CHAPTER 416: CHAPTER 416 BIOLOGICAL

When he heard his father speak.

Su Chong felt an overwhelming, unmistakable sense of familiarity rushing towards him.

With memories of the cane and fist, every inch of his skin trembled with familiarity.

What he feared most was that because he returned as the Young Master of Flying Tiger Army, his father would treat him differently.

He didn’t want any changes.

He liked the identity of Young Master of Feihu Village, Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

The title of Young Master of Duke Chong’s Mansion felt too foreign to him.

Watching his son grin foolishly.

Even Marquis Dongxiang didn’t dare approach the ancestral hall of Duke Chong’s Mansion.

His eldest brother’s son was raised to resemble more like his own son.

Su Chong inherited the talents from the Heir of Duke Xian, and learned everything quickly and understood instantly.

But since childhood, he was influenced more by Dongxiang Marquis in personality.

Of course.

Marquis Dongxiang didn’t think resembling him was a bad thing.

"From the moment I took you from your mother’s arms, you were my son," said Marquis Dongxiang.

"Having one more father in recognizing your family roots doesn’t mean I lose a son."

"Your dad is a bandit; when have I ever returned something that came into my hands?"

"Over these years, what you lost is more than this Duke Chong Mansion, and your dad will help you recover it."

"Now, come with me to meet your other grandfather."

For Su Chong, he only had more family, nothing less.

For the rest of his life, he would be the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Marquis Dongxiang arranged for someone to look after the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion and then took Mrs. Tang and Su Jin back to the Jibei Marquis Mansion.

Standing in front of the main gate of the Jibei Marquis Mansion, Marquis Dongxiang gazed at the plaque hanging above the door.

He had returned before with Su Yang, but only in his capacity as Marquis Dongxiang, not as a son.

Fifteen years ago, after the total annihilation of the Flying Tiger Army, he returned.

On that day, the Jibei Marquis Mansion was holding his funeral.

Crying resounded all around.

He was injured all over, and didn’t dare enter through the main gate, so he climbed over the wall.

He only met with Marquis Jibei.

He wanted to rebuild the Flying Tiger Army, but Marquis Jibei told him that after the total annihilation, the court would never have the Flying Tiger Army again.

He was impulsive and domineering in nature; in the Flying Tiger Army, with the Heir of Duke Xian suppressing him, he could restrain himself a bit.

Now, with the Heir of Duke Xian gone, no one could suppress him.

If he stayed in the Capital, he wouldn’t bear hearing those rumors and would want to beat someone up.

Moreover, when the news of his death returned, his fiancée withdrew from their engagement and remarried.

Marquis Jibei feared he wouldn’t withstand the blow and sent him to the border to find evidence of the Flying Tiger Army’s betrayal.

Only by clearing the injustice could there be a possibility to persuade the court to rebuild the Flying Tiger Army.

But no one expected——

This journey lasted fifteen years.

The news of his death in battle made things easier for Marquis Dongxiang, so the Jibei Marquis Mansion did not clarify the matter.

When the son died, Old Madam Shen was heartbroken and fainted several times.

Marquis Jibei couldn’t stand seeing his wife grow thinner by the day, so he told her that Marquis Dongxiang was still alive.

Except for Old Madam Shen, everyone else was kept in the dark.

Because the more people who knew, the greater the risk of leakage.

Even in the Jibei Marquis Mansion, it couldn’t be guaranteed that there was no outsider.

The fact that Marquis Dongxiang was the second master of Jibei Marquis Mansion had already spread throughout the Capital, and everyone in the Jibei Marquis Mansion understood.

Though hard to believe, from Marquis Jibei’s and Old Madam Shen’s attitude, they knew it was true.

So when seeing Marquis Dongxiang and Mrs. Tang, they quickly came forward to pay their respects, calling Second Master and Second Madam cautiously and distantly.

Inside, Old Madam Shen sat on the Arhat Couch.

Young Master Su, the Ninth Prince, and Young Master Shen sat around small stools asking questions.

Young Master Su looked at Old Madam Shen, his little face unbelievably serious, "Grandmother, is my dad really, truly your biological son?"

"You’ve asked several times," Young Master Shen said.

"I can’t believe it," Young Master Su said.

"Why can’t you believe it?" Old Madam Shen said kindly.

"My dad’s personality is completely different from Uncle and Third Uncle, and he doesn’t resemble Grandfather either. Was he picked up?" Young Master Su whispered.

Young Master Su had a look suggesting you can tell me the truth, I won’t tell my dad.

Old Madam Shen couldn’t help but laugh.

Indeed.

The temperament of Marquis Dongxiang was different from Old Master Shen and Third Master Shen.

Talking about this, Old Madam Shen felt guilty, but also gratified.

Old Master Shen was three years older than Marquis Dongxiang.

When giving birth to Marquis Dongxiang, Old Master Shen was just starting his education, and Marquis Jibei was busy with politics and managing his eldest son, so he didn’t have time for Marquis Dongxiang.

Just after Marquis Dongxiang was born, Old Madam Shen became pregnant with Third Master Shen, feeling nauseous and vomiting with whatever she ate, so she had to let the wet nurse take care of him.

And Third Master Shen was born more than half a month premature, weak at birth, so Old Madam Shen worried he wouldn’t survive and cared for him meticulously.

Thus, being neglected by Marquis Jibei and not attended to by Old Madam Shen, beyond controlling the mischievous Marquis Dongxiang, he grew increasingly naughty.

By the time Marquis Jibei and Old Madam Shen realized, it was too late.

His nature was hard to change once formed.

Marquis Jibei planned to straighten out his son’s rebellious nature but hadn’t even managed for half a month when war broke out at the border and lasted two years.

Old Madam Shen couldn’t handle Marquis Dongxiang.

From childhood, being very active, Marquis Dongxiang’s physical condition was far better than that of the well-behaved raised Old Master Shen, and even more so than Third Master Shen.

Whether in literature or martial arts, Marquis Dongxiang was better than both of them.

But the thing he was best at was causing trouble.

With Marquis Jibei away, Marquis Dongxiang caused trouble, Old Madam Shen went to make reparations, and when they returned, she punished him by making him kneel in the ancestral hall while she sobbed.

After several times, Marquis Dongxiang stopped causing trouble.

Not that he didn’t cause trouble, just not letting Old Madam Shen know after committing one.

He would beat you up, and not allow you to tell anyone; otherwise, the next beating would be worse.

The servants, warned beforehand, wouldn’t dare tell Old Madam Shen about his fights outside.

Old Madam Shen thought her son had reformed and became well-behaved.

By the time Marquis Jibei returned from the border, Marquis Dongxiang had become a tyrant in the Capital.

...

Looking at Young Master Su’s curious eyes, Old Madam Shen found it hard to explain.

She couldn’t possibly tell him——

The reason his father’s personality differed vastly from his uncle and third uncle was due to lack of good upbringing?

Lack of good upbringing being finer than meticulous nurturing, that was slapping her own face before her grandson.

Old Madam Shen told Young Master Su the story of "The Dragon’s Nine Sons."

The Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen listened with great interest.

Young Master Su was a bit distracted.

Just as the story ended, Marquis Dongxiang and Mrs. Tang walked in.

The Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen stared at Marquis Dongxiang, then at Young Master Su.

Back and forth several times.

Young Master Su couldn’t hold it in, whispered, "See clearly yet? Do I resemble my dad?"

The Ninth Prince hesitated.

"Tell the truth," Young Master Su urged.

"Not much," the Ninth Prince whispered.

Young Master Su’s heart sank to the bottom.

His eyes turned red.

It’s over.

Maybe he’s not the biological son either.