Qi Hongping's cloudy eyes flashed with fierceness. "She's a dying woman, just like me. I gave her money, paid off her debts. Her suicide was just a few days earlier."
Nan Xiao turned to leave, finding it impossible to communicate with someone so morally twisted.
"You talk to me about human lives," Qi Hongping roared hysterically behind him. "Do our lives, us lower-class people, even count as lives in the eyes of big shots like you? Your mother ordered me to seduce your elder brother, then caused Qiu Shuying to have her uterus removed. Qiu Shuying dared not oppose your mother, so she transferred all her hatred to me and Lan Yuxi. In the end, both of them remained wealthy wives, while I became the most miserable! Haha… Heaven truly has no eyes!"
Nan Xiao stopped in his tracks, shocked.
His sister-in-law's miscarriage wasn't because Xi Bao was naughty and bumped into her, leading to her severe bleeding and loss of her uterus? How could his mother be responsible?
The more Nan Xiao thought, the colder his spine felt. If what Qi Hongping said was true, then what did Xi Bao suffer all these years under his sister-in-law count for?
Seeing that he hadn't left, a glimmer of hope appeared in Qi Hongping's cloudy eyes.
"If you don't believe me, I can swear on my son's life! Also, if you help me save my son, I can tell you a shocking secret!"
Nan Xiao replied without looking back, "I'm not interested in your secret, but I'll save my elder brother's child without you asking! Tell me any clues you have or who you suspect."
Qi Hongping shook her head. "I have no clues, but this matter was either done by Qiu Shuying or Luan Qian. You can investigate them."
"Luan Qian?"
Qi Hongping chuckled self-deprecatingly. "You don't know either, do you? She's your elder brother's true love. I was just a pawn to attract Qiu Shuying's fire."
Nan Xiao shook his head helplessly. His elder brother was truly a philanderer, juggling so many women all day. Didn't he get tired?
Nan Xiao wanted to ask for more details about Luan Qian, but Qi Hongping only knew her name and nothing else.
She was so well protected; it seemed that woman truly was his elder brother's true love!
After Nan Xiao left, Qi Hongping slumped to the ground like a deflated balloon. She muttered to herself, "Nan Xiao, you didn't want to hear the secret. If one day this secret kills you, don't blame me!"
On the way back, Nan Xiao remained silent, his mind filled with Qi Hongping's words. His mother and sister-in-law had always been close. He couldn't believe his mother would harm his sister-in-law, but Qi Hongping even used her most cherished son to swear, indicating she wasn't lying.
If that were true, his mother was too terrifying.
She could harm even her closest sister-in-law; Xi Bao would be even more endangered!
The car drove to Huo's Hospital. Nan Xiao didn't get out. After a moment of thought, he told Nan Xiangdong to drive back to the company.
"Send more bodyguards to protect Lan Yuxi," he ordered as soon as he arrived at the company.
Nan Xiangdong hesitated for a moment, then seeing Nan Xiao glaring at him, he quickly replied, "Hongmen's people have already gone, and Lan Yuxi has quite a few people of her own. After the commotion yesterday, I'm afraid even our people won't be able to get close to protect her."
Nan Xiao said sternly, "Then stay far away! Tell them not to let any of the An family members pass!"
Nan Xiangdong didn't dare to speak further and retreated to the side to make a phone call.
A moment later, Nan Xiangbei received a call from Nan Xiao and knocked on the door before entering.
"Go and investigate if Qi Hongping's son's disappearance has anything to do with my sister-in-law or a woman named Luan Qian…" Nan Xiao hesitated for a moment, then added, "Investigate which doctor performed my sister-in-law's surgery when she miscarried."
Seeing his grim expression, Nan Xiangbei didn't dare to ask more questions. He responded and was about to leave when he thought of something and returned.
"Boss, Lan Yuxi's junior disciples have been returning to the capital one after another. Should we prepare in advance?"
Nan Xiao frowned and slowly looked up at him. "Prepare what?"
"…"
Indeed, prepare what?
Could it be that Lan Yuxi would dare to harm the old madam?
That was hard to say. That girl was spoiled by the boss to be unruly. She dared to smash the Xia family; who could guarantee she wouldn't harm the old madam?
Nan Xiao saw through his thoughts at a glance and waved his hand impatiently. "Get lost!"
He couldn't say for sure about other things, but he was certain that Xi Bao would never attack his mother. However, his mother might attack Xi Bao, and that was what troubled him the most.
Compared to his gloom, Lan Yuxi was quite happy.
Today, eleven junior disciples, excluding the second junior disciple who had a special situation and couldn't come, were all present.
Elder Hong, with his youthful appearance and white hair, sat in the main seat, looking at his disciples with a kind smile. After they paid their respects, he waved his hand and said with a smile, "Sit down, everyone."
The seat next to Elder Hong was always for his eldest disciple, Lan Yuxi. Despite her young age, she was the earliest to join the sect and the best in martial arts.
However, she had been away for four years, making everyone miss her dearly.
As soon as she sat down, the ten junior disciples swarmed around her.
"Senior Sister, where have you been all these years? We almost put out a bounty to find you."
"Senior Sister, you didn't really meet by chance, did you? How did you learn the Lan Ling Golden Needles?"
"Senior Sister, I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime. You're too cruel; you left without a word."
"Senior Sister, you're not leaving this time now that you're back to open the academy, are you? Then I'll move my company over; it'll be good to have support."
"Senior Sister, if you need money or people for your academy, just say the word, and I'll guarantee supply!"
"Get lost! Showing off! As if we're poor! Senior Sister, here's this card for you; spend as much as you want, no limit!"
"Senior Sister, me too, I've prepared some money for you."
"Senior Sister, you can write any amount you want on this check."
Lan Yuxi looked at them, half-laughing and half-crying. "Sister has money; Sister isn't here to beg for alms!"
Elder Hong also smiled. "Alright. Xi'er accepts your good intentions. But don't offer her cards and checks. She just spent two hundred million without batting an eye. Do you think she's short of money?"
Luo Shiyi snorted, "Senior Sister isn't short of money; she's short of brains. The Nan family's old woman treated her like that, and she still spent two hundred million to help Nan Xiao."
Lan Yuxi glared at him playfully. "Alright, everyone sit down. You asked me so many questions at once just now, so I'll satisfy your curiosity."
Hearing her about to start explaining, everyone sat back down.
Luo Shiyi trotted over and handed her a cup of water before sitting back down.
Lan Yuxi coughed lightly. "I was kicked out by the Nan family… Don't ask me why they kicked me out; I won't tell you even if you ask. As for the crime the old woman pinned on me, accusing me of stealing her heirloom Jade Ruyi, it's pure nonsense!"
Upon hearing her words, everyone clenched their fists, wishing they could have devoured the Nan family's old woman on the spot.