Chapter 180: Hello Chang’an
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**Chapter 180: Turning Waste into Treasure with New Ideas**
Chang Sui'an raised his hand to salute, "Prince Lu."
At the Mid-Autumn Flower Feast, the heir had suddenly proposed marriage to his sister in front of everyone, leaving Chang Sui'an with mixed feelings whenever he faced him.
The young man, still appearing too thin despite wearing a fur cloak, raised his hand in return. "Young Master Chang..." He seemed like he wanted to say something to Chang Sui'an, but after glancing at the people inside the Spirit Hall, he probably decided it wasn’t the right time to speak. Instead, he gestured politely and said, "Young Master Chang, Young Master Cui, please come in."
Cui Lang merely nodded and raised his hand slightly, not intending to engage in conversation with him.
Anyone who tried to vie for his teacher with his elder brother was considered an enemy.
As they prayed in the hall, Chang Sui'an noticed that Li Lu kept looking at him.
He was puzzled.
When they left the hall, Cui Lang immediately pulled him aside.
After pulling him away, Cui Lang couldn’t resist gossiping, "This Prince Rong’s heir may seem gentle and harmless, but deep down, he might not be. Just look at what he did at the Lotus Flower banquet when he proposed to your sister — he’s full of lies. Don’t believe him, brother Sui'an."
Chang Sui'an looked at Cui Lang seriously. "Lies? What do you mean?"
Cui Lang, looking confident, continued, "Think about it, his body is so weak, he's always sick, and with just a breeze, he might fall over. Not only is he incapable of protecting anyone, but who knows, he might even die any day. Whoever marries him will be preparing to be a widow! If he truly liked my teacher, he wouldn't be asking to marry her!"
Chang Sui'an’s expression became complicated.
Although it was a harsh statement, there seemed to be some truth to it…?
Cui Lang said with conviction, "So, whatever he says about liking her, it’s all lies!"
Chang Sui'an, deep in thought, asked, "If he is lying, then what is his purpose?"
Cui Lang was momentarily speechless. "His purpose...?"
How would he know?
He had only come up with the idea to discredit the Prince’s heir on the spot—of course, as part of his plan to remove a potential rival for his elder brother.
But seeing Chang Sui'an’s serious pondering, he shrugged and said mysteriously, "It’s hard to say."
Cui Lang's offhand comment, however, made Chang Sui'an keep the matter in mind.
With his father absent, Chang Sui'an knew he wasn’t particularly smart, so he reminded himself to stay vigilant, to always listen carefully and think more than others, so he could protect the Chang family and his sister as best as he could.
The next morning, while picking chrysanthemums in the back mountains, he ran into the Prince’s heir again. This time, he paid closer attention.
The young man, still wearing his cloak, walked over to him and politely invited, "I have something I’d like to discuss with you privately, Young Master Chang. Would it be convenient?"
Chang Sui'an thought for a moment and nodded.
The two of them left the crowd and walked to a quiet riverside to talk.
Li Lu bowed slightly and said with a look of regret, "A month ago, during the Mid-Autumn Lotus Flower banquet, I had a bit too much to drink and rashly mentioned my proposal to your sister. After reflecting, I realize that was inappropriate..."
"These past days, I haven’t had the opportunity or the face to apologize to her in person. I wonder if you could convey my apology to her, Young Master Chang?"
His words were sincere, and his expression of guilt didn’t seem fake.
Chang Sui'an returned the bow and said, "Rest assured, Prince Lu, I will convey your words."
He didn’t say anything like "It’s not a big deal, don’t worry," to show politeness or grace.
In his view, his sister’s matters, big or small, should be decided by her, whether to accept this apology or not.
Li Lu bowed again. "Thank you, Young Master Chang."
Looking at the polite young man, who showed no sign of royal arrogance, Chang Sui'an hesitated for a moment and couldn’t help but ask, "Actually, I have a question for you, Prince Lu…"
Before the heir could respond, Chang Sui'an asked directly, "Was your proposal to my sister really because you liked her?"
Li Lu froze for a moment.
Chang Sui'an, with wide, innocent eyes, stared at him.
Given his usual clumsiness and impulsiveness, it made sense for him to ask exactly what he was thinking, right?
His clumsiness was his best disguise.
Just like Jiantong’s face blending in with the crowd or his sister’s "broken brain," he too could make use of his own awkwardness.
The young man suddenly felt he had found a new strategy—turning waste into treasure.
After all, there was no harm in asking. If he could uncover something, that would be a win, right?
With this thought, Chang Sui'an looked at the Prince’s heir with an even more naïve and clear gaze.
Li Lu couldn’t help but smile. "Naturally, it’s because I like her."
When he spoke of the young woman, there was a trace of absent-mindedness in his eyes, barely noticeable but still present. "I think, no one could fail to like your sister."
Chang Sui'an nodded in agreement, saying, "That’s true… my sister is indeed wonderful."
He then added, "And you, Prince Lu, are also quite good."
He paused, then added, "Especially your taste!"
Li Lu laughed in surprise and nodded. "Yes, my taste is indeed excellent."
Chang Sui'an scratched his head awkwardly. "But people say, matters of the heart can’t be forced…"
Li Lu seemed ashamed. "Exactly. I was too muddled... The mistake I made was trying to force things."
Seeing him so remorseful, Chang Sui'an comforted him, "It’s fine. After all, it didn’t work out! Fortunately, nothing too serious happened!"
"..."
Li Lu couldn’t help but laugh again. "Young Master Chang, you really are just like your sister, so straightforward and honest."
Chang Sui'an smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, “My younger sister speaks much more eloquently than I do... My father often says that I can’t spit out ivory from a dog’s mouth.”
The atmosphere remained light, or rather, most people felt at ease when they were around Chang Sui'an.
Li Lu then engaged in casual conversation with Chang Sui'an, and naturally, they discussed his enrollment in the Xuanzhe Army: "I’ve heard that Young Master Chang has successfully joined the vanguard unit of the elite forces of the Xuanzhe Army. Such a heroic young man, truly admirable and enviable."
Li Lu looked at the young man before him, his tone filled with both admiration and longing. “In time, Young Master Chang will surely become a pillar of talent, just like General Chang.”
At this point, he gave a wry smile, feeling a bit downhearted. “Right now, the country is in turmoil, and I also have the desire to serve the state, but alas, my weak body and poor health are unfit for great responsibilities... I truly feel ashamed to be a son of the Li family.”
Chang Sui'an replied, “Everyone has their strengths. The son of Prince Rong need not be discouraged. My father always says that while I have strength, it's all earned by using my brain!”
Li Lu smiled and put aside his moment of melancholy.
He then asked, “I wonder what Young Master Chang plans next? I’ve heard that General Cui will lead the army to the northern border to fortify the defenses. Will Young Master Chang be accompanying him?”
Chang Sui'an hesitated as he spoke. "That has not been decided yet... My father is not in the capital right now, and I can’t bear to leave my sister alone at home. I intend to discuss it with her before making any plans."
Li Lu looked across the river to the green mountains. “Many times, the future and the desire to be with family are hard to balance.”
Chang Sui'an thought about the situation of Li Lu, who had to stay alone in the capital, unable to reunite with his family, and he felt sympathy for him.
But there were some matters he couldn't comment on, so Chang Sui'an wisely held back and didn’t speak further.
After a moment of silence, Li Lu brought up another topic, asking about his family.
“I heard that General Chang led his troops to Huainan before the Chongyang Festival... Now the two sides must have engaged in battle, but I wonder how the situation is.”
Chang Sui'an shook his head. “I haven’t received any news yet. We’ll have to wait for a report from the battlefield.”
He was always concerned about his father’s health and the ongoing battle, but with the war making it difficult for news to travel between the two places, he had no way of learning about his father's condition in a timely manner.
Seemingly sensing his thoughts, Li Lu thoughtfully said, “A few months ago, when Prince Huainan celebrated his birthday, my father sent people to offer congratulations. Due to some turmoil in Yangzhou, the envoy hasn’t returned yet and is temporarily staying at the Huainan Wangfu. Once they return to the capital, I will inform Young Master Chang if there is any news about General Chang.”
Chang Sui'an bowed. “Then I must thank you, Your Highness.”
Prince Huainan, Li Tong, was the father of Li Yi, the general leading the troops. Since Huainan was close to Yangzhou, and before the main forces arrived, Prince Huainan had been in charge of coordinating the situation. The people sent by the son of Prince Rong were staying at the Huainan Wangfu, so they would definitely know more detailed and up-to-date information.
To Chang Sui'an, learning about his father’s specific situation was far better than relying on the sparse military reports.
The river breeze blew from the opposite bank, and the thin young man smiled. “It’s no trouble at all, don’t mention it.”
Chang Sui'an, not being foolish, could sense Li Lu’s goodwill. He did not engage in deep conversation but quietly kept this in mind, planning to tell his sister about it the next day.
