CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 415 FRIENDLY

Today was originally the day to welcome the triumphant return of Duke Zhen and General Xie.

But due to the return of the Flying Tiger Army, the welcoming plans were completely disrupted.

The Emperor intended to reward the three armies in front of all officials and citizens.

And to thank Duke Zhen and the soldiers for protecting the homeland.

One moment of joy, another of sorrow.

All these were forgotten.

Also, there was the captured King Beimo.

He was supposed to be a highlight as well.

However, the Emperor and officials completely forgot about him.

It wasn’t until entering the palace that the Emperor remembered him.

After a few inquiries, he temporarily put the King Beimo aside in his mind.

He wanted to greet and wash away the dust for his brother and nephew who were late by fifteen years.

If possible, the Emperor would rather go to the military camp and drink with Marquis Dongxiang and the Flying Tiger Army generals to reminisce.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at Su Chong and said, "Tingting, toast to Duke Zhen."

Su Chong was not yet accustomed to being called Tingting by Marquis Dongxiang.

Honestly speaking.

He still couldn’t accept the fact that he was actually the eldest young master of Duke Chong’s Mansion.

His mother told him early on to find Duke Zhen.

He went.

He met Marquis Dongxiang in Duke Zhen’s military camp.

Duke Zhen gave him a suit of armor and asked him to wear it.

He put it on.

Uncle Lin and others knelt and called him Young Master.

Only then did he realize he was not his parents’ biological child.

Although he’d always joked he might have been picked up.

He had never thought he wasn’t really their biological son.

He could feel that Old Duke Chong was very excited to see him.

The Duchess of Chong looked at him with gentle eyes, still shimmering with tears.

But he never thought deeply about it.

He wasn’t given much time to accept this fact, nor even a chance to be alone.

He was the Young Master of the Flying Tiger Army, he had to lead them back to the Capital.

Duke Zhen gave the opportunity of a glorious return to the Capital to Marquis Dongxiang.

Marquis Dongxiang passed it to Su Chong.

Su Chong had no one to pass it on to.

From the Young Master of Feihu Village, he transformed into the Young Master of the Flying Tiger Army.

A village that lived off plunder turned into an invincible Flying Tiger Army Training Camp.

The transition was hard for Su Chong to accept all at once.

Marquis Dongxiang did not forget his identity as Deputy General of the Flying Tiger Army.

But Su Chong had grown up in Qingyun Mountain, only knowing his father was a bandit, and thinking he’d grow up to follow in his footsteps as a formidable bandit.

Su Chong held up his wine cup to toast Duke Zhen.

Duke Zhen patted Su Chong on the shoulder and said, "Like father, like son. I watched your father grow up but didn’t watch you grow up. Marquis Dongxiang taught you well. The Flying Tiger Army has a worthy successor."

Marquis Dongxiang approached and toasted to Duke Zhen, saying, "Today was supposed to be the Duke’s day of triumph, but the Flying Tiger Army stole all the spotlight. Sorry about that."

Duke Zhen laughed, "Within a family, there’s no need for such formalities."

"Without the Flying Tiger Army, we couldn’t have captured the King of Beimo alive. This credit is rightly theirs."

The Emperor came over and said, "The merits of Duke Zhen and the Flying Tiger Army, I remember them all. Today is just for catching up, another day for bestowing rewards."

Mentioning family, Xie Jingchen then took Su Jin to pay respects to Duke Zhen.

Earlier at the city gate, the atmosphere was such that it was impossible to get close.

Looking at Su Jin, Duke Zhen laughed to Marquis Dongxiang and said, "I had wanted to propose back then for Chenchen to marry your daughter, but Chenchen was ill. Unexpectedly, it turned out as I wished, and I got a good granddaughter-in-law."

Duke Zhen’s laughter was bold and hearty.

The entire court of civil and military officials held back their internal injuries.

Whether she was a good granddaughter-in-law, it’s too early to talk, but she was definitely a troublemaker.

No wonder, raised in the Flying Tiger Army camp, invincible in battle.

Well.

The bandit den at Qingyun Mountain had already turned into the Flying Tiger Army camp.

Princess Nanzhang’s face was turning purple-black, her long nails digging into her flesh without feeling pain.

Duke Chong was so angry he was spitting blood, she was no better.

Originally, marrying a female bandit to Xie Jingchen was to humiliate him, didn’t expect the couple had deep feelings.

Even better now, the female bandit transformed into the granddaughter of Marquis Jibei, and her elder brother was the eldest young master of Duke Chong’s Mansion.

From the moment they returned from the Flying Tiger Army, no one would remember her identity as a female bandit.

She didn’t find a burden for Xie Jingchen, she found a helper!

On normal days, Princess Nanzhang would dare say a few sarcastic remarks, but today, even if given a few guts, she wouldn’t target Xie Jingchen.

Even Duke Chong wanted to ask what happened when Su Chong fell from the cliff back then, but he didn’t dare to.

These matters could be asked anytime; today, the Emperor was happy, who would dare provoke him?

An hour later.

The welcoming banquet dispersed.

After the banquet, Marquis Dongxiang and Su Chong left the palace.

The Emperor wanted to stay behind to speak with Marquis Dongxiang alone, but today was not possible.

Su Chong recognized his ancestry but had yet to formally pay respects to Old Duke Chong as a grandson.

Marquis Dongxiang did not return to Jibei Marquis Mansion either.

There was also the recent assassination attempt at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, where Old Duke Chong and the Duchess of Chong were nearly burned alive.

The Flying Tiger Army has returned.

The Emperor couldn’t contain the joy in his heart.

Recruiting Marquis Dongxiang, the Emperor valued his combat capability, hoping to use him to eliminate Duke Chong.

But Marquis Dongxiang was unruly to control, and while the Emperor trusted him, he worried he couldn’t be contained.

Now, the worries vanished, leaving only gratitude.

He couldn’t wait to share the good news with Consort Yun.

So the Emperor went to Chaohua Palace.

Touching Consort Yun’s portrait, tears were in the Emperor’s eyes.

The "fallen in battle" Marquis Dongxiang had a day to return, but Consort Yun would never come back.

Meanwhile, Duke Chong, after returning to Duke Chong’s Mansion, struggled to climb the steps.

As he set foot over the threshold, Duke Chong couldn’t withstand it anymore, and he fainted forward.

If it weren’t for Chief Manager Wang’s quick reflexes, Duke Chong would have fallen to the ground.

The servant panicked and shouted to call an Imperial Physician.

He was stopped by Dark Guard Li Zhong who came from behind, "Do not speak out."

"Quietly get a doctor into the mansion."

...

Duke Zhen and Old Master Xie returned to Duke Zhen Mansion, but Xie Jingchen did not.

He accompanied Su Jin back to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Followed by Marquis Dongxiang and Su Chong to see Old Duke Chong.

Old Duke Chong lay on the sickbed.

With a thud, Su Chong knelt down.

Old Duke Chong’s eyes filled with tears.

Su Chong, in his battle armor, looked very much like the late Heir of Duke Xian.

Old Duke Chong thought his own son had returned.

Su Chong called out, "Grandfather."

Old Duke Chong raised his hand.

Su Chong quickly stood up and held Old Duke Chong’s hand.

Though Old Duke Chong couldn’t speak, his face was filled with relief.

He knew today was Duke Zhen’s triumphant day, he could guess what had happened.

His grandson had recognized his ancestry.

He had just called him grandfather.

Old Duke Chong held Su Chong’s hand for a long time.

Mrs. Tang said, "Go see your mother, she’s ill."

Su Chong gazed at Mrs. Tang.

Mrs. Tang smiled and said, "Go quickly."

Only then did Su Chong release Old Duke Chong’s hand and went to see the Duchess of Chong.

She was nearly burned alive, although rescued by her son, she had nightmares for two consecutive days and fell ill.

Upon hearing Su Chong call out "Mother," tears rolled down the Duchess of Chong’s cheeks.

She had endured for so many years, just to hear her son call her Mother once more.

Now that her wish was fulfilled, even if she were to die now, she could die with a smile in the afterlife.

After Su Chong visited the Duchess of Chong, the wall that separated Duke Chong’s Mansion ancestral hall was already dismantled.

Su Chong went to offer incense to the ancestors of Duke Chong’s Mansion.

When he emerged from the ancestral hall, he just happened to see Marquis Dongxiang approaching.

Su Chong looked at him, hesitating repeatedly.

Marquis Dongxiang said, "What are you hemming and hawing for?"

"If you have something to say, say it."

"I, can I still call you Father from now on?" Su Chong asked with difficulty.

"What, do you want to call me Uncle?" Marquis Dongxiang frowned.

"Do you need a beating to feel closer to me?"

Su Chong was speechless.