Chapter 34: Former Close Friends
"Minister of Rites Pei Min?! I have no past or present grudges against his family, why would he do such a murderous thing to my daughter behind her back!"
Although Chang Kuo was a bit reckless, he was not a brainless person. He kept cursing and shook his head: "No... This is still wrong!"
Although they were no match for the Cui family, the Pei family was also a prominent family. Why would they want to attack a little girl?
But this just proves one thing...it is indeed a big snake.
"Even if it may not be Pei Min—" Chang Suining took the letter, read on, and thought: "But since this villa is his, the murderer must be someone very close to him."
Yu Zeng probably had the same thought, so he also wrote in the letter a detailed list of Pei Min's close associates and their family members and children.
As expected of the head of the Pei family who was entrusted with the important task of expanding the family, Pei Min was already sixty years old, but his youngest son, born out of wedlock, was only ten years old. This showed that he had many children.
Chang Kuo obviously noticed this as well, and frowned tightly, "This old guy is not idle either..."
It’s hard to say more in front of the child.
"We need to check as soon as possible!" Chang Kuo said, calling Manager Bai, handing him the list, and giving him instructions: "... Be sure to check carefully, and don't miss any clues or suspicious points."
Manager Bai agreed seriously and went back to arrange the matter.
Chang Kuo was also not idle. He took Chang Sui'an to the study. Before leaving, he kindly told Chang Suining, "Now that there is a glimmer of hope, Suining can just rest and recuperate. The rest will be left to father and your brother!"
Chang Suining nodded superficially, but his inner thoughts did not stop.
After returning to her residence, she asked Xier about some of "her" past events, trying to find some clues.
Pei Family...
Chang Suining stood by the window in a daze.
Could it be that Pei knew something? But even if that was the case, why did Pei Min kill Ah Li? And hiring someone to kill someone, this kind of behavior... How could the dignified head of the Pei family resort to such means?
Hiring someone to kill someone is already an unnecessary act, not to mention choosing a scholar like Zhou Ding who cannot be guaranteed to succeed. Although he can be used to put the blame on someone once something happens, if it is said to be Pei Min's doing, it would seem that this family head is not very smart.
All in all, the person behind this has methods, but not many - at least not methods that Pei Min can use.
Who could that be?
Thinking of those densely packed names he had just seen, Chang Suining felt like a tangled mess.
At this time, Que'er walked in with an invitation in his hand.
Seeing his girl folding her arms and looking out the window in a daze, Que'er bowed silently and handed the invitation to Xi'er as usual.
Just as he was about to leave, he saw the girl who was originally facing the window turned back and her eyes fell on Xier's hand: "What is it?"
It was an ordinary two-word question, but it made Que'er inexplicably nervous, and she quickly replied, "My dear, it's an invitation to a flower show."
"Flower show?" Chang Suining's eyes moved slightly.
"Yes, girl, it's spring now, and the ladies of various mansions have started to hold flower-viewing banquets." Xier said, "But the girl has never liked to join in the fun, so she put these invitations aside when they were delivered. There were two a few days ago."
When these ladies sent invitations, they were very particular about treating everyone equally. Although their daughters were not among the best among the noble ladies in the capital, they were also ranked among the top, so they were never left out when the other mansions sent invitations.
But the girls seldom went there, and these invitations were always just a formality.
"Pick the one that is the most well-organized and lively." The girl at the window said, "We'll go there then."
Xier was stunned, but she didn't ask any more questions. She just said "yes", looked at the invitation in her hand, and said, "If we talk about the most lively one, this one might be it."
Chang Suining stretched out his hand.
Xier then handed over the note.
This flower post is extremely beautifully made, with water-ripple pattern paper fumigated with precious fragrance, and the hairpin-flower calligraphy is neat and beautiful.
But these are not the main point, the main point is the person who posted the message——
"The Lady of Duke Zheng's garden flower viewing banquet is extremely famous and has been held for many years. Almost all the powerful and wealthy families in the capital will go to the banquet whenever they have time."
Xier was afraid that her daughter did not remember the wife of Duke Zheng or the flower-viewing banquet, so she explained.
"..." Chang Suining closed the invitation silently, with a complicated sigh in his heart.
How could she forget her only close friend in the past?
It's time to see old friends again.
——With this small body that is seven years younger than she was when she died, but a whole generation younger than her former peers.
…
The day before the flower-viewing garden banquet of the wife of Duke Zheng was the day when Chang Kuo and Cui Jing went to the palace to meet the emperor.
The army returned victoriously, and in the Hanyuan Palace, the Emperor of the Holy Ce was very pleased.
Before Chang Kuoren returned home, eunuchs had already delivered cartloads of generous rewards to the General's Mansion in Xingningfang, attracting a lot of onlookers.
Chang Kuo was not at home, so naturally it was Steward Bai, Chu Xing and others who brought the Chang brothers and sisters to receive the reward and express gratitude.
Listening to the eunuchs loudly reading the imperial edict of praise and looking at the loads of rewards that were almost filling up the front yard, Chang Suining bowed his head with everyone else to express his gratitude.
After the eunuch left, Manager Bai asked Chang Suining with a smile, "Young lady, please see if there is anything you like. If so, please have someone send it to your courtyard."
This has been the long-standing custom in the mansion. If we receive rewards or good things, anything that can catch the daughter's eye must be given to the girl. If the girl doesn't like it, she can take it away.
There is no other female member in the mansion.
Chang Sui'an also said, "Yes, sister, take a look to see if anyone is sleeping."
Chang Suining took a look and said, "No need. Since it is a gift from the emperor, we should just take it to the warehouse and store it properly."
Having said that, he left the front hall.
"Ningning, where are you going?" Chang Sui'an hurried to catch up.
"The martial arts arena."
"Ah? You need to practice more again... Why don't I accompany you?"
The brother and sister walked towards the martial arts arena together.
On the road, the girl walked very fast.
Chang Sui'an inexplicably felt that his sister was a little unhappy. Although he didn't understand why, he didn't dare to ask more questions. He could only say something casually: "...In fact, except for this battle with the Nanman, my father hasn't been to the battlefield for many years, and our family hasn't received such a generous reward from the saint for many years."
Chang Suining's steps suddenly slowed down: "Is it because of... your leg injury?"
"I guess so." Chang Sui'an's tone was unusually heavy when he mentioned this old story: "Dad's leg disease was left over from the battle with the Northern Di twelve years ago... My sister was still young at that time and didn't remember anything. My older sister was two years old, so she had some vague impressions, and I also heard Uncle Chu and the others talk about it secretly-"
"I heard that in that battle, my father somehow became bloodthirsty and attacked fiercely on the battlefield as if he didn't care about his life. He refused to listen to advice and led his trusted aides to launch surprise attacks several times. In the end, the battle was won, but my father was seriously injured... After that, the Northern Di Khan surrendered and asked for peace. It was not time to fight again, but my father did not follow the order of the court and personally chopped off the head of the Northern Di Khan in front of Xuan Ce's 100,000 soldiers!"
See you tomorrow! Love you guys!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
