Chapter 218 Self-Awareness

Words : 1456 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Peony Garden. Princess Nanzhang sat angrily on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch. The maid was cleaning up the shattered teacup pieces on the floor. Accidentally cutting her hand, she sucked on her finger, tears streaming down her face, yet she dared not make a sound. Mrs. Zhao was persuading Princess Nanzhang to calm down. Outside, another maid entered. Mrs. Zhao asked, "Did you find out anything?" The maid was none other than the sister of a servant whom Su Jin didn’t want, a third-class maid of the Peony Garden. The maid, trembling, said, "My brother said when he entered the room, he smelled a faint scent, which made his mind go dizzy, and he fell after taking just a few steps. He saw nothing." Even if he had seen something, he wouldn’t dare say it. The Eldest Young Madam had beaten him with twenty strokes, considering they still knew their place. If she had really been angered, there would have been no good outcome. "Nonsense!" Mrs. Zhao scolded. The maid knelt to apologize for her brother. Mrs. Zhao said, "Retreat now!" The maid quickly got up. Princess Nanzhang clenched her fist, "That female bandit must have predicted I wouldn’t give up easily, so she prepared accordingly!" "The more it is like this, the more it proves there’s something wrong with her bamboo house!" she said through gritted teeth. This statement made Mrs. Zhao tremble with fear. She was afraid that Princess Nanzhang wouldn’t give up and would continue to send people to investigate the Eldest Young Madam. This was already the second time being thwarted by the Eldest Young Madam, and each time, they lost heavily. Princess Nanzhang wasn’t afraid, but Mrs. Zhao was. "Princess, better let the Duke handle Marquis Dongxiang. Once Marquis Dongxiang falls, the Eldest Young Madam won’t rise," Mrs. Zhao advised. "Can we count on Duke Chong’s Mansion?!" Princess Nanzhang asked in disappointment. They had sworn not to let Marquis Dongxiang return to the Capital alive. And the result?! Not only did he return alive! But he also came back vigorous and energetic, stepping on them till they couldn’t breathe! They were only capable of spoiling things! Thinking of being forced to go to Duke Chong’s Mansion to attend the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s relocation feast, Princess Nanzhang felt her insides burning with rage. ... In the coming days, Su Jin did not leave Duke Zhen’s Mansion. The Beauty Pavilion had opened, an ice shop before it, and next, they planned to launch the pharmacy in one go. Afterward, she could enjoy leisurely days counting money. In the past few days, Su Jin had been pondering over the pharmacy’s launch. The pharmacy did not need to be torn down and rebuilt, but it required some remodeling. Su Jin drew a design plan and, combined with the items to be sold in the shop, had been busy for four whole days and was still not done. ... On this day, Su Jin had to go out. She had been waiting for this day. Because today was the day of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s relocation feast. Waking up early, Xingxing helped Su Jin get dressed in a sky-blue dress, her beauty seemed almost otherworldly. After breakfast, Su Jin, accompanied by Xingxing, went to Qihao Hall to pay her respects. Princess Nanzhang was not at Qihao Hall. Su Jin then made a special trip to Peony Garden. She paid her respects to Princess Nanzhang and then said, "At the Marquis Mansion, only my mother is hosting the guests, so I must return to help her. I will not accompany Mother this time." There was no one willing to go with her anyway. In fact, no one was willing to go to Marquis Dongxiang Mansion. Princess Nanzhang responded with a faint acknowledgment. Su Jin took her leave with Xingxing. She got into a carriage and headed straight to Marquis Dongxiang Mansion. Su Jin was really afraid Mrs. Tang would tire herself, so she hurried back to help. Yet faced with the deserted Marquis Mansion. Su Jin was a bit stupefied. Mrs. Tang was leisurely drinking tea. Su Jin looked at her, "Mother, did I remember wrongly, isn’t today the day for the Marquis Mansion’s relocation feast?" "You remember correctly, it’s today," Xingxing said. She was a bit worried, "It won’t be like last time where no one came, will it?" Last time the mansion prepared a lot of delicious food, but no one came. The servants in the mansion ate carelessly, so much they could hardly move. Getting stuffed was one thing, but at least nothing went to waste; the problem was losing face. Mrs. Tang smiled and said, "They will definitely give your father face, but they are all considerate and sympathetic towards your mother, so none of them arrived early, which is a good thing." Su Jin, "...." Her mother was really good at self-consolation. Clearly, those ministers and madams were afraid to come early, afraid of facing her mother alone, who was once the Mountain Bandit’s Madam from Qingyun Mountain, or even more, the one who could tame the fierce and overbearing Marquis Dongxiang into submission. If they accidentally displeased her mother, they would invite trouble. As long as they didn’t miss the time for the banquet, it wouldn’t be considered disrespectful or looking down on the Marquis Dongxiang Mansion. Su Jin chatted idly with Mrs. Tang. After two quarters of an hour, people started arriving. The first to arrive were Prince NanAn, Marquis Jingguo, Marquis Beining, and the elder from Duke Dingguo’s mansion, along with their wives. Marquis Dongxiang and Mrs. Tang personally greeted them at the door. Everyone sat together chatting idly. Princess Consort NanAn, having not seen her son for a long time, missed him and asked, "Has my son left the mansion?" "Didn’t you send someone to inform the Eldest Young Master?" Mrs. Tang asked. "It’s already been reported," said a servant. A servant came in and said, "The Commandery Prince and the others are in the study reading, saying they’ll come to pay their respects later." "So diligent?" "Is the sun rising from the west today?" Princess Consort NanAn asked in surprise. That son of hers, he spends less time reading than the books spend looking at him. Prince NanAn laughed and said, "It’s thanks to Marquis Dongxiang’s good teaching." Marquis Dongxiang waved with a smile, "I dare not take the credit, it’s their own initiative." "Yes, today they are especially self-motivated." Prince NanAn, "...." This wasn’t self-motivation. It was an excuse to avoid seeing them, it seemed he was still upset about his declaration of wanting to cut ties with him. As his father, he was "forced" to sever ties with his son and wasn’t angry; instead, his son had a big temper. Anyway, if he didn’t see him, he didn’t see him; a few days of not seeing each other, and his son wouldn’t have changed. Gradually, more ministers arrived. Not only did the ministers appear, but their wives were also present. However, without exception, none of them brought their daughters. In such a setting, not bringing them was understandable, but knowing the Emperor would be present, yet not a single young lady came to join the gathering, was quite unusual. Those who wished to enter the royal palace and have their daughters become the Emperor’s daughter-in-law shouldn’t miss such a good opportunity. Xingxing whispered, "Miss, are they afraid the Eldest Young Master will take a liking to their daughters and snatch them as brides, so they dare not bring their daughters?" "You’ve got it figured out," Su Jin said, holding her forehead. "...." In the tree, Chu Shun and others watched the scene unfold. They wore masks, appearing somewhat mysterious. Chu Shun patted Su Chong’s shoulder and said, "Brother Su, it looks like you’ll have to resort to grabbing a wife on the street." Su Chong, with a frustrated look, said, "Will not marrying a wife kill me?" "It will," said the Commandery Prince NanAn. "...." "Who has been misleading you?" Su Chong asked, looking at him. The Commandery Prince NanAn glanced at him and said, "I am the sole heir of Prince NanAn Mansion. If I don’t marry and continue the lineage, it’ll end with me." "My father said it would be better for the lineage to end with him rather than with me," the Commandery Prince NanAn said, looking despondent. Facing the pressure to have a son even before having someone in mind. Chu Shun laughed and said, "Even the eldest sister-in-law grabbed a husband, let alone Brother Su." Su Chong glanced at Chu Shun, "My sister is so lucky, she snagged a husband who was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. With my bad luck, don’t even think about it."

Chapter 218 Self-Awareness

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