Chapter 293: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 293: For Me?
“Puffed up with anger!” Ah Dian said indignantly. “One poke and she’ll go boom!”
At once, He Wuhu and Jiang Cai turned to look at Chang Suining.
Ah Dian took two steps forward, leaned close to her, and poked her right cheek curiously. “But she doesn’t seem all that puffed up to me!”
Chang Suining, who had no temper left after being poked: “……” Should she thank General Ah Dian for defending her reputation?
Ah Dian, ever fair-minded, poked the other side of her face as well before solemnly declaring, “I can testify—she doesn’t look angry at all!”
Then he turned to criticize, “Xiao Jing, you’re talking nonsense! You’ve wronged her!”
Cui Jing pressed down the smile at the corner of his lips and nodded. “Yes, Senior’s lesson is well received.”
After Ah Dian’s lecture, Chang Suining also cast him a sidelong glance.
Cui Jing could no longer suppress his amusement and smiled as he looked ahead.
As they walked and talked, the rain began to fall heavier. Ah Dian lifted his cloak and held it over Chang Suining’s head like a great roc spreading its wings to shield a young fledgling just out of the nest.
They usually rode when going out on errands, so they had rain capes but not umbrellas. Fortunately, the servants from the Prefect’s Residence soon brought some over.
But Ah Dian was in high spirits—he grabbed Chang Suining’s hand and broke into a run, letting the cloak billow high behind them. Laughing loudly, he shouted, “We’re flying!”
Chang Suining was happy to indulge him. Under the makeshift canopy of the cloak, they dashed through the rain together, their boots splashing fine drops across the wet bluestone path.
Cui Jing followed behind with an umbrella, watching the tall and small figures running through the rain. He did not let anyone disturb them.
Many times, he had envied Senior Ah Dian.
Now was such a time—though in truth, he had envied him even more in the past.
For in those days, he had no chance to approach the real her. He could only piece together her likeness from traces left behind in the Xuanzhe Army, from the old Crescent Bow, and from the military texts she had written.
But now, he could walk beside her, follow after her.
From this moment on, every step he took was new—each one a gift from Heaven.
The young man walked on beneath his umbrella, eyes fixed on the two figures ahead, splashing through the rain.
The Prefect’s Residence was busy that day. Despite the rain, servants bustled everywhere, preparing for that night’s celebration banquet.
Everyone they met along the way—servants, clerks, and officials alike—bowed to greet Chang Suining and Cui Jing.
Learning of their return, one of Prefect Hu’s adjutants hurried over to deliver a message, inviting them to the front hall for tea. “General Li Xian has just arrived,” he said.
As they passed through a long corridor, Ah Dian was intercepted by the young sons and daughters of the Prefect’s household.
“Ah Dian, where have you been?” one child asked.
Ah Dian puffed up his chest proudly. “I’m not an idle person—I have many important duties every day!”
“I know, I know! General Ah Dian is a great general!”
“Has the great general finished his work? Can you play Eagle Catches the Chicks with us now?”
Ah Dian turned his big round eyes toward Chang Suining for permission.
One must always give children some face, so Chang Suining smiled. “General Ah Dian has finished his duties for today.”
The children burst into delighted cheers, and Ah Dian joined them happily.
Chang Suining merely reminded, “Be careful this time,” before continuing toward the front hall with Cui Jing.
The warning was well earned—just yesterday, while playing Eagle Catches the Chicks, Ah Dian had been too tense while acting as the chick at the tail. When he pulled too hard, the boy in front of him fell backward onto him, dragging the next one down, and soon the entire line toppled like stacked figures. What was supposed to be Eagle Catches the Chicks turned into a tumbling heap of children.
As the laughter and shouts of the children faded behind them, Chang Suining and Cui Jing reached the front hall.
Everyone rose to greet them.
Aside from Hu Lin and Xiao Min, most of the attending officials were meeting the two “legendary figures” for the first time.
One was the famed Grand General Cui, known for years across the realm.
The other was the newly risen prodigy whose name had filled every ear of late.
Cui Jing commanded respect for his rank and long-standing achievements. Compared with him, Chang Suining was indeed a newcomer—but her few victories were remarkable enough to silence any doubt. Though a woman, none dared underestimate her.
Li Xian stepped forward and bowed to Cui Jing. “Grand General Cui, it has been a long time.”
Cui Jing returned the salute. “General Li.”
Li Xian’s expression was genial as he turned to Chang Suining and saluted once more. “I am Li Xian. I’ve long admired General Ningyuan’s name.”
In the face of such humility, Chang Suining smiled politely. “General Li flatters me. I look forward to your guidance in the future.”
