Chapter 284: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 284: Heavens Above!
Cui Jing instinctively tightened his grip on the reins as she drew near. Outwardly calm and expressionless, he merely gave a soft “Mm,” waiting for her to speak—though his mind had already raced through a hundred possible guesses.
She looked so cautious, almost furtive, as if afraid anyone might overhear even half a word. What could she wish to ask of him? Did she sense something amiss in his behavior… or perhaps, had she already discerned his “presumptuous thoughts”?
If so—how should he answer her?
“...The assassination you suffered—it wasn’t false, was it?” Chang Suining asked quietly.
Had he feigned an assassination merely to avoid going to Luoyang, to keep from contending with her for merit?
If that were true, then such an act would be deceiving the Sovereign.
This was a grave matter. She wished to make sure of the truth, to know where things stood, so that she could help him conceal it later if need be.
“...” Cui Jing was silent for a moment, inwardly chiding himself.
What had he been imagining?
This was Her Highness.
Suppressing the turmoil that had been raging in his heart, he answered truthfully, “It was not entirely false.”
Chang Suining looked at him. Not entirely?
He explained, “The attack itself was real—but I had already made preparations in advance.”
So—the ambush had been genuine, but his supposed downfall was not. He had, in effect, turned the situation to his advantage.
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “Then you already anticipated that someone would attempt an assassination during this journey?”
“Yes.” Cui Jing replied. “Do you recall when I was sent plunder secret decree to Bingzhou?”
She nodded.
Last year, during the Double Ninth Festival, someone had accused the Bingzhou Commandant Dai Cong of colluding with Xu Zhengye. The Holy Emperor had ordered Cui Jing to investigate in secret.
When he arrived in Bingzhou, he had faked Dai Cong’s death to draw out Xiao Chuan, the Military Commissioner of Hedong, who had come seeking vengeance for his “friend.” Xiao Chuan’s army had surrounded Bingzhou City, and at that time, unaware of the truth, she too had worried—for both Bingzhou and Cui Jing.
But in the end, he had handled the matter perfectly.
After Xiao Chuan was captured, he confessed to being in league with Xu Zhengye and was later escorted to the capital for trial.
Cui Jing continued, “Xiao Chuan claimed he acted under Xu Zhengye’s orders. He was interrogated under torture for days, and though he died in the end, he never recanted. The story spread, and Xu Zhengye himself did not deny it.”
Thus the case had been concluded.
Chang Suining asked, “You doubted Xiao Chuan’s confession?”
Cui Jing nodded. “I suspect another hand was at work behind all this.”
“Had I known, I should have left Xu Zhengye alive just now—to question him further,” she murmured, then realized how pointless that would have been. “But he likely would not have spoken truthfully. If this truly had nothing to do with him, yet he did not deny it at the time, it must have been to muddy the waters further. Now that he’s dead, he would never have spoken truthfully—he’d rather leave the Court and the Holy Emperor with a lingering danger.”
“Precisely.” Cui Jing agreed. “Any words he might have spoken before death cannot be trusted—further questioning would be useless.”
Whether Xiao Chuan had indeed acted on Xu Zhengye’s orders or not mattered less than who the real instigator was. And if such a person existed, one so secretive and calculating, Xu Zhengye would never have been able to reveal their identity.
“So,” Chang Suining said, “you deliberately used this journey to Luoyang as bait—to test your suspicion?”
He had anticipated danger, and given his experience, could easily have avoided it—yet he did not.
“Yes.” Cui Jing replied. “The Bingzhou affair may have been a pretext, but its true aim was me. If there was indeed someone determined to see me dead, they would not miss this opportunity.”
And he had been right.
It also proved another thing—
Chang Suining understood at once. “That person has eyes and ears close to the Holy Emperor.”
Otherwise, no one could have known about his secret trip to Luoyang.
Cui Jing nodded. “I had my men capture one of the assassins alive, but he has yet to confess.”
“Keep him alive,” she said. “During the recent battle, a traitor also appeared within the army. Perhaps they can be interrogated together.”
She was thinking of the officer who had wounded Deputy Commander Jin and let Xu Zhengye escape.
Her mind flashed back to an old memory—a tall, bright-eyed young man, always smiling as he tapped her forehead with his finger, the one who had taught her swordplay and self-defense in her childhood.
Could it be him?
These plots and schemes, each more treacherous than the last… could they truly all be his doing?
Cui Jing, too, already had someone in mind—but this was neither the time nor place to speak of it. They were nearing the Bian River, and so, in unspoken accord, they dropped the matter.
Cui Jing led the horse at an easy pace, and Chang Suining, having recovered some strength, rode quietly.
The riverbank lay half a day’s ride from the battlefield; naturally, they could not continue on foot. The horse would still have to be mounted.
