Chapter 152: Hello Chang’an
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**Chapter 152: The Chance to See the Light of Day Again (Seeking Monthly Votes)**
"Did you ask me here for the luminous pearls?" After sitting down on the stone bench, Chang Suining got straight to the point and asked.
Changsun Xuan, who had not yet sat down, looked at the young woman with some surprise.
After a moment, she calmly nodded. "Exactly."
She looked at the girl sitting there and raised an eyebrow. "I really like your luminous pearls."
It was clear that she intended to test the other party's attitude with a remark that seemed to suggest a potential rivalry, but unexpectedly, the girl responded calmly: "I like those pearls too. I never give up something I like."
Changsun Xuan fixed her gaze on the girl—so, was this a declaration of war?
At this moment, the girl casually added, "But I only like the pearls. I don't like or want anything else."
Changsun Xuan was stunned for a moment. Meeting the girl's eyes, which showed no hostility, she faintly raised her lips. "I don't want the pearls. I only want the other things."
Chang Suining nodded in a "that's fine" manner. "Then it will depend on your skills, Lady Changsun, and your esteemed family."
Changsun Xuan did not respond, standing still with a look of doubt as she watched her. "You're really not going to compete with me?"
Chang Suining corrected her, "The one who would compete with you, Lady Changsun, is not me, nor any other potential consort for the crown prince—"
Changsun Xuan’s eyes flickered. "I know that."
The true competition is the Emperor's will.
"But right now, the Emperor’s will is with you." She looked at the calm and composed face of the girl and asked, "Can you truly control whether to compete or not?"
"I can," the girl nodded confidently and casually.
This somewhat arrogant response made Changsun Xuan pause, and then she asked with some amusement, "Do you even know what you're saying?"
Chang Suining responded with a playful question of her own, "Then why are you asking me?"
Changsun Xuan was momentarily surprised, then smiled and finally laughed for real.
She then sat down.
"The reason I asked is because I expected you to answer that way. You're really quite helpless," the girl spoke with a strangely approachable tone, "In that case, I can try to help you."
"There's no need," Chang Suining said. "If the Emperor notices that I'm working with the Changsun family, I'll be in big trouble."
Changsun Xuan let out a soft "Ah" and nodded. "That’s true."
She shrugged lightly. "Then I’m afraid I can’t be of help."
She added, "I do hope your 'I can' is the truth."
Chang Suining just smiled without saying more.
The girl, who was sitting face to face with her, seemed to have opened up a bit. She leaned slightly forward and lowered her voice, asking, "You really don't want to be the crown prince's consort? Or is it that you think you can't compete with me, so you've given up on the idea?"
Chang Suining shook her head. "I really don’t want to."
Changsun Xuan confirmed that the girl wasn’t lying and said, "I see. Being the crown prince's consort is troublesome."
"But I’m not afraid of trouble," Changsun Xuan tilted her chin slightly, her eyes sparkling. "I’ve always thought that, one day, I could be like my Aunt Chang and hold the position of Empress."
At this moment, the girl revealed an honesty and innocence that she had never shown before.
She had always appeared dignified and noble to others, with her innocence hidden beneath the shiny facade of the Changsun family’s legitimate daughter.
She had no true friends and interacted with other noblewomen only to maintain social relations.
Perhaps it was because the girl in front of her was different from others, but talking to her felt unexpectedly comfortable. Unconsciously, she found herself wanting to confide.
Only after saying that did she realize she had just spoken about becoming an Empress—such nonsense?
Changsun Xuan realized she had misspoken, her face flushed slightly as she awkwardly warned, "You’re not allowed to laugh at me."
Outside the pavilion, Changsun Xuan’s maid, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, found her lady's behavior puzzling—why was her mistress suddenly so coquettish?
Chang Suining: "It's a good thing to have something you genuinely want to do in this world. What's there to laugh about?"
On the contrary, she felt that as a woman, being able to openly speak of her "ambition" to aim high was something rather free-spirited and graceful.
Changsun Xuan took a good look at her and couldn't help but say, "I didn’t expect you to be quite likable."
The maid from the Changsun family, who had been listening to their conversation outside the pavilion, widened her eyes in disbelief—why was the young lady confessing like this?
Then she heard Chang Suining, without modesty, say, "Many people like me."
Thinking of the rumors, Changsun Xuan looked at her with suspicion. "That’s probably because all the ones who didn’t like you were chased away by you, right?"
Chang Suining let out a soft "Ah," and then smiled. "That does seem to be the case."
Changsun Xuan couldn't help but laugh.
Chang Suining found herself liking this seventh daughter of the Changsun family.
Thinking back, when she worked with Li Xiao, the Changsun family had a considerable grudge against her. The Changsun family supported the third prince and regarded her, this "crown prince," as their enemy. They had never stopped fighting her openly and secretly.
But she was never the legitimate heir by birth—perhaps it was her lowborn mother that made her the one who recklessly started the competition.
The Changsun family had used many tactics against her, and she, along with those who had allied with her at the time, was far from innocent.
In her view, political struggles had no right or wrong—it was all about one's abilities.
Moreover, in the competition with the Changsun family and the third prince, she was the one who won.
It was only later that she realized she had never been fighting for herself.
And now, with a new emperor and new officials, she was no longer Li Shang or Li Xiao, so she no longer had any adversarial feelings toward this young girl in front of her.
"By the way, you have no intention of becoming the crown prince’s consort, so there’s no need to test me… Then why did you agree to meet with me? Are you not afraid of me being harmful to you?" Changsun Xuan asked curiously.
"If I were to harm you here and now, it would be the same as harming myself. I think a young lady raised by the Changsun family should understand this basic principle of cause and effect."
Changsun Xuan replied with a faint "Oh": "Then I’ll take that as a compliment."
She had always been very competent in fulfilling her role as the Changsun family's daughter.
"As for why I came here, there are two reasons," Chang Suining said. "First, I don’t want to create unnecessary enemies. It’s better to speak clearly and openly about things than to leave them ambiguous. Let’s part on good terms."
Part on good terms?
Changsun Xuan smiled slightly, "Well, I suppose you’ve succeeded in doing that."
She then couldn’t help but express a bit of regret. "But unfortunately, we're not in a position to be friends right now."
Though she indeed liked this lady from the Chang family—she was one of the few people who made her feel like she could truly connect with her—she wasn't so overwhelmed by this favorable impression as to let it cloud her judgment.
At present, their positions were contradictory and awkward. If they got too close, it wouldn’t be good for either of them.
"But maybe in the future, there will be an opportunity," she looked at Chang Suining with a smile full of expectation.
Chang Suining smiled back and nodded. "Yes, perhaps there will be an opportunity."
The situation was always changing, and no one could predict what would happen in the future.
"Then what’s the second reason you came to see me?" Changsun Xuan pressed.
"The second reason…" Chang Suining paused, "Because the wife of Marquis Zheng invited me to speak with her. I happened to pass by here on my way to see her, so I decided to stop by and see you."
Changsun Xuan: "?"
So, she had prepared so much for this meeting, and the other party had only come by out of convenience?
"You really don’t take me seriously, do you?" the girl said, a little displeased.
"To deal with an enemy, one must take them seriously. But we’re not enemies."
"Oh, that's true..."
...
At the same time, in the residence of Duan Shi, the wife of Marquis Zheng, besides Wei Miaoqing, who lived with her mother, Wei Shuyi was also there, paying his respects.
"... I have a brilliant plan that's crafty but can exploit an opening!" Wei Miaoqing said with shining eyes.
Upon hearing the words "crafty" and "exploit an opening," Wei Shuyi looked at his sister. "What do you mean by crafty and exploiting an opening?"
"Why don't you go tell Holy Emperor that our Wei family has secretly arranged a marriage with General Chang’s family? This way, we can help Miss Chang resolve her urgent issue, and you will also..."
"Stop saying such nonsense." Wei Shuyi interrupted his sister with a smile. "No matter whether Miss Chang agrees or not, my position alone makes this impossible."
Wei Miaoqing frowned. "Why?"
"I am a close minister of the emperor, trusted and valued by Her Majesty, and I must uphold the duty between ruler and subject," Wei Shuyi said. "Even if others can do it, I cannot."
"But Her Majesty doesn't insist that Miss Chang must become the crown princess. There are other candidates!" Wei Miaoqing said resolutely. "Or, why don’t you tell Holy Emperor that I am willing to be the crown princess instead?"
Let her replace Miss Chang!
Wei Shuyi: "..."
Don't go crazy now.
He picked up his tea cup. "It's not as simple as you think. Even if you could somehow replace her, Miss Chang would never agree to such an absurd thing."
"This can’t be done, that can’t be done. You won’t even try, won’t even ask, how do you know it will definitely fail?" Wei Miaoqing’s face showed her frustration. "Brother, you’re so clever, yet you’re calculating everything! You think so much that you get stuck in the details."
Duan Shi, sitting quietly, just placed her hand on her forehead.
Since her daughter became interested in Miss Chang, she no longer needed to speak on the matter. Her daughter had taken it upon herself to speak on her behalf.
"Calculating?" Wei Shuyi paused. What had he been calculating?
"Of course, you’re calculating everything! You’re calculating the gains and losses in front of Holy Emperor, Miss Chang’s response, and even how to save face if she rejects you! Brother, when you really like someone, it shouldn’t be about overthinking and calculating everything!"
He might be smart enough to calculate all these things, but what good would that do except make him go in circles?
Wei Shuyi couldn’t help but laugh. "So, how should one show that they like someone?"
"To like someone, you should put all your sincerity and honesty on the line, let the other person see your true feelings first!" Wei Miaoqing said.
Wei Shuyi’s smile grew wider. "That sounds like the behavior of a gambler."
"That’s better than being a coward like you, too scared to even show your feelings!" Wei Miaoqing retorted angrily. "I think you’re so obsessed with your pride that you’ll hide your feelings until you’re 80 years old!"
"Where did you learn such nonsense?"
"This is all from the storybooks I’ve been reading. Now I see it was all in vain."
"I never knew you were such a diligent learner." Wei Shuyi smiled as he sipped his tea, leisurely adding, "By the way, when did I ever say I was in love with Miss Chang?"
Wei Miaoqing was speechless with frustration. "Mother, let's just stop trying to reason with him!"
"Let him figure it out himself." Duan Shi shot her son a glance. "When Sui Ning arrives, let’s see what she says and does. We’ll let her choose what she wants."
Wei Shuyi seemed to have not heard, silently sipping his tea.
But only he knew that inside, he wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared on the outside.
Just then, a maid came in to announce that Miss Chang had arrived.
Duan Shi’s expression shifted instantly, and she quickly had the maid usher Chang Suining in.
After dismissing the maid, Duan Shi turned to Chang Suining and lowered her voice, asking, "... Regarding the rumors about the future crown princess, do you have any plans, Sui Ning?"
Her question was subtle, but her concern was plainly visible.
Even without considering her son, she had developed a deep fondness for this young girl. Even if she couldn’t become her daughter-in-law, she truly saw her as her own child.
Inviting her son today wasn’t for the sake of "taking advantage of the situation," but to genuinely offer help and advice.
"I already have a plan, and the countermeasures are set," Chang Suining said with a smile. "Please don’t worry, Madam."
"So soon?" Duan Shi was both surprised and reassured. "That’s wonderful."
Wei Miaoqing also breathed a sigh of relief, quietly glancing at her brother. "Hmph, Brother is still hesitating. Little does he know, he won’t even get a chance to help."
"I knew it..." Wei Shuyi smiled at Chang Suining. "Such a trivial matter couldn’t possibly be difficult for you, Miss Chang."
Chang Suining nodded with a smile. "Yes, just a small matter."
If things didn’t go well, she could always drag Ming Jin, who had recently lost his rights to procreation, out and give him another beating. Afterward, she could take over the role of a niece and escape her predicament.
There were many ways to resolve this. As long as she was willing to sacrifice a little, nothing could stop her.
But because she had a truly sincere and unreserved friend, she had a more thoughtful plan that would allow her to escape without any self-sacrifice.
Looking into her relaxed eyes, Wei Shuyi couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of emptiness, as though he had missed his chance to be part of her future plans.
He wanted to ask her what her solution was, perhaps he could help weigh the options or come up with a better plan.
But just as he was about to speak, he heard the young girl say to his mother, "There’s something I need to discuss with you privately."
Duan Shi was taken aback for a moment but immediately took Chang Suining’s hand. "Let’s go to the inner room to talk."
Chang Suining nodded, and the two women went into the inner room.
"Is there something troubling you?" Duan Shi asked, gently holding Chang Suining’s hand, her voice lowered. "If you’re having any difficulties, just tell me."
....
This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
....
Chang Suining shook her head lightly. "I dreamt last night that I found the location of the princess’s hidden chest."
Duan Shi’s eyes widened in surprise, almost gasping aloud. "Really?"
Were her old manuscripts, her entire collection from her youth, and the princess’s cherished items, about to see the light of day once again?
---
(End of Chapter)
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