Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Apology

Old Duke Chong once saved the late Emperor and is a benefactor of the Royal Family.

Old Duke Chong has been bedridden for three years, and the Emperor visits Duke Chong’s Mansion every year to show that the Royal Family does not forget his kindness.

Old Duke Chong was so angered by Marquis Dongxiang that he coughed up blood. Even the maids considered this a major issue, not to mention the Emperor and all the officials.

The next day, in the Political Discussion Hall, a crowd of people impeached Marquis Dongxiang.

Hmm.

They worked together with an overwhelming momentum.

Because Marquis Dongxiang wasn’t there, they thought that if they didn’t impeach him harshly now, when he returns and stands in court, he might just glance over with a look of “are you tired of living or are you courting death,” and they would be speechless.

It’s now or never.

It would be best to drive Marquis Dongxiang out of the court, even if it means sending him back to Qingyun Mountain to be a bandit.

Keeping him in the court might mean trouble for them someday, so it’s better to keep him at a distance.

The Emperor had not anticipated that Old Duke Chong would be aware of this incident and be so angered to the point of spitting blood. Faced with public outrage, the Emperor promised in front of all the officials that Marquis Dongxiang would be severely punished.

As for how severe the punishment would be, no one knew. The Emperor had made his stance clear, so the officials could not push too hard.

Should the Emperor send someone to chase after Marquis Dongxiang?

Duke Chong did that and ended up being disgraced, which led to Old Duke Chong coughing up blood.

If even Duke Chong is not taken seriously, how can others be?

The Emperor also sent people to surround Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, but it’s not like they could simply imprison him right now. Marquis Dongxiang is the Deputy Grain Transport Officer, and he has the authority to choose the grain transport officials, so he didn’t really commit a major offense. Duke Chong went a bit too far in pursuing him.

Everything hinges on whether Marquis Dongxiang can deliver the grain and grass to the border, and how much he actually delivers. It’s not too late to deal with him once evidence is clear.

But the impeachment by the officials ultimately just forced the Emperor to make a statement, which left them somewhat frustrated.

Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Although Mrs. Tang was under house arrest, she still knew about the major events happening in court.

Regarding Old Duke Chong being angered to the point of spitting blood, Mrs. Tang thought for a moment and instructed Su Chong, “Go visit Old Duke Chong at Duke Chong’s Mansion.”

Su Chong was bewildered, thinking he heard wrong, “Mother, you want me to visit Old Duke Chong?”

“You didn’t hear wrong; I want you to go,” Mrs. Tang said.

“He’s just an old man already angered by father to the point of spitting blood. If I go, it would violate our Qingyun Mountain tradition of respecting the elderly and loving the young,” Su Chong said.

“What respect for the elderly and love for the young?” Su Yang was munching on a fruit beside them, his face full of dissatisfaction.

He wasn’t even seven yet, wasn’t he young enough?

But when father beat him, he was no less forceful than anyone else!

When he was being hit, he was treated like an adult.

But when he wasn’t allowed out of the mansion, he was treated as a child again.

Young Master Su was exhausted, not even having the strength to munch on the fruit anymore.

Mrs. Tang looked at Su Chong and said, “I want you to go in place of your father and offer an apology to Old Duke Chong, with a respectful attitude.”

Su Chong was stunned. Since when has his father ever apologized to anyone?

“Mother, are you speaking frankly or ironically?” Su Chong asked, unsure.

“….”

Mrs. Tang glared at him.

Su Chong mulled it over and said, “Mother, are you sure you want me to climb over the wall to see Old Duke Chong? Aren’t you worried I’ll be mistaken for an assassin and get eliminated?”

“Enter through the main gate of Duke Chong’s Mansion; they wouldn’t dare do anything to you,” Mrs. Tang said.

“….”

He might not even be able to climb over the wall, and yet his mother wanted him to use the main gate.

Is this a new challenge for him?

The difficulty is indeed high.

But since his mother trusts him so much, not going in to show his face would seem unreasonable.

