**Chapter 268: Feng Xuanyu**

Before Feng Xuanyu spoke, Suisui thought that Seventh Brother had the loudest voice among all her brothers.

But as soon as Feng Xuanyu spoke, his deep, booming voice echoed around her ears, making her feel as if it had reverberated through her entire body.

Suisui even thought her ears were starting to feel numb.

What was this feeling?

Even though they were closer now, the spread of his voice... it felt like if it got any closer, her ears would start ringing from the sheer volume.

Suisui felt a little scared of this brother. She instinctively pressed closer to her father’s shoulder, buried her head, and secretly peeked at the two new brothers.

After Feng Xuanze responded with a smile to Feng Xuanyu, he quickly walked over with his second brother to greet their father.

Feng Xuanze's voice was gentle, and his movements elegant.

Feng Xuanyu, on the other hand, had a deep voice and carried himself with boldness.

Both brothers spoke almost at the same time, but Feng Xuanyu didn’t shout as he had before. This time, he consciously lowered his voice, casting a glance at Suisui as he spoke.

After they finished greeting, Qi Wangfei and Concubine Ren asked the children if they were tired from the journey, if they were hungry, or if they needed to eat before going back.

After some brief pleasantries, Prince Qi smiled and asked about their studies before signaling that everyone should return to the mansion. It wouldn’t be proper to continue talking right outside the gate.

Everyone nodded and gradually made their way back.

Servants had already arranged the carriages, so there was no need for the family to worry about it.

After briefly answering his father, Feng Xuanze smiled at Suisui. “So, this little cutie is Suisui?”

Feng Xuanze took the initiative to greet her, and Suisui immediately straightened up in her father’s arms, looked at this older brother with seriousness. 

She wasn’t sure how to address him.

However, Feng Xuanze didn’t make her feel awkward. He quickly introduced himself with a smile. “Hello, Suisui. I’m your eldest brother.”

Suisui, hearing this, made a respectful bow. “Eldest Brother, hello. I’m Suisui.”

When Feng Xuanyu saw that his elder brother had finished introducing himself, he hurried over with a grin, showing his large white teeth. “Hello, Suisui! I’m your second brother!”

Feng Xuanyu, afraid of frightening her, consciously spoke in a lower voice, but his deep tone still had an echoing quality.

Even though he lowered his voice, it still felt as if it echoed in Suisui’s ears, lingering and making her even more frightened of him. 

Suisui, looking at this brother with a body as massive as a bear’s, couldn’t help but shrink back. She instinctively wanted to burrow into her father’s arms, but she was afraid her second brother might get upset. She forced herself to appear calm and whispered, “S-Sec... second brother, hello. I’m Suisui.”

The little girl tried her best to look normal, but her trembling voice betrayed her fear.

Feng Xuanyu didn’t understand why his sister was afraid of him. He scratched his head, puzzled, then blurted out, “Sister, are you afraid of me? Don’t worry, I only hit pigs, not people. And even if I hit people, I’d never hit a girl!”

Concubine Ren: ...

She was so conflicted, unsure how to respond.

In the end, she chose to pretend she hadn’t heard him.

However, when Feng Xuanyu saw that Suisui wasn’t responding, he became anxious. He reached out and grabbed Concubine Ren, spinning her around in a circle.

Concubine Ren: ...???

Seeing her mother spun around in front of him, Feng Xuanyu suddenly realized... 

*Wait, no! I used too much strength! I just spun my own mother around!*

Feng Xuanyu, at 14 years old, was still just a young boy. Realizing his mistake, he quickly withdrew his hand, lowering his head in guilt and sneakily glancing upward, watching his mother’s expression change.

Concubine Ren had already reached a point where she had no expression left. 

What could she do?

She suspected she must have angered the heavens in her past life for her to have such a troublesome son this time around.

Her longing for her son was limited to brief exchanges at the door.

Any longer, and she might die from frustration!

Though she had been unexpectedly spun around, Concubine Ren forced a smile and looked at Suisui, trying to smooth things over. “Don’t be scared, Suisui. Second brother’s just a little... not very smart, but he’s not a bad person.”

Feng Xuanyu couldn’t take this. He instinctively retorted, “I’m not stupid, Mother, don’t say that!”

After speaking, Feng Xuanyu turned toward Suisui, grinning widely. “Sister, don’t listen to what Mother says. I’m very smart. I’ll take you out to play on horseback sometime!”

Concubine Ren: ?

Thinking back to the time when her son took her horseback riding and nearly scared the life out of her, Concubine Ren’s face turned an almost unnatural shade of green.

Prince Qi, aware of his second son’s riding skills, quickly smiled and said, “No need for that right now. Suisui is still too young to ride; she might hurt her legs.”

Hearing this, Feng Xuanyu looked a little disappointed. “Oh, really? Well, then... I’ll wait until she’s older.”

To demonstrate how good his riding skills were, Feng Xuanyu lifted his arm.

The thin fabric of his clothing couldn’t hide his muscular build at all.

Especially when he bent his arm, his muscles tightened, looking like a solid mass—impressive and intimidating.

Suisui, both frightened and curious, watched. 

Can a person’s muscles really get that big?

She secretly peeked with one eye, the other eye swiveling to look at her second brother’s muscular arm.

It was... strange, but also really strong.

She wanted to look again, so she kept watching.

Before long, her eyes were fixed entirely on his arm.

Concubine Ren, not wanting her son to embarrass himself further, quickly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to stop.

Feng Xuanze, worried that his younger brother might scare Suisui further with his behavior, smiled and said, “Second brother, why don’t you go wash up? We’ll eat soon. Take your time, don’t frighten little sister.”

Feng Xuanyu, always obedient to his older brother, quickly agreed and followed him to wash up.

Once everyone was settled, they sat down to eat.

Today, it was rare for Concubine Ren to dine with the family.

As a secondary consort, she didn’t need to sit at the side like a concubine; she was seated right next to Qi Wangfei, and the two sons sat beside her, so she felt more at ease.

Suisui, of course, remained in Prince Qi’s arms—no one could take her from him.

Feng Xuanze sat beside his father, and Feng Xuanyu, who missed his older brother, happily squeezed in beside him.

After taking his seat, Feng Xuanze briefly asked his younger brothers about their studies. 

Once he received their responses, he turned to look at Suisui.

Suisui was curious about her eldest brother. She felt that he was gentle, and his speech was kind.

He seemed like a flower blooming in the warmth of spring—gentle, comfortable, and radiating a sense of security.

Suisui...

She liked this eldest brother.  

