Chapter 276 Meng Xi's Domineering Aura!
Meng Xi slumped lazily in his chair, his fingertips tapping casually on the rosewood armrests, his phoenix eyes half-closed, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them.
Chang Hong stood solemnly to his side.
The man kneeling on the ground looked ashen-faced.
Footsteps sounded.
Meng Xi lazily raised his eyelids and saw Jiang Shi leading Li Nian'er in quickly.
When Li Nian'er saw the person sitting there, her eyes instantly lit up with infatuation.
But the thought that he had actually proposed to Lu Zhaoruo filled her heart with bitterness and resentment.
But she had to admit that the person before her was still the one who haunted her dreams.
He slumped lazily in his chair, his cloud-gray casual clothes with dark patterns accentuating his jade-like face.
Her dark hair was loosely tied up with only a black jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling in front of her forehead.
He exudes an innate nobility from the inside out, which is captivating.
The depths of those phoenix eyes, which were always half-closed, no longer held the usual indifference to everything; instead, they surged with a cold and sinister aura.
It was the first time she had ever seen him look at her like that.
She almost lost control and wanted to rush forward, shouting, "Young Master Meng..."
Meng Xi didn't even glance at her out of the corner of his eye; with just a fleeting, indifferent look, Chang Hong stepped forward and precisely blocked Li Nian'er's path.
Meng Xi's gaze passed over her and landed directly on Jiang Shi's face, who was trying to remain calm. His voice was languid but icy: "Madam Qi, your family's reputation has been... quite active lately."
Jiang's heart clenched, but she forced a polite smile: "Young Master Meng, what makes you say that? Perhaps there's some misunderstanding?"
Meng Xi casually tapped the puddle of mud on the ground with his chin: "Misunderstanding? This person confessed that he was instructed by someone from your household to spread rumors in front of Yunshang Pavilion, ruining people's reputations and destroying their marriages. The witness is here, how does Madam Qi still intend to cover it up?"
The nonchalance in his phoenix eyes vanished instantly, leaving only a cold, hawk-like scrutiny: "Does Madam Qi think that my Meng family, or the Duke of Di's family, are soft persimmons that can be easily manipulated?"
Jiang's fingertips dug into her palm, and she was indeed filled with fear.
But what alarmed her even more was that Meng Xi, who was known for his indifference and aversion to worldly affairs, would now personally come to her door for Lu Zhaoruo, his words as sharp as knives!
The man on the ground was terrified when Meng Xi glanced at him, tears streaming down his face. He kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "It was...it was a lady from the Qi family who asked me to do it! Although I didn't see her face clearly, I kept an eye on her and followed her. I witnessed her entering the back gate of the Qi family!"
Jiang gritted her teeth inwardly.
Wan is such a fool!
Her face paled instantly, and she was about to try to find an excuse.
"I ordered it!"
Li Nian'er suddenly stepped forward and loudly took the blame.
She pushed Chang Hong's arm away without hesitation, her gaze fixed on Meng Xi's face, and asked excitedly, "Brother Meng Xi! Tell me! Do you really... like that Lu Zhaoruo?"
Her eyes burned with the last vestiges of frantic hope as she stammered, "It can't be! You clearly looked down on her so much back in Jizhou! She was a divorced woman, suing her husband's family, defying all morals! How could she be worthy of you? How could she even catch your eye? She..."
“She can certainly get in.”
Meng Xi coldly interrupted her, his phoenix eyes calm and unwavering, revealing only a steadfast determination.
"She is the only person in this world who has caught my eye and touched my heart."
These words were like a red-hot iron rod, instantly branding Li Nian'er's heart.
She staggered, shaking her head in disbelief, tears streaming down her face, and screamed, "Why? How could someone as noble as you take a liking to her! What's so good about her? A defiled woman, a fallen flower, she..."
"shut up!"
Meng Xi suddenly rebuked, his aura plummeting, his gaze like a sharp, icy blade piercing Li Nian'er: "If you utter another word against her, I'll make you wish you were dead."
She shuddered in fright.
I used to scheme to get into his bed, and although he was disgusted, he never said anything like that.
She repeated his words: "Unable to live, unable to die..."
She suddenly burst into a shrill laugh, her face streaked with tears, but her eyes were empty and ghostly: "Hahaha... That's right! I spread it!"
She pointed at the man on the ground: "I'm the one who gave you the silver! I never expected you, you lowly slave, to dare to follow me!"
The man kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Young Master Meng, it's her! It's her!"
The last trace of warmth in Meng Xi's eyes vanished, leaving only disgust as if he were looking at something filthy.
Li Nian'er took a deep breath, raised her pale face, and said in a tearful voice, "I hate her! I hate that she killed my brother! I hate that she's a lowly merchant's daughter, why does she deserve your favor! I'm going to ruin this marriage! She wants to marry you? Dream on!"
She laughed wildly: "Now that the whole city is in turmoil, does the Duke of Di's mansion still need her? Hahaha!"
Meng Xi looked at Jiang Shi, whose face was ashen, and said in a lazy tone, but with a cold and oppressive tone: "Madam Qi, now that this matter is clear, it is quite simple."
His gaze fell on Li Nian'er as if she were an inanimate object: "Tomorrow, I want her, Li Nian'er, to personally walk through the three cities and thirty-six wards of the capital, banging gongs to tell the people of the city that all the rumors circulating today are because you, Li Nian'er, are consumed by jealousy and have instigated this person to spread them maliciously."
Li Nian'er's maniacal laughter abruptly stopped, her eyes widening in horror.
Meng Xi continued calmly, "After she finishes speaking, she should know how to end it. Whether she hangs herself or throws herself into a well, it's up to her."
"As for the Imperial Brother-in-Law's residence..."
He smirked. "Before she takes her own life, the people of my Duke Di's mansion will 'ask' her to finish what she needs to do. No one can take her away."
"If she's still breathing by this time tomorrow..."
His voice suddenly turned cold, "If she is still breathing at this time tomorrow... then everyone in the Qi family will be punished as an equal to her."
Jiang trembled, her face turning deathly pale, and dared not object: "...Yes, this concubine...understands."
Meng Xi glanced one last time at Li Nian'er, who was completely frozen and looked as if she had fallen into an ice cave. His eyes were calm and expressionless, filled only with weariness.
He said no more and turned to leave.
Chang Hong immediately grabbed the ashen-faced man and quickly followed.
Upon reaching the corridor, Changhong asked in a low voice, "My lord, what should we do with this man?"
Meng Xi did not stop walking. His voice was not loud, but it was cold and clear and could be heard clearly by Jiang Shi and Li Nian'er: "Take him out of the mansion, find a quiet place, and cut out his tongue."
Upon hearing this, the man instantly burst into a pig-like wail and begged for mercy, tears streaming down his face.
Seeing that his pleas were useless, he abruptly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Li Nian'er, and cursed, "You vicious woman! You're the one who ruined me! If I had known this would happen, I would never have coveted your little bit of silver! You deserve to die a horrible death! You deserve it!"
In the shadowy corner of the pillars, Wan Ningniang caught a glimpse of this scene. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, feeling only relief at surviving such a disaster.
Fortunately... fortunately, Li Nian'er stepped in...
Jiang looked in the direction Meng Xi had left, closed her eyes, and knew that there was no turning back now.
The master and servant arrived at the gate of the Qi residence.
Meng Xi nodded slightly.
Chang Hong understood and immediately drew the short blade from his waist with swift and cold movements.
The man's screams abruptly ceased, turning into muffled sobs, his body covered in blood.
Just then, the servants sent by the Emperor's brother-in-law to arrest the man arrived at the door.
Meng Xi remained calm and, in a few words, explained that Li Nian'er had brought this upon herself by spreading rumors.
When the people from the Imperial Uncle's residence heard that this matter involved the Duke of Di's residence, and saw the blood on the ground, they were horrified. They dared not ask any more questions and quickly bowed and said with great respect: "Thank you for informing us, Young Master Meng. We will report back to the Imperial Uncle immediately."
Having said that, he hurriedly left without daring to linger for even a moment.
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