Chapter 1204: Dong Residence

The Dong family was in chaos.

Dong Mao was carried back covered in mud. When he was wiped clean, his face was so bruised that nobody could quite recognize him.

As Old Madam Dong hugged her bruised and swollen youngest son, she wailed. With a finger pointed at her sons, she snapped, “Are you just going to watch your younger brother being bullied like this? If you can’t even protect your younger brother, what’s the use of having you?”

Dong Wulang was Old Madam Dong’s son. She spoiled him so much that he didn’t have a proper job even though he was already in his twenties, in addition to frequently causing trouble everywhere like a teenager.

The two young masters of the Dong family, Erlang, Sanlang and Silang, stood at the side with their heads lowered. However, Dong Dalang refused to coddle his younger brother’s atrocious behavior. He said to his mother with a dark expression, “Do you know who he provoked? Prince An and the two young masters of King Rong’s family, plus another child whose identity is unknown. But how many people in the vast capital can be so chummy with the young masters of King Rong’s estate? Mother, that might be a prince. Your youngest son might be precious to you, but can he be more precious than the princes in the palace?”

Old Madam Dong choked and looked at her eldest son with tears still on her face. “Then, then are we just going to let this matter go?”

“I wish it’d be that easy. But Prince An and King Rong might not be willing.”

Old Madam Dong fumed again. “Wulang’s already beaten up so badly…”

“That’s right. A 23-year-old young man was beaten up this badly by a child in his early teens.” Dalang said angrily, “Mother, do you think it’s a glorious matter?”

Old Madam Dong choked on her words, but her expression clearly showed that she was unconvinced. Huffing and puffing, she sobbed with Dong Mao in her embrace.

Seeing that the old lady was not standing up for him, Dong Mao couldn’t continue to pretend anymore. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at his mother pitifully. “Mother, I’m wronged. Even if Fan Zijin is a Prince, he can’t bully others like this. After all, my brother-in-law is the Prime Minister.”

Dong Dalang tried his best to glare at his brother. Even Erlang, Sanlang, and Silang could not help but frown at Dong Mao.

However, Old Madam Dong’s eyes lit up. She said to her eldest son, “That’s right. Isn’t there still Jinyu? Go and invite Jinyu over immediately. Tell him that I’m dying.”

When Rong Xuan heard this, the calmness on his face was immediately replaced by a dark expression.

The butler, who was following behind him, could not help but wipe his sweat. The moment Young Master Rong Xuan arrived, he asked to see Fifth Young Master. Thinking about Fifth Young Master’s miserable state, the butler wanted Young Master Rong Xuan to sympathize with him, so he directly led him in. Who knew that he would coincidentally hear such a sentence?

Rong Xuan paused at the door for a moment before deciding to enter with a dark expression.

Dong Wulang flinched when he saw Rong Xuan. Even Old Madam Dong’s aura weakened.

The other four brothers of the Dong family felt a little awkward when they saw Rong Xuan. It was Dong Dalang who reacted first and invited Rong Xuan to the front hall.

However, Rong Xuan looked at Dong Mao, who had his eyes closed, and said, “No need. I have something to ask Wulang.”

Seeing that Rong Xuan was obviously displeased, Old Madam Dong was anxious and took the initiative to protect Dong Mao. She asked carefully, “Jinyu, Wulang is seriously injured. If there’s anything, let’s wait until he’s better.”

Rong Xuan bowed slightly and smiled. “Don’t worry, Old Madam. It’s just a few short questions. Won’t take long.”

Rong Xuan took two steps forward and bent down to hold Dong Mao’s hand. He stared at his face and asked gently, “Wulang, did you buy the land outside the city? Who gave you the idea and who did you send to handle this matter?”

Dong Mao felt a sharp pain in the wrist that Rong Xuan was holding. He couldn’t help but open his eyes and meet Rong Xuan’s.

Dong Mao felt as if his face had been cut by a blade. In spite of the excruciating pain coming from his wrist, he did not dare to cry out in pain.

Suppressed by Rong Xuan’s aura, Old Madam Dong didn’t dare to move. She could only tug at her youngest son’s sleeve and say anxiously, “Wulang, do tell your brother-in-law.”

Dong Mao cried, “I-I had no idea. This was all handled by Steward Ji.”

Rong Xuan stared fixedly at him for a while before letting go of his hand. “Then who suggested going out of the city to ride a horse today?”

“It was Rong Hua.”

Dong Erlang and the others couldn’t help but glare at Wulang. While Rong Hua was a member of the Rong family, everyone knew that Rong Xuan and the Rong family didn’t get along.

Back then, it was because the Rong family had given up on him and relentlessly persecuted him that Rong Xuan had no choice but to go to the Emperor’s side to be a mere Military Advisor.

Although Rong Xuan had become the Left Prime Minister, the Rong family hadn’t been able to benefit from this, and they were even suppressed everywhere.

They were originally a second-rate and third-rate family, but now, they had declined even more.

It could be said that the Rong family and Rong Xuan were enemies. The Dong family did not have much power to begin with and had relied on Rong Xuan to get a few idle positions. Mostly, the Dong family relied on business to get ahead. It could be said that the entire Dong family relied on Rong Xuan.

By interacting with Rong Xuan’s enemy, the Rong family’s descendants, wasn’t this slapping Rong Xuan in the face?

Dong Dalang couldn’t help but step forward and punch up. “What else are you capable of besides causing trouble?”

Old Madam Dong also looked at Rong Xuan anxiously and explained, “Jinyu, Wulang is still young and insensible. Don’t mind him.”

Rong Xuan smiled at his mother-in-law and said, “Don’t worry, I don’t mind.” He wasn’t his son, so what was there to mind?

Rong Xuan turned to Dong Dalang and said, “I wonder where Steward Ji is. Hand him over to me.”

Dong Dalang immediately sent someone to fetch Steward Ji before asking anxiously, “Brother-in-law, did Wulang get into trouble?”

Rong Xuan was silent for a moment before sighing. He looked at Dong Wulang and said sadly, “One of the four children that Wulang beat up today is the Second Prince.”

With their guess confirmed, the Dong family members’ bodies swayed.

Rong Xuan continued with a pained expression, “Wulang still has to thank Prince An for what happened today. If he hadn’t interfered and labeled this as a fight between nobles, judging from the situation today, there would definitely have been casualties in the armed fight. Once it’s found that Wulang used my name to do things…”

Rong Xuan looked at the five sons of the Dong family and sighed faintly. Other than Dong Mao, who was lying on the bed, everyone else in the Dong family was covered in cold sweat.

The current Emperor was famous for having zero tolerance for corruption. Once this matter blew up, Rong Xuan would definitely lose his power.

As the saying went, ‘Everyone gives a shove to a falling wall’. Even if Rong Xuan was no longer the Prime Minister, he was still the Duke of Defense. As long as the Emperor still cared about him, he could live on with dignity.

However, the Dong family was different.

The Dong family relied on Rong Xuan to survive. If something happened to Rong Xuan because of Dong Mao, who would protect them?

The four sons of the Dong family could already predict their outcome. Even Old Madam Dong felt a chill in her heart. Looking at her youngest son lying on the bed and wailing in pain, she could not bring herself to plead for leniency.

Rong Xuan left the Dong Residence with a pained expression. After standing on the steps and looking at the bright sun, Rong Xuan felt a little better. He didn’t tell them how the Emperor would deal with Dong Wulang. It was good to let them live in fear for a while so that they would have scruples in the future.

Steward Ji was gagged and sent to Rong Xuan’s carriage. After glancing at the other party, Rong Xuan mounted his horse and ordered, “Let’s go to the government office.”

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