The Rising Phoenix-Chapter 946: Long Game

The moment Si Wuntian read its contents, his face flushed red with uncontrollable rage. So it was his younger brother, Si Wunjian, who had orchestrated everything from the shadows.

Mei Lijuan had written that their plan might be ruined because of a pharmacist. That single sentence alone revealed everything. They had intended to kill his wife all along.

So, his wife had been ill for years, not by fate, but because of Mei Lijuan and Si Wunjian.

Si Wuntian’s fists clenched tightly, his veins bulging with fury. He had cherished and trusted a woman who had been trying to kill his wife all this time. He truly had been a fool, blind and utterly foolish.

Si Wuntian desperately wanted to see his wife and daughter. However, he knew that he was too ashamed to show his face before them.

He heard that the treatment was over. His daughter and Bai Xifeng had gone to the dungeon to uncover the culprit.

Looking back at Bai Xifeng’s methods of extracting the truth, it seemed that he did not need to get involved at all. They would undoubtedly force the truth out of those people’s mouths.

....

Mei Lijuan’s courtyard was brightly lit despite the late hour. Servants moved nervously, lowering their heads as if they could already sense the storm that was about to descend.

Mei Lijuan herself was restless. She was anxiously waiting for a reply to the letter she had sent to Si Wunjian.

Si Wunjian should have received the letter by now. Yet, the reply had not arrived. Was it because she was too eager to receive it that time felt unbearably slow? Yes... that must be it. It had not been that long. It only felt that way.

Si Tang stepped into the courtyard. The atmosphere froze. Her gaze swept across the area, sharp and cold. She did not see Mei Lijuan.

"Young Madam..." A maid stammered, her voice trembling.

"Where is she?" Si Tang asked.

"I... I..." The maid faltered, unable to answer.

"I will not ask twice." Si Tang said.

"W-Well... Madam Mei is inside her study!" Another maid quickly answered, her voice filled with fear.

Having gotten her answer, Si Tang strode forward and kicked the study door open with a loud bang. The wooden doors slammed violently against the wall.

Mei Lijuan, who had been pacing anxiously inside, was startled by the sudden noise. Her face drained of colour the moment she saw Si Tang standing at the entrance like a harbinger of doom.

"Tang’er... Why are you here at this hour?" Mei Lijuan asked, forcing a smile onto her lips, though her voice trembled slightly.

"Tang’er... Don’t you dare call me with that? Who do you think you are, calling me like that? addressing me so familiarly? Remember... you are just a concubine. You should be calling me ’Young Madam,’ like the other servants." Si Tang reminded Mei Lijuan of her status.

"I understand." Mei Lijuan answered.

Deep inside, she loathed that status. That was precisely why she had wanted to change it.

"What are you doing?" Si Tang asked.

"Nothing." Mei Lijuan answered.

"Well, you seem... restless." Si Tang said.

Mei Lijuan let out a strained laugh. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I was merely worried about your mother." Mei Lijuan said, attempting to maintain her composure.

"Oh... You don’t need to worry anymore." Si Tang stated.

"What?" Mei Lijuan was caught off guard.

"She is awake and cured from her illness." Si Tang said.

’What? Awake? That is impossible.’ Mei Lijuan’s pupils shrank violently as she heard those words.

"That’s wonderful news. Finally..." Mei Lijuan replied with a stiff, unnatural smile.

"Save it." Si Tang cut Mei Lijuan off.

"What?" Mei Lijuan still tried to maintain her act.

"Your people have already confessed everything." Si Tang said.

"You can not believe the words of criminals." Mei Lijuan retorted quickly.

"Are you sure you want to continue this act?" Si Tang asked again, her tone laced with mockery.

Mei Lijuan’s mind raced. Calm down. ’It is only their confession. There is no physical evidence.’ She forced herself to remain composed, quickly smoothing her expression.

"I don’t know what you are talking about. This must be some misunderstanding..." Mei Lijuan insisted.

"Your son." Si Tang said, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Mei Lijuan froze instantly. Her face turned deathly pale. No one should know about that. The only people who knew that secret were she and Si Wunjian. So how did Si Tang find out? Her fingers clenched tightly around her sleeves, her nails digging into her palms.

"I thought you only wanted my father for yourself." Si Tang continued, letting out a soft, mocking chuckle. "But I never expected that you were aiming to eliminate our entire family for the sake of your precious man and son."

Mei Lijuan remained silent.

"You truly know how to play the long game." Si Tang commented coldly.

Mei Lijuan’s lips trembled. For a brief moment, fear flickered in her eyes. But then her expression changed. The fear vanished, replaced by something colder, something resolute. Since there was nothing left to hide, she decided to drop the façade completely.

"So what if it’s true?" Mei Lijuan lifted her chin arrogantly.

The sudden shift caught even the servants off guard. Mei Lijuan straightened her back, all traces of trembling gone as if they had never existed. She met Si Tang’s gaze without flinching.

Bai Xifeng leaned casually against a nearby pillar, watching the scene unfold with clear amusement in her eyes.

"You already know everything, don’t you?" Mei Lijuan said, her voice now steady and firm.

Si Tang’s eyes darkened dangerously. Mei Lijuan let out a soft, almost mocking laugh.

***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*