The two of them chatted by the river for quite a while. Occasionally, they could hear the laughter of young men and women picking chrysanthemums nearby.
Today was a rare sunny day, and in the back mountains, there were not only chrysanthemums of all colors but also maple forests that were red as fire. Such an expansive, beautiful view naturally drew people to linger. The youths, who had been cooped up for days, were in no rush to leave.
"Miss, what are you looking for?" asked the maid holding a bunch of green chrysanthemums as she looked around at the girl beside her.
Changsun Xuan did not answer her maid directly. She only expressed some confusion, saying, “Don’t we need to pick chrysanthemums to offer during the prayers at the Heavenly Maiden Pagoda?”
The maid realized, “You’re looking for the Chang family’s young lady.”
Changsun Xuan did not deny it. “I thought she would come to pick chrysanthemums as well.”
The maid lowered her voice and asked in puzzlement, “But I heard that the Chang family’s young lady is no longer on the list of candidates for the Crown Princess... Why are you still paying attention to her?”
Since they were no longer rivals, there was no need to keep an eye on her.
“What do you know?” Changsun Xuan bent down to pick another freshly blooming green chrysanthemum, her mood light. “It’s precisely because she’s no longer a rival that there’s a better chance of becoming friends.”
The maid was shocked. “Ah?”
So the young lady wasn’t wary of her rival, but was thinking of making friends instead?
Changsun Xuan stood up with a smile.
Her father had said that after they returned to the capital, the matter of the Crown Princess would soon be settled.
After tomorrow’s prayers, they should be able to return to the capital.
The current situation was still unstable, for example, one of her mother’s distant relatives had joined Xu Zhengye’s rebellion in Yangzhou, which was a potential threat.
But since the empress’s ascension, the Changsun family’s troubles had never ceased. Her father had told her that she just needed to focus on what she had to do.
She was confident that in the coming days, she would be able to fulfill her role as Crown Princess, becoming both a support and a pride to the Changsun family. Despite being a woman, she would shine alongside her father and brothers.
At this point, she suddenly became curious. What would the young lady she hoped to become friends with want to do most?
Her intuition told her that the girl who could attract her attention must also know exactly what she wanted.
For example, at the Lotus Banquet, the girl had rejected both the son of Prince Rong and General Cui, which showed her firm will, undisturbed by external matters.
This curiosity made Changsun Xuan sigh inwardly.
Really, she wanted to rush over and befriend her, to hear her secrets and thoughts.
At that moment, an orange-and-black butterfly flitted in front of Changsun Xuan’s eyes.
It was a dead-leaf butterfly.
Her gaze instinctively followed the butterfly as it flew toward the fiery red maple forest.
Changsun Xuan, holding a green chrysanthemum in one hand and lifting her skirt with the other, casually said, "Let’s go, let’s check out the area ahead."
There was a stream flowing through the maple forest, and in the creek, which was floating with maple leaves, the reflections of two blurred figures could be seen.
"...For the past month, I have been deeply worried about Your Highness's injury. I sent people to your residence several times with messages, but I never received a reply," the girl said softly.
It was only when she saw him at the royal tomb this time that she felt relieved.
Ming Jin raised an eyebrow. "You sent me letters several times?"
Feng Min nodded slightly, looking up at him. "Your Highness... surely you didn’t not see my letters?"
Ming Jin dismissed it with a nonchalant expression. "I suppose when I was recovering, my mother had the messengers stopped."
His mother was always like that.
Feng Min gently bit her lip and lowered her head. "Has the madam... perhaps grown less fond of me now? Is it because of my grandmother’s matter?"
Ming Jin leaned closer to her, lowering his voice and asking, "Why would you want her to like you?"
He suddenly came so close that his breath brushed her ear. Feng Min’s face turned warm, and her voice became even softer. "I... I do care..."
It seemed that Ming Jin hadn’t heard her words—or rather, he didn’t care about what she said. He raised his hand and ran his fingers through her hair. "Hmm, this hairpin looks somewhat familiar..."
Feng Min replied, "This is the pair you gave me before..."
She had purposely worn it to meet him.
But, had he really forgotten?
Before she could think more, she felt the hand that had landed in her hair slowly move down to her warm face.
The voice at her ear asked, "You want to enter my Lord's household, don't you?"
Feng Min’s heart pounded loudly. Faced with such a direct question, she didn’t know how to respond.
She wanted to preserve her modesty as a young lady, but she also feared missing the opportunity. She gently nodded, mustering the courage to whisper, "I... I have always truly admired you, Your Highness."
---
(End of this chapter)
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