Chapter 1733: Feisty and Unreasonable Shu Yu

 Chapter 1732: Shu Yu Goes to Deliver the Message

 Chapter 267.2: General Ningyuan

But when she looked toward her homeland, it still hurt.

Ah Dian held back his tears, leaned closer to her, and took her hands, blowing on them gently.

After her hands, he moved on to blow on her forehead and head.

The air he exhaled was strong, each puff seeming to carry all the effort of trying to blow away her pain.

Chang Suining’s temple hairs puffed up under his careful blowing.

“Feeling better now?”

“All better,” Chang Suining smiled softly. “Not hurting at all.”

Back in her homeland, seeing her old friends, the pain was gone.

Ah Dian was much relieved. He poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to her, as if she had truly just returned from a long journey.

After she drank, Ah Dian thought of a crucial question: “Your Highness, now that you’ve become Xiao Ah Li, what about the real Ah Li? Where did she go?”

Chang Suining answered seriously: “Ah Li, like me, will take a new form after a long journey. If fate allows, we will meet again someday.”

“I see…” Ah Dian thought hard, then said, “Then I’ll definitely recognize her when that time comes!”

“Then this task shall be entrusted to you.”

Ah Dian patted his chest: “Your Highness, you can rest assured!”

Chang Suining nodded with a smile.

If possible, she truly hoped for that day to come.

Ah Dian was no longer sleepy. He obediently knelt before her, saying “Your Highness” repeatedly, the words never ending.

Finally, Chang Suining instructed him: “From now on, outside, you must not call me ‘Your Highness.’”

“Why?” Ah Dian asked, puzzled.

“Because this is my greatest secret,” Chang Suining said succinctly. “If bad people learn this secret, they will capture me and burn me as a monster.”

Scaring children was her forte.

Ah Dian was truly alarmed: “Your Highness is not a monster!”

“Then what should you call me in the future?”

“Y…your Highness…” Ah Dian covered his mouth, then hurriedly corrected himself: “Xiao Ah Li!”

“Good boy, Ah Dian.”

Chang Suining smiled, patting the top of his head.

Receiving this long-awaited praise, Ah Dian was extremely happy and satisfied. If he had a tail, it would surely wag to the heavens.

Next, his thoughts focused on one matter—

“Your Highness, now there’s no one else around… can I call you ‘Your Highness’? Being a little girl, is it uncomfortable?”

“Is it fun being a little girl?”

“Can you make me a little girl too?”

Then the topic gradually wandered: “Little girls can have babies. Can they have kittens too? If I became a little girl, could I have several kittens? What color would they be?”

“…” Chang Suining’s tone was troubled. “Well… as the saying goes, every profession is a world apart…”

“…”

As dawn approached, Chang Suining finally left Ah Dian’s tent.

Xi’er and Ah Che, stationed outside by orders, greeted her.

Hearing that Ah Dian had just gone to sleep, Xi’er sighed: “General Dian really has remarkable energy.”

“It’s New Year’s Eve,” Chang Suining yawned. “Children always like to stay up for the eve.”

Chang Suining returned to her own tent and slept until nearly noon.

Just after washing and dressing, she heard a commotion outside. Soon, Ah Zhi entered: “Miss, a messenger from the capital has arrived with an imperial edict.”

This messenger, who had departed from the capital before the New Year, had caught up just in time, arriving at the camp on the first day of the new year.

The imperial edict was to praise and bestow honors upon Chang Kuo and his daughter, as well as the soldiers under their command, for their merits.

Though the campaign against Xu Zhengye had not yet concluded, Chang Kuo’s earlier rescue of Hezhou and suppression of Li Yi’s rebellion were deeds deserving of reward.

The edict highly praised Chang Kuo and his daughter, Chang Suining, for their loyalty and valor, granting them gold, silver, jewels, and estates, already sent to the capital to the Cavalry General’s mansion.

Chang Kuo, feeling slightly disappointed, thought: why not send them here as well? After all, the capital is a nest of tigers; whether we can return safely is uncertain.

With this simple thought, he gave a modest evaluation: the reward lacked sincerity.

