Chapter 163 Rest Assured

Words : 1524 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Eunuch Fu was a bit perplexed. He hadn’t been robbed by Marquis Dongxiang. He had been robbed by the Emperor. Robbed of the hundred taels meant for those working for Marquis Dongxiang. Marquis Dongxiang’s people sent a message back to the Capital City, but instead of delivering it to the palace, they sent it to Duke Chong’s Mansion first. Moreover, the letter delivered to Duke Chong was neatly packaged, while the one for the Emperor was just thrown together carelessly. Were it not for the fact that Marquis Dongxiang had once broken Duke Chong’s ribs and stolen five hundred of his horses, making them sworn enemies, Eunuch Fu would have suspected Marquis Dongxiang and Duke Chong were in cahoots. Suppressing the pain in his heart, Eunuch Fu went back and took out a hundred taels to give to the guard. The guard accepted the silver and then thanked him, "Thank Emperor and Eunuch Fu for the reward." Eunuch Fu silently uttered, "How much did Duke Chong reward you?" "Ten taels," the guard replied. "...." Instantly, Eunuch Fu felt balanced in his heart. Although Duke Chong did not reward as much as he did, Duke Chong had it worse. At least he had just scolded the people of Marquis Dongxiang. Duke Chong, on the other hand, was played like a fiddle by Marquis Dongxiang, secretly pleased, and tipped Marquis Dongxiang’s people. If Duke Chong knew, he would be so angry he’d vomit blood. The Emperor, recalling the grain and grass, asked, "Has that batch been delivered to the military camp?" The guard, "...." The guard had a dark look across his face. Marquis said the Emperor was a bit naive. It seemed it wasn’t out of mere prejudice against the Emperor but was indeed the truth. He’d said he was Marquis’s man, yet the Emperor still asked him about the grain and grass. If the Marquis had pocketed the grain and grass, would he report it truthfully? Looking at the Emperor, the guard asked, "Does the Emperor not know about the grain and grass?" The Emperor, "...." Eunuch Fu, "...." Indeed. If this wasn’t Marquis Dongxiang’s man, Eunuch Fu would really want to urge the Emperor to reward him with a thrashing. If the Emperor knew about the grain and grass, would he still ask? The guard suddenly realized, "I forgot, the people the Emperor sent earlier to watch over the grain and grass were persuaded by the Marquis to help transport them." The Emperor, "...!!!" Eunuch Fu, "...!!!" Eunuch Fu looked nervously at the Emperor, afraid that he’d get so angry he’d vomit blood. The Emperor had specifically assigned trusted aides to oversee the grain and grass, instructing them to send a letter every two days at the very least to reassure him. Ever since the Emperor got stung by a wasp, communication had ceased. The Emperor was increasingly worried they might have met with misfortune. Never, expected, this! They had been persuaded by Marquis Dongxiang to help deliver the grain and grass! Marquis Dongxiang had so many people under him, did he really need a few more?! Seeing the Emperor fuming, the guard said, "Emperor, please don’t be angry. Those Hidden Guards are truly loyal to you, but were forced by Duke Chong." The Emperor’s brows tightened, "Forced by Duke Chong?" "Indeed, the letters that those Hidden Guards sent back were intercepted by Duke Chong’s people. They wanted to report back to the Capital City in person, but the Marquis was worried Duke Chong would silence them, so he persuaded them to head to the border together. After all, the Emperor’s mission for them was to keep an eye on the grain and grass; once it’s delivered to the border, their task is considered completed," the guard said. "Why would Duke Chong want to kill the Emperor’s Hidden Guards?" Eunuch Fu was genuinely confused. Regarding the grain and grass matter— Duke Chong and the Emperor were on the same side! The guard cleared his throat and said, "The Marquis instructed that if the Emperor asks, it means he’s been completely kept in the dark by Duke Chong. He also told us not to mention it; he’ll return to the Capital City soon and let the Emperor watch the show unfold." After a pause, the guard added, "The Marquis said watching the show isn’t for free, so the Emperor should prepare rewards, the more the better." The Emperor, "...!!!" Eunuch Fu, "...!!!" He wanted to know the news about the grain and grass. Specifically instructed the guard not to tell him. And then have the guard relay a message to prepare rewards. The