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 267: Feng Xuanze

Prince Qing had only just returned in the morning. After reporting his inspection results at the palace, he likely wouldn’t return to the estate until the afternoon.

As for the cherries sent by the village earlier, Qi Wangfei had already arranged for some to be delivered to the Qing residence.

Prince Qing had brought Suisui back from Qingzhou, and because of the close relationship between him and Prince Qi, they often exchanged gifts. Whenever Prince Qi’s residence had something, the princess would arrange for it to be sent to Qing’s place as well.

Prince Qi had only overheard this earlier and didn’t pay much attention to it.

Upon hearing this, Sui Si quickly responded, “He should be back in the afternoon, Your Highness.”

Prince Qi nodded in response. “Alright, I’ll have dinner at the Qing residence tonight.”

Though he was reluctant, he didn’t trust anyone else to handle the matter, so he decided to seek help from Prince Qing.

When Prince Qi announced his departure, Qi Wangfei was puzzled and asked why.

After hearing his explanation, she smiled helplessly. “The servants wouldn’t slack off on a task like this. It’s late now; there’s no need to make a fuss. Besides, the children will be back soon.”

Though the two households were close, and it was common to visit without formal invitations, the princess felt uneasy about Prince Qi leaving so late in the evening.

She also knew that the affairs of Prince Qi’s residence wouldn’t be neglected by the servants; it was just that the prince was too worried.

Prince Qi, always indecisive, immediately changed his mind after hearing his wife’s words. “Then I won’t go. If anyone dares to slack off, I’ll go straight to the palace and report to my older brother.”

Qi Wangfei: ...

Would anyone dare slack off under such a "reporting" threat?

The children had been playing and causing trouble throughout the afternoon, and by evening, they were all exhausted.

Suisui reluctantly bid farewell to her two little friends and was finally picked up by Prince Qi.

Not wanting his little one to feel sad, Prince Qi gently comforted her, “Don’t be upset, darling. If you like the two sisters that much, Father will arrange for them to stay at the estate for a while.”

Though Suisui didn’t want to part with the sisters, she also knew they wouldn’t want to be separated from their families for too long.

After hearing her father’s words, Suisui gently shook her head while resting on his shoulder. “No, if they stay here, they’ll have to be away from their Mother, and they’ll be sad.”

It was just like Suisui—if she were separated from her mother, she would surely cry secretly.

Prince Qi understood this immediately. He knew that, being so young, children still needed the people they were attached to in the evenings.

So, he didn’t press the matter any further and started telling some amusing stories to cheer up the children.

After bidding farewell to the two little friends, neither Prince Qi nor Qi Wangfei left the gates of the estate. Even Concubine Ren quietly arrived, as the two young masters who had been studying outside for a month were about to return.

A report had already come in saying that the young masters had entered the city and would soon arrive at the estate.

After waiting for a while, two inconspicuous carriages hurriedly arrived at the gates of the estate.

Qi Wangfei and Concubine Ren hadn’t seen the young masters in a month, so naturally, they were very eager to see them. As soon as they saw the carriages, both of them unconsciously took a few steps forward, stretching their necks to look.

Soon, the young masters stepped out of the carriages.

Suisui, too, curiously stretched her neck to see.

The first young master to step out of the carriage was tall, with delicate features and clear, attractive eyes.

He was wearing a long, snow-blue robe that exuded elegance and nobility, and his movements were graceful.

He swiftly jumped down from the carriage and looked up at the crowd.

At first glance, Suisui’s attention was drawn to the young master’s eyes. They were round and familiar…

Suisui blinked in surprise. *Wait, these eyes... they're just like mine when I look in the mirror!*

She knew that her eyes and her brother’s were the same. It only made sense—they must be siblings!

This older brother of hers also had round eyes.

When he looked over at her, his eyes seemed to speak, curving into a gentle, soft smile.

After Feng Xuanze got out of the carriage, he instinctively scanned the crowd and immediately spotted Suisui in her father’s arms.

*This child…*

At the academy, there were always ways to get news, although it sometimes came a little later. Feng Xuanze was aware that he now had a new sister.

His classmates, familiar with the news, had often teased him about it.

Feng Xuanze was quite curious about his new sister. After finding out that her surname wasn’t Che, he felt much more at ease.

Seeing Suisui now, his gaze naturally fell on the pair of round eyes that seemed so similar to his own.

Those round, gleaming eyes, while perfectly fitting on him, looked entirely different on her.

How to put it?

Even though Feng Xuanze was quite pleased with his own looks, when he saw Suisui’s eyes, he thought… *those eyes look even more beautiful on her.*

Her eyes were not only lovely but also so pure and clean, giving her an adorable, innocent look.

Though Feng Xuanze was young, he considered himself to have a good sense of character. His first impression of Suisui was a good one.

So, he was eager to greet her with a warm smile, wanting to leave her with an impression of a kind, graceful older brother.

Feng Xuanze quickly took a few steps forward, but soon he felt the ground shake beneath him.

His fan faltered for a moment, almost making him lose his elegant nobleman image.

However, Feng Xuanze wasn’t too surprised by the tremor. He quickly stopped, turned, and smiled, looking toward the source of the vibration.

Suisui, too, turned her gaze to the newcomer who had just gotten out of the carriage.

This older brother…

Had a body as strong and burly as a bear!

He really was like a bear; as he walked, it felt as though the very ground shook beneath his weight.

The tremor that had just passed through the ground? It had been caused by this brother’s leap from the carriage.

Though his movements appeared light, his massive frame made it impossible to conceal the shaking caused by his weight.

Feng Xuanmu, two years younger than Feng Xuanze, was taller and weighed double what Xuanze did.

If he stood in front of Xuanze, he could easily block him entirely, making it impossible for anyone to see a glimpse of Xuanze’s clothing!

Seeing this brother’s massive frame, Suisui's mouth dropped open in shock!

She thought to herself: *This brother… could probably knock out several of me with just one punch!*

Feng Xuanmu was big and imposing, with a fierce-looking face. If not for his round eyes softening his expression, people might mistake him for a bandit, especially if his eyes were narrow and sharp.

After jumping out of the carriage, Feng Xuanmu quickly caught up with Feng Xuanze but didn’t pass him. He stayed half a step behind, slowed his pace, and flashed a broad grin, showing off his large white teeth. "Big brother!" he said with a cheeky smile.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 1278: Cannot Sell Within Three Years

Unexpectedly, the Master Gou's actions startled both Old Master Miao and Meng Yunzheng.

They looked at him calmly, and Master Miao narrowed his eyes, asking, "Request? What request?"

