Chapter Six: Who Truly Is the Beast?

Jia Yibo was naturally unaware that, although Xie Ning and the Eldest Princess Li Qingning were meeting for the first time today, Xie Ning had actually alleviated a stubborn ailment that had plagued Li Qingning for nearly twenty years. He had even become the Eldest Princess’s only hope for a cure.

Therefore, Li Qingning was determined to do everything in her power to protect this heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan.

As for Xie Ning, after bringing the imperial physician to the rear courtyard of the Marquis’s mansion to his own quarters, the physician, upon seeing the living conditions, clearly those of a servant belonging to the Marquis’s household, frowned deeply. “Your Highness, are you really living in such a place within the Marquis’s estate?”

Xie Ning smiled bitterly. “Imperial Physician, you should understand my family’s situation. Shortly after my maternal grandfather passed away, my mother also departed this world. The power of the Marquis of Dingyuan then fell into the hands of that person. Since then, my life as the so-called heir of the Marquis has only worsened day by day.”

At that moment, he quickly composed himself and shifted the topic. “Imperial Physician, please excuse the disorder within the Marquis’s household; it is embarrassing to show it to you. But now, I beg you to examine this humble one’s health and see what ails me...”

Hearing this, the imperial physician did not press further but gestured for Xie Ning to sit and then took his pulse.

After a brief diagnosis, the physician stroked his long beard thoughtfully. “Your Highness’s condition is not serious. It is caused by prolonged melancholy, leading to a deficiency in Qi and blood, with an urgent fire attacking the heart, resulting in weakness and faintness. A few doses of tonic herbs to replenish Qi and blood should be enough to cure you.”

As he spoke, he picked up a wolf-hair brush and quickly wrote out a prescription.

Xie Ning took the prescription, glanced over it hurriedly, then gratefully said, “Thank you, Imperial Physician. I will send someone to the pharmacy to get these herbs immediately. Also, when you return to the palace, please convey my thanks to the Eldest Princess on my behalf.”

The imperial physician stroked his beard and smiled. “That is easily done.”

He then gave Xie Ning some advice on lifestyle and diet before taking his leave.

As he was about to leave, Xie Ning wanted to pay the physician a fee for the consultation, but the physician refused politely. “Your Highness, please do not trouble yourself. Before I left the palace, the Eldest Princess specifically instructed me to care for you well and not to accept any payment.”

Given the Eldest Princess’s instructions, Xie Ning did not insist further.

Though they had only met once, Xie Ning could clearly see the Eldest Princess’s nature. From the way she coldly looked down on Princess Tun Tun Li Rushi with such haughty disdain, she was undoubtedly a formidable and resolute woman.

It was easy to imagine that if the imperial physician disobeyed her orders and accepted payment from him, he would surely face the Eldest Princess’s displeasure upon returning to the palace.

Xie Ning escorted the imperial physician out of the Marquis’s mansion, asking him several basic questions about traditional medicine along the way.

Jia Yibo, who had accompanied them, tried several times to beg the physician to stay and treat his beloved son Jia Zuhui, but he never found the opportunity to speak.

Only after watching the physician leave in a carriage through the mansion gates did Jia Yibo withdraw his gaze and fix a cold glare on Xie Ning. “You rebellious son, you did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Chasing the imperial physician relentlessly about balancing yin and yang, clearly you didn’t want me to have a chance to communicate with him.”

“You simply don’t want the imperial physician to diagnose or treat Zuhui. You intend for Zuhui’s illness to drag on until his condition worsens!”

“You, Xie Ning, are a rebellious son! I never imagined I would give birth to such a creature who doesn’t even care about his own brother’s life!”

At this, Xie Ning nearly burst out laughing.

He could never have thought that Jia Yibo had the audacity to insult him as less than an animal.

This old man had, for the sake of the Marquis title, first poisoned his legitimate wife, then cruelly guarded against and mistreated both him and his mother, and finally summoned his former concubine and her bastard child into the mansion to seize his place.

Not only had Jia Yibo committed such despicable acts, but he also arrogantly believed himself morally superior, accusing Xie Ning of deliberately targeting them and being less than a son, less than an animal!

One cannot be so shameless!

Xie Ning coldly smiled, expression indifferent. “Marquis, we are all intelligent people. I know very well how you have treated me all these years. Let’s stop pretending to play the benevolent father and filial son.”

At last, Jia Yibo completely shed his mask and gave Xie Ning a sinister smile. “Xie Ning, I was wondering why you seemed like a different person after returning to the mansion. Do you know something?”

Hearing this, Xie Ning’s heart stirred.

He had been troubled about how to explain his sudden change in temperament after transmigrating to those family members familiar with his character. Now that Jia Yibo had offered a reason, he naturally seized it.

The next moment, Xie Ning deliberately wore an expression of intense fury, staring at Jia Yibo with blazing eyes. “Yes, I know all the evil deeds you did to my mother. Back then, my mother and grandfather valued your character and talent and brought you into the Marquis’s mansion, only to unknowingly invite a wolf into the house, welcoming a treacherous, ungrateful villain!”

“Very well!” Jia Yibo sneered in fury. “Xie Ning, it seems I underestimated you. Actually, it doesn’t matter if I tell you — your mother left so hastily because I indeed played a dishonorable role.”

“However, that matter was handled impeccably by me. You won’t find any evidence. Even if I made some mistakes, after all these years, what could you possibly uncover?”

“My only regret is that I didn’t send you and that wretched woman away together back then. Then none of these troubles would have happened!”

Xie Ning scoffed, “Obviously you feared that harming me would expose your scheme to seize the Marquis title. So stop pretending and making it sound like you had some merciful concern for me, as if you showed tiger-like mercy to your own cub.”

With the last veil of shame torn away by Xie Ning, Jia Yibo no longer held back.