The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Zuixiang House, the most delicious and expensive restaurant in the Capital City.

The carriage stopped outside for a while, waiting until the surrounding area had been cleared before Luo Jingfeng stepped down, followed by Jin Cheng.

The grape-purple robes were notoriously hard to pull off, but both uncle and nephew, brimming with pride and confidence, wore them with an air of noble elegance, their presence commanding the room effortlessly.

The little devil skipped alongside his uncle as they entered the restaurant, his mood so cheerful that he even greeted the owner and waiters warmly.

The staff froze in shock: "Your… Your Majesty…"

Jin Cheng had been a regular here since childhood, spending lavishly on every visit. For such a distinguished patron, the staff recognized him instantly.

The once-notorious playboy of the Yangyuan Marquis Manor had now become the Emperor himself.

And today, he had returned to their humble establishment!

The little devil raised a finger to his lips. "Shh… keep it low-key, alright?"

The owner and waiters immediately clammed up, though their excitement was palpable, their eyes darting around in barely contained glee.

Luo Jingfeng, ever vigilant about his nephew's safety, turned to his attendants and ordered, "Send someone to monitor the kitchen. Ensure nothing unsavory makes its way to the table. If you spot anyone suspicious, kill them on sight."

"Yes, Duke."

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‍little devil felt warmed by the first part of the order, but his heart clenched at the latter—especially when he recalled the scholars Luo Jingfeng had executed for failing the imperial exams.

He tugged at Luo Jingfeng's sleeve in protest. "Uncle, stop killing innocent people."

Luo Jingfeng took his hand and led him upstairs, unwavering in his conviction. "The people I kill are never innocent."

"But—" Jin Cheng tried to argue.

Seeing his nephew gearing up for another quarrel, Luo Jingfeng cut him off. "Enough. Do you still want to eat or not?"

The little devil glanced back at the entrance, where the once-excited waiters now stood rigid with tension. His lips pursed, his brows drooping in disappointment.

Luo Jingfeng's expression darkened. "A year has passed, and you still haven't grown wiser?"

Jin Cheng sat by the window on the second floor and glared at him. "Is being paranoid and slaughtering people indiscriminately what you call wisdom?"

Luo Jingfeng sat across from him, his face stormy. "Your life concerns the stability of the empire. Is it wrong for me to take precautions?"

Chu Jincheng argued back, "Suspicious people should be detained and questioned first. If the interrogation is inconclusive, lock them up. But you kill them without a second thought—what if they're just ordinary civilians?"

Luo Jingfeng replied coldly, "Your method risks letting threats slip through."

The little devil mimicked his tone. "Your method risks wrongful executions."

The peace between them had barely lasted before the tension flared again.

Though furious, Luo Jingfeng forced patience into his voice. "If we handle things the way you suggest, your outings will become rare. Because the moment a threat slips through, your life will be in grave danger."

Jin Cheng stood firm. "Then I'd rather stay in the palace more."

"Fine, fine…" Luo Jingfeng laughed in exasperation. "You brat, were you born just to torment me?"

The waiters arrived with their dishes.

The little devil wasn't happy about the argument either. They had dressed in matching outfits today, intending to enjoy themselves, only to end up at odds again.

He wondered if he had been too harsh.

But his uncle's methods really could lead to innocent lives being lost…

Luo Jingfeng, noticing his nephew's sullen silence, cleared his throat. "Let's eat. I won't argue anymore. Tell me what's happened this past year. I returned in haste and haven't had time to ask."

"What's there to say?" Jin Cheng's mood was slow to lift.

Luo Jingfeng huffed. "That little empress of yours, for one. What were you thinking, seriously considering crowning a newborn?"

When he had received the letter from the Luo family, he nearly choked in disbelief. Jin Cheng had left the palace on the day Xu Wan gave birth, only to fixate on a baby girl as his future empress—like some lovesick fool with no sense of propriety.

Thankfully, Zong Zhao had refused the idea, or Luo Jingfeng would have stormed back to flip the table himself.

Jin Cheng frowned. "How do you know about that?"

He remembered only mentioning it at the general's residence, and later to Eunuch Huang. No one else should have heard.

Luo Jingfeng scoffed. "You were loud enough for the whole world to hear."

Loud…

The little devil thought back—General Pang had been stationed outside the hall, and with a warrior's keen hearing, any raised voice would carry secrets straight to his ears.

No wonder his father had warned him not to call the baby girl "little empress." Nothing could stay hidden.

Jin Cheng pouted resentfully. "I just wanted someone familiar to keep me company in the palace."

"You can't pick a newborn—it's ridiculous," Luo Jingfeng said. "I looked into it. Some of your close friends in the elite class have younger sisters. If you want companionship, choose from their families. Zong Zhao's child is too young."

"No… I want a daughter born to Mother," Jin Cheng insisted. "I'm still young anyway. A decade or so will pass quickly."

Luo Jingfeng snorted. "Quick, my foot. You're nearly thirteen. I'll arrange for someone to educate you soon."

The little devil gasped, clutching his chest and recoiling. "Edu—educate me how?! Don't you dare! I'm still a child!!"

Luo Jingfeng burst into laughter.

The tension between them dissolved as quickly as it had formed, like a summer storm—one moment thunderous, the next clear skies.

As the dishes arrived, Jin Cheng ate while gazing out the window. The bustling streets, the lively crowds, the vendors' cries—all so familiar, so soothing.

Good mood, good appetite.

Luo Jingfeng kept serving him food, and the nephew reciprocated by piling his uncle's bowl high in return.

The meal left them both content. Even after returning to the palace, the little devil's grin lingered.

Luo Jingfeng said, "You've had a full day. Rest early. I'll head back to the manor now."

Jin Cheng nodded eagerly, still buzzing with excitement.

Luo Jingfeng's smile didn't fade either. "Oh, and keep those thirty thousand troops. Look how happy they've made you."

His nephew's dramatic change had caught him off guard, but Luo Jingfeng figured it must be tied to the army.

If that was the case, he'd let Jin Cheng keep them.

After all, what was his would always be his nephew's. No difference.

Jin Cheng nodded even harder, beaming. "Thank you, Uncle!"

Luo Jingfeng ruffled his hair. "Silly boy."

With a grin, Jin Cheng watched him leave.

As Luo Jingfeng's figure grew more distant, the little devil's heart swelled with warmth. Though his uncle hadn't returned full military authority, at least he hadn't reclaimed those thirty thousand. That meant there was still hope for the future.

Maybe… maybe his uncle wasn't so hard to get along with after all. If he kept trying, he'd surely find the perfect balance between them. They would be the best uncle and nephew in the world.