Chapter 169

Chapter 169: Xu Jingxuan's Intentions Exposed, Old Mrs. Jiang Nearly Dies of Anger Many of the things Xu Jingxuan had done before were directed at Ruan Chutang. That was why Jiang Shixu had specifically called Ruan Chutang over today. In the Jiang family's main hall. When Old Mrs. Jiang heard that her grandson had something important to announce, she guessed it was about Xu Jingxuan and rushed back from the sanatorium. Jiang Yi also set aside his work and hurried back. The whole family sat on the sofas in the hall, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Old Mrs. Jiang saw Ruan Chutang sitting on the sofa and shot her a look of displeasure. Pretending to be ignorant, she asked, "Shixu, what's happened?" Everyone's gaze fell on Jiang Shixu. His expression was utterly indifferent. Without haste, he took out his phone and made a call, coldly commanding, "Bring her in." After hanging up, Jiang Shixu said in a frosty tone, "You'll know soon enough, Grandmother." Old Mrs. Jiang's eyes darted back and forth, her expression anxious. Five minutes later, Lu Ze brought Xu Jingxuan through the door. Old Mrs. Jiang froze for a moment, then shuffled over unsteadily, wearing an expression of bitter disappointment. She cried out in anguish, "Jingxuan, you... you've been foolish!" Xu Jingxuan's face was pale, her lips chapped and dry, her eyes sunken with dark circles beneath them—haggard and withered like someone at death's door. Old Mrs. Jiang's heart softened slightly. She moved her lips and finally asked, "Jingxuan, what have you been through these past days? How did you end up looking like this?" "Grandmother..." Xu Jingxuan called out tearfully, pitiful and wronged. Old Mrs. Jiang's heart trembled at the sound. After all, this was a child she had raised by her side. Though she had made mistakes, she still couldn't bear to see her in such a state. Old Mrs. Jiang only knew that Xu Jingxuan had been working for Fu Yuanzhou, but she wasn't clear on the specifics. She didn't know that Xu Jingxuan had deliberately instructed Gu Zechuan to call the police, hoping Fu Yuanzhou would kill Ruan Chutang. She didn't know that on the day of the engagement ceremony, Chen Jingsu had kidnapped Ruan Jiaojiao under Xu Jingxuan's threat. She didn't know that the knife wound Jiang Shixu received at the engagement ceremony was actually connected to her precious granddaughter Xu Jingxuan. In her eyes, Xu Jingxuan had merely been used by Fu Yuanzhou and led astray—a mistake that could still be made right. But in truth, Chen Jingsu was already dead. Chen Jingsu's father, the bodyguard A-Gang, and A-Gang's mother had all been silenced by Fu Yuanzhou's men. Those lives were all connected to Xu Jingxuan in one way or another. Nothing could make up for it. Jiang Shixu spoke coldly: "Xu Jingxuan, I am formally announcing before the entire family today that you are being expelled from this household. From now on, you have no connection to the Jiang family." Xu Jingxuan's eyes widened, her lips trembling. Old Mrs. Jiang frowned, displeasure written across her face, and shouted sternly, "Shixu!" Jiang Shixu paid her no heed, his gaze fixed directly on Xu Jingxuan, sharp and icy. "And kneel down. Apologize to Tangtang." The man's deep eyes gleamed with piercing, intimidating coldness, his presence overwhelming. Xu Jingxuan's face went white. She looked pitifully toward Old Mrs. Jiang, crying in a way that tugged at the heartstrings, "Grandmother..." The old lady's heart ached for Xu Jingxuan. She looked at Jiang Shixu with faint reproach in her eyes. "Shixu, it's wrong of Jingxuan to work for Fu Yuanzhou—I can discipline her according to family rules. But expelling her from the family is going too far, don't you think?" Chutang curled the corner of her mouth at this, a glint of mockery flashing in her eyes, but she said nothing. Jiang Yi knew all the inside details. He grabbed Old Mrs. Jiang's arm and said in a low voice, "Mother, please don't say any more." Old Mrs. Jiang had a weak heart. The Jiang family had hidden from her the fact that Xu Jingxuan was involved in murder and silencing witnesses, precisely because they were afraid of agitating her further. Jiang Shixu was already growing impatient, cold severity written across his brow. "Xu Jingxuan, I told you to kneel and apologize to Tangtang. Didn't you hear me?" "How can the young miss of our Jiang family kneel to anyone?" Old Mrs. Jiang's chest heaved with anger, her breath coming out in rough puffs. "Shixu, I already said I would discipline her according to family rules. Why must you make things so difficult for Jingxuan? No matter what, she's still your sister!" "Sister?" Jiang Shixu let out a cold laugh. "She's no longer a member of the Jiang family." Old Mrs. Jiang's anger flared. She raised her voice and demanded, "Shixu, how can you be so cold and heartless? Didn't you used to dote on Jingxuan? Why are you so determined to drive her out of the family this time?" Jiang Shixu narrowed his eyes, radiating a chilling, intimidating aura. "Grandmother, Xu Jingxuan coveted her own brother, broke the law, and treated human life like grass. How can you still be soft-hearted toward someone like her?" Jiang Shixu's words struck like a thunderbolt. The old lady's face instantly turned white. Her eyes flew wide open, and she gasped, "What?!" Jiang Yi and Lin Yueying were shaken, terrified that the old lady might be provoked into another heart attack. Jiang Yi spoke up to stop Jiang Shixu from continuing. "Shixu, that's enough. Someone—help the old lady to rest." Lin Yueying had only heard that Xu Jingxuan had done bad things behind everyone's backs and was entangled with Jiang Yi's illegitimate son Fu Yuanzhou. Words like "coveted her own brother" and "treated human life like grass" were things she was hearing for the first time. She was so shocked she momentarily lost the ability to speak. Lin Yueying was utterly horrified. "What... what does this mean?" Xu Jingxuan harbored improper feelings for Shi Xu? Elder Mrs. Jiang was supported by a servant. "Elder Madam, let me help you rest." "Let go of me! I'm perfectly fine! Shi Xu, you explain—what do you mean by Jingxuan coveting her brother and treating human life like grass?" Lin Yueying also looked at Xu Jingxuan in disbelief, her tone stern: "What is the meaning of this?" Xu Jingxuan's face was deathly pale, her lips white as paper, her whole body trembling uncontrollably. "I... I..." Jiang Shixu's face was grim, his expression cold as he said icily: "Exactly what it sounds like." Chu Tang hadn't expected Jiang Shixu to expose Xu Jingxuan's intentions in front of the entire family. Elder Mrs. Jiang clearly couldn't handle this shock. She clutched her chest and looked at Xu Jingxuan with bitter disappointment. "You truly harbor improper feelings for your brother? You truly have blood on your hands? You... you... you..." Xu Jingxuan wanted to deny it, but she couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to say she didn't love Jiang Shixu, nor could she deny her involvement in silencing someone by murder. Seeing Xu Jingxuan stay silent, Lin Yueying was so angry she couldn't speak, merely glaring hatefully at Xu Jingxuan. Jiang Yi let out a heavy sigh. "Shi Xu, let's stop here for now. Your grandmother isn't well—don't upset her." "Apologize to Tangtang." Jiang Shixu was already growing impatient, his gaze turning even colder. "No! I won't! Why should I apologize to Ruan Chutang? I did nothing wrong!" Xu Jingxuan's voice was hoarse, tears streaming down her face, still refusing to apologize. Her face streaked with tears, she screamed hoarsely, abandoning all pretense of dignity. "Why? Why can't I love you? We grew up together and share no blood ties—why can't you just look back at me? Is loving you a crime?" "Slap—" A crisp, resounding slap suddenly rang out. Lin Yueying stood up and struck Xu Jingxuan across the face, scolding: "Silence!" Xu Jingxuan's head was knocked to the side, the handprint clearly visible on her cheek. "Don't spout nonsense here!" Madam Jiang glared at Xu Jingxuan, her face livid. "Shi Xu is your brother! He can only ever be your brother. Even if you were once a nominal daughter of the Jiang family, even if you left the Jiang family, there is absolutely no possibility between you and Shi Xu!" Xu Jingxuan let out a cold laugh. "Heh. Do you think I'm grateful you took me in?" She raised her head and stared intently at Madam Jiang. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have become his sister. Did you ask my opinion when you adopted me? I never wanted to be his sister!" "Madness, madness..." Elder Mrs. Jiang, shaken by the shock, clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. "Quick! Get the Elder Madam her nitroglycerin pills!" Jiang Yi shouted urgently. A servant hurried off to fetch the pills. Jiang Shixu shot Lu Ze a look. Lu Ze understood. He kicked the back of Xu Jingxuan's knee. Caught off guard, Xu Jingxuan collapsed to the ground. Lu Ze pressed down hard, planting his foot on Xu Jingxuan's back, forcing her to lie prostrate, her pale face pressed against the floor—a picture of humiliation and disgrace. Jiang Shixu sat on the sofa, radiating a cold, ruthless aura. "If you won't apologize, then you can kowtow to Chutang a few times." Lu Ze understood. He grabbed Xu Jingxuan's hair, yanking her head up from the ground, then slammed it back down viciously. "Thud, thud, thud—" Xu Jingxuan was forced to knock her head against the floor several times. Old Mrs. Jiang watched this absurd scene, nearly choking on her breath and dying on the spot. Fortunately, the servant quickly returned with the nitroglycerin pills. The old lady took the pills and caught her breath. "Forget it. This old woman still wants to live a few more years. You handle this mess yourselves." Old Mrs. Jiang patted her chest and left with the servant.