Yuan Xiang thought to suggest that Young Miss Chang ride together with his Grand General, but did not dare voice it aloud—he could only pray that his commander might take the initiative for once.
But, as ever, the Grand General was not one for “taking initiative.”
Yuan Xiang watched helplessly as his commander calmly tore two strips from his sleeve and handed them to the young lady to bind her wounded hands, so the reins would not chafe her further.
“Shall I assist?” Cui Jing asked.
“Of course not.” Ever unwilling to rely on others, Chang Suining took the strips and deftly wrapped them herself, even bringing them to her lips to tie the knots with her teeth.
At last, she lifted her hands and waved them at him with a triumphant smile. “See?”
Cui Jing couldn’t help but smile. “Tied perfectly.”
She then bound the other hand, while he continued to lead the horse for her—quietly, step by step.
No one knew with what tender restraint he walked that final stretch.
“It’s Grand General Cui!”
The thousand or so soldiers waiting by the riverbank finally spotted him returning.
The ones who spoke first were the men wearing Xu’s army uniforms—boisterous, untamed, like beasts freshly freed from the mountains, brimming with reckless energy.
They soon caught sight of Cui Jing—more precisely, of the figure he was leading on horseback.
Startled, they all turned their eyes toward the rider.
A scar-faced man at the front stepped forward eagerly. “Then this must be the famed General Ningyuan!”
Seeing his rough, bandit-like manner that no uniform could conceal, Chang Suining smiled lightly. “You’ve heard of me?”
“Of course!” His eyes lit up. “Seventy-three days to slay Xu the Traitor! We counted each one!”
Then, glancing at the wrapped head in Commander Bai’s hands, he couldn’t help giving a thumbs-up. “General Ningyuan—truly keeps her word!”
He blushed at his own stumble, scratching his head with a laugh.
Chang Suining’s smile deepened. She noted not only the old scar across his face but also a fresh bruise circling his left eye—no doubt courtesy of Cui Jing himself, a subtle reminder of how these men had been “persuaded” into obedience.
As for the man’s only complaint—it was that the blow had been too light and the bruise had faded too fast!
This bruise, after all, was caused by none other than the Grand General of the Xuanzhe Army, Cui Jing himself. Every day, when he faced his men with that blackened eye, he felt it gave him an extra measure of splendor — even a touch of added prestige.
After all, how could this be a mere bruise? It was clearly the mark of destiny’s wheel beginning to turn for their band of brothers!
The men behind him burst out laughing.
At once, they began reporting their names and origins. The man with the scar spoke first:
“…We’re all from Wuhu Mountain. My name’s He Wuhu!”
He patted his chest deliberately and emphasized, “That’s Wu as in Wudang Mountain, not Wu as in ‘fifth.’ I’m the eldest of Wuhu Mountain!”
The mountain was originally named Wuhu (Martial Tiger) Mountain — a name he himself had chosen. But somehow, word spread and people began calling it Wuhu (Five Tiger) Mountain instead.
In time, his followers lined up by rank and took names in sequence—
“I’m He Liuhu!”
“This here’s my brother Qihu!”
Chang Suining dismounted and clasped her hands to them with a smile. “Gentlemen, it is an honor to meet you.”
Soon after, everyone mounted their horses again, and under the setting sun, they departed that place.
When they returned to the battlefield, no sounds of slaughter remained. Yet the stench of blood still lingered heavily in the dark night air.
As Chang Suining approached the riverbank, she saw someone searching the distance ahead.
The moment she dismounted, a slender figure rushed toward her and threw her arms tightly around her.
Cui Jing was slightly taken aback; rarely did he focus on anyone so intently. Only after discerning that the figure was a young woman did he finally avert his gaze.
“…General, you have finally returned!” Yao Ran’s voice trembled as she spoke.
Before the battle, Chang Suining had not permitted her to board the warship, instead sending her to safety on shore. But when the fighting ended and she emerged to see the mountains of corpses and rivers of blood — a scene like the very pits of hell — yet could not find Chang Suining anywhere, terror seized her completely, as though the one thing anchoring her had vanished.
This was, after all, Yao Ran’s first time killing a man; even that had frightened her nearly senseless. She was an official’s daughter, strictly raised under Pei Shi’s discipline. She had never so much as witnessed a chicken being slaughtered, much less taken part in such carnage.
Sensing her distress, Chang Suining steadied her gently and said, “After I killed Xu Zhengye, I sent a signal. Did you not see it?”
“I did—I heard about it…” Yao Ran wiped her tears. “But seeing the signal only told us that the plan had succeeded; we didn’t know if you were safe.”
“Don’t worry. I’m unharmed.”
