Chapter 147: Hello Chang’an
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Chapter 147: Meet That Chang Family Lady
Xi'er carried the box and walked alongside Chang Suining along the garden path.
The box, made of sandalwood and carved with intricate patterns of birds and flowers, contained the luminous pearls. Even in the dim night, a soft glow seeped through the carved openings.
Having waited outside the hall like all other servants, Xi'er wasn’t entirely aware of what this gift symbolized. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “My lady, these pearls are truly radiant...”
“I’m far brighter than these pearls,” Chang Suining remarked, her gaze fixed ahead into the night.
Otherwise, how could she, even after swapping bodies, still be spotted at a glance by that person, only to be taken and used as a puppet?
She must have been born with the words I’m highly useful marked on her as a reincarnation birthmark—impossible to conceal no matter how she tried.
“Naturally! My lady shines brighter than anyone!” Xi'er replied earnestly. “Perhaps you are the reincarnation of a luminous pearl, born with an even more dazzling glow.”
Chang Suining gave it some thought.
Such ornamental yet impractical luminous pearls didn’t suit her nature.
For someone as versatile and practical as herself, she was likely the reincarnation of a chess piece.
After walking some distance, Cui Yuanxiang, standing silently in a nearby pavilion, scratched his head. “That Lady Chang sure is bold—claiming she’s brighter than luminous pearls.”
“She’s merely speaking the truth,” Cui Jing said, watching the figure disappear into the night from the pavilion.
Cui Yuanxiang glanced silently at his superior.
Fine. The General’s friends are naturally the best.
But truly fitting as friends—one without a hint of humility, the other fully supportive of that lack of humility.
“But General, weren’t you waiting here to speak with the Lady Chang?” Cui Yuanxiang asked. “She’s about to walk out of sight. Shall I call her back?”
Cui Jing gave no response and stepped out of the pavilion.
“Let’s head back,” he said.
As a friend, even after seeing her, he wasn’t sure what to say. Should he offer comfort? That wasn’t his strength, and she didn’t seem to need it.
Perhaps he should come up with a viable solution first—only then would it be appropriate to meet her.
After all, that’s what a friend should do, isn’t it?
…....
This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
....
“Father…”
At this moment, Changsun Xuan stood in her father’s study, her brows slightly furrowed.
“Is the Holy Emperor planning to pit that Chang family lady against me?”
She might have received a jade ruyi, but Chang Suining not only got a pair of luminous pearls but was also declared by the Tianjing Diviner to have an exceptional and noble fate—
The Holy Emperor’s intent was clear, wasn’t it?
“Why be surprised at having competition? Do you think the position of Crown Princess will fall into your lap without challenge?” Changsun Yuan looked at his youngest daughter. “All you need to do is handle yourself properly, act prudently in public, and leave no room for criticism. As for the rest, your father and elder brother will handle it.”
Changsun Xuan acknowledged with a bow, “Yes, Father. I will remember your words.”
Changsun Yuan turned to the maidservant by her side. “Take the young lady back to rest.”
The maidservant obeyed.
Changsun Xuan curtsied. “Father and Brother, you should rest early as well.”
After the door to the study closed again, Changsun Yuan’s eldest son, Changsun Yan, frowned. “So, this is the purpose behind the Tianjing Diviner’s sudden reappearance…”
Many times, divine and mystical theories are nothing more than tools in a larger game.
“Son, I’ve heard that the adopted daughter of General Chang’s household, while inferior to Xuan’er in many aspects, has gained quite a reputation among the common scholars. Now that the Empress has hinted at her intent to make this woman the Crown Princess, those scholars will surely capitalize on her fame to elevate her status. How do we respond when that happens?”
The sound of the wind howled outside, drowning out the voices of the father and son.
…
“My lady, do you truly wish to become the Crown Princess?” asked the maidservant walking beside Changsun Xuan on their way back.
This maid had grown up with Changsun Xuan since childhood; their bond was deeper than that of ordinary master and servant.
“Of course,” Changsun Xuan replied with a faint smile. “I am a daughter of the Changsun family. I should follow the example of my great-aunt.”
Her great-aunt, the revered Empress Changsun, had been a paragon of virtue and grace. Since she was a child, Changsun Xuan had dreamed of becoming a woman who could bring honor to the Changsun family, just as her great-aunt had.
She considered herself fortunate: the youngest among her siblings, doted upon by her father and elder brother. Now, at last, the opportunity to realize her aspirations had arrived, and she was determined to seize it.
As for the fact that the Crown Prince was a few years younger than her and someone she had barely met—that didn’t matter.
