"If we both died, could we really trust Yuexi to him?"
Mei Xiaofang's face was filled with pain and uncertainty.
Su Zhenglong remained silent. Su Xuefeng and Su Zhengtao would definitely come to deal with the killing of the servants. His original intention had been to unleash all his strength and fight to the death!
He would likely die, and Mei Xiaofang wouldn't survive him.
But if they both died, could they really trust Sikong Jing? Would he truly take care of their daughter for the rest of her life?
"Let's observe a little longer," Su Zhenglong finally sighed.
Rumble...
Just then, heavy footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, accompanied by an old man's sharp shout: "Surround it!"
At the sound of his voice, Su Yuexi's courtyard was instantly surrounded by the Su Clan's elite experts.
Then Clan Head Su Xuefeng and Su Zhengtao strode into the courtyard.
Their expressions were dark as storm clouds.
Following behind them was Su Yun, her face red from being slapped, yet twisted in a sneer.
It was her report that had prompted Su Xuefeng and the others to come.
This time, he would make sure Su Zhenglong's family was wiped out completely!
Seeing this, Su Yuexi, still in the courtyard, immediately slipped out of Sikong Jing's embrace and looked at the grandfather she both feared and hated.
In the end, Su Yuexi still lowered her head and called, "Grandfather."
Su Xuefeng didn't even look at her. Instead, he shouted toward the depths of the courtyard, "Su Zhenglong, get your ass out here!"
Soon, with Mei Xiaofang supporting him, Su Zhenglong came out, tottering. His face was pale as he said, "Father, forgive your son. My health is poor, so I can't perform the proper greeting."
"Hmph!"
Su Xuefeng snorted, then said, "I don't need a greeting from an unfilial son like you."
His expression was cold. He didn't treat Su Zhenglong like a son at all.
Then Su Xuefeng couldn't be bothered with any more small talk. He said bluntly, "Zhengtao, you're the head of the Su Clan Enforcement Hall. Announce the punishment for the criminal Sikong Jing right now, in front of your elder brother."
At this, Su Yuexi's expression changed. "Grandfather..."
"Shut up! I don't have an ugly granddaughter like you," Su Xuefeng barked.
A vicious grin spread across Su Zhengtao's face as he stepped forward and declared loudly, "Sikong Jing, as a son-in-law of the Su Clan, slaughtered dozens of servants. He must be executed!"
Su Yuexi shuddered at his words!
She wanted to rush forward and say something, but a hand suddenly clasped hers. It was still Sikong Jing's large hand.
Just as Su Yuexi was overcome with confusion and fear, Sikong Jing pulled her behind him and sneered at Su Xuefeng and the others. "Why don't you first ask me why I killed those servants?"
That question made Su Zhengtao laugh. He replied, "It's perfectly clear. You failed to pay them their wages, and when they came to collect, you violently killed them."
Mei Xiaofang was so angry she was about to rush forward and argue with Su Zhengtao, but Su Zhenglong held her back.
When someone wants to frame you, what excuse could you possibly need?
There was no point in arguing now. They should first see how Sikong Jing would handle it.
Sikong Jing shrugged and asked, "Then why don't you ask why we had no wages to pay them?"
He already knew that Su Zhenglong had raised the Su Clan from a second-rate family to one of the four great clans of Yunye City. Even without any blood ties, it was only right that Su Xuefeng support the badly injured Su Zhenglong and his family.
What's more, Su Zhenglong was his son.
This question left Su Xuefeng somewhat embarrassed. He said coldly, "What a criminal you are, skilled at nothing but slick talk. But do you think that's your only crime?"
"Zhengtao, continue," Su Xuefeng barked.
With a vicious look, Su Zhengtao announced, "The criminal Sikong Jing and Su Yuexi caused a disturbance at Hengyu Pawnshop while trying to repay a debt. They injured more than a dozen people, including Hengyu Shopkeeper, and stole a hundred Gold Crystal Coins from them."