Besides verbal praise and gold and silver, the most anticipated part was the title.

The eunuch messenger continued to loudly read aloud:

“…Cavalry General Chang Kuo’s daughter, Chang Suining, defended Hezhou, slew the leaders under Xu Zhengye, later executed the rebel Li Yi. Though a woman, she is an extraordinary talent, her abilities manifest in this world—a sign of Heaven’s favor for Da Sheng. I, following the will of Heaven, exceptionally confer upon you the title of General of Ningyuan, with the salary of a fifth-rank general. May you follow your father to accomplish more meritorious deeds, defeat the Xu forces, and protect Da Sheng’s territories. I await your triumphant return in the capital—”

The eunuch finished with the two words “By Imperial Command,” smiling at Chang Suining: “General of Ningyuan, receive the edict.”

Amid the silent, expectant gaze of all the soldiers, the young girl clasped her hands and bowed.

“I, Chang Suining, humbly thank Your Majesty for your grace.”

The eunuch handed her the edict with both hands, smiling: “Miss Chang is Da Sheng’s first female fifth-rank general. In the future, you will surely achieve further extraordinary deeds…”

Chang Suining accepted it: “Thank you for your kind words, Sir Eunuch.”

The eunuch nodded to her, then approached Chang Kuo, bowing: “The Emperor has a few words not included in the edict, which I am instructed to convey privately to General Chang…”

Seeing that “privately” did not mean avoiding the crowd, Chang Kuo spoke straightforwardly: “Please do tell us, Sir Eunuch.”

Ning Ning is now officially an officer… so everyone, do you have your votes ready? Let’s celebrate a bit, hehe!

 Chapter 267.1: General Ningyuan

“Not right?”

Ah Dian tugged her hand and quickly turned around, changing from sitting cross-legged to kneeling, showing a triumphant smile as if he had guessed correctly: “What’s not right? I clearly guessed it right!”

Chang Suining looked at his somewhat sleepy yet all the more clear eyes. “You actually guessed wrong.”

Ah Dian snorted. “You’re lying!”

“You’re the one lying,” Chang Suining said, sitting down on the blanket and tilting her head slightly, staring at him with a smiling gaze. “Little Ah Dian, didn’t you say you could recognize me at a glance, smell me instantly?”

That biggest secret was suddenly revealed by her in such a casual, effortless manner.

Ah Dian froze, his expression locking in place.

After a moment, he tilted his head in puzzlement, confusion and bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

Facing those smiling eyes, his confusion swelled, and he grabbed at his head, suddenly flustered, his mouth moving as if to say something but unable to speak, completely at a loss.

He reached out and grabbed the girl’s shoulders in front of him, searching left and right, as if trying to find the “hidden thing” she had.

He was extremely anxious.

And everything before him seemed to vanish, leaving only those eyes meeting his.

Those eyes seemed to transform into a forest full of mist, trapping him within.

At this moment, he was like a clumsy little animal running wildly through the endless fog, constantly pushing aside branches and vines in his path, trying to find a way out and answers.

His intuition told him that at the end of the mist was the thing most important to him.

But no matter how he ran, he couldn’t escape. He was about to cry, yet even his voice seemed bound, unable to speak, sweat pouring from his anxiousness.

Until a cool index finger lightly tapped his forehead.

His tall, broad figure made the girl sitting on the blanket appear all the more small and fragile.

But in comparison, he now looked more like a child.

The girl’s finger on his forehead lifted slightly, then fell again, and her voice came softly:

“Pointing soldiers and generals, riding horses in battle…”

Ah Dian, running through the fog, suddenly stopped.

He saw the mist before him vanish, the blazing sunlight pouring in, dispelling his confusion and panic.

He saw a familiar figure standing in the sunlight. The figure’s owner, under his held-breath gaze, slowly turned around…

Her voice continued: “…Know who is summoned, follow me; if you don’t, then—”

The figure had already turned.

He saw!

Ah Dian’s bloodshot eyes finally made a sound:

“…Your Highness! Ah Dian will not be a little dog!”

