The Guo Assembly Hall was once again quieted down. No one dared make a peep in fear of agitating the beast lounging on the dais.
Shen Ru leaned down to his Lord, "Shall we start, my Lord?"
Liu Xin Yang nodded never taking his eyes of the woman beside him.
Shen Ru came forward to address the crowd. Even if the group held a high status in their clan but towards this man called Shen Ru they still show deference. He is the right-hand man of the infamous Bloody Xin after all. If the Master is crazy, the subordinate might be the same. Thus, they have to tread carefully.
"I believe all of you had been informed why you were summoned here." Shen Ru started.
The nobles glanced at their ignorant daughters and sighed. They have been informed of what happened at the Guo properties meadow.
Towards the pampered daughters of theirs, they could not scold them though when they were the ones who thought these kids to curry favor from Guo Yiyi with any means possible. The target this time was the bastard-child of the Guo's, no one important. It should have been a close matter but who could have expected that behind this woman hides a strong backer that could bury their whole family alive.
If they had known beforehand that Guo Li Jing and Liu Xin Yang had an ambiguous relationship, they had long switched sides.
The parents bitterly thought in their hearts that they had missed a good opportunity, they had mistaken fish eye for pearls.
Only Adviser Guo was unfortunate enough to not be informed as to what happened, he had asked Guo Yiyi and Tang Ruyi several times but all he got were tear-filled eyes.
"Lady Guo had been accused of harming the daughter of the Zhang family. It was found out that these noble you ladies of the clan had testified against Lady Guo Li Jing. "
Adviser Guo felt indignant at heart, seeing his daughter beside the future clan head was like a dream come true for him. This time he was sure that his gamble had truly paid off. Soon their family will raise in ranks.
With puffed up chest he turned to the crowd and glare spitefully, "Hah! You lot dare slander my child? Li Jing had always been a good and obedient daughter. She had never harmed anyone, not even a tiny insect. To smear the good name of my daughter like this, you are asking for a beating!" Adviser Guo turned his body towards Liu Xin Yang and cupped his hand, beseeching, "Lord Liu, this lowly servant will ask for your help in this matter. Please investigate this affair and punish severely those who truly sinned. Please give my child justice, my Lord."
Liu Xin Yang studied the man before him, his eyes obscure, "Which child do you want me to seek justice?"
Adviser Guo stilled but answered fluidly without bothering if Liu Xin Yang had other meaning behind his words, "My Li Jing, of course, Lord Liu."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Lord Liu." Adviser Guo's words were firm and resolute, even though he does not favor this daughter of his than Guo Yiyi but if she could bring prestige to the Guo name then he will support her and be her backer.
Liu Xin Yang smiled devilishly, "Good. Remember your choice, Adviser Guo."
Adviser Guo was now somewhat puzzled by Liu Xin Yang's vague statements, he turned to his other daughter and saw her horror-stricken face looking back at him.
Liu Xin Yang nodded towards Shen Ru.
"Guo Yiyi, step forward." Shen Ru said, his voice resounding on all the four corners of the Assembly Hall.
With wobbly legs, Guo Yiyi stepped forward.
"Zhang Feng Yi, step forward."
Zhang Feng Yi, who remained quiet all this time was now the focus of everyone's attention. With red eyes shrouded by shame, she joined Guo Yiyi.
Shen Ru turned to Liu Xin Yang, the other man motioned with his hand to start the interrogation.
"Zhang Feng Yi."
Zhang Feng Yi bowed her head, "Ye- Yes, Assistant Shen."
"You are one of the victims of today's incident. Can you tell us what exactly transpired on the meadow?"
Zhang Feng Yi licked her lips nervously, how could the incident that occurred a while ago came to this? She only had one answer on her mind, Guo Li Jing. That damned woman! What is she planning to stir up by doing this?
She glanced at the woman beside Lord Liu with hate plain in her eyes. She hated that woman, she hates that she is up there seating beside Liu Xin Yang, the man she had long considered as hers.
Zhang Feng Yi didn't know the depths of Guo Li Jing's importance in Liu Xin Yang's eye or had any idea about the deal between Adviser Guo and Lord Liu. She deduced Guo Li Jing was up there because she played victim towards Lord Liu.
Zhang Feng Yi sneered. Well, Guo Li Jing had nothing on them, Zhang Feng Yi and Guo Yiyi, when it comes to scheming against people. The noble young ladies of the clan are their witnesses of how they could easily paint lies with truths. She is sure they could get out of this mess if they both put their heads into it.
She glanced at Guo Yiyi beside her and the other gave her a brief glance. It was just in passing but she clearly saw the glint in Guo Yiyi's eyes. A clear indication that they can swindle their way out of this and pin all the blame on Guo Li Jing, they just had to act and act they will.
Loud wails were echoing on the four corners of the room. Zhang Feng Yi gave her all in this performance.
Li Jing flinched from the loud noise and covered her ears. This movement didn't miss Liu Xin Yang's eyes and his glinted with viciousness towards the offender. "Silence!"
Zhang Feng Yi was struct dumb, her mouth gaped like a fish out of the water.
He looked at Zhang Feng Yi with disdain in his eyes. "You wail like a pig about to be slaughtered. Cry again and I'll cut your tongue and throw you in with the pigs on the pen."
Someone snicked from the crowd and others coughed to cover their bubbling laughter.
Zhang Feng Yi bowed her head and bit her lip to restrain her resentment. She was shamed a second time today.
Shen Ru smoothed his features into an emotionless mask. "Go on, Lady Zhang. Enlighten us all to what transpired in the meadow."
Zhang Feng Yi sniffled but didn't dare overdo it this time, "We, these noble young ladies behind me and my future sister-in-law, were talking a stroll towards the woods. Then on the meadow, we saw Guo Li Jing alone, we felt bad for her having no friends so we took a detour and wanted to bring her with us to have fun. But who would have thought that she had sinister thoughts running in her head? The next thing I knew, I fell on the ground and Guo Li Jing was laughing like a lunatic, she didn't even help her own sister who was sick. Good thing brother came to rescue us. I was so ashamed I ran away. That was when you saw us, Lord Liu."
Hearing what Zhang Feng Yi said, Liu Xin Yang's eyes dimmed.
Guo Yiyi did not miss that look on him and felt ecstatic inside. She wanted to clap her hands for her friend's splendid performance. They had now put doubt on Liu Xin Yang's mind. Her task now is just to cement those doubts and Guo Li Jing will sink into the mud until she drowns in it.
Guo Yiyi supported her crying friend and looked at Guo Li Jing with big fat tears on her eyes. "Big sister, I know you are angry with Zhang Yong and me, but to take it out on Feng Yi is not right. She is innocent in all of this. If you want to punish someone, then punish me instead. Zhang Yong and I, truly love each other. But if you can't bear looking at us, then for the sake of our sisterly affection, I will break my relationship with A-Yong."
Guo Yiyi cried and acted so beautifully, anyone who would look at this white lotus would definitely feel sympathetic. While anyone who would look at Guo Li Jing now, gently pouring tea into a cup, would feel indignant and enlightened to what truly happened on the meadow.
Guo Yiyi was the ex-fiancé, she returns home and found out that Zhang Yong will soon be married to her little sister. Her sister is five-months pregnant and having no outlet to vent on her frustrations, she harmed Zhang Yong's sister. Ah, what a scary woman, this Guo Li Jing is.
Tang Ru Yi seeing her daughter's marvelous act followed suit. She wanted to be the one to drive the nails in Li Jing's coffin.
She hugged her weeping daughter to her bosom. "Oh, my poor child. If Mother knew this would have happened, then I should have kept you and Zhang Yong apart. But how can I bear separate the both of you when I can see how much you cherish one another?" With her eyes glistening with unshed tears turned to Li Jing. "Li Jing, my child. Please don't hate your sister. If you want to vent your anger, then vent it on me. Please don't harm your sister. Think of your nephew in your sister's womb, he is the most innocent in all of this. It is all mother's fault. Mother is wrong. Mother has wronged you, my child."
Everyone was now sympathetic towards this pair of mothers. Who would have thought that such a fragile-looking girl hides a vengeful soul?
Through this chaos, one person remained calm and indifferent, Guo Li Jing continued to sip her tea as if the statement of the mother and daughter duo had nothing to do with her. She continued to sip her tea leisurely. Such excellent taste ought to be savored slowly.
"Is it good?" a deep, baritone voice tickling her ear startled Li Jing. She turned her head and was met by Liu Xin Yang's penetrating black eyes. Looking at the man's features, it seems that she's not the only one who is calm and indifferent in midst of the chaos.
Li Jing glanced at the status bar above his head.
Favorability: 70%
Killing Intent: O%
Li Jing smiled looking up at the man. "Yes, this tea is good. You should try it too, Lord Liu."
Liu Xin Yang was so tall at 193 cm that he had to bend over to talk to her, with their face close, they gazed into each other's eyes.
That man gave her a profound look before nodding his head. "Okay."
Li Jing was about to put down her cup and pour the man a tea when his hand intercepted her own cup midway. Her eyes rounded when he slowly raised her cup to his mouth and drank from the part where her lips had touched, all the while his eyes never leaving her face.
Li Jing turned her head to hide her blush.
Ah, this freaking pervert.
The crowd was busy speculating that they missed this exciting event.
Seeing no response from Li Jing, Guo Yiyi continued. "Big sister, do you really hate me that much?"
Li Jing smiled at her weeping sister, her head tilting a bit to the side.
"No." I just want to smack a fly like you with an electric fly swatter.