Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The servant boy was increasingly annoyed by Jiang Xiaoxiao's impertinent words.

"Sir, should I drive them away?"

Bai Xiao clutched his fingers tightly.

He dared not let Jiang Xiaoxiao enter the residence, fearing she was too skilled and would easily uncover the cause of Nie SangSang's death.

But if he let Jiang Xiaoxiao leave now, what if what she said was true and Nie SangSang's resentful ghost came back to haunt him? He wouldn't live to see another day.

While Bai Xiao was torn, Old Master Nie came out accompanied by a group of servants.

"Xiao Bai, what's going on?"

Bai Xiao had a decent reputation outside, and was very filial to the elders at home.

He had even sworn that for the rest of his life, he would not remarry and would serve his parents-in-law till old age.

Old Master Nie was completely satisfied with him and treated him like his own son.

"Father." Bai Xiao said, "It's nothing, just some friends chatting outside the gates."

Old Master Nie gave him a look. "What's so serious that you have to hide it from me? I've already heard from the servants that you spent a fortune hiring officials to post notices seeking a supernatural expert to come exorcise the residence."

He looked at Jiang Xiaoxiao's group. "Are they the ones?"

Bai Xiao neither nodded nor shook his head.

Old Master Nie said, "Although I haven't seen it myself, there has indeed been unrest in the residence recently, and it can't go on like this. If word spreads to our guests, we'll have to close the estate down.

Since an expert has come, we should invite them in to properly exorcise the evil spirits and put everyone's minds at ease."

At the end, Old Master Nie asked, "Oh, and has Yan fallen asleep? I heard he was startled by the thunder during the day and has been unsettled. I'll go check on him."

"Please go ahead, Father."

Bai Xiao instructed a servant boy to personally escort Old Master Nie to see the young master, while he welcomed Jiang Xiaoxiao in with mixed emotions.

Mr. Guo wiped his cold sweat, and the tea guests behind him were about to follow suit.

But Bai Xiao suddenly said, "Everyone, since the expert has arrived, the rest is a family matter of the Nie Residence. You may all disperse!"

The implication was clear: don't meddle in affairs that don't concern you.

Mr. Guo, whose emotions had risen and fallen, didn't mind. As long as Sir Nie didn't blame him, he would have preferred to go home right then.

As for the few tea guests, they had also sensed something unusual in Jiang Xiaoxiao's earlier words.

Although they were curious to see how the young lady would catch ghosts and exorcise spirits, Sir Nie had made his stance clear, so they didn't want to impose any further.

After exchanging glances, they gradually dispersed one by one.

Bai Xiao snapped out of his daze. His previous resistance toward Xie Xun and the others dissipated instantly because of Xie Xun's one form of address, and his attitude became much more cordial and accommodating.

"Young man, your surname is Xie, right?"

"Yes."

"You just said you didn't come for money."

"Correct." Xie Xun nodded. "I only came to meet Old Master Nie."

Bai Xiao was taken aback again. "You know him?"

"No, but I've admired him from afar."

Bai Xiao was relieved and turned to Jiang Xiaoxiao.

"Miss, if it's convenient, please begin the exorcism now. I see you haven't brought any tools. If there's anything you need, just let the servants know, and they'll prepare it promptly."

"I can't subdue this ghost," Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly said.

"What?"

"She has grievances that burden her spirit, and her resentment is too heavy. Unless I find the root cause and resolve her resentment, forcibly subduing her will only backfire on me."

"Ridiculous!" Bai Xiao scoffed. "A stray, resentful spirit from who-knows-where – she has grievances, so I'm supposed to take responsibility for addressing them? What is the Nie Residence, a charity house?"

Seeing Bai Xiao's unwillingness to admit the truth, Jiang Xiaoxiao continued, "She just told me her name is Nie SangSang, the young Miss of the Nie Residence – your late wife."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sixi was so startled that he fell off his stool.

But Xie Xun remained calm, so he tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Hey, Xie Xun, that ghost seems to be in this room. Aren't you scared?"

Xie Xun nodded. "Scared."

Chen Sixi was almost in tears.

If you're scared, at least show it a little!

The aforementioned Bai Xiao froze upon hearing Jiang Xiaoxiao's words, his entire face rigid. "You... you're saying she's in this room?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded.

Bai Xiao felt a chill down his back, and his soul was nearly scared out of his body.

It really was that woman.

Nie SangSang, even though you've been dead for so long, why did you have to come back?

"It was my fault," Bai Xiao suddenly lamented mournfully. "I failed to take good care of her, which is why her delivery was so difficult. She must resent me for being too busy to keep her company back then."

"Sir Bai," Xie Xun said, "if you insist on not telling the truth and admitting your mistakes, then we can only help you this far."