sing the crowd."Eat well, drink well, and heal up. Tomorrow we'll hit the road again, we have to keep moving. This weather gets colder by the day, be careful not to get stuck in the mountains. Who kno...Old Master Liu nodded, feeling unwilling but still persuaded, "Spending money averts disaster. Take good care of your younger generations at home in the future..."

The duke sighed and turned away.

By now, the news that the Prince and his noble title had been taken to the Jingzhao Mansion prison was known to everyone.

While onlookers might find it amusing and entertaining, relatives and friends of the Duke's household would definitely pay a visit to inquire about the situation.

Regardless of whether you can help or not, at this time, just showing up is like sending charcoal in the snow. You should be grateful for that.

The Countess was so distraught that her eyes were swollen shut, she hadn't had a single sip of water or a single bite of food.

Since the National Public had finally returned, naturally everyone wanted to ask him a few questions.

"It's nothing major," the national duke simply replied. "There's a case that needs the prince's cooperation in the investigation. He'll be sent back tomorrow."

This sounds far-fetched.

That's the son of a Duke! Unless he committed a grave crime, would the magistrate dare to bind and take him to prison in broad daylight

But since the Duke spoke, no one dared to question him.

Could it be that you hope for the children of others to actually commit crimes!

After sitting for a while, everyone hurriedly said their goodbyes.

When the house was finally quiet, Lord Duke dismissed all his servants and discussed matters with his wife.

Hearing the reason, the old wife also regretted, "It was my fault that I harmed my son. If I had kept him at home, would nothing like this have happened"

"It's too late to say anything now, hurry up and prepare the silver. As long as that person calms down, my son will be fine."

The Duke sighed, "This time I managed to get my son out. From now on, I'll be the one to teach him, you shouldn't interfere anymore! This time, I had to put my face on the line and beg the Liu family before I understood the whole situation. If there's another time, I'll just have to watch him die in prison."

The Countess immediately nodded, "Yes, yes, I will definitely stay out of it."

The old couple huddled together, emptying their savings. They were both heartbroken and busy making preparations at the same time.

The second day was a morning court session. As the Emperor just returned to his study, he heard that Duke Zhen Guo requested an audience. He smiled and nodded in agreement.

Soon, Yi Zuo led the Duke of ZhenGuo in.

The Duke of Zhen Guo wasn't stupid, so he never mentioned his son.

He simply knelt down, respectfully kowtowed, and directly presented a silver note worth 100,000 taels, claiming that he was easing the Emperor's burdens and sharing the worries of the nation.

As expected, the Emperor personally helped him up and showered him with praise without reservation.

Even if Zhen Guo Gong knew it was fake, he couldn't help but be excited.

This is the Emperor himself, his words are golden!

He excitedly kowtowed again, pledging his loyalty. Finally, he stood up and sat down, his back straighter than before.

The Emperor was in a good mood and started chatting about everyday matters, "How is the Duke's health recently"

"Thanks to Your Majesty's grace, the old minister's body is still relatively strong." The Duke hesitated for a moment before adding cautiously, "It's just that my young son is troublesome and often makes the old minister angry. The old minister intends to go into seclusion and properly educate him for two years."

The Emperor nodded, showing his approval. "This is the right thing to do. Children need to be disciplined and guided with care in order to succeed."

At last, as if remembering something suddenly, he asked, "I heard that the Crown Prince has taken a liking to the young lady from the Jiangning Hou's residence"

The Marquis of Zhen Guo felt a tremor in his heart, not knowing why the Emperor asked such a question. He cautiously replied, "A young man's thoughts are fleeting, merely uttering a few casual words..."

"No, Your Excellency, you are mistaken. There is reason to prioritize starting a family over establishing a career. After all, once a man marries, he will put aside his frivolous pursuits!" The Emperor smiled. "Today, Your Excellency has relieved me of my worries, and so I shall relieve you of one as well. Go home and await my decree!"

The Marquis of Zhen Guo vaguely guessed something, but still thought it was impossible.

Although he was a duke, he understood his family's situation very well. He only had the title, but no real power.

As for Duke Jiangning's Mansion, that was the empress dowager's natal family!

The son's favorite girl is the queen's first cousin!

Even, I heard that this girl is being prepared for the Marquis of Xinting!

So, no matter how much their son made a fuss at home, he always stopped his wife from inquiring about the Wu family's news…

Could it be that his son's dreams are finally coming true!

Perhaps the son's wish will come true, and he will truly settle down, live a good life, and no longer waste his time on games...

The Duke of Zhen Guo's mind was in turmoil, he had no idea how to leave the palace.

But outside the palace gate, countless people saw his complexion and believed that the young master was surely going to die.

Then, the next morning, the ragged and ashen-faced prince was sent back to the Duke of Zhen Guo's Mansion.

Although he was in a sorry state, his arms and legs were still intact. The sight of him reduced the Marchioness to tears.

The Lady of the Duke also wasn't bothered by the dirt, holding her son tightly. “My child, you really worried your mother to death! From now on, don't cause trouble anymore, let's just study hard at home!”

The young master almost suffocated from his mother's grip. After struggling free, he blurted out, "Mother, I'm starving! I want meat, fish, and roast chicken! I want everything!"

"Oh, oh!" The Countess finally reacted, immediately ordering someone to prepare food and have her son served with a bath, a change of clothes, and a hair wash.

After everyone else was done, the young master sat back down at the table. He didn't even bother with his chopsticks; he just grabbed an elbow and started gnawing on it.

This was the first time in his life he had been to jail, and he finally saw what hell on earth was like.

A decaying, mold-infested dungeon, overrun with rats and cockroaches. A cold wind howled through the cell, and cries of pain or despair echoed ceaselessly throughout the night.

For two whole days and nights, he only had a bowl of thin porridge, which was even snatched away by the other inmates in his cell.

His clothes were stripped off him, and he was kicked around like a ball.

He couldn't even win in a fight. When he tried to use the name of the Duke of Zhen Guo, he was beaten even worse.

Just when he thought he was going to die there, he was finally pulled out...

Seeing his son like this, Lord Zhen Guo also felt heartbroken, but he still said with a hardened heart: “This time you’ve learned your lesson. From now on, stay home and behave yourself. If you dare to go out wandering again, I’ll break your legs!”

The prince was terrified inside, but he still put on a brave face and said, "If you marry Miss Bi Lian to me, I'll never leave the house again."

"Humph, you said so yourself. Remember, you must keep your promise." The Duke said with a strange expression.

But that caught the young master's eye. "Father, can you let me marry Miss Bilin She is the second daughter of Jiangning Houfu, a legitimate daughter, not someone else!"

Even the Duke wouldn't outright refuse, and vaguely replied, "As long as you listen to me, then give it a try."

The prince still wanted to ask, but just then the steward ran up in a panic and shouted, "Duke! Someone from the palace has come with an imperial decree!"

Everyone hurried to get busy, and soon arrived in the front yard, setting up an incense altar to receive the imperial decree...

When the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree had left, the prince held the imperial decree in his hand and still found it hard to believe. "Father, Mother, I'm going to marry Bi Lian" he exclaimed.

The Duke's heart was also filled with relief, but he still glared fiercely at his son.

The Marchioness was delighted for her son, “Yes, you’re getting married!”

The prince was overjoyed, leaping three feet high, "I'm getting married! I'm marrying Miss Bilin!"e thoroughly bandaged the wound. The child was in so much pain that his face turned pale with sweat.Jia Yin stood a few steps away, covering her eyes and refusing to look. Just from the sound, she fel...