The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 297

Though Huaishui possessed formidable martial skills, as a trusted aide of the Crown Prince, he never anticipated Zong Zhao would suddenly strike.

In battles between masters, victory or defeat is decided in an instant.

Caught completely off guard, Huaishui was impaled clean through by Zong Zhao before he could even open his mouth to explain.

Blood gushed out, and Huaishui died on the spot.

"Zong Zhao! What are you doing? That’s Huaishui—the Crown Prince’s most loyal man!" The Crown Princess snapped out of her shock and rushed over to check Huaishui’s pulse.

—He was already gone.

Zong Zhao stared coldly at Huaishui’s corpse and said, "If he didn’t die, the poison in His Highness’s body would never be cured."

The Little Demon King clasped his cheeks in his hands, eyes wide with disbelief at what he’d just heard.

What? The Crown Prince was poisoned?!

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Someone really was trying to kill him!

And it was Huaishui?!

How could it be Huaishui? To the Crown Prince, Huaishui was as indispensable as Bu Yan was to him…

The Crown Princess trembled, recalling the poison that had eluded all detection. She stared at the corpse in horror and whispered, "Huaishui? It was Huaishui poisoning His Highness all along? But how? He’s been by the Crown Prince’s side since childhood—his most trusted confidant. He couldn’t have been bribed…"

Halfway through her words, a suspicion she’d once brushed aside resurfaced in her mind…

"No… His Highness said it was impossible." She shook her head frantically, unwilling to accept the truth.

Zong Zhao didn’t elaborate further. He simply raised his gaze and instructed, "Your Highness need only focus on caring for the Crown Prince. Matters outside the Eastern Palace will be handled by me. I will ensure justice is served for His Highness."

The Crown Princess choked back a sob. "Very well. You saved His Highness’s life—that makes you my benefactor. I’ll follow your lead."

Though this was their first meeting, the Crown Princess could sense Zong Zhao’s unwavering devotion to the Crown Prince. While many sought to harm His Highness, there were also those who would move heaven and earth to protect him.

Zong Zhao was someone she could trust.

Huaishui’s corpse continued to bleed, and the Little Demon King grew increasingly unnerved. But with his father present, he couldn’t let his fear show—his pride as a fanboy demanded composure. He shuffled closer to Zong Zhao, seeking a sense of security.

Zong Zhao wiped the blood from his spear and smoothly fabricated an excuse: "Your Highness, Huaishui, in his devotion to the Crown Prince, tested the poison himself and tragically perished. Such loyalty is deeply moving. I hope the Eastern Palace will grant him a grand burial to honor his spirit."

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‍Crown Princess: "…"

If Huaishui could hear this, he’d rise from his coffin in outrage.

The Little Demon King gulped and did his best to blend into the background. His father spun lies without batting an eye—Grandfather always said he wasn’t like his father, but how was that true?

He was just as good an actor!

The Crown Princess summoned her most trusted aides from the Duke’s estate and ordered them to discreetly handle Huaishui’s body.

At the palace gates—

Xu Wan had just arrived when she saw the Little Demon King bounding out excitedly. He waved at her. "Mother! Over here! I saw Father—he’s back!"

His shout drew the attention of nearby guards, but Zong Jincheng felt no embarrassment—only pride.

Hmph. Father was home.

From now on, with both parents by his side, he’d be the happiest person in the world!

Xu Wan hurried over and gripped his shoulders, inspecting him. "Are you alright? Why did you rush to the Eastern Palace this morning? And where’s your father? Why are you alone?"

Behind Zong Jincheng stood only the palace maid who’d escorted him out.

The Little Demon King tugged her toward the carriage and explained, "Father went to see the Emperor. He’ll return to the manor later, but he told me to go home with you first. Grandfather and Grandmother must be overjoyed too."

On the way back, Zong Jincheng recounted everything that had happened—the Crown Prince’s collapse, his father’s sudden appearance to treat him, and the swift execution of Huaishui. Xu Wan’s eyes widened in shock.

The Little Demon King gushed, "Exactly! I was just as stunned. Who’d have thought Huaishui was the traitor? He nearly killed His Highness and betrayed my trust! Hmph, thank goodness Father returned in time to save the Crown Prince and eliminate the villain. He’s incredible—I’ve never seen anyone so amazing! It was like watching a god descend from the heavens!"

Xu Wan: "…"

First, he praises himself, now his father—might as well claim all the immortals were reincarnated into their family…

The Little Demon King chattered nonstop, replaying Zong Zhao’s heroic performance in the palace until Xu Wan, though not present, had mentally conjured multiple dramatic adaptations—TV series, films, short dramas—of his legendary feats.

"Enough, enough—" Xu Wan couldn’t take it anymore. Laughing helplessly, she said, "You’ve described that spear thrust eight times already. I could recite it word for word."

Why was the journey back to the manor so agonizingly long?

This chatterbox child was terrifying.

Interrupted, the Little Demon King pouted. "Mother, I’m just excited! I want to relive it a few more times."

Desperate to escape the loop, Xu Wan changed the subject. "Earlier, before entering the palace, I heard someone call your father ‘General.’ Do you know why?"

"Huh?" The Little Demon King scratched his head. "I didn’t hear that. Why would they call him General? Father never led troops into battle. When he disappeared, he’d only just joined the military—he wasn’t a general yet."

Xu Wan mused, "Generals are typically appointed by imperial decree. Could your father have returned much earlier?"

Zong Jincheng frowned, instinctively defensive. "I don’t know. But Mother, in Great Chu, not all generals are appointed that way."

"Oh?" Xu Wan looked puzzled.

Zong Jincheng sucked in a breath. "I remember reading in military texts—‘Generals in the field may act without the Emperor’s orders.’ The supreme commander can appoint officers on the front lines and present their merits to the court afterward."

Xu Wan’s brows furrowed. "But the only supreme commander currently leading troops is Luo Jingfeng."

Zong Jincheng: "…"

The Little Demon King immediately backtracked. "Then it must’ve been a secret appointment by the Emperor! Father would never associate with that treacherous scoundrel Luo Jingfeng."

Xu Wan chuckled. "You little grudge-holder, now you’re outright calling him a treacherous scoundrel?"

Zong Jincheng huffed. "Because he is! A vile schemer who bullied His Highness and me. He’s no good!"

Xu Wan lightly warned, "Tone it down. Luo Jingfeng is returning to the capital this month. Don’t let him overhear you."

The Little Demon King stuck out his tongue and dropped the subject.

Yangyuan Marquis Manor—

As Xu Wan and Zong Jincheng stepped out of the carriage, they found the estate adorned with red lanterns from the gates to the inner courtyards, as festive as a wedding celebration.

The Little Demon King said casually, "This is just our family tradition, Mother. Stay calm."

Xu Wan: "…"

Calm? How could she be? Her in-laws worked at lightning speed—within less than two hours of the news, they’d already decked out the entire manor to welcome Zong Zhao home.