Chapter 223: Sulking

Words : 1750 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Duke Zhen Country Mansion, in front of the gate. The carriage slowly came to a halt. Xie Jingchen helped Su Jin down from the carriage. Stepping over the threshold, they saw the maids and servants whispering. Xingxing perked up her ears, barely catching a few words: thick-skinned... Seeing Su Jin approach, not only did the maids and servants fall silent, but they also worked even more diligently, doing their tasks with extraordinary care. Do they think pretending will make things okay? Xingxing glared at them one by one. Su Jin’s accumulated prestige was longstanding, and Xingxing was no less. Her glare had quite an impact, scaring the maids and servants into wanting to smack themselves. Why did they have to talk so much? What business was it of theirs that Marquis Dongxiang named his bandit brothers the Flying Tiger Army? They’re minding the affairs of court ministers with their servant’s monthly wages. Qihao Hall. The Old Madam was sitting there eating bird’s nest soup. Princess Nanzhang sat there, her eyes blazing. Second Madam advised, "Elder sister-in-law, don’t be too angry. Didn’t the Emperor refuse to let Marquis Dongxiang Mansion call his bandit army the Flying Tiger Army?" Third Madam gave Second Madam a sidelong glance and said, "With how the Emperor indulges Marquis Dongxiang, if he insists on calling them the Flying Tiger Army, who could do anything about it? In the end, the Emperor would just let them have their way." "Now that Marquis Dongxiang agreed to call them the Su Family Army, and the Flying Tiger Army is already well-known at the border, with their bandit nature, if they were suddenly called the Su Family Army and beat up anyone who did, the name would naturally change." Second Madam cast a glance at Third Madam; there was no need to add fuel to the fire like this. Third Madam inwardly mocked. Is this what they call adding fuel to the fire? Duke Chong wanted to set his ancestral home on fire and was captured alive by Marquis Dongxiang. Duke Chong refused to admit it to his death. Marquis Dongxiang, right in front of Duke Chong, the entire court, and the Emperor, had those eight men in black beheaded, making everyone shiver in their boots. Duke Chong truly was unlucky, never succeeding in anything he did. Third Madam put down her teacup and said, "I remember the young master of Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion has the surname Su, and his given name is Chong. Just hearing his name puts Duke Chong’s Mansion at a disadvantage." "I even think Marquis Dongxiang is targeting Duke Chong. Duke Chong didn’t let the Emperor recruit the bandits from Feihu Village. Marquis Dongxiang acted first and reported later, directly taking the bandits to the border, stealing the court’s military uniforms, joining forces with Marquis Jibei, plus the Duke knows that our Duke Mansion and Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion are related by marriage." "Turning a blind eye, letting the matter slide, but who would have thought Marquis Dongxiang would push his luck and even renamed the bandit army to the Flying Tiger Army. Isn’t that a blatant slap to Duke Chong’s Mansion, a deliberate humiliation?" "That was bad enough, but then they seized Duke Chong’s ancestral home. Although the Heir of Duke Chong lost miserably, I think it might not be without falling into someone’s trap, someone who had already laid it and waiting for the Heir of Duke Chong to fall into it." "Looking at this situation, next Marquee Dongxiang Mansion should ask the Emperor to grant him the title of Great General, seize the military power held by Duke Chong, and after achieving military glory, naturally get enfeoffed as a Duke..." Princess Nanzhang was trembling with anger. Second Madam couldn’t listen any longer and said, "Third sister-in-law, please say less." Third Madam said, "Whether I say it or not, that’s how it is." Second Madam fell silent. Though it’s like that, speaking it out isn’t right. Third Madam curled her lips and said, "The daughter of Marquis Dongxiang entered our Duke Mansion as the Eldest Young Madam some time ago. Can you still not see her vengeful nature?" "Whatever she wants to do, she will certainly accomplish it. Whoever displeases her, she will make them thoroughly unhappy." "For all these years, Duke Chong has always urged the Emperor to send troops to besiege Qingyun Mountain, killing thousands of Marquis Dongxiang’s brothers. How could they not take revenge?" "Moreover, if it weren’t for Duke Chong’s obstruction, the Emperor would have conferred the title of princess upon Marquis Dongxiang’s daughter." "With Marquis Dongxiang’s temper, I believe he won’t stop until Duke Chong is finished." Third Madam, like pouring beans, said whatever came to mind, completely disregarding Princess Nanzhang’s feelings. Kidding aside. Princess Nanzhang usually runs the show. Who can make her upset? It’s because she failed to harm the Eldest Young Madam and accidentally hurt the Old Madam that she relinquished her stewardship over the embroidery room. It’s only been a few days, and she’s starting her tricks again, planning to seize the embroidery room back. For the sake of harmony in Duke Mansion, the Old Madam wouldn’t let her stir things up, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t angry. She just took this opportunity to blow off steam. Before, when the people of Duke Chong’s Mansion went to besiege Qingyun Mountain, although they didn’t destroy Feihu Village, they killed quite a few bandits. Now it seems, this military credit is somewhat exaggerated. Twice, Duke Chong sent people to assassinate, and not only did they not succeed, they couldn’t even escape. It makes Third Madam suspect that Duke Chong was actually sending supplies to Qingyun Mountain instead of suppressing them, seeing it was so impoverished. Su Jin walked past the hanging flower door, walked forward for a while, and then heard the pleasant sound of bells. Xie Jinyu and the others came over, chatting and laughing. The conversation was about the Flying Tiger Army. Although they were still in their mothers’ wombs when the Flying Tiger Army was destroyed, over the years, they had more or less heard about it. Especially now, with Marquis Dongxiang wanting to name his bandit army the Flying Tiger Army, this old matter was dug up again. The older women in the mansion couldn’t help but be angry, telling the young maids about what happened back then. In the words of the old women, it was: Marquis Dongxiang’s bandit army isn’t even fit to carry the shoes of the Heir of Duke Chong’s Flying Tiger Army. Marquis Dongxiang’s move has caused public outrage. "Some people are just arrogant and don’t know their own weight," Xie Jinyu mocked. Su Jin acted like she didn’t hear it and walked forward. Xingxing’s little temper couldn’t hold back. She couldn’t directly confront Xie Jinyu to avoid being called an unruly maid. She indirectly commented— "I wonder if the cactus we replanted last time survived." Xie Jinyu, "...!!!" Su Jin’s mouth twitched. Xingxing’s words were quite sharp. And this sharpness wasn’t one-time; it could be used repeatedly, winning every battle. With just one sentence, she made Xie Jinyu bristle with anger. Xingxing cast a sidelong glance, thinking how dare they call her Marquis arrogant when it’s actually Xie Jinyu who keeps losing face to her young lady? The one most oblivious of her own worth is herself. But for the eldest sister-in-law to say such a thing, she must have weighed herself, although possibly not very accurately. Xie Jinyu gritted her teeth in anger and didn’t even greet Su Jin and Xie Jingchen as she walked away directly. Xie Jinxiu properly curtsied, calling out, "Big Brother, Sister-in-law." Su Jin responded with a smile. Xie Jinxiu then chased after Xie Jinyu. Xie Jinhuan approached, not just greeted, but also said a few more words. "Tomorrow, my mother and I plan to visit the Beauty Pavilion," Xie Jinhuan said. "I hope you like the Beauty Pavilion," Su Jin said courteously. Having said that, Xie Jinhuan was supposed to leave. After all, the three of them always went in and out together. But Xie Jinhuan didn’t leave because last time Su Jin wanted to give them a gold medal, but she didn’t dare take it because of Xie Jinyu’s presence. Having said this, shouldn’t her sister-in-law mention it again? Yet Su Jin didn’t bring it up. Xie Jinhuan said, "Sister-in-law, last time Big Sister glared at me, so I didn’t dare take the discount card. Can you give me one again?" Su Jin said, "Since none of you wanted the gold medal, I sent it back to the Beauty Pavilion to be sold." "Are there none left?" Disappointment flashed in Xie Jinhuan’s eyes. "You’ll have to wait until next year," Su Jin said. Xie Jinhuan looked at Su Jin and asked, "Why wait until next year?" Su Jin curled her lips, "Next year marks the Beauty Pavilion’s first anniversary, and on that day, we’ll release discount cards again. The number sold each year is limited." Scarcity increases value. Miss this opportunity, and there won’t be another. Xie Jinhuan just wanted to shop cheaply, so she spoke up. Once she got the gold medal, she would be with Xie Jinyu again. Giving her the gold medal would only cause herself more trouble, right? Xie Jinhuan walked away with a look of disappointment. Xie Jinyu and Xie Jinxiu stopped at a distance, glaring at Xie Jinhuan, "Are you going to defect?!" Xie Jinhuan said, "What defection? My mother and I are just visiting the Beauty Pavilion tomorrow and wanted to ask Sister-in-law for a gold medal." "You and Second Aunt are going to the Beauty Pavilion?!" Xie Jinyu’s voice sharpened. Xie Jinhuan looked at her and said, "Everyone says the Beauty Pavilion’s products are excellent, making the skin smooth and silky. We’ve always used the best, even tributes, but the Beauty Pavilion’s products are reportedly better. Is it worth it to avoid using them just out of spite?" Xie Jinyu might think so, not fighting for bread but for pride. But why should she join in? Besides, now, except for the Duke Mansion, which noble lady in the Capital doesn’t know how to play mahjong? Without it, there are no common topics. Xie Jinxiu nodded, "Third Sister makes sense. Duke Chong even attended the relocation banquet of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion; us entering the Beauty Pavilion is nothing." Xie Jinyu looked at the two of them, gritting her teeth, "I’m going too tomorrow!"

Chapter 223: Sulking

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