CHAPTER 405: CHAPTER 405: CHARISMA

It was night.

The moon was bright and stars sparse, with a gentle breeze blowing.

Aunt Xue stayed in the small courtyard, looking at the bright moon in the sky, her eyes dark and unclear, making it difficult to guess what she was thinking.

As the night deepened, everyone went to rest, leaving the small courtyard particularly quiet.

In this quiet night, two servants quietly sneaked in.

A maid noticed them, looking at Aunt Xue.

A flash of coldness appeared in Aunt Xue’s eyes.

She had just moved out of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, and they couldn’t wait to harm her.

Then she would ensure they wouldn’t return!

The two figures swiftly climbed up the tree.

The servant approached the room, thinking they were inside, and blew in the sedative.

However, as soon as it passed through the window screen, there was a pain in their necks and they fainted.

Aunt Xue switched the direction of the sedative tube and then pushed the door into the room.

She loosened her clothing and laid down to rest, while the maid shouted for help, waking up the resting maids and servants.

Tying the two servants up with rope.

Upon investigating why the servants had fainted, everyone had a helpless expression.

They had never seen such foolish servants before.

Even managed to use the sedative tube in reverse.

Unable to knock out Aunt Xue, they ended up knocking themselves out.

Aunt Xue was quite frightened, sitting on the bed shedding tears, a vulnerable sight like pear blossoms in rain, evoking pity.

The maid then said, "Tie them up tightly, don’t let them escape!"

"Don’t worry, they won’t get away," the servant replied.

The next day, after Third Master left morning court to handle affairs at the government office, a servant went to lodge a complaint.

Third Master immediately rushed to the small courtyard.

Aunt Xue sobbed, "I think it’s better for you to let me leave, staying here any longer, I’m afraid my life would be in danger."

Third Master was both angry and distressed.

Strictly interrogating the two servants, after thirty blows, they disclosed Third Madam’s involvement.

To offend Third Master’s beloved was a grave taboo for him.

Waiting until the affairs at the government office were completed, upon returning, Third Master directly confronted Third Madam.

This time, the commotion was quite significant.

Third Master slapped Third Madam.

If not for Old Madam’s intervention, Third Madam would have been sent back to her parental home.

Old Madam said to Third Master, "This time, I was the one who instructed Third Madam to send people to kill Aunt Xue, just didn’t expect the people sent to be so foolish!"

Third Madam choked with anger, almost suffocating.

Of course, it wasn’t Old Madam who instructed Third Madam to kill someone.

These words were just to give both Third Master and Third Madam a way out.

Third Madam sending someone to kill a concubine was out of jealousy.

Third Master wanting to divorce Third Madam was an act of favoring a concubine over a wife.

Both were at fault.

Old Madam offered Third Madam an excuse, taking the blame for killing Aunt Xue herself, Third Master clearly knew Old Madam just wanted to make a big issue into a small one, how could he blame Old Madam?

Moreover, Old Madam openly helped Third Madam, while actually scolding her for being stupid.

Sending two servants who couldn’t even handle sedatives properly to kill Aunt Xue, being this foolish yet daring to show jealousy, even wanting to return to her parental home.

If those two servants were present, Third Madam would have had the urge to skin them alive.

The task was not accomplished, and she ended up being slapped by Third Master because of it.

Third Master had used enough force that she could taste blood in her mouth.

Old Madam looked at Third Master and said, "The Duke is already a hundred miles away, I don’t want him to return to the Capital joyously after a victory to have his mood soured by trifles from your family."

"The Duke certainly doesn’t have a temper as good as mine, don’t you have any sense of which matters are more important?!"

After reprimanding Third Master, it was Third Madam’s turn.

Old Madam looked at her, "If you want to return to your own family now, I won’t stop you, but if you go back, don’t come back again!"

After delivering a blow to each of them, Mrs. Wang helped Old Madam to leave.

The maids and older female servants all left, leaving only Third Master and Third Madam in the room.

Third Madam sat on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch crying, filled with grievances.

Third Master, both in heart and eyes, was full of disdain, but with the Duke’s return to the Capital imminent, even if pretending, they had to feign marital harmony for half a month.

The Duke led the army, escorting King Beimo back to the Capital, just a hundred miles from the Capital City.

At the pace of the army, they would reach the Capital by the afternoon the next day.

However, unexpectedly, the army was stationed a hundred miles away.

For an entire day, they didn’t move an inch.

This was unprecedented.

To capture King Beimo alive.

Such a great merit.

The Emperor would surely lead officials to the outskirts of the city to welcome their triumphant return and take a look at how the arrogant King Beimo, who provoked the chaos, appeared in utter disgrace.

The palace was busy preparing a feast to welcome Duke Zhen and the generals, bustling with activity.

The citizens of the Capital were also excited to welcome the triumphant return of the Duke.

Knowing well that everyone was waiting for his return to the Capital, Duke Zhen remained stationed outside the Capital.

When the news came back, everyone frowned, unable to decipher Duke Zhen’s intentions.

The Emperor dispatched someone to urgently inquire, who returned with a report, "Your Majesty, Duke Zhen said it’s not yet time to return to the Capital, asking you to be patient and wait a bit longer."

"Not yet time to return to the Capital?" The Emperor knotted his brows tightly.

They were already at the Capital, how could it not be the time to return?

When would it be time to return to the Capital?

Duke Zhen and Old Master Xie achieved great merit, if they felt returning to the Capital after a day or two was more fitting, the Emperor would certainly comply with their wishes.

Upon a triumphant return, the Emperor would welcome them at the outskirts of the city, but not outside a hundred miles.

As a king, rewarding meritorious subjects was necessary, but as a subject, defending the country and sharing the monarch’s burdens was also their duty.

The Emperor needed to grasp this balance well; too much or too little was inappropriate.

However, while Duke Zhen’s army was delayed in returning, Su Chong and others had returned to the Capital ahead of time.

They had chased on horseback, and returned riding back to the Capital, leaving the army behind.

After taking a good rest at the post station and regaining their spirits, they returned to the Capital.

A group of eight, riding horses into the city, radiating as much ostentation as possible.

The two young masters from the Jibei Marquis Mansion didn’t like ostentation, or perhaps they were too tired, their exhausted bodies only longed for a few days of sleep.

Second Young Master Shen said, "We’ll return to the Jibei Marquis Mansion first."

Su Chong replied, "I’ll host a gathering another day."

Second Young Master Shen, "...."

Third Young Master Shen, "...."

They hoped Brother Su’s claim of hosting a gathering wasn’t one where he invites and others pay.

Upon reaching the bustling streets, Prince NanAn couldn’t wait to dismount his horse; after a trip out of the Capital, he realized how prosperous the Capital was.

Yet, despite the hardships faced during this training journey, the training results were very evident.

Now he only felt filled with strength.

Even his charm seemed to have increased considerably.

It was time to pick out some gifts, head back and flaunt them, though they should’ve been bought outside the Capital, firstly due to lack of time, secondly because goods weren’t as exquisite as in the Capital.

If they weren’t to his taste, how could they match the dignity of his esteemed mother, the concubine?

Hmm.

Prince NanAn chose a jade hairpin, becoming more satisfied the more he looked at it.

Walking towards the Drunken Immortal Pavilion with the Heir of Marquis Beining, then a veiled girl ran over.

Perhaps she was running too fast and directly collided into Prince NanAn’s embrace.

The girl lowered her head and quickly ran off again.

Prince NanAn was quite pleased, patting his considerably tanned face saying, "Indeed, my charm as a Commandery Prince has grown, someone already threw herself into my arms so quickly."

Zhao Xu held his forehead.

The refined and elegant Zhao Xu, too, learned to pour cold water on someone.

"Your Highness, Commandery Prince, your jade pendant was stolen."