The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Jin Cheng quickly asked, "Luo Ji knows the truth—won't they listen to him either?"

Buyan shook his head. "Though General Luo is the eldest son of the Duke of State Protection, his influence in the military is far less than General Xiaofeng's. General Zong has already rushed over, but the city patrol's forces are limited… Your Majesty, should we mobilize the Tiger Tally?"

General Xiaofeng commanded only tens of thousands of troops, insignificant against an army of hundreds of thousands.

Now, with military authority in Jin Cheng's hands, he could easily suppress the rebellion—even Luo Jingfeng thought so.

But…

"No," Jin Cheng refused. "Whether it's hundreds of thousands or just tens of thousands, these are all soldiers of Great Chu, men who have fought and bled for our dynasty for years. They shouldn't turn on each other because of court factionalism."

"Then what do we do?" Buyan scratched his head in frustration.

The little tyrant fell silent for a moment before turning to Luo Jingfeng in his cage. "Uncle, they've come for you. If you step forward and stop General Xiaofeng, not a single soldier needs to die. All the rumors and pretense will collapse on their own."

Luo Jingfeng lifted his gaze, his tone unreadable. "You'd let me go?"

If he were released, the future of their uncle-nephew relationship would be uncertain.

Jin ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍Cheng's eyes reddened, his voice hoarse. "I don't want to. But I also can't bear to watch the army you've led for years slaughter each other."

Buyan brought the keys.

Luo Jingfeng's heart twisted as well.

He watched the boy lower his head to unlock the cage, his small, delicate hands trembling—out of fear.

What was Cheng'er afraid of?

That he might lose? Or that he wouldn't return?

Clang— The chains fell to the ground.

The iron cage opened.

Luo Jingfeng had longed for this moment, yet now he hesitated. Because Cheng'er stood beside him, head bowed, a tear splashing onto the floor.

The child was crying.

That stubborn, prideful little brat—tears fell one after another.

Luo Jingfeng's heart clenched in sudden pain.

This damned little troublemaker…

The Duke of State Protection stepped out but hadn't even passed Jin Cheng when his sleeve was grabbed. The boy's voice, thick with tears, asked, "Uncle… will you come back?"

Luo Jingfeng, ever prideful, shook him off and turned to Buyan. "Where are they now?"

"At the city gates," Buyan replied.

Luo Jingfeng strode out.

Jin Cheng suddenly shouted after him, "Uncle, if you don't come back, I'll starve myself!"

Luo Jingfeng froze, remembering the boy's stomach pains.

His temples throbbed with fury. Whirling around, he snapped, "If I return and find you've skipped even one meal, I'll strangle you, you little brat!"

Jin Cheng laughed through his tears.

Waving, he called, "Uncle, Cheng'er will await your triumphant return!"

At the city gates, battle had already begun.

General Xiaofeng led his forces in an assault, met by the city patrol's fierce resistance.

Then, from the rear, someone suddenly cried out, "The Duke of State Protection… the Duke is here!"

Luo Jingfeng ascended the gate tower, spotting Zong Zhao beside him. He scoffed, unable to resist a jab. "The legendary General Zong, reduced to guarding a city gate?"

Zong Zhao, never one to lose an argument, shot back, "Now it's your turn."

Luo Jingfeng: "……"

The city patrol officers were baffled. Outside, rebels fought in Luo Jingfeng's name—while inside, Luo Jingfeng himself commanded the defense. What kind of absurd tale was this?

Luo Jingfeng turned to Commander Du. "Open the gates. I'll kill Zhao Feng myself."

Commander Du hesitated, glancing at Zong Zhao as if to ask: What if he's conspiring with Zhao Feng?

Zong Zhao trusted Jin Cheng's judgment. If he'd released Luo Jingfeng, it was after careful consideration. Still, the commander's doubts weren't unfounded. Compromising, Zong Zhao said, "Show yourself on the gate tower first. See if Zhao Feng's troops still recognize you. No point walking out just to get surrounded."

Luo Jingfeng sneered. "My own men, siding with him? Without the pretense of my imprisonment, who'd even follow him?"

Zong Zhao raised a brow. "You're sure he has no loyalists at all?"

Luo Jingfeng scoffed. "His reputation is trash. Who'd be fool enough to pledge loyalty?"

Zong Zhao delivered the final blow. "General Pang is out there too."

General Xiaofeng might lack loyalists, but he knew how to manipulate Luo Jingfeng's name—including swaying his most devoted follower, General Pang.

Luo Jingfeng: "!" That idiot.

Fuming, Luo Jingfeng stormed up the gate tower.

Outside, the battlefield was a sea of soldiers clashing steel—until Luo Jingfeng's cold, imposing figure appeared.

Instantly, all fighting ceased.

"The Duke! It's the Duke of State Protection!!"

General Pang exclaimed in relief, "Your Grace!! You're alive!!"

"Fool," Luo Jingfeng muttered. "Wouldn't even listen to Luo Ji."

But recalling his nephew's earlier words, he realized his own dismissiveness toward Luo Ji had led them to trust Zhao Feng over his own heir.

Luo Jingfeng's voice rang out, sharp as a blade. "I've been in the palace, instructing His Majesty in archery. Who dares use my name to rebel?"

The soldiers below stood stunned.

All eyes turned to General Xiaofeng. Even General Pang gaped. "Zhao Feng! You lied to us! You said the Duke had been murdered!"

General Xiaofeng shook his head in disbelief. "No… impossible. After so long imprisoned, you couldn't have survived. Has the Emperor gone mad? Freeing you after all this—how could Zong Zhao allow it?!"

Finally grasping the truth, General Pang roared, "So you're the traitor!! Your Grace, I always said this rat was no good!"

Luo Jingfeng berated him. "Then why follow him into rebellion, you imbecile? Kill him!"

"Yes, sir!" General Pang bellowed to the troops, "By the Duke's order: Heavy rewards for Zhao Feng's head!!"

"Charge!!!"

Luo Jingfeng's authority over the army was unmatched.

Even Zong Zhao and Zong Yan, who'd grown up hearing of his exploits, couldn't compare. His mere presence shattered General Xiaofeng's lies, and the rebel forces swiftly turned on him.

General Pang speared his foe through the chest. "Filth. Always scheming your way into the Duke's favor—I've waited years for this."

As he died, General Xiaofeng laughed bitterly at Luo Jingfeng. "He locked you up for forty-three days… yet you still fight for him. Luo Jingfeng… you'll die by that nephew's hand. Mark my words!!"

The words lingered—not just for General Pang, but for every soldier present.

A ruler's fear of powerful subjects was no secret.

With Great Chu and You Country now at peace for eight years, Luo Jingfeng's era of glory was ending. Hares dead, hounds boiled—the fate of all generals. They feared what awaited their Duke under the young Emperor's rule.

The city gates swung open.

Luo Jingfeng appeared astride a towering steed, his demeanor as imposing as his battle-hardened reputation. The Duke of State Protection declared with unshakable pride, "The Emperor and I are bound by blood—uncle and nephew, inseparable. Let this be a warning to any who dare spread baseless rumors again!"

"Yes, sir!!" The soldiers roared back, their voices shaking the heavens.