Chapter 337: Ever since I was unemployed, my life has been difficult.

Duke Ningguo came to the palace in a carriage.

Before getting off the carriage, he took out a black porcelain bottle from the secret compartment and put it into his sleeve.

It should be useful!

Duke Ningguo stepped on the horse stool and got off the carriage with a smug look on his face.

He ordered the driver, "Find a place to wait. I'll be back soon."

"Yes, Duke." The coachman responded and put the horse stool away.

Duke Ningguo stood in front of the palace gate, looking at the towering imperial palace, his heart filled with emotion.

The last time I entered the palace was ten years ago...

At this moment, Xiao Shunzi was waiting for Duke Ningguo in front of the palace gate.

When he saw Duke Ningguo standing not far away, he immediately smiled.

Xiao Shunzi walked over with small steps and said with a bow, "Duke, you are here."

"We are here to greet the Duke on the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Duke Ningguo nodded and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Shun."

"Please come in, Duke." Xiao Shunzi said with lowered eyebrows.

Duke Ningguo coughed lightly and walked towards the palace gate with vigorous steps.

The guards guarding the palace gates watched the scene unfold in secret. When Duke Ningguo approached, they clasped their fists and saluted, saying, "We greet the Duke."

"No need for formalities!" Duke Ningguo said with a smile.

After Duke Ningguo and Xiao Shunzi entered the palace, the guards looked at each other, and the meaning in their eyes was self-evident.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince summoned Duke Ningguo, he must be trying to win him over!

Xiao Shunzi followed Duke Ningguo all the way, and when he arrived at the door of the imperial study, he was already exhausted and out of breath.

Duke Ningguo glanced at Xiao Shunzi, who was breathing heavily, and gave him a wicked smile.

Humph! I won’t tire you to death.

Without taking a breath, Xiao Shunzi bowed and said, "Duke, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the Imperial Study. Please come in."

Duke Ningguo nodded and raised his hand to knock on the door of the imperial study.

“Bang, bang!”

"Come in!" Xiao Mocheng's voice came from inside.

At this moment, Xiao Mocheng, who was waiting in the imperial study, was extremely nervous.

After hearing the knock on the door, he quickly sat down at the desk, picked up a memorial, and pretended to read it...

Duke Ningguo pushed open the door and walked into the imperial study with a calm expression.

He glanced at Xiao Mocheng inconspicuously, knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your humble servant pays respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Xiao Mocheng put down the memorial in his hand, stood up and stepped forward to help him up, "Duke Ningguo, please stand up quickly."

"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Duke Ningguo stood up and stood there with an indifferent expression, waiting for the next words.

Seeing this, Xiao Mocheng smiled and said, "Duke Ningguo, come and sit down."

Duke Ningguo bowed and sat down on the side after Xiao Mocheng sat down.

The atmosphere in the imperial study was a little awkward...

Xiao Mocheng cleared his throat and shouted outside, "Someone, serve tea."

"Yes, Your Highness." Xiao Shunzi responded and waved to the two young eunuchs standing not far away.

Two young eunuchs came over with a tray and carefully entered the imperial study.

"Your Highness, please have some tea."

"My Lord, please have some tea."

Xiao Mocheng waved to the two eunuchs serving tea, and the two eunuchs bowed and retreated.

Xiao Shunzi quickly closed the door of the imperial study.

Duke Ningguo picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

Xiao Mocheng looked at the indifferent Duke Ningguo and said, "Duke Ningguo, do you know why I summoned you here today?"

Duke Ningguo: “…”

If you don’t tell me, how would I know?

"To answer your Highness, I do not know."

Then, Duke Ningguo pretended to be worried and asked, "I heard that the emperor has been ill for a long time and I am very worried!"

Xiao Mocheng's face froze when he heard this, "Duke Ningguo, don't worry."

"The Emperor has worked too hard for the country and is recuperating. He will be well again soon."

Upon hearing this, Duke Ningguo nodded and said, "In that case, I am relieved."

After finishing this topic, Xiao Mocheng went straight to the point.

He said with a look of regret, "Duke Ning, I heard that Prince Ning spends his days taking cats and dogs for walks and frequenting brothels."

"Also, I heard that he is entangled with a man..."

"Do you really want to see him fall into such a state?"

Faced with Xiao Mocheng's inquiring eyes, Duke Ningguo immediately revealed an expression of disappointment.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, please do not mention that 'rebellious son'."

"Because he went to the brothel, I chased him for eight blocks with a stick..."

"In the end, that 'rebellious son' angered me so much that I fell ill in the street."

"Oh, what a sin!"

I have already handed over my military power, and you two, you bastards, are still thinking about our family.

If it’s not a sin, then what is it!

Xiao Mocheng: “….”

Duke Ningguo, your "heroic deeds" have indeed become widely known.

He restrained his expression and said seriously, "Duke Ning, actually, I don't think this is Prince Ning's fault."

"A good man has great ambitions. If Prince Ning wanted to achieve something, would he have fallen into such depravity?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Duke Ningguo burst into laughter as if he had heard a joke.

