The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 303

"Hurry, hurry, let’s go welcome them!"

The crowd surged toward the gates, and even the four mischievous boys couldn’t resist the excitement. They scrambled down from the lion dancers and dashed off.

"The army’s back!"

"We won the war!"

"Whoa, this is amazing! Let’s go see!"

"Buyan, keep an eye on Jincheng!" Xu Wan instructed before rushing after them with Cui Liu.

While the people rejoiced at the army’s triumphant return, Xu Wan remained wary. Luo Jingfeng was back, and the memory of how he had nearly strangled the little troublemaker two years ago was still fresh in her mind. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down.

The streets were packed with cheering crowds, soldiers holding back the throng as the procession advanced. At the forefront rode Luo Jingfeng, his arrogant smirk radiating superiority as he basked in the people’s adoration.

The little troublemaker had been eagerly watching the procession when his eyes landed on Luo Jingfeng’s face. He rolled his eyes and silently cursed the man as a traitorous villain.

But he kept it to himself—now was not the time to voice such thoughts, not when the crowd worshipped Luo Jingfeng. Speaking out now would only get him beaten.

Shen Yibai suddenly gasped, nudging him. "Jincheng, Jincheng, look at that guy! His presence is overwhelming—he doesn’t lose to the Great General of Pacifying the West at all!"

Zong Jincheng looked up and saw the imposing figure—tall, clad in battle armor, his gaze sharp as a blade, like a god of war returning in glory.

"Dad! That’s my dad! My dad’s back too!" The little troublemaker shrieked, clapping his hands and stomping his feet in excitement.

"Wait, that’s Uncle Zong?!" He Zheng gaped.

Shen Yibai and Wei Xinglu were stunned. They’d heard Jincheng boast about his father’s return but had never seen him in person. Now, seeing him in the flesh, they realized the stories weren’t exaggerated.

"Uncle Zong! Uncle Zong is amazing!" The boys waved frantically.

But the crowd was too dense, swallowing them up until they were barely visible. Zong Jincheng had the servants hoist them up, but by then, the procession had already passed.

The little troublemaker scrambled down and tugged at Xu Wan’s sleeve. "Mom, Mom, did you see? Dad was there! He came back from the border—he’s been fighting all these years!"

Xu Wan had seen.

When Zong Zhao left a letter saying he’d return by month’s end, she had suspected something. She thought he might have gone to escort Luo Jingfeng, but now she realized—he had ridden beside Luo Jingfeng, not with the reception envoys.

So when he rushed back over half a month ago… was it to save the Crown Prince?

Now it made sense.

In the carriage home, Zong Jincheng was still buzzing. "I told you our victory was suspicious! We suddenly won, took three cities from You Country—that traitor Luo Jingfeng isn’t that capable! It had to be Dad! My dad must’ve been the one who secured the victory!"

The little troublemaker was always this confident.

He was the strongest, his friends were the strongest, and his father was the strongest.

Xu Wan rubbed her temples. "Calm down. The court is still deliberating on rewards. Wait until the official announcement before you start bragging, or you’ll just be disappointed."

Zong Jincheng snorted. "It’s definitely Dad. He’s going to be showered with honors—just wait and see. Luo Jingfeng’s days of arrogance are numbered. Dad’s back, haha! Dad’s back!"

In his mind, he was already envisioning his father leading him to crush every enemy—kicking Luo Jingfeng aside, punching out every villain, reducing them to tears and pleas for mercy.

Xu Wan rolled her eyes at his transparent expressions. "Stop daydreaming. Buyan won’t even help you fight—you think your dad will?"

The fantasy shattered. Zong Jincheng pouted. "No way! Dad loves me! Last time he saw me, he patted my head! He’ll definitely side with me over Buyan!"

"...Poor Buyan, wasting his loyalty on you."

"Hey, Mom, let’s wait for Dad at the palace gates! It’ll take too long at home—I want to see him now. Last time was too rushed; I didn’t even get to talk properly!"

Xu Wan considered it. "Fine. But behave. We’ll wait at a distance."

Zong Jincheng nodded vigorously. "I promise I won’t cause trouble."

The Emperor had already received the battle reports.

By the time the army returned, the rewards had been drafted. Aside from gold and treasures, Luo Jingfeng, the Great General of Pacifying the West and commander of the campaign, was to be ennobled as Duke of State Protection, with the title inheritable by his descendants.

As a first-rank military official, Luo Jingfeng had already reached the pinnacle of honors. A dukedom was the logical next step.

But then the Emperor announced:

"While ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍Luo Jingfeng commanded the army, the greatest merit belongs to Zong Zhao. He led troops to capture three cities from You Country, displaying unmatched bravery and strategy. Not only has he avenged centuries of humiliation for Great Chu, but he has also strengthened the people’s faith in the court."

"Thus, Zong Zhao is hereby named: General of the Western Garrison, holding the rank of first-grade military official, and granted a general’s residence."

The court erupted in murmurs.

There had never been a rule limiting the number of Great Generals, but for over a decade, Luo Jingfeng had stood alone at the peak. Now, with Zong Zhao’s appointment, was the Emperor setting him up as Luo Jingfeng’s rival?

Rumors had spread—Zong Zhao’s sudden return to save the Crown Prince, his long audience with the Emperor… No one knew what had been discussed.

But one thing was clear: the Emperor intended to use Zong Zhao against Luo Jingfeng.

And the most bizarre twist?

Zong Zhao had originally been promoted to general by Luo Jingfeng himself on the battlefield.

Luo Jingfeng employed him, and the Emperor granted him a title.

Zong Zhao's sudden return not only stunned the court officials but also left them utterly bewildered.

Just whose faction did Zong Zhao truly belong to?