Chapter 381 - A Surprise Gift for a Visit (IV)

Yet how come... Old Xiong and Xiong Zhi knew? And it seemed like they already knew it for a long time!

He was played!

Even more terrible, why were they only breaking it now? 

Have they already ensured that he would have no way to refute and escape?

No, he must not admit it! He could pretend that someone else was framing him for this crime. 

At this moment, Xiong De's experience all over the years had given him already an answer to his premonition, but he threw this fear at the back of his mind in denial. 

Yes, yes, play innocent! It could not be considered a decisive evidence yet!

His shocked, pale face then showed disbelief and hurt.

"M-master Xiong, you must be joking. What terrible things are you talking about? I-I don't understand what you mean..."

"I mean you tried to poison me to death."

"Impossible! How could I possibly do that? Master Xiong, believe me, I am innocent—"

"The poison was exactly found from your gifts."

"Someone must be trying to frame me! I never wanted you to die. How could I dare do such a thing, we're family! How could I put poison on the incense gifts! If I really did that, then… then the heavens shall strike me with lightning!"

His pale face appeared serious and solemn, as if aggrieved but at the same time determined to protect his honor.

Old Xiong leaned back on his chair. He was sitting comfortably while his cold eyes watched the shameless man act ignorant about his crime.

"Be careful. The heavens might really strike you down with lightning. Who knows, they might even brew something worse than lightning to hit you with."

"I really did not do it! How could I do such a foolish thing yet still appear in front of you? I swear on the name of all the gods, I have never done such a thing. How could I do that to you? You are my uncle!"

"Hah! You even dare say that now?!" 

How shameless! Old Xiong's stern face cracked. He wanted to murder this man right at this moment!

A cold voice suddenly sounded behind them, interrupting the explosion at the tipping point.

"I hope you can still swear to all the gods when you are already in court." 

Old Xiong and Xiong De looked at the person who just came.

"Grandfather, Third Uncle, what a pleasant chat you're having without me."

Xiong Zhi shot a cold smile at Xiong De. 

She just came home directly from the office. She told herself that the old man would handle Xiong De today, but her raging blood longing for revenge could not let her sit down calmly.

Thus, she postponed her afternoon appointments, decided to take a look and send off the man to hell herself.

Revenge was a dish best served cold. It has been a very long time. Now, it was finally here.

She wanted to add salt to the wound as much as possible.

Seeing the contempt in her eyes, Xiong De's eyes flashed with killing intent amidst his panic.

The same gift... It was not a coincidence at all. This brat must knew it all along.

He opened his mouth. "You're just in time! We were discussing how a poison miraculously appeared on my incense. We both know that we gifted exactly the same kind of incense to Master Xiong. I don't doubt Young Miss, but I am afraid someone is plotting against me."

Xiong Zhi blinked and chuckled. Xiong De's shamefulness really knew no limits. 

Old Xiong was mad. This sc.u.m was reversing black and white!

"You're speaking nonsense!"

"Master Xiong, please calm down. I am absolutely telling the truth. I beseech you to oversee this matter carefully."

"I see now, Third Uncle. How terrible, you actually have so many enemies, powerful enough to infiltrate the Mansion's security. To think that they would bother to plot against you with something that could have never been discovered at all."

The butler at the side watched on with apprehension when his phone suddenly began ringing. He took a look and answered the calls coming in one by one. 

There were many calls and emails.

"Master," he gritted his teeth and called out nervously to Xiong De.

Xiong De ignored him and did not back down from staring at Xiong Zhi.

"That's a part of becoming a Xiong. You as well, Young Miss. As the heir, you will also encounter a lot of situations like this. I hope you'd be careful."

"Are you in the position to give me advice? You are forgetting the matter at hand." 

"I said, I never did it!"

"Quiet!" An angry shout interrupted them.

Old Xiong at the side could not take Xiong De's shamelessness anymore.

"Xiong De! I'm not a fool, so don't think it will be so easy to trick me. We all know what's happening, I've seen it on your face earlier. That's all the confirmation I needed. I don't need further evidences, I only need to know. You've committed attempted murder against the head of the family. From now on, you are banished from the Xiong family and your right for inheritance will be revoked."

Xiong De gnashed his teeth. His eyes reddened with deep grievances as he faced Old Xiong with an aggrieved face. 

"Uncle, why can't you believe me? It is not me. Someone is plotting against me." 

His whole appearance appeared sincere, but deep inside, he was calculating fast. He was after all a wily fox with a lot of experience of ups and downs, so his panic subsided slightly and he was finally able to think clearly again.

He repeatedly cursed the old man and his bitch granddaughter in his mind malevolently.

It seemed that Old Xiong could not be persuaded. The old man had already decided to banish him. He could see that it was already the inevitable.

His rights and inheritance in the Xiong Empire would be revoked. That was still acceptable, given the extent current situation. He still had his daughter to transfer his properties to. His crime was not passed down to her.

Besides, he still had many underground companies which were not under the surname Xiong. He still had connections and power, although he could only stand behind the scenes. At least, he could still counter attack. 

He needed to buy time. By denying the crime, he could catch some time to plan a counter-attack in this situation.

Attempted murder was a severe crime in the country. If the plaintiff was powerful and the defendant was a small fry, the defendant could be pushed to execution. But for people like Xiong De, with Old Xiong's power, the worst could be a lifetime imprisonment. 

Fortunately, Xiong De still held connections with some of the court officials. Those officials would not dare to offend Old Xiong, but he knew their dirty secrets. He could be imprisoned for maybe ten years, but he was confident that he could find ways to leave with his means.

Besides... His eyes flashed. There was still Guan Gao Huan, his partner in crime in this situation. If he was really cornered, he could just threaten that guy that he would sing out his name. 

It was not totally hopeless yet. 

His heavy heart finally calmed down a bit.

Alas, that was what Xiong De naively thought.

Xiong Zhi could see that Xiong De was confident to leave this situation unscathed. She smiled inwardly. He likely thought that the worst thing that could happen to him was to be punished by law, get detained for a while, and lose a huge amount of money.

But that was not all.