Emperor was so angry his face turned green, "I’ve prepared a hundred lashes for him, will that be enough?" The guard, "...." The guard hesitated to speak. Eunuch Fu then said, "Speak your mind!" The guard quietly said, "When the Marquis instructed us, there was a brother who said the Emperor would reward the Marquis with lashes, to which the Marquis laughed and said, ’Lashes are fine too, if the Emperor doesn’t mind the trouble, I’ll take you and carry the lashes made of gold and silver out of the palace’..." The Emperor almost choked on his breath. Eunuch Fu quickly waved his hand, "Quickly retreat." Marquis Dongxiang truly is extraordinary. Even while in the Capital City, he can provoke the Emperor to fury through messages relayed by a guard. Does he hold a grudge against the Emperor? How can talking to the Emperor make the Emperor so angry, what did he say? The Emperor was quite upset, and Eunuch Fu advised, "Emperor, Duke Chong not allowing the Hidden Guards to send you messages indicates that Marquis Dongxiang has caught him in something again; this is good news." "It’s good news, but I still want to reward him with lashes!" the Emperor said angrily. Speaking of lashes, the Emperor recalled the mention of the gold and silver-crafted lashes by the guard. The Emperor felt pain in his chest from anger. If he were to reward Marquis Dongxiang with fifty lashes, he would have to ask the Imperial Workshop to prepare fifty whips... Eunuch Fu persuaded the Emperor for quite a while before he calmed down. Eunuch Fu said, "Emperor, regarding General Xie’s poison being mostly cured, given that Duke Chong has kept it hidden, he won’t inform the Duke Zhen’s Mansion, perhaps the Old Madam and others will be worried sick." Eunuch Fu was not worried Princess Nanzhang wouldn’t know. Duke Chong would surely tell her, but maybe not the others. The Emperor pondered and said, "Summon the eldest young master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to the palace." After giving the order, the Emperor added, "It’s best not to summon the eldest young madam." The eunuch, "..." Was the Emperor afraid of the destructive power of the youngest surwives intending the duke of zhen’s mansion? These days subsisting on porridge and pickles, he’s feeling a bit weary too. Agarwood Pavilion, the backyard. Inside the bamboo house, Su Jin was rummaging through drawers. Taking note of the missing medicine ingredients, preparing to have the Hidden Guards purchase them. A hidden guard came in and asked, "Eldest Young Madam, the eldest young master’s poison has been mostly cured; if he leaves for a while, will there be any adverse effects?" Su Jin turned to look at the hidden guard and said, "Is your eldest young master planning to go to the border?" "The eldest young master is worried and wants to check the border," the hidden guard replied. "If you take me, there’s no issue; if not, the consequences are hard to estimate," Su Jin said. "Why?" The hidden guard was puzzled. "Do you still need to ask?" Xingxing said. "If my young master leaves, leaving my lady and me to face all those people in Duke Zhen’s Mansion, is my young master assured?" Xingxing asked. The hidden guard, "...." The hidden guard quietly said, "Eldest Young Madam is kind-hearted; even if the eldest young master isn’t present, she wouldn’t bully the others too badly, right?" Xingxing, "...." Su Jin, "...." "Aren’t you worried about what if?" Xingxing asked. "...." "Even if someone is bullied to death, the eldest young master wouldn’t blame the Eldest Young Madam," the hidden guard said. "...." Xingxing conceded. Su Jin nearly spat blood. Are they really that ruthless?! They could talk past each other half delightedly any longer. Su Jin looked at the hidden guard and said, "Go tell your eldest young master that he’s to go find his father, and I’ll find mine; if he doesn’t want to travel with me, then detour." The hidden guard, "...." Xie Jingchen ascended the steps just in time to hear this sentence. He held his forehead, "The way to the border is long and tough, you can’t endure it." Su Jin looked at him and said, "You don’t understand medical skills; going to the border is a waste. I, on the other hand, am the one who should go to the border the most." Xie Jingchen, "...." Xingxing nodded, "Exactly, the young master should stay behind, and my lady and I should go to the border to save the old master." Su Jin, "...." Xie Jingchen, "...."

Chapter 163 Rest Assured

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