Chapter 212: Secret Room

Words : 1505 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Shoes stepping over pastries, it’s easy to find where the secret passage entrance is. Right behind the antique shelf. The servant found the vase and turned it gently. The antique shelf moved aside. Young Master Su felt a pang of regret. Why didn’t he think a bit more? He discovered the secret passage by himself. He could sneak out every now and then, come back unnoticed. Just as he thought that, he heard Marquis Dongxiang say, "Hmm, not only can you sneak out to play, but if you encounter an assassin in the secret passage, you don’t even need to walk out by yourself." Young Master Su, "...." "Dad, I’m still young, can you say something I can understand?" Young Master Su blinked and said. "Who taught you the skill to play dumb?" Marquis Dongxiang asked. "...." "Of course it’s you, Dad, you’ve taught by example," Young Master Su said. "...." Marquis Dongxiang looked over. Young Master Su hid behind Xie Jingchen. The antique shelf moved away, revealing a rotating door. Marquis Dongxiang lifted his foot to go inside. The servant said, "My Lord, let me go first." "No need." Marquis Dongxiang went inside. After just a few steps, he was dazzled by the glittering golden light. "So much gold!" Young Master Su pounced on a chest full of gold ingots. By mistake, he stumbled into the treasure room of Duke Chong’s Mansion. Marquis Dongxiang frowned slightly. The servant looked around and said to Marquis Dongxiang, "My Lord, there’s no other exit." "This should just be a treasure room," Marquis Dongxiang said. "Let’s go out and keep looking," he said. If this were the entry and exit for a secret passage, in one night’s time, it would be enough for Duke Chong to have these things moved away. Young Master Su quickly stuffed a gold ingot into his bosom. "Put it down," Marquis Dongxiang said sternly. "I’m just taking a few ingots," Young Master Su said. "You’re still young, copper coins are enough for you," Marquis Dongxiang said. "...." Does being young have anything to do with using copper coins? Does it? Young Master Su looked at the gold ingot in his hand with some reluctance. But he still put the gold ingot back. Because he realized that saying he had grown up, the hardships he endured would bring more pain than spending money would bring joy. Besides, there was nowhere to spend money since he couldn’t get out, so it’s not worth it as he grew up. Young Master Su walked away, looking back every three steps. As Young Master Su left the treasure room, Marquis Dongxiang drew out the Soft Sword hidden at his waist and leapt back. Young Master Su turned around to see his dad fighting with a man in black. Xie Jingchen knew Marquis Dongxiang was skilled in martial arts, but only by watching him fight did he realize just how skilled he was. Within ten moves, the man in black already had several wounds. The man in black’s eyes were cold. Just as Marquis Dongxiang thought he would charge at him— The assassin moved his sword to stab his own chest. Marquis Dongxiang’s face changed. He rushed over. The assassin’s sword turned. Soon, his chest was a blooming red. The assassin fell to the ground. The sound of his fall echoed. Marquis Dongxiang pulled out the sword, and from the assassin’s bosom, he took out a letter. Unfortunately, the letter was pierced by the sword and soaked with blood. Barely visible were a few words, two of which were— Nanliang. Marquis Dongxiang’s hand clenched, the veins on his forehead popping out. ... Outside the study, at the pavilion, Su Chong and the others were getting a bit anxious. They didn’t know what Father and Brother-in-law were talking about, why no one had come out for so long. "You all sit here, I’ll go take a look," Su Chong said. He got up and went towards the study. Just as he reached the courtyard gate, he saw two servants carrying out the corpse of the man in black. Su Chong, "...." Young Master Su followed behind. He had a gloomy expression. "What happened?" Su Chong asked. "It was really dangerous just now. If I hadn’t been observant, there’s an eight or nine chance I would have been taken hostage," Young Master Su said. The study only contained the secret room, not a passage. He wanted to read in the study, the man in black discovered the study only had him there, he would certainly come out. He was so young, surely no match for the man in black. Of course. That wasn’t the reason for his gloom. The reason he was glum was— "I finally made some achievements, but since Dad was in a bad mood, I didn’t even dare to ask for a reward," Young Master Su lamented about his lack of both wealth and freedom. "Why is Dad upset? The assassin is dead, isn’t he?" Su Chong asked, puzzled. "The assassin was someone from Duke Chong, he came back for a letter, but unfortunately, the cunning assassin destroyed it," Young Master Su said. "After Dad read the letter, he looked like he wanted to kill someone." "...." In the study, Marquis Dongxiang sat at the desk. The blood-stained letter lay right in front of him. His fist remained clenched, the veins on the back of his hand distinct. After a long while. He finally relaxed his hand. His expression improved slightly. Xie Jingchen, who hadn’t left, asked, "I wonder why Father-in-law sought your son-in-law...?" "Introduce the doctor who detoxified you to the Emperor," Marquis Dongxiang said. "...." Xie Jingchen frowned. Introduce Su Jin to the Emperor? Would the Emperor believe she has medical skills? Besides, he hadn’t heard of the Emperor being ill and needing a doctor. Moreover, why didn’t Father-in-law speak to the Emperor directly? Outside, footsteps approached. Mrs. Tang walked in. With her came Su Chong. "Did anything happen?" Mrs. Tang asked anxiously. "Nothing much, it’s just that there’s a secret passage in Duke Chong’s Mansion, and I’m not at ease until I find it," Marquis Dongxiang said. Yesterday, after Duke Chong’s men moved out. The servants searched inside and out to ensure no one remained. Marquis Dongxiang Mansion has always been well-guarded, it couldn’t have allowed someone to sneak in unnoticed, let alone reach the study without being noticed. The only explanation is that there is a secret passage. If it’s not found and sealed, it could cause endless trouble. "I’ll take some men and search," Su Chong said. "Come back!" Marquis Dongxiang stopped him. Su Chong turned to look at him. "I’ll handle this personally, escort your mother back," Marquis Dongxiang said. Su Chong then supported Mrs. Tang out of the study. In the study, Marquis Dongxiang got up, found the layout map of Duke Chong’s Mansion. After glancing at it, he tucked it into his bosom. And then— He vaulted the wall to find Old Duke Chong. No one knows Duke Chong’s Mansion better than Old Duke Chong himself. ... Just as Mrs. Tang left the courtyard, Young Master Su ran over and said, "Mom, I did a good deed today, can you talk to Dad and let me go out to play once?" "There’s no need to tell your dad, Mom agrees," Mrs. Tang smiled. Young Master Su was thrilled. That unlucky assassin turned out to be his lucky star. In the pavilion. Su Jin sat there, looking at Chu Shun and the others, "Did you have something you wanted to say to me?" Just now she had accompanied Mrs. Tang to the study, but Su Chong said Chu Shun and the others had something to discuss with her. So Mrs. Tang wouldn’t let her accompany any longer. Chu Shun said, "Sister-in-law, we have a strong suggestion for you." "What suggestion?" Su Jin raised her eyebrows. "You shouldn’t just think about earning money from the noble ladies and fine women of the Capital, but also from us noble sons," Chu Shun said. "...." "Right, there must be equality," Prince NanAn said. "...." Su Jin couldn’t help but laugh. They were dissatisfied with the words "Men Forbidden." "I’m a woman, I only know about things women like," Su Jin said. "We are men, if you don’t understand you can ask us," Prince NanAn said. "What do men like?" Su Jin asked. "Nothing but power, money, beautiful women, and delicious food," Prince NanAn said. Su Jin nodded. "If you like power, you can enter the court as an official." "If you like money, then do business." "If you like beauties, there are many brothels in the Capital," Su Jin said. "As for food, the Capital Restaurant has even more." "...." Prince NanAn and the others were speechless. "We meant a place like the Beauty Pavilion where you can enjoy a whole day," Prince NanAn said. Xingxing laughed, "You can go to the barracks, not only for one whole day, but you could play for years." "And possibly play yourself out," Chu Shun said wryly. Xingxing, "...."

Chapter 212: Secret Room

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