The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

"Caught a cold? And wants the Duke of State Protection to take care of her?" Jin Cheng was utterly baffled—every word seemed to land squarely in his confusion.

If ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‍she was sick with a cold, why was she kneeling outside the palace gates, exposed to the freezing wind? Wouldn't that make it worse?

Instead of calling for a physician, she demanded the esteemed Duke return home to care for her—something that would surely undermine the Emperor's dignity in the eyes of the court.

But Jin Cheng could guess the reason: "She's worried I've detained her husband in the palace for too long, so she's pretending to be ill to beg me to release him, isn't she?"

Faking an illness was a grave crime against the throne.

Eunuch Huang shook his head. "Your Majesty, the servants who reported this say Madam Luo doesn't seem to be pretending. She's truly pale, coughing, and her face is flushed—likely suffering from a severe cold and high fever."

Luo Jingfeng's gaze shifted toward them.

Jin Cheng couldn't read his expression—it wasn't concern, nor was it indifference.

"Bring Madam Luo inside."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jin Cheng received her in the outer hall, though Luo Jingfeng could still hear everything from within.

Ignoring Eunuch Huang's attempts to assist her, Madam Luo shoved him aside and dropped to her knees, kowtowing desperately. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! This humble wife is gravely ill—so ill I might die! Please, release the Duke and let him return home, or I won't survive!"

Jin Cheng hurried to help her up, but the moment he touched her, he recoiled. Despite the frigid early winter air, her skin burned feverishly—how high was her temperature?

The young Emperor gasped. "Summon the imperial physician at once!"

Madam Luo continued her tearful pleas, sobbing uncontrollably. "Your Majesty, release the Duke! He has always been loyal to you, never harboring a single disloyal thought! Let him go, I beg you! I'll even renounce my noble title if it means he can come home!"

Jin Cheng had never encountered such a relentless woman.

He'd met Madam Luo before, but his impression had been of a rather dim-witted, domineering noblewoman. He hadn't expected this side of her.

Trying to pry her grip from his robes, he explained, "I know, I know! The Duke is fine—he's just been in the palace practicing archery with me. Didn't I send his letter to Luo Ji last time? Didn't he tell you?"

Madam Luo wailed even louder. "But that was a month ago! The Duke hasn't returned home in forty-three days! I miss him, I can't sleep, I'm dying of illness—Your Majesty, have mercy on this pitiful wife!"

Jin Cheng threw his hands up in surrender. "Buyan, save me!!"

Buyan swiftly intervened, pulling her away.

Even in her feverish state, Madam Luo—a former warrior—struggled with surprising strength, trying to break free and resume her pleading.

The imperial physician rushed in, only to freeze at the sight of the Duke's wife being restrained.

"Your servant greets—"

Jin Cheng cut off the lengthy salutation. "Examine Madam Luo immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After checking her pulse, the physician reported, "It's acute high fever caused by severe cold. Her condition is unstable—she must take medicine to reduce the fever at once, or complications may arise."

Jin Cheng ordered urgently, "Prepare the medicine."

"Yes."

No sooner had the physician left than a eunuch announced, "Your Majesty, General Luo Ji requests an audience."

"Luo Ji just found out?" Jin Cheng said. "Bring him in to deal with his mother."

Luo Ji strode in, his brow furrowed deeply.

That morning, he'd received word from the barracks—his mother had deliberately bathed in freezing water to induce a fever before rushing to the palace.

—Madmen. Every last one of them.

Neither his father nor his mother was sane!

With Luo Jingfeng absent, Luo Ji had shouldered the family's burdens alone. He bowed. "Your Majesty, my mother has disturbed the imperial court. I beg your forgiveness—I will take her home at once."

But Madam Luo, with inexplicable strength, shoved Luo Ji off balance and resumed her tearful begging. "No, Ji'er, don't stop me! I must see the Duke! Your Majesty, please—!"

"Idiot. Go home and cry there."

Luo Jingfeng's voice suddenly rang from the inner hall.

The outer hall fell silent.

"My Duke…?" Madam Luo's face lit up with joy.

He was alive!

Perfectly unharmed!

All the dread and despair of the past forty-three days vanished in an instant.

She was an unrefined woman—barely literate, ignorant of politics and grand schemes. Her only wish in life was for Luo Jingfeng to live safely and return to her.

Every time he had gone to war, she had waited in terror. Though he always came back scarred, he had always come back.

Never before had he disappeared for so long.

Never before had the silence been so suffocating, so despair-inducing.

Now, knowing he was alive, Madam Luo revived instantly. Her tears dried, her wailing ceased—she even walked with renewed vigor. "Thank you, Your Majesty! This humble wife will leave at once and not disturb you further!"

With that, she practically dragged Luo Ji out of the palace.

Jin Cheng: "???"

That was the fastest mood swing he'd ever seen!

Still uneasy, he instructed Eunuch Huang, "Send the physician to accompany Madam Luo back to the estate. Have him stay until she fully recovers."

Eunuch Huang bowed. "As you command."

Returning to the inner hall, Jin Cheng remarked, "Your wife listens to you so well. She didn't even ask questions—just stopped bothering me the moment you spoke."

Luo Jingfeng remained expressionless. After a long pause, he scoffed quietly. "What a fool."

Jin Cheng frowned. "Why do you call everyone a fool? She's your wife, and she was so worried for your life. Can't you show even a little tenderness?"

Luo Jingfeng lifted his gaze. "I'm known for my cold heart. What emotions do you expect from me?"

Jin Cheng waved it off. "That's just how the world misunderstands you. I don't believe it."

Luo Jingfeng closed his eyes and ignored him.

On the way home, the carriage rattled forward.

Madam Luo, still flushed with fever, beamed at Luo Ji. "Ji'er, did you notice? Your father loves me even more now!"

Luo Ji: "…" Insanity.

Who could possibly notice such a thing?

Madam Luo gushed, "No one knew his condition—yet the moment I begged to see him, he spoke to reassure us! Isn't that proof of his love? Ji'er, you're sixteen—how can you still not understand?"

Luo Ji couldn't take it anymore. "He called you an idiot and told you to go home and cry. He doesn't respect you at all—why do you insist on humiliating yourself for him?"

Madam Luo chuckled. "Oh, you just don't get it. Your father's words are harsh, but his heart is soft! Haven't you heard 'spare the rod, spoil the child'? Why hasn't he scolded anyone else all this time? Only me! He was reassuring me—telling me not to worry. I understand him perfectly!"

Luo Ji's face went blank.

His mother was beyond saving.