Chapter 803: Chapter 803: This is the British Empire, Not the South Sea

The teacher nodded hastily, “Yes, but… the Medical Alliance is protected by international health law; a search warrant is necessary to conduct a search without restriction.”

At that moment, Xiao Yeyan emerged unhurriedly from the rear car. He approached Madam Xiao and reminded her softly, “I remember Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant, is deeply connected with the Medical Alliance.”

Madam Xiao collected herself, turned aside, and looked toward the reception team’s research assistants, “Take me to see Shang Shaoyan.”

“This way, please.”

…

Ten minutes later, the miss assistant escorted Madam Xiao to the innermost western-style house on foot.

The group walked grandly into the living room and upon glancing up saw a slender figure standing by the window.

And over by the bar on the left, Su Moshi was dressed in a white lab coat, sipping leisurely from his wine glass.

Madam Xiao, with her gaze fixed on Li Qiao’s back, walked forward and took a seat, “Shaoyan isn’t here?”

Li Qiao slowly turned around, leaning against the window sill, glanced at the entrance where Xiao Yeyan and the bodyguards stood, and looked back at Madam Xiao with a sly smile, “As you can see.”

Madam Xiao placed her handbag beside her leg, her knees together and posture upright, “My daughter?”

“Xiao Yehui didn’t come?” Li Qiao, with one arm across her chest, touched her chin, her brows and eyes expressing a vivid arrogance, “His most beloved sister is missing, and he doesn’t come to check on her?”

Madam Xiao’s back stiffened, sensing trouble, she tilted her head to look at Li Qiao, her voice slightly strained, “What have you done with her?”

Li Qiao tugged at the corner of her mouth, feigning difficulty with a sigh, “Too many people; I’d rather not say.”

“Everyone, leave,” commanded Madam Xiao, her bodyguards hesitant. When they heard Madam Xiao’s urging voice once again, they reluctantly turned and left the living room.

At this moment, Li Qiao eyed Xiao Yeyan and mocked with a curled lip, “Is Second Young Master Xiao not going to leave?”

“Sorry, I cannot.”

Li Qiao’s smile remained unflinching as she made a show of turning away, “Take your time, I won’t see you out.”

The smile on Xiao Yeyan’s lips instantly solidified.

Anyone could see that Li Qiao held the trump card with Xiao Yening, confident that they wouldn’t dare make a rash move.

Xiao Yeyan’s eyes narrowed. Just as he was about to speak, Madam Xiao waved her hand, “Xiaoyan, you go as well.”

“Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?” Xiao Yeyan furrowed his brow, seeming concerned about Madam Xiao’s safety, but his flickering eyes betrayed his true intentions.

Li Qiao watched the scene unfold with a composed look, until Xiao Yeyan reluctantly turned and left. Then Madam Xiao continued her interrogation, “Where is Ningning?”

“What’s the hurry?” Li Qiao sat down on the sofa opposite Madam Xiao, her long legs crossed, and with a playful raise of her eyebrow, “You’re still as biased as ever.”

Madam Xiao was anxious but did not want to reveal anything to Li Qiao.

She sat with composure, her head lowered in a gentle gesture over her nails, “Young lady, you’re aware this is the British Imperial territory, not the South Sea.”

“Are you threatening me?” Li Qiao frowned in feigned distress, “Then why don’t we… give it a try?”

Madam Xiao’s charming face shifted subtly and then she chuckled lightly, “With Ningning in your hands, how could I dare threaten you? Why don’t you just tell me what you really want?”

Li Qiao tapped her fingertips on her knee and casually replied, “I don’t want anything. I just want you to taste the flavor of a calamity reaching your family members.”

As she spoke, she picked up the teacup from the table to moisten her throat, and through the rim of the cup, she observed Madam Xiao’s visibly anxious eyes, and cold laughter resonated within her heart.

They were all her children, yet she had been exceedingly cruel to Shang Yu.

Madam Xiao’s gaze became fixed, and her expression darkened, “Li Qiao, she’s still a child.”

“Yes, indeed a child,” Li Qiao nodded in agreement, “but I remember when you falsely accused Shaoyan, he was also just a child.”

Madam Xiao let out a cold laugh, “Falsely accuse? Whether it’s a false accusation or not, I’m clearer on it than you are. Young girl, don’t be too full of yourself, you have no idea what happened at that time…”

“Then why did he lay hands on that child?”

Li Qiao forcefully interrupted her, a retort question that brought a deep scoff to Madam Xiao’s eyes, “You kidnapped my daughter just to probe for the truth?”

“Of course not,” Li Qiao rubbed her temples, lifting her eyelids to glance at her, “I simply wanted to see how foolish you could be.”

Madam Xiao, accustomed to high praises and adulation, had never been so bluntly mocked before.

Li Qiao ignored the indignation on her face, leaned forward, elbows propped on her knees, articulating each word, “You’re convinced he killed the child in your womb, so guess whether he would make a move on Xiao Yening today or not?”

Madam Xiao panicked.

It was not a matter of being outsmarted, but rather the tension and disarray of a mother’s heart.

She stood up abruptly, losing the dignity of the past, her movements too urgent, knocking over the crocodile skin bag beside her leg, “If you dare to harm my daughter, don’t even think about leaving the British Empire alive.”

“Madam Xiao, your tendency to believe what you want to is really quite severe,” Li Qiao said, shaking her head in disappointment, leaning slightly back, swinging her toes, “You seem to have never considered, what reason would he have to hurt your child? You’re so convinced he’s the murderer, then I can be equally certain someone intentionally framed him.

What does getting rid of your child get him? Is it just to be subjected to a mother’s daily scolding and curses, or is it the paranoia of a sixteen-year-old who can never forgive himself for leaving his home? Even if your son were born successfully and fortuitously granted the title of duke, what would any of that have to do with Shaoyan?

You are his biological mother, you taught your son yourself, you should understand him better than anyone else. But who has bewitched you, made up your mind to hate him until now?”

Madam Xiao’s expression changed drastically.

This was the first time Li Qiao saw such obvious emotion on her face.

Even Su Moshi, quietly drinking at the side, couldn’t help but glance over, his eyes brimming with mockery and pity for Madam Xiao.

Mockery for her stubbornness, pity for hating the wrong person.

Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant, was cruel and unrestrained, but undeniably forthright and open-hearted.

If he wanted to kill someone, he would do it himself with a knife, not resort to such despicable methods.

What a pity, Madam Xiao didn’t understand.

Madam Xiao was in a state of panic, worried about Xiao Yening on one hand, and on the other, struck by a nerve at Li Qiao’s words, she stood frozen in place, forgetting to speak.

Li Qiao’s eyes were pitch black, like the bottomless depths of a cold pond, giving Madam Xiao no chance to catch her breath, relentlessly sowing discord, “I hear Xiao Yening is the cherished child in the palm of your hands. Now that she’s missing, why have neither her brother nor her father come?”

“Did Shang Shaoyan ask you to do this? Li Qiao, what exactly are you trying to achieve?” Madam Xiao’s voice quivered delicately, her genuine concern for Xiao Yening apparent.

Li Qiao’s heart was a mix of emotions, she sighed softly with a slightly cold smile, “Xiao Yehui poisoned my family member, so perhaps I should reciprocate. Madam Xiao, let’s guess whether your duke stepson would bring an antidote to save his sister or not?”