Chapter 242 Unraveling the Mystery (Part 1)

"Guard the door? Heh." He Qiaoling raised an eyebrow, a large sneer appearing on her lips.

Upon hearing this, Fang Yi felt a profound sense of humiliation, as if she had been stripped bare of all her clothes.

Her gaze darkened, and she raised her hand, pointing at He Qiaoling. "It was her who did it. She said she was going to burn down the main house. She also said she was going to burn the head of the family and my Xinglan to death."

He Qiaoling froze, her face turned extremely pale, and her chest tightened violently. "Nonsense!"

Fang Yi provoked her, "Do you dare to come with me to see the head of the family?"

He Qiaoling blurted out, "What's there to be afraid of?"

Fang Yi's eyes turned red. "Let's go see the patriarch."

He Qiaoling replied, "Fine, I'll go."

The housekeeper pretended to stop them for a couple of moments, then let them in.

-

Sang Yuwan turned off the monitor and said to Bo Xinglan beside her, "It's getting late, you should get some rest."

Bo Xinglan's face was a little pale. She lowered her head slightly and said in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, I want to apologize to you on behalf of my mother."

Sang Yuwan said, "Xinglan, she is her, and you are you."

Bo Xinglan pursed her lips and remained silent.

Sang Yuwan pushed open the door and went out.

She arrived at the first-floor reception room, glanced coldly at He Qiaoling and Fang Yi, her expression hardening, and said in a cold voice, "Second Aunt, Third Aunt, are you country shrewish women? Tearing and fighting in front of the servants, what kind of behavior is this?"

He Qiaoling spoke first, "She started it."

Fang Yi, panting, said, "It was you who said you wanted to burn the patriarch and my Xinglan to death that made me act."

Seeing that she was still making up stories, He Qiaoling was so angry that her eyebrows almost caught fire and her chest heaved. "Master, don't listen to her nonsense. I never said that."

Fang Yi insisted, "You clearly said that. What? You have the guts to say it, but not the guts to admit it."

“You…” He Qiaoling’s heart pounded like a drum, each impact striking her chest heavily. She leaned forward slightly, shifting her weight forward, like a beast poised to unleash a fatal blow.

Upon seeing this, Fang Yi quickly retreated to the side of the housekeeper.

He Qiaoling's chest heaved violently. "Master, I never said that. You can ask the servants if you don't believe me."

Fang Yi clenched her fists, a cold smile creeping onto her lips. "You not only spoke, but you also set the fire."

Seeing that Fang Yi's words were getting more and more outrageous, He Qiaoling stomped her feet in anger, "Fang Yi, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart."

Fang Yi's eyes widened in disbelief. "You dare!"

He Qiaoling was furious and made to step forward.

Sang Yuwan coldly rebuked, "Enough!"

"What exactly happened?"

The housekeeper replied, "Under that century-old tree, the withered leaves suddenly caught fire. The only people present were the two of them."

He Qiaoling hurriedly defended herself, "This has nothing to do with me. I don't even have a lighter on me."

Fang Yi gritted her teeth, "If you don't have it, then do you think I do?"

Sang Yuwan sneered, "None of you did anything, so do you think withered leaves will spontaneously combust?"

Fang Yi straightened her lips and fell silent.

He Qiaoling's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widened, as if she had just thought of something, "Could it be Young Master Shen..."

A cold glint flashed in Fang Yi's eyes, disappearing in an instant.

Sang Yuwan's pupils contracted slightly, her expression unreadable. "Young Master Shen?"

The butler frowned. "How could Young Master Shen possibly be here? Second Madam, please don't make up stories just to shirk responsibility."

Fang Yi lowered her head, a sly smile appearing in her eyes.

He Qiaoling spoke up, "I'm not making this up. Young Master Shen really was here just now. He even spoke to Fang Yi."

Fang Yi lowered her head even further, her body trembling slightly.

Sang Yuwan's gaze darkened, her face calm and profound, her eyes sharp as an eagle's, as if she could see into the deepest secrets and weaknesses of people's hearts. She looked at them, her eyebrows slightly raised, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

He Qiaoling's eyes were bloodshot, and her voice rose and fell, "Master, she doesn't dare to speak anymore."

Sang Yuwan was silent for a few seconds, her eyes unfathomable. A faint, cold smile appeared on her lips. "Third Aunt, is what Second Aunt said true?"

She sat on the sofa, like an unshakable statue, exuding an aura that could not be ignored.

Fang Yi slowly raised her eyes, a chill running down her spine. Then, her face flushed crimson, and she said, word by word, "She's right. Young Master Shen did come by just now. And I did speak to him."

"What did you say to him?" Sang Yuwan's voice was not loud, but it was unusually clear and strong.

As if seeking credit, He Qiaoling interjected, "Young Master Shen said he wants to rescue Xinglan."

Sang Yuwan sneered inwardly, her face remaining expressionless. "Hmm?"

Fang Yi's breath hitched, and her lips pressed into a straight line.

Sang Yuwan said coldly, "Third Aunt, do you think I've put Xinglan under house arrest?"

Fang Yi stared at He Qiaoling, "Patriarch, you should ask her that."

"Oh?" Sang Yuwan frowned slightly, a hint of disbelief flashing in her eyes. Her cold, sharp gaze fell on He Qiaoling's face. "Second Aunt, explain yourself."

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and even the passage of time slowed down.

He Qiaoling froze.

Fang Yi's sarcasm deepened. "Go ahead and say it?"

Sang Yuwan's brows furrowed slightly, and the surprise in her eyes slowly receded like a tide, leaving behind a chill that had not completely dissipated.

"Second Aunt, speak."

He Qiaoling's mind was buzzing with a million bees, a jumble of thoughts and worries intertwined in a chaotic mess. He tried to clear his head, but found that the harder he tried, the worse the situation became, as if he were trapped in an endless cycle.

"I……"

Fang Yi continued her taunts, "What, you dare to do it but not to say it? Are all the people from the second wife's family this cowardly these days?"

“You…” He Qiaoling’s cheeks flushed red, her brows furrowed as if they could wring water from them, her eyes burning with rage, her pupils contracted, her gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at the source of her displeasure. Her lips were pressed tightly together, her teeth unconsciously clenching, making a soft but clear sound.

Seeing that she remained silent, Sang Yuwan frowned and said in a low voice, "Third Aunt, you speak."

Fang Yi raised her voice, which became increasingly shrill, "Patriarch, you let Xinglan move into the main house, and Young Master Shen came right after. It's obvious that someone tipped him off."

She paused, then added, "She kept trying to get me to admit that Xinglan was indeed being held under house arrest by you."

Gradually, an indescribable smile appeared on Fang Yi's face—a complex expression mixing smugness, cunning, and a hint of unease. Her eyes gleamed with an unprecedented light, but upon closer inspection, a touch of sinister cunning and calculation seemed to be mixed within that light.

Buzz—

Sang Yuwan's phone vibrated urgently.

She picked it up and saw that it was Minglang, whom she had lost contact with for a long time.