The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

If Luo Ji was unwilling, he could have gone straight to the palace and said so.

As the emperor, Chu Jincheng could have refused the promotion in his name.

But Luo Ji didn't.

He showed no signs of resistance, instead appearing to calmly accept the Luo family's arrangements.

This was precisely what made Jin Cheng feel uneasy and suspicious.

Luo Ji remained silent for a long moment before finally raising his eyes and speaking softly, "My mother is simple-minded, and my father is entirely devoted to you, leaving no room to care for us. I had no power to refuse."

For an ordinary person, becoming the top military scholar would bring honor to their entire family, a cause for celebration. But in the eyes of the powerful Luo family, it was insignificant, far overshadowed by Luo Jingfeng's achievements.

Unlike Jin Cheng, who had an uncle who doted on him, Luo Ji had no such privilege. If he defied his father or the Luo family, the consequences wouldn't fall on him alone—his mother and his maternal grandfather's family would suffer as well.

He couldn't afford to refuse.

Jin Cheng flushed at his words.

He had hoped to hear some heartfelt words from his elder cousin, but instead, he ended up feeling guilty. Luo Jingfeng had indeed treated him better than his own son, Luo Ji.

Whenever Jin Cheng was displeased, he could argue with Luo Jingfeng—and most of the time, he even won.

As his mother had once said: those who are favored act without fear.

But Luo Ji never dared to do the same. Even as Luo Jingfeng's eldest son and heir, he had never experienced such favor. He lacked the confidence to act as he pleased.

Under such blatant favoritism, Jin Cheng, the one who benefited, asked sheepishly, "Elder Cousin, you don't resent me, do you?"

Injustice often breeds resentment.

If Luo Ji held any grudge against him, nothing he said would matter.

To his surprise, Luo Ji replied calmly, "Father has always been cold and indifferent. Even before Your Majesty appeared, he treated us the same way. So I bear no resentment toward you. You are an exception in his life—I've never seen him dote on anyone like this."

Though his mother often insisted, deluded, that his father loved her deeply.

Luo Ji had never seen or felt it.

Hearing this, Jin Cheng's guilt deepened. He scratched his head and said, "Well… there are pros and cons to it. I don't always want his attention either. You know how Uncle is—stubborn, domineering, making decisions for others without caring whether they agree."

Luo Ji chuckled. "Indeed. Father's flaws are as numerous as his strengths."

Jin Cheng burst out laughing. "Hahaha! That's the perfect way to put it! When he returns, you should say that to his face."

Luo Ji shook his head with a faint smile. "Your Majesty should be the one to say it. I wouldn't dare."

Jin Cheng grinned. "Fine, I'll tell him then… That temper of his really is annoying if he doesn't change."

After venting about Luo Jingfeng together, the two grew closer.

Still, Luo Ji remained somewhat reserved. Jin Cheng didn't push him to relax completely and instead changed the subject. "Elder Cousin, why didn't you go with Uncle on this campaign?"

Luo Ji hesitated. "Father said I lacked experience."

Jin Cheng: "???"

Truly a father's words.

Luo Jingfeng's standards were so high that even his own son fell short.

Jin Cheng pressed further, "But do you want to go?"

Luo Ji's brows twitched. He countered, "Would Your Majesty trust me to go?"

He had already been exceptionally promoted to a third-rank military officer. If he went to the front, Luo Jingfeng could appoint him as a second-rank general on the battlefield—an unfair advantage in the eyes of other officials.

Jin Cheng appreciated his directness and grinned. "Elder Cousin, you're principled and capable. If you can serve as a general, why not? The court would be getting a bargain—a talented commander for free."

Luo Ji's eyes flickered with doubt, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.

The young emperor stood and declared solemnly, "Luo Ji, hear the imperial decree."

Luo Ji swiftly rose and knelt to receive it.

Jin Cheng retrieved a pre-written edict from the desk. With his photographic memory, he didn't even need to open it. Raising it high, he announced warmly, "By Our command, you are appointed as an imperial envoy to accompany the Armaments Directorate in escorting materials for the war chariots and safeguarding their designs. Once assembled, you shall remain with the Duke Protector to repel the enemy."

Luo Ji's head snapped up in disbelief. Not only was the emperor sending him to the front, giving him a chance to become a general, but he was also entrusting him with the secret war chariot designs as an imperial envoy?

Jin Cheng smiled. "General Luo, will you accept the decree?"

Luo Ji didn't take it immediately.

Instead, he asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, if you're ordering me to keep the designs confidential—does that include my father?"

Chu Jincheng laughed. "Of course. This is a state secret. We don't want too many people knowing."

Luo ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‍Ji's mind raced.

The emperor's reasoning made sense—and yet it didn't. While the chariot designs were important, was it really necessary to withhold them from the supreme commander of the army?

By giving him the designs and explicitly forbidding his father from seeing them, the emperor was clearly expressing distrust toward Luo Jingfeng.

But if he didn't trust Luo Jingfeng, why send Luo Ji at all?

Luo Ji couldn't make sense of it.

Chu Jincheng waved the edict playfully. "Elder Cousin, are you going to accept it or not?"

Luo Ji hesitated before raising his hands. "This subject… accepts the decree."

Seeing his tense expression, Jin Cheng quickly pulled him up and said reassuringly, "Ah, don't overthink it! If Uncle asks, just blame me. Say I forbade you from showing anyone. That way, if he gets angry, he'll take it out on me when he returns, not you."

Luo Ji considered this before asking seriously, "Your Majesty, the Duke Protector is my father by blood. Aren't you worried I might leak the designs?"

Even with the imperial edict as a deterrent, the bond between father and son was strong. If Luo Jingfeng demanded the designs later, Luo Ji couldn't guarantee he wouldn't yield.

He was too weak compared to his father.

He had too much to lose—too many people to protect. Keeping such a secret might be beyond him.

Chu Jincheng sighed. "Of course I'm worried. But remember, Elder Cousin—before you are Luo Jingfeng's son, you are Our subject. This is an imperial decree, not a request. You must fulfill it, not just try. Even if the Duke Protector holds a blade to your neck."

Luo Ji smiled wryly. "Your Majesty, is this your first time appointing an imperial envoy? Serving the Son of Heaven is no easy task."

Seeing his smile, Jin Cheng knew—his elder cousin had agreed.

Delighted, Jin Cheng said, "Naturally! Do you think just anyone could rise so quickly after becoming the top military scholar? The harder the task, the faster the promotion! Work hard, Elder Cousin. I have high hopes for you—not just because you're the Luo family's heir, but because you're Luo Ji. One day, you'll surpass even Luo Jingfeng."