So it was His Highness!

His Highness had returned!

Everything before him blurred by tears. He could not see clearly, yet no longer needed his eyes.

Eyes could deceive, but the heart could not.

Ah Dian cried out, rushing toward the figure and hugging tightly.

Chang Suining nearly got knocked over.

“I knew it! I knew it!” Ah Dian cried. “I knew they were lying!”

“They said once someone dies, they are gone forever, never to be seen again, wuwuwu!”

“I didn’t believe them! Your Highness promised to come back. I knew it! Your Highness never lies! Luckily, I only believed Your Highness!”

For this, he had quarreled with many people, became stubborn and disobedient, secretly ran to Jingling, even fought with the guards there. He said he had to see His Highness, but everyone blocked him, calling him a foolish, unreasonable boy.

Those things, which he had not felt wronged by at the time, now, in front of His Highness, finally could be expressed aloud as grievances.

He cried, speaking things that seemed disconnected, yet filled with meaning.

“…Your Highness, I’ve always been obedient, waiting for you to return. I am not a little dog!”

“I know,” Chang Suining said, feeling almost smothered by the boy clinging like a big bear. She finally pushed him slightly, hands on his shoulders, smiling: “I am not a little dog either. I didn’t break my promise, did I?”

When she went to Northern Di, they had linked pinkies and promised: she would return, and he would wait. Whoever broke the promise would be a little dog.

“Mm!” Ah Dian nodded repeatedly through his tears.

Then he held out both hands before her, eyes full of tearful grievance: “I waited for Your Highness so long, through so many snows, so many thunderstorms!”

“I know, our Ah Dian is most afraid of thunder.” Chang Suining took a handkerchief from his collar. Ah Dian loved cleanliness, always carrying a neatly folded small handkerchief hidden in his robe.

He couldn’t count the passing years, previously using “how many times the flowers bloomed” to measure time.

But after she left, he no longer counted flowers. He said “so many snows,” “so many thunderstorms” to mark the days apart.

As if in those days apart, his world only had rain, thunder, and snow—the memories that struck him most.

He could not clearly explain his grievances and suffering, yet expressed it vividly.

“Your Highness, why did you take so long to come back?” Ah Dian rubbed his tears with the back of his hand, choking slightly, a hint of complaint yet soft and tender.

Chang Suining spoke softly: “The journey was a bit long; I walked slowly.”

Oh, so that was it?

Ah Dian immediately understood her, saying quickly: “It’s okay. On a journey, one shouldn’t rush. Safety is the greatest!”

He could wait as long as needed. As long as His Highness returned safely, being anxious was no matter.

“Mm, safety is the greatest.” Chang Suining handed him the handkerchief, smiling: “So I returned safely.”

This made Ah Dian extremely happy. He smiled with joy, then suddenly remembered something, straightened his face, and hurriedly explained:

“Your Highness, Ah Dian didn’t lie. Ah Dian recognized Your Highness long ago!”

He raised his hand in a solemn gesture: “Really!”

Chang Suining smiled gently: “I know. Ah Dian recognized me, smelled me… he just didn’t know how to say it.”

In truth, Ah Li and Ah Dian were not close before. They had few interactions. After she became Ah Li, Ah Dian suddenly began to approach her, trust her, and follow her. All of this was because he “recognized” her.

Among those who recognized her first, Ah Dian was clearly first.

Second was Liu Huo, and third… should be Cui Jing.

Hmm… comparing a person, a horse, and a child, Cui Jing truly was a remarkable existence to fit in among them.

Chang Suining thought so.

Receiving her affirmation, Ah Dian was even happier.

He stopped crying and began to notice other things.

He looked at her, full of confusion and curiosity: “But Your Highness… how did you become a girl now?”

His mind was different from ordinary people. What others called “borrowing a corpse and returning the soul” became simply “change” to him.

Chang Suining blinked: “Isn’t becoming a girl fine?”

She almost forgot, unlike Old Chang and the others, Ah Dian had not known her as a girl before. His awareness in this regard was slow and vague.

