CHAPTER 219: AFTER MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 219 HOUSEWARMING BANQUET

Since none of the noblewomen came, Su Jin didn’t have to accompany them alone on the garden tour.

She accompanied Mrs. Tang while escorting those noblewomen who were even more familiar with Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion on a garden tour.

The more noble one’s status, the more frequent one visited Duke Chong’s Mansion.

The noblewomen sighed internally.

Such a grand mansion, and it ended up in the hands of bandits. In just a few days, a towering Observation Tower was dismantled...

No one knows what it will look like the next time they come back.

Mrs. Tang was the wife of the chieftain at Qingyun Mountain, while they were distinguished ladies of the Capital. When it came to chatting, there was truly no common ground.

Yet they couldn’t stay silent, so they just praised Su Jin.

First, they praised her for her beauty.

Second, they praised her for her intelligence.

Third, they admired her keen and perceptive mind.

The compliments made Su Jin’s face grow visibly thicker.

They essentially praised her into being a rare woman possessing both beauty and wisdom.

As for Su Chong, he was never mentioned.

The Heir of Duke Chong was defeated completely by Su Chong.

Praising Su Chong means belittling the Heir of Duke Chong.

With so many people around, if someone were to mention this to the Duke and Duchess of Chong, it would cause trouble.

Su Jin was different, though Princess Shouning suffered at her hands quite often, the Emperor favored her, she was the Emperor’s life-saving benefactor, and also the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

This housewarming banquet was distressing for the attendees.

They came to congratulate the housewarming, but couldn’t praise the host’s mansion.

While visiting the garden to admire the flowers, they couldn’t compliment on how well-tended the plants were because it wasn’t Mrs. Tang who tended them.

The Duchess of Duke Chong liked rare flowers.

Several noblewomen catered to this preference...

Seeing familiar flowers and plants in the garden made them cry internally.

With nothing else to praise, they praised Su Jin once more.

Su Jin, "..."

When they ran out of things to say, they praised Su Jin’s good eye.

Once set up, they immediately praised the husband Su Jin had won back.

Son-in-law of the Marquis Dongxiang—

Young Master Xie.

Su Jin, "..."

Mrs. Tang glanced at the sky, it was time to start the banquet, why hadn’t the Emperor arrived?

Mrs. Tang was anxious, and so were the noblewomen.

If the Emperor didn’t arrive, the housewarming banquet couldn’t start.

Without the banquet ending, they couldn’t leave.

The sun was so strong, walking under it would make them much darker.

Moreover, they were pampered and delicate, having walked so long, their feet were almost too tired to lift, yet Mrs. Tang still chatted and laughed.

Inside the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor had intended to depart the palace half an hour ago.

However, problems continued to arise in the harem.

First, a concubine twisted her ankle, then another fainted, followed by vomiting and loss of appetite...

The Emperor went from one palace to another, without a moment’s rest.

Eunuch Fu, following behind, said, "Emperor, if we don’t leave the palace soon, it will be too late."

The Emperor knew that those concubines did not want him to leave the palace to attend the housewarming banquet at Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion.

But having promised before the officials, he could not go back on his word.

The Emperor was somewhat annoyed, "If anyone feigns illness again, send the Imperial Physician to check, and send them to the Cold Palace if they are lying!"

Once the word spread.

The harem immediately fell silent.

The Emperor boarded the Imperial Chariot and grandly departed the palace.

At Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion.

Marquis Dongxiang and Prince NanAn were conversing and laughing.

A servant came in and said, "Marquis, the Emperor’s Imperial Chariot stopped next door, the Emperor is visiting Old Duke Chong first."

The officials in their hearts all exclaimed, "The Emperor is wise."

They all looked at Marquis Dongxiang and saw his face was calm, without a hint of anger.

Even though the Emperor was disregarding him, Marquis Dongxiang wasn’t angry?

Marquis Dongxiang wasn’t the least bit upset, he simply ordered, "We will start the banquet when the Emperor arrives."

The Emperor went to visit Old Duke Chong, while Duke Chong was present.

The Emperor stayed with the Old Duke for half a cup of tea’s time before leaving.

Duke Chong accompanied the Emperor into Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion.

The Emperor glanced at him, "Duke Chong, are you attending the housewarming banquet at Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion too?"

Duke Chong replied, "Since the Emperor gives face to Marquis Dongxiang, how can I not?"

"My unworthy son lost our ancestral home, and I will definitely regain Duke Chong’s Mansion!"

The Emperor said nothing.

Upon entering the mansion, Marquis Dongxiang led the officials in greeting the Emperor.

