The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 295

"Ah—" A piercing scream shattered the quiet of the dawn.

The man who had been shouting threats moments ago was now sent flying backward by the force of an arrow, crashing heavily into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Madam, be careful!"

Xu Wan stumbled backward to avoid the man, only to trip and fall. Cui Zhi rushed to help her up.

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Both women turned their heads at the sound of the scream.

In the distance stood a formation of disciplined soldiers, their posture upright and imposing, their presence radiating both authority and a bloodthirsty aura—clearly seasoned veterans of the battlefield.

"Ah... It hurts! Who the hell are you people? I, Wu Kuo, am General Pang’s favored officer! If you dare cripple me, you’re dead!" Wu Kuo howled in pain as his companions charged forward.

Confident in their martial skills, they assumed these were just ordinary soldiers and recklessly lunged into the fray. The soldiers remained expressionless, their movements precise and effortless as they subdued the attackers with ease.

Xu Wan’s gaze drifted past the soldiers, peering into the lingering morning mist. There, barely visible, was a figure on horseback, lowering a bow.

He was the one who had fired the arrow.

Who was he?

Squinting against the faint glare of the rising sun, she watched as the man dismounted and strode toward her through the mist. The closer he got, the clearer his features became.

Dressed in simple black robes—neither armor nor lavish silks—he nonetheless carried himself like a leader. His sharp brows and striking eyes framed a handsome face, his demeanor calm yet exuding an undercurrent of restrained arrogance.

Xu Wan met his steady gaze as he approached. When he reached her, he extended a hand.

He meant to help her up.

Her legs still weak from the shock, Xu Wan instinctively moved to accept his aid, but halfway, she hesitated.

In modern times, this would be a simple courtesy, nothing more. But this was ancient times—she was a married woman, and physical contact with an unrelated man would invite scandal.

After a brief pause, she withdrew her hand and simply nodded. "Thank you."

The man’s dark eyes showed no reaction as he calmly retracted his hand. Turning, he saw that his soldiers had already subdued the attackers and issued a quiet command: "To the Eastern Palace."

"Yes, General."

Watching their retreating figures and recalling his words, Xu Wan suddenly snapped back to reality. She turned to Cui Zhi. "Right—we need to go to the Eastern Palace too... Cui Zhi, what’s wrong?"

Cui Zhi had been silent all this while, too stunned to speak.

Now, tears welled in her eyes, her face alight with excitement. She laughed and cried at once, nearly breathless. "Madam, that—that was the Young Marquis! The Young Marquis has returned! He’s alive! He’s alive and well!"

Xu Wan whirled around.

But Zong Zhao’s figure had already vanished.

She murmured, "Zong Zhao... That was Zong Zhao..."

Cui Zhi nodded fervently, her voice thick with emotion. "The Young Marquis is finally back. The master and mistress will be overjoyed."

For ten years since his disappearance, everyone had assumed Zong Zhao was dead—only his body had never been found. But now he had returned, and the Marquis Manor would have its pillar of support once more.

Xu Wan’s mind was still reeling, but she forced herself to focus. "Send word to the Marquis Manor immediately—inform my father-in-law and mother-in-law. We must also hurry to the Eastern Palace in case Jin Cheng runs into trouble."

"Yes, yes!" Cui Zhi bobbed her head eagerly.

Once arrangements were made and the carriage began moving again, Xu Wan gestured for Cui Zhi to join her inside—she had questions.

As a mere maid, Cui Zhi would normally never dare ride alongside her mistress, but today’s excitement overrode propriety. After a brief hesitation, she climbed in.

Xu Wan studied her animated expression. "You seem unusually excited. Was Zong Zhao always so kind to you all?"

Cui Zhi shook her head vigorously, then nodded just as emphatically. "The Young Marquis rarely spoke to us or paid us much attention. Even as a child, he was fiercely independent—dividing his time between scholarly pursuits and martial training, with little room for anything else. But everyone adored him. He was quiet, yet so dependable. Just his presence made it feel like no problem was unsolvable. Oh, and the Second Young Master—before his passing, he idolized the Young Marquis and followed his every word."

Once she started talking about Zong Zhao, Cui Zhi couldn’t stop, her words tumbling out in an eager rush. Xu Wan couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, though she could tell—Zong Zhao had left a deep impression on everyone.

Had it not been for him earlier, she would have had no way to handle those men.

"The Eastern Palace... Why is he also going to see the Crown Prince? What’s happening...?"

---

Eastern Palace, Crown Prince’s Chambers

The Crown Prince had taken Jin Cheng to his study for a private discussion, leaving the Crown Princess alone in the bedchamber. Having long anticipated this day, she had already weathered countless waves of grief and despair. Now, she felt eerily calm.

"Your Highness, while tidying the bed, the maids found two letters beneath your pillow. They appear to be from His Highness."

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Crown Princess’s hand, midway through applying rouge, stilled. "Bring them here."

The letters bore slight creases from being pressed under the pillow.

She opened the first and recognized the familiar handwriting at once.

"Qing Rong,

By the time you read this, I will already be gone. Telling you not to grieve would be futile, so instead—do not grieve too deeply. I have merely passed into another world. Perhaps, in some small mercy, I may even watch over you and our daughter from beyond.

These past few days, as my time nears its end, I find myself remembering so much—our first meeting, the way you stormed into the Eastern Palace and demanded I marry you... Looking back now, you were so fearless, so resolute. It was admirable.

And yet, I failed you.

After clinging to life for so long, fate has finally come to claim me. No matter how unwilling I am, there is no escaping it. Perhaps this was always meant to be.

From the moment I married you, my life was both extended and ensnared. You pulled me from the abyss, even as its shadows clung to me, dragging me back, step by step, into its depths.

But these years with you have been a gift—a brilliance I never expected, illuminating what should have been a bleak existence.

In twenty-five years, I saved many and failed many. Yet, my greatest regret is you and our child. I often wondered—what will become of you after I’m gone? Then I remembered: the Duke of Wei will protect you. He will keep you safe.

So, Qing Rong.

Step away from this struggle. This is the last thing I can do for you.

—Your husband, Chu Heng. Final words."

When she unfolded the second letter, the words "Divorce Decree" shattered her fragile composure. Tears she had held back for so long spilled over.

"Your Highness... How could you be so kind and so cruel at once? I don’t want a divorce. I don’t want to leave. I would rather die by your side..."

But the letters could not answer.

She didn’t know how to comfort herself, nor could she offer herself any solace.

Tears blurred the Crown Princess’s vision, yet her gaze still fell upon a vial of poison placed on the dressing table. She had already sent her daughter back to the Duke of Wei’s residence. The moment news arrived from the palace that the Crown Prince had passed, she would follow him.

She was not a dutiful mother—she only wished to accompany her lord. Otherwise, he would be all alone, and he had always loved lively company.

"Your Highness!" A maid’s urgent voice called from outside.

Tears streamed down the Crown Princess’s cheeks, her heart aching beyond measure. She reached out, twisting open the vial’s stopper, waiting for the maid’s next words.

Yet, in the next moment—

The maid exclaimed excitedly, "Young Marquis Zong Zhao of Yangyuan Marquis Manor requests an audience! He claims to have a life-saving remedy for His Highness!"