Chapter 150: Hello Chang’an
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Chapter 150: He Will Die on the Battlefield If Necessary
Yao Yi was the first to ask Chang Suining about her thoughts on becoming the Crown Princess.
Chang Suining repeated what she had told Cui Jing earlier: "I have no intention of this matter."
She admitted that last night, she had briefly considered the possibility of playing along with Ming Hou’s wishes—perhaps becoming their puppet would also be an opportunity or shortcut.
However, this thought lasted only a moment before she dismissed it.
It was too risky, too presumptuous. Since Ming Hou had chosen her, they were undoubtedly confident in their ability to control her. Furthermore, the path Ming Hou had taken was one that others could not follow.
Moreover, if she chose to become their pawn, she would inevitably become an enemy of the Changsun faction. Not only would she become the target of everyone’s scorn, but her entire family, as well as those close to her, would be dragged into this whirlwind.
Therefore, if becoming the Crown Princess was a shortcut, it would likely be a path that led to an early death and reincarnation.
Even if, by some miracle, it truly was a good choice, she would have to think it through carefully. After all, the young Crown Prince was the nephew of Li Shang, a man with the same surname.
Though she had no particular moral compass, Chang Suining still had some basic principles that she was willing to adhere to based on her own sense of acceptance. She couldn’t accept marrying her own blood nephew, even if it was for political advantage.
Seeing her shake her head, Yao Yi quietly sighed in relief. "It’s good, this murky water shouldn’t be waded into."
He had genuinely worried that, driven by her desire for fame, she might have agreed to become the Crown Princess despite the risks.
If that had happened, things would have been in disarray.
Yao Yi then looked at Chang Kuo, about to discuss the matter with him, but Chang Kuo had already stood up. "Since that’s the case, I will go see the Holy Emperor right now and explain the situation!"
Yao Yi froze. "…Isn’t this a bit too straightforward?"
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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"If it works, it’s fine!" Chang Kuo said. "Anyway, the Holy Emperor hasn’t given an official decree yet. If I refuse now, it wouldn’t be considered disobeying the decree. I’ve spent most of my life in service, and if I speak up to refuse, the Holy Emperor will not force me!"
"That may be so, but this will likely cause some suspicion between the Holy Emperor and the Chang family." Yao Yi shook his head, disapproving. "Even if things don’t become open conflict right away, what if one day they use this as an excuse…"
It wasn’t so much that the Holy Emperor was petty, but the Holy Emperor’s mind worked that way. He couldn’t allow his officials to openly defy him like this.
If everyone acted this way, where would the imperial authority be? How could he govern?
"Then just demote me!" Chang Kuo said dismissively. "If not, I’ll resign and return to the countryside."
After all, being the General of the Cavalry didn’t mean much to him anymore.
If he couldn’t even protect his own daughter, then it wasn’t worth being in office anymore!
Yao Yi sighed. "It’s easy to say, but if you resign and leave the capital, coming back will be as difficult as climbing the heavens. The position you earned with your blood and life can’t just be abandoned so easily… General Chang, your straightforward solution might not be the best one. Let’s hold off on it for now."
Yao Yi sighed, and Chang Kuo glared at him. "If you have a better solution, then speak up!"
"I’m trying to discuss it," Yao Yi said helplessly, waving his hand. "General Chang, please sit down."
Chang Kuo stood like a mountain, blocking the sunlight.
Chang Suining also spoke up, "Father, don’t rush."
As Yao Yi had just mentioned, Chang Kuo’s current position was one he had earned through blood and life on the battlefield. Though he had no real power now, the honor of his rank was still valuable, and there were countless ways it could be used. It wouldn’t be wise to throw it all away for something like this.
If there was no other way, then she would personally handle the rejection, and it shouldn’t be up to her father to face the Holy Emperor’s suspicion.
To ease Chang Kuo’s mind, she said, "If it really comes to that, I’ll just pick a few people I don’t like, give them a beating, and you can be furious, saying how hopeless I am. Then, to appease everyone’s anger, you can send me to a convent to become a nun."
This time, Yao Yi stared at her. "…What kind of plan is that?"
His daughter was already talking about becoming a nun, and now he had to deal with this too? He had only just managed to settle things.
"What’s wrong with becoming a nun?" Chang Suining said nonchalantly. "If necessary, I’ll leave the convent and return to society."
In the end, everything depended on what needed to be done.
Yao Yi: "…!"
It seemed that the convent was her safe haven, and the Buddha statues there were her shields!
Xi'er couldn't help but quietly say, "Miss, this plan sounds like it might be a bit too much... I wonder if the merits we accumulated at Dayun Temple last time are enough?"
But if the Miss is determined to go through with it, then Xi'er would even risk her life to help her accumulate enough merit!
Chang Suining wasn't particularly concerned.
Merit was something you used if you had enough. If not, she would act in a way that was most convenient for her, leaving the rest to fate.
"Becoming a nun isn't a good idea..." Now it was Chang Kuo's turn to try to dissuade her. "Ning Ning, let's discuss this a bit more."
He felt that this approach was indirect, but in reality, it was even more provocative than his own.
Suddenly, he understood the feeling Yao Yi must have had when trying to persuade him earlier.
At this point, Cui Jing, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
"Why don’t I go to the Holy Emperor and request a marriage decree..."
Everyone in the room turned to look at him.
"A marriage decree?"
"Who would it be for?"
Cui Jing looked at Chang Suining calmly and said, "A marriage decree for me and your daughter."
Chang Suining froze.
There was a brief silence in the room.
Xi'er trembled, covering her mouth.
Chang Suining’s father, Chang Kuo, was on the verge of running away from home. "Cui... Grand General Cui..."
"I will openly ask the Holy Emperor to issue the decree in front of others," Cui Jing said, looking at Chang Suining. "When the Holy Emperor inquires, you can simply say that you’re not willing, and refuse."
Xi'er’s hand trembled as she covered her mouth again—refuse the Grand General? That could definitely go down in the Miss’s list of accomplishments!
Cui Jing continued, "If that’s the case, I won’t force you, but I will declare in front of everyone that I will wait for you to be willing. This life, I will marry no one but you."
Chang Suining was almost stunned.
Was his sacrifice too great?
It wasn't only Chang Suining who was stunned. After Cui Jing finished speaking, the room fell silent for a while.
Until Chang Sui'an suddenly stood up.
"Wait..." Chang Sui'an nervously swallowed. He looked at Cui Jing. "Let me confirm something with General Cui... This plan you mentioned is just a temporary solution, right? It’s all an act, all fake, right?"
This was really important to him!
Without waiting for Cui Jing to answer, Chang Kuo spoke first. "Of course! What else could it be?"
Could something like this be real?
How could he have such a silly son… Of course, he took after her!
"Oh, oh, haha..." Chang Sui'an chuckled awkwardly and relaxed. "Then it's fine."
He thought Cui Jing actually wanted to marry his sister!
He had been scared half to death, sweating bullets.
Seeing the young man wipe the sweat off his forehead and sit back down, Cui Jing’s mood was slightly complicated.
Yao Yi regained his composure and his eyes lit up. "This method is brilliant."
With this, the Chang family and Suining would almost certainly be unaffected.
However...
Yao Yi, still having a little conscience, looked at Cui Jing. "But... will the Holy Emperor think that General Cui is defying her will by doing this?"
"I have never made any requests of the Holy Emperor in all these years," Cui Jing said. "To show him my private intentions and weaknesses might not necessarily be a bad thing."
Yao Yi pondered for a moment, his mind now clear.
The Holy Emperor had no doubt been cautious of Cui Jing. This young man seemed to have no personal desires or weaknesses.
People like him made kings uneasy, as they were the hardest to control.
Losing a potential candidate for the position of Crown Princess, who had not yet been definitively chosen, but gaining a high-ranking official with military power showing a weakness—this, as the young man had just said, might not necessarily be a bad thing from the Holy Emperor's perspective.
The advantages and disadvantages of any situation were always weighed. If someone else were to do this, it would seem like defying the Holy Emperor’s will, but when someone like Cui Jing, a powerful official, did it, it became a feasible move.
When a person has enough power to use as leverage, they can afford to indulge their personal desires and occasionally disregard the bigger picture. This, too, is a form of privilege.
No wonder people are always trying to climb higher in society.
Damn, thinking about it made him a little envious.
Reflecting on this, Yao Yi couldn’t help but glance at Chang Kuo. "…So, if you want to act freely, you need to have some weight behind you. Don’t mention quitting your position again, General Chang. You should not only refrain from suggesting it but also focus on progressing."
Chang Kuo: "?"
Why was he suddenly being scolded?
With a quick jab at Chang Kuo, Yao Yi continued to savor the brilliance of this plan.
First, asking the Holy Emperor for a marriage decree was not only a reaction to the Holy Emperor’s apparent interest in Chang Suining as a candidate for Crown Princess, but also because the Cui family forbade their younger generation from marrying outside the four great families. Cui Jing’s request for a marriage decree seemed reasonable—an unavoidable action born of necessity.
Second, the initial request for a marriage, followed by a refusal, and then the vow of "I will marry no one but you"—how could the Holy Emperor, after such a public declaration, still force her into becoming the Crown Princess?
The young man had been in the army since the age of twelve, dedicating himself to his country, and had not married by now. It would be hard for the Holy Emperor to make him marry the Crown Princess against his will.
As for whether the Holy Emperor would suspect that Cui Jing had ulterior motives, or that this was a play for the benefit of the scholar-officials' interests, Yao Yi didn’t need to worry about that.
It was well known that Cui Jing, as the eldest grandson of the Cui family, was groomed to inherit the family headship. His identity alone made him the subject of suspicion. Whether the Holy Emperor trusted him or was wary of him, this particular event wouldn’t change much.
As for whether Cui Jing would incur the Holy Emperor’s suspicion, Chang Kuo did not think as deeply as Yao Yi, and expressed his concerns, which turned out to be the same as Yao Yi’s worries.
However, Cui Jing was indifferent to the impact this would have on him. He didn’t care, nor did he need to.
Once the major concerns were laid to rest, Chang Suining expressed a personal worry: "But this will have a big impact on General Cui’s future marriage."
Once he had publicly vowed to marry no one but her, no other families or girls would dare approach him.
Cui Jing answered calmly, "That’s not a concern. I’ve already sworn before my family, in the Cui ancestral hall, that I will never marry."
Chang Suining was stunned.
He had sworn never to marry, and had done so in the Cui family’s ancestral hall...
He certainly knew how to show his rebellious streak.
Chang Suining could imagine the busy day the Cui family’s Physician must have had when that vow was made.
Cui Jing looked at her and added, "However, this matter may affect your future marriage."
"I don’t mind," Chang Suining responded without hesitation. "I have no intention of getting married."
Yao Yi looked at her with some emotion.
One had sworn never to marry, and the other had no intention of marrying at all...
It seemed that the two of them were truly a match made in heaven.
This plan was indeed tailor-made for them; it wouldn’t have worked as well with anyone else.
Hearing Chang Suining’s declaration, Cui Jing was slightly taken aback before continuing, "If you change your mind in the future, it's fine. If you decide to marry someone, just let me know. If necessary, I can tell others that I’ve entered a religious order. Although I remain a lay disciple, I will not marry again."
Cui Jing continued, "Furthermore, I have been on the battlefield for years; it's possible that one day I may die in Battlefield."
Chang Suining opened her mouth, then said, "…The first part is more than enough."
Yao Yi, too, was taken aback.
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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The idea that, if necessary, he could become a monk or even die on the battlefield… the backup plan was quite extreme! He couldn't help but ask, "General Cui, why are you helping Miss Chang so much?"
Cui Jing looked at Chang Suining, his tone clear and firm. "We are friends."
His demeanor was as pure and resolute as his words.
He had never had friends before, so he had tried to find some guidance from books on what it meant to be a friend. Many books spoke of how friends should be willing to risk life and limb for each other.
Compared to that, what he had done was nothing special.
This young general, seasoned in battle, now revealed a certain naïveté when it came to friendship. The contrast was striking.
When Chang Suining met his eyes, she felt somewhat moved and ashamed.
She realized that when she mentioned the word "friend" that night, it had been said lightly, but she hadn’t expected Cui Jing’s view on friendship to be so sincere and unreserved.
It made her feel like she was taking advantage of a true friend.
Looking at him, Yao Yi hesitated, caught between thinking "Do you even need friends?" and "You’d better not have too many friends."
Cui Jing then asked, "What do you think?"
Their eyes met, and Chang Suining nodded, without hesitation or refusal. "I’ll go along with this plan. This time, I owe you a favor, General Cui."
Although she wasn’t out of options and there were other solutions, Cui Jing’s plan was indeed the most prudent and thoughtful. From every angle, it was the least impactful.
She agreed not only because it was the most rational choice for the greater good but also because it was a kind suggestion from a friend.
And though they were friends, she knew she couldn’t just accept all his efforts without hesitation.
On the contrary, the closer the friendship, the more one should cherish the other’s contributions.
The way she said "favor" didn’t sound like much of a guarantee, but to Cui Jing, it carried a lot of weight.
Though he didn’t need her to repay any favor, he could feel her sincerity reflected in her eyes—she was returning his kindness with the same earnestness.
He nodded in response.
...
When Chang Suining and the others left the room, Cui Lang, who had been waiting in the courtyard, turned his head upon hearing the sound. He wasn’t alone; Qiao Yumian had also come—she was there to see Chang Suining and had been waiting with Cui Lang since he mentioned that a meeting was taking place inside.
At this moment, Qiao Yumian stepped forward, calling, "Ning Ning…"
Chang Suining took her hand and quietly assured her, "Sister Mianmian, don’t worry. The solution has been decided."
Qiao Yumian had come because of the "night pearl" issue, and upon hearing this, she relaxed, no longer asking further questions.
At that moment, Cui Lang glanced outside the courtyard and remarked, "I just saw several Physicians come out from that direction. From their expressions, it doesn’t look good."
(Ning Ning: I’m really taken aback by his sincerity.
So, today marks the day when little Cui and Ning Ning's friendship took a step forward!)
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