The girl stood with her hands behind her back, half her face hidden in the shadows of the night. Only her eyes and brows were dyed silver by the moonlight, sharp as a jade blade. Her posture was elegant yet aloof, so utterly untouchable that it forbade anyone from looking directly at her. In that moment, she exuded the majestic aura of a sovereign. Housekeeper Xu was instantly rooted to the spot, his mind going completely blank.
"Changying?" Ming Chengli was also stunned. Once he recovered his wits, he immediately took off his coat and draped it over Shi Changying’s shoulders. "It’s already autumn. Why didn’t you wear a jacket when you went out? You... you need to take better care of yourself!"
Shi Changying’s hand paused. Her eyelashes drooped for a few seconds before lifting again. Without a word, she grabbed Housekeeper Xu by the collar. Her slender fingers moved upward, locking around his throat and squeezing tighter bit by bit. As the air grew thin, Housekeeper Xu’s face turned a bruised purple. His eyes rolled back; he was clearly on the verge of suffocating.
"Changying!" Ming Chengli spoke up just in time, looking at her with tear-filled eyes. "Murder is against the law."
"Tsk." Finding it all too bothersome, Shi Changying released her grip and stared down at him. "Scram."
Housekeeper Xu collapsed to the ground, gasping violently for air, his eyes brimming with terror. His body was limp. Using both his hands and feet, he barely managed to crawl forward a couple of paces before regaining enough strength to stand up and flee in a panic.
Shi Changying glanced at Ming Chengli. "What are you crying for? Come help me bring these things inside."
Ming Chengli immediately stopped his tears. Only then did he notice the pile of takeout boxes on the ground. He blinked in surprise. "Changying, what is this?"
"I met a kind-hearted person on the way. He treated me to a meal and gave me another to go." Shi Changying narrowed her eyes, her demeanor relaxed. "Eat up, old man. I brought this back especially for you. You need a full stomach to have the strength to kill—oh, I mean, work."
"What kind-hearted person? Changying, you’re too naive! Why would anyone treat you to a meal for no reason?" Ming Chengli instantly panicked. "Hurry, let’s go find a doctor to pump your stomach!"
Shi Changying raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn’t they? Treating me to a meal is their honor."
"Changying, you haven’t stepped into society yet. You don’t know how sinister people can be," Ming Chengli said earnestly. "Innocent little girls like you are the easiest to deceive. I only have one daughter, so I have to raise you carefully."
"Innocent and easy to deceive? You’ve misunderstood me." Shi Changying offered a faint, enigmatic smile. "By the way, if you really must change your surname, you can take mine."
Ming Chengli failed to process this for a moment. "Huh?"
"From now on, your name is Shi Chengli," she stated flatly.
Ming Chengli was left speechless.
Shi Changying opened her history book again and shot him a glance. "What, you’re unwilling?" Being bestowed the imperial surname by her was an immense honor; anyone else would have knelt to receive the decree.
"This is the surname I chose for myself," Ming Chengli huffed, carrying a rare hint of pride. "My ’Ming’ stands for the sun and the moon. As long as the sun and moon remain in Jiuzhou, the Huaxia nation will endure forever."
Shi Changying’s expression shifted slightly.
A quietness settled over the room. Feeling a bit awkward, Ming Chengli told the truth. "Sigh, it’s mainly because I’ve gone by this name for over forty years. Suddenly changing it would be hard to get used to. But if the Xu Family forces me to change it... I suppose I’ll just have to agree."
"Then tell them that I don’t agree to you changing your surname," Shi Changying said coldly. She paused for a second before suddenly asking, "Then why didn’t you let me take the surname Ming?"
"Well, that’s obviously because my daughter is destined for greatness, with an immeasurable future ahead of her!" Ming Chengli said smugly. "So my daughter’s surname has to be formidable, too. In my eyes, only the imperial surname of the Xuan Dynasty is worthy of you."
Shi Changying deeply appreciated her father for this. "You have good taste."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the hospital room door. Ming Chengli immediately went on high alert. He wondered if a Xu Family member had returned. He told Shi Changying to stay put while he went to open the door.
To Ming Chengli’s surprise, waiting outside were several young men in tailcoats, carrying several exquisite gift boxes.
"I am Mr. Huo’s assistant. This is a special delivery from Mr. Huo for Miss Shi. Knowing that Miss Shi couldn’t have eaten well tonight, Mr. Huo specifically ordered a banquet from Man Tingfang and sent me to deliver it." One of the men smiled. "It’s all prepared with top-tier ingredients, straight from the head chef’s menu. It definitely won’t disappoint Miss Shi."
Ming Chengli looked blank. "Which Mr. Huo?"
"Mr. Chengli, you jest! Now that you’ve returned, how could you not know that Young Master Yunxing is meant to be Miss Shi’s fiancé?" the assistant replied. "Mr. Huo gave us special instructions, so we wouldn’t dare neglect Miss Shi. Mr. Huo also said that if Miss Shi ever wants to eat in the future, she just needs to find him, and it’s his treat."
He paused, then added, "How could a meal bought by a stranger compare to one from Mr. Huo? Don’t you agree?"
Through the crack in the door, the assistant caught sight of the girl reading at the table. At this moment, Shi Changying was very quiet. Her side profile was as luminous as the moon, breathtakingly beautiful—a beauty that did not seem to belong to the mortal realm.
It was no wonder Mr. Huo had taken a fancy to her the moment she arrived in Jianghuai. He just didn’t know what would happen if tonight’s events reached the ears of Xu Zhao Yu’s daughter, Xu Shuyu.
"I won’t disturb your rest with Miss Shi any longer." Reeling in his thoughts, the assistant smiled again. "Farewell."
After closing the door, Ming Chengli felt the whole situation was somewhat surreal. He asked in a daze, "Changying, do you know Huo Yunxing?"
It was only after the Xu Family found him that he learned about the political landscape of Jianghuai. The Xu Family, the Huo family, and the Meng Family shared a tripartite balance of power, but even combined, they were not qualified to be compared to the Pei Family.
Shi Changying kept her eyes glued to her book and asked casually, "Who is Huo Yunxing?"
Ming Chengli had no words. He stared at the two tables of equally exquisite food. After a few seconds, unable to resist the temptation of a good meal, he silently picked up his chopsticks.
It was already ten o’clock when Old Sir Xu and Old Madam Xu returned to the Old Xu Mansion.
"Old Sir, your message has been delivered," Housekeeper Xu said respectfully. "It’s just that Miss Changying... she didn’t agree."
"She didn’t agree? What right does she have?" Old Madam Xu was so angry her chest ached. "We never should have brought them back!"
"Enough, what’s done is done. Don’t cry over spilled milk," Old Sir Xu said, raising his hand. "Did they make any moves today? They didn’t cause any trouble, did they?"
Housekeeper Xu hesitated for a moment before saying, "No major moves, but... Miss Changying went to Sui Jin Cave today."
"Sui Jin Cave?" Old Sir Xu could no longer keep his composure. "Going to such a filthy, disreputable place—how does she expect outsiders to view the Xu Family? Did anyone else see her?"
"Yes." Housekeeper Xu stammered, "M-Mr. Huo and the two young masters of the Meng Family happened to be there as well."
"She was actually seen by Yun Xing?" After a moment of astonishment, Old Madam Xu let out a breath. "I had originally planned to take her to visit the Huo family, but since she has revealed her true colors, there is no need."
Housekeeper Xu didn’t dare to lift his head, and his voice dropped even lower. "Mr. Huo and the others... in order to win the right to buy Miss Changying dinner, got into a fight right there on the street."