Chapter 245.2: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 245.2
Chang Suining finally said,
“If there comes a day when we meet again, and fate gives us the chance, I will repay her for the kindness of guiding me back.”
Chang Kuo’s eyes turned slightly red. He nodded slowly.
“If that’s the case, then if fate allows, we will surely meet again…”
As he nodded, however, he suddenly realized something was off.
“Wait a moment… so, Your Highness had already revealed your identity to Wu Jue long ago?”
He—wasn’t the only one? Not even the first?
Hadn’t Her Highness once told him in private that in her heart, he ranked first?
Chang Kuo’s gaze looked a little wounded.
“You were already leading troops away from the capital then.” Chang Suining sighed softly, glancing at him with a hint of helplessness. “And it was he who recognized me first.”
She didn’t mention the word “injury,” yet every word she spoke seemed filled with that very meaning.
Their eyes met.
Chang Kuo was silent: “…”
Wu Jue, who lived in Dayun Temple, could recognize her so early, yet he—who was with Her Highness day and night—had to wait for her to come find him for recognition?
Was that fulfilling his duty? Was that reasonable? Was that even human?
Chang Kuo lowered his head in shame. “This subordinate was foolish…”
“It’s not entirely your fault.” Chang Suining comforted him gently, right on cue. “There was a reason why Wu Jue could recognize me.”
She then told him the truth about the Heavenly Maiden Tower.
Chang Kuo was both shocked and relieved.
He thought so—how could he, the most trusted aide under Her Highness, lose to someone else for no reason!
Turns out that bald monk who made good mutton soup had peeked at the answers ahead of time!
Even now, he couldn’t help saying, “Your Highness, in truth, this subordinate already had a faint sense… but couldn’t put it into words.”
“I could feel that.” Chang Suining nodded. “Who made you the one who knows me best, the one most attuned to me? When I wasn’t ready to reveal myself, I worried every day that you would recognize me.”
Chang Kuo listened with great delight; his heart felt both soothed and proud.
However—there was one thing…
He hesitated slightly, then gave a few awkward laughs and rubbed his big hands together.
“Before I knew Your Highness’s identity… I might have said some arrogant or boastful things…”
Thinking of those past moments—his lies, his bragging, his oblivious boasting—Chang Kuo’s current emotions swayed violently between “I wish I could die on the spot” and “But I can’t bear to die yet.”
Chang Suining feigned ignorance, letting out a soft “ah.”
“Let’s not talk about that.”
Bringing up such things again would do no good. Some memories were better left untouched; otherwise, recalling them would be torture for everyone involved.
Chang Kuo chuckled dryly a few more times, wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, and felt as though he’d been granted amnesty.
Then, cautiously, he asked, “So, from now on…”
Chang Suining replied, “From now on, you’re still my father.”
Chang Kuo placed both hands on his thighs, sitting rigidly upright, visibly uneasy.
“Your Highness, that… that might not be appropriate…”
Him—becoming the father of Her Highness?
Then what about the late emperor?
Wasn’t that snatching away the imperial title itself?
Was that even proper?
Would his ancestors, buried beneath the family grave, still rest in peace after this?
If the punishment of exterminating nine generations reached the underworld—how would that even work? Would it drag the ancestors down too?
Thinking of all this, such fortune seemed beyond the realm of “ancestral blessings.”
The smoke rising from his ancestral tomb would no longer be green—it’d turn red, then purple…
At this rate, he feared the whole ancestral tomb might explode.
Chang Kuo grew genuinely worried that his family tomb couldn’t bear the pressure.
“How is it inappropriate?” Chang Suining’s eyes softened as she said, “Wu Jue told me, it was you who carried one of my bones back then, which allowed this formation to be set up.”
Her gaze fell to his injured leg. “I acknowledge you as my father, to care for you in your old age—what could be more fitting?”
Hearing this, Chang Kuo’s heart surged. He admitted it—he harbored a little vanity, enough to risk even his ancestral tomb exploding, just to savor this kind of honor.
Forgive me, ancestors—he truly wanted to experience what it felt like to live a life so enviable it made others jealous!
His heart was surging, though his words were cautious:
“Your Highness carries such an earth-shaking secret… You must be careful and discreet. Since that’s the case, this subordinate will dare to cooperate a little…”
Chang Suining smiled and nodded. “Good.”
After a pause, Chang Kuo asked again,
“Then… what does Your Highness plan to do about the Holy Emperor?”
“Our temperaments don’t match.” The young girl’s voice was calm. “No gratitude, no grievance. Just strangers walking separate paths.”
Resentment? Hardly.
Did the other owe her? In Chang Suining’s view, no.
There had once been the grace of giving life. Though later the Holy Emperor took much from her, she still didn’t owe her anything. Having repaid the grace of birth in full, she, too, was no longer indebted.
Since neither owed the other, there was no need for the “reconciliation” or “mother-daughter reunion” the Holy Emperor spoke of. Such things simply didn’t apply between them.
Chang Kuo could tell—hidden within that simple phrase “our temperaments don’t match” lay something irreconcilable, and need not be reconciled.
He said softly, “Then this subordinate will help you keep this secret.”
“If she’s in front of me, it might be too late to hide. She’s probably already guessed.”
Chang Suining looked out the window through a narrow slit in the shutters, where snow had piled up in the courtyard. A sparrow was pecking for food but was startled by falling snow and fluttered away.
Holding her warm teacup, her voice was gentle and unburdened.
“But it’s fine. She can no longer control me.”
Perhaps in the future, there would still be many shackles upon her—some from the Holy Emperor, some from others high above, and some from the chaos of the times.
But looking afar—like in Hezhou—under the collapse of the current order, countless people across the Dazheng realm were all like her, destined to be controlled by power and circumstance.
Yet she would never yield. Again and again, endlessly, she would save herself and the people of her Dazheng realm from the fires of suffering.
She had made that resolve, and it would never change.
And she would make herself strong enough to match it.
Chang Kuo followed the young girl’s gaze toward the snowy courtyard. After a long while, he asked,
“Then what are Your Highness’s plans next?”
Chang Suining turned back with a smile.
“Didn’t we agree? Once Hezhou is settled, we’ll go deal with Li Yi.”
Now that the first task was done, it was time to prepare for the second.
Chang Kuo smiled as well. “Good. Then once we finish with Hezhou, we’ll depart.”
Chang Suining nodded.
Looking at her youthful face, Chang Kuo couldn’t help but ask,
“Does Your Highness think this subordinate has grown old and useless?”
“Look across all of Da Sheng—how many can still wield Zhanxiu as you do? You can still swing the blade freely—how can that be called old?”
Chang Suining said, “When the day comes you can no longer lift your sword, then we’ll talk about age.”
Chang Kuo, who had been slightly dispirited, straightened his back unconsciously and smiled.
“But my hair is already turning white…”
“Teacher is nearly seventy, his head almost entirely white, yet he’s still being promoted.”
Chang Suining looked at him earnestly. “And even if one truly grows old—so what? Each year older means one more year of wisdom. You should focus on the strengths that come with age.”
Chang Kuo sat taller still.
“You’re right—an elder in the family is a treasure!”
“Exactly. Father probably doesn’t know—Prince Rong’s manor has its eye on you. To recruit your talent, Li Lu used all kinds of tricks on me and Brother.”
Chang Kuo’s expression turned serious.
“Such a thing happened?”
Chang Suining then told him everything in detail.
Chang Kuo frowned deeply.
“Seems Prince Rong’s manor isn’t so peaceable either… We’ll need to stay alert.”
The two talked for a long time in the room. During that time, Deputy General Jin sent food. They ate as they spoke, never pausing their conversation.
After the meal, as they set down their bowls and chopsticks, Chang Kuo suddenly recalled something.
“By the way… that Grand General Cui—does he also know the truth about the Heavenly Maiden Tower?”
He remembered that only Cui Jing could freely enter and leave that tower.
Chang Kuo asked, “Does Your Highness need to conceal your true identity from him?”
“…” Chang Suining was silent for a moment.
“There’s no need.”
Chang Kuo looked curious.
“He was the very first person who knows,” Chang Suining said.
Chang Kuo’s eyes widened in shock.
So in the end—he was the only one kept in the dark!
Just as he was about to ask further, footsteps sounded from outside. He immediately fell silent.
Soon, Deputy General Jin entered.
“General, the lady from the Grand Princess’s residence has come to see you.”
Chang Kuo’s heart skipped a beat—so that woman still hadn’t left!
(Author’s note: 5,000 words today, I’m serious about keeping up!)
(“Ancestor’s tomb exploding” joke sponsored by a reader from last chapter’s comments — and yes, I’m serious!)
Good night!
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