Xiao Liangxiao walked up to Xiao Muling and stretched out her hands to take the latter's hand.
Xiao Muling saw her actions and moved her arm to avoid her hand.
Xiao Liangxiao's expression froze, and her hand stopped in mid-air. 'What's going on?'
Surprise flashed across Xiao Qing's eyes. 'This is the first time I've seen Xiao Muling treat Xiao Liangxiao like this. No, it's already a miracle that the elders were involved in this matter. Even if Xiao Liangxiao said that in the past, Xiao Muling would take the blame for her sake. It wasn't like today, where even the elders were forced to punish Xiao Liangxiao.'
He almost thought that Xiao Muling knew something when she asked the elders for guidance. For example, the elders didn't always have the power they had now. In the past, the family elders only looked good and didn't have any authority.
The family elders gradually gained power, and everyone in the family also heard rumors about how much power they had. However, others didn't know that the elders would be completely removed from their positions as family elders once they made a mistake!
The elders didn't dare to let anyone know about this. Only they knew how destructive Xiao Muling's words were, and that was why the elders had such a reaction.
Although Xiao Liangxiao was talented, the elders were too protective of her!
"Sister Ling'er, I really didn't…"
Xiao Muling regarded Xiao Liangxiao's gentle appearance, sneered, and interrupted Xiao Liangxiao. "How are you related to me?"
'Lian'er was about to say something at that time, but Xiao Liangxiao silenced her. Is she guilty or guilty?'
The gentleness on Xiao Liangxiao's face almost disappeared. She explained again, "No, I asked her to protect you, but she did that to you. I can't let her go!"
'Yes, as long as everything is said for Xiao Muling's own good, she will soften and believe my words.'
"Thank you very much then." Xiao Muling emphasized the word 'thank you.' Then, she retracted her gaze and walked forward.
From beginning to end, her tone was cold. Xiao Muling looked at Xiao Liangxiao with a smile, but her eyes were cold. "You don't have to follow me. From today onward, you will be punished."
To deal with Xiao Liangxiao, she had to deal with the Xiao family's elders and their people first.
The main target was Xiao Liangxiao's father.
It wouldn't be easy to kill Xiao Liangxiao without killing them first.
'Take it slow. There will be a way to get rid of them!' Xiao Muling's red lips curled up, and killing intent surged in her eyes!
The warmth on Xiao Liangxiao's face instantly disappeared, and she looked gloomy!
She took a deep breath and suppressed her anger. 'I have never been punished since I was young! And now, I was punished to kneel for five days because of a mere maidservant!'
Xiao Liangxiao snorted. "As long as Xiao Muling trusts me, this shield will always be there."
'It must be because I killed someone in front of Xiao Muling today, and that's why she acted so abnormally. Otherwise, why would Xiao Muling strangle me? However, a good-for-nothing is still a good-for-nothing. Even when she had me by the throat, there was nothing she could do.
'If she didn't mention this matter to the elders, Xiao Muling would've ended up taking the blame. After a few days, I would then go and talk to Xiao Muling properly, and everything would be fine. As for being punished, I won't take it just like that!'
In the past, Xiao Liangxiao had never been punished. Now that she was going to the Realm of Summoning, it was even more impossible for her to take the punishment obediently. One had to know that all the elders were on her side!
Xiao Liangxiao sneered and walked back arrogantly.
Nobody noticed that a tall and slender figure was standing in mid-air—above the Xiao family's residence—watching everything calmly.
This figure was wearing a half-mask, so it was impossible to see his appearance clearly. While standing there, everything was silent as if a king had descended into this world!
As he watched Xiao Muling walk toward her courtyard, he followed her. Everything seemed so natural.
Back in the courtyard, Xiao Muling saw the food box on the ground and bent down to take it. Xiao Qing quickly beat her to it. "Missy, I'll do it."
Xiao Muling glanced at him before looking at the room in front of her.
The bloodstains in the room had been cleaned up, and even the smell of blood was gone.
"Someone at home packed these." Xiao Qing saw that Xiao Muling was looking at the room and didn't enter, so he explained simply.
Xiao Muling didn't say anything. She turned around and walked into the room on the west side of the courtyard. In any case, the rooms in her courtyard could all be occupied.
She didn't want to stay in this room anymore. Even if she wasn't in a hurry to change courtyards, she wanted to change rooms first.
The room arrangement in the western part of the courtyard wasn't worse than before.
Xiao Canglan always gave Xiao Muling the best. Even the courtyard where she lived was decorated according to the best arrangement.
Xiao Qing followed her in. He put the things down and was about to leave.
When he reached the door, he stopped and turned around. "Missy, I have something to ask you."
He only needed to listen to the head of the Xiao family. As for anything else, he would never bother about them. Even when it came to protecting the Eldest Young Lady and delivering food to her, they were all under the family leader's orders.
But today, he couldn't help but want to ask. 'It is really unusual for Missy to do such things today.'
"You want to ask why a maid's death would be brought to the family elders. After all, they don't care about the life and death of a mere servant."
"Yes."
Normally, they would never be punished.
Xiao Muling picked up the bowl and chopsticks and started eating. She was already very hungry.
Seeing that he was waiting for her answer, Xiao Muling put down her bowl and chopsticks. "I didn't kill her, so why should I carry this responsibility?"
'And even if I did kill the person, so what?'
"Then…"
"There is no good in bringing up the matter to father," interrupted Xiao Muling. She knew what Xiao Qing was going to say, but there was no need for that.
Firstly, her father was probably busy now. Secondly, her father had always doted on her.
If she spoke up, her father would definitely not let the three of them off easily. However, it was already difficult for him to keep her in the Xiao family as of now. If her father interfered today and punished Xiao Liangxiao—who was a genius favored by the Xiao family—everyone would think that her father did it on purpose.
If she let the elders—who doted on Xiao Liangxiao—personally make the decision to punish her, it would mean they were admitting that she was in the wrong!
Although the punishment wasn't severe, it still concerned Xiao Liangxiao. However, there were four elders who favored Xiao Liangxiao. They might've punished her today, but would they do the same in the future?
Xiao Muling wanted to see how long these four elders could protect Xiao Liangxiao!
Xiao Qing's eyes revealed shock. When did she think of things to this extent? It probably didn't take long for her to think of all this from the moment the matter was brought up to the elders!'
"Were you so sure that they would punish Xiao Liangxiao?" After all, they loved Xiao Liangxiao so much.
"Isn't she already punished?"
Due to her calm words, Xiao Qing's heart felt like it had been smashed by a huge rock. 'That's right! They did punish Xiao Liangxiao!'
Xiao Qing took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He remained expressionless. After a moment of silence, he said, "Xiao Liangxiao won't be punished."
After saying this, he turned around and left.
If she was willing to be punished, she wouldn't be Xiao Liangxiao.
Xiao Muling sneered. "Then, she's courting death!"