Chapter 196 - 195: Please Take the Seat of Honor, Your Majesty; Pei Xuan Strikes

Chapter 196: Chapter 195: Please Take the Seat of Honor, Your Majesty; Pei Xuan Strikes

Xu Zhao Yu felt as if all the sounds around her had been siphoned away. Dizzy and disoriented, she stammered, "Dismissed... they were dismissed from their posts?"

"This time, the Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute sent a judge who is their future director," Meng Baizhou explained patiently. "He was also the one who reported it to the police. I did want to settle things privately, but I couldn’t even get to see him."

Xu Zhao Yu’s body swayed, on the verge of collapsing. She could feel her heart pounding ever more violently, aching as if pierced by needles.

"Zhao Yu, I’m so sorry." Meng Baizhou sighed softly. "I don’t have the power to get Shuyan out."

Xu Zhao Yu’s vision went dark again. Amidst Old Madam Xu’s gasp of alarm, she fainted once more.

"My poor Zhao Yu. How can her body endure such torment?" Old Madam Xu wiped away a continuous stream of tears. "Bai Zhou, is there really no way?"

Meng Baizhou shook his head. "Mom, Shuyan walked right into the line of fire this time. If the Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute wasn’t involved... there might have been a chance."

Old Madam Xu said resentfully, "When I get back, I’m going to ask Chengli exactly how he raised his daughter. She’s spouting pure nonsense and never utters a single word of truth! If Shi Changying had revealed her calligraphy skills earlier, none of this would have happened today."

Meng Baizhou raised an eyebrow in surprise, seemingly unable to grasp the logic behind her words. "Mom, I know you’re just distressed out of concern, but what does this have to do with Chengli and Changying?"

Old Madam Xu choked on her words, her face turning pale and then green. She could only stammer, "They can’t escape responsibility, anyway."

"Mom, Shuyan is reaping what he sowed. Don’t blindly blame other children." Meng Baizhou’s expression turned cold. "Shuyan has become so lawless precisely because he’s been spoiled!"

Old Madam Xu looked at him in disbelief. "Bai Zhou, are you blaming me?"

"I wouldn’t dare." Meng Baizhou remained polite and mild. "Since Zhao Yu is back, you should go rest as soon as possible, Mom. I’ll take care of things here."

Having lost face, Old Madam Xu didn’t want to stay any longer. After confirming that Xu Zhao Yu had merely fainted from extreme agitation, she left.

"Mr. Meng, your wife’s face only suffered some superficial injuries. It’s nothing serious," the doctor said. "Apply this ointment, and the swelling will go down very soon."

Meng Baizhou snapped back to reality and offered a faint smile. "Alright, thank you."

Naturally, the news of Meng Shuyan’s imprisonment couldn’t be concealed. It quickly spread throughout the entire Jianghuai Circle. Coupled with the fact that many high-ranking officials of the Jianghuai Calligraphy Association had been dismissed and were under investigation, families both large and small realized the gravity of the situation. For a time, everyone was on edge. A state of paranoia spread, and people feared being dragged into the scandal.

It wasn’t that Old Madam Xu hadn’t reached out to her other connections, but she was universally told that there was absolutely no way to bail Meng Shuyan out.

"Enough, stop fussing." Old Sir Xu remained very composed. "That’s the Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute! And the future director, at that. Do you really think you can persuade him to change his mind?"

In the end, Meng Shuyan wasn’t a member of the Xu Family. The way he saw it, the Meng Family should be the ones panicking.

Just as Old Madam Xu was about to say something else, the sound of footsteps echoed as Shi Changying slowly ambled downstairs.

"Changying, Grandpa wants to congratulate you on winning first place in the calligraphy competition," Old Sir Xu said with a genial expression. "What kind of reward would you like?"

Shi Changying merely threw a glance at him and, without breaking her stride, walked out the door.

"Look at that, what kind of attitude is that?" Old Madam Xu clutched her chest. "She has absolutely no respect for her elders! The better you treat her, the more she—"

Old Sir Xu waved a hand, cutting her off. "Alright, stop talking like that. Wen Ge will be back in a little over half a month."

That sentence successfully diverted Old Madam Xu’s attention. She beamed with joy. "Wen Ge is graduating soon, too! When the time comes, our Xu Family will have produced an outstanding legal scholar!"

Old Sir Xu sighed. "I wonder if Yunhai will come back for the New Year this time."

Xu Yunhai had been constantly on the move in the War Zone. Sometimes, they couldn’t even reach him.

Old Madam Xu became fraught with worry again. "If Yunhai comes back this time, let’s not let him leave again. He’s getting older and can’t handle such hardship anymore. If only back then..."

Old Sir Xu shook his head, unwilling to dredge up the past. He interrupted her, saying, "I’m heading to the company."

The sun hung high in a cloudless sky. After buying four skewers of candied haws, Shi Changying arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant.

The moment Qingyuan saw her, she stood up immediately. With a solemn expression, she said, "Sister Ying, please take the seat of honor."

As soon as Shi Changying sat down, Qingyuan promptly claimed the seat to her left. Not to be outdone, Ning Liuyu snatched the seat on her right. When Xie Qingshi arrived at the private room, this was the exact scene he walked into. He paused for a moment before sitting down directly across from Shi Changying. All three were perfectly satisfied with their spots, avoiding any squabbles over seating arrangements.

"Why isn’t Mr. Cui here yet?" Qingyuan blinked. "Lord Xie, hurry him up. He’s the main character today, after all."

Xie Qingshi looked at Shi Changying. "Your Majesty?"

Shi Changying nodded. "I also have quite a few things to ask him."

Meanwhile, Cui Jinghan was currently changing his clothes. Watching him change outfit after outfit, Yan Sinian asked weakly, "Senior Brother, who are you going to meet this time?"

"Someone important," Cui Jinghan replied mildly.

Yan Sinian was puzzled. "But didn’t you already go see them the other day?"

Cui Jinghan couldn’t be bothered to answer. He finished adjusting his attire and was just about to leave when there was a knock at the door. Yan Sinian went to open it.

Standing there was a tall and strikingly handsome man, his features exuding a roguish charm. Yan Sinian’s breath instantly hitched. Such an overwhelming aura! Fortunately, the newcomer had no intention of targeting him. The oppressive presence bypassed him entirely, locking onto his Senior Brother.

Cui Jinghan looked at Pei Xuan, his expression icy. "You investigated me?"

"Is there any need for that?" Pei Xuan let out a scoffing laugh. "I took a stroll through the Jianghuai Calligraphy Association and knew you were here. Besides, the hotel you’re staying at is a Pei Family property."

Cui Jinghan remained noncommittal. "What do you want?"

Yan Sinian looked back and forth between Cui Jinghan and Pei Xuan, feeling very much like a mere mortal caught between two deities—pitiful, weak, and helpless. He thought sorrowfully, "If only Miss Shi were here, everything would be fine."

"I came to praise you for uprooting a few cancerous tumors," Pei Xuan said in a ringing voice. "If she knew, she’d certainly be very gratified."

Yan Sinian began wondering who this "she" was.

DING!

The phone on the table vibrated, and two messages popped up on the lock screen.

[Xie Qingshi]: Where are you? You have ten minutes left. You’re going to be late.

[Qingyuan]: Mr. Cui, you’re the only one missing.

Cui Jinghan had just reached out when another hand pressed down on his phone.

"One big happy family?" Pei Xuan chuckled cryptically. "What, are you guys having a gathering? Without me?"

Today, he was going to follow Cui Jinghan and see exactly how "happy and loving" they really were!