Chapter 183: Hello Chang’an
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**Chapter 183: Scared Me to Death**
“Is A Li’s misfortune because I had to ‘come back’?”
She had wondered in the tower—if her return to life was not accidental, then what about A Li’s death?
If A Li had died because of her, then she must find a way to return that life.
Even though A Li had been saved by her, saving someone was an act done out of her own will, and it didn’t mean that she could casually take A Li’s life whenever she wanted.
Wu Jue was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood the meaning behind her words. He hurriedly shook his head, saying, “How could that be... The formation, although forbidden, is not some kind of evil magic that exchanges life for life. Otherwise, how would I have just now discovered that you are the princess?”
He sighed, adding, “As for A Li’s fate... Do you still remember how you saved her back then?”
Chang Suining nodded. “I remember.”
Wu Jue continued, "At that time, a servant woman came to you, asking you to save her mistress and young daughter. It was a heavy snowstorm that night. When you went, you first found the woman’s corpse, but the child was nowhere to be found..."
"At that time, I cast a divination, and the signs indicated that the child’s life was near its end and there was no hope left... But it was you who refused to give up, you found her and saved her just before the last thread of hope was gone.”
“At that time, you temporarily changed her fate, but her calamity was difficult to avoid. Over the years, I’ve been secretly helping her avoid disaster. Old Chang didn’t dare let her practice martial arts before because of this worry. She didn’t like going outside or interacting with others. She only sought a peaceful life. But no matter how much we guarded against it, eventually..."
"The incident in Hezhou... should have been the end of her fate. It was truly hard to continue..."
Wu Jue sighed again. "But who would have thought that the bond between the princess and A Li was so deep... Perhaps, this time, she unknowingly found you again, just like you brought her back all those years ago."
Thinking of the little girl’s once pure, lovely face, Chang Suining's voice became soft and slow. “I need to thank her.”
Wu Jue let out a long sigh.
“Before this, I truly didn’t expect you would wake up in A Li’s body. The formation I set up originally indicated that your vitality should have been tied to the people of the Ming and Li families, those with blood relations to you..."
As Wu Jue spoke, he couldn’t help but recall the past when the princess had ordered the erasure of A Li’s identity after finding her...
Wu Jue looked at the person in front of him, and instinctively asked, “Princess, what about little A Li...?”
Chang Suining was silent for a moment before replying, “A Li and I indeed have some connection.”
The servant woman’s decision to ask for her help was not accidental.
From the very beginning, she knew A Li’s identity, which is why she had been especially kind to her and had instructed Chang Kuo and others to treat her well before leaving for Northern Di.
Having received this answer, Wu Jue did not inquire further. He simply said, “Please rest assured, Princess, if you do not want others to know A Li’s identity, I will do everything in my power to prevent Holy Emperor from becoming suspicious.”
Chang Suining nodded to him.
“Please don’t overthink it,” Wu Jue’s red eyes held respect and affection as his voice was soft and slow. “I promise you, this formation never required any innocent sacrifice to bring you back. I know your character, and how could I dare to risk another’s life for yours?”
“Otherwise, I’m afraid you’d strike me with the first sword when you returned!”
“Wrong, I would strike myself first.” Chang Suining said as she looked at his arm. “What happened to this?”
“Ah, it’s different for me.” Wu Jue laughed, “This was left when I set up the formation. I was the one who set it up.”
He smiled again, adding, “And I was willing.”
Since he was willing, since it was his own choice, he wasn’t considered an innocent bystander, so it didn’t count as an innocent life being harmed.
Chang Suining looked at the scars on his arm, her voice lowering even further. “Is this all?”
This is what she could see, but what about the unseen cost?
“If I didn’t die when setting up the formation, I wouldn’t have died at that moment.” Wu Jue laughed. “It’s just that I’ve been unlucky.”
Chang Suining was half convinced. “Really?”
Wu Jue smiled, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. “When have I ever lied to you?”
This “bad luck” was nothing more than disaster and misfortune, leading to a life without peace.
As long as the princess could return, these things were nothing to him.
Since they were nothing, there was no need to mention them again.
Anyway, for the rest of his life, he could use these scars to gain sympathy, which was enough for the princess to favor him. He didn’t need anything more.
Chang Suining wasn’t sure if she fully believed his words, but at that moment, she took out the ring and handed it back to him, saying, “Take good care of this. Never let it leave your body again.”
“I’ll keep it with me. These past few days, I didn’t have it on me, and yesterday I fell into the mud.” Wu Jue carefully tucked the ring away, feeling a little sentimental.
When Master gave him this item, it was likely because he knew this day would come.
This item could protect him from disaster, but because he had set up this forbidden formation, he was destined to live a life of continuous misfortune.
“Princess, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Little Sui An is guarding outside. There's no need to hurry. If we wait for the next chance to talk alone, who knows when that will be?” Wu Jue said with a smile.
Chang Suining naturally had other questions to ask.
For example, the other question she still had.
But her intuition made her want to avoid it. If the answer wasn’t what she hoped for, she wasn’t sure how she would face it.
This avoidance made her deflect and ask a different question first. “Can this resurrection technique be used for anyone who dies?”
Wu Jue shook his head. “Of course not, otherwise the world would be in chaos.”
“Then why can I?”
"The concept of fate is always difficult to explain," Wu Jue said. "Though this formation is a forbidden technique, since it exists in the world, it is still subject to fate and causality. Perhaps it is because of the selfless acts you performed in the past that you were granted this slim chance at life... It’s said that those with such fortune appear only once every century."
Chang Suining understood. "So, does this mean I've accumulated a lot of merit in my past?"
Wu Jue smiled. "One might interpret it that way."
"I always thought my past was full of bloodshed and that the heavens would not favor me," Chang Suining sighed. "Only now do I realize that the heavens have not been too harsh on me."
She then looked at Wu Jue. "But compared to fate, I should thank you more."
Wu Jue pressed his finger to his dry eye and said in a hushed voice, "A soldier dies for the one who understands them… As long as you understand my intentions, that is enough."
Chang Suining patted his shoulder with understanding. "I do, I understand fully."
She then continued, "There is something I need you to do for me."
"Please command me, Princess."
"I’ve always wanted to handle A Li’s funeral privately, but I’m unsure how to do so properly," Chang Suining explained. "I have already avenged her, and if she wishes, she can be reborn by my side in the next life. I will protect her well. If she doesn’t wish that, then she can be born into a family of wealth and happiness, with loving parents, and live a peaceful life."
Wu Jue sighed softly and nodded. "Rest assured, Princess. I will take care of this matter."
After giving this instruction, Chang Suining asked, "Who, besides you and Cui Jing, knows that I’ve returned?"
Wu Jue answered, "For now, no one else knows."
"So, it’s still only suspicion and probing, and no one knows the truth yet, correct?" Chang Suining looked at him.
"Exactly," Wu Jue replied. "Holy Emperor ordered your entry into the tower for a blessing to test you... I didn’t dare to tell Holy Emperor your thoughts, so I kept quiet."
It seemed that his decision had been the right one.
"Since she knows of the existence of this formation, then..." Chang Suining hesitated for a moment but chose to ask the second question anyway. After all, avoiding it wouldn’t solve anything.
"Does she have anything to do with this formation?" she asked. "I mean, was this resurrection formation at her request? What did she do for it?"
Wu Jue shook his head and explained the whole situation: "Originally, it was Old Meng who found this secret technique in the Western Regions and brought it to me. Unfortunately, Holy Emperor learned of it by accident. Unable to hide the truth, we ended up with the Heavenly Maiden Tower."
As he finished speaking, he saw the young woman in front of him sigh in relief.
"You scared me to death," she said.
Wu Jue raised an eyebrow. "?"
Chang Suining exhaled deeply. "I thought I was going to owe her again."
She had thought that her life had been given to her by Holy Emperor. If that were the case, it would have been a karmic bond impossible to sever or escape from.
Wu Jue seemed to understand, though not entirely, and responded, "This secret technique was found by Old Meng, and the formation was set by me..."
When he mentioned setting the formation, Wu Jue glanced at his own arm. Ah, a soldier dies for the one who understands them.
Chang Suining once again patted his shoulder, offering a silent acknowledgment.
Wu Jue then continued, "As for the money used to build the Dayun Temple and Heavenly Maiden Tower, most of it came from Dengtai Tower, which can be considered as funds you contributed yourself... In the end, it all comes from our Xuanzhe Mansion’s efforts. The credit never left, so you can rest assured and accept this life."
Chang Suining sat on the ground, casually supporting herself with her hands on either side. She visibly relaxed and nodded, "Alright, I'll accept it then."
Wu Jue, who had been listening up to this point, couldn't help but quietly ask, "What about your relationship with Holy Emperor…?"
"I have no relationship with her anymore," Chang Suining replied. "Right now, I am Chang Suining, and I will be from now on."
Her tone was casual, but Wu Jue could sense the silent determination in her words. It didn’t seem like a childish outburst.
Wu Jue nodded. "Understood. Rest assured, Your Highness."
"Tell me everything you know about Ming Hou, what they suspect, and why they turned their suspicion toward me," Chang Suining asked.
It was better to understand everything clearly to avoid being caught off guard, like when she arrived at the Dayun Temple, knowing nothing and having to stumble along, guessing as she went.
Wu Jue explained everything to her, focusing particularly on the reason why Holy Emperor had grown suspicious—due to a hint given by the Tianjing Master.
"…This time it’s his fault! He almost exposed your identity!"
Chang Suining thought for a moment and then said, "This shows that he is quite capable."
Wu Jue widened his eyes in shock. "But I set up the world's most unique formation!"
As he spoke, he raised his arm. *A soldier dies for the one who understands them...*
"Of course," Chang Suining interrupted him just in time. "You're still the most amazing. With you around, I feel at ease."
Wu Jue finally relaxed, satisfied, and continued, "According to Grand General Cui, Holy Emperor did send people to investigate your past in Hezhou, but fortunately, Vice Minister Wei helped keep it hidden."
"Wei Shuyi?" Chang Suining was somewhat surprised.
Wei Shuyi didn't know her secret, but as an outsider, he managed to help her conceal it from Holy Emperor, which showed his loyalty, but also his sharp intelligence. She had only known about his cleverness before.
Thinking about secrets, Chang Suining then said, "Since Ming Hou don't know yet, to prevent any leaks or unnecessary complications, it’s best that as few people as possible know about this for now."
Wu Jue understood and assured her, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I’ll keep my mouth shut."
He added, "You needn't worry about Grand General Cui either, since we're all in the same boat."
Seeing his confident expression, Chang Suining couldn’t help but ask, "Did you reach any agreement or understanding with him in secret?"
Wu Jue was confused. "No, I didn’t."
Chang Suining was even more puzzled. "Then why do you trust him so much?"
Wu Jue replied, "Isn't it because he’s infatuated with you, and his heart is entirely set on you?"
Chang Suining: "…"
Wu Jue added, "During the Lotus Flower Banquet—"
Chang Suining: "That was all an act."
Wu Jue’s eyes widened in disbelief. "No way?"
"Did you even perform that act in front of me?" he said incredulously. "You even staged it at the formation’s secret passage!"
Chang Suining almost wanted to say that the two of them were like close friends who would risk their lives for each other, but when the words reached her lips, she blinked, unsure how to express it.
She just confirmed with a question, "So, it really was him who destroyed the formation’s focal point?"
"Of course, it was him." Wu Jue recounted how that night, he and Cui Jing had secretly discussed the matter. Breaking the formation had been Cui Jing's suggestion, and he had volunteered to go.
"...That formation was a death trap, very sinister. I couldn’t stop it, so I gave him the formation diagram and let him handle it." Wu Jue sighed in relief. "But looking back, I think I might have made a mistake in drawing one part of the diagram. After all, it’s been more than ten years... Luckily, everything went smoothly."
Chang Suining: ...
She now had a strong suspicion about why Cui Jing had gotten injured.
She asked, "Was he seriously injured?"
Wu Jue was surprised. "Grand General Cui was injured? Was it serious?"
Upon hearing the question, Chang Suining replied, "...Don’t you remember what I just asked you?"
Wu Jue thought for a moment, then realized. "Oh, he hasn’t come to find me since then, so I didn’t know about his injury... But considering how dangerous that formation was, his injury must have been severe. Normally, no one would survive, let alone try to break the formation."
Thinking about how the injured man was still on his way, heading toward dangerous territory, Chang Suining couldn’t help but feel distracted.
"Was the fire that day set by you?"
Wu Jue’s voice brought Chang Suining back to her thoughts. She nodded. "Yes, I set the fire."
"Why did you set the fire? To break the formation?"
Chang Suining replied, "What else could it be?"
Wu Jue frowned. "Do you even know anything about formations? You just went ahead and messed with a death trap like that?"
He began to scold her. "Earlier, when you suspected me, I didn’t mind. But when we were in the tower, I even knocked on the wooden fish to give you hints! You saw that I wasn’t on Holy Emperor’s side. If the formation could be broken, I would have figured it out myself. Why did you have to take the risk?"
"At that time, I could tell you weren’t on Ming Hou’s side," Chang Suining said. "But what if you were someone else’s person?"
Wu Jue: "...!"
Goodnight.
(End of Chapter)
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