"After selling this estate and the mountain to Old Master Miao, you cannot sell it to others within three years," said Master Gou

Mr. Miao threw the pen in his hand aside and couldn't help but sneer, "Master Gou, your request is a bit unreasonable. Once the house and mountain are sold to me, they belong to me. What I do with them is my business. If I sell them or not, why should you be concerned? Is this estate mine or yours? Am I inviting trouble for myself?"

Master Gou smiled and replied, "Please don't be angry, Master Miao. This is an order from above. Look, I already gave you a discount of five thousand taels. Isn't this request reasonable? Since Old Master Miao sincerely bought this estate and mountain, you must have plans for them. It's not like you will sell them within three years, right?"

Old Master Miao coldly laughed, "When we negotiated the price, you didn't mention this requirement. Five thousand taels were the initial price without any additional conditions. I did buy the estate with a plan; I intend to use it for business. But if the business doesn't go well and I incur losses, do you expect me to hold on to it for three years and let it rot?"

Master Gou fell silent. He knew Old Master Miao wouldn't be pleased with this demand, but he had to propose it just in case.

He didn't speak, and Old Master Miao began to feel anxious. If Master Gou insisted on this condition, he might not be able to buy the estate, and then his deal with Lu Xiangjun would fall through.

However, what Old Master Miao cared about most was moving his sister's lamp to the ancestral shrine.

The atmosphere in the room became tense.

Old Master Miao glanced subtly at Meng Yunzheng, who touched his nose and discreetly raised a finger.

Old Master Miao understood.

He cleared his throat, "Master Gou, I am genuinely interested in buying this estate, or else I wouldn't have haggled with you for so long. Three years is indeed a long time, and you know what kind of business I'm in; I make quick money. If the business doesn't do well, I'll shut it down immediately. Let's meet halfway; I promise not to sell it within one year, and then you give me another one thousand taels discount. How about that?"

Master Gou thought, "You're quite skilled at bargaining."

Old Master Miao continued, "Master Gou, we're about to sign the deed. I don't want any more complications. If we can agree, let's do it; otherwise, I can't help it."

Master Gou indeed didn't want any more trouble; this matter had dragged on for too long. Although his master said it would be fine to leave the estate there if it didn't sell, it still reflected poorly on his abilities.

One year wasn't too long or too short, and considering Old Master Miao's drive to make money, he would likely use the estate immediately. If its reputation suffered, Meng Yunzheng wouldn't want to take over.

After hesitating for a moment, Master Gou said, "Fine, one year it is."

Old Master Miao was pleased, "Alright, let's sign the deed. I walked around earlier, and though the estate is nice, there are some changes I need to make. I must quickly discuss renovations with someone."

"Okay."

Since they reached an agreement, l Guo had another deed written with the modified terms and placed it on the table.

Old Master Miao was a cautious person; he had Meng Yunzheng read the content and, after confirming there were no issues, signed his name.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 462: Crisis at Hand (2)

At this point, Wu shi wiped her tears, disregarding how ugly Hong shi's expression had become, and continued, "Tie Tou now has a good job. Originally, if he saved up for another year or two, he would have enough to marry. But not long ago, his young aunt got injured. He used all the money he painstakingly earned to pay for her medical treatment. Now, his aunt still can't get out of bed, and the medical expenses are like a bottomless pit. The little money Tie Tou earns is barely enough for his aunt's medicine. I had no choice but to come out to work, so that I can save a bit for him. It'll be easier for him to marry in the future! If so, Mother, do you still think this daughter-in-law is heartless for not giving you money? If I stops earning this wage, Tie Tou won't be able to marry for the rest of his life..."

After hearing these words, everyone present felt deeply moved and couldn't help but sympathize with Wu shi. Who doesn't have sons and daughters? Who hasn't toiled for half their lives for their children? This Wu shi wasn't keeping her earnings for herself but for her children. What was wrong with that? Would they really let her son remain unmarried and lonely for his whole life, without even a person to pour water for him when he's old?

At this moment, no one accused Wu shi of being unfilial or unkind anymore. Instead, they felt extreme disgust towards the aggressive Hong shi: the daughter-in-law was generous enough to contribute money for her sister-in-law's medical treatment, but the mother-in-law showed no gratitude. Instead, she even forced her daughter-in-law to hand over the hard-earned wages. It was simply too much, akin to the evil mother-in-law who mistreats her daughter-in-law that one hears about in the streets!

Hong shi, labeled as an "evil mother-in-law," hated Wu shi to the core. But now, in this unfavorable situation, she had no way to turn things around or profit from Wu shi. Eventually, amidst the curious stares of the bystanders, she was supported by Niu shi as she left, giving off an air of fleeing in defeat!

"Yan girl, it's all because Aunt Tang wasn't good, causing trouble for you again."

On the way back, Wu shi kept apologizing to Mo Yan, feeling extremely guilty.

Originally, the business at the little stall was booming, making many other stall owners jealous. They would occasionally sow discord among the customers. If Hong shi and her daughter-in-law had really splashed dirty water on them today and spread it around, it would have been difficult for the stall to continue its business.

In fact, she should have anticipated that something like this would happen today. Over the past few days, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had been pressing her about the stall. No matter what excuses she used, it was useless. She just hadn't expected them to cause such a scene in public, which was really infuriating.

"Aunt, please don't say that. They are who they are, and you are you. They are determined to cause trouble, and you can't stop them."

Mo Yan was angry at the despicable mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, naturally not blaming Wu shi. However, if their goal wasn't achieved today, there was no guarantee they wouldn't come up with more wicked ideas in the future. She didn't have the time or energy to deal with these messy matters.

Now that the two families had severed ties and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law feared her, they probably wouldn't dare to cause trouble in front of her in the future. But Auntie was different. As long as she remained a member of the Mo family, greedy people like Hong shi would never rest.

There were some things she couldn't say directly as an outsider, so she asked indirectly, "Aunt, when you've saved enough money for Tie Tou to marry, do you plan to build him a separate house, or a larger one where the whole family can live together?"

Wu shi didn't know why she suddenly asked this, but she answered, "Of course, I'll build him a separate house. There's no room to add onto the house we live in now. Aunt Tang also doesn't want him to get married and still have to squeeze with the whole family."

Mo Yan continued, "But Tie Tou is your eldest son. According to tradition, he should support you in your old age. If he lives separately, won't people criticize him for being unfilial?"

 Chapter 1277: Guo Manager's Request

Master Miao's actions paused, and he squinted his eyes, "I see."

Meng Yunzheng knew that the people from the Black Market had come to find him and that he was waiting outside Master Miao's residence. So, he intentionally led them away and had them exit through the back door?

These two young people couldn't be underestimated.

