Chapter 339: Appointment At The Duke’s Residence
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Su Ying quickly stopped her breathing and stepped forward to kick the incense burner to the ground.
Whump! The incense ashes from the incense burner poured out, sending a large cloud of dust into the air.
Su Ying led the guards to the entrance, but she found that the temple’s main door was shut and locked from the outside.
Su Ying turned around and saw the young monk running towards the back courtyard. She went after him in hot pursuit without hesitation.
Su Ying ran after the young monk but lost sight of him.
She searched the surrounding. This should be the rear meditation hall of the temple. There was a row of empty rooms inside, but there was no movement at all.
She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it forcefully at the window of one of the meditation rooms.
Row! The stone smashed through the wooden window and crashed to the ground. Soon, there was no more movement.
“Whether you are a cat or a dog, get your ass out here. Don’t waste my time here.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the door of one of the meditation rooms opened. A woman in red with an enchanting figure and heavy makeup walked out.
“Princess Consort Qi really has a bad temper. You scared me to death.” The woman in red held a water pipe in her hand as she watched Su Ying slowly spit out the white smoke from her mouth and let out a charming laugh.
“Whose family’s dog are you?”
An ominous look flashed across the eyes of the woman in red. “Princess Consort Qi is so rude. I just wanted to invite you here for a bowl of vegetarian food. Now that I see how vicious you are, I’m so scared. Come, Your Highness. Shall we go in for a chat?”
Su Ying slowly turned her slightly stiff neck, flicked a rock on the ground up with the tip of her foot, and kicked it directly at the back of the woman in red.
“I told you not to waste my time.”
The woman in red was startled and quickly dodged. She hadn’t expected Su Ying to be so stubborn as to attack her the moment she arrived. She gave a scornful snort. “Since Your Highness doesn’t want to have a good talk, then we’ll have to do it the hard way!”
The woman in red suddenly blew out a thick cloud of red smoke from behind her and sent the plume toward Su Ying.
Su Ying’s almond-shaped eyes darkened as she turned around and ran toward another meditation room.
In the capital.
Xiao Jin brought Ji and Ling to Duke Zhenguo’s Residence.
After Fu Zheng received the news, he waited outside the entrance very early.
When he saw Ji and Ling, he went up to them excitedly.
“My respects to Your Highness,” Fu Zheng greeted Xiao Jin.
“Brother Fu Zheng,” Ling cried out happily when she saw Fu Zheng.
Fu Zheng smiled happily when he saw Ling, who had grown cuter and more radiant. “Sister Ling, Brother Ji, quickly come in first. Grandfather is waiting for all of you.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Fu Zheng brought them into the residence. When they passed by the small garden, they bumped into Fu Jun.
When Fu Jun saw Xiao Jin, a hint of anger appeared in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Xiao Jin’s footsteps paused slightly, but after giving a faint reply, he walked past Fu Jun.
Fu Zheng only gave a cursory bow to Fu Jun and continued walking with Xiao Jin and the others without waiting for Fu Jun to speak. He didn’t even call out “Father” at Fu Jun.
After they had walked far away, Fu Jun slowly stood up straight and glared at their departing back profiles angrily.
If it wasn’t for Su Ying’s kicking up a fuss, Little Madam Zhou wouldn’t have been sent away, and he wouldn’t have had to bear the infamy of mistreating his eldest son and becoming the laughingstock of the capital!
Fu Jun’s heart was brimming with rage and he walked out of Duke Zhenguo’s Residence in a glum mood. To his surprise, he bumped into someone just as he reached the entrance. Fu Jun looked at the person in surprise.
Fu Zheng led Xiao Jin and the rest to the dining hall in the front hall.
Duke Zhenguo was already waiting inside.
Xiao Jin led the two children into the house and went forward to greet Duke Zhenguo.
Duke Zhenguo’s face was tense, and his gaze became even more stern when his eyes fell on Xiao Jin.
“Your Highness, I can’t afford to accept such a great show of respect from you. Previously, Princess Consort Qi wanted to overturn my Duke Zhenguo’s Residence.”
Xiao Jin slowly straightened up but he was not annoyed. “Was Lord Duke beaten?”
Duke Zhenguo almost jumped out of his chair when he heard that. “Brat, do you know how to talk? I’m a general. How can I pick a fight with a woman?”
Fu Zheng recalled the scene from that day and held back his laughter. “Your Highness, Grandfather wasn’t beaten, but he didn’t win either.”
Duke Zhenguo’s eyes swiveled around as he glared at Fu Zheng. “You little brat, you’re siding with outsiders? I was giving in to her. If you don’t believe me, get her to come over and spar with me now. See if I don’t make her behave immediately.”
Xiao Jin cleared his throat lightly and was about to speak when he heard Ling say, “Grandfather, you don’t have to be embarrassed. My Father can’t beat Mother either.”
“Cough! Cough!” Xiao Jin coughed loudly.
Duke Zhenguo became emboldened. “All these years of spear training have been for nothing. How disgraceful!”
Xiao Jin rubbed the bridge of his nose. Forget it. He couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Fu Zheng quickly pulled the two little ones to sit on the chairs. “Grandfather, Sister Ling and Brother Ji must be hungry.”
When Duke Zhenguo saw the two little ones, his eyes became much kinder. “The two little ones are so beautiful. Where’s your Consort? Why isn’t she here?”
“My Consort went to the temple early in the morning to offer incense.”
Duke Zhenguo found it hard to believe. “She still believes in Buddhism?”
Xiao Jin nodded indifferently.
Duke Zhenguo said, “Even Buddha wouldn’t dare to accept someone like her. Tell her to save it.”
After everyone sat down, Duke Zhenguo ordered the dishes that had been prepared to be served.
Xiao Jin poured a cup of wine for Duke Zhenguo. “Lord Duke is returning to the border?”
Duke Zhenguo nodded. “There’s no point in staying in the capital. While my old bones can still move, I’ll bring this kid there to train. I can at least provide my Duke Zhenguo’s Residence with a successor who can wield a spear.”
Ling grabbed the chicken drumstick and took a bite, but her ears were listening to the adults’ conversation keenly.
Upon hearing Duke Zhenguo’s words, she looked at Fu Zheng with a reluctant expression and whispered, “Brother Fu Zheng, are you leaving the capital?”
Fu Zheng nodded. “Mm-hmm. I’m going to the border with Grandfather.”
“Then we won’t be able to see you in the future?”
Fu Zheng looked at the reluctance on that tiny face in front of him. He was also very reluctant. Ling and Ji were his best friends to date. “No, we will definitely meet again in the future.”
“Really?”
Fu Zheng nodded with certainty. “Yes.”
Ling put down the chicken drumstick and extended her greasy little finger. “Then let’s pinky swear. Whoever lies will be a puppy. When we grow up, I still want to play with you, Brother Fu Zheng.”
Fu Zheng smiled and hooked fingers with her. “Sure.”
“Big Brother, do you want to pinky swear with Brother Fu Zheng?”
Ji looked at the two greasy fingers and frowned firmly. “It’s good enough that I know it in my heart.”
“You have no sense of ceremony at all. We won’t let you join us to play in the future.”
“Do as you guys please.”
Ling gave a scornful snort and continued to gnaw on the chicken drumstick.
The children finished eating quickly, so Fu Zheng brought them to play in the courtyard to help with their digestion.
When Fu Zheng and Ji were sparring, Ling felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach.
“Big Brother, my stomach hurts. I want to go to the outhouse.”
Ji stopped at once. “I’ll go tell Father.”
“No, Father is eating. I’ll go by myself. Uncle Guard can bring me there.”
“Let me bring you there, Sister Ling.”
Ling nodded and followed Fu Zheng to the outhouse hand in hand..