Chapter 53: Challenge

Words : 1650 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: ChallengeAfter leaving the palace by carriage, Su Jin was still uneasy and detoured to check on the shop. She was stunned. Before entering the palace, it was still a scene of broken walls and ruins. By now, even a half-broken brick couldn’t be found, and the unharmed kitchen had been entirely dismantled. At this rate, Su Jin thought even half a month to build the shop would be considered late. Seeing the carriage stop, Chu Shun and a few others who were drinking tea at a stall came over and said, "Why are you back? The measurements of the shop were just sent to the Duke Mansion, we’re still waiting for the blueprints to start. Hurry up, we’re bored to death and made a bet on how fast the shop can be built. Time is tight." Su Jin, "...." She was actually being rushed. Shouldn’t she be the most anxious one? Silently putting down the curtain, Su Jin and Xie Jingchen returned to the Duke Mansion. By chance, in front of the Duke Mansion, she encountered Princess Nanzhang and the Third Madam. The two got out of the soft sedan, and upon seeing her, their expressions were indescribably bad. Su Jin guessed they had probably visited the injured Duke Chong and General Zhongwu, so she pretended nothing had happened, paid her respects, and then excused herself, claiming to have urgent matters, and went back to Agarwood Pavilion. Seeing her leave, the Third Madam was so angry she couldn’t contain herself, glancing at Princess Nanzhang, she said, "The whole Capital knows Duke Chong is your cousin, Princess Nanzhang, yet Marquis Dongxiang’s daughter married into the Duke Zhen’s Mansion, becoming your eldest son’s wife, and dares to openly break one of Duke Chong’s ribs. It’s as if she’s not afraid to challenge her mother-in-law." In other words, she didn’t take Princess Nanzhang seriously. Thinking of the recent events, from serving tea to administering medicine, to punishing by kneeling and assigning maids, none got executed successfully. In the end, they were even forced to agree that even if they broke family rules, they couldn’t be punished within half a month. Is there anything more humiliating than this? Just entering the door and already so arrogant, will they respect their elders or her as the mother-in-law in the future? Princess Nanzhang’s face turned icy. "I’d like to see if she can overturn the heavens!" With that, Princess Nanzhang strode off. Behind her, a satisfied smile flashed across the Third Madam’s lips. Meanwhile, Su Jin returned to Agarwood Pavilion but couldn’t find the blueprints in the house, and asked, "Where are the blueprints kept?" Xie Jingchen asked the maid, "Where are the blueprints sent by the Heir of Marquis Jingguo?" The maid shook her head, a bit confused, "I’ve not seen anything delivered by the outer courtyard." Not seen? How is that possible? "Go to the front courtyard and ask," Su Jin instructed. The little maid quickly went to the front courtyard. Su Jin sat down and had a cup of tea, resting for a while, and soon the little maid returned, saying, "The Heir of Marquis Jingguo did send the blueprints over, and at that time, the eldest young lady saw it and took it, saying she would deliver it on her way." Su Jin rolled her eyes. With her "on the way," who knows where her blueprints went. "Go to the eldest young lady and help me get the blueprints back," Su Jin instructed. "Yes." The little maid responded and withdrew. Shortly after, the maid returned, saying, "Eldest Young Madam, the eldest young lady is here." Su Jin got up to welcome her. Xie Jinyu came over with her maid, holding a piece of paper, and said, "Sorry for the wait, elder sister. Just as I was about to send it, the third sister insisted on pulling me to her room, which delayed me a bit." She handed the blueprints to Su Jin. Su Jin opened them. Xie Jinyu said, "A maid accidentally spilled two drops of tea on them. See if it affects the viewing, if not, I can send someone to get another copy from the Heir of Marquis Jingguo." Su Jin glanced at it and said, "It’s fine." Xie Jinyu took another look at the blueprints. "Alright, I’ll head back then." "See the eldest young lady off." Xie Jinyu was about to refuse. Looking up. Su Jin was already returning inside while engrossed with the blueprints. Xie Jinyu, "...." Once she left Agarwood Pavilion, Xie Jinxiu came up and quietly asked, "Did the elder sister find any problems?" "Seems like she didn’t notice," Xie Jinyu replied. "Scared me to death," Xie Jinxiu said. "What is there to be afraid of, what can an inexperienced woman from the mountains understand?" Xie Jinyu mocked. "True." The two happily strolled off to explore the garden. Inside the study, Su Jin looked at the blueprints and said happily, "The backyard of Tianxiang Building didn’t look big, I didn’t expect it to measure so large." "The inn’s backyard is even bigger." Searᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Plus, there’s an extra section, it’s uneven," Xingxing complained. Su Jin was more than satisfied. "This extra section is perfect for parking carriages." "The lady sure thinks everything through." After lunch, Su Jin got to work on drawing the blueprints. With a clear plan in mind, she drew very smoothly, her brush strokes like a dragon and a snake, and it was completed within an hour. After drying the ink, Su Jin packed the blueprints in the brocade box and had someone send them to Chu Shun and the others. Chu Shun and the others were waiting out of boredom, sitting there dazed. Once the blueprints arrived, they perked up, "They came so fast, the Eldest Young Madam really works swiftly." After opening the blueprints, they were first amazed, then— A few of them twitched at the corners of their mouths. The dimensions of the blueprints were significantly larger than the ones they sent, the backyard was about a third larger. "She just changes the blueprints at whim, the Eldest Young Madam is really too capricious," one commented. "This isn’t about whims, the land is this big, we can’t just make it bigger," Prince NanAn said, rubbing his forehead. "I think the Eldest Young Madam may have found us too idle and is giving us a challenge," said the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion. "We’re to supervise, and with the blueprints sent over, we need to ensure the completed shop matches them exactly," Chu Shun said. "Exactly how?" Prince NanAn rolled his eyes. "Buy the land right next to the restaurant, and it’s done," suggested the Heir of Marquis Beining. "Sounds easy, but do you know whose small courtyard that is?" "...." "I don’t know." "Just ask and you’ll know." "Stop standing around foolishly, let’s go ask together." "...." After taking a few steps. Chu Shun handed the blueprints to the government officials, saying, "Follow the blueprints and first dig out the Lotus Pond." The government officials, "...." Are they still letting them leave to do their actual business? The group went to knock on doors to inquire, finding one was an ordinary family, easily bought with enough money, but the other was more difficult as it was the dowry courtyard of the Minister of Rites’ wife. "This will be difficult," said the Heir of Marquis Beining. Chu Shun looked at the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion and said, "Your mother and the Minister of Rites’ wife have a pretty good relationship, don’t they?" "You’re not suggesting I go home and beg my mother, are you?" the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion said, twitching his mouth. "We’ve unanimously decided to leave this task to you." Chu Shun, Prince NanAn, and the Heir of Marquis Beining spoke in unison. The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion, "...." "Let’s go together, at my mother’s place, your face is more valuable than mine," he said. Realizing, they all went to Duke Dingguo Mansion together. Once they heard at Duke Dingguo Mansion, the Duchess’s expression turned dark, "Is it really necessary to go to such lengths for the Duke Zhen’s Eldest Young Madam to open a shop to sell charcoal?" The whole Capital knew she was selling charcoal. Moreover, because of selling charcoal, Duke Chong broke a rib and General Zhongwu had a broken nose bridge. The shop is so big, even selling charcoal for a lifetime wouldn’t recover the cost. "If she acts recklessly, it’s one thing for Young Master Xie to indulge her, but for you all to join in," the Duchess criticized. Getting angrier as she thought, she glared at her son, "Why don’t you ever show such enthusiasm when your father and I ask you for help?!" The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion coughed lightly. "Mother, it’s not that your son doesn’t listen to you and father, but with Brother Jingchen’s illness, no one knows when he will... " "If he asks, we can’t bear to refuse. You and father are healthy, living another hundred years won’t be a problem, so don’t think about ordering me around, there’s still plenty of time for that in the future." Chu Shun nodded. Looking full of sorrow. "We just want him to go painlessly, suffering less before he leaves." "...." Seems the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion often tormented Young Master Xie. If they don’t help with these matters, won’t it be left for Young Master Xie to handle on his own? Seeing the slightly red-rimmed eyes and sad expressions of Prince NanAn and others. The Duchess of Duke Dingguo Mansion felt a twinge in her nose, moved deeply. "Your brotherly bond is commendable." "Alright, alright, I’ll help you with this."

Chapter 53: Challenge

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