Chapter 1735: Action!

 Chapter 1734: Impressive

 Chapter 268.2: “Return Home Soon”

In keeping with the good omen of “double blessings,” Xiao Min and Chang Kuo briefly discussed and decided that there was no need to wait for an auspicious date. They might as well strike while the iron was hot and simultaneously issue the order appointing Chang Suining as Head Instructor of the Army.

The duel between Chang Suining and Chief Instructor Fang was still a hot topic, so upon hearing this new appointment, the soldiers were no longer surprised, and no voices of doubt were raised—at least not openly.

On that day, Chang Suining’s entourage was lively, filled with congratulatory voices.

She, now mindful of her new post, and with the first day of the year in mind, generously distributed red envelopes to Xi’er, Ah Zhi, Ah Che, Ah Dian, Yuan Xiang, and Chang Ren.

But halfway through, a soldier came in to deliver coal, so she handed him one as well.

At that moment, Chang Suining had yet to realize the severity of the situation.

After that soldier left, her tent began to fill continuously. Initially, two or three people arrived with some excuse to meet her; soon, they came in groups to offer congratulations.

Poor General of Ningyuan and Head Instructor Chang Suining—being away from home, her silver was limited. Thus, her generosity gradually became modest: the silver was replaced with copper coins.

Even so, the soldiers were still delighted.

Deputy General Jin threaded the copper coin and hung it around his neck, happily concealing it under his armor.

Chief Instructor Fang, who was in his benmingnian (zodiac year), saw this and thought it could ward off evil and misfortune, so he imitated him.

The soldiers quickly followed suit.

Thus, the trend of “wearing blessed copper coins, absorbing the aura of a general, achieving extraordinary merit, and glorifying one’s ancestors” spread uncontrollably.

Those who did not receive a coin were envious, eyes turning red. Some politely asked their comrades: “Brother, since you treasure it so much, where will you keep it when you sleep tonight?”

Upon hearing this, the recipient immediately clutched the coin tight.

That evening, the camp hosted a banquet for the eunuchs.

After the banquet, Xiao Min repeatedly congratulated Chang Suining.

Seeing the commander’s sincere expression and hearing his repeated congratulations, Chang Suining realized the key point: “…”

She tactfully and frugally indicated that she genuinely had not kept a single coin.

That night, Xiao Min had two large boxes of copper coins delivered to her tent with a clatter.

The commander insisted he could provide them himself.

All Chang Suining had to do was bless them!

Xiao Min acted with this in mind for his subordinates. Earlier, his guards had approached him, explaining that while they did not care for the coins themselves, seeing others receive them left their own necks bare and their hearts uneasy—they felt ashamed.

For the sake of his guards, Xiao Min had no choice but to pay out of his own pocket.

The next day, with the two large boxes of blessed coins in hand, before distributing them, Xiao Min secretly kept a few for himself.

He intended to keep one, and the rest—when returning to the capital—would be sent to his family!

After all, who could resist the idea of “seeking good luck”?

If a person did not even care about auspicious omens, what motivation would they have to live?

In short, believing in such traditions could also reflect a positive mindset.

Holding a full pouch of blessed coins, Xiao Min felt reassured.

Until the chief imperial eunuch arrived.

Xiao Min hurriedly hid the pouch, straightened his posture, and respectfully greeted the visitor.

The eunuch smiled, gesturing for the others to wait outside.

Xiao Min understood and sent his men to guard outside.

“General Xiao has indeed not disappointed the Sovereign’s high expectations. In such a short time, you have firmly established your position in the army,” the eunuch said, eyes full of approval.

“You flatter me, sir,” Xiao Min replied, signaling for the eunuch to sit. “This is not my achievement; it is all thanks to General Chang’s guidance.”

Chang Kuo had given him enough face and respect—otherwise, his subordinates would not have looked up to him.

The eunuch’s admiration grew: “I see that General Xiao is adept at dealing with others. Excellent… The Sovereign hopes to see you and General Chang work harmoniously, for only with unity can the enemy be resisted.”

After a brief pause, he sighed: “However… General Xiao may be somewhat aggrieved.”

Being the commander but always overshadowed by the deputy was understandably frustrating.

“…,” Xiao Min was silent.

So, the eunuch assumed that his composure in front of General Chang was a forced smile, biting back resentment, and enduring humiliation?

Could it be… he was not pretending at all?

Seeing his silence, the eunuch took it as tacit agreement and offered comfort and advice.