"Sikong Jing must be executed. Su Yuexi has brought shame upon the Su Clan and must suffer a hundred strokes!"
As Su Zhengtao made his declaration, Mei Xiaofang's expression changed again.
She couldn't help looking at Sikong Jing. "Were the Gold Crystal Coins on you stolen?"
So much had happened earlier that she hadn't realized how Sikong Jing had gotten so many Gold Crystal Coins.
She hadn't expected he'd stolen them from Hengyu Pawnshop.
"No, Mother. The pawnshop owner broke the agreement first," Su Yuexi hurriedly explained, clarifying what had happened.
But before Mei Xiaofang could speak, Su Zhengtao cut her off sharply. "Lies! Bring Hengyu Shopkeeper here."
Soon, Hengyu Shopkeeper, whom Sikong Jing had knocked unconscious yesterday, emerged with a sneer.
After waking up, he'd grown angrier the more he thought about it, so he'd gone to the Su Clan to demand an explanation.
Things had gone smoothly. Su Xuefeng had believed him without hesitation and even said he would bring him as a witness, so he could punish his criminal grandson-in-law and ugly granddaughter severely.
As soon as he came out, Hengyu Shopkeeper said, "When did I ever break an agreement? You couldn't afford to redeem the Jadeite Hairpin, so you snatched it back right there. Then you stole a hundred Gold Crystal Coins from me!"
As he spoke, the shopkeeper suddenly noticed that Su Yuexi was holding the Jadeite Hairpin in her hand.
He couldn't figure out how she'd managed to buy it back, but this suited him perfectly. Pointing straight at her, he said, "Grandfather Su, look! The ugly girl in your family is holding the very Jadeite Hairpin she originally pawned to me."
At that moment, Mei Xiaofang also noticed the hairpin.
She stared at it, mouth agape, unable to tell whether the shopkeeper was telling the truth.
Hengyu Shopkeeper sneered to himself. If Sikong Jing and Su Yuexi hadn't managed to buy the hairpin back, framing them would have been a little tricky. Now that they had it in their hands, it was even easier to pin the blame on them.
"No, that's not what happened at all!" Su Yuexi was furious and frantic. Hengyu Shopkeeper was twisting the truth.
But Su Xuefeng shouted angrily, "This is utterly outrageous!"
Just then, Su Zhengtao continued, "Sikong Jing, a criminal, forcibly broke out of the city, causing serious damage to the Su Clan's reputation. He must be executed!"
He didn't care about Su Yuexi's explanation. He simply threw another charge at them.
"For slaughtering the servants, stealing the hairpin and money, and forcing his way out of the city—his crimes are many. He must be executed by lingchi!"
Su Zhengtao announced the sentence with another heavy shout, his eyes filled with frenzied hatred. He meant to torment and butcher Sikong Jing.
His second son, Su Yang, still hadn't recovered, and he didn't even know if he ever would.
Previously, he'd been unable to punish Sikong Jing after challenging him head-on. But if he wanted Sikong Jing and Su Yuexi dead, there were plenty of ways to do it.
"No, that's really not what happened."
Su Yuexi kept backing away, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't let Sikong Jing suffer such a wrongful accusation.
She suddenly looked at Su Zhenglong. "Father, it didn't happen the way they said at all."
Su Zhenglong stared at Su Xuefeng and the others, his fists clenched.
He'd originally wanted to observe Sikong Jing a little longer. After all, he truly didn't know whether this criminal was worth trusting.
But seeing how much his daughter was suffering, Su Zhenglong's heart softened at once.
Forget it. He suddenly stepped forward and roared, "It's all lies! Su Zhengtao, if you want to punish my daughter and son-in-law, you'll have to ask whether I agree first!"
As he spoke, his true energy surged into the Human Realm, and he fixed his gaze on Su Xuefeng.
He was going to fight to the death.
Even if it meant father and son tearing each other apart, he wouldn't hesitate.
Before you continue