“Not that it’s bad…” Ah Dian stared at her, frowned slowly, then asked the question that mattered most: “Your Highness, changing like this… it must hurt, right?”

Even a block of wood requires many sharp cuts to be carved into a new shape.

Facing those suddenly tearful clear eyes, Chang Suining’s heart softened.

She and Ah Dian were a source of mutual warmth.

What Ah Dian gave her was never less than what she gave him.

She nodded: “It hurts a little.”

A knife cutting across the neck did not hurt. Falling on the cold snow did not hurt either.

 Chapter 918: The Imperial Marriage (3)

Seeing his cousin suddenly become so bright, Chu Heng’s eyes flickered with a smile. He pretended not to notice Emperor Hui'an’s displeased expression, determined to settle his cousin’s lifelong matter today. He continued, "Father Emperor, Hanzhang has risked his life on the frontier for many years, contributing greatly to the empire and showing unwavering loyalty to me. Moreover, She the County Princess have cultivated high-yield rice, which is invaluable. She has repeatedly ventured into the mountains to find medicinal herbs to save my life. Could their efforts not be worth an imperial marriage decree from you?"

Emperor Hui'an ignored the kneeling Xiao Ruiyuan, his gaze cold as he looked at his son, who was stepping out of line. In a deep voice, he said, "Their status and positions are too different. How do you know there won't be constant conflict in the future? Granting them marriage rashly would only create a pair of resentful spouses. In my view, it would be more appropriate to bestow a noble lady as Hanzhang's wife."

Chu Heng knew this was his father’s excuse to avoid issuing a marriage decree, so he rebutted, "While it is important to match social status, it is not absolute! The founding emperor of the previous dynasty came from a prestigious family, yet he married a fisherwoman as his empress. He even abolished the harem, remaining devoted to her for life, becoming a legendary figure. This had nothing to do with family background."

This well-reasoned argument left Emperor Hui'an speechless. He glared at Chu Heng, his anger growing. This child not only failed to understand his concerns but also openly defied him for an outsider. Was it his own indulgence that made this son so bold?

Feeling Emperor Hui'an's anger, Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu were both filled with worry. Xiao Ruiyuan could never understand why the Emperor was stopping him from being with the one he loved, but he didn’t want his personal matter to cause a rift between the Emperor and his son.

Chu Heng subtly shook his head at his two cousins, signaling that he was fine. Noticing Xiao Ruiyuan was about to speak, he interrupted, "My father and I have important matters to discuss. You two can step outside for a while."

Xiao Ruiyuan swallowed the words he was about to say, exchanged a glance with Yan Junyu, and both looked at Emperor Hui'an. Seeing that the Emperor did not object, they bowed and left the dining hall, filled with worry.

After they left, Liang Gonggong and the two guards also stepped out, leaving only Chu Heng and Emperor Hui'an in the room.

The father and son remained in a stalemate for a long time, neither willing to back down. Chu Heng gradually lost his patience, his face growing cold as he said, "Father Emperor, there is something I have been hiding from you. Hanzhang has already betrothed himself to Miss Mo, and the engagement was made with the witness of me and several hundred villagers. If you do not want me to earn the reputation of forcibly taking my brother's wife, then please grant them this marriage."

"Preposterous!" Emperor Hui'an had no idea about this matter. He was shocked, slamming his hand down on the table, glaring at Chu Heng. "Have you forgotten what I told you about that?"

Seeing that the Emperor was truly angry, Chu Heng’s mood actually brightened. He leisurely picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea. After a moment’s thought, he poured a cup for the Emperor as well, then held it out with both hands. He said seriously, "Father Emperor, I have not forgotten. But even if what you said were to happen, do you believe I cannot solve it? I understand Hanzhang better than anyone. Anyone in this world might betray me, but he never will!"

At this point, Chu Heng paused, and seeing the Emperor’s disapproval in his eyes, he turned the conversation. "There are many women in the capital who are of better status and beauty, clever and charming, but Hanzhang has uniquely fallen for Miss Mo! I can’t understand such feelings, but I can’t help but wonder—if Father Emperor had been devoted to Empress Mother, and kept the harem clean, would Empress Mother still be alive? Would I have to endure more than twenty years of sickness…?"

