The Favored Heiress
Chapter 716: The Whereabouts of the Jing Family People

Chapter 716: Chapter 716: The Whereabouts of the Jing Family People

On the outskirts, Ho Residence.

Located on the southern coastline, the mansion exuded the grandeur of European palace-style architecture.

With a grave expression, Ho Zijue stepped into the sunroom, standing behind He Bonan, his voice low, "Dad, Elder Hu and the others have already been taken away."

He Bonan, past his sixties, gently rocked in his rocking chair, basking leisurely in the evening’s glow, "I’ve always said that Shang Zonghai isn’t so easily fooled. It was only a matter of time before they got caught."

Ho Zijue looked down at He Bonan, furrowing his brows, "But this time Shang Zonghai didn’t make a move. It was the complaints from Li Qiao that led Qin Song from the headquarters to make the arrests."

He Bonan sat up from the rocking chair, picked up a teacup from the armrest, and took a sip with a steady voice, reflecting, "That’s precisely where Shang Zonghai excels. Think about it, what is it that has allowed the Shang’s to become the leading family they are today?"

After some thought, Ho Zijue answered uncertainly with a shake of his head, "Dad, what is it?"

He Bonan stood up, laughing aloud, and strolled to the opposite balcony leisurely. He picked up a watering can and began to water the flowers, responding enigmatically, "I don’t know either. To this day, nobody knows what the Shang’s truly rely on, so their weakness remains undiscovered."

Ho Zijue, unconcerned, followed He Bonan, inquiring, "Could it be the Ning Family?"

"The Ning Family?" He Bonan turned his head to the side, "Ning Yuanhang is just a leader chosen by public vote, they don’t hold a candle to Shang Zonghai in terms of family strength."

Ho Zijue gazed out at the sunset from the balcony, silent in thought, "Then, I shouldn’t have believed the evidence provided by Elder Hu at that time."

Putting the watering can down, He Bonan turned back to look at Ho Zijue, speaking with seasoned wisdom, "The Shang Family Elders’ Hall has been inactive for years, and Shang Zonghai has effectively made them useless. They can’t even figure out Shang Shaoyan’s capabilities, how could you expect them to shake the foundation of the Shang’s?"

"So, what should we do next?" Ho Zijue squinted subtly, his eyes betraying a slight change, "If Elder Hu said something he shouldn’t have, then..."

He Bonan brushed the wrinkles from his sleeve and looked down, "Some people are getting old, it’s about time they were silenced."

...

At the same time, Li Qiao sat in the living room of an urban apartment, looking at Li Yan and asked flatly, "How long has she been in there?"

Li Yan, legs crossed, scrolled on his phone screen, "About ten minutes. She’s probably constipated."

Li Qiao glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and pursed her lips, "I’ve arranged a flight back to South Sea for tomorrow."

Li Yan looked up in surprise, "So soon?"

Then he added, "Aren’t you going to take me around Parma?"

This was his first visit to the independent country of Parma, a rare opportunity.

Li Qiao firmly refused, "No time, maybe next time."

She and Shang Yu had already been thoroughly exposed under the spotlight in Parma.

The longer her brothers and Mo Jue stayed, the more likely they were to attract attention.

Li Yan laughed in frustration, "You have time to go to the hearing, but not to take me shopping, huh?"

Li Qiao didn’t respond, simply looking at him calmly.

Three seconds later, Li Yan raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, I’ll listen to you, we’ll go back."

Li Qiao rubbed her temples, remained silent for a moment, and then reminded him, "I’ve already arranged for Mo Jue’s school transfer procedures, once we’re back in South Sea, you’ll take her to the school."

Without hesitation, Li Yan retorted, "Mo Mo is too busy, how can she have time for school?"

"Busy?" Li Qiao raised her eyes, her gaze turning slightly cold, "You want her to continue helping you steal paintings?"

Li Yan’s gaze stalled, his expression slightly conflicted, "That’s not what I meant..."

Having Mo Jue attend school is a strange thought.

She knows more than I do, so is there really any point in her attending school?

Li Qiao rose to her feet as she spoke, "South Sea International Private School, remember to send her there."

Li Yan saw her getting ready to leave and stood up as well, "I heard the entrance exam for that private school is tough, are you sure she can pass?"

Li Qiao stood in the center of the living room and glanced at the tightly shut bathroom door, "She will be admitted directly, no need for a test."

"Well, that’s a relief." Li Yan, with one hand in his pocket, nodded understandingly, "Day student or boarding?"

Li Qiao turned back to face Li Yan, whose eyes were full of curiosity, and her lips curved slightly, "What’s the difference?"

"How can there be none?" Li Yan leaned against the wall casually, gesturing towards the bathroom, "If she’s a day student, won’t I have to arrange for someone to take her to and from school every day? If she boards, at least she’ll be my little follower, and the living conditions can’t be too shabby."

It sounded quite high-minded.

Li Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly, "A single room for boarding, does that put your mind at ease?"

Li Yan reluctantly sighed, "Alright then."

After Li Qiao left, Li Yan remained standing in the same spot, lost in thought for a few seconds, then lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.

It wasn’t a bad idea to have his little follower go to school; better than having her follow him all over the world. Maybe in the future, he could play the part of a doting father and attend a parent-teacher conference for her.

With this in mind, Li Yan stepped forward and knocked on the wooden door of the bathroom, "What’s taking you so long, Qiaoqiao has already left."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened and Mo Jue emerged, looking around, "Ah? Did the ancestor leave already?"

Li Yan was about to speak when Mo Jue made a move to dash out.

He quickly reached out to grab her collar, reprimanding her irritably, "What are you chasing after? You’ll see her tomorrow. Go change your clothes and accompany me out to dinner."

...

As the night deepened, Li Qiao and Shang Yu arrived at the lake behind the manor. A few lawn lights nearby cast a dim yellow glow while Luoyu and Wei Lang stood not far away, smoking and chatting leisurely.

At this moment, Li Qiao took a sip of beer and gazed lazily at the lake surface, "Have you had any dealings with Ho Zijue before?"

"No," Shang Yu replied, reclining in a lounge chair with his long legs stretched out in front of him, fingers interlaced behind his head in a relaxed and comfortable pose.

Li Qiao cast a sideways glance at him, the smile on her lips cold, "Then his siding with the Elders’ Hall this time is worth looking into."

The man’s eyes, deep as ink, gazed at her as he said in a deep magnetic voice, "He will show his weaknesses eventually."

Li Qiao raised her eyebrows noncommittally, "I just hope the Jing Family can give me the answer I want."

Shang Yu lifted his arm to rest it on her shoulder, looking ahead as he spoke softly, "Are you sure you don’t need me to accompany you?"

"No need," Li Qiao leaned in his direction, "You’ve been away from South Sea for too long, and the affairs at the Parma Branch are affecting the group’s stock prices. You go back and set things straight first; I will return soon."

The man turned his head to look at her graceful, calm features, his hand tightening, drawing her closer into his embrace, "Make it a quick trip."

The next day, Li Qiao and her party set off for Parma International Airport. On the way, she received a call from Shang Zonghai.

"I hear you plan to return to South Sea today?"

Shang Zonghai’s voice revealed no abnormality, always carrying the elder’s characteristic kindness and steadiness.

Li Qiao hummed a response, looking out at the passing street scene and spoke frankly, "I’ve found out the whereabouts of the Jing Family people, and I’m going to check it out."