Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Noble

These rare flowers were all left behind by the Duke Chong’s Mansion.

When they moved, the time was too short, and they couldn’t take all the treasures from the warehouse, let alone these flowers in the garden.

The Duchess had a passion for tending flowers and plants, and many high-society ladies from the Capital City flattered her with gifts of flowers, all of which were quite valuable.

Just speaking of camellias, there were Crane Peak Red, Heaven-Hating High, Red Claw Hibiscus, Purple Robe Jade Belt, Pine Seed Scale…

Su Jin counted them; there were no less than ten types.

These flowers are valuable, and letting them wither away is truly a pity.

Better to sell them for silver, so that they can be cared for by someone else.

However, even if all these flowers were sold, the garden at Duke Chong’s Mansion would still be full of vibrant flowers, blossoming brilliantly.

Su Jin went to the garden.

Mrs. Tang was there directing the maids to move the flowers, and upon seeing Su Jin return, she smiled gently.

“Is there anything you like? Take them to the Duke Mansion,” Mrs. Tang said.

Su Jin shook her head.

“No need, if I want flowers, I can move them from the Duke Mansion’s garden; Duke Zhen Country Mansion has no fewer flowers than Duke Chong’s Mansion,” Su Jin said.

Although she hadn’t seen Princess Nanzhang tend to flowers and plants.

She was reputed to be a “Flower Lover.”

After wandering in the garden for a while, it was time for lunch.

Marquis Dongxiang was at the Ministry of Justice and would not be home for lunch.

Mentioning Marquis Dongxiang and the Ministry of Justice, Su Jin was a bit puzzled.

Her father also went through great lengths to enter the Ministry of Justice, but after so many days, she hadn’t seen him cause any stir there.

With her father’s personality, entering the Ministry of Justice and causing an upheaval would be normal, yet not a ripple was made; it was truly baffling.

Was her father brewing a major storm?

There were two tables set up in the room.

Su Jin accompanied Mrs. Tang for the meal, with Young Master Su joining them.

Su Chong and Chu Shun sat at another table.

Looking at the table full of delicious dishes, their large appetites were aroused.

Compared to Su Chong and the others, Zhou Yan appeared too refined.

“You can’t be like this, you’re too refined,” Prince NanAn said.

“…”.

Back then, they were just as refined.

Upon entering Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, it was like reincarnating as a starving ghost.

Having grown accustomed to gobbling boldly and drinking in large bowls, Zhou Yan’s slow and elegant dining appeared increasingly discordant.

“Eating too fast isn’t good for the stomach,” Zhou Yan said.

“That’s in other places; in Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, eating slowly is worse for your health,” Prince NanAn said.

“Why?” Zhou Yan was confused.

“Because you won’t get enough to eat.”

“…”.

Su Chong looked at Zhou Yan and said, “Just treat Dongxiang Marquis Mansion like your home; we won’t stand on ceremony then.”

With that said, he buried his head down to eat.

Zhou Yan, “…”.

Being swept along, his pace unknowingly quickened.

The maid brought the dishes.

One plate per table.

The color was soy-red, rich with fragrance.

As the dish was placed on the table, a spicy fragrance spread, making mouths water.

“Satisfying!” Prince NanAn said.

“Fat but not greasy, lean but not tough, this rabbit meat is indeed excellent,” Zhou Yan said.

Su Chong instructed the maid, “This braised rabbit dish is done well; have the kitchen make it from time to time.”

“The maid noted it down,” the maid said.

Su Chong’s voice was loud.

Su Jin and Xingxing both heard it.

Su Jin also found the meat dish delicious, but she didn’t know it was rabbit meat.

Xingxing ran outside immediately.

She almost returned crying, “The kitchen braised the two rabbits that Miss bought…”.

Su Jin, “…”.

Mrs. Tang, “…”.

Cough! Cough!

Prince NanAn choked.

The spicy braised rabbit meat made his eyes water.

Mrs. Tang asked, “What happened?”

Chunlan came in after, laughing and crying, “When Xingxing entered the mansion, she handed the two rabbits to a servant.”

“The servant thought they were for eating and sent them to the main kitchen.”

“The main kitchen then braised them,” Chunlan said.

“…”.

Xingxing stared at the plate of rabbit meat.

She really couldn’t associate the dish in front of her with the rabbits she bought today.

Although she was mentally prepared to eventually eat the rabbits, she hadn’t even had them for a few days before they were eaten…

Seeing Xingxing upset, Su Jin intended to console her with a few words.

But then—

She hadn’t even opened her mouth.

The maid had already moved on from her sadness.

“Miss, have some more,” Xingxing said.

“…”.

Su Jin was amused and speechless.

In the end, the remaining half plate of braised rabbit meat ended up in Xingxing’s stomach.

Full and satisfied, they slipped into the front courtyard, got on the carriage, and prepared to return to Duke Mansion.

Sitting inside the carriage, Xingxing rubbed her overstuffed belly.

Su Jin closed her eyes to rest.

Suddenly—

The driver stopped the carriage.

Su Jin’s body lurched forward.

Xingxing lifted the curtain and said, “Why did we stop?”

“There are people fighting in front,” the servant replied.

A glint of gossip flashed across Xingxing’s face.

She quickly scrambled out and saw a man beating up several servants.

Xingxing saw this and said, “Miss, it’s the man we tied to the tree.”

Xingxing got off the carriage and helped Su Jin down.

Xingxing walked over and asked an old lady watching the commotion, “Why are they fighting?”

The old lady said, “This young man was helping a rice shop carry rice. The shop shorted him by three coins, and then a fight broke out.”

Su Jin, “….”

Xingxing, “….”

Su Jin looked at Xingxing.

Is this another mess you’ve caused?

Forcing the master’s hand to sell paintings to make a living, while the guard carries rice to make ends meet.

Xingxing felt a bit guilty.

The guard was skilled in martial arts and quickly knocked the servants to the ground.

He reached out his hand, and the trembling shopkeeper handed over the three coins.

The guard stuffed them casually into his chest.

Just as he was about to turn around, a small hand reached out.

In the palm were three taels of silver.

“For you,” Xingxing said.

The guard was taken aback for a moment.

“I don’t need it,” he said.

“Here, just take it,” Xingxing said.

The guard looked at Xingxing, eyes full of caution, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The guard thought he had shown his martial arts, making Su Jin have demands.

Seeing that he wouldn’t accept it, Xingxing looked back at Su Jin.

Su Jin had a black line across her face.

This is your money.

Rather carry rice to fight for three coins, Xingxing offers him three taels, yet he refuses.

Noble character, someone worth saving.

Xingxing stuffed the silver into his hand, and the man said, “Consider it a loan.”

Xingxing nodded happily.

The man held the silver, feeling something unusual in his heart.

He didn’t expect that even when roaming the streets and struggling for meals, someone would help him. He had indeed met a benefactor.

This girl and her maid were truly kind.

The man thanked them and then asked Su Jin if she knew anyone.

Although the description was quite ordinary, Su Jin knew he was looking for Zhou Yan, and said, “The Young Master Zhou you’re looking for… ”

The man shook his head, “No, I’m looking for Young Master Zhao.”

Su Jin, “….”

Young Master Zhao?

“Zhao Xu?” Su Jin asked.

The man nodded repeatedly, “Yes, he’s my master’s eldest young master.”

Su Jin, “….”

This silly guard.

He’s basically exposed his master’s secrets.

But thinking about yesterday’s situation, Su Jin wiped the black line off her forehead, understanding why Zhao Xu used a fake name to deceive people—it must have scared him witless?

Initially worried that they might not be decent people, and it wouldn’t be safe to place them in Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Since he was praised highly by her father, she felt at ease.

“They’re at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, go find them,” Su Jin said.

The man was overjoyed and thanked them repeatedly.

Su Jin took Xingxing and left in the carriage.

The man, extremely hungry, took the money to eat, preparing to go to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion to find people.

After finishing a meal, he changed his mind and almost lost his life.

While eating, he asked someone about Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

The person questioned looked at him and said, “Why are you asking about Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?”

“I have two friends at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion,” the man replied.

“If they’re really at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, then your two friends are in grave danger.”

“Why do you say that?” The man’s heart tightened.

“You must be from out of town; do you know who the people at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion are?”

The man shook his head.

“Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was titled for the bandit leader of Feihu Village in Qingyun Mountain, fierce and domineering. If your friends fell into their hands, could their lives be spared?” the person sighed.

The man’s joyful mood evaporated into thin air.

He wandered around the entrance of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, not daring to go in.

Waiting until late at night, he climbed over the wall, almost getting beaten to death.

If it weren’t for Dongxiang Marquis Mansion wanting to keep him alive to interrogate who sent him, he would have really lost his life.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep