CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 205: GRASPING

Duke Chong’s Mansion, main hall.

The silence was such that you could hear a pin drop.

Not a trace of a smile could be found on the faces of anyone, from the Old Madam of Duke Chong’s Mansion to the maids and women.

The young maid who entered the room walked with very light steps and said, "Old Madam, the Duchess is back at Qingfeng Courtyard."

The Old Madam’s brow furrowed.

"Why did she return to Qingfeng Courtyard at this time?" the Duchess of Chong inquired.

"The Duchess found out that the Young Master has lost the Duke Mansion to the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion and is packing up to prepare to move," the young maid’s voice grew quieter as she spoke.

The Duchess of Chong’s face turned a deep shade of purple.

The Old Madam’s expression was as cold as frost.

The expression on Duke Chong’s face, however, had improved slightly.

"How could we forget about our sister-in-law?" remarked the Third Master.

The Old Madam also came to her senses.

"Quickly, call her to me!" the Old Madam urged.

The young maid turned and left.

Qingfeng Courtyard, inner room.

The Duchess of Chong stood by the window, gazing at the sky, her expression difficult to discern.

Two maids were busy packing valuables.

The young maid ran in and said, "Duchess, the Old Madam wants to see you."

"I understand."

The Duchess withdrew her gaze, looked at her two close maids, and said, "What you’ve packed is enough."

The two maids were bewildered, "That’s so little, if we don’t take these things, won’t they just benefit Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?"

"We will come back," said the Duchess.

Will there really be a day to return?

The two maids were not sure in their hearts.

The Duke was very formidable.

But when faced with Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, he had no solutions left, and they no longer had confidence in the Duke.

Even if they could return, if they didn’t take these things, who knew what state they would be in upon coming back, as they were the favorite belongings of Madam and the Master.

The Duchess stepped into the main hall.

She looked at the Old Madam but had not yet spoken.

The Old Madam went straight to the point: "You must immediately enter the palace to beg the Emperor to preserve Duke Chong’s Mansion!"

"You want me to beg?" the Duchess’ brow slightly furrowed.

"Sister-in-law, only you and father can now step forward to save Duke Mansion," said the Third Master.

The Old Duke Chong was bedridden and unable to speak, so naturally could not go to the palace.

Moreover, no one dared to tell the Old Duke Chong, for fear of enraging him to death.

Now, in the entire Capital, only the Duchess could ask the Emperor to help Duke Chong’s Mansion suppress Marquis Dongxiang without damaging Duke Chong’s Mansion’s dignity.

The Duchess furrowed her brows tightly.

She never expected that the people of Duke Chong’s Mansion could be so shameless.

Taking a deep breath, the Duchess said, "Marquis Dongxiang only gave Duke Mansion half an hour to pack up, and half of that has already passed."

"I’m afraid that before I even enter the palace, he will have already brought his men in."

"Are you planning to have a bloodbath at Duke Mansion with the people of Marquis Dongxiang?" the Duchess asked.

As long as they made a move, it would mean they were clinging stubbornly and refusing to leave.

Though she was the one entering the palace to ask the Emperor, their delay was buying her time.

The Third Master was at a loss, "What should we do now?"

Duke Chong was at his wit’s end.

Marquis Dongxiang wasn’t the type to give you time to delay.

He would start a fight at the slightest provocation.

"If you can gamble, you must be able to lose," said the Duchess.

"Once real fighting starts, who knows how many people will say that Duke Chong’s Mansion can’t afford to lose."

"As a woman who doesn’t leave the house, I can disregard my own dignity to enter the palace and ask the Emperor, but Duke Chong’s Mansion must lose with dignity and leave without leaving behind grudges, so that when they return, they can be confident," the Duchess said.

"Sister-in-law, are you confident that you can ask the Emperor for help?" the Third Master asked.

The Duchess looked at him.

"If I’m not confident, is there any way you can avoid moving out of Duke Mansion?" the Duchess retorted.

The Third Master’s throat tightened.

The Duchess turned and left, but after a few steps, she turned back and said, "Do not touch the ancestral hall, and do not disturb the Old Duke."

Leaving these words, she turned and left.

After the Duchess left, the main hall once again fell into silence.

Everyone knew in their hearts that regardless of whether the Duchess could persuade the Emperor to assist Duke Chong’s Mansion, they all had to move out first.

The Old Madam said dejectedly, "Pack up the important things."

The Duchess did not leave the mansion directly but went to see the Old Duke Chong first.

She dismissed the maid.

The Duchess sat beside the bed, holding the Old Duke’s hand, and said, "The Young Master has lost Duke Chong’s Mansion to the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, and soon, they will move into Duke Mansion."

"I’m heading to the palace to ask the Emperor, I won’t let you leave Duke Mansion."

The Old Duke’s eyes glistened with tears.

The Duchess helped tuck the Old Duke’s blanket securely, then stood up and left.

Duke Chong’s Mansion, in front of the main gate.

Marquis Dongxiang sat there drinking tea, completely at ease.

The Duchess stepped out.

Seeing her, Marquis Dongxiang instinctively stood up.

Mrs. Tang tugged his sleeve and pulled him back down.

Marquis Dongxiang was speechless.

Mrs. Tang glanced around and called, "You all come here."

A few men stiffened and quickly walked inside the tea stall.

The Duchess stood at the entrance of Duke Mansion, looking at the tea stall.

Soon, a palanquin was carried over.

The Duchess got into the palanquin.

A quarter of an hour later.

The Old Madam of Duke Chong’s Mansion and the others came out, with maids and servants carrying boxes out.

Imperial Study.

The Emperor was propping his forehead with his hand, his head aching intensely.

Hearing footsteps approaching, the little eunuch said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Fu has returned."

The Emperor looked up.

Eunuch Fu stepped forward.

"How did it go?" the Emperor asked.

Eunuch Fu hesitated.

"The Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has coughed up blood and can’t leave," Eunuch Fu said.

The Emperor was taken aback.

He coughed up blood?!

At such a critical time, he’s coughing up blood?!

"Is he truly coughing up blood or faking it?" the Emperor questioned.

Eunuch Fu remained silent.

The Emperor.

You are so wise.

There’s no need to inquire so clearly, it’s beneath imperial dignity.

Eunuch Fu did not speak.

The Emperor’s mind was clear as a mirror, and he became even angrier.

Eunuch Fu brought tea to soothe the Emperor’s anger.

Outside, the little eunuch came running in, saying, "Your Majesty, the Duchess of Duke Chong requests an audience."

The Emperor’s headache was unrelenting.

"Your Majesty?" Eunuch Fu called.

"Quickly summon her."

The little eunuch rushed out like the wind.

In no time, the Duchess of Duke Chong entered the Imperial Study.

She paid her respects to the Emperor.

The Emperor hurried to say, "Sister-in-law, you may dispense with the formalities."

The Duchess stood up.

The Emperor asked, "Sister-in-law, have you come on behalf of the Young Master who lost Duke Chong’s Mansion?"

The Duchess nodded.

The Emperor looked troubled, "That good-for-nothing, why plead for someone like him?"

"Your Majesty, I have not entered the palace to ask you to help retain Duke Chong’s Mansion," the Duchess said.

Not?

The Emperor raised an eyebrow.

"Then why?" the Emperor asked.

The Duchess looked at the Emperor sincerely and said, "Duke Chong’s Mansion belongs to Duke Chong. No matter who loses to whom, that is not my concern."

"But the Old Duke is elderly and bedridden. I’m afraid the blow of the Young Master losing Duke Chong’s Mansion would be too great for him. I hope Your Majesty can step in to have a wall built at Duke Chong’s Mansion, separating the Old Duke’s residence and the ancestral hall, while transferring the remaining parts to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion."

The fact that the Duchess was only trying to protect a corner of Duke Chong’s Mansion was something the Emperor certainly couldn’t refuse.

"This is a small matter, and I will grant it!" the Emperor agreed.