CHAPTER 412: CHAPTER 412: GRIEVANCE

The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion suffered an assassination attempt.

The Old Duke Chong and the Duchess of Chong were nearly burned to death.

A fire broke out at the Duke Chong’s Mansion.

These events all happened at night, occurring in the dreams of many people.

But as soon as dawn broke, these matters spread throughout the Capital City.

The Emperor had just awoken from the Dragon Couch when he learned about it.

The guards entered the palace to confess their guilt to the Emperor, saying they had fallen for the enemy’s trick of luring them away the night before, almost allowing the Old Duke Chong and the Duchess of Chong to be harmed.

Fortunately, the Young Master of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion stood up and rescued the Duchess of Chong from the sea of fire.

Apart from requesting credit for Su Chong and the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, they also reported to the Emperor that Duke Chong had gone to demand the release of the people in the middle of the night but was turned away by Mrs. Tang.

To the guards, this matter seemed strange.

The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion may act like outlaws, but they wouldn’t go so far as to kidnap someone else’s father.

If the Old Duke Chong were healthy, it might not matter, but he was severely poisoned, unable to move or speak.

Robbery is for money, and the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s refusal to return the Old Duke Chong wasn’t about money.

The power of Duke Chong’s Mansion is now all in the hands of Duke Chong, offending Duke Chong for the Old Duke Chong would only create enmity rather than benefits.

The guards found it inconceivable, so they reported everything to the Emperor to let him ponder.

The Emperor’s brows furrowed deeply.

"What did the Duchess of Chong say?" the Emperor asked.

"She voluntarily stayed at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion," a guard replied.

The Emperor’s brow furrowed into a tight knot.

During the morning court session, Duke Chong’s faction impeached the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for being overbearing, holding onto the Old Duke Chong and not returning him to Duke Chong.

Those listening felt thoroughly uneasy.

Especially Duke Chong.

Although they were helping him, it sounded like he was an incompetent son.

His father had been seized and wouldn’t come back, and he still needed others to apply pressure.

Not a single person with his level of incompetence could be found in the entire Capital City.

Duke Chong looked at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty knows the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is highly valued. The Marquis Dongxiang went to suppress bandits and hasn’t returned to Capital. I don’t want to be accused of abusing power. The Dongxiang Marquis’s wife insisted on not allowing me to take back the Old Duke and the Duchess, so with the fire, I returned to my mansion first."

"I will go again later to fetch the Old Duke. If the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion continues to be unreasonable, Your Majesty, don’t blame me for taking harsher measures."

Duke Chong’s loss of face at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion yesterday was regained by speaking to the Emperor so bluntly.

He wasn’t unable to bring back the Old Duke Chong, but he was considering the Emperor’s position and deferred for a moment.

But human patience has limits.

If the Emperor didn’t speak, he couldn’t help the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion hold onto the Old Duke Chong without returning him.

At this time, Prince NanAn stood up, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

The Emperor looked at Prince NanAn.

Prince NanAn said, "Early this morning, the Dongxiang Marquis’s wife sent someone to ask me to bring a few words to Your Majesty."

"What words?" asked the Emperor.

"The Dongxiang Marquis’s wife said that last night the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion risked their lives to save the Old Duke Chong and the Duchess of Chong. They have no malice towards them," Prince NanAn said.

"If they wanted to harm them, they could have simply stood by and watched."

"Not letting the Old Duke Chong leave is indeed due to unavoidable difficulties. Marquis Dongxiang went to Yu State to suppress bandits and once sought a prophecy at the Great Buddha Temple, where he met a fortune-teller under a Bodhi Tree."

"The fortune-teller told him that the destinies of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion and the Old Duke Chong are linked, and if the Old Duke Chong were to suffer a mishap, the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion would also face calamity."

"Moreover, if the Old Duke Chong leaves his ancestral residence, his life would be in danger."

"Keeping the Old Duke Chong at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is the only way for peace of mind, and there is no intent to hold onto him."

"If Duke Chong is still uneasy, he may send people to surround the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion in several layers."

"She cannot make decisions as a woman; everything can wait until the Marquis Dongxiang returns to the Capital."

"The return of Marquis Dongxiang to the Capital is expected within these two days."

