CHAPTER 204: CHAPTER 204 VOMITING BLOOD

All the way back to the Agarwood Pavilion.

The maids and old women automatically took a detour.

Those who couldn’t avoid it showed only the back of their heads, their heads bowed so their faces couldn’t be seen.

From afar, they saw an eunuch entering the Agarwood Pavilion.

Xingxing said, "Judging by the figure, it seems like Eunuch Fu."

"He’s not here to see me," Su Jin said.

If he was here to see her, the maids would have already informed her.

Inside the bamboo house.

Xie Jingchen sat by the stone table sipping tea.

The Hidden Guard approached and said, "Young Master, Eunuch Fu has arrived."

Xie Jingchen furrowed his brows slightly.

Over there, the little maid was already leading Eunuch Fu over.

Eunuch Fu was a favored person beside the Emperor, delivering the Emperor’s commands.

The little maid dared not block him.

Eunuch Fu stepped forward and greeted Xie Jingchen.

Xie Jingchen said, "What brings Eunuch Fu here?"

Eunuch Fu hurriedly said, "Has the Young Master heard about the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion defeating the Duke Chong Mansion?"

"I have heard," Xie Jingchen replied.

He had heard and still remained so calm?

Eunuch Fu said, "The Emperor wishes for the Young Master to handle this matter."

Xie Jingchen, "...".

Young Master Xie was frustrated.

Does the Emperor particularly dislike him?

Otherwise, why would all the difficult tasks be thrown at him?

If he helped the Duke Chong, does he have a death wish?

Or does the Emperor simply not want him alive anymore?

He coughed lightly.

Xie Jingchen looked at Eunuch Fu and said, "I really am powerless in this matter."

Eunuch Fu also knew it was difficult.

But—

"This is the Emperor’s order," Eunuch Fu said.

"I might cough up blood," Xie Jingchen said solemnly.

Eunuch Fu, "...".

Eunuch Fu and the little eunuch behind him were both stunned.

They were taken aback by Young Master Xie’s reason for refusing the Emperor.

Poor Emperor, finally finding someone he could bully.

But now, even the one he could bully isn’t that easy to bully.

No!

He’s "too fragile" to be bullied.

The "fragile" Young Master Xie looked radiant and spirited.

With that complexion, Eunuch Fu felt that the likelihood of him and the Emperor coughing up blood was even greater.

Eunuch Fu was a clever man.

Xie Jingchen obviously didn’t want to help, and he wouldn’t be foolish enough to use the Emperor to pressure him.

As the saying goes, if you gamble, you must accept loss.

If you can bet, you must be able to lose.

These words were from the confidant of the Duke Chong.

Su Jin came over, and Xingxing joyfully said, "Miss, shall we go see the new Dongxiang Marquis Mansion later? It’s larger and more grand than the old one."

Eunuch Fu, "...".

With just a word, this maid was like daggers constantly falling out.

Not only to the people of the Duke Chong Mansion, even he, an outsider, felt his heart prickled.

Eunuch Fu glanced at Xie Jingchen, saying, "Won’t the Young Madam stay to take care of the Young Master if he faints from coughing up blood later?"

Su Jin, "...".

Xingxing, "...".

Eunuch Fu sighed.

Unable to persuade Young Master Xie to help Old Duke Chong.

He could only do his best.

With one less petty bandit causing trouble, that’s one less layer of salt added to the wounds of the Duke Chong Mansion.

Eunuch Fu took his leave.

Su Jin instructed Xingxing to see him out.

Eunuch Fu hurriedly said, "No need to see me out, I know the way."

With that, he hurriedly left with the little eunuch.

Su Jin sat down and said to Xie Jingchen, "Although you haven’t coughed up blood yet, I can’t help but praise you in advance."

Xie Jingchen, "...".

"The standard was top-notch," Su Jin suppressed a laugh.

"...".

In front of the Duke Chong Mansion.

A tea stall had appeared.

The Marquis Dongxiang and Mrs. Tang sat there drinking tea.

The servants, carrying luggage, looked at the main gate of the Duke Chong Mansion, patiently waiting for it to be vacated.

The steward came over and said, "Marquis, there seems to be no movement in the Duke Chong Mansion."

"Go tell them, I give them only half an hour to move their belongings," Marquis Dongxiang said.

"After half an hour, anything that belongs to the Duke Chong Mansion is my son’s," Mrs. Tang said gently.

The steward went to the Duke Chong Mansion to deliver the message.

Not only with words.

He also brought four columns of incense.

In the main hall of the Duke Chong Mansion.

The Old Madam of the Duke Chong Mansion sat on the Arhat Couch, her face as purple as if she had been poisoned.

The Duke Chong and Duchess also looked displeased.

And the Third Madam was restless.

Yesterday, she shouldn’t have praised the Princely Heir for being sensible and filial; now she couldn’t even scold him a bit for all her pent-up frustration.

A servant ran in and said, "Duke, the people of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion have left word, giving us only half an hour to move out. After half an hour, anything of the Duke Chong Mansion belongs to them."

"Such audacity!" The Old Madam gritted her teeth.

No one dared to speak.

The Marquis was chased out by the Duke’s men.

But instead of becoming a stray dog, he headed to the Duke Chong Mansion.

Third Madam couldn’t help but ask, "Isn’t there any way to salvage the situation now?"

Duke Chong’s face was terribly dark.

The Third Master thought of this morning’s court, his mouth felt sealed over.

If it weren’t for the morning court incident, they could still go to the palace to file a complaint with the Emperor.

Going to the palace now would be a slap in their own face!

It would announce to everyone that the Duke Chong Mansion cannot afford to lose!

In her heart, the Third Madam cursed the Heir of the Duke Chong countless times as a wastrel. Life could have been fine, yet he insisted on provoking the bandits of Qingyun Mountain!

Not only did he fail to save face for Duke Chong Mansion, but he also managed to lose what little face they had left!

It infuriated her!

Taking a deep breath, the Third Madam said, "I feel extremely dizzy, I will head back now."

The maid helped her leave in a hurry.

The Duchess was furious, grinding her teeth.

Dizzy, indeed?!

She was clearly in a rush to go back and pack up!

The maids exchanged glances, retreating quietly.

Seeing the Duke fuming, they knew there was no solution.

The bandits of Qingyun Mountain were known to act as they spoke.

At this time, one should pack up valuables and take everything worth something to avoid letting those bandits benefit.

At the Buddha Hall of the Duke Chong Mansion.

The Eldest Madam sat there dazed, her eyes moist.

A maid rushed in.

The Eldest Madam quickly wiped away her tears and turned aside.

The maid, not noticing her unusual behavior, said urgently, "Madam, we must hurry back to the Qingfeng Courtyard."

The Eldest Madam frowned and asked, "Living well in the Buddha Hall, why go back?"

The maid anxiously said, "The Princely Heir lost the Duke Chong Mansion to the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, and the Dongxiang Marquis’ people are already at our gate. They’ve given us only half an hour to pack our things."

The people of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion at their gate?

The Eldest Madam was somewhat stunned.

"Wasn’t the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion supposed to have lost the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?" she asked.

"That was yesterday’s matter. The Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is cunning; he set a trap waiting for the Princely Heir to fall into, and the Princely Heir got caught," the maid said.

The Eldest Madam’s face darkened slightly.

The maid was anxious as if about to jump, "Madam, please get up quickly, there will be no time if we delay any longer."

The maid went to support the Eldest Madam.

The Eldest Madam coldly said, "I’m not going anywhere."

The maid was filled with anxiety.

Knowing the Eldest Madam’s stubbornness, she didn’t know where to start convincing her. Time was pressing, they couldn’t afford to delay.

But this time—

Before the maid could open her mouth to persuade, the Eldest Madam thought it through herself and raised her hand, "Help me pack up to go back."

The maid, "...???"