Finally, he quietly instructed Xiao Min to monitor the actions of Chang Kuo and his daughter, reporting any necessary information to the Sovereign.

Xiao Min: “…Understood.”

This had been the eunuch’s primary purpose in visiting him.

The Sovereign, suspicious of General Chang, wanted Xiao Min to pretend to be friendly to closely observe him.

This was no simple task, especially the “pretend friendliness” part—very difficult for a strong man.

With all arrangements made, the eunuchs did not linger and left three days later for the capital.

During these three days, the camp worked tirelessly. Yuan Xiang could claim second place in exhaustion—no one dared to claim first.

By day, he followed Chang Suining around attending to tasks. By night, he burned the midnight oil, secretly writing letters to the Grand General.

Why did it take him three nights to write?

Because there was too much to write about!

Especially the scene on New Year’s Eve, when the young lady of the Chang household sparred with others—he spent two nights writing about it, breaking two brushes in the process… it was endless!

By the third night, realizing he could not continue indulgently, Yuan Xiang compressed the content to ensure the letters could arrive during the first month of the lunar year. Twenty pages were squeezed into two nearly bursting envelopes.

Finally, he did not forget to include the blessed copper coins—if others had them, the Grand General must have them too!

At the same time Yuan Xiang sent off the letters, Chang Suining had already received several letters from the capital.

Sitting cross-legged behind her sand table, she casually picked up the top letter. Seeing the handwriting, she immediately felt uneasy.

Ah, the questionings have arrived.

Thank you all for your moon tickets. Good night, good night~

 Chapter 268.1: “Return Home Soon”

“This time, your household’s young lady has repeatedly achieved extraordinary merit. The Sovereign is greatly pleased… however, in court, regarding the matter of conferring a military title, there have been many dissenting voices. Many officials believe it is improper for a woman to hold command, and thus there has been endless dispute…”

The imperial envoy eunuch stopped for a moment, raised his hands in a formal bow, and continued: “Yet the Sovereign values talent greatly. Recognizing that Miss Chang, though a woman, possesses the aura of a general, the Sovereign courageously overruled the dissent and, citing the will of Heaven, issued this decree that breaks precedent.”

Upon hearing this, Chang Kuo’s face displayed a mixture of gratitude and nervousness. He raised his hand: “Then Chang Kuo must express heartfelt thanks to Her Majesty for the favor shown to my young daughter.”

But what did Qiao Yang’s letter say? The granting of a military title to a woman was the result of an aged Minister Zhu arguing fiercely in court with nothing but his voice.

That detail wasn’t important—he knew the truth in his heart.

Chang Kuo maintained a face of gratitude.

The imperial envoy eunuch smiled, offering his hand to support him ceremoniously.

Then, turning to Xiao Min, he smiled: “The Sovereign has heard that now there are two generals commanding in the field. With unity among the troops, it is believed the Xu forces will soon be repelled…”

Xiao Min replied: “My experience is still limited. In the future, I must rely greatly on General Chang and General of Ningyuan.”

The eunuch nodded with a smile—very good. Not seeking to compete, knowing how to appear humble, a man with patience and intelligence.

He was also pleased to “cooperate” with Xiao Min’s words of modesty, while elevating Chang Kuo: “The Sovereign has always had great expectations of General Chang… General Chang is already a First-Rank Cavalry General of our dynasty. If you succeed in defeating Xu Zhengye, then on the day of victorious return to court, it will surely be the day of reward and ennoblement.”

The assembled soldiers’ expressions shifted slightly.

Rewarded with a noble title?

Although the eunuch spoke from his own position, to say it openly implied the Sovereign’s intent… Could this be an early promise to General Chang?

And as for the envoy’s visit… they had thought it might wait for a formal appointment of a new commander. After the Li Yi affair, anyone could see that General Chang was the most suitable candidate for supreme command. Yet now, there was no indication of an official change in command.

Hence, the Sovereign still did not intend to grant General Chang full command of the army…

Was this to avoid frequent changes of command that could unsettle the troops, or some other form of precaution?

The promise of ennoblement, besides encouragement, likely served to reassure as well…

Is this the method of a ruler to control her subordinates?

Each general silently pondered and speculated.

Chang Kuo, oblivious, laughed heartily: “Then I shall boldly take the Eunuch’s words as auspicious, hoping for the future!”

Indeed, he looked highly tempted by this “big reward.”

Which general would not want to achieve unprecedented glory, be ennobled as a distant lord, and leave a lasting name in history?

Chang Kuo displayed great enthusiasm, and the fact that his daughter was granted a general’s title visibly brightened his expression. He presented the red envelopes: “…Gentlemen, traveling so far at the turn of the year must have been arduous. This is a small token of my respect—please do not refuse!”

The eunuch pretended to decline twice, then smiled and accepted, repeatedly congratulating Chang Kuo: “…General Chang is fortunate to have such a daughter—it truly is enviable!”

Words flattering as if ancestral tombs were set ablaze—Chang Kuo loved hearing them and did not mind the eunuch’s verbosity. His smile grew even more genuine.

Finally, the eunuch turned to Chang Suining, smiling: “Hee Majesty also wishes me to convey a word to Miss Chang.”

He looked at the young woman in a blue robe, poised and attentive, yet without any sign of fluster or nervousness, and said: “The Sovereign wishes that General of Ningyuan will soon pacify the troubles in Jiangnan. The Sovereign will await news in the capital of Miss Chang’s safe return home…”

Chang Suining’s expression remained calm, her eyes lowered.

Return home?

Does this word “home” indicate goodwill, or is it her recognition—confirming that she is indeed her?

Waiting for her to return to the capital to resume the “family” connection?

The words were indeed pleasing, attempting to present familiarity, yet in reality, the Sovereign did not dare grant military authority—knowing full well that if old Chang commanded, the army’s power would be entrusted to her.

Chang Suining did not feel the slightest resentment, nor disappointment. The Sovereign was a ruler, cautious and suspicious until witnessing her true loyalty, which was perfectly understandable.

Everyone has choices. The Sovereign chose to be a ruler. Chang Suining fully understood the reasoning behind such measures.

Yet repeatedly using familial bonds as bait to gain her loyalty—that she could not fully accept.

Moreover, since everyone has choices, she, as a reincarnated person, should also have her own choices. Isn’t that right?

All were free. No one had the right to coerce another. She had never demanded that the other become a so-called mother in worldly terms. Likewise, after repaying the life debt, the “daughter” label could no longer bind her.

They owed each other nothing, no mutual persuasion required. The future would be shaped by each’s own skill and fate.

Chang Suining raised her hand: “Thank you for valuing me, Your Majesty.”

The eunuch smiled and nodded.

Then he inquired about Chang Suian’s injuries.

After showing concern, he asked: “Where is Young Master Chang resting now? Before departing, the Sovereign mentioned him many times, truly concerned, and instructed us to bring medicines and tonics as a proxy visit…”

“He is now resting under the care of a renowned physician, all is well,” Chang Suining said. “However, the physician’s residence is several hundred li from here, and scattered rebel forces roam the area. Gentlemen, as imperial envoys, would be at risk from these forces. It is unsafe to venture there.”

The eunuch’s face showed hesitation.

He could tell that the young woman was conveying two points: concern for their safety, and not wanting to reveal Chang Suian’s location.

Chang Kuo added: “I understand Her Majesty’s intention. Given the current situation, we shall wait until my return to the capital to bring my son to court to pay respects.”

At this, insisting on visiting would seem unclear in intention. The eunuch said: “Then we will not disturb Young Master Chang’s recovery.”

After some small talk, Xiao Min timely added: “Gentlemen, having traveled such a distance, you must be tired. Your accommodations are ready. Rest for now; we can toast and exchange pleasantries at tonight’s banquet.”

Such talk of “exchanging pleasantries” was just formalities. To Xiao Min, the back-and-forth was full of calculation—he felt exhausted listening, as did General Chang and Miss Chang.

After thanking them, the eunuchs departed.

Watching their disappearing backs, Chang Suining and Chang Kuo exchanged a barely perceptible glance.

The empress’ concern for Chang Sui'an, besides appearances of a benevolent ruler, likely had ulterior motives.

Who knew if after seeing him, she might “advise” Chang Stuian to return to the capital for recovery due to the dangerous situation in Jiangnan?

To prevent such possibilities, it was best not to meet.

Moreover, he was at the residence of Grand Princess, and could not be seen anyway.

As soon as the eunuchs departed, Yuan Xiang and Deputy General Jin, among others, crowded around.

“Congratulations, young lady!”

“What young lady? Call her General now!”

“Yes, call her Little General Chang!”

“….”

Chang Suining being granted the title of General of Ningyuan quickly spread throughout the camp, causing an uproar in all directions.

 Chapter 920: Love and Hatred, Digging the Corner (1)

The first batch of fish weighed over a thousand jin. Mo Yan had used a cart to deliver 150 jin to the shop the previous day for sale. She left 120 jin, while the remaining 30 jin were sent to the shopkeepers of the execution and wood trades. The rest was all delivered to the Zhuangyuan residence and the Liu family.