Li Xian chuckled. “General Ningyuan’s words are too kind.”
As he looked at the young woman before him—clad in a green robe, composed and poised—he suddenly recalled the words he’d once heard within the Ganlu Hall before departing the capital.
The Holy Emperor had ordered him to guard Luoyang—and to watch the Xuanzhe Army.
His Majesty’s command had been clear: to keep an eye not only on Cui Jing for any sign of disloyalty, but also on this Ningyuan General.
At the time, he had been puzzled. This adopted daughter of the Chang family, newly famed and without real power, why should the Holy Emperor regard her with such wary importance—almost equal to Cui Jing himself?
It was only after hearing of the great victory at Bian River, when she personally slew Xu Zhengye, that he understood.
There might have been fortune involved, but no one could accomplish such a feat through luck alone.
And now, seeing her for the first time, though he knew little else, her aura alone—tempered and steady, carrying the air of the battlefield—was nothing like that of a sheltered lady raised in ease.
While Li Xian silently assessed her, Chang Suining was appraising him in turn.
If nothing else, the son of the late Marchioness of Han bore a fine resemblance to his mother—handsome and well-mannered.
Beneath that pleasing exterior, however, was a man of restraint.
Naturally so—one who had refused to aid Bianzhou and calmly sat in Luoyang, waiting to reap the spoils, must be a man who could bide his time.
Everyone present had their own silent judgment of Li Xian’s previous inaction, and he, in turn, was well aware of it. Still, his composure never faltered.
At the evening banquet, he mingled easily, exchanging toasts and laughter as though nothing had happened.
Music and dance enlivened the celebration, and the fine wine from Luoyang was strong and heady. The air in the hall was thick with its fragrance.
Even though Chang Suining barely drank, she still felt a pleasant haze rising in her head—enough to warn her that one more cup and she might start a fight.
Sensing danger to both herself and others, she wisely excused herself before the end of the banquet.
After all, this was her victory celebration—she must not turn it into a spectacle of disgrace.
She declined the company of those who, though they bore the shape of men, now appeared to her no different from walking wine jars, and left the banquet hall to return to her quarters.
Outside, the rain had not ceased. The night wind swept past, dispersing the lingering scent of wine from her robes, and only then did her mind begin to clear.
Once clear-headed, she paused slightly, glancing back toward the direction of the hall through the thick curtain of rain.
“Lady?” Xier, who was holding the umbrella for her, also halted.
“It’s nothing,” Chang Suining replied, turning away. “Let’s go.”
She would simply wait for him to come to her.
When Chang Suining returned to her residence, Yao Ran came forward to greet her with a bow and softly asked, “Has the General been drinking?”
Chang Suining shook her head. “No.”
Yao Ran then asked again, “Is the General feeling tired?”
Chang Suining shook her head once more. Her gaze dropped to the few volumes Yao Ran held in her arms.
Understanding her meaning, Chang Suining walked ahead. “Come along.”
Indeed, she was not at all sleepy—and even if she had been dozing off, she ought to have suspended her head and pricked her thigh to stay awake. After all, what superior would turn away a subordinate so eager to learn?
Yao Ran quickly followed her into the study.
…
The celebration banquet remained in full swing. Among all, the officials of Bian Prefecture were the most exuberant—seven or eight out of ten were already drunk, yet many still raised their cups for more.
At that time, Cui Jing quietly excused himself from the table.
Seeing this, Li Xian smiled, set down his own cup, and said to the others, “Please, continue without me.”
“Grand General Cui, please stay.”
Li Xian stepped out of the hall, calling after the young man, and caught up with a few quick strides.
“I couldn’t ask earlier at the banquet,” he said, wearing a look of concern. “I have yet to inquire after your injuries, Grand General Cui…”
Descending the stone steps, Cui Jing replied evenly, “I appreciate General Li’s concern. I have mostly recovered.”
“That’s good to hear.” Li Xian walked alongside him, continuing smoothly, “Do we yet know who those assassins were? Or who might have sent them?”
“The interrogation is still ongoing.”
Li Xian nodded gravely. “The matter must be thoroughly investigated.”
He asked a few more seemingly polite questions, which were in truth probing.
Cui Jing answered each with only a few concise words—neither revealing much nor leaving any opening for suspicion.
At last, Li Xian smiled faintly. “I’m just glad you’re safe. Earlier, when we were in Luoyang and received no word from you, we dared not move the army without orders…” He sighed lightly. “Fortunately, General Ningyuan and Commander Xiao had already taken action.”
So he placed part of the blame for his delayed support of Bian Prefecture upon the lack of news from Cui Jing.
At the banquet earlier, he had already expressed his regret for not sending reinforcements sooner, explaining his “difficult position.” Cui Jing merely listened without rebuke.
Seeing his silence, Li Xian did not press further. Instead, he offered, “It was inconvenient to converse properly during the banquet. Would Grand General Cui have time now for a private talk?”
“I have other matters to attend to,” Cui Jing replied. “Perhaps another day.”
“Oh? May I ask what important matter calls for your attention? Perhaps I can be of assistance?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Li Xian’s smile did not waver. “Very well.” He raised a hand in courteous farewell.
Cui Jing inclined his head and left with Yuan Xiang and a few others.
Only when the young man’s figure disappeared into the distance did the smile on Li Xian’s lips fade, replaced by a quiet, disdainful sneer.
The same as ever—so full of that innate arrogance born of the Cui clan. That aloof pride was an eyesore.
The Four Great Aristocratic Clans?
He let out a soft laugh.
He would like to see just how long these self-proclaimed noble families could continue to dominate the world. When the day came that their foundations crumbled—what then would this Grand General Cui rely on to stand in court?
It was fine that he had survived this time. Let him live, then—live long enough to see the fall of the Cui clan.
Then Li Xian would see, with his own eyes, how that haughty pride was broken, piece by piece.
Smiling faintly, he turned to his attendants. “Come, though we did not fight at the front, there’s still a battle of our own to be fought in Luoyang.”
…
Meanwhile, Cui Jing, already far ahead, spoke to the aide who had just arrived from Luoyang.
“Everything prepared?”
“Yes, Grand General,” the man replied. “All is ready.”
Yuan Xiang, curious, wondered—Prepared for what? What was this “important matter” the Grand General spoke of?
…
“Thank you for your guidance, General. It’s late—please rest early.”
Inside the study, Yao Ran closed the book in her hands and said to Chang Suining, who was stifling a yawn.
Chang Suining nodded. After Yao Ran left, she sat there for a while, chin propped on her hand, staring absently out into the night.
That rascal Cui Jing—had he forgotten?
Surely not. With a living ghost like her wandering before his eyes, how could he not be curious? How could he have nothing to ask?
If someone had returned to life before her, she would have questioned the person until they wept!
Frowning slightly, she debated for a while, but ultimately decided not to send anyone to summon him.
If he failed to come, that was his broken promise. She wanted to see whether the proud son of the Cui clan truly had no sense of honor.
Xier came to prepare hot water for her bath. Chang Suining set the matter aside and went to the side chamber. Just as she loosened her robe and let her hair fall, Ah Zhi’s voice came from outside: “General, Grand General Cui has arrived. He’s waiting in the courtyard.”
Chang Suining: “…”
Of course.
She continued removing her robe, then stopped midway. “Let him wait.”
Ah Zhi had just answered when Chang Suining sighed. “Forget it—I’ll go.”
The spring night was still cold, and his injuries had not fully healed. Rumor said he had truly been submerged in that frozen lake. It would be unreasonable to let him suffer for something so trivial.
She redressed herself, took up a cloak, and without retying her hair properly, simply gathered it with a silk ribbon as she walked.
Cui Jing, waiting outside the courtyard gate, saw her approach and smiled faintly. “Come, let’s go.”
“Where to?” she asked.
“You’ll know once we get there.”
Chang Suining clicked her tongue. “Since when did the Grand General become so fond of mystery?”
He merely smiled, offering no explanation.
She followed him out of the Prefect’s residence. They rode through the drizzling night and soon arrived at a secluded estate within the city.
Chang Suining looked around. “This place is…?”
“One of my clan’s villas,” Cui Jing said simply.
“…”
Even an unoccupied estate of the Cui family was this refined—stone lamps lining the path, rare blossoms and pavilions everywhere. Graceful, yet drenched in opulence.
Once they entered the main hall, words failed her entirely.
The walls were hung with paintings by masters of the previous dynasty. Chang Suining could only sigh inwardly—what a thoroughly poisonous kind of luxury. No wonder the Four Great Aristocratic Clans were so hated by every poor scholar and commoner alive.
Just then, a soldier of the Xuanzhe Army entered, carrying a long, weighty box, and set it upon a small table beside her.
After the man withdrew, Cui Jing motioned for her to open it.
“Is this… for me?” she asked instinctively.
He shook his head. “No.”
“…”
Seeing her expression, he smiled faintly. “You may open it first.”
Chang Suining lifted the lid. The sight within made her freeze.
“It’s not a gift,” the young man said seriously. “It’s something to return—to Your Highness.”
—
(End of Chapter)
.png)
No comments: