Chapter 19: The Trial Begins
Su Linglong looked around to find the culprit for today's grand meeting, but when she didn't find Su Qing out, she asked her grandfather instead, "Grandpa, where is Qing'er? I couldn't find her. Shouldn't she arrive here to start the trial first?"
"Worry not, cousin. She will arrive here very soon, just taking a little rest, I hope you won't mind it that much, will you?" Su Lingzhi smiled at her older cousin as she answered half-heartedly on behalf of Patriarch Su.
What don't mind? Of course she would mind a lot!
Because right after Su Qing came back, the news spread in the entire kingdom. And naturally, Rong Jin also heard the news and nearly went insane.
He is also the one who sent her to make sure if it was really the Su Qing from before.
'This useless bish! I can't see what he sees in her to become so worked up just hearing her arrival! A trash as her… no, I'll make it today so that she couldn't show others her face anymore! Just you wait!' Su Linglong bit her nails in secret as she tried to calm down her anger.
After Su Qing disappeared from the family, Su Linglong has been living a life of high status, wealth and luxury in Rong Jin's manor.
The plan to kill Su Qing and obtain the token was initially made by the both of them, but Su Qing doesn't know anything about her being involved in this yet.
Even so, there is a risk of getting found out as the initial culprit, so of course Su Linglong felt anxious.
But Su Linglong smiled as she hid her expressions well, "How can I mind such trivial matters, cousin? After all, Qing'er came back after a long time. But the elders…"
Su Lingzhi took a glance at the elders who had been suppressing their anger in fear of Patriarch Su.
'She is trying to provoke the elders in this way huh? I won't let you do as you wish!' Su Lingzhi was also aware of Su Linglong's hidden intention, so she threw a smile back at the pretentious woman.
"She is arriving soon. Rather than that, I have been wondering for a while now, cousin. Where is Prince Rong? I didn't see him coming? Shouldn't he also attend the family meeting as the suspect too? Or are you here on his behalf?"
With a few sentences, Su Lingzhi was able to turn the daggers back towards Su Linglong, which Patriarch Su ignored despite being the person with a superior position in the family.
Su Linglong and Su Lingzhi have been daggers in each other's throats since childhood. It's nothing new they were watching.
Su Lingzhi is not the one to initiate any trouble because of her calm nature, and her filial duty as the elder sister of two girls, she always handled situations calmly with perseverance and observation.
On the other hand, Su Linglong was jealous of Su Lingzhi's attitude and reputation which she could not earn, so she made trouble for her wherever she went.
Fortunately, Su Lingzhi is also a girl with the gift of glib tongue, so Su Linglong wasn't able to defame her in any way.
Today, the situation wasn't on Su Lingzhi's side, but even so, she didn't lose her cool and calmness, which made Patriarch Su praise her in his heart.
"Worry not, cousin. How can he miss such an important family meeting like this? He said he will arrive after the work in his hand is done." Su Linglong tried to cool down her head as she covered her face and her expression with the fan and chose the words carefully.
"That's good. He better come soon." Su Jue huffed as she made a pathetic expression towards Su Linglong to make her angry.
"You—" before she could say anything back to Su Jue, the door to the hallroom opened with a creak sound as the person in question entered gracefully.
"Looks like I made everyone wait, I apologize first for the inconvenience."
This is…
The exact same tone she uses!
Su Linglong looked back in disbelief, only to see that her fear had finally come true.
The same voice, the same pair of eyes
It was impossible for anyone else to act like her, Su Linglong knew the moment she came in.
It was indeed Su Qing.
But how… Did she find her way back here?
How did she come out of that forest unscathed, shouldn't she die there?
The white veil that hid her face was still there as she walked in till she stopped in the middle and knelt gracefully.
"The grand elders can start the trial, Patriarch. I'm ready." Su Qing said as she vowed her head.
That's right. When a family member goes through a trial as Su Qing, they would refer to the Patriarch with his title to make a fair judgment, not as a father or even brother.
Su Bai knew by now that no matter where or what she goes through, this child in front of him was not of a caliber to give away a family token to just anyone.
There was something wrong from the very beginning.
"Raise your head and put yourself together, child. We asked you to come here not as a prisoner, everyone sitting here is equal to each other." one of the elders said as he waved his hand towards Su Qing.
"This child thanks the elders for the benevolence shown." She raised her head naturally after showing her gratitude to them.
But the moment she raised her head and locked eyes with Su Linglong, Su Qing suddenly felt like the world was going to crumble to the ground.
What was this?
She can feel the nominal and painful gaze from the said, which belonged to her beloved cousin Su Ning.
But Su Qing was in more shock than anything despite her trying to calm herself down.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone