Chapter 703: Chapter 703: Endure

Su Jin told Marquis Dongxiang about her findings, and Marquis Dongxiang’s face turned frighteningly solemn.

Xingxing was so scared that she hid behind Su Jin.

She had never seen the Marquis so angry before.

Marquis Dongxiang continually blamed himself; it was his fault that Old Duke Chong was harmed.

If he hadn’t wanted to secure the Heir of Duke Chong’s position for Su Chong, the old Duke wouldn’t have been ambushed and poisoned on his way to Qingyun Mountain upon learning that Su Chong was still alive, nearly losing his life.

The old Duke Chong never believed that his eldest grandson had been harmed and fallen to his death.

Back then, Marquis Dongxiang’s actions had directed all suspicion toward Duke Chong, and Old Duke Chong also doubted him.

Thus, for many years, Old Duke Chong refused to establish him as an heir.

After Old Duke Chong was poisoned and bedridden, the title of Duke Chong finally fell into the hands of Duke Chong.

If he had returned just three years earlier, Duke Chong’s Mansion would never have allowed Duke Chong to get involved, let alone turn the court into such chaos.

Marquis Dongxiang closed his eyes, dispelling the coldness from his gaze, then looked at Su Jin and said, “I’m aware of this matter now. I will make sure he obediently hands over the antidote.”

Su Jin had no doubt that Marquis Dongxiang could accomplish this.

Facing her father, Duke Chong didn’t stand a chance.

Su Jin said, “I’m going to find Mother.”

“Your mother has left the mansion; she probably won’t be back for a while,” said Marquis Dongxiang.

“….”

How could it be so untimely?

Her mother seldom went out.

This rare outing, and she happened to miss her.

Princess Fu Yun accompanied the Duchess to the Great Buddha Temple to offer incense; they would return after a while.

Having no choice, Su Jin went to the training ground to watch her younger brother practice the Meihua Pole.

Seeing Su Jin arrive, Young Master Su was delighted, wanting to show off. He sprinted over the Meihua Pole swiftly.

“Young Master is truly impressive,” Xingxing clapped and cheered.

Then—

Young Master Su, overly prideful, fell off from above.

He lay there in a mess, groaning in pain.

Xingxing, “….”

If she had known the Young Master couldn’t take praise, she wouldn’t have praised him.

Su Jin couldn’t bear to watch.

Young Master Shen and the Ninth Prince hurried over to help him up.

Young Master Su spat twice, expelling the sand from his mouth.

His little face was as red as a monkey’s butt.

Young Master Su looked at Su Jin and said, “Sis, the training ground is full of the smell of sweat, don’t let it bother you. I’ll be done in a quarter-hour, then I’ll come to find you.”

Su Jin knew her brother valued his pride; having just fallen, his face couldn’t bear it anymore.

Su Jin encouraged him with a few words, then left with Xingxing.

She took Xingxing towards the garden, not knowing that Mrs. Tang had returned to the mansion earlier than expected.

As Mrs. Tang returned, Mrs. Jiang came up and asked, “Why did Madam return so early?”

“I ran into Madam Wen Yuan, who kept talking to me tiresomely, so I came back,” Mrs. Tang replied.

This was truly puzzling.

She had only ventured out twice recently and encountered Madam Wen Yuan both times.

Moreover, this time Mrs. Tang felt that Madam Wen Yuan was clearly trying to pry information from her, so she couldn’t be bothered and returned from the Beauty Pavilion.

This was Mrs. Tang’s first visit to the Beauty Pavilion, initially planning to join Princess NanAn and the others for Mahjong.

The Duchess Dingguo had been busy preparing a betrothal gift for Right Minister’s Mansion these days, no time to spare. Being one short, Princess NanAn invited her.

Mrs. Tang had always wanted to see what the Beauty Pavilion was like. Finally visiting today, she found it unsatisfactory.

She gave up her Mahjong spot to Madam Wen Yuan and went back home.

Hmm.

This time Madam Wen Yuan lost quite miserably.

The three households of Princess NanAn won against her alone.

Madam Wen Yuan, seeking a position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue for her husband, couldn’t afford to stop.

And so she kept losing.

Due to her heavy losses, a crowd gathered behind her, watching how she squandered her money away.

At first, those noble ladies suspected that Princess NanAn and the others were colluding against Madam Wen Yuan, but after observing a while, their corners of the mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Madam Wen Yuan’s Mahjong skills were appalling.

Winning hands even managed to be lost; whenever they’re short one in the future, they’d call her; she was literally the Money-Spending Maiden.

Finally, it was the maid from the Wenyuan Bo Mansion, who couldn’t bear seeing the money going out like water, who boldly stepped forward and said, “Madam, Uncle has urgent matters asking for you back at the mansion.”

Madam Wen Yuan desperately needed an out, and finally someone provided one, allowing her to graciously step down.

She apologized to Princess NanAn and the others, “There’s something at the mansion; I’ll accompany you for fun another day.”

Princess NanAn and her group, understanding, didn’t expose her, “Let’s arrange it another time then.”

Madam Wen Yuan got up to leave, hurriedly departing.

Upon leaving the Beauty Pavilion, the shopkeeper handed Madam Wen Yuan the bill.

Having borrowed ten thousand taels from the Beauty Pavilion’s counter for Mahjong just now.

Since the amount wasn’t small, the shopkeeper needed to confirm whether the money would be sent over from Wenyuan Bo Mansion or if someone from the Beauty Pavilion should retrieve it?

Madam Wen Yuan swayed a bit, feeling dizzy, never expecting to lose so much.

But the maid fetching the money made no mistakes with the amount.

Losing ten thousand taels of silver so easily; if her husband found out, would he show her a good face?

Might have to use her private funds to cover the loss.

“I’ll send someone,” Madam Wen Yuan said with a darkened face.

Leaving that sentence, she hurried away.

Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Mrs. Tang, still feeling a bit upset, stepped down from the stairs, and Mrs. Jiang smiled, “It’s also good that Madam came back early, Young Lady has returned.”

“Jinjim is back?” Mrs. Tang’s mood suddenly improved.

Walking towards the inner courtyard, she instructed a maid to relay a message to the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes.

After a stroll in the garden, Mrs. Tang accompanied Su Jin to take Old Duke Chong’s pulse, as well as to force some poisoned blood out for later use.

Although Su Chong pushed Old Duke Chong back to Duke Chong’s Mansion that day, he didn’t stay over; he returned to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion instead.

Old Duke Chong’s pulse showed no major differences from before, but this poisoning had caused significant harm to his body, requiring even more care in the future.

Su Jin prepared to return home after having her Back-to-Mansion meal at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, as Duchess of Chong and Princess Fu Yun returned from the Great Buddha Temple.

By chance, Su Jin had just walked to the Marquis Mansion’s gate as their carriage arrived.

Princess Fu Yun, supported by her maid Shanhu, looked weak and feeble. Mrs. Tang saw this and asked, “What’s the matter now?”

“Mom, I’m fine, it’s just that I walked a bit more today and got a little tired,” Princess Fu Yun said.

Mrs. Tang furrowed her brow further.

How could a bit of walking tire you out like this?

Princess Fu Yun didn’t seem frail.

She wasn’t reassured, nor was the Duchess of Chong, “I was about to call for the Imperial Physician; she’s also not seemed very energetic these days.”

Mrs. Tang looked at Su Jin, “Jinjim, take a look at your sister-in-law.”

Su Jin supported Princess Fu Yun back to her room, then sat on a stool by the bed, taking her pulse.

Su Chong strode in quickly, seeing Su Jin withdraw her hand, he hurriedly asked, “Is your sister-in-law fine?”

Su Jin gave Su Chong a glance, sent the maid away, and then looked at him, “Brother, I’m a doctor, so I’ll speak bluntly.”

Su Chong felt his heart skip a beat, a sense of foreboding engulfing him as he steadied his mind and said, “Go ahead, I can handle it.”

“Don’t be too frequent in your bedroom activity.”

“….”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep