Chapter 88 Begging Obediently; Having Dinner

Chapter 88: Begging for Favor, Having Dinner

"Who is this woman?" Qin Jiao felt as if his own face was stinging.

"Li Nanli, niece of Consort Dowager Ying," Xie Nai answered.

So Li Nanli was Xie Chengyi's cousin. Qin Jiao thought to himself, "No wonder she's so arrogant."

"Won't you intervene, Your Highness?"

"Luo Nan will handle it."

Luo Bei and Luo Yue were always by Xie Nai's side, and most people in the capital recognized them, so Xie Nai had entrusted the management of Tongjia Estate to Luo Nan.

Qin Jiao nodded and looked downstairs, only to be startled. Cong Shuang had somehow arrived at Yue Zan Mansion and was now standing in front of Zuo Mengmeng and Li Xiaohu.

Li Nanli, spoiled rotten by Consort Dowager Ying, hated nothing more than being defied. Furious, she ordered her servants to strike even Cong Shuang. As a servant's fist was about to land, Qin Jiao's heart nearly stopped: "Sister Congshuang!"

At the critical moment, a figure in a golden mask flew out and kicked the servant to the ground.

Qin Jiao rushed downstairs, panicked: "Sister Congshuang, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, young master," Cong Shuang replied with sign language.

"Good." After confirming that Cong Shuang wasn't hurt, Qin Jiao, still shaken, helped Zuo Mengmeng and Li Xiaohu to their feet. "Please, get up, young ladies."

"Thank you, Young Master Qin." Li Xiaohu remembered Qin Jiao from the incident at Miao Manor last time.

Qin Jiao and Cong Shuang helped the two girls up. Zuo Mengmeng, sharp-tongued and having taken more blows, stumbled against Qin Jiao as she stood.

Being so close, Qin Jiao caught a familiar scent on her.

"This scent?"

Puzzled, Li Xiaohu, seeing that Zuo Mengmeng seemed to have offended Qin Jiao, quickly leaned in to apologize on her behalf: "Young Master Qin, please don't mind. Mengmeng didn't mean it."

"It's fine. Have a seat first."

Qin Jiao let go of Zuo Mengmeng and asked Cong Shuang to look after them while he took a few steps back, subtly distancing himself.

Just then, Xie Nai came down the stairs. Seeing Qin Jiao's unusual expression, the young man's dark eyes narrowed: "What's wrong?"

Xie Nai had been addressing Qin Jiao, but Li Nanli interrupted abruptly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, I'm fine."

The woman's voice was soft and bashful, with none of her earlier shrewishness. "Your Highness, please understand. I didn't start the trouble today. Those two ladies were rude first. You must stand up for me—"

"Guards."

Xie Nai's face darkened, not even glancing at Li Nanli: "Drag her out."

"Your Highness! I—I am Nanli!"

Xie Nai's attitude was cold, and Li Nanli's eyes welled with tears.

Qin Jiao was utterly shocked by the scene.

Judging by the situation, had Li Nanli and Xie Nai had a history together?

Before Qin Jiao could think further, Luo Yue, who had seemingly come out of nowhere, began to drag her away.

Li Nanli's servants, carefully selected by Consort Dowager Ying, were not only skilled in martial arts but also very perceptive. They dared not act rashly against the Prince of Lingnan's men, so they cautiously protected Li Nanli from falling.

Qin Jiao noticed that Luo Yue was quite rough, showing no tenderness toward women. Zuo Mengmeng and Li Xiaohu were also stunned.

Finally, Li Nanli was dragged out of Yue Zan Mansion, screaming all the way. The surrounding ladies and young misses murmured among themselves.

Luo Nan took the initiative to disperse the onlookers. When Luo Yue returned, the physician from Tongjia Estate had already bandaged Zuo Mengmeng and Li Xiaohu's wounds. Fortunately, both girls had only superficial injuries, nothing serious.

Cong Shuang assisted the physician, while Qin Jiao translated for her and also discreetly asked Zuo Mengmeng and Li Xiaohu some questions.

Li Xiaohu was grateful to Cong Shuang for stepping in to save them. She answered Qin Jiao's questions almost without reservation—about their names, identities, and their business with Doctor Miao Mao. But Zuo Mengmeng was evasive, as if wary of Qin Jiao.

Qin Jiao didn't call her out. After confirming that the two girls had no internal injuries and that Li Nanli hadn't posted anyone outside Tongjia Estate to retaliate, Qin Jiao offered to have someone escort them back to the prince's residence.

Li Xiaohu was gentle and soft-spoken, and Cong Shuang liked her. Seeing that she had injured her leg, Cong Shuang offered to help her into the carriage. Qin Jiao consented, and Xie Nai had Luo Yue go with them.

After Cong Shuang and Luo Yue left, Luo Nan bowed to Xie Nai and then slipped away.

It was getting dark. Qin Jiao turned and looked through the latticed window. Outside, the street was alive with people, a bustling scene.

Qin Jiao looked at Xie Nai: "Your Highness, are you hungry? How about I take you out for dinner?"

Xie Nai inclined his head. "I'll follow the young master's arrangements."

Qin Jiao smiled. "Then let's get going."

South Jinxing Street.

Qin Jiao didn't take Xie Nai to a lavish restaurant but to a simple food stall.

The stall was near Tongjia Estate and had been around for over twenty years, specializing in the capital's local specialties. Their crab meatballs were a must-try.

Qin Jiao ordered without even glancing at the menu: a plate of crab meatballs, a serving of roast duck, a bowl of braised pork and flatbread, and two bowls of hot and sour soup. The stall owner also threw in a plate of mung bean pastries on the house.

Qin Jiao tried to decline, but the owner said times were better now and that Qin Jiao had been a customer since childhood—he could spare a little treat.

Qin Jiao smiled, surprised the owner still remembered him. He didn't press further and thanked him with a smile.

The food was great, but the tables were a little greasy from long use. Qin Jiao, worried that Xie Nai might not be used to it, pulled out a handkerchief to clean the table.

Just as he was about to do it, Xie Nai took the handkerchief out of his hand and began wiping the table himself.

Qin Jiao tried to stop him, but Xie Nai gently pushed him away. "Just wait over there."

"Uh... okay."

The stove fire flickered. In the noisy street, Xie Nai leaned over slightly, his hands, normally used to holding swords and teacups, now carefully wiping the table surface.

The aroma of food drifted over, wisps of smoke curling up and drifting away. Qin Jiao watched Xie Nai, refined and calm, and felt his heart skip a beat.

Xie Nai, without his usual cold edge, shone brightly amid the worldly hustle and bustle.

The next moment, Qin Jiao suddenly met Xie Nai's deep gaze.

"What are you looking at?" Xie Nai asked.

Caught staring, Qin Jiao blushed briefly but quickly composed himself.

He pressed the cool back of his hand to his cheek and pretended to be calm. "Nothing at all."

Xie Nai glanced at Qin Jiao again but did not press further.

"Come sit here." Xie Nai beckoned to Qin Jiao.

"Alright." Qin Jiao moved closer, then properly sat down beside Xie Nai, and promptly poured tea for him attentively.

Xie Nai said with a composed air, "So well-behaved today?"

"I have a favor to ask of Your Highness, so naturally I need to behave well." Qin Jiao's eyes curved, a sparkle in his eyes.

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