CHAPTER 419: CHAPTER 419: INSTIGATION

Duke Chong’s Mansion.

Duke Chong leaned against the large pillow, his face pale, his breath like a thread.

Ever since Marquis Dongxiang entered the Capital City, he has been both physically and mentally wounded.

This time, the return of the Flying Tiger Army and Su Chong dealt him another heavy blow.

After vomiting blood at the city gate, he still dragged his weary body to the welcoming banquet, forcing a smile, and every word he spoke against his will was like stabbing himself with a knife.

He couldn’t even let people know he was ill.

Tomorrow, he still had to attend the morning court as usual.

He, the dignified Duke Chong, was actually forced to such a degree!

He never expected that over all these years, Duke Zhen had always known that Marquis Dongxiang was still alive, secretly training the Flying Tiger Army!

For so many years, the court had been dispatching troops to suppress bandits, which was essentially providing money and grain to the Flying Tiger Army!

The more he thought, the angrier Duke Chong became.

Blood surged in his chest, and a mouthful of blood was spat out.

Old Madam of Duke Chong walked in and happened to witness this scene, as her maid helped her walk over with a cane, she harshly reprimanded Duke Chong.

Fifteen years ago, they couldn’t defeat him, let alone fifteen years later.

Duke Chong looked disheveled with blood at the corner of his mouth.

Old Madam of Duke Chong coldly said, "Where is the Eldest Young Master now, why hasn’t he come to serve me tea yet?"

She was the Old Madam of Duke Chong’s Mansion, the nominal grandmother of Su Chong.

Since Su Chong had recognized his ancestors and returned to the clan, he should have come to bow and serve her tea.

Yet, she waited and waited, and Su Chong still had not come.

A servant came in saying, "The Eldest Young Master went to Jibei Marquis Mansion with Marquis Dongxiang."

Old Madam of Duke Chong’s face was as cold as frost.

The biggest mistake they made over these years was not destroying Jibei Marquis Mansion.

Consort Yun has been dead for so many years, yet she’s still the Emperor’s precious one.

Her daughter snatched the Emperor’s heart from Marquis Jibei’s niece.

Her son was beaten by Marquis Jibei’s son.

It happened fifteen years ago, and it’s still happening fifteen years later!

It wasn’t only Duke Chong who wanted to cough blood from anger; Old Madam of Duke Chong also felt like spitting blood from her fury.

Eighteen years ago, Duke Chong lived under the shadow of the Heir of Duke Xian.

Everyone only remembered the Heir of Duke Xian, but who ever thought of him?!

Eighteen years later, his son followed in his footsteps, being suppressed just as he was back then!

This time, Marquis Dongxiang returned to the capital with Duke Chong as his target.

Initially, he was just a bandit, and the Emperor’s favor was merely to use him to suppress Duke Chong.

Now he is the second master of Jibei Marquis Mansion, the Deputy General of the Flying Tiger Army, the Emperor’s good brother!

It’s clear Duke Zhen is siding with Marquis Dongxiang.

I’m afraid the entire court is now weighing their future path.

This rise and fall.

Now it’s no longer about them taking down Marquis Dongxiang, but worrying about Marquis Dongxiang taking them down.

Thinking of something, Old Madam of Duke Chong’s expression changed, blurting out, "The Crown Prince’s position!"

Duke Chong also realized.

He instructed Dark Guard Li Zhong, "Don’t let the Eldest Prince return to the Capital alive!"

...

In front of Duke Mansion’s gates.

A carriage slowly came to a stop.

Xie Jingchen got off the carriage, then helped Su Jin down.

The two walked side by side into the Duke Mansion.

The maids and servants of the Duke Mansion completely changed their gaze toward Su Jin.

In the past, there was always a hint of disdain for bandits in their eyes, but now, even with a lantern, one couldn’t find a trace of it.

Her father, Marquis Dongxiang, was no longer a bandit, so how could she be?

Su Jin walked towards the inner courtyard with composure.

Only that it was so quiet around her, making her somewhat uncomfortable.

She stopped in her tracks.

The Xingxing behind her didn’t notice and bumped her head into her.

Su Jin turned back to see Xingxing rubbing her nose.

"Why so absent-minded?" Su Jin asked.

Xingxing didn’t reply.

"Is something on your mind?" Su Jin asked again.

Xingxing looked at Su Jin, "Miss, now that the Marquis is not a bandit, can we still rob others in the future?"

Su Jin, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

Su Jin had a dark expression on her face.

Don’t tell her that this maid has been silent half a day, stuck on this thought.

Just as Su Jin expected, Xingxing was troubled.

Robbing others was an obsession for Xingxing.

She admired Marquis Dongxiang the most, robbing whomever he wanted, with no one escaping.

But even in her dreams, Xingxing never imagined that her Marquis was a famous general before becoming a bandit.

Even if he became a bandit, it was for the purpose of rebuilding the Flying Tiger Army.

Completely different from her idea of robbing to fill one’s stomach.

Only bandits could rob others, now they weren’t bandits, naturally, they couldn’t rob.

But she enjoyed robbing others.

Now, she didn’t know what to do.

Su Jin saw through Xingxing’s little thought at a glance.

She chuckled and said, "Since we are not bandits, we can’t rob others without any reason."

"But if someone dares to fall into our hands, then we will rob as usual!"

Xingxing’s frowned brows relaxed, and her delicate face blossomed into a bright smile.

Ever since the lady got married, she hasn’t proactively robbed others; they all came to her willingly.

There will still be many opportunities to rob in the future.

Su Jin and Xie Jingchen went to Qihao Hall.

In the main hall, it was full of people.

When Su Jin entered the room, Duke Zhen was coughing, and the Old Madam asked, "Why are you coughing constantly?"

"It’s nothing," Duke Zhen replied.

Su Jin stepped forward to pay her respects to Duke Zhen.

Princess Nanzhang said, "I thought you would stay at Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion for dinner and not return."

Su Jin didn’t speak.

Third Madam looked at Su Jin from head to toe and back, saying, "No wonder I always thought Eldest Young Madam didn’t look like a bandit. Not at all inferior to the noble girls of the Capital, it turns out she really is a noble girl. We indeed misjudged."

"Back then when Marquis Dongxiang looked down on Eldest Young Master for being weak, fainting with anger, refusing to accept the Imperial decree for marriage, thankfully, the sister-in-law insisted, allowing Eldest Young Madam to marry in for Chenchen."

"The granddaughter of Marquis Jibei, how could she be unlucky? Even the Imperial Physician told us to prepare for Chenchen’s funeral, and this auspicious marriage really turned things around."

"Eldest Young Madam is truly a blessing for our Duke Mansion."

Swoosh.

A sharp blade directly stabbed toward Princess Nanzhang’s chest.

Princess Nanzhang’s face turned purple.

She coldly stared at Third Madam with her eyes.

If she didn’t speak, no one would think she was mute!

Princess Nanzhang sneered coldly, "I wouldn’t have thought so much if you hadn’t spoken, Third Sister-in-law."

"The lord captured King Beimo alive, such a great achievement, with the Emperor leading officials out of the city to welcome him, all the glory was given to Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion. Back then, Marquis Dongxiang refused to marry his daughter, almost argued with me at the table, if I wasn’t firm, who knows what would have become of the Eldest Young Master by now," Princess Nanzhang said.

Princess Nanzhang deliberately tried to provoke Duke Zhen.

Unfortunately, she picked a big rock.

Unmoved.

Duke Zhen didn’t show any anger; instead, he reprimanded Princess Nanzhang.

"You only saw the glory of the army’s victorious return, but not the struggles of Marquis Dongxiang rushing to save Chenchen’s father, losing his life, what’s the point of capturing King Beimo alive?"

"What I said at the banquet wasn’t just polite talk, without the Flying Tiger Army, capturing King Beimo wouldn’t be possible."

"Such concession talk, don’t mention half a word in the future," Duke Zhen said sternly.

Princess Nanzhang bit her silver teeth so hard that they loosened.

"We’ll talk about these matters later, let’s first serve the tea," Old Madam said with a kind smile.

With a kindly look, she could even outshine Old Madam Shen of Jibei Marquis Mansion.

Su Jin, "...."

She silently rubbed the goosebumps on her arms.