Not all young ladies dreamed of marrying their so-called ideal match.
Besides, the Crown Prince would grow up eventually, and there was no guarantee he would be unsuitable.
The maidservant said no more, only smiled and replied, “I keep things simple. As long as my lady is happy, that’s all that matters. Whatever you wish to do, I will stand by you.”
Changsun Xuan smiled lightly, about to say something more when footsteps approached from ahead. Soon, a figure came into view.
“Well, well, isn’t this Changsun Seventh Lady?”
Ming Jin appeared, accompanied by a servant holding a lantern.
Taking the lantern from the servant, he stepped forward and raised it high, casting light on the young woman before him. With an exaggerated gesture, he remarked, “It’s been a while since I last saw you, Changsun Lady. A beauty under lamplight—how captivating indeed.”
His tone, expression, and manner were all brazen and mocking. Changsun Xuan frowned slightly, taking two steps back. “young Master Ming, please mind your conduct.”
“Tsk, there you go, putting on that Changsun family pride again,” Ming Jin said with a raised brow, his tone tinged with mock pity. “I hear your father plans to send you to the palace to become the Crown Princess. Such a beauty locked away behind palace walls—what a waste.”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “How about this? I’ll plead with my aunt to grant us marriage instead. That way, I can save you from the fires of hell.”
A faint trace of contempt flashed in Changsun Xuan’s eyes.
Without even looking at Ming Jin, she replied coldly, “I believe my father rejected the idea quite clearly three years ago.”
Back then, the Empress had suggested a marriage alliance between the Ming and Changsun families, perhaps to ease tensions with the Changsun clan. Whether it was a genuine offer or a superficial gesture meant to mislead, her father had decisively declined.
From that moment on, any possibility of reconciliation between the Changsun family and the Empress had been extinguished—something her father had never sought in the first place.
Her father had told her plainly: the death of her great-aunt, Empress Changsun, could not be separated from the actions of the Empress. Whether it was old grudges or current conflicts of interest, the Changsun family and the Empress were destined to be adversaries until the end.
Thus, in her eyes, Ming Jin was nothing more than a pitiful clown.
The young lady made no effort to conceal the disdain in her gaze.
That aloof scorn stung Ming Jin more than anything. Hearing her mention the rejection of the marriage proposal from three years ago only fueled his anger further.
“What makes you so proud, Changsun Xuan?” he sneered through gritted teeth. “Open your eyes and see whose name rules this empire now—”
He let out a cold laugh, spitting out each word slowly and deliberately. “I’ll wait to see how a stubborn, ungrateful dog like you holds up when the master decides to beat it to death and skin it. Let’s see if that mouth of yours stays so defiant then.”
Changsun Xuan pressed her lips tightly together, holding his gaze for a moment before finally saying to her maidservant, “Let’s go.”
Her maid, face darkened with anger, followed silently at her lady’s side as they walked away.
“Bah!” Ming Jin spat on the ground and smashed the lantern in his hand against the floor.
“A lowly wench—how dare she put on airs in front of me!”
“This empire belongs to the Ming family now—not to the Lis, and certainly not to the Changsuns!”
“Young Master...” The servant hesitated, glancing nervously around.
“What are you afraid of?” Ming Jin snapped, slapping the servant hard across the face in frustration. “Do you think I need to whisper when I speak?”
His aunt had no sons, and he, as her closest nephew, was undoubtedly the most noble young man in the entire kingdom—far worthier than that useless Crown Prince who didn’t even dare to speak loudly in his presence.
Yet that vile woman rejected him, only to eagerly pursue marriage with that useless Crown Prince…
Ming Jin gritted his teeth, staring in the direction where Changsun Xuan had left. A sly smile suddenly appeared on his face.
“Once she’s truly in the palace, whether she’s flattened or shaped is entirely up to me.”
Just wait. He would make this arrogant, self-righteous woman abandon her lofty pride and kneel before him, begging.
And that little wench from the Chang family? Anyone who didn’t know their place would meet a miserable end.
“This young Master Ming is truly getting more outrageous by the day…” Changsun Xuan’s maidservant remarked with distaste. “Even the current Holy Emperor, an extraordinary person, has such a nephew. What a shame.”
“A dragon births nine offspring, and each is different,” Changsun Xuan sneered. “Besides, the Ming family is not some illustrious noble clan with deep roots. They’ve only climbed to prominence because of the Holy Emperor. How much real grace, education, or vision can you expect from them?”
The less one had, the more they cared.
Knowing their own lack of background, they jumped at the slightest sign of disdain from others.
With a family like the Mings, producing someone like Ming Jin was no surprise.
