Simply Trading

But he had an inkling of what was in store for him, when he was intercepted on his way from the Ducal Study, and making his way towards the dungeons where he intended to confer with the Questioners that he had just pulled out of the fire earlier.

Especially when the person who had intercepted him in the corridors within the Lower Ducal Palace grounds was none other than the d.u.c.h.ess herself!

"Butler Jin must be rushing to check on the progress of the interrogation being conducted now, I am certain. I have to confess that I am very interested in the same as well, as you can imagine. I wonder if Butler Jin would share what he learns with me later? Just to keep me updated?

"This does involve my only son, after all. So ... I am certain that you can see how a mother would be concerned about the sort of enemies that might be coming after her son, hmmm?"

Jin Yuhe was an experienced campaigner who had fought at the side of his Duke for close to half his life, but he had to confess that he had never felt such a biting cold wash over his old bones as soon as the d.u.c.h.ess" words touched his ears.

There was a promise of violence and horrible death in the chilly tone of her voice, together with the sharp glare in her eyes made it rather clear that he would be suffering pain and terror, if he dared to refuse her.

Needless to say, Butler Jin was shocked. He had been with the Duke when he caught sight of Feng Xueli as a teenager in her father"s gardens, and had been at the Duke"s side as the latter wooed and won her. But this was the first time in over twenty years that he had ever seen her unleash her temper in such a manner!

He was instantly reminded of another woman - a powerful woman! Feng Xueli was not the sort who would be angered over small matters. But it seemed that she had the same protective instincts towards her child as her mother had towards all her children. And neither Jin Yuhe nor Li Yuanqi would ever dare to get in the way of Lady Xie Nianxue when she was on a rampage!

A similar sort of rampage which Jin Yuhe was certain would be unleashed, if he did not manage to calm the d.u.c.h.ess down quickly!

Given his uneasiness, he naturally ducked behind the biggest, hardest rock that he could think of!

"This one would not dream of disobeying Your Grace. However, I was ordered to report directly back to the Duke, as soon as I have managed to wring anything from the fool in our cells. I fear that His Grace might be a little annoyed with me, if I should report my findings ..."

He let his voice trail off at that. And hoped that Feng Xueli would back off, knowing that her husband was taking a personal interest in the matter. She had never taken an interest in how he ran his Duchy in the past, so it was unlikely that she would press.

Or so he thought.

Unfortunately, Jin Yuhe was quickly proven wrong!

"Oh? If that is the case, I shall not make things difficult for Butler Jin. I shall accompany you when you head to my husband"s study, and listen in when you make your expected report. That way, it should both satisfy your duty to him, as well as deal with my curiosity. Hmmm?"

Jin Yuhe floundered. This was going way beyond any of his expectations! Just what was the young d.u.c.h.ess out to do? Demanding to sit in on his report to the Duke? Over an interrogation of someone who might be tied to her step-daughter? Wasn"t that simply asking for trouble?

"If you are worried that my husband would be uncomfortable with my presence, you can rest a.s.sured. I shall definitely inform him beforehand of my intentions. And you needn"t worry about any issues regarding the rest of the Duchy, or what sort of reprisals he may intend to take against the perpetrators.

"I am more than happy to leave that in his hands."

The glare that she shot him as she delivered those last words was like a ma.s.sive hammer crashing down on his head! Jin Yuhe almost cursed out loud as soon as he heard them!

Leave that in his hands? Who was she trying to fool? It would be impossible for her to leave the Duke to make any decision regarding such a move against her son! Her only son! You might as well try to convince Jin Yuhe that she was going to sit down and share a cup of tea with the a.s.sa.s.sin!

By then, it was clear that Butler Jin was running out of options. It was clear that he could not use the common excuses with her, and her determination to find out who was behind this attempt on her son"s life was strong enough to sweep all of his other arguments aside.

That was probably why Jin Yuhe did what he later considered to be the most idiotic thing that he had ever done in all his seventy odd years:

"This one would be pleased to accommodate Your Grace in this matter then. However, this sort of interrogation might take a good bit of time. Perhaps it would be best for Your Grace to return to your courtyard first, while I do the needful. I shall send word when it is done, and report the findings to the Duke in your presence thereafter."

That was the last bit of straw that was floating in front of his eyes, and Jin Yuhe clutched at it at once. Of course, he was going to be so foolish as to do exactly as he promised. But she wouldn"t know, would she? He could always make a hurried report to the Duke first, together with his recommendations, before arranging for a second session with her present. He would have to warn Li Yuanqi to play along, and behave as if he was hearing the results of the interrogation for the first time. But given his friendship with the Duke, and how badly his old buddy wanted to calm his wife down, it should not be a problem to secure his cooperation.

Unfortunately for him, the d.u.c.h.ess had antic.i.p.ated such a move as well!

"Oh, there is no need to be so concerned about time. I am very much at leisure. And it has been a good while since I have watched my mother interrogate someone on behalf of my father, back in the South. It should prove an interesting experience, to compare your techniques to hers, don"t you think?"

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