Chapter 215: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 215: An Apology
Chang Suining stopped at the sound of the voice and turned to look at the group of more than ten people.
She recognized the middle-aged man walking at the very front; as for the rest, it was easy to guess who they were. She opened her mouth and asked, “Has everything gone smoothly for you all?”
“Reporting to Lady Chang, everything went smoothly!”
“To be able to personally witness that beast executed today—it was all thanks to Lady Chang’s help!” The middle-aged man was not tall, but he had a broad frame, dressed as a martial man. At this moment, his eyes brimmed with tears.
Chang Suining had met him once before, so she now asked: “If that is so, Master Lu must have been reinstated to his post, has he not?”
“Yes, the Ministry of Justice has already clarified everything, and the Ministry of Personnel’s appointment letter has arrived.” The man lifted his robe and knelt down: “Lady Chang’s kindness, Lu Chong shall never forget. One day, I will surely repay it!”
He himself had once been a seventh-rank military officer.
Years ago, his only daughter had been defiled by Ming Jin and drowned herself in despair. When he sought justice for his daughter, not only did he fail, but he also lost his official position. These years, he had made a living at an escort agency.
His desire to avenge his daughter had never faded, but he knew how impossible it was—until the day Chang Ren came to find him.
“Now that Lord Lu has been restored to office, it is improper for you to kneel to me.” Chang Suining signaled Ah Che to help him up.
“What impropriety is there in kneeling to my benefactor?” Lu Chong insisted and knocked his head firmly against the ground: “Benefactor, please accept Lu Chong’s bow!”
A couple also knelt down beside him.
This husband and wife were the most richly dressed among the group.
They came from a merchant family. Two years ago, when they brought their eighteen-year-old son to the capital on business, their son—while entertaining guests at a tavern—failed to recognize the Ming family’s heir. The drunken Ming Jin claimed “disrespect” and had his attendants beat the young man nearly to death. Since then, he had been bedridden, crippled, his temperament warped, and he had attempted suicide many times.
Their family had traded in Jiangnan for generations and lacked no silver, but before such overwhelming power, all of it was useless.
They had insisted on petitioning in the capital several times, spending vast sums to grease palms, but those people only took their money and refused to act, repeatedly stalling. If pressed too hard, they would simply sneer: “You had better not keep dreaming, lest you bring disaster upon yourselves.”
“This time, returning home, at least we can give our son an answer…” The woman’s eyes filled with tears. “If he hears that the villain has been executed, perhaps he can find the will to live again…”
The others, too, one after another, bowed and knelt to thank her.
Ah Che gradually grew flustered.
He pulled one up, only for another to kneel down again… it was endless, simply endless.
“Truly, there is no need for such a ceremony.” Chang Suining said earnestly: “At the start, the reason I had someone seek you all out was because my brother was in grave danger. I knew who the true culprit was but lacked proof. So I thought to gather his past crimes, put them before the public eye, and together press the authorities—”
At the time, she had laid many plans in secret, and this was only one of them.
But after much thought, she abandoned this plan.
First, because it was too roundabout. Second, she feared that if she made too big a stir but still could not bring Ming Jin to justice, these people—already burdened by suffering—might afterwards face further retaliation.
So, she set it aside.
Not until the day of the Confucius Ceremony, when Ming Jin was taken to the Ministry of Justice, did these victims step forward to expose his past crimes.
Just as they said, the accusations went smoothly, and they received fair treatment.
This was, of course, good—but Chang Suining said: “I acted out of selfish motives alone, and cannot bear such heavy gratitude.”
“Lu Chong is but a rough man and doesn’t understand these words. I only know that if not for Lady Chang, I would never have lived to see my enemy’s head fall!”
“Yes, Lady Chang sent men to protect us, helped us gather evidence and witnesses… Even if it was for your own reasons, the kindness we received is real.”
“As for the plan you once spoke of—you told us clearly in advance. It was mutual benefit, each helping the other… But then you changed course, sparing us any risk while we reaped all the benefit. For that alone, you deserve to be called our benefactor!”
On the day of the Confucius Ceremony, it was that young girl who, with her own strength, won justice for her brother—and for them as well.
“…We old folks have nothing, no descendants to repay you, and yet you even gave us aid. If you won’t even accept a word of gratitude, how can our consciences rest easy?” cried an old couple in patched clothing.
At this, Chang Suining smiled: “Then I shall shamelessly accept your thanks. Please, all of you, rise.”
She was not merely making polite refusals—she only wished to make her intentions clear. Once explained, if they still felt she deserved gratitude, then she could accept it with peace of mind.
That was true mutual will.
Finally, the crowd no longer resisted being helped up by Ah Che. When he returned to his young lady’s side, the dull ache in his arms made him realize he still needed more training.