"Ha ha......"

Xiao Mocheng frowned slightly as he listened to Duke Ningguo's laughter.

Duke Ningguo, what are you laughing at?

I am talking about your own son.

When Duke Ningguo saw Xiao Mocheng frowning, he quickly covered his mouth to stop laughing.

He suppressed the corner of his mouth and said solemnly, "Your Highness, I apologize for your rudeness."

Xiao Mocheng waved his hand to show that he didn't care.

Duke Ningguo sighed softly and said helplessly, "Your Highness, to be honest, that 'rebellious son' has become what he is today because my wife doted on him too much."

"Because of this, I argued with my wife several times."

"For this reason, my wife almost divorced me."

Speaking of this, Duke Ningguo felt so aggrieved!

He grumbled as if complaining, "Alas, ever since I've been unemployed at home, life has been so difficult!"

"Thanks to the several shops that my wife brought as a dowry..."

What he meant was that I have no salary and live off my wife and children every day.

Xiao Mocheng: "......"

According to Duke Ningguo, he has been living off his wife ever since he was laid off at home.

No way!

But when he thought about it carefully, Xiao Mocheng inexplicably believed what Ningguo Duke said.

Since Duke Ningguo handed over his military power, the Duke's Mansion has been just a title in name only.

Without salary and status, life might be really hard.

Prince Ning is such a hopeless case that he might not even be able to inherit the title of Duke...

Thinking of this, Xiao Mocheng couldn't help but feel a little happy.

This also seems to be an opportunity to win over Duke Ningguo.

Duke Ningguo did not miss Xiao Mocheng's smug expression.

He lowered his eyes and complained inwardly: You bastard, don't deprive me of my right to be a gigolo.

Xiao Mocheng picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

"Duke Ning, please don't underestimate Prince Ning."

"I have an opportunity to make a name for myself here. Duke Ning, would you like to bring Prince Ning with you..."

Before Xiao Mocheng could finish his words, he saw Duke Ningguo sitting opposite him with a pale face, one hand on the table and the other tightly clutching the front of his shirt.

"Your Highness, I'm experiencing extreme emotional fluctuations... I'm experiencing a heart attack."

Xiao Mocheng had not anticipated this at all and was immediately shocked.

Duke Ningguo actually has a heart disease?

I haven't heard of this!

Xiao Mocheng stood up in a panic, looking bewildered and said, "Duke Ning, are you okay?"

I haven't even talked about business yet, but I'm already having a heart attack... Is this intentional?

"Medicine, medicine..." Duke Ningguo fumbled and took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve.

He opened the bottle cork tremblingly, put a brown pill into his mouth, and pretended to close his eyes and regulate his breathing.

Humph! I won't take your advice.

Duke Ningguo secretly rejoiced: Hehe! Look at how frightened the dog prince is, I must be pretending to be just as frightened as him.

This is just the beginning, the best is yet to come!

Seeing that Duke Ningguo was resting with his eyes closed, Xiao Mocheng did not dare to disturb him.

So he quietly left the table and walked towards the door.

Xiao Mocheng gently opened the door and waved to Xiao Shunzi who was waiting outside.

"Xiao Shunzi, does the Duke of Ningguo have a heart disease?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shunzi was shocked and subconsciously glanced into the imperial study.

He thought about it carefully and replied in a low voice: "Your Highness, it seems that is the case."

"I heard that Duke Ningguo was seriously injured on the battlefield and has been unable to tolerate any stimulation since then..."

Xiao Mocheng nodded and said, "Go prepare the sedan chair and send Duke Ning back to his mansion."

At the moment, it seems that the words "achieve great achievements" stimulated Duke Ningguo.

Alas, he is so useless.

"Yes, Your Highness." Xiao Shunzi turned and left.

Xiao Mocheng walked back to his seat with light steps and asked in a low voice, "Duke Ningguo, would you like me to summon the imperial physician?"

Upon hearing this, Duke Ningguo waved his hand.

He slowly opened his eyes and said embarrassedly, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Your Highness. I feel much better after taking the medicine."

As Duke Ningguo spoke, he put the porcelain bottle on the table back into his sleeve.

Xiao Mocheng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Duke Ningguo was not seriously injured.

Fortunately, you carried life-saving medicine with you, otherwise, I would be in big trouble.

"Duke Ningguo, I summoned you here today for no particular reason. I just wanted to chat with you about family matters."

"Since you are not feeling well, I will arrange for a sedan chair to escort you out of the palace."

Duke Ningguo stood up tremblingly and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Xiao Mocheng stood up and walked Duke Ningguo to the door of the imperial study.

"Xiao Shunzi, escort Duke Ning out of the palace."

"As you command!" Xiao Shunzi bowed and said to Duke Ning, "Duke Ning, please get in the sedan chair."

"Your humble servant will take his leave." After Duke Ningguo said this to Xiao Mocheng, he got on the sedan chair without any courtesy.

After Xiao Mocheng watched the sedan chair leave, his gentle face gradually turned cold...

Wrong decision!