suddenly struggled to get up, but because her feet were bound, she fell to the ground as soon as she stood.
Ah Zhi glanced at Chang Suining, seeking permission.
Chang Suining shook her head slightly, then turned and led Ah Zhi out of the cellar.
"What are your intentions, my lady?" Ah Zhi asked respectfully.
"From today on, give her water at regular intervals, but no food," Chang Suining instructed. "I will see her again in two days."
Chang Ren, who was standing outside, paused for a moment upon hearing this.
This didn’t seem like a typical interrogation method.
Chang Suining indeed had interrogation on her mind.
From what she had just observed, Yu Xue’s wild and crazed behavior didn’t seem like it was faked.
In a strange and highly dangerous environment, it was impossible to fake such a condition without any flaws.
At the same time, it was clear that Yu Xue hadn’t completely lost her sanity; in fact, she appeared to be in a state where half of her mind was still sharp. This alternating state of clarity and madness was evident.
What was even more noteworthy was that, even when she was delirious, her ramblings still had a certain level of restraint.
And the events of the past, likely the most taboo secret in Yu Xue’s heart, could very well be the root cause of her madness. She wouldn’t dare mention it to anyone, even when her mind was clouded.
Otherwise, if anyone had discovered it over the years, it would have been impossible for Yu Xue to have been treated as just a simple, crazy person. She would have been placed under strict surveillance, not just casual confinement. After all, if she were truly locked up, it would have been impossible for her to leave the Princess' estate so easily.
So, when it came to poisoning, Yu Xue would never easily speak.
Her silence would be even harder to break than if she were fully sane.
Common interrogation methods and forceful questioning would likely fail. Since there was no guarantee of success, it would be unwise to try them recklessly. Otherwise, it might trigger Yu Xue’s wariness, making it even more difficult to carry out any further methods.
Perhaps, she would need to have Li Shang personally interrogate her.
For that, Yu Xue’s mind would need to be even more muddled.
In a dark, unfamiliar, and highly uncertain environment, starving her for two days to wear her down physically was often a good strategy.
Chang Suining instructed Chang Ren to go back to the General's Residence and pass on a message: "…Tell my father that since it’s rare to have such a cool rainy day, I plan to stay at the estate for a few days and take the opportunity to learn more about the recent situation with the fields."
She had mentioned before that she wanted to reorganize the estate's farmland, and General Chang had given his approval. For the past two months, she and Steward Bai had been working on this matter.
Chang Ren agreed and was about to leave when Chang Suining glanced in the direction of the cellar and said, "This matter is still unresolved. Once it’s completed, I’ll explain everything to my father myself."
Chang Ren was taken aback.
Chang Suining looked at him with trust and confidence in her eyes: "Uncle Ren and your subordinates are not the type to have loose lips, right?"
Chang Ren straightened up: "…Naturally."
Any good, well-trained subordinate knows that speed and sharp vision are essential, but one must keep a tight rein on their tongue!
Although, he had indeed considered speaking to the General about this matter earlier.
But her words reminded him.
He couldn’t afford to lose the basic qualities of a good subordinate. Besides, this was a matter between father and daughter. Since the General had allowed him to recognize her as the lady of the house, why should he speak out? Better to stay silent and just do his job.
Satisfied with his response, Chang Suining’s trust in him deepened: "Then, Uncle Ren, go and return quickly. I can’t manage without you."
"Yes!" Chang Ren replied in a deep, strong voice, cupping his hands and bowing before retreating.
Chang Suining watched him leave with satisfaction.
She then walked with Ah Zhi toward the front courtyard. As they passed a small path, she suddenly stopped and turned toward a cluster of dense flowers and plants swaying gently by the side of the path.
Someone was hiding there.
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(End of this chapter)
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