Mo Yan had set the price of the fish a bit higher, charging five more wen per jin than the market price. The customers who came to buy rice from the Mo family’s rice shop were not short of money, and the shop had a good reputation for never deceiving its customers. Thanks to the recommendations from Li Zhong and others, those who liked fish, or had family members who did, readily paid for it.

As a result, the next day, those who had bought fish the previous day flocked to the shop—not for rice, but for the fish.

Fortunately, Mo Yan had been prepared. She brought over all the remaining 800 jin of fish, and within an hour, they were all sold out.

This batch of fish earned nearly twelve taels of silver, which might seem like a small amount—less than half of what the rice shop earned in a day. However, it was extra wealth, and Mo Yan happily tucked it into her purse.

Later, the fish in the pond were harvested twice more, totaling 1,000 jin. The fish were sold over two days, and they were quickly sold out as well. During this time, the birds that had flown away began returning one by one, bringing back the news Mo Yan had been waiting for.

"Without the Zhao family, Fan Meijiao is nothing," Mo Yan said, suddenly understanding. She then sneered, "Looks like I don’t need to intervene. She’s destined to never turn her life around. Fine, let her and the wife of the Marquis of Yongchang's nephew love and hate each other. That way, I won’t get my hands dirty."

"Yes, yes, that’s best!" Xue Tuanzi nodded in agreement, then sighed in a mock-serious manner, "That wife of the Marquis of Yongchang is no good either. What’s that saying again? Oh, right, ‘evil people have their match.’"

The Marquis of Yongchang’s nephew, known as Master Mu, came from the second-tier Mu family. Although they couldn’t compare to the Cui family, they were more than enough for someone like Fan Meijiao. Originally, a man like him could remarry a woman from a good family, even if he was a widower. However, due to an injury in his youth, Master Mu was unable to engage with women. As he grew older, his temper became increasingly volatile and sinister.

To cover up his condition, the Mu family married him to a woman of no notable background, claiming that she was infertile, and they adopted a boy from a collateral branch of the family to carry on the family line. This woman was timid and weak, and after realizing that her husband couldn’t consummate the marriage and that the in-laws planned to adopt a boy, she silently accepted this cruel reality.

Unfortunately, Master Mu’s temper was volatile and violent, and he frequently beat or verbally abused his wife for the smallest offenses. Seeing that her husband was unreliable, the adopted child became her last hope.

But one day, a cold wind took that hope away. The poor woman couldn’t bear the blow and, in despair, hanged herself. The Mu family claimed it was due to illness.

Master Mu was still young, and failing to remarry would lead to suspicion. In order to avoid his condition being discovered, the Mu family’s choice of a new wife was limited. After much deliberation, they finally settled on Fan Meijiao.

First, Fan Meijiao had no powerful backing, and the Zhao family meant little to the Mu family, so they were not afraid of her causing trouble. Second, they believed that a woman like Fan Meijiao, who was discarded for her moral failings, would be grateful to remarry into a prominent family like the Mu family, and thus, wouldn’t dare speak out.

Unfortunately, the Mu family hadn’t bothered to investigate Fan Meijiao’s character and conduct. If they had, they would have never chosen such a troublesome woman.

Mo Yan was disgusted by the Mu family and that man, Master Mu, who didn’t value women. A woman like Fan Meijiao was a perfect match for such a scoundrel. It saved them from harming other good women.

[End of Chapter]  

 Chapter 919: The Imperial Marriage (4)

The words Chu Heng spoke were things he had never said to Emperor Hui'an before. As he watched his father’s face grow pale, the resentment in his heart slowly dissipated. He understood well that being born into the imperial family meant many things could not be helped. There had only been one emperor in history who abolished the harem and devoted himself to a single empress—the founding emperor of the previous dynasty.

Looking at the son who resembled his late wife, Emperor Hui'an hid the pain in his eyes, his voice heavy as he said, "I agree to your request! But you must promise me that if one day he has any ill intentions, you cannot show mercy."

A flicker of joy passed across Chu Heng’s face, and he replied solemnly, "I promise you, Father Emperor!"

---

The Crown Prince’s residence had a lotus pond, now filled with lush green lotus leaves and vibrant pink lotus flowers in full bloom. Yet, standing by the pond, Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu were not in the mood to admire the beauty of the flowers and leaves.

