Chapter 441 Have You Ever Betrayed?
As Chang Sui'an called out "Grand Commander", Chang Suining soon saw Cui Jing.
Cui Jing's eyes passed Chang Suining, and after a moment's pause behind her, he suddenly asked her, "Do you want to see the moon?"
Chang Suining reacted and subconsciously looked up at the sky. He looked around for a moment but could not see the moon: "...Where is the moon?"
"He has hidden behind the mountain now." Cui Jing looked at her and suggested, "We can chase him on horseback."
"Ride a horse to chase the moon?" Chang Sui'an nodded first: "Ningning, this is good, go ahead!"
Chang Suining nodded to Cui Jing and said with an interested smile: "Okay, let's go and catch up."
Cui Jing immediately said: "Prepare the horses——"
"Prepare..." Chang Sui'an wanted to tell the soldier to prepare three horses, but Yuan Xiang pulled him aside and interrupted him.
Yuan Xiang pulled Chang Sui'an and turned his back to him, lowering his voice and saying, "Mr. Chang, I have something important to tell you..."
Chang Sui'an was pulled by Yuanxiang for seven or eight steps. When he looked back, he saw that his sister had left with General Cui.
Chang Sui'an was about to shout "Wait for me", but he suddenly looked at Yuan Xiang who was still holding him and said, "Brother Yuan Xiang, I'm afraid you don't have anything to say to me, right?"
Yuan Xiang was a deputy general in Xuan Ce's army. After Chang Sui'an joined the army, he called Yuan Xiang "Brother Yuan Xiang" according to his seniority in the army. However, Yuan Xiang still respected him very much and still called him "Chang Langjun". The two of them talked about their own things -
At this moment, Chang Sui'an had a suspicious look in his eyes and asked again: "Brother Yuanxiang, are you trying to get rid of me on purpose?"
Yuan Xiang was stunned for a moment, then smiled shyly: "I couldn't hide it from Mr. Chang's eyes..."
Seeing that he guessed correctly, Chang Sui'an felt a little complacent and understood everything: "I just thought it was a bit strange. Why did General Cui suddenly invite Ningning to watch the moon? It turns out that he had something important to discuss with Ningning alone--"
“……?” Yuan Xiang’s smile froze for a moment.
Well, he thought that Mr. Chang had finally figured out the truth.
Chang Sui'an was very confident about this "truth" - he was different from others. Others didn't know that the Grand Commander Cui's proposal was just a show, but he was the one who knew it. Others always misunderstood that the Grand Commander Cui had feelings for Ning Ning, but he knew it clearly! But many times, he had to pretend to be "ignorant". After all, if people knew that it was just a show, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor.
Chang Sui'an, who thought he knew everything, conscientiously played the role of "the brother-in-law that the Grand Commander wanted but couldn't get".
Chang Sui'an felt that his insight had improved, and he said to Yuan Xiang confidently: "Brother Yuan Xiang, next time something like this happens, you only need to wink at me, no need to pull me, I will understand."
This is true. His year in the army has tempered both his body and mind, and not a single day has been wasted.
Yuan Xiang nodded in agreement, looking relieved - it can be seen that Chang Langjun now has more insight, although the direction of his insight is wrong, but the information is there.
"Minister Wei!" Chang Sui'an suddenly spoke and looked at the person who came.
Yuan Xiang turned around and saw that it was Minister Wei and his annoying attendant walking towards him.
Looking at Chang Sui'an who was bowing to him, Wei Shuyi asked with a smile: "Just now I saw from a distance, it seemed that I saw Governor Chang here?"
"Is Minister Wei here to see Ningning as well?" Chang Sui'an asked, "Ningning just left with the Grand Commander—"
Wei Shuyi smiled without commenting: "No problem."
Cui Lingan had a good eye for thieves and it seemed that he had spotted him walking towards this place from a distance.
"Mr. Chang, are you free to chat?" Wei Shuyi turned around and asked Chang Sui with a smile.
Chang Sui'an nodded.
Although he and Wei Shuyi did not have much interaction when they were in Beijing, they were by no means strangers.
And Chang Sui'an's greatest characteristic is that he is easy-going and friendly. He can chat with anyone, including street scammers and passing ants.
As the two walked and talked, Chang Sui'an asked curiously, "…Why did Minister Wei suddenly ask about the late Crown Prince?"
"Nothing." Wei Shuyi smiled and said slowly: "Being in the Xuan Ce Army, it is inevitable to be curious about the life of the person who founded it."
Chang Sui'an understood, but said a little embarrassedly: "That's all I know. I just heard father and others mention it occasionally... The early death of the former crown prince is a scar in father's heart, so I never asked him in depth."
After parting with Chang Sui'an, Wei Shuyi returned to the tent and sat down behind a small table, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
He held a top-grade white jade teacup in his hand, slowly turning it and examining it.
After talking with Cui Jing just now, he had accepted this fate and was ready to deal with it to the end. But perhaps because he had made a decision in his heart, he was no longer in a mess, and instead began to calmly think about some details -
At the bottom of the teacup, there was a faint light blue monogram... Later he guessed that the reason why Chang Suining chose to leave the confession of the Zhoujiacun kidnapper in his car when he was in Hezhou was to use this teacup to confirm his identity as Wei Jiazi.
This teacup was given to his mother by Princess Chongyue.
The former crown prince and Princess Chongyue were twins and had a deep relationship. It made sense that the former crown prince could recognize Princess Chongyue's monogram...
However, he always felt that he had missed something important.
This was a hunch. Another point was something he had always wondered about - what was his mother hiding from him about the late crown prince? He already knew about such a big thing as resurrection from the dead. Was there anything else he couldn't tell? His mother said she had sworn to keep the secret for an old friend... Was this old friend referring to the late crown prince, or Princess Chongyue? And...
When “she” first appeared in Hezhou, why did she use the handwriting of Princess Chongyue on the confession? Afterwards, “she” probably didn’t want him to be suspicious, so when she copied the scriptures in Dayun Temple, she deliberately used two different handwritings to make him believe that “she” was just copying Princess Chongyue’s handwriting, including when she later climbed up to Tai Tower to paint, she also called it copying—
But now that he knew the truth, he couldn't help but think, when a person first experienced the "reincarnation" thing, he should be at a loss and defenseless, so why would he subconsciously choose the handwriting of his compatriot sister at that time? If he wanted to force a justification for this matter, he could certainly find a thousand reasons for "her", but no matter which reason it was, everything he could think of seemed a little far-fetched.
The more I think about it, the more "far-fetched" details seem to appear.
The only thing that was clear in his mind at this moment was that the relationship between the late Crown Prince and Princess Chongyue was not just about deep affection, but seemed to be so close that it was a little strange...
This strange answer might very well be the secret that his mother swore to keep, right?
Wei Shuyi continued to unravel the matter meticulously and carefully, trying to recall the rumors about Princess Chongyue.
The eldest princess was frail and sickly, but she was able to kill the Northern Di leader on the battlefield. Some said that she was poisoned, while others said that she seduced him with her beauty... But the latter statement was only circulated in secret. His mother heard it once and was so angry that she almost picked up a knife to chop the door, thinking that it was just absurd speculation against a weak woman.
But even if she poisoned him and then chopped off his head... for a weak woman, and then committed suicide, it would take a lot of courage, right? The princess's ambition to protect the country is undoubtedly admirable, but now that I think about it carefully, it is also a bit "suspicious", isn't it?
As the alcohol started to take effect, Wei Shuyi put down the white jade teacup, leaned back, closed his eyes, and gently pressed his temples with his slender white fingers.
A little drowsy, he tried to picture the appearance of Princess Chongyue in his mind. The first thing that came to his mind was the howling wind and snow in Beidi and the endless snowfields.
There is still some snow in the mountains that has not completely melted.
A white horse appeared on a mountain path, and from a distance it looked like a shooting star appearing and disappearing.
Looking closer, you can see two people riding two horses, one white and one black, and a brown and black dog following behind.
The white horse was in front, and the girl on the horse was wearing a fox fur cape. As the horse's hooves slowed down, she grasped the reins with one hand and pointed to the bright moon that finally appeared with the other: "I've caught up."
Cui Jing, who followed closely, reined in his horse beside her and looked with her at the crescent moon in the mountains that seemed to be very close.
The two men dismounted one after another, and Chang Suining found a relatively flat rock nearby and sat down.
The black chestnut that followed had his tongue sticking out and a cloud of white steam coming out of his mouth.
Chang Suining supported his hands on the stone beside him, stretched his legs straight, turned his head to look at Cui Jing, and motioned for him to sit down as well.
Cui Jing said gently: "No need, it seems clearer if you stand and watch."
Chang Suining stopped persuading him and concentrated on looking at the moon that he had finally caught up with.
The new moon on Mount Emei is as bright as a hook, and the moonlight sprinkles on the unmelted snow, emitting a cold glow like broken stars, illuminating the high places between the mountains clearly.
This place is quiet and peaceful, far away from the hustle and bustle, like a place out of the blue.
Cui Jing turned his head and looked at the girl who was looking up at the moon beside him.
It was a rare moment for her to show a relaxed look. She supported her arms and raised her head, her thick ponytail hanging down behind her. Her eyebrows, eyes and eyelashes were shrouded in an unreal glow under the moonlight.
She sat there, letting her mind wander and blending into her surroundings, like a fairy spirit among the mountain plants that absorbed the breath of heaven and earth to heal herself.
Cui Jing did not break the silence. He stood quietly beside the stone, watching silently.
Until she spoke, her voice was as light and casual as the wind: "Cui Jing, after a war, do you also like to stay alone like this?"
Cui Jing replied: “Yes.”
"I guessed it a long time ago." Chang Suining said, "When you reminded me in your letter to empty my mind to heal, I knew you must do the same."
Cui Jing curled his lips slightly: "Well, I can't hide it from Your Highness."
"But you and I are not alone at this moment." Chang Suining's tone was still relaxed and casual, but with a hint of seriousness: "Cui Jing, you are very different from others."
Cui Jing looked at her and saw that she was still looking at the moon, but her words were directed to him: "With you here, I can be at ease even if I want to let go. I won't be distracted by you. I don't have to hide, worry, or be on guard."
She needs to stay alert most of the time, and letting go means danger, so she feels it is doubly valuable.
Cui Jing's deep and cold brows softened upon hearing this, and a hint of smile appeared on his face: "I didn't know that I was so useful."
His voice was slow and clear, and he cherished every word: "It seems that Your Highness trusts me more than others."
"You are the one who treated me better than anyone else. Even if you didn't tell me many things, I am not stupid—" Chang Suining turned to look at him while speaking, and said, "For example, standing and admiring the moon won't make it clearer. You are just shielding me from the wind, right?"
The mountain wind was blowing from this direction, and most of it was silently blocked by his body.
Facing the young man's star-like eyes, Chang Suining smiled: "You have done so much, if I still don't believe you, wouldn't I be a piece of shit?"
Cui Jing was about to speak, but he saw that her smile slowed down a little, and as soon as she finished speaking, she covered her mouth and yawned.
Cui Jing seemed to notice something: "Your Highness, have you been drinking?"
"Just a glass of fruit wine."
Cui Jing subconsciously asked: "...Do you feel drunk?"
"No, I'm just a little sleepy." Chang Suining yawned again, but still remembered to comfort Cui Jing: "But don't be afraid, even if I'm drunk, I won't attack you for no reason this time."
She explained as if to justify herself, "I have always been a good drinker. Normally, I would just fall asleep after getting drunk. That time it was really a misunderstanding - I accidentally fell into the pool, and in a trance I mistook you for a Japanese soldier, so I attacked and hurt you."
Listening to the gradually drunken voice, Cui Jing was silent for a moment. He discovered that when she showed signs of being drunk, not only did she look like she would fall asleep the next moment, she also seemed to be very talkative.
But he knew how to protect her face, and nodded, "Since you are sleepy, I will take you back to rest."
"Okay." Chang Suining stood up, but his body swayed slightly.
Cui Jing, who was already on guard, quickly held one of her arms.
But she raised her hand and brushed it away: "No need to help me, I can walk by myself."
She looked at the road under her feet steadily and said seriously, "Hold on to this road, it's a little shaky."
“……” Cui Jing was surprised and laughed silently.
He said honestly: "Your Highness is praising Cui. I am afraid I can't help him on this road——"
He should help her.
But she suddenly realized something was wrong and retorted, "What a joke! How could the road be shaking?"
It was obvious that her mind was struggling hard against the drunkenness, and her amazing willpower actually worked. After a moment, she said frankly, "After thinking about it, I think I am drunk."
Hearing her serious self-analysis, Cui Jing's smile deepened: "Yes, I will take you back now."
Chang Suining: "Thank you for your help."
The mountain road was steep and slippery. Seeing that she didn't look like she could walk properly, it would not be safe for two people to ride on one horse when going down the mountain. Cui Jing asked, "Shall I carry Your Highness down the mountain?"
Chang Suining: "Thank you for your help."
Seeing this, Hei Li began to drive the horses actively - this was a new skill he had learned. Recently, Hei Li had been practicing horse herding in the army every day, and the war horses were therefore very restless.
Cui Jing carried Chang Suining on his back and walked as steadily as possible.
Chang Suining leaned on his back, seeming to feel quite relieved. She gradually closed her eyes, and after a moment of emptiness, she suddenly asked in a dreamy voice: "Cui Jing, have you ever been betrayed by someone?"
She added: "I mean, someone you are very close to and trust very much..."
She was about to return to Jiangdu, and there was such a person waiting for her in the Jiangdu Governor's Mansion.
When in Eastern Luo, Meng Lie had informed her of the news he had found out, and she was roughly sure of it.
This paragraph is not finished yet. I will continue writing half a chapter tomorrow. Good night~ (End of this chapter)
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