Chapter Eleven: Intimidation
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A subtle stir arose in Xie Ning’s heart. He had anticipated that Li Qingning would make some gesture, but he never expected it to be on such a grand scale. The two guards exuded a heavy, imposing aura, their sharp gazes revealing them as elite warriors who had seemingly crawled out from the midst of death itself. With their presence, he finally had a solid foothold within the Marquis residence.
This Grand Princess was indeed a meticulous and decisive person.
Suppressing the turmoil within, Xie Ning wore an expression of just the right measure of anxiety and reluctance. Bowing to Nurse Rong, he said, “Madam, how can this be allowed? No merit, no reward—I lack the virtue and ability to accept such generous favor from Her Highness the Princess.”
His feigned refusal only infuriated Jia Yibo further, making his anger boil over. “You ungrateful wretch, profiting and still pretending to be modest.”
Nurse Rong, however, seemed to ignore his expression, looking instead at Xie Ning with a calm voice: “The Young Master need not refuse; this is also the will of Her Highness the Princess.”
She paused.
“If the Young Master refuses, it would mean distrust towards the Princess.”
Upon hearing this, Jia Yibo trembled all over. He was now certain that Xie Ning had struck some bargain with the Grand Princess. Thoughts of how he had tormented and oppressed Xie Ning all these years, and how he had just tried to kill him, sent cold sweat trickling down his back.
“In that case, I shall respectfully comply,” Xie Ning said, reluctantly accepting the grand gift. Then, he turned to the two still kneeling men and said, “Rise.”
“Young Master Xie.”
Qingfeng Mingyue rose and stood behind him, hands lowered and movements precise as ever.
Nurse Rong nodded, satisfied that the task was complete. Yet, she remembered another instruction from the Princess. Her gaze swept around the room and finally settled on Jia Yibo, her tone indifferent as she spoke:
“Lord Jia, there is still one matter the old servant does not understand and wishes to ask you about.”
Jia Yibo startled, immediately bowing: “Madam, please speak freely. I shall answer all questions honestly.”
Nurse Rong’s eyes sharpened suddenly.
“I just heard that the imperial physician came to treat the Young Master, diagnosing him with long-standing melancholy and blood deficiency. I am curious—so noble a Young Master of Dingyuan Marquis, born of imperial bloodline, what grievances could he have suffered within this Marquis residence to fall ill from such deep sorrow?”
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“I beg you, Lord Jia, please enlighten me.”
Though Nurse Rong’s voice was not loud, each word struck Jia Yibo’s heart like a knife.
The air around seemed to freeze instantly.
The servants of the Marquis residence lowered their heads even further, wishing to burrow into the ground to avoid getting caught in this sudden storm.
Cold sweat formed on Jia Yibo’s forehead; his face stiffened, lips trembling, but no words came out.
Enlighten her? How could he possibly explain? Was he to confess, in front of the Grand Princess’s trusted aide, how he had mistreated his late wife’s son, tormenting the noble Young Master to the point of being worse off than a servant?
“T-this…” Jia Yibo stammered, his mind racing to find a plausible excuse.
“Madam, you misunderstand. Ning lost his mother at a young age; the grief made him somewhat withdrawn and often melancholy.”
“As his father, I have watched and worried, but I am powerless to help.”
He even forced out two fake tears, trying to play the role of a concerned and loving father.
Yet his clumsy act was laughable before Nurse Rong, who had lived through countless intrigues and deceit.
“Oh? Is that so?”
Jia Yibo awkwardly nodded.
“Yes.”
A faint, almost mocking smile curved Nurse Rong’s lips, her eyes brimming with scorn.
“Old servant finds the Young Master’s features clear and bright, his speech measured—not the demeanor of a withdrawn person at all.”
“But it seems, Lord Jia, that your household’s rules are somewhat… unclear.”
Her tone shifted as she glanced over Jia Yibo and the trembling servants behind him.
“I heard that the Young Master lives in a thatched hut unfit even for servants, eating only the leftover scraps from the kitchen. Is this true or false?”
Jia Yibo’s heart jolted violently, his face turning deathly pale.
He hadn’t expected that the Grand Princess’s side had inquired into such details so thoroughly.
“No, that’s impossible. It’s baseless slander by some malicious servant spreading rumors behind my back.”
Jia Yibo fiercely denied, his voice trembling inside though threatening outside: “The Dingyuan Marquis household has strict family discipline; such vile deeds would never occur!”
“Indeed.”
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Xie Ning calmly spoke beside him, his voice low but clear to all present.
“Madam, perhaps there is some misunderstanding. You may come with me to see the quarters and judge for yourself.”
Jia Yibo nearly spat out a mouthful of blood upon hearing this.
He glared at Xie Ning with murderous hatred, as if he wanted to tear him apart alive.
This ungrateful son!
Nurse Rong’s gaze swept between father and son, her mind already made up.
She smiled lightly and said, “No need. The Princess is merely anxious. Since Lord Jia says it is not so, then it must not be.”
“However…”
She paused, her voice suddenly turning cold.
“The Princess also asked me to pass on a message to Lord Jia.”
Jia Yibo’s heart tightened; he bowed quickly. “I am all ears.”
“The Princess said that Young Master Xie’s safety concerns her deeply. From today onward, if the Young Master suffers even the slightest mishap in this residence—even if just a single hair falls—she will come here personally to seek an explanation.”
“At that time, I fear the Marquis residence will lose more than just a hair.”
Every word from Nurse Rong sent chills through Jia Yibo’s entire body.
This was no mere warning.
He had no doubt that with the Grand Princess’s means, whatever she said, she could accomplish.
“I understand, I understand. Please convey to Her Highness that I will care for Ning diligently and dare not neglect him in the slightest.”
Jia Yibo’s voice trembled as he bent even lower, nearly bowing at a ninety-degree angle.
“Very well,” Nurse Rong nodded, satisfied. Without another glance at him, she turned to Xie Ning and spoke gently, “Young Master, I shall not trouble you further. These two will henceforth follow your commands. If anyone in the residence dares to disrespect you or if there is any deficiency, just instruct them, and they will handle it properly.”
Her words were meant for both Xie Ning and Jia Yibo.
“Thank you, Madam. I appreciate your efforts,” Xie Ning said, bowing.
Nurse Rong returned the gesture and then led the guards away.
Only when the grand procession disappeared around the corner did the suffocating pressure at the gates of the Dingyuan Marquis residence slowly dissipate.