Since the deal was settled, Master Miao didn't waste any time. They quickly descended the mountain and returned to the city.

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng stopped not far from Master Miao's residence and didn't follow them inside. They watched as Master Miao carriage arrived, and the people from the Black Market hurriedly came out of the opposite eatery and followed him inside.

Once they all entered the residence, Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng turned around and booked two rooms at a nearby inn to rest.

The next morning, Shu Yu woke up early and disguised Meng Yunzheng as a middle-aged man before seeing him off from the inn.

Outside the inn, there was a carriage with Master Miao follower sitting on the coach. Today, Master Miao was going to the Black Market to have a formal talk with Guo Manager and purchase the estate and hill.

To prevent any unexpected circumstances, Meng Yunzheng would pretend to be Master Miao's bodyguard and accompany him.

Shu Yu, being a woman and relatively short, didn't look convincing as a bodyguard. Manager Gou was also shrewd, and if she got too close, he might become suspicious.

So, after Master Miao and the others left, she rode a horse directly to the estate.

It was close to the Black Market, and once Meng Yunzheng finished his task, she might be the first to know the outcome.

Shu Yu rode her horse and arrived at the estate earlier than Meng Yunzheng and Master Miao's party.

She stood by the sunflower garden and watched as Master Miao's carriage passed by.

Apart from Meng Yunzheng and his follower, Master Miao also brought two bodyguards with him. He had many enemies while away from home, so having more people was safer.

Upon reaching the Black Market, Master Gou immediately greeted them with a smile, "Master Miao, you've finally come."

Master Miao appeared cheerful. As the one in control, he was in no hurry.

However, he knew to stop when he should. They had been negotiating for twenty-five thousand taels for so long, and Master Gou was unwilling to lower the price. Now, it was only because of Meng Yunzheng's involvement that Mr. Miao reluctantly compromised.

If Master Miao insisted on further lowering the price, Master Gou might refuse to sell altogether.

So, Master Miao played hard to get for a while and laid out a few more conditions before getting to the main topic.

"...According to our previous agreement, I will pay twenty-five thousand taels for the estate and hill. You can take the people in the estate, and I don't need any of the belongings. If necessary, you can take them all. However, before the transfer is complete, I need to inspect the condition of the estate."

Master Gou nodded, "Of course."

Master Miao then took Meng Yunzheng and started wandering around the estate.

There were two secret chambers in the estate, which both Meng Yunzheng and Mr. Miao were aware of. Master Gou took them to see each of them.

When they came out, Master Gou was nowhere to be seen, and Master Miao whispered to Meng Yunzheng, "These two secret chambers might come in handy in the future."

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "I don't need secret chambers. Once the estate is in my hands, I'll block them off."

A secret chamber known to everyone wouldn't be much of a secret anymore.

Master Miao thought about it and didn't say much.

After touring the estate, they returned to the main hall to prepare for signing the agreement.

However, just as Master Miao picked up the pen, Master Gou placed his right hand on the contract and said, "Wait, before you sign, I have a request."

Next Chapter▶▶

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  **Chapter 185: Conspiracy (Requesting Double Monthly Votes)**

Wu Jue said, “Unfortunately, it was that young miss Changsun.”

His use of the word "unfortunately" naturally referred to the identity of the missing girl—she was about to be chosen as the crown princess. For her to suddenly disappear at such a critical moment was indeed "unfortunate."

Chang Suining furrowed her brows.  

So it was Changsun Xuan, the seventh daughter of the Changsun family.

She couldn't help but ask, "Have any clues been found yet?"

"We only know that she disappeared along with her maid in the back mountains. As of now, neither of them has been found," Wu Jue shook his head. "Beyond that, we don’t have more information."

Although the temple monks were involved in the search, their role was limited to guiding the way in the mountains. The actual search efforts were carried out by people from the Changsun family and the Imperial Guards sent by the Holy Emperor. The monks did not dare inquire too deeply.

Chang Suining quickly considered many possibilities and finally said, "I hope they return safely."

She had a bit of admiration for Changsun Xuan, the young girl who had once privately expressed her aspirations to be a great empress. Despite the potential danger, she felt sympathy for a girl so young and vulnerable—whatever the truth of her disappearance, it would be fortunate if she could return safely.

Three days of prayers had concluded, and the Holy Emperor and her ministers could not afford to delay further at Dayun Temple because of the disappearance of a young lady. It had already been more than ten days since their departure from the palace, and there were too many urgent matters that required their attention back in the capital.

On the afternoon of that day, the Holy Emperor, accompanied by her ministers and female attendants, departed Dayun Temple to return to the capital. A hundred Imperial Guards remained at the temple to continue the search for the missing persons.

Those female attendants who were observant would notice that Kuan Shi, the wife of the left Prime Minister Changsun Yuan, did not return to the city with the others.

It was unusual for Kuan Shi not to follow her husband’s instructions, but she insisted on staying at Dayun Temple to wait for news of her daughter.

Changsun Yuan, fully aware that his wife doted on their youngest daughter, did not force her to return but left some attendants to accompany her.

Upon returning to the capital, the Changsun family continued their covert search for Changsun Xuan's whereabouts.

While it was unlikely that Changsun Xuan had secretly returned to the capital with her maid, the search still had to be swift. Regardless of the possibility, it was important to consider all avenues early and search all potential locations.

However, as the Changsun family's search efforts grew more intense, rumors about the disappearance of Changsun Xuan began to spread.

By now, it had been more than four days since Changsun Xuan disappeared from the back mountains of Dayun Temple.

The Changsun family could no longer keep up the pretense. If at first they had hoped the girl might have simply gotten lost or gone elsewhere to avoid unnecessary gossip upon her return, four days had passed, and any remaining hope had vanished.

For a young noble lady who had never left her home, being missing for four days could only mean she had encountered an unforeseen event.

Whatever the cause of the incident, Changsun Yuan only had one thought now: to find his daughter, whether alive or dead.

Though he appeared rigid and indifferent, always putting family interests first, his affection for his youngest daughter was no less than that of his wife.

His Xuan'er had been well-behaved and mature since childhood, with her own thoughts and ideas. As a father, his love for her went beyond mere affection; he had higher expectations for her compared to his other children.

Rather than worrying about rumors, Changsun Yuan was more concerned about his daughter’s safety.

As the news of Changsun Xuan's disappearance spread, many rumors emerged.

Some even claimed that Changsun Xuan had refused to marry as the crown princess and had secretly eloped during the pilgrimage to Dayun Temple.

Such gossip, though not uncommon, deeply upset Kuan Shi, and she fell ill as a result.

However, on the sixth day, this rumor was disproven.

Changsun Xuan, who had been missing for several days, was found.

To be exact, it was her body that was found.

The body was discovered in the back mountains of Dayun Temple, where the initial search had only focused on the area above ground. Once they considered the possibility of something sinister, they began to search beneath the earth.

Her body had been buried near a hidden thicket outside the maple forest. The autumn grass had already turned yellow and drooped, and the area had been covered with dry, withered grass to conceal the burial site. Hence, it was not immediately noticed when the searchers passed by.

The killer seemed to have been careful not to leave too many traces, as both Changsun Xuan and her maid were buried in the same spot.

In the chilly autumn weather, the bodies had been buried in cold earth. When they were uncovered, their faces were still intact and clear, showing little sign of decomposition.

Kuan Shi, who had been waiting at Dayun Temple despite her illness, collapsed upon hearing the news of her daughter's body.

Soon, Changsun Yuan arrived at the scene with his son.

The image of his obedient and lively youngest daughter was still vivid in Changsun Yuan’s mind. No one had ever expected that what was supposed to be a simple Chongyang Ancestor Worship ceremony would end in such tragedy—separating her from the living world forever.

The young girl’s cold face was covered in dirt and a few fallen chrysanthemum petals, her eyes wide open in terror and defiance, as though she wanted to etch her assailant's face into her memory, filled with untold fear and resentment.

Changsun Yuan trembled as he raised his hand, gently covering his daughter’s lifeless form with a white silk cloth.

Changsun Yan, standing beside him, reached out to steady his father, saying, “Father…”

Changsun Yuan gazed at the covered body of his daughter and spoke softly, “I’m fine.”

Now was not the time for grief.

What needed to be done now was to uncover the truth of this matter!

---

When the Holy Emperor learned of the tragic event and received the Changsun family’s consent, she handed the case, along with the bodies of Changsun Xuan and her maid, over to the Ministry of Justice.

The forensic examination revealed that Changsun Xuan had been strangled to death, while her maid had been repeatedly struck on the head with a stone, leading to her death. Other injuries suggested that both had struggled before their deaths, but their resistance had been futile.

The bodies were found in the back mountains of Dayun Temple. From the time Changsun Xuan was last seen alive there to when her disappearance was discovered, it was clear that the murder occurred during that interval.

During that time, many people had passed through the back mountains. On the day in question, nearly a hundred young women and attendants, including those collecting chrysanthemums, as well as monks, were present.

Given the wide range of suspects, most of whom were children of influential officials, the investigation would be time-consuming and laborious. However, the case progressed much faster than expected—because, at the scene of the burial, something was found that didn’t belong to the victim.

The Ministry of Justice quickly launched an investigation into the origin of the item.

---

The news of Changsun Xuan’s murder caused a stir in the capital.

The more timid noblewomen who had been picking chrysanthemums that day were terrified. The thought that while they had been chatting and laughing, such a gruesome event was unfolding nearby kept them up at night, unable to sleep.

When Chang Suining heard the news, she was practicing martial arts with Ah Dian in the training grounds.

Changsun Xuan had indeed met with tragedy.

Instinctively, Chang Suining looked up at the sky. The setting sun seemed to mark the end of a young, vibrant life, fading from this world just like the twilight.

The girl, full of determination, had once made a promise to her—that one day, when the time was right, they might become friends.

They never had the chance to become friends.

She never had the chance to explore what it would be like to walk the path of an empress. Everything was abruptly cut off.

When Chang Suining heard the news, her heart felt heavy. Though she hadn’t known Changsun Xuan well, just thinking that she was a young girl, no older than his younger sister, filled her with sorrow.

"That day, my older brother was also in the back mountains. The Ministry of Justice will likely summon him soon for questioning," Chang Suining reminded Ah Dian. "When that happens, he should just tell the truth."

Chang Suining received an acknowledgment from Ah Dian.

However, in the next two days, no one from the Ministry of Justice came to the Chang residence. After making some inquiries, Chang Suining learned that only a few people had been summoned for questioning—not a wide-scale investigation.

Could it be that the authorities had already identified a suspect?

Chang Suining pondered the situation.

While keeping an eye on the progress of Changsun Xuan’s case, she had also been making arrangements for her own matters.

Recently, she and Chang Sui'an had discussed something important.

The preparation for the northern border defense construction, led by the Xuanzhe Army, had already been scheduled.

This matter was officially reported as being led by Cui Jing, with the army set to depart in two days.

Though Cui Jing had already secretly left the capital, the plans had been set long ago, and his trusted deputy was handling the affairs, ensuring everything proceeded as originally planned. The army, with a total of 80,000 soldiers, would march to the northern frontier. Once Cui Jing had dealt with the chaos in Binhou, he would then join his subordinates in the north.

Many new recruits in the Xuanzhe Army were listed for this northern expedition.

Due to the long-standing separation, Chang Sui'an's identity was indeed somewhat special. Before leaving, Cui Jing had given instructions, allowing him to choose his path for this journey.

Chang Sui'an originally planned to stay in the capital to take care of his family and younger sister. However, after persistent persuasion from Chang Suining, he was eventually convinced and chose to join the northern expedition.

Chang Suining’s insistence on urging her brother to go stemmed from two main considerations.

First, since her older brother had already chosen the path of military service and striving for accomplishments, this was an opportunity he should not miss. Though the northern frontier was harsh, it was an excellent place for personal growth. Furthermore, the purpose of the northern expedition was not to wage war, but to deter the restless northern barbarians. Most of the tasks involved garrisoning and fortification, which was relatively safe compared to active battles, making it an ideal place for new soldiers to adapt to military life and gain experience. 

Should Cui Jing go later, it would be a rare opportunity for her brother to train under such an experienced general. This journey might last several years, and if her brother missed it, he would have to remain in the capital. For a young man eager to become a capable general, every day of training was precious. She did not want Chang Sui'an to miss such an opportunity because of concern for her.

Her second consideration was related to the current political situation.

The emperor was already concerned with external threats, internal troubles, and struggles for power with the aristocratic ministers. On top of that, with the sudden incident involving Changsun Xuan and the uncertain fate of the crown princess, the situation was even more volatile. As the war in Yangzhou escalated, new conflicts were bound to arise at court, and if they broke out, it would likely lead to a great upheaval.

The emperor’s palace appeared calm, but it was at the center of a whirlpool of conflict.

The Yangzhou war was closely related to the situation in the capital. Old Changsun was the deputy General in the battle to suppress the rebels in Yangzhou and could not remain uninvolved. Therefore, Chang Suining believed it would be wise for her brother to leave the capital early, to avoid potential troubles in the future.