Looking at those faces—young and old, each bearing the marks of pain and injustice—Chang Suining at last said: “The evildoer has been punished, the matter is finished. From this day on, may each of you find peace and live well.”
“Lady Chang, you too must take care.”
“May Young Master Chang recover soon…”
“For Lady Chang to do such a virtuous deed, Heaven itself will surely bless you—General Chang will surely return victorious!”
“…”
Meeting their grateful and sincere eyes, Chang Suining raised her hand in salute: “I will borrow your kind words.”
The crowd returned her gesture, then stood in place, watching as the young girl’s carriage departed.
Not far away, a youth in plain brocade who had witnessed the scene also stared unconsciously at the carriage fading into the distance.
A moment later, he seemed to make up his mind. He had his servant bring his horse, mounted, and rode away.
…
“Young Lady, it seems someone is following us,” the driver whispered.
“It matters not. If he wishes to follow, let him.” Inside the carriage, Chang Suining said calmly, “We’ll just return home and wait.”
The driver obeyed without hesitation.
After what had happened with her brother, even outsiders treated the young lady differently; as for her own household, their obedience had long since changed from mere formality to genuine loyalty and trust.
Speaking of which, it was worth mentioning the boasting session among the men last night—
To prove their loyalty to the young lady, one swore that if she told him to carry a thousand catties of dung, he wouldn’t bat an eye!
Another chimed in: never mind carrying it—if she asked, he’d eat it!
A third, unwilling to lose, declared that even if she ordered him to strip bare and run a lap around Vermilion Bird Street, he would believe there must be a sound reason for it!
Before their vows could get any more outrageous, Chang Ren strode over and smacked each of their heads in turn—loyalty should be shown in better ways! The young lady was just a girl; she could not possibly have such absurd whims!
In short, by now their loyalty to her was unwavering.
So if someone was following and she allowed it, then it must be with her purpose.
The carriage rolled smoothly back to Xingning Ward. When Chang Suining alighted, she saw two carriages already parked outside—clearly, guests had arrived.
Recently, visitors came to the Chang household almost daily.
Today, it was Cui Liang, Hu Yi, and Zhiyuan.
Cui Liang was regretful that he had missed the execution. He had made such a scene some days ago that, after crying all the way home from the Ministry of Justice, his father had been so furious that he forbade him from attending the Imperial Academy and confined him at home for many days.
Today, he had sneaked out again, intending to watch the execution—but on the way, he heard it was already over. That he hadn’t seen Ming Jin’s dog head fall was entirely his father’s fault!
Disappointed, he came straight to the Chang residence.
When he saw Chang Suining return, Hu Yi tried to make up for Sixth Young Master Cui’s regret and asked her about the execution in detail.
Unexpectedly, Sixth Young Master Cui pinched his arm hard.
Why ask about such bloody things in such detail?
What if it frightened little Miss Qiao?
Cui Liang instinctively turned to look at Qiao Yumian, only to see the pale, delicate girl’s face full of curiosity: “Yes, Ningning, how was the head cut off? Was it taken with a single stroke? Did a lot of blood spill? After the head fell, could the eyes really still blink and the mouth speak for a moment?”
Cui Liang’s expression froze.
The little girl, curious as she was, also displayed an astonishing amount of knowledge on the subject.
Cui Liang: “…Master, why don’t you just tell us then!”
Hu Yi rubbed his arm, baffled at why he had been pinched in the first place.
Leaning against the bed, Chang Sui'an also looked curiously at his younger sister.
For the past week, he had only been able to lie down; only in the last two days had he been permitted to sit up.
He felt he could try to get out of bed and walk, but his sister would not allow it, insisting he follow Physician Sun’s instructions to rest for a full half-month before trying.
For the sake of one day being able to mount a horse and wield a spear again, he lay still.
As for the date of Chang Suining’s departure from the capital, it was roughly set for after her Elder Brother could get out of bed and walk. Before then, his injured body simply could not withstand the slightest jostling.
But up until today, apart from the Chang family members and Yaojin, she had not mentioned her plan to leave the capital to anyone else.
At this moment, looking at the familiar faces of the Qiao siblings and Cui Lang’s group, and thinking of the parting soon to come, Chang Suining granted their every request, and truly recounted the details of Ming Jin’s execution.
Wang shi, carrying a bowl of tonic soup, was so startled when she overheard that she nearly spilled it. Yet she saw that the group of children were all listening with great relish.
“Lady, there is a guest.” Following behind Wang shi, Xi’er came in from outside and announced: “It is the young master from the Changsun family, saying he has come to visit the young lord.”
She still remembered how that young man had once cursed and struck her own young master.
But Chang Suining spoke kindly: “Since he has come to see my Elder Brother, invite him in here.”
Changsun Ji had come not only to visit Chang Sui’an, but also to offer apology and thanks.
He ought to have come long ago, but his pride and face had made him hesitate many days. Now that Ming Jin was dead, he felt he could no longer delay.
Yet as soon as he arrived, he felt his visit was hasty and ill-prepared.
The moment he stepped into Chang Sui’an’s room, he saw the place full of people and was stunned.
…Why were there so many people here?
Even worse, among them was the sharp-tongued Cui Liu Lang: “Young Master Changsun, have you come today to fulfill your promise and apologize at our door?”
Changsun Ji’s face froze.
That had indeed been his original intention, but when the other party phrased it so bluntly, he suddenly felt embarrassed. Who could understand this feeling?
Yet upon seeing Chang Sui’an, sitting propped against the bed, covered in wounds, Changsun Ji at last overcame the youthful pride and aristocratic arrogance of a noble-born boy. He raised his hand and bowed solemnly: “Before, when the truth was not yet clear, I spoke many words of misunderstanding against Lord Chang, and even struck him in rashness… Today I have come especially to apologize.”
Chang Sui’an shook his head: “It’s nothing, a trifling matter!”
Then, with a look of sympathy: “At that time, when Changsun Seventh Lady suddenly suffered misfortune, the evidence pointed squarely at me… You are four or five years younger than I, so for you to have acted so then was only human nature.”
Changsun Ji: “…” Please stop—every word made him feel less and less like a decent human being.
Just as Chang Sui’an was about to continue, Cui Lang interjected: “I seem to recall… that day Young Master Changsun also said, if my master could help your Changsun family find the true culprit, then Young Master Changsun would kowtow in gratitude, is that not so?”
Already mortified by Chang Sui’an’s generous attitude, the boy’s face turned red at once.
He had indeed said it…
But those words about kowtowing were nothing more than reckless anger in the heat of the moment.
“I ought to thank Lady Chang…” He looked at Chang Suining, caught in an impossible spot: “I…”
The young girl looked back at him. As their eyes met, suddenly the image flashed before his mind: that day at the Confucian Temple, she had stood disheveled in the abandoned library pavilion, blood beading and dripping down her arm.
In that instant, all thoughts in the boy’s heart fell away. He lifted his robe and was about to kneel.
But the next moment, the young girl reached out and held his arm, stopping him.
Changsun Ji looked up at her in astonishment.
“There is no need to kneel or give thanks.” Chang Suining said, “That day, when you came to visit, you once showed goodwill to save my Elder Brother. Let that and this cancel each other out, how about it?”
Changsun Ji froze.
So she actually knew of that incident.
He said: “That was nothing, merely a lift of the hand…”
Chang Suining smiled faintly: “For me to help your esteemed house bring the true culprit to justice was also nothing but a small effort, done in passing.”
Chang Sui’an then also thanked Changsun Ji.
Changsun Ji said nothing aloud, but his heart was heavy with guilt.
Afterward, Chang Suining personally escorted him out of her brother’s quarters.
“…Does Lady Chang blame my family for receiving the witness you sent, but failing to come forth in time to relieve your brother’s plight?” The boy thought for a long time, then asked quietly.
Chang Suining said: “It is not worth blaming.”
Changsun Ji fell silent.
“Not worth blaming” meant “not strange.” She had not really answered him; or rather, his question itself was childish and meaningless.
She seemed unconcerned, and even chatted lightly: “I notice that Young Master Changsun and Changsun Seventh Lady share a rather similar look.”
“Yes, my family always says that I resemble my aunt the most.” The boy’s tone carried both sadness and shame: “But I cannot compare with her—in breadth of heart or in character, whether in mind or in nature… I am not her equal.”
Chang Suining nodded: “Indeed.”
Changsun Ji turned his head: “?”
But saw the young girl smile: “Seeing you sad, I was teasing you.”
Changsun Ji: “…” Why did it not feel like a joke?
Until she added: “Young Master Changsun’s disposition is also very good. It is only because you are still young and your character not yet settled—after you grow up and experience the world, you too will become a person of such talent that others feel ashamed before you.”
Changsun Ji stared blankly, gazing at the girl’s calm, smiling face in the afternoon sunlight.
By the time he came to himself, he wished to say something, but they had already reached the gate. Chang Suining stopped: “Young Master Changsun, take care.”
Changsun Ji nodded: “…I will come again another day to visit Lord Chang.”
Watching the boy depart, Chang Suining could not help but think that such a “next time” might never come.
With the Huainan war and Ming Jin’s case spreading and fermenting, now the gentry officials led by the Changsun clan and Empress Ming were locked in deadly conflict. It had reached the point where only one side could survive.
No one could predict what tomorrow would bring.
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