The Peerless Beauty Stuck With Me

Chapter 1534 - 1533: Dong Qi

"Tang Rao, I've never understood how the array in Zijing City is related to me. Oh, by the way, you wouldn't be thinking that when those bald individuals forcibly entered Zijing City and damaged the array, it was all my doing, would you?"Qin Qing finally laid bare the veil between her and Tang Rao, so the two no longer needed to speak in veiled terms. Naturally, since the other had laid things bare, Tang Rao had even less reason to be polite.

"Since you've said it, why don't you step down from the stool first? I need an explanation from you, whether this really happened or if you're being framed. I want to hear it from your mouth."

Tang Rao held no illusions about Qin Qing. How safe it was to live inside Zijing City, there were only two people who knew that best in the world: one was Tang Rao, and the other was Old Master Qin. Back then, Old Master Qin gleamed with enthusiasm, saying he must design an unprecedented array for Tang Rao, one that no one could surpass in a lifetime, to ensure the buildings of Zijing City would stand tall for years. At that time, Tang Rao was too young and believed whatever others said.

If the Eight Great Vajra had not breached the Kao Shan Sect, even now, Tang Rao would still have believed.

Qin Qing knew that if she continued standing on the stool, confronting Tang Rao, Tang Rao would leave without a word. If he left, Qin Qing would have some peace, but that peace would be short-lived. After this brief calm, Qin Qing would face thunderous retribution from Tang Rao.

Standing on the stool for a long time made her hand holding Bai Ling sore, and her legs were trembling a bit. Qin Qing sat on the stool she had just used, without even wiping off the dust. Her eyes were hollow, and she seemed genuinely despondent.

Meanwhile, Tang Rao stood there, watched by two maids, neither daring to move, nor bringing him a stool, which was indeed awkward for Tang Rao.

In the end, he took a Grand Master's chair from his space ring, made himself a cup of tea, and sat in the chair, crossing his leg as he waited for Qin Qing to speak.

"Don't tell me the array was broken by them. Even if they had that luck, they lacked the skill. Only I and your old master know how to break the array. Since you claim you didn't do it, was it your old master?"

Tang Rao spoke casually, and sweat broke out on Qin Qing's forehead.

Not to mention that pinning this on Old Master would result in him denying ever doing such a thing? There had to be a casualty between the two. She believed the cunning old master would surely protect himself rather than keeping Qin Qing safe.

Moreover, he had an alibi. Any random thing could remove the blame from himself. Could Qin Qing do the same?

If Qin Qing didn't confess, Tang Rao would confront the old master. If she did, it spelled her doom. She would have no voice by Tang Rao's side, not even a life.

Tang Rao silently counted down three for Qin Qing, waiting for her final choice.

Qin Qing blinked, her lifeless eyes first looking at Chun Ping kneeling outside the door, then at Dong Qi, making her decision in a flash.

Her mood suddenly turned agitated, quickly turning sideways. She pulled Dong Qi to her side with one hand, squeezing his neck, determined to choke him.

"I know now, you wanted to harm me, didn't you? Last time, when Grandpa said he wanted to see me, it was you who eavesdropped and colluded with those people, leaking the way to damage the array. Dong Qi, I've always treated you well, how could you do such a thing?"

No one knew where this strength of Qin Qing's came from. Dong Qi, squeezed by her, didn't even have the chance to fight back.

She looked at Qin Qing with pleading eyes, yet found no sign of her showing mercy in that gaze.

It had to be, when she was on the brink of suffocation, Qin Qing gave Dong Qi a warning glance, even mouthed two words – 'parents'. At first, subconsciously resisting, Dong Qi dared not resist anymore, not even daring to say an extra word.

She gave up struggling, her eyes revealing despair. Slowly, her strength seemed drained away, and she suddenly collapsed on the ground, unable to move.

Dong Qi became Qin Qing's scapegoat, the one to bear the blame.

However, because Dong Qi's parents were in the Qin Family, if Dong Qi committed betrayal against Qin Qing today, even if they struggled a bit more, the life of her parents in the Qin Family wouldn't be any better. To protect her parents, Dong Qi ultimately chose to die at Qin Qing's hands.

"Tang Rao, the truth is revealed now. I wondered how those bald individuals entered our Zijing City for no reason. It must have been Dong Qi who betrayed me and overheard the secret Grandpa and I shared that day, dealing with the other side. It's all my fault for not disciplining properly. Since this happened, you must do me justice and clear my name."

Qin Qing killed Dong Qi as casually as squashing an ant. After Dong Qi suffocated, she didn't spare him a glance, let alone show any shred of pity for the scapegoat girl.

"Turns out a rabbit indeed bites when cornered. You've killed the 'murderer', leaving me without any leads. All it takes is your word, and a person's fate falls into your hands. Take care of yourself in this courtyard, and don't let me catch even a tiny flaw of yours!"

Tang Rao never imagined Qin Qing would use Dong Qi as a sacrifice on her path.

That one individual was killed by Qin Qing without the blink of an eye. At such a time, Tang Rao couldn't help but feel a sense of displeasure.

Tang Rao gave Qin Qing a warning look. This time he was still safe, and everyone in Zijing City was still secure, so Tang Rao decided to spare Qin Qing's life for now.

But after all, he wasn't a fool. He couldn't forget everything Qin Qing had done all at once. The next time Qin Qing showed any sign of misstep, Tang Rao would settle all the past debts with Qin Qing, making her die aware of everything!

After Tang Rao left, Qin Qing's legs went weak, and it was thanks to Chun Ping rushing to hold her that she avoided falling off the stool.

How close it was, nearly being found out by Tang Rao. Fortunately, Qin Qing reacted swiftly, keeping Tang Rao from perceiving anything unusual.

"Miss, the master already knows about the scheming you've been doing behind his back. In future, we can't afford to proceed with such carelessness anymore."

Furthermore...

Chun Ping glanced at Dong Qi's body, pondering aloud, "Miss, Dong Qi was sent by the old master to accompany you. Now that he's dead, you'll need to explain things to the old master. After all, Dong Qi was previously favored by the old master, and even with the old master..."

Chun Ping left the last words unsaid.