Chapter 185: Hello Chang’an
"IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON ads free with exclusive updates."
**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.
---
Comments
Post a Comment