Chapter 213: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 213: Let Father Agree
The name Yaojin was clearly one that Chang Sui’an had never heard before.
But when he saw the young woman who walked in, he felt she looked somewhat familiar.
Just as he was trying to recall, the young woman had already come to his bedside and bowed:
“Master Chang.”
That voice made Chang Sui’an’s expression change instantly—he almost bolted upright:
“…How is it you!”
That voice, that person—ever since that day at the cemetery, they would often appear in his nightmares!
In the dreams, he was captured by this person and dragged back to Xuanzhou, locked inside the Grand Princess’s mansion filled with countless male favorites, handed over to the ladies of that household, where no cry for help could reach heaven or earth!
At this moment, he was injured and unable to rise, so he could only clutch tightly at the quilt across his chest.
“…” Yaojin blushed slightly. “It is indeed this servant.”
Chang Sui’an looked uneasily at his younger sister:
“Ning Ning…”
How could she let this person into the residence? Wasn’t this inviting a wolf into the house?
Yaojin, seeing his reaction, understood that her careless words back then had left a rather deep shadow on the young man. She hurried to explain and reassure him:
“Master Chang, there’s no need to worry… that following incident was but a moment’s whim of mine. Moreover, I already swore that very day never to harbor such thoughts again.”
Chang Sui’an half-believed, half-doubted her:
“Then why are you here now…?”
“Elder Brother does not know—this time, the reason we were able to clear your false charges so smoothly, was thanks to the secret assistance Yaojin rendered at the command of Her Highness the Grand Princess of Xuan’an…” Chang Suining explained the matter in full.
When Chang Sui’an heard this, he was greatly surprised:
“Father actually has such ties with the Grand Princess of Xuan’an?”
He had never once heard Father mention it. And previously, when Ning Ning had asked, Father even swore up and down that he “did not know” the Grand Princess of Xuan’an.
“General Chang is, after all, a military man,” said Yaojin. “My mistress governs the Xuanzhou fiefdom—in all but name she is like a regional prince. To avoid suspicion, they have long maintained distance on the surface.”
Enlightenment dawned on Chang Sui’an:
“No wonder Father looked so strange when he said he didn’t know the Grand Princess… So that’s why!”
Yaojin only smiled, tacitly confirming the boy’s self-consoling reasoning.
“I apologize—just now I was reckless and ignorant, and spoke rudely…”
Chang Sui’an looked apologetically at Yaojin, first admitting fault, then offering thanks:
“This time, I must thank you for your aid.”
Yaojin returned his smile:
“Master Chang overpraised ug me. This is only what is within this servant’s duty.”
Within her duty?
Just as Chang Sui’an felt something was slightly off, she added:
“This servant merely acts on the orders of her mistress.”
So that was it. Chang Sui’an then said:
“Then please convey my gratitude to the Grand Princess of Xuan’an. Should the chance arise, I will personally thank Her Highness face to face.”
Yaojin nodded with a smile, and then began asking about Chang Sui’an’s injuries with concern.
Not only was she concerned—Chang Sui’an himself was also deeply concerned. He sensed that his shoulder wound was grave, and he worried greatly that in the future he might no longer be able to wield a blade or spear.
“…Ning Ning, just how serious are my injuries? Don’t hide it from me—I only want the truth.” His gaze toward his sister was solemn.
Chang Suining said:
“Elder Brother is gravely injured, with multiple wounds. On your shoulder, aside from the punishment you suffered, there was also a blade wound—flesh pierced through, bones and tendons damaged.”
l had just been admitted into the Xuanzhe Army’s vanguard battalion—he hadn’t even fought a single battle yet.
“So, Elder Brother must nurse the wounds for at least half a year to a year before full recovery,” Chang Suining continued. “This convalescence is critical—you must not be careless, nor may you be impatient.”
Chang Sui’an asked anxiously:
“Then after I recover, will I still be able to lift a blade?”
Chang Suining smiled gently:
“Of course. How could one aspiring to be a general be unable to lift a blade?”
Chang Sui’an’s eyes lit up at once:
“Then I’ll be sure to take good care of myself!”
But right after, he asked again uneasily:
“Ning Ning, you’re really not deceiving me, are you?”
“Ordinary people with such injuries would indeed have little hope of recovery. But Elder Brother, your foundation is strong, your physique much sturdier than most—”
She went on:
“Moreover, the physician I found, Physician Sun, told me privately that not long after your shoulder was wounded, someone had already applied medicine to stop the bleeding. From your pulse, he could also tell you had been given excellent internal remedies for trauma. That stabilized your condition in time.”
For injuries, catching the golden window of treatment is crucial—the longer the delay, the harder the cure.
“Elder Brother should know who it was that sent you that medicine?” Chang Suining assumed it had been arranged by Yao Yi, so she asked casually, just to confirm.
But this question stunned Chang Sui’an:
“Wasn’t it you who sent someone to check on me?”
Chang Suining froze:
“Why would Elder Brother say that?”
Chang Sui’an strained to recall:
“I was groggy at the time, so I didn’t know who came. But that person told me he came at your request, and specially came to reassure me…”
Chang Suining fell into thought. Was it Yao Yi’s men, who deliberately said so just to put her brother at ease?
“I’ll have this matter investigated,” she said at last. “Elder Brother, just focus on your recovery.”
Chang Sui’an obediently nodded.
Then Yaojin spoke up:
“In our Grand Princess’s residence, there happens to be a physician most skilled in treating blade and bone injuries, one Her Highness recruited years ago—his medical skill is exceedingly fine—”
Both siblings turned to look at her. Why would the Grand Princess of Xuan’an keep a physician adept at such wounds?
Meeting their gaze, Yaojin ventured:
“Winter is approaching—the capital is damp and cold, unfavorable for recovery. Xuanzhou’s climate is warmer and more suitable… Might Master Chang be willing to go to Xuanzhou to recuperate?”
Chang Sui’an was startled:
“This… would that not be improper?”
“Is Master Chang worried the war in Yangzhou will spill into Xuanzhou?” Yaojin smiled. “Those rebels claim to support the Li clan’s restoration. My mistress is a legitimate Li bloodline—they have neither reason nor courage to attack Xuanzhou.”
And besides, her mistress kept far more than just male favorites.
“No…” Chang Sui’an said. “What I mean by ‘improper’ is that if I go there rashly and impose, it may not be fitting in terms of propriety.”
And this proposal was far too sudden. Did she really have authority to invite him without her mistress’s approval?
“Why wouldn’t it be fitting?” Yaojin laughed. “In fact, my mistress wrote beforehand—if things turned dire, we were to rescue Master Chang from prison and bring you to Xuanzhou for safety.”
Chang Sui’an felt utterly flattered—wasn’t this Grand Princess of Xuan’an far too kind? Or rather, wasn’t her friendship with Father far too deep?
But going to Xuanzhou… it was still so sudden. Instinctively, he looked toward the pillar of the household, the one who bore its weight.
That pillar said:
“This proposal is excellent. I had already planned that once Elder Brother’s condition improved, we would leave the capital for the south.”
Yaojin’s eyes lit up:
“Xuanzhou is ideal for recovery, and more stable. If Young Lady Chang can accompany Master Chang, that would be perfect!”
If General Chang learned that both his children had fallen into Her Highness’s hands… cough, she meant, were under Her Highness’s care—what would he feel then?
Yaojin was already savoring her mistress’s future advantage.
“What do you think, Elder Brother?” Chang Suining asked.
Feeling muddled, Chang Sui’an simply left everything to his sister:
“Ning Ning, you decide…”
“I had already thought to pay my respects to the Grand Princess of Xuan’an anyway—this will be killing two birds with one stone.” Chang Suining smiled. “And Elder Brother can thank Her Highness in person.”
Yaojin immediately seized her words:
“Then this servant will send word back to Xuanzhou at once and have preparations begun.”
Chang Suining replied:
“Then I must trouble you.”
“But…” Chang Sui’an suddenly remembered something:
“Wouldn’t this break Father’s agreement with the Grand Princess to avoid suspicion?”
Yaojin laughed:
“Master Chang is being silly. Naturally you’ll go in secret—who would make a public show of it?”
Chang Suining nodded. “Yes. To the outside world we’ll simply say I’m taking Brother to seek treatment.”
Such a thing, the Sage would have no reason to forbid.
“I’ll go write the letter now.” Yaojin, afraid that if she lingered a moment longer the Chang siblings might change their minds, said, “We’ll discuss the rest of the arrangements in the days to come.”
Once she had delivered the letter, the Young Lady Chang would be hard-pressed to renege, right?
Yaojin stepped out of Chang Sui’an’s chamber with light, brisk footsteps, a broad smile on her face.
If she truly could take these two children to Xuanzhou, her merit in Her Highness’s eyes might rival even Nüwa mending the heavens!
Yaojin was elated and careful, feeling she had woven a perfect net.
Unbeknownst to her, that was exactly why Chang Suining had invited her that night.
Chang Suining had not lied — her original plan had indeed been to go south, and she genuinely intended to pay a visit to the aunt of her past.
But Brother needed time to recuperate — not ten or twenty days, but a whole year.
