CHAPTER 399: CHAPTER 399: IN-LAWS

With money in hand, it was time to figure out how to leave the palace.

Young Master Su was knocked out and sent into the palace, and he had no idea whose scheme he had fallen victim to or who had robbed him of his silver.

The Ninth Prince said the palace rules were strict, and getting out was as hard as ascending to heaven.

Young Master Su decided to try his old trick again and planned to set the city wall on fire.

But the Imperial Palace was too vast.

The Ninth Prince waited at the foot of the wall while Young Master Su went to the Imperial Kitchen to get a chicken from the Imperial Chef.

Yes.

The Imperial Kitchen gave Young Master Su the braised chicken that was intended for Consort Li.

However—

The Imperial Palace was too vast.

Young Master Su, carrying the food box, got magnificently lost.

From the foot of the wall to the Imperial Study, Young Master Su asked his way there.

It was clear about the Imperial Kitchen, and the palace maids and eunuchs could give directions.

But the Ninth Prince was at the foot of the wall, and the walls of the Imperial Palace were innumerable.

No matter how detailed Young Master Su’s inquiries were, the palace maids and eunuchs were baffled and helpless.

Young Master Su continued to wander, carrying the beggar’s chicken.

It wasn’t until sunset that he found the Ninth Prince.

The way the Ninth Prince looked at him at that moment was something Young Master Su felt he’d never forget.

Disdain.

Full of disdain.

The Ninth Prince hadn’t moved a step, waiting there for Young Master Su for a full two hours.

He almost went crazy.

When he got impatient and wanted to leave, he feared that as soon as he left, Young Master Su would come looking for him, so he gritted his teeth and stayed.

Young Master Su hurriedly apologized.

"I didn’t mean to keep you waiting so long, it’s just that your place is too, too big," Young Master Su said, his face full of innocence.

He was truly innocent.

He looked down at his shoes.

The big toe part had already split open.

He had been walking non-stop all afternoon.

The Ninth Prince knew his home was large and often got lost himself, so he couldn’t blame Young Master Su for anything.

Young Master Su was so tired he plopped down onto a rock.

He really didn’t have the strength to walk anymore.

Even if he could leave the palace at that moment, he wouldn’t have the strength to do so.

After resting for a while, the two finally returned to the bedroom.

However, upon returning, both were lively again, especially the Ninth Prince, who was eagerly interested in Young Master Su’s beggar’s chicken.

The food box had been brought back, so Young Master Su directed the palace maids and eunuchs to make the beggar’s chicken.

The moonlight was slightly cool.

A group of people gathered around the fire, creating a unique atmosphere.

That night, Young Master Su ate until he was full, and before sleeping, the Ninth Prince didn’t allow him to eat greasy food, so they both only ate a chicken leg.

The rest was distributed among the palace maids and eunuchs.

Yes.

After eating, about half an hour later, the palace maids and eunuchs began to scramble for the toilet.

Young Master Su’s trip to the palace not only brought him the fortune of sharing a bed with the Ninth Prince but also the camaraderie of squatting in the pit together.

From the Ninth Prince to the little eunuch, everyone was affected.

This was no small matter, and the imperial physician on night duty hurriedly came.

Upon checking the pulse, they were all food poisoned.

It wasn’t that someone had tampered with the beggar’s chicken with laxatives, but the chicken was no longer fresh.

The weather was sultry, making it difficult to preserve food. Young Master Su had carried the food box under the sun, causing the mushrooms and other ingredients in the chicken’s belly to spoil, resulting in food poisoning.

The Ninth Prince and Young Master Su had eaten little, only going to the toilet three times before they were fine.

The palace maids and eunuchs were in a miserable state, making multiple runs to the toilet until their legs were so weak they could barely stand.

That night, the Ninth Prince’s bedroom could only be described with one word—

Squalid.

Although it was miserable, Young Master Su had a broad heart, or perhaps he was genuinely exhausted from the day’s efforts, as he slept soundly anyway.

In contrast, the Jibei Marquis Mansion outside the palace was not so peaceful.

Marquis Jibei tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night.

He knew the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was searching the entire Capital for Su Yang.

But after searching for so long, the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion stopped looking.

Marquis Jibei sent someone to inquire at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion and was told that Young Master Su had already been found.

Marquis Jibei was reassured.

As for what happened to Young Master Su in the palace, the Emperor, for Young Master Su’s safety, forbade the palace attendants from discussing it, so the news hadn’t reached Marquis Jibei’s ears.

However, during the day, Young Master Su had inadvertently infuriated Grand Tutor Wang.

Grand Tutor Wang, returning to his mansion, passed by the gate of Jibei Marquis Mansion. The servant, surprised by his early return by half an hour, asked an extra question when greeting a servant from Wang Taifu Mansion.

The servant waved his hand and said, "Don’t mention it, my master was angered unconscious by the young master from the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion."

"Angered unconscious by the young master from the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?" The servant was surprised.

"How is that possible? Isn’t Grand Tutor Wang lecturing to the Ninth Prince and others in the palace?"

"They were in the palace, and it was in the palace that Young Master Su angered my master unconscious."

After the servant from the Wang Taifu Mansion left, the servant from the Jibei Marquis Mansion spread this gossip.

After all, Young Master Su had stayed overnight at the Jibei Marquis Mansion.

Despite being mischievous, he also particularly attracted the favor of the Old Marquis.

A few days ago, the Old Marquis even sent someone to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion to inquire about Young Master Su’s situation.

The servant reported to Marquis Jibei the news of Young Master Su in the palace and having angered Grand Tutor Wang unconscious.

Marquis Jibei felt a pang of worry right then.

Considering Su Yang was in the palace, under the eyes of the Empress and the Empress Dowager, how could his safety be ensured?

Leaving him in the palace was indeed too bold.

Marquis Jibei was uneasy and sent someone into the palace to inquire about Su Yang’s situation.

The servant from the Jibei Marquis Mansion spent quite a bit of silver to finally pry out from the eunuch’s mouth that Young Master Su had been knocked unconscious and sent into the palace, and had been... something happened to him...

Upon hearing this news, Marquis Jibei’s face turned ashen, and he almost toppled over.

If he felt like this, imagine Old Madam Shen.

Catching her breath, Old Madam Shen fainted.

Marquis Jibei couldn’t bear the blow and remained awake all night, restless and unable to sleep.

The main and third branches of the Jibei Marquis Mansion also couldn’t sleep.

Old Madam Shen fainted.

And it was because the son of Marquis Dongxiang fainted.

Previously, the treatment of Su Yang by Marquis Jibei was already puzzling to them.

For the safety of Marquis Dongxiang, ignoring their opposition, he insisted on sending their son to serve as an amulet for Marquis Dongxiang.

Now it was even more because the young son of Marquis Dongxiang fainted.

The more they thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

Madam Shen lay in bed.

Suddenly, she sat up as if struck by a thought.

Old Master Shen looked at her, "What are you doing?"

"Could it be that our Jibei Marquis Mansion and Dongxiang Marquis Mansion are going to become connected by marriage?!" Madam Shen’s face blanched.

Old Master Shen was flustered, "Don’t jump to conclusions."

"Then tell me, why did the Old Marquis’s expression turn so grave, and why did the Old Madam faint when something happened to Young Master Su?" Madam Shen pressed.

Old Master Shen couldn’t find words to respond.

An entire night of insomnia.

The next morning at court, Marquis Jibei was preoccupied.

After much difficulty, he endured until the Emperor dismissed the court and went to the Imperial Study to inquire about Young Master Su’s condition.

The Emperor was slightly surprised at Marquis Jibei’s excessive concern for Young Master Su.

"Why is the Old Marquis so concerned about the son of Marquis Dongxiang?" the Emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, I worry that if this matter is true, it might lead to great disorder," said Marquis Jibei.

The Emperor knew Marquis Jibei was anxious about court politics.

Recalling when he first heard of the matter, it had been enough to make him sweat all over.

The Emperor admired Marquis Jibei’s loyalty and said honestly, "The Old Marquis overthinks, Young Master Su is blessed with good fortune and is safe and sound."

Marquis Jibei heaved a sigh of relief.

To prevent the Emperor from becoming suspicious, he refrained from asking further about Young Master Su.

If he just thought about it carefully, he would realize he was overthinking.

If something had truly happened to Su Yang, could the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion remain so composed?

After leaving the palace, Marquis Jibei felt a bit regretful; he should have met Su Yang and seen him personally to be truly at ease.

Now that he’s out of the palace, going back would indeed raise suspicion.

Marquis Jibei rode back to the Jibei Marquis Mansion, while Old Madam Shen was still unconscious.

Marquis Jibei rode his horse through the bustling streets.

He immediately spotted two little figures in the crowd.

There was no helping it.

They were too conspicuous.

The two had so many things hanging around their necks that it made walking difficult.

One held a skewer of candied gourd, squinting from its sourness.

The two went from one stall to another.

The Ninth Prince found everything fascinating, wanting to buy everything.

To him, getting out of the palace was not easy.

If he missed this chance, there wouldn’t be another.

He intended to buy things to take back to the palace and enjoy later.

Outside the palace was way too much fun!

Young Master Su’s description didn’t do it justice at all.

He wished he could buy the entire street.

Marquis Jibei, "..."