Chapter 114 Doubts

Words : 1468 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 114: Chapter 114 DoubtsChu Shun and the others were curious, but had no way to unearth this secret. However, this secret wasn’t a bad thing for them. Xie Jingchen was their good brother. They were more than happy that Su Jin could save him. Besides, who could figure out the brains of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion family? To restore their daughter’s lost face, they wouldn’t let their son in the house. Is this something a normal family would do? To train Su Chong in martial arts, they didn’t hesitate to beat him harshly. Which family would be willing to treat their eldest son and heir so strictly? Perhaps for Marquis Dongxiang, spending money is an easy task, while learning medicine is not. Just by offending Duke Chong, if he didn’t have medical skills, it would be difficult to survive even a year or two. After Xie Jingchen and Su Jin left, Chu Shun and the other three sat down, each taking a brocade box to see what task had been assigned to them. Looking at the paper in his hand, Chu Shun rubbed his forehead and said, "Our sister-in-law is really something, she even sells charcoal in such various ways." "Mine is honey," said Prince NanAn. "How do you use honey, isn’t it for eating?" asked the Heir of Marquis Beining curiously. "I don’t know, that’s what the paper says. Didn’t Brother Chu say our sister-in-law is refreshingly unique in her boasting style? This paper is blowing everything out of proportion," laughed Prince NanAn. "It might not be boasting," Chu Shun remarked. "... ..." Everyone else looked at him. Chu Shun glanced at the nearly finished Tianxiang Building. Just from the scale of opening this store, she must have some real skills. Not to mention, Marquis Dongxiang dared to strike Duke Chong, dared to rob his Iron Cavalry, and the assassins sent ended up not returning, it’s clear that the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is not to be trifled with. Being a bandit, our sister-in-law’s appearance is no less than that of a noble lady, showing how well they maintain themselves. "To see if it works, why not find someone to try it?" Chu Shun suggested. "Who to try it on?" asked Prince NanAn. Chu Shun and the others looked at him. Prince NanAn felt the formula in his hand was somewhat uncomfortable, "If I try it on my mother, I fear she might kill me." "It’s all edible, at most it won’t have any effect when applied on the face. It shouldn’t be harmful," said the Heir of Marquis Beining. "Then I’ll go back and let my mother try it, and you all do the same," said Prince NanAn. "... ..." At the Duke Mansion, in the Peony Garden. Inside, Princess Nanzhang lay on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch, while her maid used a beauty hammer to tap her legs. A little maid beside them reported the Emperor’s visit to Duke Chong’s Mansion to see Old Duke Chong. Old Duke Chong was so angry he vomited blood, so the Emperor’s visit was reasonable, nothing surprising. But upon hearing Old Duke Chong asking the Emperor not to punish Marquis Dongxiang, Princess Nanzhang’s brows knitted tighter. Mrs. Zhao voiced her surprise, "Seeing the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, why would the Old Duke be so agitated?" Princess Nanzhang couldn’t figure it out either. Mrs. Zhao looked at Princess Nanzhang, "Could it be that the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is...?" She suspected that the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion might be Old Duke Chong’s lost eldest grandson. To get the Old Duke so agitated, it could only be for his missing eldest grandson. "Impossible," Princess Nanzhang said coldly. Though she didn’t know who tried to eliminate her and her son fifteen years ago, if the Duke Chong’s wife had been stabbed another half an inch, she would have been dead. If they could kill even her, would they spare a child? The clothes found at the bottom of the cliff indeed belonged to the Princely Heir of Duke Chong’s Mansion. Regardless of how much Old Duke Chong didn’t want to accept this fact, it couldn’t be changed. The Princely Heir of Duke Chong died without a clear reason, and shortly after his burial, his wife and child had an accident, pushing Duke Chong into a storm. Even she suspected him, but Duke Chong denied it, claiming it had nothing to do with him. Thinking about it, Princess