CHAPTER 213: CHAPTER 213 GIFT

Regarding Chu Shun and the others’ adamant proposal.

Su Jin felt more than willing but incapable.

Chu Shun and the others sighed repeatedly.

But after considering, Su Jin made a good point.

The world is so unfair to women, demanding they stay behind closed doors. It’s rare to have a place like the Beauty Pavilion, which combines beauty with dining and entertainment, no wonder they scramble to it.

Su Jin supported Mrs. Tang back to the inner courtyard.

The servant carried in the congratulatory gifts.

As soon as the box was opened.

Mrs. Tang’s brow barely perceptibly furrowed before she laughed and said, "Why such precious gifts?"

Su Jin keenly caught Mrs. Tang’s subtle frown.

It seemed her mother recognized this Jade Carving.

But this Jade Carving was a prized possession of the Empress Dowager, her mother had never been to the palace, so she shouldn’t know it.

Su Jin suppressed the confusion in her heart and said, "Daughter is merely offering flowers to the Buddha, this Jade Carving was bestowed to me by the Empress Dowager."

Bestowed...

Mrs. Tang was bemused.

Every time Su Jin entered the palace, although Mrs. Tang didn’t know every detail, she knew the general situation.

She called robbery a bestowment, Mrs. Tang had no objections.

Of course, Su Jin hadn’t given only these.

There was also a ten percent share in the Beauty Pavilion and the pharmacy.

Su Jin handed a Moyu Token to Mrs. Tang and said, "Mother, this token was specially made for you, when you visit the back courtyard of the Beauty Pavilion, you won’t need to pay for anything."

The Moyu Token, there was only one.

Everything in the courtyard was free, and anything bought in the store was at a fifty percent discount.

Mrs. Tang took the Moyu Token and praised Su Jin’s filial piety.

Young Master Su on the side said, "Sister, aren’t you afraid that if Mother goes, the Beauty Pavilion will have no business?"

Su Jin, "..."

Mrs. Tang, "..."

"How dare you talk about your mother like that?" Mrs. Tang glared at her son.

Young Master Su said, "Mother, isn’t that what you think in your heart?"

Mrs. Tang, "..."

"It’s your father who implicated your mother," Mrs. Tang said.

"Mother wants to seize the opportunity of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s relocation banquet to restore her image among the officials and madams."

"..."

Su Jin felt a bit uneasy.

Why did she have the illusion that the more they tried to salvage the image, the worse it got?

Winning back Duke Chong’s Mansion through gambling, forcing the power-holding Duke Chong to move out of his ancestral home, and inviting the officials to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion reloca_lon banquet, she could no longer face her father’s ruthlessness and domineering nature.

Did you think this was the most ruthless and domineering?

No.

Not yet.

If you talk about rubbing salt in the wound—

The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion claims second, no one dares to claim first.

Marquis Dongxiang not only invited the Emperor and all the civil and military officials, but he also sent someone to deliver the invitation to Duke Chong’s Mansion.

Duke Chong’s Mansion, study.

Duke Chong was discussing with two trusted ministers on how to kill Marquis Dongxiang.

From breaking his ribs, seizing his horse and grain, to taking over Duke Chong’s Mansion.

Duke Chong will not rest until Marquis Dongxiang is dead.

However, when it came down to killing him, Duke Chong was at a loss.

Assassins had been sent, but apart from the one who returned with the news, the others died.

Although Marquis Dongxiang attends court daily, since his arrival in the Capital, he has only done one legitimate thing—

Deliver grain.

He robs and seizes, yet Duke Chong has to cover for him!

Furthermore, how to handle this matter is a painful issue for Duke Chong.

The Emperor said that this matter would be discussed later, obviously waiting for Marquis Jibei and the confidant sent by the Emperor to inspect the grain to return before taking further steps.

Unless Marquis Jibei and his men are all killed to silence them, this is difficult to conceal.

"Duke, what should we do about the matter in Wangzhou?" a minister asked uneasily.

Duke Chong raised his hand in a gesture to silence.

The minister, turning pale with fright, nervously said, "Marquis Jibei is almost a royal father-in-law. If he is killed, the Emperor will surely hold us accountable."

Duke Chong was furious, "Do you think I meant Marquis Jibei?!"

Minister, "..."

After a moment of thought, the minister realized it was to eliminate the Wangzhou officials.

Once they are dead, all evidence is gone. Even if the matter reaches the Emperor, it would not implicate them.