Yan Junyu looked at Xiao Ruiyuan with a furrowed brow and asked, "What does the Emperor truly mean?"

Xiao Ruiyuan shook his head and answered in a low voice, "The Emperor’s thoughts are hard to read. I’m not sure either. My cousin seems to know, but he won’t tell me."

Yan Junyu’s frown deepened. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Apart from this, has the Emperor shown any other signs of abnormal behavior?"

"Other signs?"

Xiao Ruiyuan thought for a moment, then suddenly recalled something that had happened recently. "Not long ago, the Emperor planned to arrange a marriage between Princess Ruining and Xiao Ruiqing, but my cousin stopped it."

Yan Junyu was well aware of the old issues with the Wei Yuan Marquis' family and knew that Xiao Ruiqing was coveting the title of Marquis. Hearing that Emperor Hui'an had intended to marry Princess Ruining to Xiao Ruiqing, his eyelids twitched sharply.

Xiao Ruiyuan noticed his discomfort and his expression darkened. "What are you thinking?"

Yan Junyu took a deep breath, looking around to make sure no one could overhear them, and then leaned in close to Xiao Ruiyuan. He whispered, "If my guess is correct, the Emperor might have grown wary of you."

Xiao Ruiyuan’s expression changed abruptly, his eyes flickering as he fell into thought. A growing coldness enveloped him.

The air, filled with the scent of lotus leaves, seemed to freeze. The once gently swaying lotus flowers now stood still in the silence.

Yan Junyu sighed and patted his friend’s shoulder to offer comfort. "This is just my guess. No one knows the truth, so don’t overthink it."

Xiao Ruiyuan shook his head, his voice low and tinged with a tired rasp. "Apart from what you’ve mentioned, I can’t think of any other reasons."

He had joined the army at thirteen and spent nearly ten years fighting on the battlefield. At first, it was for training, to become stronger, but after the first battle, after killing an enemy who had entered the city to harm a child, his perception of military life changed. He etched the words "defend the homeland" deeply into his heart.

He could not remember how many battles he had fought or how many times he had been wounded. His current status had been earned with his life, his sword, and his blood. He had never entertained the thought of rebellion. He simply wanted to protect everything he cared about.

The achievements of his past were now nothing more than a cruel irony.

Yan Junyu looked at his exhausted friend and, in his heart, felt a sense of injustice. Over the years, he had come to understand that Xiao Ruiyuan was not someone who coveted power or had any rebellious intentions. Yet, after all this time, the achievements he had earned had been enough to grant him a noble title. However, because he carried the title of the Wei Yuan Marquis' son, he had never been granted one. His influence in the military now far exceeded that of many long-established generals in the court.

Even though he had already surrendered his military command, as long as he raised his hand, there would be plenty of people in the army willing to follow him. He had earned the trust of the Crown Prince, and his future prospects were only set to improve. It seemed that the Emperor feared the Crown Prince might rely too heavily on him, causing him to grow wary.

Although he had figured out the cause, Xiao Ruiyuan still had many questions lingering in his heart. He turned to Yan Junyu and asked, "I understand the Emperor’s desire to use Xiao Ruiqing to counter me, but why would he not want me to marry Yan’er? The Mo family is of no significant standing—wouldn’t that be more in line with his wishes?"

This was the part that confused him the most.

Yan Junyu himself wasn’t sure either and speculated, "Maybe the Emperor already has someone else in mind—a daughter from one of his trusted ministers, perhaps."

Having a trusted minister's daughter by his side would make it easier to keep an eye on any possible rebellious intentions.

Xiao Ruiyuan thought about it for a while and found the reasoning plausible. The more he reflected on Emperor Hui'an's actions, the colder his heart grew. Even though he had no rebellious thoughts, he did not want the person he loved to harbor any suspicions. Fortunately, he had met the woman he loved, and fortunately, she loved him in return.

Yan Junyu, not knowing what was truly on Xiao Ruiyuan’s mind, saw his friend’s expression soften and felt a small sense of relief. He said, "For now, just pretend you don’t know anything. With your cousin supporting you, the Emperor won’t rush to arrange a marriage for you. From the way things are going, it seems like your cousin is determined to clash with the Emperor. Perhaps he can really secure a marriage decree for you."

Xiao Ruiyuan nodded slightly but said nothing.

If such a marriage decree had been issued in the past, he would have been thrilled. But now, knowing the Emperor’s true thoughts, he could no longer hold onto any hope...

[End of Chapter]

 Chapter 1733: Feisty and Unreasonable Shu Yu