My Sexy CEO Wife

Chapter 561 - 558: There's Only One Path to Take

All thirty-one elders sat up straight, pricking their ears up and listening attentively.

Nangong Qi took a sip of his tea before continuing, "Bandits are like a Sharp Sword, a sword to be used against the officials. If we discard this Sharp Sword, we will become very passive. Don't you agree with this reasoning?"

None of the thirty-one elders spoke.

"I know you have reservations in your hearts, so you keep silent," Nangong Qi said with a faint smile. "The Palace Master's decision this time was too hasty, directly harming the foundations and interests of Piaomiao Palace. If we don't stand up against it... there will surely be great chaos in the future." While speaking, Nangong Qi quietly observed the expressions of the elders.

"The deed is done, what more can we do?" An elder sitting in the middle said with a wry smile, "The Palace Master is the one we watched grow up. We are well aware of what kind of person she is; once she makes a decision, not even eight horses can pull her back."

"The Palace Master is too stubborn."

"Even if we band together and try to persuade her, it probably won't be any use."

"Better to play dumb than to make the Palace Master unhappy."

The seated elders were abuzz with various opinions.

"Everyone, please calm down and hear me out," Nangong Qi gestured with his hand. "Piaomiao Palace belongs to all of us. It's our responsibility and duty to protect Piaomiao Palace from harm. Now that the Palace Master's decision has already injured the foundation of Piaomiao Palace, we absolutely cannot ignore it."

"What do you suggest we do?" an elder asked.

"The first step is to unite and persuade the Palace Master to change her mind," Nangong Qi raised a finger.

"What if that doesn't work?"

"Then we move on to the second step," Nangong Qi raised another finger. "Use force to compel the Palace Master to rescind the order."

"…"

All thirty-one elders changed their expressions. Use force to compel the Palace Master? Was that not rebellion?

"That is the last resort," Nangong Qi spoke slowly. "It must not be employed unless absolutely necessary."

"I disagree," an elder at the end of the table stood up. "I do not agree to using force to compel the Palace Master!"

"I also disagree!"

"And I! I disagree!"

"To use force against the Palace Master is to revolt! We will be scorned!"

Half of the elders expressed their disagreement with Nangong Qi's proposal, while the other half furrowed their brows and remained silent.

Nangong Qi seemed to anticipate the situation before him and showed no surprise. He just smiled faintly and said, "I understand your wish to protect the Palace Master! But have you ever considered, if the Palace Master continues down this path, how detrimental it will be to Piaomiao Palace?"

"Enough, stop talking," a forthright elder waved his hand. "Even if you talk till the skies fall, I won't agree. I have other matters to attend to. I'm leaving." After these words, the elder made to leave, but only took a few steps before his body wavered, and then he collapsed to the ground, his complexion turning deathly pale in an instant, "What's happening to me... Why do I feel so weak..."

"Thump!"

"Thump! Thump!!"

The other elders also fell to the ground one after another, each ashen-faced, with shallow breathing, and a dense layer of sweat beads on their foreheads.

"We've been poisoned!" an elder shouted.

"Indeed, you have been poisoned," Nangong Qi slowly stood up, hands clasped behind his back, pacing down leisurely. "But don't worry, you won't be in mortal danger for the time being." Nangong Qi had taken precautions during the feast with the many elders, ready to poison them if they disagreed with his proposal. With the elders under his control, he could then negotiate at leisure.

"It was you... you were the one who poisoned us!"

"Nangong Qi! Why would you do such a thing! Why!!!"

"How dare you, to actually poison us. If the Palace Master finds out about this, she will absolutely not spare you!"

"Detestable!"

"Villain!"

"Despicable and shameless!"

Many elders cursed furiously.

"Anyone who swears again, I'll cut out his tongue," Nangong Qi said lightly, and then the elders shut their mouths.

Although they dared not curse anymore, these elders still glared at Nangong Qi with rage-filled eyes. If looks could kill, Nangong Qi would have been killed countless times by now. Ultimately, the elders had been careless, which led to this disaster.

Even now, they were puzzled—how had they been poisoned? They had not drunk tea, nor had they touched many things. By all accounts, they shouldn't have been poisoned.

"You must be very curious," Nangong Qi said with a slight smile. "How I managed to poison you, right? I might as well tell you." Nangong Qi pointed to the incense burner in the center of the hall, "See that incense burner? I placed a Poisonous Herb inside. The poison gas it emits is invisible and colorless. Just one whiff and you're affected."

So that was it!

Realization dawned on everyone's faces. Nangong Qi was truly crafty and cautious, making him unpredictable and impossible to guard against.

"Now we can have a proper talk," Nangong Qi smiled. "Help me force Shangguan Yunyue, and I'll give you the Antidote. How does that sound?"

"Dream on!" an elder shouted. "Even if I die, I won't bow down to you!"

"You want me to oppose Palace Master Shangguan? No way!" another elder exclaimed.

"Go ahead and kill me. If I frown even a little, then I'm your son."

"Humph! You think you can threaten us like that? You're too naive! We've lived for centuries and have had our fill. Even if we die, we have no regrets."

"After we're gone, Palace Master Shangguan will surely avenge us!"

Over a dozen elders glared and roared.

"I knew you wouldn't give in easily," Nangong Qi said with a hint of a sinister smile. "Poisoning you was just the first step, the second step is next... Elder Hu, you've recently welcomed a chubby and adorable grandson. Elder Liu, you've just taken a pretty young concubine... Elder Zhao, your granddaughters are quite beautiful... Elder Wu, you have no children, but two excellent disciples..." With each statement, an elder's face paled drastically.

"I warn you! Don't you dare harm my family! Otherwise..."

"Otherwise, what?" Nangong Qi asked indifferently. "Can you eat me? Or kill me? Let me make it clear to you—today, there's only one path for you, and that is to submit to me and follow my lead hereafter. If you're unwilling... heh, I will torment you slowly and also target your families. When that time comes, you better not regret it."

"Bastard!"

"Shameless!"

"Lowly!"

"You will surely face retribution!"

By threatening them with their families, Nangong Qi had struck at their very lifelines.

These elders could disregard their own lives, but they could not stand idly by and watch their families suffer the consequences.