Chapter 148: Reversal Slap

Everyone looked at him in surprise, apparently not understanding what his earlier "No" meant.

Xiao Ji lowered his face, his expression unreadable.

Empress Gu was cut off, feeling displeased, but she patiently asked, "Xiao Ji, what do you mean?"

Xiao Ji slowly raised his head; his face bore no expression, but a flash of terror passed deep in his eyes.

Zhao Shi saw Xiao Ji's demeanor and, for some unknown reason, felt a sudden jolt in her heart, a foreboding premonition.

Ye Huanhuan furrowed her brows, truly unable to guess what Xiao Ji was about to do. She had clearly agreed with Xiao Ji earlier to cooperate with their performance at any time, never revealing the truth.

At this moment, what is he about to do now?

"Empress, since Xiao Ji has said everything he needed to, it's time to have him step down."

Ye Huanhuan thought for a moment and said thus.

Empress Gu nodded, about to issue an order to have someone take Xiao Ji away.

Suddenly, Xiao Ji uttered a startling sentence.

"Everything I said earlier was false!"

His voice was loud, tinged with a slight tremor, carrying a hint of madness!

What?

What is happening now?!

Everyone present wore expressions of shock.

Xiao Ji said that everything he had just said was false!

Ye Huanhuan's pupils contracted, her heart instantly sank, nerves frayed, yet she strained to control her facial expression.

Zhao Shi was also horrified inside, clenching her teeth tightly to avoid losing composure.

How could this be?

Hadn't Xiao Ji already promised them that he would never betray them?

Moreover, Xiao Ji has leverage in their hands; how could he dare?

"Hehe, Empress Gu, I think Xiao Ji was frightened into saying that; let him leave quickly, and stop his rambling!"

Wang Yan hurriedly stepped in, saying.

"Indeed, Empress, I think Xiao Ji was scared because he'd never seen such a scene before."

……

When Empress Gu heard this, her eyes flashed, and she quickly ordered someone to take Xiao Ji away.

"Why the hurry? Let Xiao Ji finish speaking."

Ye Qingran, who had been 'embarrassed and angry', stepped forward then, standing in the center of the Banquet Hall, her stunning beauty revealing a chilling smile.

Ye Qingran, this is…

"So, it's not too late to let Xiao Ji finish before sending him away? What, you all have done something guilty and are afraid to listen?" Xia Zhimeng stood up, backing Ye Qingran with a remark.

Ling Shaoyang and Gu Dongliu, seated at the same table, also rose one after another, clearly sharing Ye Qingran's antagonism.

Besides these few, the others, who held no grudge against Ye Qingran and were only after the truth, also demanded that Xiao Ji be allowed to finish speaking.

Empress Gu hesitated.

"Sister-in-law, just let us hear him finish!"

A faint voice came from the table beside the Empress; everyone turned, and it was the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince's tone was light, his demeanor equally mild, yet it cut through Empress Gu's thoughts.

Now that the Ninth Prince had spoken, even if she were autocratic, she could no longer act on her own.

She said in a rather harsh tone, "Since Xiao Ji wants to speak, then speak!"

Ye Qingran gave a slight nod and said to Xiao Ji, "Xiao Ji, continue."

Xiao Ji's lips twitched as if a switch had been flipped, and he continued: "Ye Qingran never liked me, never arranged to meet me to declare her feelings, never let me marry her, never let me elope with her to the ends of the earth!"

His words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

These words were the complete opposite of what he had just said.

Xia Zhimeng pressed, "Then why, both in front of the Xiao Family shop and just now, did you keep slandering Ye Qingran?"

Xiao Ji's body stiffened; after a long silence, he slowly raised his hand and pointed at the crowd.

"It was her! She threatened me, forcing me to act with her and slander Ye Qingran! I was compelled! If I didn't comply, she would expose my leverage to everyone!"

Following Xiao Ji's pointing finger, they saw that he was pointing at Zhao Shi!

Zhao Shi looked as if struck by lightning, her face showing terror, apparently not expecting Xiao Ji to suddenly defect.

"Xiao Ji, what are you doing? Could someone be threatening you?"

Zhao Yan, thinking quickly, shouted.

"No one threatened me!"

Xiao Ji shook his head and said.

Zhao Shi, realizing, pounded her chest and stamped her foot, "Xiao Ji, you cannot speak against your conscience! When did I ever threaten you? My heart is as clear as a bright moon, how could I possibly commit such a heinous act? Oh heavens, I am so wronged!"

Ye Huanhuan then softly said, "Xiao Ji, although I hope your later words are true, I hope you are speaking the truth! Otherwise, with Empress Gu, the Ninth Prince and others present, even a single lie would be a grave crime… in severe cases, it would implicate your family!"

These words sounded righteous on the surface, but secretly carried a threat.

Xiao Ji, upon hearing this, stiffened, a trace of struggle flashing in his eyes.

"Bold Xiao Ji, daring to speak recklessly before the Empress, what audacity! Your statements are completely contradictory; which is the true one?"

The Crown Prince slammed the table and shouted angrily, his aura formidable.

Xiao Ji trembled, desperate and terrified, saying, "I was indeed threatened before, and what I say now is my sincere truth!"

Xiao Ji's contradictory statements presented two extremes, leaving everyone unsure which sentence was the true one.

Xiao Ji, swear an oath.

Ye Qingran's clear, resonant voice rang out slowly, like a siren's song, carrying a hint of bewitching magic.

Swear an oath?!

Ye Huanhuan and the others all changed expression.

Xiao Ji's eyes flashed, he slowly raised his hand, pointing to the sky, and declared, "I, Xiao Ji, swear that what I say from now on is the truth; if I hide anything, may I be struck by lightning and my family meet a horrible death!"

Such a vicious poisoned oath made hearts tremble.

Since they have sworn such a vicious oath, everything is self-evident.

Zhao Shi, Xiao Ji has already sworn—what else do you have to say? I'm saying my sister Ran wouldn't like Xiao Ji; it's you scheming behind the scenes! That whole "first stepmother" persona is just your own act!

Xia Zhimeng pointed at Zhao Shi, her voice extremely sharp.

Zhao Shi's whole body went rigid.

Everyone's look at her changed.

If Xiao Ji hadn't sworn this poisoned oath, they would still have doubts, not knowing whom to believe; but now that Xiao Ji has sworn the poisoned oath, the truth is crystal clear!

It turns out everything was Zhao Shi's own scheme!

By spreading rumors to create the persona of a "first stepmother," she then staged everything herself, simultaneously framing Ye Qingran and earning herself a good reputation.

Truly a case of killing two birds with one stone!

I said it all along—Ye the Elder isn't like this; it turns out someone has been plotting behind the scenes!