Fortunately, her brother was very receptive to her advice.

The next morning, Chang Sui'an, carrying his bundle and accompanied by his sword attendant, was about to leave the family home to go to the Xuanzhe Mansion in preparation for departure with the army.

Outside the General's Mansion, a crowd had gathered to see him off.

In addition to Chang Suining and the household servants, there were also the Qiao siblings, Cui Lang, and other young men who were friends of Chang Sui'an, along with an attendant sent by Yu Zeng to see him off.

"Ning Ning, while I'm away, you must take care of yourself," Chang Sui'an repeatedly reminded her.

After Chang Suining nodded in agreement, he turned to Qiao Yubai, his tone suddenly more serious: "Yubai, after I leave, my sister will be under your care... I mean, she’ll be your responsibility!"

"Don't worry," Qiao Yubai replied earnestly. "I will take good care of Ning Ning. When you return, she’ll only have me as her big brother."

Chang Sui'an immediately widened his eyes. "How shameless!"

"I'm just joking," Qiao Yubai said with a smile. "Ning Ning and I will be waiting at home for your return. By the time you become a great general, I’ll be calling you big brother too."

Chang Sui'an raised his hand and gave Qiao Yubai a light punch on the shoulder. "You said it! When the time comes, be ready to call me 'big brother'!"

Both Chang Suining and Qiao Yumian couldn't help but laugh.

The group continued to chat for a while longer, until the sword attendant reminded them it was time to leave. Chang Sui'an then became serious, cupping his fists in salute to everyone before mounting his horse.

The young man sat tall and proud on the horse, his bearing exuding some martial dignity.

However, Qiao Yubai confidently remarked, "I bet Sui'an is going to shed some tears."

Chang Suining nodded, "Hmm... he won’t last more than three counts."

Three... two...

As the others were counting down to two in their minds, they saw the young man on horseback turn his back, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

Then, he deliberately raised his voice to cover up his emotions, turning away from everyone as he said, "You all go back inside, I'm leaving!"

Afraid of embarrassing himself if he stayed any longer, he quickly shouted "Giddy up!" and urged his horse forward, taking his sword attendant with him.

Chang Suining and the others watched as the young man’s figure disappeared down the alley.

Even Steward Bai couldn’t help but sigh softly. It was the young master's first time leaving home, and he was heading north with the army... But children always grow up, and young men always need to go through trials.

Steward Bai composed himself and motioned for the young men who had come to see them off to come inside for tea.

"Yubai, Sister Mianmian, you two come with me."

Once inside, Chang Suining called the Qiao siblings to a private room.

Cui Lang, feeling that compared to the other young men, he was considered one of their own, didn’t think he belonged in the front hall—a place meant for guests. Instead, he figured he would just follow little Qiao... ahem, follow his teacher.

After all, Qiao Yubai was with him, so there was no need for special consideration.

Chang Suining, too lazy to send him away, let him follow.

On the way, Qiao Yumian, sensing something, quietly asked, "Ning Ning, is there something wrong?"

Knowing that she had trouble getting around, if there wasn’t an urgent matter, Ning Ning wouldn’t have asked her and her brother to speak in private. 

---  

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 461: Crisis at Hand (1)

Upon hearing Hong shi's shameless words, Mo Yan, who had hurried over, almost burst out laughing. She pushed through the crowd and stepped in front of Wu shi and her daughter.

As soon as Mo Yan appeared, Wu shi and her daughter found their backbone and excitedly leaned towards her.

"Yan, Miss Yan!"

"Sister Yan!"

Mo Yan smiled reassuringly at them and then turned her gaze towards the despicable mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Seeing their suddenly ugly expressions, she smirked sarcastically and said, "Who was causing trouble? Turns out it's you two! Unable to harm me through Mo Yongxi, are you now trying to destroy my little stall to vent your anger?"

Since Mo Yongxi's misdeeds backfired on her, the villagers had developed a slight awe towards Mo Yan, fearing any underhanded actions against her. Hong shi and the others were no exception. However, their attitude wasn't out of respect but rather fear, believing Mo Yan to be possessed by a demon that had used supernatural means to injure Mo Yongxi.

Hong shi was wary of Mo Yan, though she harbored extreme hatred towards her. She dared not insult her recklessly as before and could only retort to her words, "Hmph, this little stall clearly belongs to Wu shi. How did it become yours? Don't try to trick me into believing your story. I won't fall for it."

Mo Yan couldn't be bothered to argue with her. She directly took out a piece of paper from her sleeve, which she had stored in her space. In front of everyone, she unfolded it. At the bottom left corner of the paper was a prominent red stamp, with the name "Mo Yan" signed underneath.

After paying the taxes and management fees for the stall at the yamen, the official in charge had issued a receipt to Mo Yan. Initially thought useless, Mo Yan had casually stored it in her space. Little did she know it would come in handy today, used decisively to slap Hong shi in the face.

Illiterate, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stared at the receipt, clueless about its contents. However, among the onlookers were those who could read, and they sporadically read out the contents written on it. The surroundings immediately erupted into a noisy discussion:

"The signature at the top is surnamed Mo, but this woman is surnamed Wu. It seems this woman wasn't lying; she was just helping out."

"Yeah, there's a big stamp on this receipt; it can't be fake."

"Sigh, we really shouldn't have listened to just one side of the story. We wronged this woman earlier!"

The few passersby who had accused Wu shi earlier felt embarrassed and reluctant to apologize. Instead, they retreated to the back of the crowd, remaining silent.

Others began to suspect Hong shi and her daughter-in-law's true intentions behind causing this scene, especially after the earlier embarrassment. However, since it didn't concern them directly, they stood by quietly, watching the spectacle unfold.

Hearing the discussions around them, Hong shi and her daughter-in-law realized the situation was turning against them. However, after observing the stall's profitable business for several days, they were determined not to leave without gaining any benefits. 

Sure enough, Hong shi continued, "Even if they were just helping out, they could have earned two wages. But they haven't taken any silver home. What do you say to that?"

This time, Hong shi stepped forward on her own, staring directly at Hong shi with a hint of choked emotion in her voice. "Mother, Tie Tou is already nineteen this year, and Dani'er is seventeen. They should have been married off long ago, but our family is so poor. Besides a few dilapidated thatched huts, we have nothing. Six of us in the main house are cramped in one room. It's a laughingstock. Under these circumstances, how can Tie Tou afford to marry? What dowry can Dani'er bring?"

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  **Chapter 184: She is Willing to Owe It**

"In your heart, how many masters can I serve?" Wu Jue asked bitterly, full of resentment.

Chang Suining sighed, "At that time, I didn’t even know what that formation was for, how could I do nothing and just wait for someone else to save me?"

To her, having someone to help was luck, but saving oneself in the face of danger was the norm.

Doing nothing would be equivalent to waiting for death, and that was something she could neither do nor learn to do.

Wu Jue's heart ached. "Now I understand. You must have a thousand and one schemes, and probably 799 of them are aimed at me!"

Chang Suining smiled and said, "Not really. I probably only used one."

Seeing that Wu Jue was still upset about her earlier doubts, she became serious. "Think about it. For more than a decade, what has happened to you all, I couldn’t know or even guess. Naturally, I couldn’t trust easily... But now, as we sit here and talk, even though it’s only been a few words and I’ve seen you shed some tears, hasn’t my suspicion already been dispelled? Can’t you say that this is trust?"

Wu Jue’s expression softened upon hearing this.

Then Chang Suining added, "And right now, with my appearance being neither human nor ghost, if I’m to be blunt, I resemble a demonic creature, and the world won’t accept me. To preserve this life, I must keep this secret tightly sealed and be more cautious than before. Don’t you agree?"

Wu Jue’s previously exaggerated dissatisfaction now completely dissipated.

He couldn’t help but think of the example from the Western Regions, where someone had been resurrected by the same formation a century ago, only to be burned to death as a demon.

The Princess’s caution was justified.

After experiencing such a strange event, remaining calm and accepting everything without seeking help from others, and relying solely on herself to figure everything out—perhaps only His Highness could have done this.

For him, these ten-plus years had passed one day at a time, everything was clear and real, including his longing and hopes for His Highness... But for her, it was as if she had opened her eyes after more than ten years, with a new identity. Everything was unfamiliar and absurd. How could she not feel confused, frightened, and on guard?

His Highness had it so hard, and he hadn’t given her any understanding or comfort. Instead, he was acting childish and making her coax him... Oh, was he even human?

Feeling like he needed to slap himself for being so petty, Wu Jue said in a hushed voice, "Your Highness, you’ve had a hard time on this journey..."

The road home wasn’t easy.

And the road before getting home... had certainly been hard for His Highness too.

Seeing him like this, Chang Suining realized that playing the victim was effective, so she relaxed a little—playing the victim among her own people was always effective. 

Wu Jue, however, had truly been affected by her sadness, and couldn’t help but ask, "How did you fare in Northern Di these years...?"

"It was okay," Chang Suining replied casually. "Northern Di has vast lands, horses run fast, and lambs roast deliciously."

Wu Jue fell silent for a moment, then held back his tears and smiled, "I’m also good at roasting lamb and making lamb soup... Now that His Highness is home, you won’t have to go to Northern Di to enjoy the delicious roasted lamb."

Chang Suining couldn’t help but laugh at him, reminding him, "But you’re a monk now."

Wu Jue was unconcerned. "I can always return to layman life."

He was just pretending to be a monk. The Dayun Temple wasn’t a proper temple anyway; he had stayed here to handle the formation, but now that His Highness had returned, he no longer needed to stay as a monk.

As he spoke, he wished he could roast three, four, or five lambs right now to satisfy His Highness’s craving!

Chang Suining quickly reassured him, signaling for him to calm down. She wasn’t so desperate for lamb, and there was no need to roast it so soon. She told him to let the lambs live a little longer.

Wu Jue sighed.

He couldn’t be hasty. Even though he wanted to roast the lamb, he still had to stay at the Dayun Temple to continue the act to prevent Holy Emperor from becoming suspicious.

Chang Suining then asked him more about the Heavenly Maiden Tower, wanting to understand everything that had happened inside.

She suddenly remembered, "Since this is a resurrection formation, now that the formation has been destroyed, I shouldn’t face any harm, right?"

"What are you thinking? If that were the case, would I have allowed Grand General Cui to destroy the formation? Don’t worry, Your Highness. Your soul is stable now. The destruction of the formation won’t affect you."

Chang Suining felt reassured. "Very good. Then let it be destroyed. The sooner, the better."

That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about Holy Emperor trying to use the formation to test her in the future.

"But I’ll still have to try and fix the broken parts of the secret passage," Wu Jue continued. "At least it should look intact on the surface. Otherwise, if Holy Emperor remembers and orders someone to check if the formation is intact, it will expose us."

Chang Suining nodded. "Better safe than sorry. Please be careful, and thank you for your efforts."

After asking about the formation, she became curious about something else. "I saw a jade box beneath the Heavenly Maiden statue. It seemed very important. Do you know what treasure is inside?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Jue fell silent.

Chang Suining looked at him. "Is it something you can’t speak about?"

"It’s..." Wu Jue hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "It’s your bones."

Chang Suining: "...I thought it was some kind of treasure."

So it was just this.

Wu Jue was dissatisfied. "What do you mean by that? Naturally, that’s the most precious thing in the entire Heavenly Maiden Tower!"

Chang Suining couldn’t help but hide her disdain, thinking about the small box. "It’s impressive that you were able to find and bring it back. In this way, I suppose I have returned to my roots."

"It was Old Chang who brought it back..." At the mention of this old matter, Wu Jue’s tone still carried suppressed bitterness and heart-wrenching pain. "Those beasts from Northern Di... Because of this, Old Chang disobeyed the Emperor's orders and insisted on personally cutting off the head of that beastly Khan."

That brute had desecrated her body in retaliation after the Princess's self-inflicted wound...

In the end, Old Chang could only recover a small fragment of her remains.

Wu Jue didn’t want to say more, and Chang Suining could easily imagine the rest.

In fact, she had already mentally prepared herself for the possibility of having no remains left when she decided to kill the Northern Di general.

Seeing Wu Jue lowering his head in silence, she spoke up, "Before the two armies met, the enemy lost their leader. It’s a common practice to do so in order to stabilize the morale of the army. Everyone is born naked, and we grow from just a small piece of flesh and bone. Our bodies are merely vessels—during life, we use them fully; after death, they return to dust. How we return doesn’t matter much; it’s all the same. There’s no need to overthink it."

Wu Jue still didn’t speak.

The girl continued her comfort, "And look, I’m back now. See, I’m still whole, with arms and legs intact."

Wu Jue couldn’t help but raise his tear-filled eyes to check her arms and legs.

She took out a soft handkerchief, handed it to him to wipe his tears, and smiled, saying, "Wu Jue, thank you for bringing me home."

She was serious, adding, "I owe you a life."

Wu Jue took the handkerchief, embroidered with a crane, and gently pressed it to his eyes, choking up as he sighed, "Owe? I’m like a narrow stream, and Your Highness is the sea. If the sea ceases to exist, where would the stream return to?"

He continued, "A narrow stream can only return to the sea to survive. The sea never rejects the stream; they complement each other. There’s no question of owing or not owing."

"Too philosophical. I don’t quite understand," Chang Suining smiled and replied. "I’d rather owe you. I’m happy to owe you."

She didn’t want to be in debt to anyone else, as that kind of debt felt like a thorny net, suffocating her with every turn. 

But the debt to Wu Jue was different—it was a comforting bond that allowed her to feel rooted in this world once again.

Bonds and attachments are different, and in this life, she was fortunate to be bound only by kindness and sincerity.

Chang Suining leaned forward, gently hugging the man who had called himself a fake monk but seemed more like a savior to her than any deity.

She smiled again, saying, "I’ll just owe you, then."

Wu Jue wiped his tears and smiled in return. "Since Your Highness truly wants to owe me, I’ll gladly accept."

"Yes, take it," Chang Suining released him.

Wu Jue smiled with restrained pride. "Your Highness, there’s something I’d like to ask."

Chang Suining, aware of her debt to him, generously replied, "Ask away."

"I remember you buried several jars of Feng Zhi wine. You had promised to drink with us... Where exactly did you bury it?"

Chang Suining blinked. "Oh... I think I drank it."

Wu Jue stood up in shock. "When did you sneakily drink it?"

"Before I went to Northern Di," Chang Suining said, slightly embarrassed. "At that time, I thought there’d be no chance to drink together, so I simply dug it up and drank it myself."

She had gotten very drunk and slept under the apricot blossom tree where she had buried the wine.

Wu Jue’s face was full of pain, and he nearly stomped his foot. "I’ve been craving it for so many years!"

Chang Suining asked, "Why didn’t you go find Ah Zeng to brew some more?"

Only A Zeng could make Feng Zhi wine.

"He would have agreed!" Wu Jue sighed. "Since you left, he refused to brew it again. I nearly knelt down and begged him."

Chang Suining teased, "Just like Old Chang begged you to make lamb soup for him?"

"Exactly..." Wu Jue’s eyes suddenly lit up. "But now that you’re back, he’ll have to brew it, even if he doesn’t want to! You’ll have to make up for me with a few jars!"

Chang Suining’s smile faded slightly as she asked, "After I left, did you notice anything unusual about Ah Zeng? Has he had any contact with anyone worth mentioning?"

Wu Jue froze for a moment.

After thinking carefully, he slowly shook his head. "Since Your Highness left, his temperament has become increasingly distant. He also works in the palace and rarely leaves. Our contact with him has been minimal, so we don’t know much about him. I haven’t noticed anything unusual."

Among the four of them, plus the secretive Meng Lie, Ah Zeng had been the least involved over the years.

But...

"Why do you ask this suddenly? Could it be..." Wu Jue looked at the girl still sitting on the ground, his expression growing serious.

"I was poisoned before I killed the Northern Di general."

Wu Jue was stunned. "Do you know who did it?"

"It was Yu Xie," Chang Suining said. "She was instructed by someone. She claimed that the events from back then were a result of being deceived, and the one who deceived her was Ah Zeng. She had received a letter bearing Ah Zeng’s private seal..."

She then explained the details of Yu Xie’s testimony to Wu Jue.

Wu Jue frowned deeply. "How could he…"

Chang Suining didn't express much surprise or anger. She simply said, "The truth is still unknown, but he is now in charge of the Imperial Palace Affairs Division and working closely with Ming Hou. It’s not going to be easy to investigate. Over these past few days, I’ve thought of many ways, but none of them seem feasible. This matter requires careful planning, and until we get to the bottom of it, we must both be extra vigilant and cautious."

Since she had now shared the information with Wu Jue, it became a matter they would tackle together, just as soldiers would never conceal things from each other in battle.

Wu Jue nodded with a complicated expression. "Your Highness, don’t worry. I will keep an eye on him."

Though their interactions with Ah Zeng had been limited in recent years, their old friendship had not diminished. He never imagined Ah Zeng would betray the Princess.

Now, Wu Jue also understood why the Princess had been so cautious of him, an old acquaintance, from the start.

He sighed deeply in his heart.

Chang Suining stood up and dusted herself off.

"Father, let’s go. Brother should be finished eating by now."

The title of "Father" made Wu Jue’s legs tremble slightly. "Your Highness, this... this is inappropriate..."

"If I were your biological parent, calling you 'Father' would be an honor for you. Besides, whether it's appropriate or not, the act must continue, right?" Chang Suining called again, "Father, you’ll have to get used to it."

Wu Jue could only nod, smiling with forced restraint. "Yes, I’ll get used to it. For now, I’ll shamelessly accept this small favor."

The two of them exited through the secret passage.

Chang Sui'an had finished all the food on the table, not leaving a single grain of rice or vegetable.

When he saw them come out, Chang Sui'an approached with surprise. "Master Wu Jue, what happened to your eyes?"

It looked like he had been crying. How could one discuss Buddhist teachings while crying?

It couldn’t have been his sister who hit him—though she enjoyed hitting people, she would never act disrespectfully toward her elders without reason.

Wu Jue sighed and rubbed his swollen eyes. "Some dust got into my eyes just now."

Chang Sui'an quietly looked him over. Given how swollen his eyes were, ordinary dust couldn’t have caused this. It had to be something larger, maybe even a brick! Both eyes seemed equally affected, as though the brick had been generously shared with both.

Adults always cared about their face. Since Master Wu Jue didn’t want to admit he had been crying, Chang Sui'an decided to pretend to believe him.

He kindly suggested, "You should rest for a while and not walk around too much."

After all, even he, who was easy to deceive, could tell something was off. It would be much harder to fool others.

Wu Jue nodded, looking like his eyes were hurting badly. He found a chair to sit down and continued rubbing his eyes.

The Chang siblings were preparing to leave.

"By the way," just before they left, Chang Suining suddenly recalled something she had seen earlier and asked, "Father, do you know which young lady went missing on the back mountain yesterday?"

Ordinary people might not know, but since monks from the temple were involved in the search, Wu Jue, as the temple’s abbot, should have known something.

Since her reputation had spread in the capital, there were many noble ladies who treated her kindly, whether out of genuine friendship or concern. She felt it was worth asking.

Wu Jue lowered his voice and replied, "It was a young lady from the Changsun family."

Chang Suining was stunned for a moment before asking, "From the Changsun family… which young lady?"

--- 

(End of Chapter)

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