"You may rise," said the Emperor.

Marquis Dongxiang stood and said, "Please, Emperor."

The dishes had already been served.

Just waiting for the Emperor to begin the feast.

The Emperor took the main seat, Marquis Dongxiang and Prince NanAn accompanied the Emperor at the table.

The seat next to Marquis Dongxiang was originally meant for Su Chong, but it was Young Master Su who sat there steadily, with Little Black crouching by his feet.

Marquis Dongxiang frowned, "Where’s your big brother?"

Young Master Su said, "Big Brother is bragging with Prince NanAn and the others. He said I’m too young to hear that stuff, so he shooed me off to bask in the Emperor’s grand aura."

Prince NanAn, "...."

Marquis Jingguo, "...."

Marquis Beining, "...."

Eldest Old Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion, "...."

The Emperor’s mouth twitched slightly.

Eunuch Fu stifled a laugh.

The Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion wasn’t here, but he sure was flattering the Emperor vigorously.

"What are they bragging about?" Prince NanAn asked.

Young Master Su looked at him, shook his head, and said, "I can’t say, Big Brother and the others will beat me up."

Prince NanAn, "...."

The Marquis Jingguo’s gaze swept around; many people came to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s housewarming banquet today, but he couldn’t find where they were.

In the corner.

Chu Shun and the others looked at a table full of delicacies and said, "Why hasn’t the Emperor started eating yet? The food will lose its flavor if it gets cold."

"Thankfully, the Commandery Prince was clever enough to get an Imperial Chef from the Beauty Pavilion," said the Heir of Marquis Beining.

"The Emperor picked up his chopsticks," said the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion.

Although the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was busy today, they didn’t miss a bit of their training.

The servants were all busy, and they were too embarrassed to go to the kitchen to get food, so they held on till now.

As the Emperor started the banquet, all the officials picked up their chopsticks and began eating.

This table was particularly ravenous, with no regard for manners.

But after a short while of eating, the banquet stopped again.

Young Master Su was too small to reach the dishes, so Prince NanAn served him a pig’s trotter.

Young Master Su sniffed it, wrinkled his nose, and said, "Dad, the pig’s trotter smells like athlete’s foot."

Poof!

The Emperor spat out his food.

Marquis Jingguo and others couldn’t stop coughing.

Even Marquis Dongxiang spat out his wine.

Only Prince NanAn, who served the pig’s trotter to Young Master Su, didn’t spit out his wine, nor did he spit out food.

But he had it worse.

Sitting directly opposite the Emperor, the Emperor’s sprayed food landed on his brocade robe.

Prince NanAn grimaced as he brushed the food off.

The banquet fell silent.

The voice of Prince NanAn gnawing on a pig’s trotter was particularly clear.

"This isn’t the stinky tofu braised pig’s trotter I ordered," he said.

"...."

A servant came over.

Marquis Dongxiang asked, "What’s up with this pig’s trotter?"

The servant quickly said, "This is the stinky tofu braised pig’s trotter that Prince NanAn ordered. Because it had the most portions, the maid thought it was for the Emperor, so she brought it over."

Prince NanAn, "...."

Ungrateful son!

He’s really going to drive me to death with anger!

Does he really think Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is his home to be ordering separately?

"Get him over here right now!" Prince NanAn gritted his teeth.

The maid hurriedly took away the food that was sprayed all over the table and served new dishes.

A servant went over to invite Prince NanAn.

Prince NanAn reluctantly walked over.

Of course, with him were Chu Shun and a few others.

They were all wearing masks.

"Take off those masks!" Prince NanAn said angrily.

"We can’t," Prince NanAn said weakly.

Prince NanAn glared at him.

The few of them exchanged glances.

The four of them took off their masks.

Poof!

After the Emperor had spat out his food, he spat out his tea again.

With the masks on, Prince NanAn and the others didn’t look any different.

But once the masks were off, their handsome faces were half white, half black.

"What, what happened to you guys?" asked Duke Dingbei.

The Heir of Duke Dingbei twitched his mouth and called a servant over to take the fall.

"The sunburn from training made our faces feel hot, so we had the servant pick out masks, but he didn’t pick well, hence this," said the Heir of Duke Dingbei dejectedly.

Seeing their faces, you could tell what kind of masks they bought.

Even the sun seemed to aim for their faces. It had been particularly harsh these past few days.

Prince NanAn, "...."

Marquis Jingguo, "...."

Marquis Beining, "...."

Eldest Old Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion, "...."

Such foolish sons, they really didn’t want them anymore.