Chapter 299: Someone, Bestow a Dagger
Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Someone, Bestow a Dagger
Second Master Xie followed her in, pushed in his wheelchair by a young servant.
His face was grim.
"If I hadn’t thoroughly questioned the servants in the courtyard, I never would have known she dared to make such a decision on her own. Brother, her punishment is entirely up to you."
Hearing her husband’s icy words, Second Madam Xie’s heart filled with bitterness.
She faced the cold, sharp gazes of Xie Suzhi and Xie Ming’an.
She stammered, pleading her innocence.
"Th-this... you can’t blame it all on me. None of you were home that day. Someone came to visit, saying they were here to see Ming An. They even claimed to be his colleague."
"At the time... I didn’t think much of it. They said it was a greeting gift, so I just accepted it for him."
"Ming An, you have to believe your Second Aunt. If I had known it was a bribe for you, I wouldn’t have dared to even touch it!"
A flash of anger crossed Xie Ming’an’s usually cold, impassive face.
"You only ever do things that benefit yourself. Why would you accept something for me from a stranger for no reason?"
He sneered, then demanded sharply, "Did you take something for yourself? Tell me!"
Second Madam Xie trembled all over.
’Xie Ming’an is truly worthy of his post,’ she thought. ’An official who tries all sorts of cases for the Ministry of Justice.’
He saw right through her in an instant.
Second Madam Xie lowered her head. "I... I accepted... a pearl bracelet."
"What?!" Second Master Xie’s eyes widened in a furious glare. The shock sent him into a fit of coughing.
Shen Ningning quickly poured a cup of water, pitter-pattered over, and handed it to him.
Her small hand patted Second Master Xie on the back.
A look of relief crossed Second Master Xie’s eyes. He softly reassured Shen Ningning, "Ningning, Second Uncle is all right."
The little girl nodded, then looked at Xie Ming’an and said, "Now the truth is out. I wasn’t the one who took the items."
"And yet, you were so biased against me that you were quick to blame me."
"Godfather, from now on, I only have one brother. This will be better for us all!"
"There’s no need to force Lord Xie to accept me as his god-sister anymore. He’s unwilling, and frankly, I don’t care for it."
After Shen Ningning finished speaking in her sweet, childish voice, she felt a great weight lift from her heart.
Then, she waved her little hand. "Grandma is waiting for me to come home for lunch, so I’ll be going now. Goodbye, Godfather, Second Uncle."
Xie Suzhi quickly stood up and followed her out. "Let Godfather walk you out."
Second Master Xie pointed at Second Madam Xie, furious, his forehead flushed and veins bulging.
"Since Ningning arrived, our home has been peaceful. And you had to go and stir everything into this mess."
With that, he couldn’t even bear to look at Second Madam Xie again.
He had the young servant push him away.
Second Madam Xie lowered her head but mumbled defiantly, "How can this all be my fault?"
"I just accepted the items, which was wrong, I admit. But the one who suspected Princess Funing was Ming An..."
At this point, she suddenly remembered Xie Ming’an was still there and snapped her mouth shut.
When Second Madam Xie looked anxiously toward Xie Ming’an, she found him standing with his back to her, as silent and imposing as a mountain.
He just stood there in the hall, lost in thought, his aura heavy and cold.
Second Madam Xie didn’t dare provoke him further. She offered a few placating smiles and hurried out of the main hall.
A short while later, Xie Suzhi returned.
Xie Ming’an had already collected his thoughts.
"Father, where does Shen Ningning live?"
"What more do you want to do? She’s a five-year-old child. Haven’t you bullied her enough?!" Xie Suzhi’s tone was sharp.
Although he was a strict father, he rarely got angry with Xie Ming’an over matters concerning outsiders.
This showed just how fond Xie Suzhi truly was of his god-daughter, Shen Ningning.
Xie Ming’an had already sorted out his thoughts.
He said, "Since I am the one who wronged her, it is my duty to apologize to her."
Unexpectedly, Xie Suzhi flicked his sleeve. "There’s no need!"
He was fuming, his usual calm and self-possessed demeanor giving way to unconcealed irritation.
"Ningning remembers Mingxu’s kindness to her, and she likes our family. That’s the only reason she didn’t ask to leave the Xie family over this incident with you."
"If she had asked to leave, you wouldn’t have a place in this family either."
The last bit of dissatisfaction in Xie Ming’an’s heart turned into cold words. "Isn’t Father being a bit too partial to her?"
"Could it be that you truly see her as a replacement for my sister?"
"If my sister returns one day, how will you possibly balance between her and Shen Ningning?"
Xie Suzhi’s face turned thunderous.
He looked at Xie Ming’an, a dark fury simmering in his eyes.
"The moment Ningning was accepted into our Xie family’s ancestral hall, she became your sister."
"From now on, if any other child claims to be a daughter of the Xie family, she will be an imposter."
Xie Ming’an was taken aback, his eyes filled with suspicion. "Father, what do you mean by that?"
Before Xie Suzhi could explain, a young servant hurried to the door.
"Master, bad news! The Emperor has urgently summoned you to the palace."
"What happened?" Xie Suzhi’s brow furrowed.
The young servant said, trembling, "An eight-hundred-li express report from the border! The Changliu Country has raised its army!"
Xie Suzhi’s expression changed. He no longer had time for Xie Ming’an and rushed out of the residence.
Not long after Xie Suzhi left, the housekeeper, Uncle Pang, rushed to find Xie Ming’an.
"Second Young Master, the Crown Prince is here. He’s in the front hall."
At that moment, Xie Ming’an was in the study, carefully comparing his own crescent jade pendant with Xu Jingxi’s.
Hearing this, he immediately put away the jade pendants and stood up. "I’ll go greet him at once."
Uncle Pang asked, "Should I inform Second Master Xie as well?"
Xie Ming’an thought for a moment, having already guessed the reason for the Crown Prince’s visit.
’He must have heard that Shen Ningning was wronged and has come to stand up for her.’
He said coolly, "No need. Don’t disturb Second Uncle."
Arriving at the main hall, Xie Ming’an saw Mo Lingwei, dressed in scarlet robes, with his back to him. With his hands clasped behind him, he was studying the plaque hanging high in the hall.
A Clear Mirror Hung High
Xie Ming’an entered, cupped his hands, and greeted him. "My respects to the Crown Prince."
Mo Lingwei didn’t turn around, merely letting out a soft, mocking laugh.
"How interesting. The phrase ’A Clear Mirror Hung High’ is usually displayed in government offices, yet you hang it in your own home."
"It seems you wish to constantly remind yourselves that an official must be just and incorruptible."
"The Prime Minister is one of the Three Ministers, in charge of the realm’s affairs. Your older brother holds the line at the border, safeguarding Cangyun Country. Neither of them has failed to live up to that phrase. But you—"
"You, the distinguished Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, abused your public authority for selfish reasons. You publicly humiliated a Commandery Princess of our court, unable to distinguish right from wrong."
"Even the Emperor, my father, ennobled Shen Ningning’s Black Wolf King as the peerless Wolf General. What gives you the right to call them ferocious beasts running rampant in the streets? You even tried to drive them out of the city—"
By the end, Mo Lingwei’s tone had changed, becoming chilling and oppressive.
He turned around, his sharp, cold eyes staring straight at Xie Ming’an, murderous intent swirling within them.
"Such a show of authority, Xie Ming’an."
Chen Shaobei went to check on Shen Ningning and happened to learn that Xie Ming’an had harassed her in the middle of a busy street, causing her grief.
Mo Lingwei already held a grudge from the last time Xie Ming’an had injured her.
This time, he would settle all scores, new and old!
Xie Ming’an lowered his head, his posture neither servile nor overbearing.
"I will accept any punishment the Crown Prince deems fit."
Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow, a severe look appearing on his handsome, pale face.
"Oh? You’ll accept any punishment? I recall you injured Shen Ningning’s ear before. Since a punishment is due, let’s cut off your ear."
"Guards, bring a dagger," Mo Lingwei commanded.
The guard Wu Fang entered, holding a sapphire-inlaid curved knife, and presented it before Xie Ming’an.