Chapter 286 made two preparations
A cold, emotionless "I'll beg her one more time" made Madam Xie's tears flow even more fiercely. Her son had grown up in luxury and privilege, and had never suffered such humiliation before.
Seeing his mother like this, Xie Ning'an naturally felt uncomfortable. However, there were some things he couldn't say right now. But after this matter was over, perhaps their Xie family would truly have weathered this great calamity.
"Mother, don't cry, I'm fine," Xie Ning'an sighed and said to Madam Xie.
"How about I go and beg the Duke of Chu's mother?"
“No need,” Xie Ning’an said immediately. “Our family affairs are too complicated. Even if you beg the Duke of Chu’s mother, it will be of no use.”
Madam Xie's face was streaked with tears, her expression filled with deep resentment. Fearing she might do something rash, Xie Ning'an added, "Mother, Jufeng Money Shop and the merchant guild are involved in too many things. Don't do anything, just make sure the family is settled. The family can't be in chaos right now; you have to hold your son together."
Madam Xie realized the importance of what she was doing and quickly put aside her previous thoughts, assuring her, "Don't worry about things at home, I definitely won't delay your business."
"Thank you, Mother," Xie Ning'an said with a smile.
At this moment, a maid brought over the food. Xie Ning'an ate a few bites and then stood up and said, "I'm going to the Duke of Chu's mansion."
"Shall we go now?" Madam Xie asked worriedly.
Xie Ning'an straightened her clothes briefly and said, "The Duke of Chu is about to finish his shift at this time. I might be able to see her if I go to the Duke of Chu's residence."
Madam Xie felt distressed and got up to walk out with him, saying, "I'll see you to the door."
Xie Ning'an initially wanted to refuse, but then, remembering something, she nodded in agreement, and the two walked together toward the entrance of the Prince's Mansion. Before leaving, Xie Ning'an said, "Mother, go back," and then got into her sedan chair and left.
As Madam Xie watched his retreating figure, she wiped away her tears. Her maidservant whispered, "Madam, the eldest young master will be alright."
“It should have been done as I said, the Xie family should have moved out of the capital,” said Madam Xie, watching the departing sedan chair. “That way my son wouldn’t have suffered like this.”
“The eldest young master has his own thoughts, and besides, he is also worried about you,” the maid advised.
Only after Xie Ning'an's sedan chair disappeared from sight did Doctor Xie turn back.
Xie Ning'an arrived at the gate of the Duke of Chu's mansion in a sedan chair. He stepped forward, presented his visiting card, and told the gatekeeper that he wished to see the Duke of Chu. The gatekeeper knew who he was without even looking at the card, and impatiently told him to wait before going inside to inform the Duke.
After a while, the servant returned and looked at Xie Ning'an, saying, "My master, the Duke, said he doesn't have time to see you."
Upon hearing this, Xie Ning'an clenched his fist and said, "I have important business to discuss with the Duke of Chu. Please inform him again."
The servant was very impatient. "My master has already said he won't see you. Hurry up and leave."
But Xie Ning'an stood there motionless, as if he wouldn't leave until the Duke of Chu saw him. Seeing this, the servant said, "You can wait if you want."
Xie Ning'an remained silent, standing there ramrod straight. Two quarters of an hour passed, and the servant urged Xie Ning'an to return, but Xie Ning'an still stood there motionless. Half an hour passed, and he still showed no sign of leaving. The servant went inside to report again, but the answer was still the same: he was nowhere to be seen.
"Young Master Xie, my lord the Duke will not see you. There's no use in waiting any longer," the servant said.
"Alright, I'll come again tomorrow." Xie Ning'an turned around, walked to the sedan chair, got in, and left.
The next day at the same time, Xie Ning'an arrived again, and the servant went to report, but Jiang Yu gave the same answer: no one would see her. Xie Ning'an waited for another half an hour, but still could not enter the Duke of Chu's mansion.
The third and fourth days were the same. Many people in the capital sighed upon hearing this news. How could they not lament Xie Ning'an's plight, once so privileged and noble, now reduced to such a state?
.........
Late at night, in a mansion in the capital, Mr. Chai, who had once appeared at the Qingshan Marquis's residence, sat in a dimly lit room waiting for someone. As the wait grew longer, impatience became evident on his face.
Just then, a voice came from outside, "Sir, the person has arrived."
Then the door was pushed open, and a man in a black cloak walked in. He glanced at Mr. Chai, walked to a chair in the corner, sat down, and said, "You shouldn't have asked me out."
Mr. Chai's gaze fell on the hood that covered his entire face, but he couldn't tell who he was. He said, "This is the Prince's order."
The man snorted, seemingly quite dissatisfied with the King of Lingnan's decision. "What is it? Speak quickly."
Mr. Chai withdrew his gaze from him. "His Highness wants me to make contact with Xie Ning'an."
"Foolish!" the man sneered. "You think that because the Duke of Chu did those things, Xie Ning'an will side with you? Dream on! Even if it's true, Xie Ning'an will not side with you, let alone if they're just putting on an act."
His voice was stern and impolite, and Mr. Chai's face naturally turned ugly. He said, "I don't think this is fake. What kind of person is Xie Ning'an? To be scolded by a playboy and wait for four days at the Duke of Chu's mansion, even if it's an act, he probably harbors a lot of resentment. Moreover, if the Xie family really wants to make a comeback, they can only cooperate with the Prince."
"Hmph, I don't care if you want to do something stupid." The man got up to leave, but Mr. Chai immediately said, "Your Highness has also guessed that this may be a play put on by the Duke of Chu and Xie Ning'an. Your Highness has made two preparations."
The man stopped in his tracks. "Tell me about it."
Mr. Chai moved closer to him and whispered the King of Lingnan's plan, then waited for the man's response. The man was silent for a moment before saying, "Even so, the risk is still very high. Your Highness may lose a great general."
Mr. Chai chuckled softly, "The prince will naturally let the one who wants to lose do it."
The man remained silent for a moment before saying, "Since Your Highness has made your plan, then let's leave it at that."
He strode away, and Mr. Chai watched his figure disappear, squinting as he wondered who he was. After a while, he muttered to himself, "It's also possible that the person who came was a stand-in!"
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