Chapter 153: Hello Chang’an
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Chapter 153: Seeking Holy Emperor’s Blessing
Chang Suining nodded.
"Has Her Highness mentioned the exact location?" Duan Shi asked eagerly.
"Her Highness didn't say, but he showed me in a dream," Chang Suining said mysteriously. "It was in a garden, buried under a peach tree."
"In the garden, under a peach tree..." Duan Shi thought for a moment and uncertainly said, "The Princess's residence has five or six gardens of various sizes, and more than one has peach trees planted..."
Relying on this alone to search for the box would not be enough.
"I remember the exact spot in my dream. If there really is such a peach tree, I would surely recognize it," Chang Suining said.
She naturally couldn't explain too much; otherwise, Duan Zhenyi would go search herself and wouldn’t need her anymore.
She wasn't someone who would hand out treasures for nothing. She mentioned the matter because there was something she wanted to recover from there.
Regarding the matter of being pushed as the crown princess in the coming days, though there was a solution now, it also served as a warning—when you're used as a pawn in a game, if you don't want to be helpless or forced to sacrifice yourself to escape, you must prepare early. Some things need to be in your hands in advance for emergencies.
Upon hearing that she could recognize the place where the item was hidden, Duan Shi's eyes brightened. "That’s wonderful!"
She was a believer in the supernatural and was always willing to believe in such mysterious things.
After all, it wouldn't hurt to try. What if they really found it?
She grabbed Chang Suining's hand, smiling as she said, "In that case, when we return to the capital, I'll find an excuse, and we'll visit the Princess's residence."
As she smiled, she became afraid of appearing too happy and suddenly showed a touch of sadness in front of her junior. "It doesn't matter whether we find the item or not, but if we can find Her Highness's old belongings, it would at least be a token of remembrance..."
Chang Suining also played along. "But it was just a dream. It might just be something I thought about during the day that appeared in the dream. It may not necessarily help you find the old items."
Being overly convinced would seem suspicious.
Although... this whole matter, from any angle, indeed seemed to have started from a ghostly source.
Duan Shi patted her hand. "It’s fine, trying is still good."
As she spoke, she led Chang Suining to sit by the table.
The sadness in Duan Shi's expression wasn't entirely an act, and she couldn't help but talk about the Princess's residence. "Do you still remember the female servant we saw last time at the Princess’s residence when we went to pay respects? The one who was in a confused state?"
Chang Suining nodded, knowing she was referring to Yu Xie.
"That servant had served by the Princess’s side for many years, but for some unknown reason, she suddenly left the residence a while ago and drowned in the river behind the estate..." Duan Shi said. "I heard it happened more than two months ago."
Chang Suining fell into thought.
Duan Zhenyi must have known about this as well. It seemed they hadn't discovered anything new, and for now, they had concluded the matter with Yu Xie's death by drowning.
Now, Yu Xie was officially dead.
But perhaps one day, she would return from the dead—if the truth from those years ever needed to be uncovered.
"Now... the people and things related to Her Highness are gradually fading away," Duan Shi said with a hint of sorrow.
Looking at her hand, which Duan Shi was holding, Chang Suining thought—this "fading away" seemed quite close at hand.
But right now, Duan Zhenyi's sadness didn't appear to be an act.
"It won't happen," Chang Suining said. "After all, Madam still remembers Her Highness."
Duan Zhenyi did indeed value loyalty, so the box of treasures would end up benefiting her.
The box was buried in the garden at the Princess’s residence, located near the center of the estate. If Chang Suining went to dig it up alone, she would have to sneak into the estate. Once discovered, the consequences would be dire.
Moreover, after Yu Xie disappeared, the security at the Princess’s residence would likely be much stricter than before. Sneaking into the depths of the estate to dig up a box was certainly no simple task.
Some things are worth taking risks for, while others are not, nor should they be.
Since Duan Zhenyi had been thinking about the box from the start, Chang Suining could use her as a cover to dig it up openly, without causing herself unnecessary trouble.
The money that needs to be spent shouldn’t be saved, and the treasures that should be given away must be let go of.
---
After Ming Luo returned from Ming Jin's place, he reported Ming Jin’s injuries to the Holy Emperor.
The Holy Emperor raised her eyebrows. "He truly can’t stay calm for even a moment. Even after being confined for months, it hasn’t taught him a lesson."
Ming Luo also looked concerned and reproachful.
"I heard it was when he was racing horses with the Chang family’s young master?" the Holy Emperor asked.
"Yes, and Madam Ming was also present," Ming Luo replied. "But it is said that it had nothing to do with the Chang family's young master. It was Ah Shen’s eagerness to win that led him to secretly take the former crown prince’s warhorse. He didn’t have the skill to control such a spirited horse, and in the end, he fell off and was injured by the horse of Chang family’s young master, who was following closely behind."
The details of the horse race could easily be uncovered by her aunt, so there was no need for her to make ambiguous statements or shift the blame onto the Chang family siblings—such behavior would be shallow and foolish, and it might upset her aunt.
It was better to be fair and magnanimous, attributing the fault entirely to Ah Shen.
In any case, how Ah Shen fared didn’t matter to her.
After all, Chang Suining was going to become the future crown princess, and she no longer needed to waste her thoughts on her.
In the future, she would be more magnanimous.
"He even took Ah Xie’s warhorse?" The Holy Emperor’s tone grew displeased.
"Yes," Ming Luo lowered her gaze. "It was the horse that General Cui personally arranged for the Furong Garden a few years ago."
"Really reckless," the Holy Emperor frowned. "Did General Cui know about this?"
"General Cui immediately rushed to the horse grounds and took the horse back," Ming Luo explained. "He decided to hold off on punishing Ah Shen, considering his injuries."
The Holy Emperor’s expression darkened. "He should be punished properly. He needs to know that not everything is within his reach."
Her nephew was not only incompetent, but also too arrogant, thinking himself above others.
Ming Luo understood the unspoken implication in the Emperor’s words and didn't dare to respond carelessly.
"However," the Holy Emperor suddenly seemed to remember something, her gaze shifting. "That horse the Chang family’s lady controlled today—was it Ah Xie’s warhorse?"
Just earlier, the Prince Rong’s son Li Lu had come to report the horse race incident and how he was saved by the Chang family’s lady.
Hearing the Emperor’s sudden question, Ming Luo paused for a moment before replying, "It seems so."
She couldn’t help but feel that the tone of her aunt’s question seemed to hold some deeper meaning, but she couldn’t discern what it was.
"She’s quite skilled, being able to tame even Ah Xie’s warhorse," the Holy Emperor’s voice softened, as if distracted.
Ming Luo couldn’t read the Emperor’s thoughts, so she simply agreed.
There was a brief silence in the room.
The Holy Emperor spoke again. "Has the banquet been fully prepared?"
"Your Majesty, everything is ready."
Today was the final day of the flower festival, and the last banquet would not be held in the dining hall but in Furong Garden. The banquet was set outdoors to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
According to the calculations of the Ministry of Astronomy, the moon would be at its fullest and brightest on the 17th of the eighth month, which was why the moon-viewing banquet had been arranged for tonight.
News of the Ming family’s young master’s injury had spread, but it did not stop the banquet from being filled with music, dance, and revelry.
Marquis Ying was also present at the moon-viewing banquet, sitting with his second son, but his wife was not seen.
Seats for men and women were arranged on either side, with music and dance taking place in the middle. There were small tables scattered around for couples, each laden with seasonal fruits, delicate mooncakes, and exquisite dishes paired with fine wine.
The beautiful scenery and fine wine inspired a lively atmosphere, with some officials reciting poems to the moon. The Holy Emperor raised his cup and invited his ministers to join in the drink, creating a scene of harmony between the ruler and his subjects.
"Why haven’t I seen my eldest brother?" Cui Lang looked around, searching for his elder brother but couldn't spot him.
"Lord Cui must be busy with official matters," said a servant kneeling nearby, serving tea. "Tomorrow, Her Majesty is returning to the capital, and General Cui likely has many things to arrange."
The Xuanzhe Army was responsible for guarding the capital, and whenever the Holy Emperor traveled, they would often be tasked with accompanying the Emperor for protection, in addition to the Imperial Guard.
"That’s true. My eldest brother is indeed a busy man," Cui Lang sighed. "Such a beautiful wine and scenery, good songs and dances, and yet he’s missing out."
Since his elder brother wasn't here, Cui Lang thought he might as well enjoy his share.
Cui Lang wanted to enjoy the wine and the performance, but for some reason, his gaze kept drifting toward the women's seating area. Before long, he found it hard to focus on the dance performances. He even started feeling irritated by the water sleeves of the dancers, wishing he could cut them off with a pair of scissors.
Among the women’s group, Chang Suining sat next to Qiao Yumian, and several women nearby invited her to drink fruit wine. Chang Suining politely declined, opting instead for tea.
Holding her unfinished osmanthus honey tea, Chang Suining gazed up at the moon.
The moon was full and bright, its glow so intense that it gave the illusion that one could reach it with a hand if only they were on a high balcony.
Cui Jing was also watching the same moon.
He stood in a long corridor, bathed in moonlight, which intertwined with the light from a lantern hanging at the corner of the corridor, casting long, distorted shadows behind him.
The young man was tall and straight, dressed in a purple military robe with a round collar, embroidered with fierce beast patterns on his chest, back, shoulders, and sleeves. His presence exuded an intimidating aura, and the sword at his side added to his aloof and unapproachable vibe, making him seem distant and untouchable in the night.
The moonlight, tinged with the crispness of autumn, illuminated his face, yet it didn't add any coldness to his clear, cold eyes. Instead, it brought a faint sense of serenity.
He seldom experienced such tranquility.
This peace stemmed from the moon he was gazing at.
This bright moon, once distant and unreachable, was always meant to remain so—its light only visible from afar.
Yet, at this moment, that distant light seemed to be falling upon him.
Cui Jing reached out his right hand. His long fingers were slightly rough, but the moonlight that fell into his palm felt extraordinarily soft.
The way he held that beam of moonlight was reverent, as though he was cherishing something precious.
Cui Yuanxiang approached and, curious, asked, "General, what are you holding?"
He also stretched out his hand into the corridor but felt nothing.
Cui Jing snapped out of his thoughts, slightly uncomfortable, and withdrew his hand, placing it behind his back. He then straightened up and asked, "Is everything arranged?"
"Yes, everything is according to your orders. We are just waiting to return to the capital tomorrow," Cui Yuanxiang replied. After a pause, he asked, "Now that everything is done, would you like to join the banquet?"
"I won’t go," Cui Jing replied as he stepped out of the corridor.
He had never liked attending banquets, and since the event was already halfway through, there was no reason to join.
As for the plan, after a discussion earlier in the day, they had decided on timing it with the next month’s Chongyang Festival, the day of the ancestral rites.
According to her, there was no need to rush. The imperial edict for marriage wouldn’t be issued tomorrow, and there would likely be some "battles" in the court first. It would be better to wait a while and observe. If the Changsun family won, she could step back passively and avoid involving him.
Her exact words were that if someone else could solve the problem, there was no reason to have his own people step in—that was her style, and it seemed that, at the time, he had been considered one of her people.
She was not lacking in ways to solve problems, nor in patience and composure to wait for a better, more effortless solution to emerge.
So, his role in the plan was just a backup. In fact, he likely wouldn’t be able to do much.
As he thought about it, Cui Jing couldn’t help but smile.
But whether or not he could be of help didn’t matter. As long as she could resolve her difficulties, he would be happy to back her up if needed. Whether she used him or not didn’t bother him.
"General, you seem to be in a good mood today," Cui Yuanxiang said as they left the corridor with a smile.
Cui Jing paused slightly, "Do I?"
"Yes!" Cui Yuanxiang nodded vigorously and couldn’t help but ask, "Is something good happening?"
"Mm."
Cui Jing did not deny it.
Cui Yuanxiang’s eyes lit up. "Then tell me, General! Let me share your joy too!"
After all, such a thing was rare!
Cui Jing simply replied, "No need."
The refusal was short and to the point.
Cui Yuanxiang was left feeling frustrated but helpless—here was a rare moment of happiness, and yet his General kept it all to himself. Was he afraid that if he shared his happiness, it would be taken away by someone else?
...
Inside the Lotus Garden, the moon-viewing banquet was drawing to a close.
Li Lu, took another sip from his second cup of wine. The strong taste made him cough.
The personal attendant, looking nervous, quickly patted him on the back. "Young master, what made you decide to drink? You never drink, and two cups in a row—how could you not be choked?"
It was already unusual that Li Lu hadn’t been frightened into illness by the startled horse incident earlier. So why was he suddenly drinking now?
Whether it was the coughing or the alcohol, Li Lu’s face turned slightly red. Then, as though gathering some courage, he stood up and walked over to the center of the gathering. With a hand raised in salute to the Holy Emperor, he said, "Nephew dares to ask for a favor from Her Majesty."
The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention toward him.
The Holy Emperor, having noticed his drinking and his current demeanor, smiled and asked, "Could it be that you have your eye on a lady and want me to grant a marriage?"
This Lotus Garden banquet was not only for selecting a future princess consort but also for finding suitable matches for the royal family’s children. Li Lu’s marriage had been promised by the Emperor in advance—if he found someone he liked at the banquet, the Emperor would certainly approve.
....
This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
....
However, even with the promise, the choice would still serve as a reference.
The Holy Emperor was curious about who this son of Prince Rong might have chosen.
"Yes, indeed. There is someone I like," Li Lu hesitated for a moment, but then he seemed to gather his resolve and knelt solemnly before the Holy Emperor.
---
(end of the chapter.)
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