Punished According to the Family Rules!

Even as she said this, her expression was extremely aggrieved. There were stubbornness and arrogance in her grievance.

Seeing Xiao Liangxiao kneel down, the elders were anxious. 'Why did she kneel down? We only said that because we don't want to lose face in front of a good-for-nothing, not because we want to pursue the matter.'

Xiao Muling sneered in her heart. 'From her tone, those who don't know better would think that she's the one being wronged.'

She cupped her fists and spoke coldly. "A few words were enough to prove my innocence; the family elders are truly formidable. I'm sure the family elders are also magnanimous people. With this, you shouldn't mind my offense."

Xiao Muling had a smile on her face, and it looked harmless.

The original Xiao Muling was someone who easily believed what everyone around her said. She had never doubted anyone who treated her well. Therefore, Xiao Muling didn't need to do anything at this time. As long as she restrained her emotions, her eyes would be clear and flawless.

'Listen!'

'Listen!'

'Listen to what she said!'

'With her saying this, even if the elders want to punish her, they can't do that!'

Xiao Liuyuan gritted his teeth. 'Xiao Muling used such simple words to push Xiao Liangxiao and me out of the picture. She herself ended up completely fine!'

Xiao Liangxiao knelt on the ground with a gloomy expression. Initially, she had only pretended to kneel, believing that the elders would quickly ask her to get up.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Muling changed the topic again, just like when she first greeted the family elders.

At that time, the elders were already dissatisfied. In the end, her words changed the topic and even caused the situation to develop to this state!

'What is wrong with Xiao Muling? She has never been like this before!'

The elders' lips twitched. After hearing Xiao Muling's words, how could they still pursue the matter?

"You didn't do anything wrong." The sound came from the direction of the light that Xiao Muling had noticed earlier.

'Xiao… Elder Xiao Yi!?'

Upon hearing this voice, even Xiao Qing's expression changed.

Elder Xiao Yi has never said anything easily, let alone when it comes to such a small matter. He should've ignored it, but now he actually spoke!'

"Then, why is it that Xiao Liuyuan didn't believe Xiao Liangxiao when she said that the person who died in my room had nothing to do with me?" As she spoke, Xiao Muling had a puzzled expression on her face. There was a hint of confusion in her tone as if she didn't understand why these things had happened.

Xiao Liangxiao's face turned pale when she heard those words. 'Xiao Muling clearly knows that Xiao Liuyuan is my uncle. Does she really not understand, or is she pretending?! Xiao Muling, what is going on?!'

Xiao Liangxiao had a complicated look on her face, and her heart was in turmoil. But from beginning to end, Xiao Muling didn't even look at her.

When the elders heard this, they looked at the two people below and knew in their hearts. 'Xiao Liangxiao's relationship with Xiao Liuyuan is so clear, so, of course, he would help her.'

"Elders, only an unimportant maid died," Xiao Liuyuan explained hurriedly. 'Elders, you can turn a blind eye to the matter, right? Just for a maid?'

A few elders were dissatisfied. They thought it was a big deal!

"For the sake of a maid, all of you came to our place!"

So many powerful figures died every day in this world, and nobody cared about it. What did it matter if it was just a maid?

"Xiao Muling!"

The pressure came again, and Xiao Muling felt ridiculous. 'I have already said so much, but they just stared at me after hearing that one line. Do they really want me to be a scapegoat? The Xiao family elders are indeed very fair!'

"It's not because of a maid but because they're slandering me—the eldest daughter of the direct line of descent—and my family. Shouldn't I find the elders to be impartial and let the person who slandered me receive punishment?"

Slandering her family!

Everyone fell silent with those three words.

If the one that was killed was just a maid, then it was absolutely nothing! But this matter now implicated the family's name!

Slandering the family was a huge crime in the Xiao Family!

If it were a light punishment, one would have to take 100 strokes from an iron rod. They would then be confined for a year.

If it were a heavy punishment, one would have to take 100 hits and be barred from receiving any treatments. This meant that the punished person would be left to die!

If the person survived, they would be thrown to the side family and never be allowed to enter the main family again!

The elders were stunned. They looked at Xiao Muling's upright figure and couldn't help but frown.

Xiao Liangxiao lowered her head. The expression on her face twisted, and she looked confused. 'Why is there something wrong with Xiao Muling today?'

Xiao Liuyuan and Xiao Ze's faces were pale. 'What should we do when it involves slandering the family? The matter is getting out of hand!'

"Forget it, forget it. Don't continue to pester me over a mere maid." A voice sounded from upstairs, intending to settle this matter as soon as possible.

They couldn't let this matter get out of hand. After all, Xiao Liangxiao was also involved.

"Forget it? Elders, no matter what, I'm the eldest daughter of the Xiao family's direct line of descent. How can I just let it go after being slandered? If everyone from the Xiao family kills someone in the future, they can push the blame to me and say that it was this daughter who killed them!

"If I were the only one involved in today's matter, I definitely wouldn't say anything. However, I'm the direct descendant of the Xiao family. The direct line of descent cannot tolerate such slander!"

Her words were firm and powerful. She lifted her eyes and looked at the lit attic; there was sharpness in her gaze!

'Forget it!? I brought everybody here, and I have no intention of letting this go!'

This person—who initially came here with an attitude of looking for counsel—suddenly became domineering. Xiao Qing watched from the side and was filled with astonishment. 'Is she really that Xiao Muling? Her beginning speech led the elders into admitting that Xiao Liangxiao was the one who killed the person. Now that she sees the family elders wanting to let this matter rest, she suddenly became aggressive!

'She revealed her identity as the eldest daughter of the direct line of descent. Other than the family leader, the other direct descendants have basically left the main family. Xiao Muling is protected by the family leader and is the only true descendant who remains in the Xiao family.

'She made it clear that she's the eldest daughter of the direct line of descent. She's reminding the elders that these people were slandering her, and that is slandering the Xiao family's direct line!'

Originally, Xiao Muling was nothing much. In the elders' eyes, she was just a piece of trash.

Now that the direct line of descent was involved, the three of them had to be punished no matter what because they had slandered the bloodline!

'Slan-slander the bloodline…' Xiao Liuyuan was so scared that he broke out into a cold sweat. He then looked at Xiao Liangxiao, who also glanced at him and gave him a look.

It was better for them to be punished than her!

Xiao Liuyuan frowned and gritted his teeth. "Elders, Xiao-er told me from the start that this maidservant's death had nothing to do with Eldest Young Lady. I was the one who was paranoid. This matter has nothing to do with Xiao-er!"

Even if they were punished, they couldn't let anything happen to Xiao Liangxiao! It concerned their family!

"Xiao Liuyuan and Xiao Ze have slandered the family bloodline and will hereby be punished according to the family rules!" The people on the second floor immediately spoke, fearing that they would drag Xiao Liangxiao into punishment if they were late!

Slandering Xiao Muling's family was a huge crime, and this couldn't be disputed. Even so, they couldn't implicate Xiao Liangxiao. After all, she was the person going to the Realm of Summoning!

With those words, Xiao Ze felt his vision go dark, and he fainted!