CHAPTER 565: CHAPTER 565 TRAINING

As soon as Marquis Dongxiang finished speaking.

Duke Chong stood out to oppose, "Welcoming the Beimo Cheng King is a matter of great importance, how can it be entrusted to them?!"

"Why can’t it?" Marquis Dongxiang countered.

Duke Chong’s throat was choked.

Because he had his eyes on this task!

He planned to have his son handle it.

But before he could speak, Marquis Dongxiang had already proposed.

No wonder he opened with a donation, swiftly calming the matter.

If this matter isn’t resolved, the officials will certainly use it as a reason to block him.

"They just made a mistake!" Duke Chong said.

Marquis Dongxiang frowned, "It’s said that realizing one’s mistakes and correcting them is of utmost importance. Didn’t I just do enough to make up for their mistakes?"

"Since Duke Chong is holding on to this so tightly, let me ask, in the fight, does Duke Chong really think his son was blameless?"

If the argument continued, Duke Chong would soon have to punish his own son.

Duke Chong tightened his fists, saying no more.

But even if he didn’t speak, there were many who would speak up on his behalf.

The Emperor, growing impatient, said, "The task of welcoming the Beimo Cheng King will primarily be led by the Heir of Prince Zhenbei, with the four of them assisting."

"If they succeed, I will reward them."

"If they fail, I will heavily punish them!"

The Emperor’s words were final.

Duke Chong’s faction was secretly fuming.

They had never seen troublemakers being given important roles so quickly!

Prince NanAn and the others felt ashamed.

Their own sons caused trouble and it was Marquis Dongxiang who had to calm things down.

They didn’t have Marquis Dongxiang’s insight into people’s thoughts, nor his resolve to cut off the problematic limb.

Treating severe issues requires strong medicine.

After the court session, several of Prince NanAn’s allies thanked Marquis Dongxiang.

They had wanted to discuss the impetuous nature of Prince NanAn with him the day before.

Marquis Dongxiang laughed, "Just now in the court, I’ve already thought of how to correct them."

Prince NanAn, "...."

Seeing them chatting and laughing, Duke Chong was seething with anger.

He went to Yongning Palace to seek the Empress Dowager.

If there was anyone who could change the Emperor’s mind, it would be the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was already furious upon hearing that Prince NanAn and his group had beaten up the Heir of Duke Chong.

Hearing that the Emperor wanted to give them an important role only fueled her anger.

The Empress Dowager summoned the Emperor to retract his decision.

The Emperor refused, his attitude firm.

The Emperor was no longer the same as before.

Now he had the power to contend with both Duke Chong and the Empress Dowager, sparing her from being sent away for the summer was already considerate.

Seeing the Emperor unyielding, the Empress Dowager compromised, "Then let the Heir of Duke Chong join Prince NanAn and the others in welcoming the Beimo Cheng King."

The Emperor laughed, "The little Beimo Cheng King, with his troops at our gates, compelling Us, having Prince NanAn and his group welcome him is already showing Beimo plenty of face."

"Does the Empress Dowager want Us to treat him as a distinguished guest?"

"Moreover, the Heir of Duke Chong just had a conflict with Prince NanAn and his group, fighting at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was bad enough."

"If they cause a scene during the envoy’s reception, wouldn’t that make our Daqi a laughingstock?"

"The Empress Dowager should focus on her health, let Us handle the affairs of the court, it’s enough."

Leaving this remark, the Emperor stood up and left.

Watching the Emperor’s back, the Empress Dowager’s gaze turned icy.

From behind the screen, Duke Chong stepped out.

...

Meanwhile, after court, Marquis Dongxiang didn’t head directly to the barracks but instead went to the City Patrol Office to bail someone out.

This action truly moved Prince NanAn and his group.

Thinking about their own fathers, who not only didn’t come to get them but wanted to leave them in the City Patrol Office overnight.

They were well aware of how many mosquitoes infested the prison of the City Patrol Office.

They were almost drained to anemia.

If they weren’t afraid of being beaten, they would have been so moved that they’d want to hug Marquis Dongxiang.

"Let’s go back to the mansion," Marquis Dongxiang smiled and said.

Prince NanAn and his group unanimously decided to return to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

They needed to give their fathers a cold shoulder for a year or two, to make them regret it!

Upon returning to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, after bathing and changing clothes, Uncle Lin led them to a courtyard.

The courtyard was right next to the training ground, newly vacated.

Prince NanAn and his group were puzzled, "Why bring us here?"

"This is what the Marquis instructed, prepared for you," Uncle Lin smiled.

A room for each person.

The rooms were empty.

Prince NanAn and his group felt a bad premonition.

A sense of unease as if they were being shut in unable to escape.

But Uncle Lin surely wouldn’t hit them.

Uncle Lin handed an iron chopstick to Prince NanAn, pointing to the bamboo basket hanging on the wall, "The Marquis wants you to use the chopsticks to flick soybeans into the basket."

Prince NanAn, "...."

After saying this, Uncle Lin poured two ounces of soybeans onto the floor.

With a kick, he sent Prince NanAn into the room.

As his foot landed on the soybeans, Prince NanAn fell sprawling.

He turned back to see Uncle Lin had already locked the door.

"It’s best if the Prince finishes the Marquis’s task quickly," Uncle Lin smiled.

"Not only will it cultivate your character, but it also helps train hidden weapons."

Prince NanAn, "....!!!"

Was this training them?

Or was it meant to drive them insane?!

Thinking of the smile on Marquis Dongxiang’s face when he came to get them, Prince NanAn’s regrets cut deep.

Soybeans, usually hard enough to pick up.

How could they throw them into a basket?

If they knew earlier, they would have behaved and gone fishing.

"Can we fish instead?" Chu Shun and the others banged on the door.

All four were inside, calling out in vain.

Young Master Su and the Ninth Prince were peeking in from the window.

Seeing Prince NanAn struggle endlessly to pick up the soybean without success.

He could barely hold back his laughter.

When it came to tormenting people.

His father claimed second place, no one dared claim first!

"This is truly pathetic," Young Master Su sympathized.

"Broaden your perspective, it’s already lucky my father didn’t give you mung beans and sesame seeds."

"My mother says that contentment brings happiness."

He continued, leaning against the window, "It’s almost lunchtime, should I bring you lunch?"

"Ten silver, four dishes, one soup."

"Do you want it?"

With sincere little eyes.

Chu Shun, "....!!!"

Prince NanAn, "....!!!"

Heir of Marquis Beining, "....!!!"

Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion, "....!!!"

Had never witnessed such blatant exploitation!

Truly chips off the old block!

They really just wanted to go out and beat him up for relief.

The one decent among the bunch was Brother Su.

Yes.

When lunchtime came.

Prince NanAn withdrew his words.

Su Chong stood outside the window eating, watching them suffer.

"Your aim is terrible," he remarked as he ate.

"I see the soybeans miss the basket and get ground to dust underfoot."

"Someone bring more soybeans."

As soybeans were tossed through the window, Prince NanAn and his group nearly died of frustration.

Wondering if it was still worth severing ties with Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Behind Su Chong stood several servants.

They were sent by the Princess NanAn and others.

Seeing their Commandery Prince (Young Master) in such a state of despair made them think that if the Commandery Prince doesn’t go mad, surely his impetuous nature will be curbed.

What is that saying?

To calm a person, first, they must be driven to madness.