Encouraging Duke Chong to send people to surround the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?

The Emperor’s lips twitched.

Is the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion addicted to being surrounded?

Openly ordering Duke Chong’s people to protect the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion under the guise of supervision could only come from the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Duke Chong’s face turned a faint shade of green.

He never imagined the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion would not let him bring back the Old Duke Chong and cloak it under the guise of doing it for the Old Duke Chong’s benefit.

Aside from not letting him take the people away, sending people to care for the Old Duke Chong, or even surrounding the Marquis Dongxiang would be acceptable.

Duke Chong clenched his fists, veins bulging on his hand.

Then the Emperor said, "If fetching the Old Duke Chong poses a life threat, it is better to let him stay at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for now."

"If Duke Chong is uneasy, send more people to watch over the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion."

Duke Chong gazed at the Emperor and said, "If what the Taoist said is true, does Marquis Dongxiang intend to keep the Old Duke at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for a lifetime?"

The Emperor fell silent.

Then a minister stood up and said, "Since the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is so considerate of the Old Duke Chong, why not wait for the Marquis Dongxiang’s return to the Capital and have him move out of Duke Chong’s ancestral residence, which would be a win-win solution."

The Emperor laughed.

"If this matter cannot be resolved, then let the Marquis Dongxiang move out of the ancestral residence of Duke Chong’s Mansion."

By saying this, the Emperor was ordering Duke Chong to temporarily forgo bringing back the Old Duke Chong.

Duke Chong glanced at the minister who had spoken up in support.

His gaze was cold, sharp.

The minister felt a chill down his spine; he was helping Duke Chong, so why was he being looked at in that way?

...

The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was attacked by assassins. Although knowing Mrs. Tang and the others were safe, as a daughter, she naturally had to return to check when her maiden family encountered such a major event.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast, Su Jin, accompanied by Xie Jingchen, went to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

As she entered the inner courtyard, Young Master Su, the Ninth Prince, and Young Master Shen were sitting on the steps by the door, and Mrs. Tang was apologizing to them.

Last night, to protect them from the assassins, Mrs. Tang had them hide in the secret passage to ensure their safety.

However, with the assassination attempt, the Duchess of Chong’s near death by fire, and the servants being attacked by assassins, Mrs. Tang was exhausted, neglecting Young Master Su.

She thought either the servants or Su Chong would tell Young Master Su they were safe.

As a result, Su Chong thought the same.

You rely on me, I rely on you.

Leaving Young Master Su in the secret passage all night.

Because Mrs. Tang said that without someone to fetch them, they weren’t allowed to come out.

Young Master Su was very obedient.

And thus got himself stuck.

Last night, anxiously scratching the walls in the secret passage, while his mother might have been snoring away.

Wouldn’t he be angry?

The Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen weren’t much affected, just startled when they woke up in the morning.

But with Young Master Su by their side, they quickly stopped being scared.

"This time it was mother’s oversight. I promise it won’t happen next time," Mrs. Tang admitted her fault.

Young Master Shen and the Ninth Prince were stunned.

Does a mother apologize to her son?

The Ninth Prince imagined the Emperor admitting a mistake to him, breaking into a cold sweat.

Young Master Su crossed his arms and turned away, "I just knew I was adopted."

"Locked me in the secret passage all night without thinking of me," Young Master Su complained.

"Yet when it comes to punishing me, there was never a time you forgot."

"..."

Feeling truly aggrieved, Young Master Su’s eyes welled up with two tears.

Mrs. Tang covered her forehead, stepping back, "Then let’s say I forget to punish you sometimes."

Young Master Su, "...!!!"

"Mother, can’t you say you won’t punish me in the future?!" Young Master Su said angrily.

"Saying it but not doing it would undermine mother’s prestige."

"..."

"Can you promise not to do things that upset mother in the future?" Mrs. Tang asked.

Young Master Su turned away.

Promising and failing means another punishment; he wouldn’t rashly make that promise.

At that moment, a servant approached, "Madam, the Duchess of Jibei Marquis Mansion has arrived."

Mrs. Tang turned and left.

Young Master Su was furious.

He hadn’t even made an outrageous demand yet, and his mother just left.