Chapter 264: Coward

Words : 1438 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

The Empress Dowager was being supported by Nanny Li as she walked.The Emperor’s tone was gentle, but it was clear he intended to reprimand and punish the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was shaking with anger, to the point where she could barely move her steps. Watching the Empress Dowager leave, Eunuch Fu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The Empress had rewarded the Eldest Young Madam of the Duke Zhen’s Mansion, causing the entire Duke Zhen’s Mansion to suffer misfortune. The Empress Dowager rewarded the Eldest Young Madam of the Duke Zhen’s Mansion, resulting in Mr. Liu’s downfall, the loss of a bracelet, and implicating Duke Chong with a salary penalty. To be honest. The Empress Dowager’s tactics were far superior to those of the Empress. Using squid ink to write the land deed, whoever it ended up with would suffer a hidden loss, but the Eldest Young Madam of the Duke Zhen’s Mansion came out victorious. Eunuch Fu suspected whether the squid ink trick was a leftover scheme from Qingyun Mountain... Just like last time when the Heir of Duke Chong gambled with the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, directly sending it to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion. They are bandits who occupy the mountains as kings. Playing these inferior tricks with them is just like showing off one’s skills in front of an expert and inviting humiliation. The Emperor’s gaze shifted from the torn land deed on the Dragon Desk to Su Jin’s face. "You’ve become more sensible than before," the Emperor said with satisfaction. Although, in the end, the Empress Dowager still suffered misfortune. But this time, Su Jin did indeed save face for the Empress Dowager, even though the Empress Dowager did not want it. A hint of doubt flashed in Eunuch Fu’s eyes. Was the Eldest Young Madam of the Duke Zhen’s Mansion more sensible now, or was tearing up the land deed more effective? Regardless of other things, at least when the Empress Dowager visited the Imperial Study, Mr. Liu confessed particularly quickly. If it were in Yongning Palace, there would still be someone to bear the blame for Mr. Liu, and Duke Chong wouldn’t be implicated. The Emperor’s compliments always come with rewards. This time was no exception. The Emperor instructed, "Reward the Eldest Young Madam of the Duke Zhen’s Mansion with a set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone." Xingxing grinned from ear to ear. The Emperor indeed rewarded the young lady again. But why reward with writing supplies when silver notes would be more practical? Su Jin happily thanked for the reward and respectfully took her leave. Xingxing trotted along, carrying the brocade box in delight. The master and servant both had delicate figures, but no one dared to underestimate them. They didn’t know that at this moment, the entire Imperial Palace was abuzz with her unbeatable and invincible reputation... And everyone was eagerly waiting to see who could break this record. Duke Chong’s Mansion. The little eunuch’s carriage stopped in front of the Duke’s Mansion. Looking at the front gates of Duke Chong’s Mansion, the little eunuch felt a bit heavy-hearted. Yesterday, it was also he who delivered the land deed, and the Duchess of Duke Chong was so pleased that she rewarded him with two Silver Taels. Now he had to take the land deed back, he couldn’t imagine how furious the Duchess of Duke Chong would be. Thinking of Mr. Liu being beaten to death, he considered himself lucky just to be alive. The people of Duke Chong’s Mansion, unaware of what had transpired in the palace, treated him with courtesy. The little eunuch went directly to look for the Duchess of Duke Chong. Hmm. The land deed was retrieved. But he was almost driven out. Inside the study. The servant reported the happenings in the palace to Duke Chong. Including his acceptance of bribes and the Emperor’s six-month salary penalty imposed on him. Duke Chong was seething with anger. The feeling that no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t escape someone else’s grasp was truly frustrating! Fifteen years ago, no matter how hard he tried, he was no match for the Heir of Duke Chong, merely serving as a foil. The door was knocked upon, and a servant entered, saying, "Duke, General Chen is here." Duke Chong frowned. Why has he come? "Invite him in," said Duke Chong. When General Chen entered, Duke Chong had already managed to conceal most of his anger from his face. "Greetings, Duke," said General Chen respectfully. "What brings General Chen here?" Duke Chong asked. General Chen straightened up and said, "Today, I happened to hear something and felt it necessary to report it to you, Duke." "What is it?" Duke Chong asked curiously. General Chen looked at him and said, "Fifteen years ago, the Flying Tiger Army was completely annihilated, but over these fifteen years, the families of the Flying Tiger Army have still been receiving pension silver." Duke Chong furrowed his brow tightly. "How is that possible?" the man beside him said in surprise. "The court only issues pension silver once; it couldn’t have been issued for fifteen years." Duke Chong looked at General Chen. "Where did you learn about this?" General Chen responded truthfully, "A small soldier in my army mentioned it. The Marquis Dongxiang referred to his bandit army as the Flying Tiger Army, and he was indignant. I happened to overhear it when he told others." No one responded, so he continued. "In the village of that small soldier, there was someone who was once a member of the Flying Tiger Army. After its complete annihilation, only widows and orphans remained, with no one to rely on, but each year they could find two Silver Taels." For a household like Duke Chong’s, two Silver Taels are nothing. But for poor commoners, two Silver Taels could ensure they wouldn’t starve for a year. "Once, when the little boy of that family picked up the money, he was robbed and beaten badly. A man stepped forward to save him, claimed the money was his, took the little boy home, met his mother, and then took the boy away," said General Chen. Duke Chong looked at General Chen. "And then?" "The small soldier said the silver was pension money issued by the court for the families of the fallen Flying Tiger Army soldiers. That boy followed in his father’s footsteps," said General Chen. The complete annihilation of the Flying Tiger Army was well-known. No one in the court dared mention the Flying Tiger Army, let alone issue compassion silver? Even under normal circumstances, the pension silver allocated by the court might not reach the families of those who died on the battlefield, let alone those who perished over a decade ago? Eighty thousand Flying Tiger soldiers, at two Silver Taels per family, amounted to sixteen thousand Taels. This sum may seem modest, but after fifteen years of issuance, it’s a substantial amount. Moreover, the court had more than just the Flying Tiger Army. There were countless soldiers who had died on the battlefield, they can’t be treated differently. This money definitely didn’t come from the court. Duke Chong’s brow was furrowed and wouldn’t relax. The man looked at him and asked, "Why throw the pension silver on the ground for people to pick up if it’s not something to be ashamed of?" "Could it be someone using the name of the Flying Tiger Army to deliver money?" the man speculated. General Chen shook his head. "I initially thought the same, but the small soldier said otherwise. After that boy was taken away, he would return home for five days every year, serving his mother, and changed significantly, transforming from a pushover to someone composed, as if reborn, with formidable martial arts skills, easily defeating four or five people singlehandedly." "It was for this reason that the small soldier’s parents sent him to join the army," said General Chen. The man looked at Duke Chong. "Could it be that some members of the Flying Tiger Army survived back then?" "Impossible!" Duke Chong said coldly. "The report of the Flying Tiger Army’s casualties left none alive." "Even if someone survived, how would they have the money to give to the Flying Tiger Army’s kin?" Duke Chong questioned. The man also felt it was unlikely. Are there people in this world with such profound loyalty and righteousness? The study remained quiet for some time. Duke Chong suddenly broke the silence by speaking. "Find the list of the Flying Tiger Army from back then, and investigate!"

Chapter 264: Coward

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