[End of Chapter]

 Chapter 917: The Imperial Marriage (2)

The three quickly stepped forward to pay their respects:

"Your humble son greets His Majesty, the Emperor!"

"Your humble servant salutes Your Majesty!"

"There's no need for such formalities, Heng'er." Emperor Hui'an looked at Chu Heng with a loving expression, his gaze shifting between Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu, before gently saying, "You may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu stood up and stepped back to stand behind Chu Heng.

When the Emperor learned the three were about to eat, he smiled at Chu Heng, saying, "Add a pair of chopsticks for me as well."

"Yes, Father Emperor!" Chu Heng quickly replied and gestured for the servants to prepare.

What had been a harmonious atmosphere became slightly awkward after the Emperor’s arrival. Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu felt somewhat uncomfortable. After Emperor Hui'an picked up his chopsticks, they each took a bowl of fish soup and slowly began to drink.

Emperor Hui'an, not wanting to trouble Liang Gonggong with serving, had Chu Heng personally dish out the food. When he finally had time to get some soup, the pot was almost empty, with only a small amount left at the bottom.

Seeing his two cousins deeply engrossed in their soup and not touching the other dishes, Chu Heng couldn’t help but feel that the fish soup had an extraordinary taste. Learning that there were still two fresh fish in the kitchen, he decisively had the cook make more soup.

Soon, two large pots of fish soup were brought to the table. The fragrance of the fish filled the entire dining hall, and even the nearly finished Emperor Hui'an noticed the difference. He asked in confusion, "Is this seafood?"

Seafood, or "hai zhen," was rare in the capital. Although the kingdom was close to the coast, the city was far enough away that fish from the sea often arrived dead, making fresh seafood a rare treat. Only in winter could the palace occasionally enjoy fresh seafood; in summer, they had to rely on dried goods, which couldn’t compare in taste.

Chu Heng only knew that the fish had been sent by his two cousins but didn’t know what kind it was, so he looked toward Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu.

Xiao Ruiyuan rose and cupped his hands toward the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, this fish was raised by the Mo family. It’s just an ordinary freshwater fish."

"Oh, the Mo family raises fish? It must have been County Princess’s idea, right?" Emperor Hui'an smiled faintly, adding with an ambiguous tone, "This girl really is different from most. Why stay in a good household like the Zhuangyuan mansion when she could live in a village, growing crops? Could she possibly intend to marry a farmer in the future?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ruiyuan’s heart skipped a beat. The Emperor knew he and Mo Yan were in love, yet on the day of the banquet, he had planned to bestow a noble lady upon him as his wife. Now, these words seemed to indicate that the Emperor had other plans and did not wish for him to marry Mo Yan.

Recalling his cousin’s repeated instructions not to let the Emperor know about his engagement with Mo Yan, and urging him to marry her quickly, Xiao Ruiyuan suppressed his impulse to confess his engagement and remained silent.

Yan Junyu also sensed something was wrong. Seeing his cousin's slightly altered expression, he knew there was something going on that he wasn’t aware of. His heart tightened in worry for his good friend.

Though he felt a pang of jealousy and heartache over his friend’s romantic success, Yan Junyu was an honorable man who would never steal someone else's love. He sincerely hoped that these two important people in his life would grow old together. If anyone tried to break them apart, he would be the first to oppose it.

The atmosphere grew tense, and Chu Heng’s hands, which were resting under the table, clenched and relaxed repeatedly as he forced a smile. "Father Emperor is already aware of County Princess and Hanzhang’s mutual affection, isn’t he? Not long ago, County Princess reached her coming-of-age, and I had intended to ask for a favor from you to grant them a marriage. But I got too busy and forgot! There’s no better day than today; why not bestow their marriage now?"

Xiao Ruiyuan’s eyes lit up, and before Chu Heng could give him a signal, he kneeled on one knee. "Your humble servant sincerely asks the Emperor to fulfill this wish!"

[End of Chapter]  

 Chapter 1731: General Huang Arrives