Chapter 571: Chapter 571: Remember to Avoid Suspicion After Getting Married

Qiao Xi’s fair face held a detached expression as she pursed her lips and spoke.

“Miss Lu is renowned in the Imperial Capital as a female Hua Tuo, and she is also Young Master Zhong’s fiancee. It is most appropriate for her to provide treatment, but since her foundation is weak, I presume Miss Lu must have a prescription for recuperation.”

She didn’t know whether this mysterious old master of the Zhong Family was setting a trap for her.

But it’s better to mind one’s own business than to meddle.

Lu Yingxue smiled: “I, too, am very eager to witness Miss Qiao’s technique in acupuncture. The trial acupuncture conference left much to be desired. I have taken care of Ayi multiple times, and I would like to see if Miss Qiao has any other methods. It’s beneficial for us to exchange and learn from each other.”

Qiao Xi’s tone was somewhat indifferent: “No wonder the Lu Family’s Thirteen Ghost Points bear the shadow of the Sparrow Pecking Technique and the Plum Blossom Nine Needles – it all comes from such exchanges and learning.”

Lu Yingxue’s expression became restrained, and she bit her lip without speaking further.

How sharp and articulate this girl from Haicheng is.

Old Master Zhong stroked his beard, his facial expression unchanged: “Zhong Yi, what do you think?”

Zhong Yi lowered his gaze and said, “My health is quite good; Young Madam Huo need not trouble herself. Although doctors should not distinguish between genders, I still need to avoid impropriety. After I get engaged to Yingxue, it will be better for her to take care of my constitution.”

The old master’s eyes held a deeper smile: “I hope that after you marry, you will also remember the importance of avoiding impropriety. Miss Qiao, you are someone who has been married before. Since you’ve decided to marry, you should remain faithful, right?”

Qiao Xi’s almond-shaped eyes flashed slightly, not fully grasping the old master’s intentions.

They were all acting strangely today.

She responded, “You’re right. Once married, one should be devoted and live life well.”

She did not notice the fleeting dimness in Zhong Yi’s eyes, which he quickly concealed, unnoticed by anyone.

Master Huang frowned and spoke impatiently, “Enough with the nonsense, position the hand properly.” He patted Old Master Zhong’s wrist abruptly and without politeness.

“Both of you girls, come here to watch me perform acupuncture. Learn on your own.”

He was not a particularly patient master, thus he required disciples with exceptional perception and talent to avoid leading them astray.

“Yes.”

“Alright, Master Huang.”

Qiao Xi and Lu Yingxue walked to either side of Huang Bingyi to observe him administering acupuncture to Old Master Zhong.

Seeing how uninterested Zhong Yi appeared, he said, “I have official business to take care of. I’ll be busy in the study.”

“Go ahead.”

Old Master Zhong had had his fun and kindly allowed him to leave.

He hoped the young man would be sensible.

…

Approaching noon.

Very different from the hidden whirlpool with the Zhong Family.

The internet had been swept by a storm of commotion.

If something went wrong with the Xiang Family, the oceanic behemoth, it would affect many small and medium enterprises, causing countless people to lose their jobs. The anxious and restless emotions were palpable through the online comments.

The phones at the corporate front desk were on the verge of exploding, and the front desk still maintained a unified stance, claiming no comment until the press conference.

The press conference was scheduled for noon, and media swarmed in.

Those media outlets not invited waited outside, hoping to catch some scraps of information to ride the wave of public interest.

This press conference was drawing tremendous attention!

It was quite the coincidence that the venue for the spontaneous press conference was located in the Yunqi Hotel’s conference hall, which couldn’t help but lead to speculation.

Yunqi Hotel is a property under Xie Xubai’s name.

At this moment, the small cafe inside the hotel was cleared out.

Xie Xubai, dressed in a light grey suit, casually placed his hands crossed over each other. Facing him was Xiang Tao, his face deathly pale and eyes red and swollen, dressed in a black suit.

