CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 175: PAINSTAKING EFFORTS

With a single sentence, the Third Madam’s face turned purple with frustration.

The Old Madam looked at Su Jin and said, "The Princely Heir of Marquis Jingguo and others are risking their family relationships to help you, yet you do nothing. Our Duke Mansion has no one as selfish as you!"

Su Jin was speechless.

No one as selfish as this in the Duke Mansion?

She could count them out with her fingers in no time!

Su Jin looked at the Old Madam and said, "Just because I haven’t planned to do so doesn’t mean I’m doing nothing."

The Second Madam looked at Su Jin and said gently, "I believe the Eldest Young Madam has a way to achieve both ends. Why should the Old Madam worry so much?"

This was music to the ears.

Isn’t it better to enjoy old age at such an age?

Why bother with so much?

Su Jin looked at the Second Madam and said, "The Princely Heir of Marquis Jingguo and others help me. Wouldn’t I be heartless to let them sever ties with the Marquis Jingguo Mansion?"

The Old Madam suppressed her anger and said, "It seems you have a plan."

Su Jin smiled faintly and said, "I don’t yet understand the reason for severing ties. I’m not in a position to ask at the Prince NanAn Mansion. Even if I ask, Prince NanAn might not reveal it, so I plan to enter the palace someday and ask the Emperor to help inquire."

The Second Madam was silent, "...!!!"

The Third Madam was speechless, "...!!!"

She herself was not in a position to ask at the Prince NanAn Mansion?

She’s going to have the Emperor ask for her?!

What is the Emperor to her!

Simply treating the Emperor like a servant!

But on second thought, they suppressed their rising anger.

One had to admit, the Eldest Young Madam, whom Princess Nanzhang specially entered the palace to ask the Emperor to grant marriage, was indeed clever.

The Emperor’s greatest desire is to topple Duke Chong.

However, Duke Chong holds military power, and most of the courtiers side with him; the Emperor can do nothing against him.

But if the Emperor asks Prince NanAn why he cut ties with his son?

Dare Prince NanAn admit it was to quell Duke Chong’s anger?

Afraid to offend Duke Chong, will the Emperor still rely on Prince NanAn in the future?

Definitely not!

He can’t tell the truth, nor can he lie, otherwise it would be a crime of deceiving the monarch.

So Prince NanAn only has one choice, which is that he never intended to sever ties with his son; it’s just that his son was going to stay at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for a few days, and the servant sent some clothes over, leading to a misunderstanding by outsiders.

Once Prince NanAn denies it in front of the Emperor, the fractured father-son relationship naturally mends.

And Su Jin, doesn’t even need Guan Bing’s shop, nor does she need to mediate between them.

As for the Emperor’s side...

With the Emperor’s favor for her, would he refuse such a small request?

He might even ask before Su Jin says anything.

The Marquis Dongxiang and Duke Chong are mortal enemies. The more people who stand on Marquis Dongxiang’s side, the greater his chance of winning.

While the clam fights, the fisherman profits.

It’s just these people worrying needlessly, the others didn’t even take this matter seriously.

Imperial Study.

The Emperor was discussing state affairs with the ministers, and Prince NanAn was also present.

After the discussion, the ministers withdrew.

The Emperor said, "Prince NanAn, stay behind."

After the ministers left, Prince NanAn looked at the Emperor and said, "Does the Emperor have any tasks for this subject?"

The Emperor looked at him and said, "I’ve heard you’ve severed ties with your family’s only child?"

Prince NanAn was speechless, "...."

The Emperor’s information was perhaps too well-informed.

Thinking of how the Emperor had sent a group to guard the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, Prince NanAn said no more.

Prince NanAn remained silent.

"Hmm?" The Emperor raised an eyebrow.

Prince NanAn paused and said, "It was that rebellious son who wanted to sever ties with this subject."

The Emperor was speechless, "...."

Eunuch Fu was speechless, "...."

Although passing messages could have errors, wasn’t this error a bit too much?

"How is it that the Commandery Prince wants to sever ties with the Prince?" Eunuch Fu asked curiously.

Prince NanAn sighed, "Those few boys admire the discipline of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion. After discussing with Marquis Jingguo, this subject decided to let them stay at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for training, sent a box of spare clothes, and he misunderstood, thinking this subject wanted to sever ties with him."

The Emperor was speechless, "...."

"That rebellious son misunderstood and hasn’t returned to the mansion," Prince NanAn said gloomily.

The Emperor couldn’t help but laugh aloud, "So, your father-son relationship was mostly severed by him?"

Prince NanAn was speechless, "...."

Eunuch Fu was speechless, "...."

Emperor, rubbing salt into wounds isn’t very kind.

Seeing the Emperor amused, Prince NanAn hesitated to speak.

The Emperor smiled and said, "Speak if you have something to say."

Prince NanAn said with shame, "May I ask the Emperor to keep this matter confidential?"

"Why?" The Emperor raised an eyebrow.

Prince NanAn hesitated, "As a father unable to discipline his son, letting others do it is truly embarrassing. And secondly, the training intensity at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is great. If my wife knew, she would surely be reluctant to agree."

The Emperor laughed, "You’ve put in enough effort sincerely."

Prince NanAn Mansion.

While Prince NanAn was at the Imperial Study, Xie Jingchen didn’t meet him; it was the Princess NanAn he met.

Princess NanAn’s eyes were swollen from crying.

Xie Jingchen got a headache, "Is the Prince truly planning to sever ties with the Commandery Prince?"

Princess NanAn nodded, "I secretly prepared some silver notes for Fengfeng, but the Prince wouldn’t even allow that. He is genuinely angry this time, saying that if Fengfeng dares to return, he will break his legs. If you see Fengfeng, advise him not to come back temporarily, wait until I have persuaded the Prince to change his mind, and then return."

Princess NanAn handed over three thousand silver notes to Xie Jingchen for him to pass to the Commandery Prince.

Can Xie Jingchen take it?

Definitely not.

Xie Jingchen said, "Rest assured, Princess Consort, with the ice shop about to open, the Commandery Prince won’t lack money."

After leaving the Prince NanAn Mansion, Xie Jingchen went to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

At the training ground, he saw the Commandery Prince and others.

They were sitting there, watching people practice martial arts, with a pile of sunflower seed shells on the ground.

They looked very carefree and indulgent.

Only as he got closer—

They turned around.

Xie Jingchen was taken aback.

All of them were bruised and swollen.

Xie Jingchen, "...."

"What’s with you guys?" Xie Jingchen asked with dark lines.

"We just had a round of sparring, minor surface wounds, they’ll heal soon. What brings you here?" Chu Shun said.

"...."

"I just visited the Prince NanAn Mansion and came over to see how you’re doing," Xie Jingchen said.

"What did my father and mother say?" the Commandery Prince asked nervously.

"Didn’t see the Prince, the Princess Consort advised you not to return for the time being," Xie Jingchen said truthfully.

The Commandery Prince sighed.

Xie Jingchen asked, "Are you settling well at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?"

"The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is completely different from other places. I’ve only been here a day but I’m all fired up," Chu Shun said.

"The most important thing is, getting beaten elsewhere makes you resentful. Here, it oddly feels good," the Commandery Prince said.

"...."

"That’s just the Commandery Prince’s opinion, doesn’t represent us," the Heir of Marquis Beining said with dark lines.

Who enjoys being beaten?

It’s not enjoyable at all!

What bothers them the most is Xie Jingchen’s face.

Being dashingly handsome is one thing, we’ve gotten used to it over the years.

The most important thing is it doesn’t have bruises or scars.

Good brothers.

Synchronization is key.