Chapter 109 – Hypocritical Show Of Affection
The girl looked to be about sixteen to seventeen years old, yet unlike the soft and fresh visage of a girl of that age, her skin was dry and sallow. Her gaze was turned down, clearly displaying her swollen eyelids and the obvious bags under her eyes.
With these kinds of looks, even the servants in the Manor were looked after better than her. If anyone were to say that she was the Third Miss from Nalan Manor, who would believe them?
Just thinking about how much pain that woman in the underworld would feel if she knew this, if she could see her own daughter"s miserable and petty appearance now, caused Madam Nalan"s heart to surge with intense joy.
But contrary to these emotions, the expression on Madam Nalan"s face was one of distress, and in a n.o.ble manner she beckoned the girl closer. After examining Hexi up and down for a long while, she finally sighed, "You are Hexi? Poor child, how can you be so thin?"
Saying so, her sharp eyes swept over the people present and landed on w.a.n.g Zhong, "Butler w.a.n.g, how have I instructed you all? Although Third Miss was sent to the other courtyard by Old Master, she"s still a Young Miss of the Nalan family. All food and clothing expenses must be according to Young Miss"s specifications. Yet look at her now! Why has Hexi become so thin? In the end, did you send people who would serve Third Miss properly?"
w.a.n.g Zhong, who was somewhat terrified as he was being scolded, lowered his head and said, "Madam, your words really wrong this old slave. We have always picked the best foods and materials to send to the other courtyard. There"s never been a shortage of crystal stones or silver tael, but…"
Madam Nalan"s long shapely eyebrows raised, "But? You"re not going to quickly say it?"
w.a.n.g Zhong answered while glancing slyly at Wet Nurse Chen, "But, this is the first time this old slave personally went to visit the other courtyard, so it is only now that I"ve learnt that the slaves in that courtyard are all outrageous. They"re not only not looking after Third Miss properly, they"re also taking advantage of her and secretly deducting a lot of the food and clothing expenses. This is the reason why Third Miss has fallen to such a degree."
Madam Nalan"s eyes flashed, her gaze falling on Wet Nurse Chen as she stood behind Hexi. Suddenly, she shouted loudly, "Such a daring old slave, still not kneeling down quickly!"
Wet Nurse Chen was so scared by the shout that she was trembling, her face completely terrified.
Two servants quickly approached, and standing on her left and right, they forced her to kneel.
The corner of Madam Nalan"s mouth raised slightly before quickly vanis.h.i.+ng into a grief filled expression, and she said in a disgusted tone, "Wet Nurse Chen, in the past when you harmed my Xuan Er, I only punished you by letting people disable your cultivation base. You were sent to the other courtyard to atone for your crimes by properly serving Third Miss. Yet, you actually haven"t changed and neglected your care of Third Miss."
"At that time I tolerated you, but this time, for my pitiful Hexi, I definitely won"t spare you. Servants, drag this wicked slave away and flog her one hundred times, regardless of whether she lives or dies!"
Wet Nurse Chen was currently an ordinary person without spiritual power, if she were to be flogged one hundred times, she wouldn"t be able to protect herself.
"Yes—-!" The two servants that were holding Wet Nurse Chen down replied loudly, and started to drag her out of the room.
Wet Nurse Chen suddenly returned to her senses and fiercely struggled, "Madam, I didn"t do it! I didn"t harm Young Master Xuan! I didn"t betray Young Miss! Don"t believe these vicious lies attacking me!"
w.a.n.g Zhong coldly snorted from the side, "When I went to the courtyard, I personally saw you ordering people about while acting all arrogant and bossy towards Third Miss. You simply have no respect for Third Miss, and now you still dare to lie in front of Madam! Quickly drag her away!"
Wet Nurse Chen struggled with all her might while shouting, but she was no match compared to the strength of the two servants". Her eyes slowly showed despair.
Chapter 110 – Nalan Manor"s Demons
"Wait." A clear and beautiful woman"s voice suddenly sounded.
That voice wasn"t heavy and the tone was calm, but it echoed in everyone"s ears, causing the two servants" movements to halt.
Hexi lifted her head, her tranquil and deep eyes looked at Madam Nalan"s surprised expression, and the corner of her mouth lifted into a faint smile, "It"s said that Madam Nalan is benevolent and n.o.ble, so why must Hexi see a b.l.o.o.d.y scene on arrival? Hexi"s courage is small, if Nalan Manor is so terrible, I think I"ll go back to my small courtyard and stay there."
Madam Nalan"s eyes opened wide. She couldn"t believe that Nalan Hexi actually had the guts to speak to her like this.
This…is this really Nalan Hexi?
Hexi wasn"t concerned with what Madam Nalan thought, and directly walking forward, she grabbed Wet Nurse Chen from the two servants and helped her to stand.
The two servants" felt their hands that were gripping Wet Nurse Chen tightly loosen. They didn"t know how, but they suddenly felt pain in their elbows, and following that, their whole bodies became numb. Finding themselves unable to move even a single step, Wet Nurse Chen was easily taken from their hands.
Wet Nurse Chen"s face was covered in tears, her expression full of remorse and guilt as she looked at Hexi.
It was at this moment that she finally realised, these people didn"t receive her Miss back to let her live comfortably, rather, it was because they wanted to push her into a pit of fire. She was so stupid, always pressuring Miss to return to Nalan Manor, and now she had actually put her Miss in danger.
"Miss, I…"
Hexi patted her arm, and using her internal energy, her voice entered Wet Nurse Chen"s ears. "These demons, I simply don"t care about them, I only needed Wet Nurse to understand this. Now, listen to my instructions, don"t believe any of the people in this Manor. This includes Nalan Zhengze…you must not believe him. Wet Nurse, can you do that?"
Wet Nurse Chen nodded repeatedly. How could she still believe the people in this Manor after all of this?
Hexi nodded her head in satisfaction, she didn"t blame Wet Nurse Chen for wanting her to return to Nalan Manor.
Because on the surface, it indeed seemed that Nalan Manor always gave material a.s.sistance these past years to Nalan Hexi. As for being sent to the other courtyard where there was a lack of spiritual energy, since her meridians were broken, it would have no effect on her.
In addition, Nalan Zhengze had pa.s.sed down an order that no one was allowed to harm Nalan Hexi"s life. This had led to Wet Nurse Chen and the original Nalan Hexi to have delusions about this Father, believing that his decision was because he cared about their father-daughter bond.
However, Hexi snorted at this way of thinking. If he really cared about their father-daughter bond, would he have thrown away his own daughter to a remote area, never meeting her for many years, unconcerned about her welfare? Hehe, then the feelings of this Father for his daughter were too cheap.
As for not allowing anyone to harm Nalan Hexi"s life, that was most likely because she still had some value. Nalan Zhengze, this doctor, it seemed that he was very different from the kind and upright doctor that he portrayed.
Hexi turned around, and coming into contact with Madam Nalan"s shocked expression, she couldn"t help but lightly lift the corners of her mouth, revealing a faint smile.
Madam Nalan"s face twisted, yet in the next moment and with great difficulty, she managed to plaster a concerned and blame filled expression back onto her face, "Hexi, you"re still young, you don"t understand how hateful that group of wicked slaves are, you were deceived by them. This Wet Nurse Chen is really too hateful, I can"t feel a.s.sured if I were to let her stay beside you. If you want servants, this Manor has many, I can even give you the servant I"m proudest of, Si Lu."