Chapter 191: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 191: Alright, I Agree
May 18, 2023
The words from the officer caused a slight change in Yao Yi’s expression. He nodded, and the officer then withdrew.
A murmur of surprise spread among the crowd of onlookers.
The young boy who had earlier questioned whether Li Lu would commit perjury now furrowed his brow.
Li Lu hadn’t arrived?
People in the crowd started whispering.
"Is he unconscious due to illness?"
"This... isn’t this too coincidental?"
"Normally, it would be too much of a coincidence, but Li Lu’s health has always been poor, hasn’t it?"
Chang Suining watched as the officials in the grand hall whispered to one another due to Li Lu’s absence.
Indeed.
Li Lu, who had previously fallen ill after being frightened by an attack from the sacred elephant at Dayun Temple, had traveled tirelessly for days to attend the autumn festival and, upon hearing about the death of Seventh Miss Changsun, had fallen ill and lost consciousness. This was a reasonable explanation.
With the key witness absent, the trial encountered a delay. After deliberation by the three courts, it was decided to postpone the trial and wait for Li Lu to wake up.
Yao Yi then ordered that Chang Sui'an be temporarily detained until the trial could resume.
"On what grounds!"
A young man, wearing a white ribbon on his wrist, stormed forward, questioning angrily, "Under such undeniable evidence, why is the verdict not being made? Just because he told a lie, the trial is postponed... Does this mean if Prince Lu never recovers, the case will be put off forever? Who knows, during this delay, someone might secretly intervene to help him escape punishment!"
Yao Yi looked at the boy and replied sternly, "The procedure of the trial must be followed. Please remain calm, Lord Changsun."
This young man was Changsun Yan’s son, the legitimate grandson of the current Prime Minister, Changsun Ji.
Although he was Changsun Xuan’s nephew, he was only a few years younger than her, and they had grown up together. Calling her his aunt felt no different from calling her an older sister.
Yao Yi, who had seen many victims losing their temper over delays in their cases, could understand the boy’s emotions, especially since he had just lost a close relative.
At thirteen, boys were among the most difficult to handle, especially when they were going through such a painful experience.
Yao Yi understood the boy’s anger, but the boy wasn’t appeased and became even more furious. "Clearly, you, Lord Yao, are using your power to protect him!"
Who didn’t know that Lord Yao had close ties with the Chang family?
The boy’s eyes turned red as he saw Chang Sui'an being escorted out of the hall by two officers. He seized the inkstone that someone nearby had been holding.
"My inkstone!" the scholar cried out in shock.
Chang Sui'an, who had long practiced martial arts and had developed a keen sense of danger, was restrained by the two officers, one on each side, and could only tilt his head to one side.
Or rather, he didn’t dare make any sudden moves, for any such action would have caused the inkstone to strike the officers instead.
Chang Sui'an allowed the inkstone to hit his head. He winced in pain and stepped back, his right temple bleeding, and the ink splattered all over his face and clothes.
"You murderer, return my aunt’s life!"
Shouts of shock spread throughout the hall.
Ink flowed into his eyes, and Chang Sui'an’s eyes reddened as he cried out, "I’m not the murderer! I didn’t kill anyone!"
"You still won’t admit it!" Changsun Ji gritted his teeth, "You people from barbaric, uncivilized martial families are naturally brutal and inhuman!"
"Your father destroyed his military achievements on the battlefield due to his bloodthirsty nature and disobedience to orders, and now, look at you—reckless, violent, and frightening, only knowing how to kill!"
"Shut up!" Chang Sui'an felt wronged and enraged. He immediately tried to break free from the officers’ hold.
It was one thing to be wronged, but it was another to insult his father!
His father, injured and old, was still leading troops to fight on the battlefield!
"Ji!" Changsun Yan scolded his son sharply, finally standing up.
But the boy didn’t hear his father’s reprimand. Seeing that Chang Sui'an seemed ready to fight, he raised his fist to charge forward.
"Enough!"
Someone firmly grabbed the boy’s raised wrist, and a cold voice rang in his ears.
The young girl turned her gaze toward Chang Sui'an. As their eyes met, Chang Sui'an stopped struggling, and tears began to flow uncontrollably from his eyes.
He shook his head at his sister—he hadn’t harmed anyone!
Seeing the disheveled boy, covered in ink, with such a look, Chang Suining felt a dull ache in her heart. She gave him a gentle nod—of course, she knew.
Changsun Ji turned his head and recognized Chang Suining. "You... you dare to come!"
"Both my brother and I are completely innocent. Why wouldn’t we dare to come?" Chang Suining looked at him. "Not only my brother and I, but the entire Chang family is innocent and loyal. My father is indeed skilled in battle, but he kills only traitors and enemies who plot against our great dynasty. Under his sword, there are no innocent souls."
"You speak of a bloodthirsty person, but now, my old and injured father is out fighting the enemy, while what are you doing? Disrespecting the law, attacking people on a whim, and tarnishing the names of loyal men based on hearsay?"
"You..." Changsun Ji’s face alternated between red and white, and he tried to shake off Chang Suining’s grip, but couldn’t break free.
It wasn’t until two of his attendants stepped forward that his wrist was released.
"Keep an eye on your young master," Chang Suining said to the attendants, though her eyes were still on the boy. "If he dares to bite again, I’ll pull out his teeth."
She understood that, as a victim, the boy’s grief had clouded his judgment, and she could empathize with him. However, she was offering sympathy, not owing him any debt.
She and her brother didn’t owe the Changsun family anything, and they shouldn’t have to endlessly bear the other party’s emotions.
Changsun Ji was blocked by the family servants, and the officers stepped forward to control the situation. Just as Chang Sui'an was about to be taken away, he suddenly turned his head and urgently called out, “Ning Ning!”
Tears filled his eyes, but he struggled to hold them back, suppressing the choking feeling in his throat.
"Don’t be afraid! The truth will come out soon!" He tried his best to sound certain.
Chang Suining’s heart tightened.
Silly brother, even at this moment, he was trying to comfort her.
Her brother, young and unrefined, had grown up in wealth and comfort, nurturing a pure and innocent heart. He didn’t understand that the world was full of wrongful accusations, and if they waited passively, the truth would never emerge.
“He already said he didn’t harm anyone! Why are they still taking him away? Xiao Sui'an would never lie! Why are these people being unreasonable? They just bully others!”
Ah Dian, who was standing by, anxiously said, "Xiao A Li, let’s take Xiao Sui'an home! His face is all dirty, let’s take him back and clean him up!"
As he spoke, he was about to step forward to take him.
“It’s not possible right now,” Chang Suining held his arm and reassured him, “Don’t rush. I will take my brother home.”
"I want to see what methods you’ll use to help him deny his guilt!" Changsun Ji glared at the girl speaking.
"The method I’ll use is to find the real murderer who killed Seventh Miss Changsun," Chang Suining looked at him, "Then, I’ll have Lord Changsun publicly apologize to my brother."
Changsun Ji bit out each word, "If the murderer is indeed someone else, not only will I apologize, but I will also offer a generous gift to thank you!"
His words sounded authoritative, but his tone was clearly skeptical—he didn’t believe there was another murderer, and it seemed like he was just saying this to provoke.
Chang Suining didn’t care what he thought and replied, “Alright, I agree.”
"You..." Changsun Ji was momentarily speechless, pointing a finger at her nose. Just as he was about to speak again, his father’s voice stopped him.
Changsun Yan walked over.
He had come here today to listen to the trial, but with the case suddenly halted, he hadn’t rushed to intervene. However, his expression was not a happy one.
He had lost his younger sister, and his grief and anger were no less than his son’s.
But beyond grief and anger, he felt even more regretful—regretful on behalf of his sister.
Now, he looked steadily at the young girl, who was about the same age as his sister. His eyes were cold.
The girl, however, showed no fear. Instead, she calmly met his gaze, and with unwavering confidence, she said, “Lord Changsun, the real murderer of Seventh Miss Changsun’s is still out there.”
“Is that so?” Changsun Yan coldly replied.
“Yes,” Chang Suining answered.
In the midst of all the gazes around them, she said, “I have already found some clues, and I believe the truth will soon be revealed.”
"Then, the Changsun family will wait for the truth that Miss Chang Suining speaks of," Changsun Yan said, his face dark as he turned to leave.
Changsun Ji followed him.
As Chang Sui'an was taken away and the Changsun family left, the crowd that had gathered, seeing there was no more drama to witness, slowly began to disperse.
"I wonder when Prince Lu will recover. When will he be able to testify?"
“Did you hear... Chang Suining just said she has already found some clues?”
"..."
As the crowd discussed and left, Cui Lang lowered his voice to ask, "Master, what clues have you found? Can it really help clear Brother Sui'an’s name?"
Chang Suining shook her head and replied, "No, I just said that for their benefit."
The clues she had uncovered were still far from enough.
"..." Cui Lang sighed. "But the Changsun family people definitely won’t believe it. If Master says that, they’ll probably think you’re trying to cover up Brother Sui'an’s crime."
Once people have a preconceived notion, it’s very difficult to change their minds.
"I know," Chang Suining said, looking at the people dispersing. "I said it for their benefit."
When she mentioned "for their benefit," Cui Lang followed her gaze and finally understood: "Master is...?"
Chang Suining didn’t elaborate further but walked toward the person picking up the inkstone.
Qiao Yubai had understood as well.
Since someone was framing Sui'an, they must be worried about the possibility of the plan failing. Today’s court hearing might very well have some hidden eyes watching.
Could Ning Ning’s words be meant to make them uneasy, to provoke them into acting?
That was exactly Chang Suining’s plan.
Although she had gathered some clues, if she wanted to take it further, forcing the other party to act was the fastest way. The most dangerous thing in situations like this was for the other party to remain passive, hiding too well, leaving no trace for her to grasp.
He picked up the inkstone that had broken into two pieces, and the scholar started to worry.
How could the Changsun family be like this? They casually took someone's things to smash them, and afterward, they didn't even mention compensation.
It wouldn’t be proper for him to go to their door demanding compensation, would it?
The man thought about it seriously for a moment, realizing that doing so would likely ruin his budding career in officialdom, so he could only sigh in place.
At that moment, a purse was handed to him.
“Please, Master Tan, buy yourself another inkstone,” the voice said.
Tan Li looked toward the girl holding the purse, his expression full of anxiety. “Miss Chang, how could I accept this…”
“This matter also started because of my Chang family. Scholar Tan, please accept it,” she insisted.
“This is really not appropriate…” Tan Li sighed. “Miss Chang’s family is going through such misfortune, and I can’t even offer any help. How could I accept your silver?”
Although he was struggling financially, a gentleman takes money in a righteous way.
“Precisely because of the misfortune, the bad luck. Doing good deeds might turn things around. Buying an inkstone for a talented scholar is a good deed,” Chang Suining said, pushing the purse forward again with a slight smile. “Scholar Tan, you doing this favor is also a good deed.”
Is there such a saying?
Tan Li was momentarily speechless.
After a while, he took the purse with both hands. “Then I will shamelessly accept this… uh, I’ll shamelessly accept this good deed…”
Taking money in this way could be considered helping others… Helping others is also a righteous act.
But this purse in his hand felt heavier than he had expected.
This wasn’t just compensation for his broken inkstone; it was almost enough to cover his heating expenses for the winter!
The capital city was not only unbearably hot in the summer, but the winter cold could be deadly as well.
He had been worried about not having money to write during the winter, but now he could get through the winter and look forward to the spring exams.
And as for the girl in front of him, who said she was buying him an inkstone, how did he know she didn’t have the intention to help him out, simply using the purchase as a more graceful excuse to protect his scholar’s dignity?
His winter was certainly going to be much easier, but Miss Chang…
Tan Li’s thoughts were mixed. In the end, he said, “I hope my broken inkstone can help your brother overcome this misfortune. The ink left in the inkstone can only stain for a moment. The day of cleansing the filth will come soon.”
Chang Suining nodded. “Thank you for your kind words, Scholar Tan.”
After Tan Li bowed deeply to her, he left.
“Tan, what’s going on here?”
Several scholars who had been waiting nearby noticed the commotion and gathered around.
Tan Li replied, “This is the money Miss Chang gave me for a new inkstone.”
“Miss Chang is quite generous…”
One of them, holding his own inkstone, sighed regretfully, “If I had known this, I should have gotten closer earlier!”
When he first saw Tan Li’s inkstone being smashed, he instinctively hugged his own, but now he regretted not seizing the opportunity—after all, both of them had inkstones, but he missed such a chance!
Song Xian, who was standing nearby, frowned and reminded them, “This is no time for jokes.”
He instinctively glanced at the girl standing there.
Although he was also a student of the Imperial Academy, he was nearing the imperial examination and had the freedom to come and go from the academy.
He had come to the Minister of Justice because he had arranged a job for several struggling scholars, copying the plaque for a new house of a wealthy official’s family. Each one would earn a couple of taels of silver, and he had just finished the work and “coincidentally” passed by this place.
At this moment, Chang Suining also noticed him.
Song Xian quickly avoided her gaze. “Let’s go.”
“Brothers, do you think… that Chang family’s son was really wronged?” one of the scholars asked quietly as they walked away.
“From my perspective, it must be true.”
“You’ve accepted the money for a new inkstone, but you can’t decide everything…”
“Young Master Chang is of good character, so this matter must have been a misunderstanding,” Song Xian said, looking ahead.
The others instinctively glanced at Song Xian.
Since the game of chess, Song Xian’s attitude toward matters related to Miss Chang seemed to have changed quite a bit.
...
“Did she really say that?”
In Marquis Ying’s residence, Chang Shi soon heard about everything that had happened at the Minister of Justice, her brows furrowing tightly.
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