The minister hurriedly admitted his mistake.

A knock on the door sounded outside.

"Duke," a servant called.

"Come in!"

The servant pushed the door open and delivered a gold-embossed invitation.

Duke Chong frowned, "Who sent the invitation?"

"It was delivered by someone from the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion."

"..."

"Please invite the Duke to attend the housewarming banquet," the servant’s voice was barely audible.

"..."

Duke Chong’s face was ashen.

The two ministers were sweating profusely.

Never before had anyone been more brazen than Marquis Dongxiang—seizing Duke Chong’s residence and then inviting him to a housewarming banquet. Was he trying to enrage Duke Chong to death and monopolize the court?

Yet, this reckless Marquis Dongxiang not only survived but also gained more prestige in the court.

Repeatedly stepping over Duke Chong’s Mansion to establish authority, now no one dares to provoke him...

There were still quite a few ministers in court who hadn’t taken sides. Seeing Marquis Dongxiang clashing with Duke Chong and clearly gaining the upper hand, they were already eager to align.

Not a good omen.

Looking at the invitation in his hand, Duke Chong thought of the hidden guard sent out to retrieve something who had yet to return, fearing it was more bad than good.

If he feared that the letter might fall into Marquis Dongxiang’s hands, it was unnecessary.

As long as he dared to reveal the letter, he could accuse him of slander!

Just thinking about the successive losses of hidden guards at the hands of Marquis Dongxiang made Duke Chong furious.

Dare to invite him to a housewarming banquet?

He’ll grant him this honor!

Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

After eating the return meal.

Su Jin took a walk around the garden with Mrs. Tang.

The garden was in full bloom, competing for beauty.

Thinking of the withered flowers and plants in Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, Su Jin felt sympathy, wondering how long these plants could last.

Mrs. Tang looked up at the sky and said, "It’s getting late; you should return to Duke Mansion."

Su Jin was somewhat reluctant to leave.

It was more comfortable staying at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Just as Su Jin and Xie Jingchen left, another group of people arrived.

Front yard, study room.

Marquis Dongxiang sat at the desk, looking at the red marks on the house’s map.

His fingers tapped lightly, his glowing eyes indicating he was in a good mood.

A knock came.

"Marquis, Prince NanAn and Marquis Beining have sent you congratulatory gifts," the servant said.

"Please, let them in."

Marquis Dongxiang folded the map, tucked it into his chest, and walked out.

By the lakeside, Chu Shun and others sat on stone benches drinking tea.

Prince NanAn sat on the stone railing by the lake, throwing stones into the water.

The servant came over and said, "Prince NanAn and Marquis Jingguo have arrived at the Marquis Mansion."

Prince NanAn and his companions were incredulous.

"Really came?" The Heir of Marquis Beining doubted.

"..."

The servant nodded.

Su Chong saw them still sitting and said, "Aren’t you going to take a look?"

"Let my father wait for a while, let him know that even if he concedes, I, as his son, won’t forgive him so easily," Prince NanAn said proudly.

Chu Shun and the others agreed.

Let the fathers know that the sons also have tempers.

Thinking of being able to go home soon and not having to stay to be scolded, they felt delighted.

"Later, you pull me over," Prince NanAn said to Su Chong.

Su Chong, "..."

"I can’t pull all four of you," Su Chong said.

"How about I pull two, and then kick two?" Su Chong asked seriously.

"..."

A quarter of an hour later.

Thinking it was enough of a wait.

Prince NanAn and his companions finally stood up.

But when they got to the front yard, they only saw Marquis Dongxiang at the gate.

"Where’s my father?" Prince NanAn asked the servant.

"They just left."

Prince NanAn, "...!!!"

Gone... gone...

These two words exploded in Chu Shun and their minds.

Rippling like waves.

When Marquis Dongxiang entered the mansion, the servant came over and said, "The Marquis asked the Princes to relax today; training officially starts tomorrow."

"What official training?" Chu Shun asked.

"Just now, Marquis Jingguo handed the Young Master over to the Marquis, each giving the Marquis a 5000 liang gift," the servant said sympathetically.

"The Marquis promised Prince NanAn and the others that they would surely find the 5000 liang well spent."

"...!!!"

Su Chong patted Chu Shun’s shoulder and laughed, "They weren’t here to take you home; they officially handed you over to my father."

"My father is not me," Su Chong said sympathetically.

"Enjoy today well."

"Tomorrow you will cry."

"..."