Yao Ran nodded, gradually regaining composure. Feeling embarrassed by her own loss of control, she tried to explain, “General, I—”
Chang Suining gestured lightly for her not to explain. “It’s all right. Everyone goes through this the first time.”
She was not the only one worried. Jiang Cai, Xi’er, and the others soon came running. Before long, upon hearing of her return, Commander Xiao and Prefect Hu hurried over as well, abandoning their duties to greet her.
Not far away, Yuan Xiang instinctively reached for his brush, intending to record the day’s events of Young Miss Chang. But then, glancing sideways at the Grand General, he hesitated in realization.
“…Grand General, you see? I wasn’t exaggerating,” Yuan Xiang whispered. “Young Miss Chang now holds remarkable prestige in the army.”
Watching her surrounded by the soldiers — until even her figure was almost hidden among them — Cui Jing’s lips curved slightly.
“She deserves it,” he said.
Whether it was the person she once was, or the person she had now become — she deserved it all.
She was born like the moon itself. Compared to her, he was merely a star, shining somewhat brighter than the rest. But if it were possible, he wished to be the star closest to the moon.
A star need not compete with the moon’s brilliance. Standing there, a short distance away, watching her receive the devotion that rightfully belonged to her — that, to him, was the most perfect distance imaginable.
After a while, someone finally noticed the “star” standing quietly beyond that perfect distance.
The light here was dim. Intentionally keeping to the shadows, Cui Jing had not stepped forward so as not to disturb her. He had withdrawn to the side, suppressing his commanding presence, and stood still in the dark.
Until then, only Jiang Cai’s sharp eyes caught sight of the young man in the gloom. Almost involuntarily, she lifted her torch and shone it forward — and immediately gasped aloud in pure astonishment.
“—Heavens above!”
Her eyes went wide with sincere admiration.
“I’ve lived all these years, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen such a handsome man!”
Behind Cui Jing, He Wuhu puffed up his chest and stepped forward two strides, as if to declare that her words had come too soon — for surely she must mean him!
But no one paid him any mind.
Sharing her good fortune, Jiang Cai quickly beckoned the other women — including Yao Ran — to come and look.
After fighting and suffering through the day, this glimpse of a face so beautiful felt like just reward.
Jiang Cai even stepped closer, raising the torch high to illuminate Cui Jing. “Look! Over here!”
Caught off guard, suddenly exposed in the light and surrounded by gazes, Cui Jing froze.
Hearing Jiang Cai’s exclamation, Yao Ran had been ready to laugh — but when she looked up, she too was stunned.
Handsome was an understatement. His beauty stood out in any crowd, impossible to overlook — the kind of striking presence that could belong only to one man.
And if she wasn’t mistaken…
“Grand General Cui?!”
The astonished voice came from Xiao Min.
As a fellow military officer of the capital, he naturally had seen Cui Jing before.
Cui Jing raised a hand. “General Xiao.”
“It truly is you!” Xiao Min exclaimed, hurrying forward to salute. “I did not know the Grand General was here — I failed to give you a proper welcome!”
Upon hearing the name “Grand General Cui,” Hu Lin and the others were equally startled, quickly stepping forward to offer their respects.
Jiang Cai, however, was dumbfounded.
So this man was the famed Grand General Cui?
Uncertain of his temper, she turned nervously to Chang Suining. “General… I spoke a bit rudely just now. The Grand General won’t be angry, will he?”
Chang Suining smiled and glanced at Cui Jing. “Don’t worry. He won’t.”
Relieved, Jiang Cai dared to steal a few more glances.
Meanwhile, Xiao Min was asking Cui Jing, “May I ask what brings the Grand General here?”
“I was en route to Luoyang on a secret imperial mission,” Cui Jing replied calmly. “But we were ambushed along the way. I barely escaped with my life and had to change my route. Unfortunately, I later encountered the Xu cavalry ahead, but thanks to my men’s efforts and the timely aid of General Ningyuan, I was able to survive.”
Deputy Commander Yu was first to speak up in support. “Indeed! Were it not for General Ningyuan’s arrival and her slaying of Xu Zhengye, striking fear into the Xu troops, we would all have been doomed!”
“…” Chang Suining was momentarily speechless — she hadn’t expected them to carry the act this far.
The bandits from Wuhu Mountain, however, were thoroughly confused. One of them started to speak: “But—”
Before he could finish, He Wuhu shot him a fierce glare, his expression clearly spelling out his favorite old threat: If you dare say something stupid, I’ll beat the crap out of you later — literally.
Though still doubtful, Xiao Min and the others wisely chose not to question further. “In any case, Heaven surely protects the righteous — we are grateful the Grand General is safe.”
While they spoke around Cui Jing, a joyful voice suddenly called from behind:
“Xiao Jing?!”
.png)
No comments: