She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 448 - 446: The Routine of Seeking Explanation

Chapter 448: Chapter 446: The Routine of Seeking Explanation

Xu Deng immediately picked up on something different from the conversation and said excitedly, "A few children fighting in the Pavilion of the Gathering of Sages tavern? They must be from distinguished families. Ordinary families wouldn’t be indulged by the tavern to disrupt their business, right? Did you ask whose children they were?"

Xu Deng’s Attendant silently resented his master for lacking insight, didn’t he see how troubled he was?

The Attendant spoke vaguely, "Those are just idlers, engaging in baseless gossip and speculation. How would they know about the noble children’s families?"

Xu Deng completely failed to detect the hidden meaning in his Attendant’s words and said in surprise, "That can’t be, how could it be? Haven’t I served from a young age? When two groups fight, they would definitely shout their names and flaunt their family backgrounds, showing off to each other before starting the fight. It’s the usual practice. You must not have inquired properly, go ask again."

The Attendant hesitated, unwilling to set off immediately.

Xu Deng grew annoyed and kicked at the Attendant through the air, urging him to go again. Xing Zhonghe, however, had already sensed something was amiss. Xu Deng’s Attendant kept sneaking glances at him with meaningful looks. What did this signify?

"No need," Xing Zhonghe stopped Xu Deng and instructed his own page, "You go over and find out what happened."

Xu Deng’s Attendant opened his mouth, considering that Young Master Xing would find out sooner or later, and since it was his own page who went to inquire, getting the details would be good. It would save him from the embarrassment of recounting the story.

Xing Zhonghe’s page was quick and efficient. He found two people who were talking animatedly about the event and asked them a few questions before promptly returning. He approached Xing Zhonghe’s horse and spoke in a slightly lowered voice, "According to those present at the time, it was our Young Master and relatives from Duke An’s Mansion who started fighting. What was peculiar was the sight of Young Master against Young Master, and they said our Brother Yu...cried out quite miserably."

Although the page had lowered his voice, he couldn’t avoid being overheard by Xu Deng and the others.

The group exchanged glances... Those discussing the matter did not know who the visiting Young Master from Duke An’s Mansion was, but they did. The children of a comparable age currently living at Duke An’s Mansion were only the two country kids brought back by Miss Ye.

A child from the countryside could be so arrogant as to beat up a distinguished Young Master from the capital?

When Xing Zhonghe heard that his youngest brother was involved in a fight and had cried out miserably, and recalling the Attendant’s earlier difficulty in speaking, it became obvious that it was his own younger sibling who had been beaten. His expression turned ugly as he angrily asked, "What relatives could Duke An’s Mansion have? Are these people saying that our Young Master was beaten miserably?"

Xu Deng held his forehead. Xing Zhonghe was also confused by anger. Was there any need to ask? Hadn’t his page mentioned that his Brother Yu was crying miserably?

The page hesitated before saying, "It seems so. According to the gossip, after our Young Master Yu left, the three sons of Duke An’s Mansion didn’t return to the mansion right away but stayed in the tavern to have a meal before leaving."

"Outrageous!" Xing Zhonghe exclaimed angrily.

They were merely relatives of Duke An’s Mansion, did they need to be so haughty? To beat his younger sibling and send him running, then not leave but stay in the tavern to show off—it was blatant disrespect for the Xing family, making them look bad!

Unacceptable, he had to go back and find out exactly what happened.

Xing Zhonghe bowed with fists to Xu Deng and the others, "Brothers, please make yourselves at home; I must excuse myself."

Seeing his unpleasant expression, Yang Hao quickly pulled him aside and said, "You go back and check first. If your Brother Yu is all right, then let’s just drop this matter. It’s pointless to argue over children fighting, and with Miss Ye bringing them back, there’s even less room for reasoning."

Xing Zhonghe didn’t like hearing that. He shook off Yang Hao’s hand and said coldly, "So what about Duke An’s Mansion? Are they really untouchable? Miss Ye could dominate among the female relatives, and everyone indulged her because Duke An had no son of status to his name. But now, some unrelated street urchins also want to crap on the heads of us men in the capital? You might not mind losing face, but I cannot swallow this insult."

As Huang Rui heard his hostile tone, he too tried to persuade him, "Weren’t those children also left with bruised noses and torn clothes? That means they were injured as well. Let it go; it’s just children fighting. And Miss Ye’s face is also involved; she’s now working for Sixth Master."

Xing Zhonghe, eyeing each of the king’s vaults one by one with disdain, sneered, "I knew you’d say that. Just because you’re close to Prince Yu, we all have to cower and grovel? Everything boils down to one word: reason. I’d like to ask Duke An how he defines ’reason’."

After speaking, he rode away with his attendants with a flourish.

Watching Xing Zhonghe leave, Xu Deng asked Yang Hao, "Zhonghe is quite infuriated, what should we do? Should we mention this to Sixth Master?"

Yang Hao looked to Huang Rui, who said, "Better not to. If Sixth Master doesn’t get involved, it remains just a children’s fight. But if Sixth Master steps in, it would pit the Crown Prince against Sixth Master. Let’s allow Duke An and Grand Tutor Xing to resolve it themselves."

"Makes sense." Xu Deng nodded and then turned to ask the attendant, "How did the fight start?"

Finally able to speak freely, the attendant said, "Three children from Duke An’s Mansion had just called for their meal when they ran into Young Master Xing and several children passing by. Somehow recognizing them, they immediately chastised the youngsters, accusing them of letting beggars into the restaurant." The attendant looked at the several young masters with a hint of helplessness and continued, "Unexpectedly, those children couldn’t bear the insult and after a few quarrels, the brawl broke out."

Xu Deng sighed, "This Ye Xinyan, really now, what kind of place does she think the capital is? You could grab anyone off the streets, and they’d be from a notable family. Shouldn’t she have taught her children not to stir up trouble in the capital before coming here?"

Huang Rui looked at Xu Deng as if he were an idiot and asked, "Do you think Ye Xinyan would teach someone to bear insults and swallow grievances?" She would probably tell her own children never to let themselves be bullied, right?

"Let’s go already, what a drag. We should’ve followed Zhonghe back; maybe we could’ve gone to Duke An’s Mansion to watch the excitement," Xu Deng said with a sigh, kicking his stirrups lightly and slowly walked his horse forward.

As Yang Hao caught up, he laughed, "You’re one to talk. Zhonghe is standing up for his own brother; what would you be doing there? Intending to go as Second Son of Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion to support the Xing family and bolster their presence? During the New Year period, you’re really asking for a spanking from your old man."

...

Grand Tutor Xing had gone out to meet friends today and was not at home. Old Madam Xing, upon seeing her grandson’s pitiful state, was naturally both heartbroken and furious, but had no intention of having the head of the household intervene. Her plan was to have the steward take the children to Duke An’s Mansion to seek a resolution on behalf of her own family. This way, it wouldn’t push both mansions into outright opposition.

However, she couldn’t stop the indignant Xing Zhonghe. Considering that Xing Zhonghe was also of the younger generation, even if he spoke out on the matter, it would still be viewed as a squabble between children, and so she agreed to let him go.

But before they could set off, the other families involved in the fight came to inquire, eager to see how the Xing family would handle the situation. Among those families, the Xing family’s official rank was the highest, and their words would naturally carry the most weight when brought to Duke An’s Mansion.