txolops Chapter 153 Self-Destruction
Chapter 153 Self-Destruction
Chapter 153 Self-Destruction
"I wonder where Brother Qingyi went—"
Ling'er sat by the window, resting her chin on one hand, while idly fiddling with a strand of her long black hair in the other, making a circle, then loosening it, and then making another circle.
Sunlight streamed through the wooden window, casting shadows on her fair profile.
She felt a deep emptiness inside.
Didn't you say you'd come find me?
She puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish holding its breath, but quickly deflated, leaving only a faint sense of disappointment.
Footsteps approached from afar, and the door was gently pushed open.
Ling'er knew who it was without even turning around.
She frowned slightly, but did not turn around; her gaze remained fixed on some unknown place outside the window.
"What are you doing here?"
Zhao Mengxi did not answer immediately, but walked slowly to Ling'er's side and looked out the window with her.
After a long pause, he sighed softly, "Ling'er is truly a pitiful person."
Ling'er suddenly turned her head, her clear black and white eyes glancing sideways at Zhao Mengxi: "What do you mean?"
"It doesn't mean anything." Zhao Mengxi withdrew her gaze and looked at Ling'er. "I just suddenly felt that, in the end, you and I might be in the same boat."
"Mutual misery?" Ling'er scoffed, her tone mocking. "Me and you?"
Zhao Mengxi did not answer, but flipped her hand, revealing a white jade stone in her palm.
The next instant, a projection appeared above, showing the scene of Li Qingyi going to find Zhao Wuyi.
At first, Ling'er didn't understand what Zhao Mengxi meant, but when she saw Li Qingyi reveal her true face, her pupils suddenly contracted.
The video continues to play.
Li Qingyi's voice rang out: "With no woman in my heart, my sword moves with divine will! Senior, in this life, I dedicate myself solely to the sword and the Dao! Personal feelings are but minor matters; how can they disturb my resolve to pursue the Dao?"
The words were resolute, piercing Ling'er's eardrums and reaching her heart.
If Li Qingyi were here, she would definitely curse loudly upon seeing what was inside.
Much of the key content has been modified or replaced.
"Think it over carefully, is Li Qingyi really someone you can trust?"
She leaned slightly closer to Ling'er's ear, her breath sweet as orchids, yet her words were as cold as knives: "Things have come to this, face reality, Ling'er. Rather than worrying about someone who's using you, cooperate with us."
After a long silence, Ling'er said, word by word, "What do you want me to do?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengxi's face instantly lit up with joy.
Meanwhile, Li Qingyi, who had reverted to her "Fang Yuan" form, was wandering aimlessly through the Zhao family's vast mansion complex.
Jiang Yanxu should have already contacted the Six Sects, and they will take action no later than around the time of Zhao Wuyi's birthday banquet.
Now all I need to do is wait. So it seems I have nothing to do for these three days before the birthday banquet?
-
Along the way, he discovered that in the previous simulation, Zhao Mengxi used marriage as a deception to keep him in check.
Since the Zhao family and the Dao Sect are in cahoots, it's very likely that she also knew about my previous collaboration with Zhao Wuyi.
For some reason, Li Qingyi felt a little annoyed.
Thinking about it this way, it seems he's been tricked by this woman several times.
We need to find a way to get revenge.
Since Zhao Mengxi unusually didn't bring up marriage this time, he decided to do the opposite.
If she doesn't bring it up, he will.
She didn't want to get married, but he insisted on forcing her to!
As for Zhao Wuyi's attitude?
In the previous simulations, that old fox clearly knew that Zhao Mengxi's so-called "pregnancy" was fake, yet he still went along with it, accepted the betrothal gifts, and tacitly approved and even facilitated the marriage. His sinister intentions are self-evident.
Since that's the case, why not stir up the waters even more and make him suffer a bit too?
Having made up her mind, Li Qingyi no longer hesitated.
With his divine sense as sharp as a net, he quickly located Zhao Zhouhui's position.
They are currently in the main hall where the family is holding a meeting.
The main hall of the Zhao family is magnificent, solemn, and dignified.
Zhao Zhouhui sat upright in the head seat, his face solemn and dignified, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
To the left and right of the lower seat sat seven or eight powerful elders of the Zhao family, all of whom possessed profound auras and remarkable cultivation.
At this moment, everyone is discussing the specific details of the ancestor's birthday banquet three days from now.
Everything from guest reception and banquet specifications to defense arrangements and gift arrangements was meticulously handled.
The atmosphere was originally serious.
boom!
The two heavy doors of the main hall were casually pushed open from the outside.
A figure in a green robe walked in leisurely, as if strolling through his own backyard.
The entire room was stunned!
All eyes immediately focused on the intruder.
An unfamiliar young man with an ordinary face and a gentle demeanor?
Qi Refining Stage Cultivation?
How did he manage to bypass all the guards and get straight here?!
Seated at the head of the lower right seat, a stern-faced old man slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, glaring angrily at the head guard who had followed Li Qingyi in: "You incompetent fools! What are you all good for?! You couldn't even stop a mere Qi Refining junior?! Where are the rules of the Zhao family?!"