Nanzhang also felt he wouldn’t be so impulsive. With his elder brother dead, who could stand against Duke Chong? There were plenty of opportunities to eliminate their widow and orphan, why act in haste? Eliminating the Princely Heir might be understandable, but why kill the Duke’s wife? So many doubts. But even though Old Duke Chong investigated the murderer for over ten years without results, the matter just faded away. Though she was sure Su Chong couldn’t be Old Duke Chong’s grandson, Old Duke Chong was so agitated upon seeing him, there must be some reason, this must be thoroughly investigated. "These matters are for Duke Chong to worry about, no need to concern yourself too much. Have you completed the task I asked of you?" Princess Nanzhang inquired. "Rest assured, Princess, I’ve already sent someone to monitor, this time we must take that maid’s life," Mrs. Zhao responded. "Do it quickly, take that maid’s life to appease Shouning." "Yes." Princess Nanzhang slowly closed her eyes, allowing the maid to continue tapping her legs. ... ... Inside the Agarwood Pavilion. Su Jin returned to the room, Xingxing followed behind her, a little maid approached and asked, "Have the Eldest Young Madam and Young Master eaten lunch yet?" "Not yet," Xingxing replied. "Quickly have the kitchen prepare and bring it up," Xingxing urged. "If the Eldest Young Madam is hungry, eat some pastries to settle your stomach, the meal will be here soon," the maid said. When Xingxing entered the room, Su Jin was already nibbling on some pastries. Xie Jingchen was drinking tea. Su Jin handed a piece of pastry to him, "Won’t you eat?" "Too sweet," Xie Jingchen declined. "This is sweet?" Su Jin raised an eyebrow. Xingxing came over, and Su Jin handed the pastry to Xingxing casually. Xingxing ate with relish. After eating half, Su Jin slapped her forehead, "How could I forget such an important matter." Xingxing looked at her, mumbling, "Miss, what did you forget?" "My shop still lacks a good chef, there are always pastries needed, and if people want to eat meals, someone has to cook," Su Jin said. "Miss has thought this through; there are many chefs in the mansion, just send one over," Xingxing suggested. "... ..." Xie Jingchen rubbed his forehead, "Better to hire another chef." "Aren’t there enough chefs among the chefs?" Su Jin asked. "... ..." A rare moment, she had some self-awareness. But that’s not the main reason. "The kitchen staff in the mansion have intricate relationships, it’s hard enough entering Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion, but being at your shop might not be as easy," Xie Jingchen explained. Su Jin was momentarily stunned. "You’re right, if one with ill intentions unintentionally ends up at my shop, it wouldn’t be good. But I wonder if it’s hard to hire a chef with good culinary skills?" Su Jin said as she nibbled on a pastry. "It’s not easy," Xie Jingchen replied. In the Capital City, where elites gather, chefs with good skills are in short supply. "We can recruit the Imperial Chefs," Xingxing suggested. "... ..." "Where to recruit Imperial Chefs?" Su Jin chuckled. "From the palace, of course." "... ..." Is she addicted to robbing the Emperor? Su Jin looked exasperated. But what Xingxing said next made her feel it wasn’t a bad idea. "Madam said the Emperor often executes Imperial Chefs. If we wait outside the Imperial Study, when the Emperor is angry, Miss could go in and plead, and the Emperor might just give the Imperial Chef to Miss," Xingxing suggested. "... ..." "How does my mother know the Emperor often executes Imperial Chefs?" Su Jin curiously asked. "On a prior occasion, when Miss was in the palace, she witnessed the Emperor about to punish an Imperial Chef because the dish wasn’t to his taste. Miss pleaded for the chef, and the Emperor spared him." "After returning to the Marquis Mansion, when Madam asked, Miss said the Emperor was brutal, the dish was delicious, still wanting to execute the chef. Miss even joked that if Madam cooked the meals, even a hundred heads wouldn’t be enough for the Emperor to cut." "Madam glared at Miss and said that serving an Emperor is like accompanying a tiger. The Emperor would easily execute five or six Imperial Chefs a year, so standing outside the Imperial Study would surely yield results," Xingxing said with certainty. "... ..."

Chapter 114 Doubts

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