Mrs. Chen’s voice was sharp. "That’s nonsense! My sister isn’t on Xingguang Island; she’s in M Country. How could it be her?"
Si Mingjing had been waiting for those very words! With strategic command, her voice sharp with resolve, she said, "Mrs. Chen, are you sure your sister isn’t on Xingguang Island? I advise you to think carefully before you speak!"
"Of... of course she’s not!"
After Mrs. Chen spoke, her heart skipped a beat. She felt that events had long since spiraled beyond her imagination, but she could never admit it.
"Say it again!" Si Mingjing demanded.
For Mrs. Chen, such repetition was absolute psychological torture. Her mind buzzed, her thoughts in complete disarray. She hastily said, "I won’t pursue it any further! I won’t pursue it any further! Just consider unlucky today!"
She bid a panicked farewell and fled. Si Mingjing sneered. It wouldn’t be that easy.
Si Mingjing signaled a nearby guard, who understood imdiately. He blocked Mrs. Chen’s path and then reported back to Si Mingjing.
"Crown Princess Consort, we’ve apprehended a lady in the corridor who is identical to Mrs. Chen—sa appearance, sa clothes, even the sa hairstyle."
Si Mingjing’s aura was intimidating as she ordered, "Bring her in."
"Yes."
Two guards escorted in another "Mrs. Chen" and pushed her in front of everyone.
The woman staggered for a mont before steadying herself. Then, crying out in fear, she rushed over, clung to Mrs. Chen’s arm, and pleaded, "Sis, save ."
The guests were all stunned!
"My goodness, they look exactly alike! It’s impossible to tell them apart!"
"No wonder the child was adamant that Mrs. Chen killed the cat—how could a child possibly tell them apart?"
"Forget the child, even I can’t tell them apart! Why would they do this?"
"Mrs. Chen, and you, madam," Si Mingjing asked icily, "why did you conspire to fra my Xiaobao? He might be a little mischievous, but he would never do sothing as cruel as abusing a cat. What was your objective? You’d better explain yourselves clearly, or else..."
Only then was Mrs. Dong fully convinced. She glared angrily and said, "Mrs. Chen, why did you use ? I almost beca your accomplice in framing a child! You’re too cruel! I’m disgusted with myself for testifying for you earlier! To fra a child, you even killed your own cat!"
Mrs. Chen was utterly flustered, pulling her sister back as she stamred, "I... I..."
She couldn’t explain. She was being blackmailed, and if she tried, her situation would only worsen. Right now, they’d only caught her conspiring to kill her own cat—not a major cri, but the leverage soone else had on her was critical.
Mrs. Chen’s defiant attitude vanished. She imdiately apologized, "I’m sorry, I must have been out of my mind. I apologize to the child and to Miss Si. I was wrong. I’ll pay whatever is required for emotional distress. I’m truly sorry."
Upon hearing Mrs. Chen’s words, Dong Shangzhi, whose heart had sunk to rock bottom, finally saw a glimr of hope.
He sent a text ssage: "Mrs. Chen failed. Will she expose us?"
The reply ca instantly: "What? She actually failed?! Darling, don’t worry. I have leverage on Mrs. Chen; she won’t dare say a word."
How could Si Mingjing possibly allow Mrs. Chen to simply apologize and let the matter rest?
Si Mingjing sneered. "Heh, you think a simple ’sorry’ ends this? Tell us, what was your motive for framing my Xiaobao?"
"Yes, there’s always a motive behind everything!" the crowd echoed.
Mrs. Chen was so panicked she didn’t know what to do, her eyes darting around. "It was truly a mont of madness, Miss Si. Whatever substantial compensation you desire, I’ll agree to it. I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please, seeing as I’m sincerely remorseful, just spare this once?"
Si Mingjing didn’t believe her, and neither did anyone else present. No one who had reached this social stratum was a fool. Mrs. Chen had gone to such lengths to target a child; there had to be an ulterior motive.
Si Mingjing regarded Mrs. Chen with a knowing smirk. "It seems Mrs. Chen isn’t willing to tell the truth? In that case, I’ll just have to speculate!"
Si Mingjing deliberately paused, feigning a sudden realization. "Mrs. Chen, so you’re the one having an affair with Factory Manager Dong?"
Si Mingjing knew it wasn’t Mrs. Chen. The little boy had said it wasn’t her. But that didn’t stop Si Mingjing from deliberately accusing Mrs. Chen to force a confession.
Her words caused an imdiate uproar; the banquet hall erupted. Everyone was whispering, staring at Mrs. Chen in disbelief.
Mrs. Chen was stunned. She glared and snapped, "Miss Si, watch your words! If you dare tarnish my reputation, I’ll sue you!"
Mrs. Dong was also taken aback, her expression shifting. "Miss Si, what do you an by that?"
Only Dong Shangzhi felt his heart plumt. This is bad!
Si Mingjing said, "Mrs. Dong, three days ago, I took this child to visit the pharmaceutical factory. He stumbled upon an illicit affair and was then ruthlessly thrown into the lake, nearly drowning.
"Actually, the child had already told who the culprit was. But given the gravity of the situation, I couldn’t rely solely on his word, so I didn’t make it public.
"Then, this morning, I heard you, Mrs. Dong, ntion that your cat drowned in the pharmaceutical factory’s artificial lake. The timing of that incident coincided perfectly with the attempt to silence this child.
"I already found it too coincidental. Now, Mrs. Chen and her sister have colluded to fra the child, rely to ’prove’ he abuses cats and is a liar. This forces to connect these two incidents.
"Mrs. Chen, you’re the woman having an affair with Factory Manager Dong, aren’t you?
"You were afraid the child would expose your affair, so you orchestrated all of this to discredit him. You’ve truly gone to great lengths to hide your adultery!"
The crowd gasped in realization.
"So that’s Mrs. Chen’s motive?"
"Mrs. Chen is actually involved with Mr. Dong? They’re having an extramarital affair?"
"Mrs. Chen is having an affair with Mr. Dong and even roped in an unsuspecting Mrs. Dong to testify for her. Mrs. Dong was completely duped, practically helping them count the money after being sold out!"
Si Mingjing continued sternly, "This is attempted murder. Murder demands a life for a life, and even attempted murder is a criminal offense. Ye Shen, call the police."
Ye Shen was imdiately thrilled. My sister-in-law is amazing for finding the real culprit! He promptly said, "I’ll call the police right away."
Mrs. Chen was completely stunned. She shook her head repeatedly. "No! No! It’s not like that! I had no idea about any of this!"
She was just helping soone make the child look like a liar. She had no idea there was a murder plot and an affair tangled up in it! This was a huge problem! Even if she was foolish, she knew she couldn’t take the bla for this!
Mrs. Chen quickly exclaid, "That’s not it! I was only asked by soone to ’prove’ the child abuses cats and is a liar. I’m not having an affair with Mr. Dong, absolutely not! It was Qin Fengling who asked to do this! The one having an affair with Mr. Dong must be Qin Fengling! Yes, it’s definitely her! She set up!"
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