Chapter 221 Staircase

Words : 1422 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

The sonorous and powerful voice resonated over the banquet, lingering for a long time. The Emperor’s face was grim. Duke Chong’s face was even grimmer. He looked at Marquis Dongxiang and said coldly, "Defying an imperial edict is a capital offense!" Mrs. Tang stood up, walked to Marquis Dongxiang’s side, and said with a smile, "You are just too obstinate; what harm is there in a name?" "Just let the brothers from Feihu Village start as the Su Family Army. When they become invincible and the Emperor thinks they can be compared to the Flying Tiger Army led by the Heir of Duke Chong fifteen years ago, he will naturally grant them the name Flying Tiger Army." "To go from rejection to recognition, it takes outstanding military achievements, not mere words." Mrs. Tang’s voice was gentle, akin to willows gently brushing the surface of a lake, creating ripples. What she said was what the entire court of civil and military officials wanted to say. Now that it came from the mouth of a bandit’s wife, it somehow tasted different. They said it was contempt. Mrs. Tang said it was confidence. Today they might not agree, but their impressive military achievements would slap their faces. This ladder— was for the Emperor, also for Marquis Dongxiang. The Emperor knew that Marquis Dongxiang named the army Flying Tiger to commemorate Feihu Village. If it hadn’t been for that Flying Tiger Army fifteen years ago. The Emperor would not have objected. Moreover, he hoped that Marquis Dongxiang could become a sharp blade in his hands to cut down Duke Chong’s power at court. The Emperor descended the ladder, saying, "As long as they can live up to the name of the Flying Tiger Army, I will personally inscribe the name!" "Good!" "It’s a deal!" Marquis Dongxiang’s voice was robust, like the morning bell and the evening drum. Duke Chong sneered coldly. A group of ragtag people also wished to be compared to the Flying Tiger Army. First, they occupied Duke Chong’s Mansion, then they snatched the name of the Flying Tiger Army. Does he also want to take his ducal title?! Duke Chong sat down to drink. Today was the grand day of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s housewarming; he would certainly send a gift! In the dark and sunless secret passage. Eight men in black walked quietly with cans of oil in their hands. Then they gradually dispersed, moving in pairs. The door of the secret passage opened, and the light was dazzling. The men in black instinctively shielded their eyes. A cloud of knockout powder was sprinkled towards them. Before they could react, their bodies had already gone limp. The servants of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion swiftly took the oil barrels, and the men in black collapsed. The servant kicked the fallen men in black in anger. They arrived slowly as if walking. They had really tested their patience! The servant looked at the barrel of kerosene, genuinely admiring Duke Chong’s devious tactics. With the Emperor’s respect for Old Duke Chong, if there was a fire at Duke Chong’s Mansion on the day of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s housewarming banquet, the Emperor and the court officials would certainly use the reason that the mansion’s feng shui clashes with Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, to make them move out. Once they moved, the burned mansion would naturally return to Duke Chong’s Mansion. With money, it could be restored in less than a month. The plan was good, but unfortunately, it met with their Marquis; such a little trick was not enough. Duke Chong patiently waited. Waited and waited again. Still didn’t hear the servant shout ’fire.’ He became a bit unsettled. Because the Emperor was about to return to the palace. Once the Emperor left, the officials would also leave, and the impact of setting the fire after would not be the same. Eunuch Fu called out, "The Emperor is returning to the palace!" The officials stood up and knelt to send off the Emperor respectfully. Marquis Dongxiang escorted the Emperor out of the mansion and boarded the imperial chariot to leave. As the Emperor walked ahead, the steward of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion asked, "Have you recorded all the gifts the officials sent?" "All recorded," replied the servant. "Don’t forget to record the eight men in black and eight barrels of oil sent by Duke Chong’s Mansion on the account book," Steward Lin said. The Emperor, "..." The officials, "..." They had never seen someone make an accusation so brazen yet subtle. The men in black, tightly bound and gagged, looked truly pitiful on the ground. Duke Chong’s face turned green with anger, cold air emanating from him. Marquis Dongxiang said with a smile, "Today is the grand day of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s housewarming; whatever the guests send, I will accept without exception. But the gift from Duke Chong is rather unique; I must think carefully about what to gift you in return." Princess Nanzhang said with a somber face, "In front of the Emperor and the officials, Marquis Dongxiang publicly slanders Duke Chong like this; what are your intentions?!" "Slander?" Marquis Dongxiang smiled. "These eight men in black planning to burn down Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, I originally intended for Duke Chong to take back. Since they are not, then take them out and execute them." Steward Lin brought the servants to drag the men in black out of Duke Chong’s Mansion. Duke Chong clenched his fist tightly. One of the madams said, "Today is the grand day of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s housewarming; seeing blood is inauspicious." Mrs. Tang said gently, "Dongxiang Marquis Mansion has moved in for a few days already; it’s just a supplementary banquet. We in Qingyun Mountain don’t have so many rules." The servant raised the knife and brought it down, sealing the throats of the eight men in black with a single stroke. The Emperor frowned slightly but said nothing. The ministers were apprehensive, feeling that Marquis Dongxiang was truly ruthless and domineering. The Emperor boarded the imperial chariot to leave. The officials bid their farewells one after another. Su Chong looked around. Chu Shun saw and asked, "Who are you looking for?" "Where are the two young masters from Jibei Marquis Mansion?" Su Chong asked. "They left early," Prince NanAn replied with a wry expression. "No way, before they were laughing and chatting, and they even wanted to host a banquet. Our relations were so well, they left without saying a word," Su Chong was quite dissatisfied. Chu Shun held his forehead and said, "You already said that was before." Su Chong, "..." "It was only half an hour ago, really, do two grown men need to fall out so quickly?" Su Chong twitched. "It’s already not bad that they didn’t fall out on the spot," said the Heir of Marquis Beining. Su Chong looked at him, "What happened?" The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo patted Su Chong on the shoulder and said, "Because your father conscripted your Qingyun Mountain brothers into the army and named it the Flying Tiger Army." "What does it have to do with them?" Su Chong was puzzled. "Their second uncle, the second master of Jibei Marquis Mansion, was the former Deputy General of the Flying Tiger Army, not only brave and skillful in war but also a legendary figure..." "This made them recall sad memories?" Su Chong asked. "..." What sad memories?! They felt you Qingyun Mountain bandits insulted their second uncle. The explanation was so troublesome. Heart so tired. Su Chong sighed, "I had thought there could be two more friends, didn’t expect to lose them just like that." Friends? It’s good enough not to become enemies. But thinking of the training at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, those Hundred-step Piercing Willow archery skills— Prince NanAn and the others exchanged glances. Those training sessions were more than ten times more rigorous than military training. Was Marquis Dongxiang really planning to recreate the legend of the Flying Tiger Army from fifteen years ago? They also wanted to become figures like the Heir of Duke Chong, leading an invincible army, dominating the battlefield. But they had only ever thought about it and never planned to do it. And they couldn’t do it either. The Flying Tiger Army was the elite chosen from two hundred thousand troops, creating just one Flying Tiger Army. The other units were considerably weaker. Since the Flying Tiger Army’s complete annihilation, no one dared suggest such a notion. Because everyone knew that even if proposed, no one would agree.

Chapter 221 Staircase

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