The dishevelment on Xiang Tao’s face was almost impossible to mask.

The waiter brought over their coffee: “President Xie, here’s your latte. Mr. Xiang, here’s your Italian coffee with double espresso.”

“Thank you. I have matters to discuss with Mr. Xiang, please don’t come by unless necessary.”

“Of course, President Xie.”

After the waiter left.

Xie Xubai added another lump of sugar and some milk to his latte. Xiang Tao slightly raised his eyes and said hoarsely, “You might as well have ordered sweet milk directly.”

A latte already has a lot of milk added during preparation and isn’t considered a bitter coffee.

“I don’t like bitterness,” Xie Xubai said.

He stirred his coffee gently, the spoon not touching the sides of the cup.

His handsome face always carried a hint of warmth amidst its coolness, “Xiang Tao, you can endure hardship too well. That’s why you will never run out of bitter experiences… even your coffee has to be double strength espresso.”

Those who can endure suffering must suffer more.

Xiang Tao gave a bitter laugh, without any desire to drink his coffee: “Are you mocking me? There’s half an hour left before the press conference starts. What’s your purpose in meeting me here?”

He hadn’t closed his eyes to sleep since yesterday.

Tired in body and mind.

Xie Xubai took a sip of his coffee and said, “Going to the press conference in such a state, isn’t that the same as telling them something’s wrong with the Xiang Family? Your words will lack persuasive power and will have the opposite effect.”

He looked at Xiang Tao and said, “Let me guess, your father won’t be at today’s press conference. Are you planning to find an excuse to muddle through?”

“Xiang Tao, I know your father is already dead. Once you lie at the press conference, I will expose your lie. Then the Xiang Family’s situation will worsen, step by step losing credibility.”

Xie Xubai doesn’t like conspiracies; he would rather put his strategies out in the open.

“I know that the Xiang Family has accumulated so much over the years, I can’t destroy it in a short while. But getting to this point isn’t just because of the Xie Family’s efforts. You might consider how many people the Xiang Family has offended.”

Xiang Tao murmured, “So everything I do is under your control. And Huo Xingzhou is helping you, right… as well as many who covet the Xiang Family’s position. Over the years, we’ve made countless enemies.”

The Xiang Family’s social standing in the Imperial Capital isn’t well-regarded, known for their arrogant and domineering ways.

No compassion in their dealings.

Dirty work the Lu Family didn’t want to handle in the open was all done by the Xiang Family.

All the benefits went to the Lu Family, while the Xiang Family took the blame. Now that the Xiang Family is in trouble, the Lu Family is nowhere to be seen, clearly distancing themselves!

“Father, you have been making wedding dresses for others all these years! No wonder… the Lu Family let the Xiang Family take the seat of the four major families because my uncle knew it was a target! Though not one of the four major families, the Lu Family’s glory and wealth are no less, and their reputation has even surpassed the Zhong Family!”

Despair and panic filled Xiang Tao’s eyes.

Xie Xubai leaned back in his chair, his demeanor somewhat indolent: “Xiang Ze has fled the country, which shows the Xiang Family is in a very bad state. I’ll give you a choice, what do you say?”

“What choice?”

“The father’s death is succeeded by his son; you originally held 5% of the shares, and with your father’s 41%, that’s a total of 46% of the shares. In someone else’s hands, this could be very powerful. But you don’t know what else we have up our sleeves. I suggest you transfer all these shares to me at the current market price.”

The shares of Xiang Corporation have been volatile.

Dwindling again and again.

Xie Xubai had the capacity to take on these shares.

Xiang Tao’s hands were clenched tightly into fists, and he could not bring himself to utter the words he had been biting back.

A “ding” sound came from the mobile phone on the table, and Xiang Tao’s heart tightened. He glanced at the unread message.

As if in a contest of wills, he raised his eyes to Xie Xubai: “Someone has offered a higher price than you.”