Chapter 169: Cheap

Words : 1384 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

The Emperor was flustered and caused the military report to get soaked, making the writing blurry, and some parts were even ruined. Honestly, if it weren’t the Emperor who made such a blunder, the Empress Dowager would really have ordered someone to drag this clumsy person away and behead them. You have Zhang Liang’s clever plan, but others have a ladder to cross the wall. The Empress Dowager’s face turned green with anger, she held back her fury and asked, "Can the military report still be read clearly?" The Emperor looked at it, vaguely able to make out some things, and if he combined what he could see with guessing, he could tell that Marquis Dongxiang had beaten someone. Marquis Dongxiang beating someone? That’s the most normal thing! The Emperor wasn’t surprised at all. If he went to the camp and behaved himself, the Emperor would find it strange. Besides, Marquis Dongxiang beat Duke Chong’s person. As long as they’re still breathing, it’s not a big deal. And then there’s the fact that Marquis Dongxiang had incorporated the bandit army under his command, which was also expected by the Emperor. Otherwise, why would Marquis Dongxiang need six thousand sets of official soldier uniforms? After that, the Emperor couldn’t see clearly anymore... The Emperor sighed and said, "I can’t see it clearly." Eunuch Fu quickly said, "Your Majesty, don’t worry. There’s Duke Zhen at the border; he will surely protect Your Majesty’s domain and nothing will happen." The Emperor looked towards the Empress Dowager and asked, "Does the Empress Dowager have anything for me?" The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, looked at the Emperor, and said, "I have nothing important to discuss with the Emperor. I’ve noticed these days that the Emperor is diligent in state affairs, which is good, but you must also take care of your health and avoid overworking." The Emperor nodded and said, "I have worried the Empress Dowager." The Empress Dowager said a few more words and then, supporting herself with Nanny Li’s hand, turned and left. A little distance away from the Imperial Study, Nanny Li looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "The Empress Dowager, the Emperor clearly soaked the military report on purpose." The Empress Dowager’s face turned dark. The Emperor’s little trick; could it really fool her? Even the military report could be destroyed, so the Emperor was determined to shield the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to the end! Inside the Imperial Study. The Emperor was in a good mood. Eunuch Fu flattered the Emperor, saying, "The Emperor was truly clever just now. I thought this time things would go according to their will." The flattery made the Emperor quite comfortable. He shot a sidelong glance at Eunuch Fu and said, "Stop flattering and clean the Dragon Desk." Eunuch Fu repeatedly agreed. Duke Chong’s Mansion. Duke Chong stepped out of the study, and a servant came over and said, "Duke, the Empress Dowager’s people have arrived." Duke Chong had a headache. The Empress Dowager was overly doting on Princess Nanzhang. Was it necessary to keep following up just because she had been praying in the Buddhist Hall for a few days? Failing to steal a chicken and instead losing rice is embarrassing, but with the face already lost, what difference do a couple more days make? Duke Chong didn’t want to see the Empress Dowager’s people at all. But he couldn’t not see them. "Let him come over," Duke Chong said coldly. Soon, a little eunuch ran over and said, "Duke, the plan failed." Duke Chong frowned. Wasn’t the plan halted? How did it fail? "How did it fail?" Duke Chong asked casually. The little eunuch quickly replied, "The Empress Dowager arrived just in time, but the Emperor guessed the Empress Dowager’s purpose, and intentionally soaked the report with a teacup, making the writing unreadable." Duke Chong, "...!!!" In an instant, Duke Chong’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. His chest was filled with anger, almost suffocating him. The man’s face changed drastically. Apart from reporting Marquis Dongxiang’s tyranny in the military camp, the report also informed the Emperor that those generals couldn’t stop Marquis Dongxiang, and asked the Emperor to give the bandit army under Marquis Dongxiang a name. If the Emperor gave a name, even if the army was called the Flying Tiger Army, the Emperor could change the name. But now! The report got wet by the Emperor, so the Emperor didn’t know about this matter, and there was no way to send an imperial edict to the border to bestow a name. If the edict wasn’t delivered within ten days, the border soldiers would assume the Emperor approved. By that time— The Daqi Dynasty would have another Flying Tiger Army! Duke Chong’s face grew darker and darker, and the communicating eunuch was terrified because he had never seen Duke Chong with such an expression. The man looked at Duke Chong, worried, and asked, "Duke, what should we do now?" The poison of Duke Zhen’s eldest master has been neutralized, and there’s no life danger. However, the matter of the Flying Tiger Army is a big deal. Although Duke Chong’s Mansion belongs to the Duke now, back then, the Heir of Duke Chong was outstanding, and his death left many people regretting. Duke Chong hasn’t escaped the shadow of his brother over these years. Though he is Duke Chong holding the court power, many people have lamented over the years that if the Heir of Duke Chong were alive, today’s court wouldn’t be in such a mess. These rumors; he doesn’t dare to mention them to the Duke, fearing they may anger him and affect his health. If another Flying Tiger Army appeared, it would inevitably remind people of the former Flying Tiger Army commander! The man advised Duke Chong, saying, "The Duke need not be angry; Marquis Dongxiang won’t live to return to the Capital. If he’s gone, that bandit army won’t become a threat." Duke Chong’s anger subsided a bit, and he said, "Whatever the cost, I want to see Xiang Shang’s head of Marquis Dongxiang!" "Yes." Qingping Street, Ice Shop. The steward’s nephew from Duke Chong’s Mansion was doing the accounting while the shop was quiet. It’s not yet summer, so there aren’t many families needing ice; there’s not much to be busy with. A young shop clerk leaned against the door, looking at the silk shop opposite, and asked, "It’s been two days, why isn’t the silk shop open for business yet?" Another clerk came over and said, "What does their business matter to us?" "My mother wants to buy fabric to make clothes; their fabrics are cheap," the clerk laughed. On this street, everyone knows that the ice shop is backed by Duke Chong’s Mansion, so no one dares to provoke them. Thus, everything usually sold here is at particularly low prices. "Could it be they’ve closed for good?" the clerk guessed. "I don’t think so, the shop’s business is good." While they were chatting, another young clerk ran over. From afar one could see his face was bruised. The two clerks were bewildered, "Who hit you?" The young clerk grimaced in pain and said, "It was Prince NanAn’s servant who had me beaten." "Our ice shop doesn’t sell ice to Prince NanAn; why did you provoke him?" the young clerk asked. "How was I supposed to know? I was on my way back after delivering ice and saw someone transporting soil from the silk shop’s backyard. I was curious, so I took a look inside. They were digging an ice cellar in the backyard. I just mentioned they might be trying to compete with our shop, and Prince NanAn’s servant recognized me and had me beaten without saying a word..." The other clerk laughed, "I’ve never seen someone who doesn’t feel embarrassed enough and still seeks humiliation." "It’s more than humiliation; guess what Prince NanAn’s servant said to me," the young clerk said, touching his bruises. "What did he say?" "He said they want our ice shop to close for good." "Close for good? What do they have to make our ice shop close for good?" "What else? Thick skin!" The clerks laughed uncontrollably, drawing the attention of passersby.

Chapter 169: Cheap

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