She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 452 - 450 Never Dare to Shirk Responsibility

Chapter 452: Chapter 450 Never Dare to Shirk Responsibility

Duke An, upon hearing that Jinrong had arrived, glanced over the people present. It was just a fight between children; was there really a need to gather so many people? Why converge on his mansion?

But the guests had already arrived, so what else could he do but welcome them in?

With no other choice, Duke An stood up and said to Xing Bin and the others, "Everyone, come with me to greet His Highness Prince Yu." With that, he led the way outside.

No sooner had he stepped out of the room than he saw Duke An’s attendant, Ye Sheng, bowing and leading Jinrong towards them.

Duke An and Xing Bin took the lead, with a chaotic following of various people behind them, each stepping forward to pay their respects to Jinrong.

Jinrong raised his hand and said, "You need not be so formal, my lords. My uninvited presence here has caused a disturbance, I hope Duke An and everyone else will not take offense."

"Not at all, not at all," Duke An did not deny Jinrong’s intrusion, but simply gestured with his hand, inviting Jinrong into the house, "Please, Your Highness, this way."

If he knew it was presumptuous, then he shouldn’t have come. The Ye family has always avoided dealings with the princes, a fact well known on the Imperial Court. In the few days before the New Year, Your Highness, you have already visited twice. It seems I will have to instruct the gatekeeper that if Duke sees Prince Yu and his entourage again, they should be told Duke An is ill.

As Jinrong made his way inside, he laughingly said, "I’ve heard that Duke An’s Mansion is a place of great excitement, so I specifically came to join in the fun. It appears there are indeed quite a few people here."

Xing Bin’s steps lagged somewhat. He did not believe that Prince Yu’s visit to Duke An’s Mansion could possibly be to speak on their behalf. Their Xing Mansion was aligned with the Crown Prince’s faction, and although Prince Yu had no interest in the position of Crown Prince, he was not close with the current Crown Prince either. Now that Ye Xinyan was a steward in Prince Yu’s service, the prince’s leanings were quite apparent.

Once Jinrong was settled in the seat of honor, the people once again paid their respects before taking their seats in turn.

First looking towards Qi Jiaer, Jinrong smiled and inquired, "Brother Jia, do you like the capital? Are you accustomed to staying at Duke An’s Mansion?"

Qi Jiaer, standing behind Duke An with Ye Xinyan, heard Jinrong’s question, stepped forward with his little legs, and replied, "To answer Sixth Master, Duke An’s Mansion is very nice, the capital too. Jiajia is accustomed to living here... It’s just that sometimes I miss Grandfather, Grandfather Cheung, and Third Uncle Wong."

The simple questions and answers left observers like Xing Bin and Ji Chengxian quite alarmed, especially the brothers of Vice Minister Liu, who were particularly uneasy. This child, who had come from some remote countryside, was so familiar with Prince Yu, even calling him Sixth Master.

Several people turned their eyes towards Xing Zhonghe, knowing that, besides those in Prince Yu’s Mansion who had followed him for many years, only a few children of influential families who had played with Prince Yu since childhood had the right to call him Sixth Master.

Jinrong beckoned Qi Jiaer to his side, stroked his hair, and said, "Don’t you have your sister and Nanny Jin to keep you company? Let’s stay in the capital for a while longer, then we’ll see if we want to go home, shall we? Or shall we simply invite your grandfather to live in the capital? What do you think?"

Qi Jiaer furrowed his brow in thought, his expression torn as he spoke, "But I also miss Brother Xiao Si, Big Aunt, Sister Meizi, and Great Uncle’s dog Da Huang."

Ah, Jinrong’s face stiffened momentarily. Da Huang? Was that the watchdog from the old Qi family house?

"That’s a bit difficult to arrange. How about we stay in the capital for a few days and then go home for a while? How does that sound?" Jinrong said helplessly.

Qi Jiaer was internally torn, not happy with the idea at all. It took such a long time to travel, and it was quite boring. But he found it hard to always counter what Sixth Master suggested, as that would be rude.

Jinrong greeted a servant, "Bring two stools over here and place them beside me." Then he called out to Qi Sanshun, "Sanshun, come over here too and sit with Jiajia."

Xing Bin and the others watched Prince Yu talk with the country boy, Wen Yan, and then saw the rural lads who were the subjects of their derision sitting in front of Prince Yu, all wearing solemn expressions.

They originally thought these were just country children Ye Xinyan had brought to the capital to see the world, but they did not expect His Highness Prince Yu to treat them with such closeness. Looking at it this way, what Duke An and Ye Xinyan said about the children having no low status must be true.

Their reputations were certainly lost here today.

After Jinrong had Qi Sanshun and Qi Jiaer sit beside him, he looked up at Xing Bin and the others and finally turned his gaze to Xing Zhonghe, asking, "Zhonghe, what brings you here as well? Have you come to apologize to the two little ones from the Qi family along with your cousin?"

"..." Xing Zhonghe frowned and remained silent.

Jinrong asked again, "Why the silence? Are you not here to apologize? Then what are you doing here? Didn’t I hear your family had many teenagers bullying three young children? Perhaps I heard wrong."

Xing Bin and Ji Chengxian exchanged glances. Many... teenagers...

Clearing his throat, Xing Bin clasped his hands and said, "Your Highness, we only heard that the children at home were fighting and did not know the details, so we came to inquire."

"Oh, what was the outcome of your inquiry?" Jinrong looked at Xing Bin.

Xing Bin chuckled awkwardly, "We have made our inquiries. It was just a child’s fight, nothing consequential. Before Your Highness arrived, we had already finished discussing the matter with the Duke and were just about to leave."

"Oh." Jinrong nodded. "So you have already apologized to the three children?"

Xing Bin stiffened. It was already humiliating to return in defeat, but to apologize on top of that...

Growing upset with Jinrong’s pressing manner, Xing Zhonghe stood up, clasped his hands toward Jinrong, and said, "Sixth Master, we did not inquire carefully enough before rashly coming here. Since we have already cleared the matter with Elder Master Ye, could Sixth Master please not persist on this issue. If these children had not fortuitously met Miss Ye, they would never have dreamt of coming to the capital in their entire lives, let alone encounter today’s events. If they were not at Duke An’s Mansion, could this issue have been resolved smoothly?

Now that Sixth Master has elevated their status so highly, what do you intend to do? Even if you raise their status higher, can you change their origin as farmers from remote rural areas?"

Holding his tea cup, Jinrong focused on pushing the tea leaves with the lid and said indifferently, "I thought the idea of judging by status was only common among the older generations. I see even you, Zhonghe, share this view. However, there is a difference—while those experienced in the ways of the world would not openly speak their minds, you seem to have no such reservations."

Xing Zhonghe felt troubled only for a moment before becoming resigned, "It has been said for many years, through all the dynasties, that a prince who breaks the law should be punished like the common people. But when has it ever been practiced? I’m just speaking the plain truth."

Looking at Xing Bin, Jinrong said, "Everyone knows that Xing Mansion is very close to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, being the heir to a nation, should uphold the principle that the law does not show favor to the powerful—it is a goal that all strive for. Even if it cannot all be achieved for now, no one would dare to openly profess such a heretical view. Is it Minister Xing and the Grand Tutor, or is it the Crown Prince who teaches the people close to him such rhetoric? Or do you also intend to educate the people of the world with such doctrine?"

At these words, Xing Bin’s complexion changed dramatically. He stood up swiftly, took a few steps forward, knelt on the ground, and repeatedly kowtowed, saying, "Your Highness Prince Yu, please forgive me. It is my fault for not instructing my son properly. It has nothing to do with the Crown Prince. Please punish me, Your Highness. I dare not pass the blame."