The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 296

The Crown Princess looked up in shock, her dim eyes gradually lighting up with hope. She quickly rose to her feet and said, "Hurry! Bring him into the palace! We must save His Highness!"

"Yes! Yes! This servant will fetch him at once!"

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Crown Princess rushed out, feeling as though her heart had begun beating anew in her chest.

Zong Zhao—it was Zong Zhao who had returned.

He was His Highness's closest friend. No matter how much the outside world misunderstood their relationship as strained, she knew better—he was the one His Highness trusted most. Now, there was hope for His Highness.

Zong Zhao would surely save His Highness!

In the Eastern Palace, the study.

Zong Jincheng finished transcribing the Nine Classics of Governance and, without looking up, asked, "Your Highness, what else would you like to hear?"

After a few moments of silence, he received no reply.

The little troublemaker raised his head and saw the Crown Prince with his eyes closed, a faint smile lingering on his face.

"He seems to have fallen asleep…"

The boy muttered to himself, glancing around for a blanket to cover him. As he draped it over the Crown Prince, his hand accidentally brushed against His Highness's arm—which then slipped limply to his side.

Zong Jincheng's eyes widened in alarm. Realizing something was wrong, he cried out, "Your Highness! Your Highness! Wake up! What’s wrong? Your Highness… Someone, help! His Highness has collapsed! His Highness has collapsed!"

Though his lips shouted about the Crown Prince fainting, his mind flashed back to the nightmare he’d had that morning. Terror gripped him, and his hands trembled as he held His Highness. He sobbed in despair, "Your Highness, please wake up… Don’t scare me like this… Don’t scare me…"

Tears streamed down Zong Jincheng’s face in panic.

Just then, the Crown Princess arrived with Zong Zhao, both covered in dust from their hurried journey. They swiftly pushed Zong Jincheng aside, and the boy, not daring to interfere, quickly retreated to a corner.

Zong Zhao placed a pill into the Crown Prince’s mouth, tilting his chin upward to force him to swallow it. Then, without delay, he retrieved silver needles from his person and inserted them into several vital acupoints on His Highness’s body.

The Crown Princess watched with a heart full of dread.

Yet she restrained herself from disturbing Zong Zhao, standing aside with Zong Jincheng. The palace maids and eunuchs in the study quietly withdrew, leaving the scene undisturbed.

Zong Zhao kept his gaze lowered, focused on his work. His expression was stern and unsmiling, but in that moment, it exuded an undeniable sense of security.

The Crown Princess felt a glimmer of hope.

Zong Zhao—he would surely save His Highness.

"Hot water. Cotton cloth," Zong Zhao demanded.

"I’ll have it prepared at once!" The Crown Princess hurried out.

Zong Jincheng studied Zong Zhao’s profile intently. The man wore a black martial outfit, his skin taut over his hands, and his presence carried an imposing air—much like Buyan and Huaishui.

He thought, This man must be a martial arts master too.

But skilled in both combat and medicine? How extraordinary!

Remembering that the Crown Princess had brought him, Zong Jincheng reassured himself—this man was reliable. He would surely heal His Highness.

The Crown Princess soon returned with hot water. Zong Zhao soaked the cloth and applied it to one of the treated acupoints, while she assisted him.

Once everything was done, Zong Zhao finally checked the Crown Prince’s breathing—faint, but the medicine was already taking effect.

After a quarter of an hour, he tested again with a feather. The Crown Prince’s breathing had gradually stabilized.

Relief washed over the Crown Princess’s tense face. "Zong Zhao, is His Highness out of danger now?"

Zong Zhao gave a slight nod. "There’s no immediate threat to his life. But it may take some time before he wakes."

Overcome with joy, the Crown Princess tearfully thanked him. "That’s enough—as long as His Highness is safe, I can wait however long it takes!"

Behind them, Zong Jincheng, who had been listening, froze.

Zong Zhao???

My father???

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This is my father???

The little troublemaker had stumbled upon another bombshell—this time about himself. He was face-to-face with his own father!

"Dad! You’re finally back! I’m Jincheng—your son!" Zong Jincheng exclaimed excitedly, running up to him with an eager introduction.

So this was his father!

So handsome! So impressive!!

There was no doubt—his father’s martial prowess had to surpass even Buyan and Huaishui’s. After all, he was a military champion, and most importantly, his father—the absolute strongest!

Zong Zhao looked down at the boy’s adoring gaze, his mind drifting back to Luo Shu’s schemes that night. Their similar features overlapped briefly before sharply separating again.

"Yes, I know," Zong Zhao replied, patting his head.

Zong Jincheng beamed, immediately launching into praise. "Dad, you’re amazing! I was so scared earlier—I thought something terrible would happen to His Highness. He’s always been so good to me. If anything happened to him, I’d be heartbroken."

Zong Zhao nodded, retrieving a small box from his robes and handing it to the Crown Princess. "Give His Highness one pill every half-month."

"Understood!" The Crown Princess accepted it gratefully, cradling the box like a treasure.

This was His Highness’s lifeline. She had searched endlessly for an antidote, yet couldn’t even identify the poison.

Overwhelmed with relief, she called out, "Summon Huaishui at once! I have orders for him."

Now that His Highness was safe, she no longer needed to send the little princess to the Duke’s residence. Huaishui could bring her back.

However, at the mention of that name, Zong Zhao’s eyes lifted.

"Your Highness, I once left a red-tasseled spear here with His Highness. Does it still remain?"

The Crown Princess nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes! His Highness often took it out to admire. I’ll fetch it for you."

When Huaishui arrived, he found the Crown Princess absent. Zong Jincheng kindly informed him that Her Highness would return shortly and asked him to wait.

Huaishui looked up and saw Zong Zhao. Before he could recover from his shock, he bowed respectfully. "This humble officer greets the Young Marquis."

"Hm."

Zong Zhao acknowledged him with a single sound before falling silent again.

Zong Jincheng observed quietly: Just as Grandfather and Grandmother said—Dad really doesn’t talk much.

The Crown Princess returned with the red-tasseled spear, handing it over while remarking, "Once His Highness recovers, he can train with you again. It’s been years since he last visited the practice grounds—he must miss it dearly."

Zong Zhao took the spear, running his fingers along the blade. Despite the years, its edge remained sharp, and the crimson tassel had been meticulously maintained.

As the Crown Princess continued chattering and Zong Jincheng admired the weapon—

In the next instant—

Zong Zhao spun the long spear with lightning speed, its tip carrying a surge of lethal fury as it pierced straight through Huaishui’s heart, impaling him cleanly.

Swift. Decisive. Without hesitation.

"Ah—!" The Crown Princess gasped, covering her mouth in horror as she stared at Zong Zhao.

Zong Jincheng was dumbstruck. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but the scene remained unchanged.

But… his father… had he gone mad?

That was Huaishui—His Highness’s personal guard, who had served him for over a decade!