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At these words, a flicker of emotion crossed Xia Zhentian's face.
"Unfilial girl, this is all because of you."
Standing beside him, Li Wanru's face turned sour upon hearing Xia Qingxue's question. "Su Chen, to punish our Xia family, directly ordered someone to cut off your father's left hand."
"Father, I'm sorry. It's my fault. Punish me, beat me to death if you must. I'm not worthy to live in this world anymore!"
Xia Qingxue collapsed to her knees, her face streaming with tears, her heart filled with agony.
She knew this situation was all because of her own stubbornness, leaving her with no one to blame.
If she could choose again, she would have agreed to Su Chen's proposal, willingly becoming his woman.
But now, it was far too late!
Once word spread that her engagement to Su Chen was broken, their family's enemies in Donghua Prefecture would descend upon them for revenge.
With her fatherâthe Xia family's only Saint-level expertâleft maimed, his strength was severely compromised.
Once the battles began, there was no question what fate awaited the Xia family.
Around the hall, the other Xia family members bore expressions of despair. Without the towering shelter of the Su family, their future looked bleak indeed.
"Ah, it's all because Qingxue was so headstrong."
"That's right. She held her head so high, never putting anyone in her eyes. And look where it's gotten us."
"Qingxue, you've dragged us all into this mess!"
Everyone shook their heads, sighing in dismay.
In the past, no one dared to voice their anger over Qingxue's arrogant, spoiled behavior, but now it poured out like a flood.
Hearing the barrage of accusations around her, Qingxue's tears flowed uncontrollably. She kept her head down, unable to meet her clan's gaze.
At that moment, she understoodâthere was no longer a place for her in this family.
Without Su Chen's love, she had lost far more than she could bear.
Suddenly, a faint hum filled the air above the Xia residence, and a ripple appeared in the void. A squad of golden-armored soldiers slowly descended, emerging from the air itself.
They held weapons in hand, faces cold and expressionless, exuding an aura of intimidation that filled the room.
Seeing these soldiers, the murmuring crowd fell silent, fear flashing in their eyes.
These golden-armored soldiers belonged to the Donghua Prefecture's garrison.
Such a display could only mean trouble.
Not a single person in the Xia family dared to make a sound.
A large man clad in gold armor, topped with a red-plumed helmet, stepped forward, stopping in front of Xia Zhentian. He clasped his hands respectfully and said, "Master Xia, we are here to deliver the Governor's orders."
With that, he took a decree from his chest and tossed it beside Xia Zhentian. "Due to the Xia family's unauthorized mining of spirit stone deposits, the Governor has ordered that within three days, all Xia family properties are to be surrendered. Furthermore, all members of the Xia clan are to be exiled from Donghua Prefecture and forbidden to return."
As his words fell, everyone was left stunned.
Xia Qingxue's legs buckled, and she knelt to the ground, her eyes dimming as pain stabbed through her heart.
The Xia family's wealth, painstakingly accumulated by generations, would be lost in a single night?
"We're leaving!"
The golden-armored officer paid no more attention to the stunned Xia family members. He cast a brief, disdainful glance at the defeated Qingxue, his eyes filled with contempt.
She could have risen to become the powerful Su family's future mistress, but her foolishness had angered the young master, bringing ruin upon her family.
Truly, one reaps what they sow.
Without another glance, he turned and departed with his men.
The hall was left in silence, filled with Xia family members whose faces were pale as death.
Xia Zhentian glanced down at the decree, his expression twisted with sorrow and rage.
The mighty Xia familyâutterly ruined under his watch.
"Husband, you must think of something! I can't bear the thought of being exiled from Donghua Prefecture," Li Wanru pleaded desperately.
"Yes, Patriarch, please save us!"
Others chimed in, echoing her cries.
"Father, Mother, IâŠ"
Xia Qingxue lifted her tear-stained face, filled with guilt and regret. "I'll go and beg Su Chen. Only he can save us."
She knew that across the entire Celestial Profound Continent, only Su Chen had the power to protect the Xia family.
"Now you realize? Isn't it too late?" Li Wanru shot her a furious glare, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Even if you go to him, it won't be enough. This isn't just about Su Chen opposing usâit's the entire Donghua Prefecture. Your only option is to become his woman."
Qingxue's body trembled at her mother's words, understanding the implication behind them.
But for the sake of her family's future, she gritted her teeth and stood up. "Mother, I know what I must do."
---
Su Family Residence
"Mei'er, how goes the investigation on the Xiao family?"
Su Chen lounged in a vine chair in the courtyard, legs crossed, as he looked up at Su Meier, who was massaging his shoulders.
"As expected of the Young Master. On the surface, the Xiao family seems stable, but beneath that calm exterior lies turmoil."
Su Meier's lips curved in a smile. "The eldest daughter, Xiao Ruoyu, and the second young master, Xiao Tiancheng, are in a bitter feud over the position of family head. Despite being siblings, they've become sworn enemies."
"Xiao Tiancheng may be lacking in ability, but he's ruthless, constantly scheming against Xiao Ruoyu. If not for her formidable cultivation, she would have met a grim end long ago."
With a smirk, she pressed Su Chen's shoulders and continued, "That Xiao Tiancheng truly has no shameâhe's been having an affair with one of his father's concubines, practically flaunting the green hat on his own father's head."
"Hah, in these grand families, such scandals are hardly surprising."
Su Chen waved a hand dismissively. "A man like Xiao Tiancheng, who could kill his own father if it suited him, certainly wouldn't hesitate to get 'close' to his stepmother."
In the original story, Su Chen remembered clearly that when Xiao Tiancheng's father refused to hand over the position of family head, Xiao Tiancheng had coldly slain him in front of everyone.
In that moment, he felt not the slightest hint of guilt.
To him, it was all for the "greater good" of the Xiao family.
But beneath the surface, the situation was even more twisted.
Xiao Hanchan, the family head, had always intended for Xiao Ruoyu to succeed him.
Even after Xiao Tiancheng bested Xiao Ruoyu in combat and claimed the right to the family title, Xiao Hanchan refused to relinquish the family seal.
It was then that he discovered an earth-shattering secret:
Xiao Tiancheng was...
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