If he remained in the capital for that year, everything would be delayed and countless dangers would cling to them. She had to take Brother away, and arrange a proper place for him to recover required advance planning.
So she thought of Xuanzhou.
The south was in turmoil, but Xuanzhou was a place of relative safety amid the unrest.
Hearing that Yaojin wanted to come see Brother, she had intended to test the waters and drop a hint about leaving the capital — but before she could get half a word out, Yaojin eagerly supplied the answer she most wanted to hear.
How convenient… it cost nothing at all.
And that only made it clearer that the Grand Princess of Xuan’an truly cared for Brother.
Although Yaojin was a maid, a servant’s actions reflect her mistress’s instructions.
Her bold guess was looking more and more like the truth…
Thinking this, Chang Suining looked seriously at the youth on the bed.
Seeing her pensive expression, Chang Sui’an asked, “Ning Ning, what are you thinking about?”
“I was thinking that if we go to Xuanzhou, we can also keep a closer watch on Father’s military situation — it would accomplish several things at once.” Chang Suining smiled. “If all goes well, once Brother’s wounds have fully healed, he can go north to join the Xuanzhe Army.”
Brother’s case was special: by imperial edict the Xuanzhe Headquarters had reserved a spot in the vanguard for Chang Sui’an until he recovered.
Even without the edict, the Xuanzhe Headquarters would likely hold the position, but the sovereign had to make gestures of reparation so the world could see.
“Ning Ning, if Xuanzhou is truly an option, it would indeed achieve many ends… But the more I calm down and think, the more I worry: this supposed friendship between Father and the Grand Princess might be one-sided. What if there’s falsehood in it? Shouldn’t we write to Father first to confirm?”
But Father was busy with the war, and correspondence would take time.
“Don’t worry, Brother. The friendship is real. I confirmed it before I ever involved Yaojin in the rescue plan.” Chang Suining said.
“How did you confirm it?” Chang Sui’an, sharpened by his recent ordeal, had grown more suspicious and now put all his new caution to use.
Chang Suining hesitated. “Do you really want to hear?”
Chang Sui’an nodded.
“She said Brother has a cloud-shaped birthmark on his buttock.”
“…?!” Stunned, the youth went pale. “How… how did she know that?!”
“Father told her,” Chang Suining replied.
That settled his belief in the claimed friendship.
But looking at the girl in front of him, his face suddenly flushed as he realized the matter was more complicated…
“Sister… then—” the boy’s cheeks burning, he asked, “How did you know?”
“Father told me,” she said.
It had been Father speaking in drink.
Chang Sui’an nearly fainted again, half angry at Father’s carelessness and half at himself for having asked.
He hurriedly changed the subject. “Even if the friendship is genuine, people’s loyalties shift, and there is war in the south. What if, after we go to Xuanzhou, the Grand Princess holds us as hostages?”
Having been framed and almost lost his life, he had become skilled at imagining the darker motives in people.
The thought deepened: “What if the Grand Princess herself seeks power and uses us to coerce Father?”
Chang Suining: “Then Father can simply go along with it.”
Chang Sui’an: “?!”
What a ferocious thing to say!
Chang Suining: “The Grand Princess is powerful and wealthy, and surnamed Li; if she sought power, she would have cause and standing. Father following her would not necessarily leave him worse off.”
“You know the Sage’s favor toward our family is unlikely to last. With disorder already appearing, having one more escape route or ally is seldom a bad thing.”
Her tone grew serious. “One mustn’t bargain recklessly with a tiger, but the Grand Princess of Xuan’an is not a tiger. Yaojin’s rescue of Brother — instantaneous, wholehearted, without expectation of reward — shows that there is genuine goodwill.”
Before Chang Suining had even revealed her plan, the other side had openly admitted placing a mole in the Ming household — an extremely delicate secret, and especially dangerous because it concerned the imperial maternal clan. The risks of implication were obvious.
Such a person, even merely as a partner, would make a strong ally. Compared with Li Lu and others who scheme and threaten or stand by until a crisis forms and then pretend to help, the difference is stark.
To judge people you must use strategy and wisdom, and view the heart with your own heart.
Moreover, even if this were only a contingency after imagining every possible conspiracy, in Chang Suining’s view the Grand Princess’s rescue may have been free of calculation — she might simply have wanted to save the boy beside her.
Some purity she might never possess herself, but she still believed such purity existed.
……
Ten days later, the case of Ming Jin’s murder of Madam Changsun’s seventh daughter was finally concluded. The sovereign had shown righteous severity even toward his kin, and the people applauded.
On the same day, the Prince’s heir called again.
During those ten days he had come once every three days.
This time, he finally got to see Chang Suining.
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