CHAPTER 410: CHAPTER 410: FIREFIGHTING

The night was as cool as water.

A bright moon hung high in the sky.

Gradually—

The bright moon was obscured by thick clouds, hiding its radiant light.

Outside Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, more than a dozen assassins rushed forward, their swords glinting coldly.

The servant on night duty felt a surge of murderous intent and immediately blew the horn.

In the silent night, the sound of the horn spread to every corner of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Mrs. Tang had just undressed for bed when she heard the horn, her heart skipping a beat.

She quickly got up, dressed, and went to Young Master Su’s courtyard.

After a tiring day, the Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen were still sound asleep, while Young Master Su sat on the bed holding a quilt, his little brows tightly knit.

Seeing Mrs. Tang approach, Young Master Su called out, "Mother."

"Has something happened?" His small face showed a hint of seriousness.

The sound of the horn was urgent, unlike before.

The more urgent the horn blew, the more serious the matter.

If it weren’t serious, his mother wouldn’t come to him in the middle of the night.

Mrs. Tang didn’t answer him, just said, "Get up first."

Young Master Su climbed off the bed, dressed himself, while Mrs. Tang opened the secret passage and carried the Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen inside.

The entrance to the secret passage was sealed, and the passages didn’t connect with each other.

Mrs. Tang instructed Young Master Su to take good care of the Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen, and no matter what happened outside, as long as no one came to get them, they should stay inside and not come out.

Young Master Su was very obedient.

Mrs. Tang finished instructing and left the house.

Outside, in the courtyard, Chu Shun and Prince NanAn were fighting with the assassins.

Su Chong was not there.

He had gone to the front yard with his bow and arrows, standing on the rooftop and shooting three arrows in succession.

The assassins caught off guard were hit in the back, and in their moment of distraction, were stabbed in the throat by a servant of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Archery was advantageous for long-range combat, eliminating three assassins at once, which relieved some pressure for the servants of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

However, the real purpose of the assassins infiltrating Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was not necessarily to destroy it.

The sounds of fighting at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion alerted the guards sent by the Emperor to protect Old Duke Chong, who came to help.

Drawing the tiger from the mountain, just in time for the assassins to strike.

Barrels of oily liquid were poured onto the rooftops, needing only a single flaming arrow to set the houses ablaze instantly.

The guards and servants were preoccupied, unable to extinguish the fire.

Only Su Chong, standing on the rooftop, was left unrestrained.

Uncle Lin shouted, "Hurry and save Old Duke Chong and the Duchess!"

Su Chong shot his last arrow, taking out the assassin fighting with Uncle Lin.

Uncle Lin broke free.

He and Su Chong rushed toward Old Duke Chong’s residence together.

Duke Chong’s Mansion was ablaze everywhere.

But the fierce fire at Old Duke Chong’s house was only consuming the side house, the main house was not yet on fire.

Uncle Lin intended to rescue the Duchess, but Su Chong quickly said, "I’ll go save the Duchess of Chong!"

Su Chong ran towards the living quarters of the Duchess of Chong.

Uncle Lin entered the house to carry Old Duke Chong out.

Unlike Old Duke Chong’s residence, the living quarters of the Duchess of Chong had the side house untouched by fire, but the main house was engulfed in flames.

A servant brought water to fight the fire.

But unfortunately, against the roaring fire, a bit of water was like a drop in the bucket.

Su Chong grabbed a wooden bucket and poured water over himself, dashed into the flames with a towel covering his nose.

The Duchess of Chong was standing there, coughing incessantly from the thick smoke.

The firelight reflected her panicked expression.

A scorched screen fell to the ground, sending sparks to her hem, catching fire.

She hurried to extinguish the flames.

Su Chong rushed in, kicked open the burning door, and dodged the falling burning wood.

The Duchess of Chong saw Su Chong through the sea of flames and anxiously exclaimed, "Tingting, don’t come in!"

Hearing her call, Su Chong knew where she was.

He dodged and approached her, and just as he saw the Duchess, he saw a beam falling, and his heart stopped.

He darted forward and embraced the Duchess of Chong, dodging the falling wood, but taking a hit to his back.

Fortunately, his clothes were wet and didn’t catch fire.

The Duchess of Chong cried out urgently, "Tingting, are you alright? Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," Su Chong said.

"Whatever you have to say, say it outside."

Su Chong shielded the Duchess of Chong with his body, dodging the falling tiles.

The fire not only burned from all around but also descended from the rooftop, and soon, the house would collapse.

Su Chong kicked away a piece of wood and brought the Duchess of Chong out of the flames.

As soon as he came out, half the wall behind them fell with a crashing sound.

The Duchess of Chong held onto Su Chong tightly.

Su Chong awkwardly held up his hands, unsure of what to do.

Prince NanAn and the others ran over, relieved to see both were safe and sound.

"Tingting, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" The Duchess of Chong grasped Su Chong and asked.

Su Chong didn’t know how to answer.

He was alright.

He wasn’t hurt.

But he wasn’t Tingting.

If she had called him Chongchong, he might have responded cheekily.

Chu Shun came over and asked, "What happened?"

"Mistaken identity," Su Chong said.

The Duchess of Chong stiffened, immediately releasing Su Chong’s arm.

She wiped away her tears and, remembering Old Duke Chong, she asked, "Is Old Duke Chong alright?"

Prince NanAn and the others had climbed over the walls and hadn’t seen Old Duke Chong yet.

Su Chong knew that Old Duke Chong’s room wasn’t on fire, but being safe earlier didn’t mean everything was fine now.

The Duchess of Chong quickly walked in that direction.

Su Chong and the others followed closely behind.

By the time they reached Old Duke Chong’s place, Duke Chong had also arrived.

He wanted to take Old Duke Chong away.

Mrs. Tang wouldn’t allow it.

The matter of the assassins and the fires was something everyone understood.

Duke Chong’s timely arrival was just an excuse to take Old Duke Chong away.

How could Mrs. Tang let his plan succeed?

Especially since the earlier moment, if not for the help of Prince NanAn and the others, she might have died under an assassin’s blade.

Uncle Lin and another servant supported Old Duke Chong, while Mrs. Tang stood in front of Old Duke Chong, staring at Duke Chong.

"Step aside!" Duke Chong’s face was as cold as frost.

"Step aside?" Mrs. Tang sneered.

"Dongxiang Marquis Mansion painstakingly saved Old Duke Chong, and you don’t even say thank you. Just come and take him away. You seem to hold Dongxiang Marquis Mansion in no regard at all!" Mrs. Tang’s voice was icy.

Though merely a woman, Mrs. Tang wasn’t afraid of Duke Chong.

Behind her stood the servants of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, and to the side were the guards sent by the Emperor.

It was a fact that Dongxiang Marquis Mansion had saved Old Duke Chong; even if Duke Chong had more courage, he wouldn’t dare to act forcefully.

Duke Chong clenched his fists, particularly wanting to strangle Mrs. Tang’s neck.

Li Zhong looked at Mrs. Tang and said, "Dongxiang Marquis Mansion saved Old Duke Chong and the Duchess, the Duke Mansion must come to pay their respects. The Duke is the son of Old Duke Chong. Taking away Old Duke Chong is only right. How can Dongxiang Marquis Mansion not release him?!"

Not handing Old Duke Chong over to Duke Chong was indeed Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s shortcoming.

After all, no matter how you put it, there’s no reason to keep someone’s father and not return him.

But what if they were in the wrong?

Should Duke Chong’s malicious scheme succeed because of it?

Mrs. Tang looked at Duke Chong and said, "The assassins drew the tiger from the mountain, killed several people from Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, all to eliminate Old Duke Chong and the Duchess. We kept them to investigate."

"If Duke Chong is worried, you can stay at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion with Old Duke Chong!"

"Having lived here, I guess Duke Chong wouldn’t find it uncomfortable."

"You!" The veins on Duke Chong’s forehead were bulging.

Mrs. Tang was undaunted.

There was no way Duke Chong would be allowed to take them away.

If he was worried, then he could stay too.

Her domineering attitude was intolerable.

Prince NanAn stole a glance at Su Chong.

He always thought the wife of Dongxiang Marquis was gentle, but didn’t expect her to be as domineering as the Marquis himself.

Both sides were at a stalemate.

Just then—

A guard suddenly spoke up, "There’s also a fire over there."

"It seems... like Duke Chong’s Mansion."