The Rising Phoenix-Chapter 948: Refuse To Admit

Before Jung Wang could finish his sentence, a calm and steady voice echoed clearly from the entrance, interrupting him mid-word.

"I apologise for my lateness. You sent the notice rather late, informing me that there would be a clan council." That person apologised in an unhurried tone.

Everyone immediately turned toward the source of the voice, their attention drawn at once.

A tall figure stepped into the hall with measured steps. It was Si Wunjian, Si Wuntian’s third brother.

An elder spoke up, his voice filled with dissatisfaction.

"Si Wunjian, why are you late? You are a clan elder. You should act like one." The elder reminded him sternly.

Si Wunjian merely smiled faintly and apologised insincerely, showing no real remorse. He was dressed impeccably, every detail in place. His expression remained composed, as if he had just arrived for a casual gathering rather than a trial that could determine his fate.

"Third Uncle." Si Tang greeted coldly, her tone devoid of warmth.

Si Wunjian inclined his head slightly. "Niece."

His gaze briefly flickered toward Mei Lijuan, who was kneeling on the ground. There was no panic, no trace of surprise, only cold calculation.

Mei Lijuan saw Si Wunjian and instinctively wanted to call out his name, but a single warning glance from him made her stop immediately. Her lips pressed together as she lowered her head once more.

"Well, let us continue. Jung Wang, speak." Si Wuntian said in a commanding tone.

Jung Wang trembled violently under the pressure of so many powerful gazes fixed upon him. However, he forced himself to speak despite the fear tightening his throat.

He explained that he had been ordered by Mei Lijuan and Si Wunjian. He mentioned the child as well, along with their plan to take over the Si Family entirely.

Gasps filled the hall as shock spread through the crowd. All eyes snapped toward Si Wunjian. However, he did not panic. Instead, he let out a quiet chuckle.

"A criminal’s words are hardly reliable." Si Wunjian said calmly. "Is this your evidence, Si Tang?"

Si Tang’s eyes turned colder, her gaze sharpening dangerously.

"Of course not, Third Uncle. I have other people." Si Tang stated without hesitation.

She made another signal. The guards dragged in the assassins, forcing them roughly to their knees.

"Speak!" Si Tang ordered coldly. "If you dare to lie, you already know what will happen to you. You should remember very clearly what happened yesterday."

The assassins immediately recalled yesterday’s brutal torture and had no desire to experience it again. Therefore, they did not hesitate.

"It was Madam Mei."

"And Sir Si Wunjian!"

"They ordered us to kill the pharmacist!"

"They said the pharmacist would ruin the plan—!"

The hall exploded into chaos once more.

"Silence!" An elder roared, his voice echoing loudly.

"How can you believe the words of assassins so easily? They were probably tortured until they were willing to speak lies. What do you all think?" Si Wunjian stated smoothly, attempting to sway the crowd.

There was no physical evidence presented yet. Therefore, he had no intention of admitting anything.

"So, are you telling me that I am teaching them to lie in order to frame you?" Si Tang asked in return with an icy tone.

"Well, you hated Madam Mei and wanted her to disappear. So, you fabricated this story, accusing her and me of having an affair." Si Wunjian argued confidently.

The elders began to murmur among themselves. It was true that Si Tang hated Madam Mei. Therefore, there was a possibility that Si Wunjian’s words held some truth.

"Then, what if I have physical evidence that proves you are indeed having an affair with Madam Mei?" Si Tang smiled faintly as she dropped the bomb.

Si Wunjian’s expression slightly faltered for a brief moment. However, he quickly managed to regain control of himself.

"What evidence?" Si Wunjian asked.

"Your letters," Si Tang stated calmly.

Mei Lijuan, who had been staring at the floor earlier, suddenly lifted her head and looked at Si Tang in shock. Then, her gaze shifted toward Si Wunjian, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Si Wunjian knew that Si Tang was telling the truth. They had indeed exchanged letters. However, he had always instructed Mei Lijuan to burn the letters after reading them.

Never had he expected that Mei Lijuan would secretly keep those letters, preserving evidence that could expose their affair.

Si Tang signalled for someone to bring in a box. Inside the box were numerous letters stacked together. She pulled out one letter and opened it slowly.

"This letter is the latest one. Mei Lijuan wrote to you, but we intercepted it before it reached you." Si Tang said as she waved the letter slightly.

This letter was originally the one that Si Wuntian had intercepted. How did it end up with Si Tang? It was because Si Wuntian himself had given it to her.

Si Wuntian had gone to Si Tang’s courtyard yesterday. At first, Si Tang did not want to see her father. She thought Si Wuntian had discovered that she had injured Mei Lijuan and had come to reprimand her. However, Si Wuntian knelt outside her courtyard for an entire hour. That alone was extremely unusual.

In the end, Si Tang ordered a servant to allow him to enter the courtyard. It turned out that Si Wuntian was not angry about her injuring Mei Lijuan at all. Instead, he had come to inform Si Tang that he had also discovered the affair between Mei Lijuan and Si Wunjian.

After that, Si Wuntian ordered the servants to search Mei Lijuan’s courtyard thoroughly. His guess was correct. Mei Lijuan had indeed stored all the letters she received from Si Wunjian.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko*