Chapter 120 – Slapping the vicious woman in the face

Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen

“Last night, I captured a maid from the Tang residence. She confessed everything that Mrs. Luo had done, very straightforwardly.”

Strictly speaking, there was no need for torture. The maid immediately knelt and begged for mercy upon seeing Xie Qingzhi’s face, revealing all the dirty deeds done by Lady Luo Xuanling.

Although he had anticipated this outcome, Tang Qing still couldn’t comprehend it.

How could someone be so malicious?

Biting his lip, his voice slightly trembling with anger, he couldn’t contain himself, “Luo Xuanling, I acknowledge that our Tang family has treated her well. Even though she was my father’s mistress, while we never treated her as family, we never intentionally made things difficult or troubled her.”

“And yet, she poisoned my brother!”

Seeing Tang Qing so distressed because of this woman, Xie Qingzhi was ready to tear her apart on the spot.

He reached out to half-embrace Tang Qing, his voice cold, “Tangtang, we’re going to the Tang residence now.”

After a day had passed, Tang Qing had calmed down a bit and nodded with his lips still bitten.

Since Tang Bo was still recuperating, Tang Qing didn’t want to disturb him and decided to handle this matter for his brother.

Xie Qingzhi directly led the royal guards and rushed to the Tang residence with Tang Qing.

It had been a long time since Tang Qing had visited the Tang residence after taking Tang Bo away last time. Today, the Tang family was hosting a banquet, and many influential figures whom Tang Moyang wanted to please were in attendance.

Tang Moyang was surprised to see his son, who had married into the royal family, bringing the Duke and his entourage here.

He had contacted Tang Qing via communicator before, requesting his presence with the Duke at the banquet. However, he was promptly refused without hesitation.

He thought to himself that although his son had married into the royal family and reportedly gained the Duke’s favor, he still had some self-awareness. He knew that the Tang residence was his reliance, and in critical moments, he knew to come back.

After all, no matter how good Xie Qingzhi was to him, it was only temporary favor.

Only the Tang residence was his true home, the maternal family that had truly shared his joys and sorrows.

“Qingqing, you’ve brought the Duke back.” Tang Moyang rarely showed a loving smile.

However, Tang Qing paid no heed to his goodwill, giving him a cold glance and directly asking, “Where is that woman, Luo Xuanling?”

Tang Moyang’s face darkened, adopting the demeanor of a patriarch, “Qingqing, Lady Luo Xuanling is your elder. How can you address her so directly? You’ve only joined the royal family for a few days, becoming more and more impolite. It’s disrespectful in front of the Duke.”

Tang Qing sneered, “I’m not in the mood for pleasantries, and she is not worthy of being called an elder. Call her out now.”

Tang Moyang was taken aback by Tang Qing’s lack of respect, his face showing signs of embarrassment.

However, hindered by Xie Qingzhi’s presence, he didn’t dare scold Tang Qing as he had in the past.

Looking down at his father-in-law, Xie Qingzhi sneered and mercilessly said, “Summon Luo Xuanling. If she doesn’t appear in the next second, I’ll consider you an accomplice to poisoning a General of the Empire.”

Tang Moyang was shaken by his words. “Poisoning a General of the Empire?”

Tang Qing, feeling impatient, pushed Tang Moyang aside and walked towards the banquet hall.

There, Lady Luo Xuanling was dressed in a revealing off-shoulder dress, mingling among a group of noblewomen, chatting and laughing.

Seeing her smiling and conversing with others, looking radiant and beautiful, Tang Qing found it extremely ironic.

The prosperity of the Tang family today was all thanks to the sacrifices made by his brother.

Yet, she, as Tang Moyang’s mistress, enjoyed the honor of the Tang family while secretly poisoning Tang Bo.

Truly treacherous.

Lady Luo Xuanling also noticed Tang Qing’s gaze.

Tang Qing stared at her expressionlessly, sending shivers down her spine.

Xie Qingzhi coldly ordered, “Restrain her.”

Immediately, a few tall guards with stern faces rushed to Lady Luo Xuanling’s side and seized her.

“Tang Qing, have you gone mad!” Tang Moyang shouted angrily.

Tang Xiaobai ran over, looking innocent and delicate, hugging Lady Luo Xuanling and saying, “Mom, how could they mistreat you like this?”

“Elder Brother, I know you’re still mad at us. But you’ve already banished Shanshan from the Empire, aren’t you overreacting?”

With tears in his eyes, Tang Xiaobai pitifully said, “Poor Shanshan is even pregnant…”

Tang Qing responded, “Shanshan brought her exile upon herself. Choosing to be unwed and pregnant was her own decision; no one forced her.”

Tang Qing couldn’t be bothered to look at the mother and son pair. Leading the group, he walked straight to Tang Moyang and Lady Luo Xuanling’s room.

“Tang Qing, what are you doing?” Tang Moyang angrily questioned, “This is my room.”

With a touch of sarcasm, Xie Qingzhi replied indifferently, “Once you see it, you’ll understand.”

“Tang Moyang, have you ever figured out who your bed companion really is?”

Following the maid’s confession, Xie Qingzhi instructed the guards, “Take out the jewelry box.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Moyang still looked puzzled, but Lady Luo Xuanling’s face turned pale instantly.

She was well aware of her actions.

She believed she had been very discreet, only adding a small amount of Illusory Fragrance to Tang Bo’s room every few days. The dosage was minimal, undetectable in the blood, and imperceptible to normal people.

She also didn’t dare to keep too much Illusory Fragrance on her person, only buying a small amount from the smuggler each time.

How could she be discovered?

She clung to a sliver of hope, perhaps Tang Qing was just talking nonsense? Maybe he wouldn’t find where she had hidden her things?

Tang Xiaobai rushed into the room, blocking the guards and said, “Elder Brother, if you have any grievances towards us, take them out on me. Don’t insult my mother like this.”

With tears in his eyes, he said, “I know you resent our family, but Mom truly treated you like her own son. From childhood to now, no matter what good things we had, she always insisted we share them with you first…”

“Elder Brother, you can say anything to me, but Mom really hasn’t wronged you. Even if you don’t appreciate her kindness, you shouldn’t humiliate her like this.”

At this moment, Lady Luo Xuanling’s face was also as white as a sheet. Combined with Tang Xiaobai’s accusations, a picture was painted of an innocent mother being mistreated by her stepson.

The onlookers, who had a good relationship with Lady Luo Xuanling, couldn’t help but look at Tang Qing with surprise.

Tang Qing’s mother was Tang Moyang’s legitimate wife, who had passed away many years ago. Due to Tang Bo’s strong opposition, Lady Luo Xuanling had never been able to rise to the position of the legitimate wife.

During Tang Bo’s coma, Lady Luo Xuanling was finally able to enjoy the treatment of a legitimate wife at the Tang residence, mingling with the nobility in high society.

This was also the root of Lady Luo Xuanling’s deep hatred towards Tang Bo.

Because of Tang Bo, she had never been able to formally marry into the Tang family and had to remain as a hidden mistress.

After Tang Bo fell into a coma, Tang Moyang had promised her that as long as Tang Xiaobai married Shen Yanxia, she could officially become Lady Tang.

But now that Tang Bo had awakened, her plans were thwarted.

Her sorrow and distress were much more genuine compared to Tang Xiaobai’s exaggerated theatrics.

Tang Qing glanced coldly at Tang Xiaobai, ignoring the slightly disdainful glances from the onlookers, and spoke firmly:

“Lady Luo Xuanling has been poisoning my brother, General Tang Bo, for a long time, causing him to remain comatose for years. The evidence is in her jewelry box.”

Tang Xiaobai immediately protested, “That’s impossible. Mom has always cared for Eldest Brother Tang Bo, visiting him every few days. She couldn’t have done such a thing. You’re talking nonsense.”

Tang Qing laughed in exasperation, “Your dear mother was probably afraid the dosage wasn’t enough, so she increased it every few days.”

Whispers filled the room. Attending a banquet turned into witnessing a family drama unfold.

Lady Luo Xuanling watched helplessly as the Duke’s guards roughly searched through her jewelry box, not caring about the expensive decorations she had painstakingly collected and displayed.

She simply stared fixedly at one small blue box.

After rummaging through it, the guards retrieved the blue box and handed it to Tang Qing. “Madam, this is the blue box you were looking for, but we didn’t find any poison inside.”

Taking the box, Tang Qing opened it, emptied the contents onto the floor, and carefully inspected the compartments.

There was indeed nothing hidden inside.

Lady Luo Xuanling breathed a sigh of relief.

The design of this box was quite ingenious, with a hidden switch in a discreet corner. It required a certain finesse to open the hidden compartment.

However, the next moment, Tang Qing’s actions caused her heart to leap into her throat.

Tang Qing held the box under his nose, closed his eyes slightly, sniffed carefully, and then declared firmly, “It’s definitely here.”

Xie Qingzhi took the box, crushed it violently with his large hand, breaking it into pieces to reveal a hidden compartment inside.

Inside the compartment was a small bag of very fine powder.

Xie Qingzhi sneered, his silver mask adding a touch of menace, “You thought grinding it into powder would make it go unnoticed?”

Lady Luo Xuanling’s heart sank, her hands and feet turning cold, a fear she had never felt before washing over her, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

“I-I-I can explain… Qingqing, listen to me. I’ve always treated you and little Bo as my own sons…”

Lady Luo Xuanling stammered.

But no matter how eloquent she was, no matter how skilled at twisting the truth, in the face of evidence, there was no room left for her to deceive.

“I’m sorry… I really didn’t mean to… Qingqing, listen to me…”

Tang Qing held the small bag of powder, his eyes bloodshot, staring fiercely at the woman who had poisoned his brother.

He quickly strode up to Lady Luo Xuanling, grabbed her by the hair, lifted her from the ground, and with all his might, mercilessly slapped her across the face.

“You poisonous woman! Reflect on your sins in prison!”

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