The head guard, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, knelt down on one knee with a thud, clasped his hands and said urgently, "Reporting to Third Grand Uncle! We dare not be negligent! However, this Young Master Fang just met with the Ancestor in the ancestral land."
I truly do not know whether the Ancestor has given any other instructions, therefore I dared not forcefully stop him.
These words shocked everyone in the room!
He just met with the Ancestor? The Ancestor personally received him? And this is just some unknown Qi Refining stage junior?
Even they themselves might not be able to see the ancestor if they wanted to.
In an instant, everyone looked at Li Qingyi with different thoughts.
Sitting at the head of the table, Zhao Zhouhui's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his mind was filled with even more doubts.
As the head of the family, he naturally knew that distinguished guests had recently visited, and he also vaguely knew that it was related to some of the patriarch's plans, but the patriarch never revealed who it was.
Could it be—this young man in front of me?
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, regained his composure, and asked, "In that case—Young Master Fang, what decree have you brought to the main hall for the Ancestor?"
Li Qingyi secretly praised the head of the guards for his assistance.
On the surface, he remained calm and composed, putting on an act and playing the role of a deeply affectionate lover.
A conflicted look appeared in Li Qingyi's eyes. Finally, she looked at Zhao Zhouhui and slowly asked, "Is Uncle Mengxi's father?"
Zhao Zhouhui's heart skipped a beat.
An extremely ominous premonition suddenly gripped my heart.
He stared at Li Qingyi's face, which was filled with deep affection and earnestness. His Adam's apple bobbed, and after a long while, he spoke very slowly...
He nodded with a strong sense of suspicion.
Li Qingyi, channeling her inner Best Actor, showed an even stronger struggle on her face.
He glanced around at the clan elders, then looked at Zhao Zhouhui, and bowed with his hands clasped in Zhao Zhouhui's direction.
"Mengxi is pregnant with my child! Mengxi and I are in love, and we humbly request that you grant us your blessing and bestow upon us a marriage contract!"
These words were like a thunderclap, instantly causing an uproar throughout the council hall.
"hiss!"
"What?!?!"
"Nonsense! Ridiculous!!!"
Everyone's heads were buzzing, as if they couldn't believe what Li Qingyi had just said.
Even the guards behind Li Qingyi were stunned.
Holy crap? This young lady is playing this wildly!
Zhao Zhouhui felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, a buzzing in his ears, and his blood rushing to the top of his head!
"Nonsense! Absurd! Utterly absurd! My daughter, Zhao Zhouhui, is well-educated, virtuous, and of impeccable character. How could she possibly be pregnant out of wedlock?!"
His chest heaved with rage, and for a moment he couldn't find the right words to describe this horrifying event.
Below, several clan elders who had previously been vying for power with Zhao Zhouhui were initially shocked, but then suddenly burst into joy!
A golden opportunity! It's an absolute golden opportunity!
Whether this matter is true or false, if handled properly, it is a heavy burden that could crush the prestige of Zhao Zhouhui, the head of the family.
A corrupt family atmosphere, inadequate parenting, and potentially even more sordid private matters may arise.
This was enough to cause him to lose face at the clan elders' meeting, and even force him to resign!
The one who started the trouble was the man who had just been called the Third Uncle.
At this moment, the anger on his face had been replaced by an irrepressible excitement. He coughed lightly and spoke first: "Things have come to this point, and being angry will not help. Mengxi is indeed of marriageable age."
In my opinion, this young master Fang is a man of exceptional talent and character, and he is deeply devoted to Mengxi—perhaps this could be a good match?
"Third Uncle! You!" Zhao Zhouhui glared at the other party, so angry that he almost vomited blood.
That old bastard is clearly adding fuel to the fire and kicking someone when they're down!
"Brother, what Uncle said makes sense."
Zhao Zhouyi, Zhao Zhouhui's third brother, chimed in, "If this matter is not handled properly and word gets out, what will become of the Zhao family's reputation? What will become of Mengxi's honor?"
These words were even more insidious; seemingly meant to persuade, they actually confirmed the matter was true, forcing Zhao Zhouhui to make a statement.
"Yes, Patriarch, the family's reputation should be the priority!"
"Mengxi is pregnant; this matter cannot be delayed!"
For a time, the council chamber was filled with discussion and noise.
Some offered advice, some expressed concern, some secretly sneered, and some calculated their own interests.
Zhao Zhouhui's face was ashen; he was overwhelmed by the sudden scandal and the elders' pressure to abdicate.
Li Qingyi sneered inwardly, "Let it be chaotic, let it be chaotic, the more chaotic the better."
Just then, Zhao Mengxi entered the chaotic council chamber from the back.
Li Qingyi quickly stepped forward, grabbed Zhao Mengxi's hand, and looked at her with deep affection.
"Mengxi, quickly come with me to ask your father for a marriage decree." With that, Li Qingyi gazed at her lower abdomen, his eyes filled with love. "For our happiness, and for our baby—"
Zhao Mengxi: "???"
She was struck dumb, her mind went blank, and she couldn't understand what Li Qingyi was saying at all.
She stared blankly at Li Qingyi, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Seeing the love in Li Qingyi's eyes, Zhao Mengxi momentarily wondered if she was dreaming.