CHAPTER 962: CHAPTER 962: LI QIAO MEETS XIAO HONGDAO

Five minutes before the wedding banquet started, Shang Zonghai and Xiao Hongdao were still absent.

At this moment, the injured Xia Siyu arrived. She wore a dress paired with a buttoned off-the-shoulder shawl, cleverly concealing the bandage on her right arm.

Upon entering the hall, Xia Siyu followed Li Qiao’s figure and walked over.

Midway, Xiao Yehui leisurely approached her.

Xia Siyu stopped and looked up, "Something you need?"

Xiao Yehui’s gaze glided over her right arm, and his expression remained gentle, "Injured?"

"Are you asking knowingly?" Xia Siyu replied irritably, planning to bypass him from the side, "Didn’t manage to die this time, sorry to disappoint you."

"Lao Wu..." Xiao Yehui sighed softly as Xia Siyu kept walking, "Thank Xiao Qi for me."

Xia Siyu didn’t look back, "Say it yourself, I’m not passing messages for an animal."

Xiao Yehui watched her back with a complex look, closing his eyes, his expression turning slightly cold.

...

When the wedding began, all the guests were invited to the red carpet in the corridor to watch the ceremony.

Su Moshi and Wu Minmin wore Myanmar’s unique national wedding attire, slowly stepping onto the red carpet under the lead of flower children and the honor guard.

In the front row, the Border Five Sons stood side by side, watching Su Moshi approach from afar, each with smiles full of blessings.

Yin Mo was disguised as a waiter, her face altered, wearing a thin veil, blending inconspicuously with the crowd.

Only Liuzi knew that on the day of Su Moshi’s wedding, everyone was present.

And across from Li Qiao, it was Xiao Yehui.

The once six sons reunited in such a manner, which was utterly ironic.

The traditional Myanmar wedding process is extremely complicated. After walking the red carpet, next comes the blessing by the bridesmaid.

In the State Banquet Hall at this moment, the guests were fully concentrated.

Only Li Qiao subtly glanced at her phone messages. Just as she looked up, someone abruptly said behind her, "Tan Sri, Prince Wu Lv requests your presence in the back garden."

Prince Wu Lv was indeed absent during the blessing ceremony.

Li Qiao looked back, remained silent for three seconds, and raised her brow, "Lead the way."

In an instant, the two vanished among the crowd.

...

The wedding continued to proceed in full swing. After Li Qiao left, the formation at the scene subtly changed.

The place where the Border Five Sons stood was now replaced by different people, and Shen Qingye and others were also nowhere to be seen.

In the back garden, Li Qiao leisurely followed the waiter forward.

As they ventured deeper, the air surrounding the garden seemed to stand still, silent but brimming with an undercurrent.

The waiter’s pace quickened, as if guilty of something.

Li Qiao followed calmly, seemingly oblivious to it all.

Finally, at the garden’s end, near an ornate pagoda, there was a table and two chairs, the fragrance of tea filling the air, with someone sitting there.

This was Li Qiao’s first meeting with Xiao Hongdao.

The other person’s aura was extremely restrained, sitting under the pagoda like an ordinary elder.

But the frown lines and eagle eyes revealed the presence of authority nurtured over years of holding power, which could not be concealed.

Ignoring the anxious waiter, Li Qiao lifted her skirt as she walked up the path.

There was the fragrance of incense under the pagoda, but it couldn’t hide the sins covering Xiao Hongdao.

Li Qiao took a seat, nodded calmly, "With your status, there’s no need for such grand gestures. A message would’ve sufficed, and I’d have come."

Xiao Hongdao took a sip of tea, his brows relaxing, showing a touch of kindness, "It seems that waiter used the wrong method."

Li Qiao remained noncommittal, meeting his gaze across the table.

Xiao Hongdao sighed lightly, then, as if jokingly, gave an order to an empty corner, "It’s our first meeting and already left a bad impression on this young lady. Go deal with it."

Though no one replied, Li Qiao sensed a shadow passing through the shadows.

Li Qiao leaned back against her chair, appearing unfazed and composed.

"Young lady, courageous and indeed a rare talent," Xiao Hongdao’s praise met with Li Qiao’s indifferent response, "You’re flattering me."

The courtesy and politeness Li Qiao displayed was impeccable.

Perhaps it was Xiao Hongdao’s usual approach: courtesy before aggression, and this time was no different.

After sitting quietly for a moment, Xiao Hongdao drank half a cup of tea and directly asked, "Young lady, tell me, what has Xiao Yeyan done to offend you?"

Li Qiao looked up, unfazed, "If you wish to find out, it wouldn’t be difficult for you to check."

Xiao Hongdao laughed heartily, pointing at Li Qiao, and remarked, "No wonder Shang Zonghai holds you in such high regard. Not only are you courageous, but also smart. You’re much better than your mother."

Maintaining an unchanging stance, Li Qiao slightly curved her lips, "Sometimes, being outstanding doesn’t guarantee one’s life."

Xiao Hongdao raised an eyebrow, lowered his head to sip tea, scrutinizing her over the rim of his cup, "Oh? Then why don’t you tell me, how to guarantee one’s life?"

"All just personal views, not suitable to show off before you."

The glint in Xiao Hongdao’s eyes dimmed slightly as he gently put down his teacup, chuckling, "Retreating for advancement is a good strategy, but using it too often might indicate a lack of confidence."

Li Qiao nodded in agreement, "You’re right."

Xiao Hongdao’s gaze darkened, shedding the calm between his brows, his voice much deeper, "Young lady, opposing Charlman, did you gain anything?"

"Naturally." Li Qiao keenly observed his every move, her tone unchanging, "Old Mr. Xiao’s methods are impressive, I still have much to learn."

Xiao Hongdao shook his head, a strange sense of pity appearing in his eyes, "Child, it’s valuable to have self-awareness, meddling with one of my sons and thinking you can topple Charlman?"

Li Qiao casually picked up an overturned teacup from the table and poured tea for Xiao Hongdao first, "My father often taught me to be aware of circumstances and not to overestimate myself. I always keep it in mind, so... I never act beyond my capabilities."

Implying that toppling Charlman is within her power.

Xiao Hongdao had encountered many boasters and those who attempted to resist, but such confident bold words from Li Qiao made him chuckle again.

"Too confident." Xiao Hongdao watched Li Qiao’s teapot movements, his expression subtly shadowed.

Li Qiao set down the teapot, poured tea for herself, and drank, "Not confidence, but knowing one’s own and the enemy’s strengths. If you truly planned to act against me, it wouldn’t be at the Cabinet Office."

Xiao Hongdao gently exerted force on the teacup, a slight cracking sound emanating from his grip, "Why do you say that?"

Li Qiao raised her cup toward him, "For so many years, you’ve never left any evidence. Without a scapegoat ready, how could you act rashly?"

As she spoke, Li Qiao drank the tea in her cup in one go. As she placed the Yixing clay cup on the table, it broke, splitting in two.

She smiled apologetically, then curled her lips intriguingly, "But speaking of a scapegoat, your abandoned son Xiao Yeyan should be a good choice."