It was producing someone like the Empress that was the anomaly.
And as her father had pointed out, even that anomaly wasn’t entirely her own doing. Beyond time and opportunity, she owed her position to the sacrifices of her two children—who, notably, didn’t carry the Ming surname.
Ultimately, Ming Jin’s branch of the Ming family was simply reaping the rewards.
“That’s true…” the maidservant agreed. “It’d be best for you to keep your distance from him in the future, lest you get caught up in his misfortune.”
Changsun Xuan suddenly asked, “I’ve heard that the young lady from the Chang family once hit him, correct?”
“She did.” The maidservant recounted the incident at Dayun Temple in detail.
Changsun Xuan couldn’t help but smile. “Well done.”
She then mused aloud, “That Chang family young lady really is unlike the others. Even though I don’t usually pay attention to the affairs of noblewomen, I’ve heard her name mentioned numerous times over the past six months.”
She’d hit people, taken a master, hosted poetry gatherings, formed societies, gambled on chess games, and even scolded that Madam Jie while simultaneously making a name for herself in the capital with a painting.
How did she manage to do so much at once?
And, seemingly, no matter who she faced, the other party never won against her.
Come to think of it, her track record was practically invincible.
Changsun Xuan suddenly felt a bit troubled. “It seems my opponent is quite extraordinary…”
Before this floral gathering, she would never have imagined that her rival would turn out to be this Chang family young lady.
It was indeed a bit unexpected.
After a moment’s thought, Changsun Xuan said, “Tomorrow, I want to meet her alone.”
Tomorrow was the last day of the floral gathering.
It would be inconvenient to meet her once they returned to the city.
“You want to meet the Chang family young lady alone?” The maidservant hesitated. “But the master instructed you to act cautiously…”
“I’m not going to argue or pull her hair,” Changsun Xuan replied. “How is this not cautious? If Father won’t even let me handle such a small matter, how will I ever become someone who can stand on her own, like my great-aunt?”
Since she was her opponent, she needed to know both herself and her adversary, to gauge the other’s strengths, weaknesses, and intentions.
Tomorrow, she would meet this famed Chang family young lady.
On the final day of the floral gathering, the Holy Emperor, busy with countless affairs, no longer appeared in public. Most of the women wandered the gardens in self-organized groups, creating a more relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
Yet beneath this apparent harmony, everyone was acutely aware of the brewing storm.
At last night’s banquet, the jade ruyi and luminous pearls bestowed by the Holy Emperor had caused a stir in everyone’s hearts. After a night of speculation, even a minor eunuch in the Hibiscus Garden now understood that "Young lady Changsun from the Grand Minister’s family and the young lady from General Chang’s residence are vying for the position of Crown Princess."
As the noblewomen murmured privately, their gazes unconsciously swept across the garden, seeking the two central figures. Yet neither of the contenders for the Crown Princess title was anywhere to be seen today.
And why would they be? How could they possibly be in the mood for flower viewing at a time like this?
At this moment, Chang Suining was on her way to the stables.
The Hibiscus Garden, in addition to its floral displays, also featured a stable. With today’s activities being unstructured, many young men had gathered there to ride.
Chang Suining originally had no intention of joining the crowd, but Yao Xia had just rushed over, breathless, to inform her that her elder brother, Yao Gui, had sent word—Ming Jin had colluded with some acquaintances of Chang Sui'an to lure him to the stables and provoke him into a horse race.
This was what prompted Chang Suining to hurry over.
If it were a proper riding competition, never mind Ming Jin—there were few in the capital who could rival her brother’s equestrian skills.
But she worried about what tricks Ming Jin might play. Unable to target her directly, he might vent his frustration on her brother instead.
And her brother, straightforward and protective as he was, bore a particular grudge against Marquis Ying’s household and Ming Jin. He was determined to stand up for her and, in his anger, might easily fall into a trap.
Chang Suining and Yao Xia quickly arrived at the stables.
A large crowd had gathered, the air filled with cheers and jeers.
“Look! The young Master Ming is about to catch up!”
“Keep going, well done!”
On the track, about a dozen figures were galloping at full speed, their brightly clad forms cutting through the air.
Chang Suining scanned the scene and immediately spotted Chang Sui'an in the lead—though not by much.
“Hyah!”
Close behind him was Ming Jin, gripping the reins with one hand and furiously urging his mount forward with a whip in the other. His horse was particularly striking—a powerful, chestnut-red steed with a single snowy-white mark on its forehead.
Chang Suining froze for a moment, her breath catching.
Was she mistaken? That horse—
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(End of chapter)
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