GBP Chapter 2091 This is a real dilemma!
Chapter 2091 This is a real dilemma!
Comprehensive review and removal!
These six words, spoken by Ji Qingyue, sounded light and airy, yet they seemed to carry the weight of a thousand thunderbolts!
Everyone present was stunned!
Even Du Xingyue and Du Bancheng gasped in shock!
What does the comprehensive investigation and expulsion of the Ji family mean?
This means that the Ji family will use its unimaginable resources and connections to conduct a thorough review of all of the Shangguan family's businesses, relationships, and past. Any flaw could be magnified, and then... the family will be completely removed from the top five families and even the entire elite circle of Yanjing.
That would truly be a catastrophe!
The Shangguan family might be able to withstand the pressure from the Du Xingyue noble family, but they are utterly vulnerable to the threat of being purged from a position like the Ji family.
This is not a contest, it is a one-sided, crushing warning and judgment!
Shangguan Wuji's face turned deathly pale instantly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
He could sense the resolute will in Ji Qingyue's words, which was by no means an empty threat!
He had no doubt that as long as she seized upon even the slightest flaw in the content of his letter, the Ji family would absolutely fulfill their promise!
At that time, let alone accomplishing any plan, the entire Shangguan family might be torn apart in an instant!
He held the letter, feeling its burning heat, as if he were holding a red-hot branding iron.
With everyone watching, I'm really in a bind!
This letter was originally a tool he used to force the emperor to abdicate. Relying on Li Xiangnan's filial piety, which was hard to fathom, he had Li Xiangnan firmly under his control. Only he himself knew the truth and falsehood in the letter. How could it withstand the scrutiny of an entity like the Ji family?
Continuing to persist is too risky!
To admit defeat on the spot would be utterly humiliating, especially with so many of Li family relatives and friends present, as well as members of the Ten Families of Yanjing!
Just as the veins on his forehead were throbbing, and he was struggling violently with his heart, almost suffocating.
Ji Qingyue seemed to see through his predicament and added lightly, like a final death knell: "It seems that even the head of the Shangguan family is not so confident in the things his father left behind. If that's the case, what's the use of keeping these things that arouse suspicion and only cause trouble?"
It must be said that the Ji family is truly unparalleled in their ability to manipulate people's hearts!
These words were tantamount to offering a way out, but they also forced Shangguan Wuji to destroy his own 'weapon' with his own hands!
Shangguan Wuji was startled and suddenly looked up at Ji Qingyue.
There was no emotion in the other person's eyes, which were as cold and clear as an ancient well; there was only an unfathomable calm.
He knew he had no choice!
Under the utterly shocked gazes of the entire courtyard, Shangguan Wuji's facial muscles twitched violently a few times. Finally, he gritted his teeth, a fierce and resolute glint flashing in his eyes, as if he had made an extremely painful decision.
He stopped looking at anyone, his right hand trembling as he pulled an old-fashioned kerosene lighter from his pocket.
"Crack!"
Flames shot up.
Amidst countless incredulous gazes, Shangguan Wuji slowly brought the yellowed letter, which he had imbued with countless important meanings, to the flame.
"what……"
Among the ten families in Yanjing, many pairs of astonished eyes stared at this scene, a chill running down their spines.
The orange-red flames instantly licked at one corner of the envelope, then spread rapidly, the paper curling and dancing, charred black, before turning to ashes...
Shangguan Wuji stared intently at the burning letter, his face ashen and his eyes vacant, as if what was being burned was not just a letter, but the scheming and face of most of his life.
"hiss--"
The entire audience erupted in another uncontrollable gasp!
Burn it!
Shangguan Wuji actually burned that letter!
Under the pressure of Ji Qingyue's few words, he personally destroyed his greatest asset in his attempt to force the emperor to abdicate!
This is tantamount to admitting that the letter... simply cannot withstand scrutiny!
It's very likely fake!
All his previous claims of "reason and sentiment," "last wishes," "friendship with old friends," and "needing the Mu family's daughter to personally open it" are a complete joke!
Du Xingyue's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he felt extremely happy. At the same time, he felt a deep awe for Ji Qingyue and the power of the Ji family!
This is the intimidating power of an extraordinary family!
Horror!
Look at Shangguan Wuji, the head of the Shangguan family, the most powerful of the five families. He's like a mouse in front of a cat when he's with Ji Qingyue!
Song Cijiu, Song Zimo, Song Yi, Wang Defa, and other relatives and friends of the Li family were so excited that they almost shouted out loud. They felt that the anger in their chest was completely expelled as the letter burned!
The representatives of the ten families in the corner were already pale and trembling, not daring to even lift their heads!
They were incredibly grateful that they hadn't jumped too high!
The flames quickly devoured the last corner of the letter, turning it into ashes that drifted to the ground.
Shangguan Wuji seemed to age several years in an instant. He put away his lighter, straightened his body, but dared not look Ji Qingyue in the eye again.
Ji Qingyue seemed satisfied at this point, gently brushing away non-existent dust from her sleeves, and said calmly, "It seems that Patriarch Shangguan is a reasonable person after all!"
She immediately changed the subject, her tone still calm but carrying a hint of dismissal: "Well then, Patriarch Shangguan, you've been bothering us for so long, the farce among the ten families has come to an end, and you've already delivered your congratulatory gift... Do you have anything else to say?"
These words were like an invisible barrier, completely sealing off Shangguan Wuji's escape route and any lingering hope.
To him, it was nothing short of an ultimatum.
This is not a simple matter of kicking him out, but rather a demand that, after his crushing defeat, he publicly and thoroughly clear up all the agendas, including those he might have originally intended to gloss over or leave open.
Shangguan Wuji's Adam's apple bobbed violently, as if he were swallowing a razor blade.
He knew that in front of Ji Qingyue's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, any concealment or ambiguity would be futile and might even invite a more severe blow.
He took a deep breath, the breath carrying the burning pain of humiliation and defeat in his chest, and stiffly, almost inch by inch, bowed towards Li Xiangnan and Du Xingyue, cupping his hands in greeting:
"Today... I have been abrupt and disturbed the wedding banquet. I am deeply ashamed! The congratulatory gifts have been presented, and the ten families have already been punished... I will now take my leave!"
His voice was dry and hoarse, each word sounding as if it were being squeezed out from rusted gears.
"Speak," he said, straightening up and turning to leave.
The figure remained upright, yet it revealed an undisguised panic and weakness, like a stone sculpture whose core had been removed, merely existing in form.
However, he had only taken one step.
"Wait a minute!"
Ji Qingyue's voice rang out again, not loud, but like a cold silk thread, instantly wrapping around Shangguan Wuji's ankle.
Shangguan Wuji froze, standing still without turning around, but everyone could see the instantaneous tension in his back muscles.
Ji Qingyue took a light step forward, her gaze falling on Shangguan Wuji's stiff back. Her tone remained calm, yet it carried a penetrating scrutiny.
"The head of the Shangguan family has left already? Just now, when I was talking with Old Master Li in the front yard, I vaguely heard a commotion in the backyard. It seemed... I even heard the head of the Shangguan family speaking loudly, mentioning some words of apology. Why is he avoiding this now that he's here and facing the person in question?"
"Could it be that those words of apology were just meant for the wind in the courtyard to hear? Or perhaps..."
She paused slightly, her cool gaze sweeping over the complaining guests before finally settling on Shangguan Wuji's back. Her tone carried a barely perceptible, yet chillingly inquisitive, question:
"Does Patriarch Shangguan think that with Elder Du presiding over justice and the Li family descendants handling things calmly, you can simply drop the excuse that your subordinates were ignorant? Or do you think that since my Ji family is here, some things that need to be clarified can be glossed over?"
These words shocked the entire courtyard!
Another collective gasp rang out.
Here she comes! Ji Qingyue is determined to get to the bottom of this while she's here!