Mrs. Tang prepared a gift, and Su Chong left Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Halfway through, he thought for a moment, then turned toward Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

Inside the bamboo house, Xie Jingchen was busy transcribing.

A small maid hurried over and said, “Young Master, Eldest Young Madam’s elder brother, Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, is here to see you on some matter.”

Looking for him?

Xie Jingchen frowned.

Didn’t they just see each other yesterday?

Putting down his pen, Xie Jingchen got up to greet him.

The Hidden Guard went to inform Su Jin.

Even before stepping out of the courtyard, he saw Su Chong approaching with something in his hand.

As he walked up, Su Jin curiously asked, “Why has my brother come?”

“I’m here to see my brother-in-law on a matter,” Su Chong looked at Xie Jingchen.

Before Xie Jingchen could speak, Su Chong already put his arm around his neck.

Xie Jingchen felt a headache coming.

After spending some time together, he had come to understand the family in Dongxiang Marquis Mansion somewhat.

Su Jin’s gentle smile.

Su Chong’s arm-around-neck gesture.

And Marquis Dongxiang’s serious face—

They’re all traps.

“What’s the matter?” Xie Jingchen asked.

Su Chong coughed several times and said, “I have to visit Old Duke Chong at Duke Chong’s Mansion. Help lead the way.”

Su Jin, “….”

Xie Jingchen, “….”

“Going to anger Old Duke Chong to death?” Xingxing said excitedly.

“Going to apologize,” Su Chong sighed.

“Why?” Su Jin was puzzled.

“Who knows? Mother asked me to,” Su Chong said dejectedly.

Much like with their father, no one could guess what Mother had planned.

He was adept at irritating people, but apologizing…

In all his life, he had only ever apologized to his sister.

Apologizing was too difficult for him, so he came to find his brother-in-law—to give him a little reminder in case he got too carried away when speaking later.

Su Chong was thinking about what would happen after seeing Old Duke Chong, while Xie Jingchen pondered how to guide the way.

That was Duke Chong’s Mansion, not Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

Although Princess Nanzhang had a good relationship with Duke Chong’s Mansion, to Duke Chong’s Mansion, he was considered an obstacle to Princess Nanzhang and her son’s path.

Marquis Dongxiang angered Duke Chong so much that Old Duke Chong spat blood, and even if Su Chong went to apologize, they wouldn’t care.

With him accompanying, Xie Jingchen suspected if his mother-in-law was genuinely apologizing or going to provoke.

Old Duke Chong was different from Duke Chong. The Emperor wanted to get rid of Duke Chong, but he held Old Duke Chong in high respect.

Su Chong going alone made Xie Jingchen uneasy. He even suspected if Old Duke Chong truly spat blood, as it might well just be a pretext to force the Emperor to deal with Marquis Dongxiang.

Su Jin looked at Su Chong and Xie Jingchen, “Can you two manage to enter?”

Xie Jingchen rubbed his forehead.

Su Chong, however, took it lightly, “At least we’ll have company if we can’t get in.”

Xie Jingchen, “….”

He looked at Su Jin.

Su Jin said, “I’ll go with you.”

“You needn’t go,” Su Chong refused.

He couldn’t bear to let his sister go to Duke Chong’s Mansion, face a closed door, and endure cold sarcasm. The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t understand why his mother was willing to let him face such hardship.

Su Chong didn’t agree, but Su Jin was persistent.

Xingxing said, “Let the young lady go with you. Maybe on her behalf, they’ll allow Young Master into Duke Chong’s Mansion.”

Su Chong, “….”

Xie Jingchen, “….”

Su Chong was the son of Marquis Dongxiang; Su Jin the daughter of Marquis Dongxiang.

If they didn’t give face to the son, would they give face to the daughter?

That’s an impossible scenario.

“I’m just going to watch the fun,” Su Jin said.

“….”

Xie Jingchen rubbed his forehead.

Su Chong thus followed Su Jin’s lead.

The group promptly left Duke Zhen Country Mansion, took a carriage, and headed towards Duke Chong’s Mansion.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep