The Favored Heiress
Chapter 608 - 607: Overexposure is Bound to Leave Hidden Troubles

Chapter 608: Chapter 607: Overexposure is Bound to Leave Hidden Troubles

Li Qiao reigned in his spirit as he stepped into the entryway, his footsteps light as he approached the entrance of the living room, where a murmur of conversation gradually reached him.

"Xiaoyan has no ill intentions. He became the deputy Secretary-General of the South Sea Secretariat through his own efforts. In terms of ability and character, at the very least it shows he’s stronger than you."

This voice was exceptionally gentle, like the soft language of Jiangnan, which, even in disdain, could not conceal the tenderness of its meticulous articulation.

Li Qiao stopped in his tracks, his lips curving into a sinister smile as a cold light interweaved in his eyes.

It was none other than Madam Xiao.

Since escaping from the border, Li Qiao had been investigating what exactly had gone wrong with the Yan Emperor all the way here.

He truly thought he was returning from his official duties and did not expect tonight’s surprise to be so significant.

The first time he heard Madam Xiao’s highly distinctive voice over the phone in Shang Yu’s study, it made a deep impression on him that lasted to this day.

Such a soft voice inflicting pain, like a blunt knife grinding against flesh—it wasn’t sharp, but it shattered the heart bit by bit.

For instance, the so-called Xiaoyan she was referring to at this moment was Xiao Yeyan, the stepson who had framed his elder brother, Li Jun.

Despite his despicable means and low character, she described him as if he were exceptionally distinguished.

Suddenly, Li Qiao understood something.

The obsession of Shang Yu might stem from her longstanding ’gentle persuasion’, a psychological and spiritual torment that crushed him.

It was hard to imagine that she once taught Shang Yu medicine personally, so the first time she verbally hurt him, it must have left an indelible mark in his heart.

Li Qiao stood emotionlessly on the spot, with cold frost in his eyes and raging anger burning within him.

How could she distort the truth with such a clear conscience about such a good man?

At that moment, the crisp sound of a teacup being placed on the coffee table caught Li Qiao’s attention.

Then came Shang Yu’s low, mocking voice, "Since Madam Xiao thinks he’s so capable, then it shouldn’t be difficult for him to regain his position as the deputy Secretary-General of the South Sea on his own."

"Of course," Madam Xiao sat upright on the sofa, her spine straight and her knees together in the impeccable posture of a noblewoman, "So I brought him back this time. From now on, you’ll each show your own prowess. Also, I have a piece of advice for you—stop trying to harm him."

Shang Yu crossed his legs, leaning sideways in his chair, and lifted an eyebrow at her words, his eyes deep as the sea, "You said it yourself, everyone should show their prowess, getting hurt is inevitable."

Madam Xiao’s hands were folded over her knees, she touched her fingernails and said with a soft smile, "That’s true. After all, you have experience in personally doing away with your own brother."

In a flash, the air in the living room seemed to come to a standstill.

Li Qiao sharply looked up, a flicker of shallow surprise passing through his eyes.

Doing away with his own brother...

Shang Yu?

The words spoken so casually by Madam Xiao concealed a deep-seated hatred.

The words ’doing away’ were particularly clear.

So, was this the cause of their falling out?

A heavy silence continued to spread, like a wall cutting off everything from the outside world.

Suppressing all his speculations, Li Qiao lifted his foot, ready to enter, when he heard Madam Xiao laugh again, "Why aren’t you speaking? Are you also recalling how tragically your brother died? His hands broken, his feet shattered, a bloody mess—it’s indeed unforgettable."

At that moment, Li Qiao felt chills spreading throughout his body.

Madam Xiao described her son’s death in a jovial tone.

As if it were none of her concern, yet it was all the more terrifying.

Madam Xiao was slowly dragging Shang Yu into hell with her gentle camouflage.

She tirelessly shackled him with the guilt of having killed his brother, tormenting him both physically and mentally, breaking him down.

Li Qiao closed her eyes momentarily, a protective desire unheard of before sprouting from the depths of her heart.

Her beautiful face frosty, her eyes wrapped in black carrying a chill, she stepped forward with measured steps. Her subtle voice suddenly echoed at the entrance of the living room, "It does sound indeed quite unforgettable."

Li Qiao’s appearance was utterly unexpected.

In the living room, aside from Shang Yu and Madam Xiao, a row of solemnly dressed black-clad bodyguards stood at ease behind Madam Xiao.

Under the dazzling crystal light, Shang Yu stood alone facing Madam Xiao.

The light was bright, devoid of warmth, shining upon him fully yet only serving to highlight his solitude.

Li Qiao tossed her briefcase onto the coffee table and casually walked over to take a seat in the center of the sofa.

She crossed her legs and turned her face toward Madam Xiao Ming Dailan. Their gazes met, both taken aback.

Li Qiao had not expected her to be so beautiful.

Madam Xiao had not anticipated that face... to be so familiar.

Ming Dailan, in her fifties, remained so beautiful it was a sight to behold.

Time and age had not dulled her beauty but had instead added a touch of elegant charm and dignified grace.

And Shang Yu bore a seven-parts resemblance to Ming Dailan.

She had once been astonished by Shang Yu’s good looks, and now she found their origin in Ming Dailan.

Meanwhile, Ming Dailan was also scrutinizing Li Qiao, a faint smile hanging at her lips, making her appear exceptionally gentle and elegant.

The moment Li Qiao appeared, Shang Yu’s demeanor abruptly changed. Although he did not look at her, his fingers resting on the armchair clenched into a fist.

Head half-lowered, his posture appeared languidly comfortable, yet betrayed an uncontrollable stiffness.

After all, he had not been able to prevent her from returning to the South Sea, and now, she had overheard those dark secrets of the past.

"No wonder Shang Zonghai wrote your name into the family tree despite the Elders’ Hall’s objections... so it is," Ming Dailan shifted her gaze away from Li Qiao, uttering a meaningful sigh.

Without changing her expression, Li Qiao curled her lips, leaning back on the sofa with her eyes slightly narrowed, "Madam Xiao likes to speak in riddles, doesn’t she?"

Ming Dailan’s smile remained unchanged, her voice still slow and soft, "My dear girl, if you can’t understand, why embarrass yourself by asking?"

Li Qiao secretly laughed, her eyebrows raised boldly and face expressive with a touch of arrogance, "Are you sure I can’t understand? You must also be acquainted with Jing Yilan, after all."

Ming Dailan regarded her calmly, sighing with slight regret after a few seconds, "Indeed, but alas... showing one’s edge will inevitably leave hidden dangers."

The statement had a double meaning.

When facing Ming Dailan, Li Qiao did not dare let her guard down for even an instant, maintaining a consistently composed and indifferent facial expression.

She would not underestimate any opponent, especially not Ming Dailan, who excelled at psychological manipulation.

To become the Matriarch of the Shang Family, and to remarry into the Ducal Residence, she must possess not only a beautiful exterior but also the blessing of wisdom.

Moreover, she was Shang Yu’s mother.

If Shang Yu despised her, he would not continue to address her with honorifics.

And Ming Dailan, unscrupulously suppressing and destroying, must be relying on Shang Yu’s guilt.

The brother that he "killed by hand" was probably the start of their relationship’s collapse.

A myriad of thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, which was, in reality, no more than the blink of an eye.