CHAPTER 407: CHAPTER 407: FAREWELL

Agarwood Pavilion, back courtyard.

Gazebo.

Su Jin was feeding the fish, watching the koi scramble for food.

Xingxing came running like the wind, saying, "Miss, the Eldest Young Master and the others have returned to the Capital after suppressing the bandits."

Su Jin was slightly stunned.

"They returned so quickly?" Su Jin was surprised.

"Not only did they return, but I heard from the maids that the Eldest Young Master also rescued Princess Fu Yun from the Prince Yun Mansion in the streets," Xingxing said happily.

"Miss, should we return to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?"

Xingxing looked hopeful.

They hadn’t been back for many days.

Su Jin put down the fish food and said, "Let’s go, let’s take a look."

Without notifying Princess Nanzhang or the Old Madam, Su Jin went straight to the main gate of the Duke Mansion.

As it happened, she encountered Xie Jingchen at the gate.

Su Jin raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Why are you back so early today?"

The Ministry of Justice had so much work that Xie Jingchen wouldn’t come back before dinner.

At this hour, even lunchtime was a bit early.

Xie Jingchen dismounted from the horse and said, "Grandfather and father have been stationed a hundred miles outside the Capital for two days now, so I’m going to find them."

Duke Zhen had been stationed a hundred miles outside the Capital, not entering the city, which was indeed curious.

It was understandable that Xie Jingchen was eager to go check.

Xie Jingchuan also returned and said, "Is elder brother going to see Grandfather?"

"Just right, I’ll go too."

Su Jin glanced at Xie Jingchuan and said to Manager Li, "Chief Steward Li, accompany them."

Xie Jingchuan’s eyes narrowed.

Chief Steward Li thought the Eldest Young Madam was clever enough.

She was afraid that on the way to meet the Duke, the Second Young Master might take action against the Eldest Young Master.

With his company, the Second Young Master wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.

Xie Jingchuan’s expression quickly returned to normal, seems he was overthinking.

For his sister-in-law to be so nervous, his elder brother must still be the same as before, fainting and vomiting blood when fighting.

The coachman drove the carriage over, and Xingxing helped Su Jin into the carriage, following behind her.

Xie Jingchen, worried about her, left a Hidden Guard for Su Jin to use.

You worry about me, I worry about you, looking after one another with deep affection, enviable to outsiders.

...

Jibei Marquis Mansion.

After the Second Young Master Shen and Third Young Master Shen returned.

Young Master Shen was overjoyed to see his two brothers return.

Young Master Su wasn’t as happy.

Having stayed at the Jibei Marquis Mansion for several days, he knew that the Second Young Master Shen and Third Young Master Shen were sent by Marquis Jibei to Yu State with his father to suppress bandits.

Now that they had returned, it meant his father had also returned to the Capital!

Why did they return so quickly!

Young Master Su bolted back to his room to pack his bags, clattering as he grabbed a bunch to say goodbye to Old Madam Shen.

He didn’t know that Marquis Dongxiang hadn’t returned to the Capital with the Second Young Master Shen and others.

He only knew that returning to the Capital now might allow him to get back before his father.

After all, his father was the main commander of the bandit suppression, bringing seven hundred soldiers back to the Capital, needing to report to the Emperor at the Imperial Palace before returning to the mansion.

Seeing Young Master Su struggling with a pile of stuff, having difficulty walking, Old Madam Shen wanted to laugh but couldn’t, she had never seen such an energetically lazy boy like Yangyang, more so even than his father at the same age.

"There’s no need to rush back like that, is there?" Old Madam Shen chuckled.

"I have to, my mom hits me lighter than my dad," Young Master Su said.

"I’ll go home to take a beating from my mom, then my dad won’t beat me."

Old Madam Shen, "...."

The Shen family members were holding back their internal injuries.

They thought Young Master Su was eager to see his father again, but it turned out he was rushing back to take a beating.

The eagerness on his face made it hard to feel sympathy.

Knowing he would be beaten for running away from home, yet still doing so knowingly, being beaten seems deserved.

After bidding farewell, Young Master Su hurried away.

The Ninth Prince said, "I’ll go with you."

"I’m going home," Young Master Su said.

"I know, I’m going to stay at your house," the Ninth Prince said.

Outside the palace is much better than the Imperial Palace.

Besides, even returning to the palace wouldn’t give him a chance to see his father, might as well stay outside the palace.

However, he liked Su Yang a bit better, although the bandits were terrifying, having spent much time with Su Yang, he felt even bandits were quite okay.

Moreover, with Su Yang leaving, he wouldn’t feel comfortable sticking around the Jibei Marquis Mansion.

Su Yang looked at him and said, "Dare to stay at my house?"

If he dared to stay, Su Yang would be more than happy to have another person to play with.

"Of course I dare!" the Ninth Prince said, tightening his neck.

"Then go pack your things quickly."

The Ninth Prince ran to his quarters, with Young Master Su following to help.

Young Master Shen looked at Old Madam Shen and said, "Grandmother, can I also stay at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for a few days?"

"If you really want to go, Grandmother will let you," Old Madam Shen smiled.

Madam Shen hurriedly said, "Mother...."

But before she could finish her words, Old Madam Shen raised her hand to interrupt her.

"If even the Ninth Prince is going, why can’t Xingxing?" Old Madam Shen said.

"Go help Xingxing pack a few changes of clothes, just stay for three to five days."

Since Old Madam Shen agreed, and as it was her own youngest son’s suggestion, Madam Shen had no choice but to agree.

But she looked quite unwilling.

The influence of Young Master Su on her son was too great.

Becoming more unruly each day.

She feared that her son would turn into a complete rascal upon returning from the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Young Master Shen chased after Young Master Su, leaving Miss Shen staring blankly, tugging at Old Madam Shen’s arm and acting spoiled, "Grandmother, I also want to go to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion to see Brother Su Yang get beaten."

Old Madam Shen, "...."

Old Madam Shen immediately felt a bit regretful for agreeing to let Young Master Shen go to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

At the gate of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Just as Su Jin got off the carriage, the carriage from Jibei Marquis Mansion arrived.

Su Jin stepped up the stairs, while Su Yang, carrying his bundle, ran into the mansion, shouting, "Mom, Mom, I’m back!"

The Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen followed behind him.

Su Jin, "...."

Xingxing, "...."

Su Jin went into the inner courtyard.

Mrs. Tang was pruning the flowers in the yard.

Su Yang was kneeling on the ground with his things.

No one asked him to kneel, he knelt of his own accord.

Mrs. Tang continued trimming the excess leaves, saying, "Get up."

"Mom, you’re not going to hit me?" Young Master Su’s eyes sparkled.

"This beating is reserved for your father," Mrs. Tang said.

"Mom is afraid if I hit you too lightly, you won’t learn a lesson."

Young Master Su, "...!!!"

Beating.

He heard those two words from his mother loud and clear.

Although he hadn’t been hit yet, Young Master Su already felt his whole body aching.

The Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen trembled in fear.

To them, neither their father nor mother had ever laid a finger on them.

Especially the Ninth Prince, who often could not even get a glimpse of the Emperor’s face, let alone get a chance to speak, much less a beating.

The palace maids and eunuchs around him also would not allow him to be beaten.

Because he was still young, if he made a mistake, the palace attendants would be punished on his behalf.

Unwilling to be beaten, the palace attendants imposed many restraints on him, not allowing a single misstep.

Young Master Shen looked sympathetically at Su Yang, but he deserved to be beaten for running away from home; his parents warned him not to follow in his bad habits.

As Su Jin walked over, Mrs. Tang spoke with her, leaving Young Master Su unsure whether to continue kneeling or to stand up; Mrs. Tang ignored him.

Young Master Su plopped down, looking slightly dejected.

All the blame lay on the thief who stole his money and not only robbed him but also sold him into the palace.

If he had thrived outside, his parents wouldn’t have beaten him.

Were he to find out who sold him, he surely would sell them off to toil in some impoverished mountain village!