Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 470: Guilty without a trial
When Luo Muchen stormed out he didn’t notice Xiao Fen standing with her back pressed against the wall. She had seen everything that had transpired in the room through the paper window. When Luo Muchen left the study at first she thought he had run back to his new bedroom that he had been staying in ever since he got married but when she got there he wasn’t there. She figured he might have come here on instinct but she didn’t expect Qie Xieling to take advantage of the opportunity she created. Filled with anger and irritation she waited for him to leave before slipping into the shadows. She had to do something fast before the truth of her drugging Luo Muchen was revealed. This was the future clan leader and drugging them was a sin that couldn’t be forgiven.
When Xiao Fen meant she would do something about it she meant that she was going to subtly spread a rumour that Qie Xieling did it.
So for the next two days, a rumour had been flying around that the young master’s wife drugged the future clan leader and wanted to get pregnant so he could secure his position.
Qie Xieling was chilling under a cherry blossom tree while cloud gazing when Jolie walked over with some fruits. She sat down next to him before handing him an apricot. "Want some?" she asked and Qie Xieling accepted it.
"Thanks," he said but there was some depression in his voice.
"You should stop wallowing... How about this? I can take you out to the lake. Would you like that?"
Qie Xieling took a bite of the apricot his mind wandering off. Just as Jolie wanted to ask him again someone came into the courtyard and said, "Young miss... I mean young sir. The Master and Madam request your presence in the family hall."
Qie Xieling who had been ignored ever since he stepped into this family was a little surprised. He glanced at Jolie as though asking her if she knew something. Jolie knew something was up but she couldn’t talk about it now.
"He will follow after. You can go ahead," said Jolie and the young man wanted to say something but the glare Jolie sent his way made him swallow his saliva before he nodded his head and scurried away.
"What do they want from me?" asked Qie Xieling and Jolie came out with it.
"Maybe it’s about the fact that you drugged Luo Muchen with aphrodisiac," she said and Qie Xieling’s eyes widened.
"Me?... I didn’t do such a thing," he said and Jolie’s brow furrowed a little surprised.
"You didn’t? I thought you did. I did buy you an aphrodisiac. I thought you used it," she said and Qie Xieling shook his head vigorously.
"I would love to press him down on the bed and tear his clothes off but I didn’t drug him. I am a moral and upstanding citizen," he said as he got up.
"Ha, I would have honestly thought otherwise," said Jolie as she followed after him. Qie Xieling entered the family hall and was met with the stern faces of his new in-laws. Master Lee, sat at the head of the room, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Madam Lee wore a disapproving frown. And sitting beside Madam Lee was Lee Ya, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and uncertainty.
In the center of the room was Xiao Fen kneeling down with her body trembling with fear. Luo Muchen was surprisingly absent from this little trial. He couldn’t help but wonder if his absence was a deliberate move to avoid confrontation or if he was simply unaware of the accusations that had been made against him.
Maintaining his composure, Qie Xieling bowed respectfully to the assembled family members before taking a seat. He knew that displaying any signs of guilt or aggression would only worsen his situation.
Madam Lee’s voice cut through the tense silence. With a venomous tone, she accused him of drugging Luo Muchen with an aphrodisiac, a despicable act that was considered a heinous crime within the clan. Qie Xieling was already expecting it since Jolie told him why he was there. Yes, he was the greatest suspect but still, he would never.
"Madam Lee, I assure you, I am innocent of this accusation. I would never commit such a dishonourable act."
"Shut up!" she yelled as she flung a cup at him.
Qie Xieling, "..."
He just looked at the broken porcelain cup and couldn’t help but wonder how many of these did she break in a day.
"Xiao Fen, repeat what you said," said Madam Lee and Xiao Fen still trembling, pointed a shaky finger at Qie Xieling, her voice trembling as she spoke, "It had to be him, Madam. I saw him with my own eyes. He had a vial of the substance and I saw him add it to young Master Luo’s tea. I swear it is the truth! At the time I thought the young madam was adding some health supplements to the young master’s tea as a caring wife but it turned out to be an aphrodisiac."
Qie Xieling tried to hold back his laughter but he found that he couldn’t. He laughed out loud finding it very funny. They had already decided that he was guilty so what was the point?
"Why are you laughing? Is this funny to you? What if the drugs had ruined his body? What if he wouldn’t be able to recover?" she continued yelling and Qie Xieling sneered internally. Hearing her now you would think she cared for him but in truth, she didn’t care. Luo Muchen was just a useful means to an end and would be discarded when his usefulness came to an end.
He was about to defend himself when Luo Muchen walked in with his hand behind his back. He had heard that Qie Xieling had been called by his father because of what had happened a few days ago thus he decided to make his appearance. He didn’t want them to judge him without him being present so he decided to come over.
"Chen-er, what are you doing here?" asked Master Lee and Luo Muchen sat down on the other side of the room facing Qie Xieling and when Qie Xieling saw how much distance he was putting between them, he was so pissed off but he didn’t show it.
"According to Xiao Fen, she saw Qie Xieling put something in your hibiscus tea and he drugged you with an aphrodisiac," said Master Lee. Guilty or not. He wanted Qie Xieling gone. He could tell that he was going to be a problem if he was left here to stay.
"Oh," replied Luo Muchen while tapping the table softly. He knew that the likelihood that Xiao Fen saw him drug his tea was very low otherwise if she saw it why would she let Bo Ailun serve him? Besides she was the one who had come into his study in revealing clothes, not Qie Xieling. He knew the truth but after that night he also wanted to get rid of Qie Xieling.
That’s because he could no longer trust himself around him. What happened that night was constantly on his mind that he woke up with swollen hardness in his pants every morning since then. Qie Xieling was innocent but Luo Muchen couldn’t afford to keep him around.
"I had nothing to do wit-," said Qie Xieling but Luo Muchen raised his hand to stop him from talking thus Qie Xieling fell silent.
"Other than your word is there more evidence?" he asked and another maidservant brought out the things found in Qie Xieling’s room. There were a lot of things used for sexual activities including an aphrodisiac. Qie Xieling knew that Jolie had bought these things for him but who would believe him? Which servant would buy such things for their master without their permission? He couldn’t even defend himself.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" asked Master Lee after clearing his throat. This ger was indeed lascivious when compared to others.
Qie Xieling glanced at Luo Muchen and said, "I had nothing to do with this."
"I can’t keep people I can’t trust beside me so... I will send you back to your master’s house as soon as possible," he said and Qie Xieling broke out in laughter. This asshole actually believed that he did it.
"Wow," he finally said as he got up. He was done. If he stayed near Luo Muchen any longer than he should he might hit him. Luo Muchen felt a sense of heaviness at the pit of his stomach as he stared at Qie Xieling leaving the hall. He felt this strong urge to stop him but he knew this was for the best.
Madam Lee didn’t expect this outcome. She was the only one out of the three who wanted Luo Muchen to stay with Qie Xieling. Lee Ya and Master Lee seemed to have their own motives and this end result seemed to please them.
"Excuse me," said Lee Ya before running out and following after Qie Xieling. When Luo Muchen saw this he gritted his teeth in annoyance but what was he going to do? This was the result he wanted anyway.
