CHAPTER 206: CHAPTER 206 RUIN

The Duchess of Chong expressed her gratitude to the Emperor.

The Emperor personally drafted the royal edict.

Poor Eunuch Fu had just returned to the palace and was quickly tasked by the Emperor to deliver the edict outside the palace.

After all, he was the Emperor’s favored attendant.

Being favored also meant having more responsibilities.

Duke Chong’s Mansion.

From the moment the Old Madam moved out of Duke Chong’s Mansion to the last maid leaving, it took only a quarter of an hour.

Everyone was gone.

Marquis Dongxiang stepped into Duke Chong’s Mansion.

The servant of the Dongxiang Mansion hung the Dongxiang Mansion plaque up.

Su Chong and his group returned on horseback.

The servant stood on the ladder and asked, "Young Master, does the plaque look crooked?"

"A little to the left," Su Chong said with a smile.

"Now a little to the right."

"Up a smidge."

"That’s good, now come down."

The gilded plaque shone brilliantly under the sunlight.

Prince NanAn and the others exchanged glances.

Was Duke Chong’s Mansion really changing hands just like that?

It felt like a dream.

Su Chong dismounted and walked up the steps.

Seeing them still seated on their horses, he urged, "Come down already."

Prince NanAn swung off his horse.

Inside Duke Chong’s Mansion, Su Chong felt utterly refreshed, saying, "The first time I entered Duke Chong’s Mansion, I felt I should live here."

"Feelings are indeed often accurate," Su Chong said with a smile.

Chu Shun’s mouth twitched.

Was that a feeling?

It was more his innate bandit nature.

The instinct to seize good things when he saw them.

Prince NanAn looked at Su Chong and said, "Have you been plotting this for a while?"

"What’s supposed to have been plotted for a while?" Su Chong asked.

"Taking over Duke Chong’s Mansion," Prince NanAn said.

"I haven’t," Su Chong replied.

"Really?" Prince NanAn was skeptical.

Su Chong said, "My father and mother have always reminded me not to actively provoke people from Duke Chong’s Mansion. I’m so obedient, how could I defy them?"

Prince NanAn, "...."

Obedient?

If he considers himself obedient, then the four of them must be utterly submissive to their parents.

Prince NanAn patted Su Chong’s shoulder and said, "I’ve always felt that compared to Brother Su, we’re just lacking in martial skills, courage, and strategy. But now, it seems we’re also outmatched in shamelessness."

Su Chong, "...."

"The more we know you, the wider the gap seems," Prince NanAn said wistfully.

"...."

Su Chong patted Prince NanAn’s shoulder and said, "Don’t underestimate yourself, I have areas where I can’t match you."

"Such as?" Prince NanAn asked curiously.

"Can’t match your punchability."

"...."

The group moved forward, exchanging playful jabs at each other.

Meanwhile, Marquis Dongxiang and Mrs. Tang finished their tour and paused.

Marquis Dongxiang gazed at the towering Observation Tower, lost in thought.

The servant queried, "Why doesn’t the Marquis go inside?"

"Can’t you see your Marquis doesn’t like the look of the Observation Tower?" Mrs. Tang said with a smile.

"...."

"Level the Observation Tower," Marquis Dongxiang commanded.

"...."

Marquis Dongxiang moved to sit in a nearby pavilion.

The servant led people to dismantle the Observation Tower.

Su Chong and his group were joking, startled by the sound of tiles falling from the Observation Tower.

They followed the noise.

Saw Marquis Dongxiang’s servants dismantling the Observation Tower.

Prince NanAn and the others were taken aback.

"A perfectly good Observation Tower, why tear it down?" Chu Shun asked, puzzled.

Su Chong pondered and said, "Probably to turn it into a training field."

Chu Shun, "...."

Truly bold.

If they’re tearing down such a good Observation Tower for a training field, they better make excellent use of it.

The sound of demolishing walls was not only loud but also dusty.

The group kept their distance.

By the time Eunuch Fu arrived to deliver the edict, half of the Observation Tower was gone.

