CokeZero

  Rainystars

  Xia Houshang, “Exactly!”


  Jiang Che asked, “Due to the bureaucratic structure of this country, there’s no definite way to trial murderers. If she was the murderer, what do you plan on doing?”


  Xia Houshang’s eyes were blazing with hatred, “An eye for an eye!”


  Jiang Che was once again shocked. So, she wanted Qiao Qing dead.

  Xia Houshang grabbed his hand, “Jiang Che, you were a witness. Once she shows up, you have to be on my side.”


  Jiang Che’s eyes widened, “How do I stand as a witness? I didn’t see her kill Uncle Xia!”


  “But you saw her attempt to murder me!” Xia Houshang shouted, “I don’t need you as a witness to the murder. I just need you to admit to the fact that she had the motive to kill me. Given our history and given how you call my dad your ‘uncle’, you don’t want him to die in vain, right?! I am begging you! If she’s innocent, then naturally nothing will happen to her.”


  The last phrase seemed to have resonated with him. With difficulty, Jiang Che nodded, “If you exaggerate the situation even a little bit, I will not stand on your side.”


  He mourned his uncle and remained attached to Xia Houshang.

  Xia Houshang’s face lit up, “Of course!”


  Jiang Che didn’t speak any further. He felt anxious about all of this.

  He had no idea how much he’ll come to regret his decisions today.

  On the other side, inside the Quan family.

  The entire family stood around and waited for Qiao Qing’s go-ahead. Occasionally, Wan Kaiyi would bust into the room to deliver updates.

  By 9 am, Wan Kaiyi walked in from the outside again, “Duke, the protest has expanded to outside this city. The Emperor has sent executive orders to search the citizens’ homes.”


  Quan Zexi nodded. He dangled one leg above the other and there was no change in his expression.

  If his daughter was able to remain collected in the face of diversity, he should be able to do better than her.

  Quan Yeqing hissed, “I say, it’s the end of the Emperor’s career! Don’t worry about it. Keep an eye on him. He can search. Let’s see if he ends up searching our home!”


  “Yes, sir!” Wan Kaiyi responded before he turned to look at Quan Zexi, “Another thing, Duke, I just heard the news that large groups of well-equipped soldiers snuck into the royal palace. Should we prepare to defend?”


  Quan Zexi straightened his body, “Are they people of the Emperor or Duke Xia?”


  Wan Kaiyi shook his head, “Neither. The soldiers didn’t go in through the front door. The soldiers of the Xia family are all guarding the Xia manor. The soldiers at the palace also hid from the Emperor’s people.”


  Quan Zexi was shocked, “They snuck past all the security set up around the royal palace and the city’s borders?”


  Wan Kaiyi nodded, “Yes.”


  Quan Zexi, “How many people?”


  Wan Kaiyi shook his head again, “These people move way too fast. They acted like shadows. Or else they couldn’t have so easily snuck past the Emperor’s guards.”


  “As for how many people… we aren’t sure. But based on estimates, more than the sum of the Xia and the Emperor’s guards.”


  Quan Zexi was in awe at this point as he remembered how determined and calm Qiao Qing had been acting. Quan Yeqing, Jun Yexuan, and the others all exchanged glances and looked upstairs.

  At 10 am, Qiao Qing casually came down the stairs with her hands in her pocket.

  After she noticed the attention from everyone, she asked curiously, “What’s the matter?”


  Everyone at the scene, “…”


  What a talented actor!

  Qiao Qing rubbed her nose and then eyed the time.