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Eunuch Fu was quite taken aback.

Having just moved into Duke Chong’s Mansion, they immediately started tearing it down, Marquis Dongxiang truly wouldn’t rest until he infuriated the Duke.

"Eunuch Fu, our Marquis is in the pavilion," the servant said.

Eunuch Fu walked towards the pavilion.

Eunuch Fu approached.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at him and said with a smile, "We’ve just moved, and the Emperor sent Eunuch Fu with a housewarming gift?"

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Can’t he just be a little less optimistic?

Eunuch Fu silently said, "The Emperor sent me to deliver the edict."

Eunuch Fu took the edict from the little eunuch.

As he turned around.

He saw Marquis Dongxiang reaching out.

There was no intention of kneeling to accept the edict.

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Eunuch Fu reluctantly handed over the edict.

Marquis Dongxiang opened it and glanced at it, furrowing his brows, "Did the Emperor mention what would happen if I don’t accept the edict?"

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Does that even need to be said?

It’s all written in Daqi Law.

Defying the edict is a capital offense.

Eunuch Fu had a headache.

Discussing Daqi Law with bandits is probably akin to preaching to the deaf.

"It’s just two courtyards, it shouldn’t bother the Marquis. Why not give the Emperor a little respect?" Eunuch Fu advised.

"Our Marquis doesn’t have much face, what’s given is meant to be reclaimed," Mrs. Tang commented with a smile.

Marquis Dongxiang, "...."

Eunuch Fu, "...."

How does one reclaim face?

Is the Emperor supposed to give face to Dongxiang Mansion?

The Emperor has already done enough to favor Dongxiang Mansion.

Marquis Dongxiang closed the edict and said, "I’ve temporarily accepted it, you may return to report."

Temp... temporarily?

Can one even temporarily accept an edict?

Eunuch Fu felt he was about to bleed.

Never seen such subtlety in reneging.

However, Marquis Dongxiang temporarily agreeing was already quite good.

Eunuch Fu bid farewell and returned to the palace.

Inside the Imperial Study.

The Emperor tossed memorials onto the Dragon Desk, feeling somewhat vexed.

Even though he wrote the edict himself, he felt increasingly uncertain whether Marquis Dongxiang would comply.

Eunuch Fu entered and said, "Your Majesty."

"Did Marquis Dongxiang accept the edict?" the Emperor asked.

"Temporarily accepted," Eunuch Fu said, forcing a smile.

"...."

"What do you mean temporarily?!" the Emperor snapped.

"Marquis Dongxiang seems to want to see if the Emperor will offer him face before deciding whether to offer face back," Eunuch Fu said.

"...."

The Emperor was incensed, "I’ve never seen anyone so skilled at seeking rewards!"

"Isn’t the vast Duke Chong’s Mansion enough for their lavish living?" The Emperor huffed angrily.

Eunuch Fu served tea to calm the Emperor.

The Emperor sipped some.

Receiving the teacup back, Eunuch Fu said, "When I went, Marquis Dongxiang’s people were dismantling the Observation Tower."

The Emperor, "...."

They had barely moved in, and already they were wrecking Duke Chong’s Mansion?

Duke Chong’s Mansion wasn’t his.

The Emperor refrained from saying much, though it piqued his curiosity.

"Why dismantle the Observation Tower?" the Emperor asked.

"It’s said for making a training field," Eunuch Fu replied.

"...."

The Emperor’s brows furrowed.

Something seemed amiss.

"I recall Duke Chong’s Mansion having an Observation Tower built as a training field," the Emperor stated.

"...."

"Your Majesty’s wisdom," Eunuch Fu flattered, "Marquis Dongxiang was dismantling the one constructed after the Old Duke fell ill, built by Duke Chong over the training field."

"...."

How could it be so coincidental?

The Emperor’s brows knitted tightly.

"Your Majesty, that Taoist’s predictions are incredibly accurate," Eunuch Fu marveled.

"You haven’t even asked Marquis Dongxiang for anything, yet he’s already doing what you envisioned."