"Indeed, the Tang family doesn't even recognize their own kin. How ridiculous," Xia Qingtian said, fully understanding Miao Tong's astonishment. She figured Miao Tong wouldn't have imagined that the hidden master of the Tang family he'd been searching for was right under his nose.
"Even if she is a Tang family member, so what? There are plenty of Tang family members! Who knows which collateral branch she's a traitor from!" the young Tang family member scoffed dismissively.
As soon as he finished speaking, he was immediately echoed by other Tang family members.
"So, you admit she's a Tang family member?" Xia Qingtian wore a mysterious smile.
"So what if I admit it? I already said it, who knows which collateral branch she's a traitor from!" the young Tang family member replied disdainfully.
"I've heard that for some reason, the Tang family only has a pair of twins every generation, and twins are designated as the overt and hidden masters of the Tang family from birth," Xia Qingtian stated. "If Qingkong is the Tang family head you've brought back, then is he the overt or hidden master?"
"Naturally..." At this point, the young Tang family member dared not be presumptuous. He turned to the elder, awaiting his response.
"The Tang family does have this arrangement, but unfortunately, both the overt and hidden masters of the Tang family met their unfortunate end during this period, which is why Qingkong was temporarily appointed as the new head of the Tang family," the elder explained. "The person before you is our Tang family's new head. If you cannot show proper respect, no matter who you are or who backs you, our Tang family will seek justice for our new head!"
"What a coincidence, I also want to seek justice from you," a pampered and pretty female voice echoed from the private room where the Miao family was seated. Immediately after, a娃娃脸 (wáwá liǎn - doll-like face) filled with indignation appeared before everyone. "I was alive and well, how could I have 'met my unfortunate end'? Do you consider yourselves more authoritative than the King of Hell? What, did the Black and White Impermanence send you a WeChat message?"
Miao Tong looked at Erya, then at Daya, stammering, "You, you, you!"
"Move aside!" Erya shot Miao Tong a glare and then strode proudly to Daya's side.
With two faces that looked almost identical, it was clear to anyone that these two girls were twins.
"This!" The Tang family members, seemingly having not anticipated this, gasped in unison.
Not only had the overt master of the Tang family not died, but the hidden master had also been found!
This!
"Daya, were these grandsons bullying you?" Erya cracked her knuckles with a "kā-tā" sound. "Come on! If I don't beat them until they beg for mercy today, I'll write my name, Tang Youli, backward!"
Upon hearing Erya announce her name, the Tang family members turned even paler.
Indeed, she was the hidden master of the Tang family.
"Don't worry, I will settle this score with them, one by one, slowly," Tang Youxi, the overt master of the Tang family, said with a stern face, her cold gaze seemingly issuing a death warrant to these Tang family members.
"They really are twins!" The onlookers downstairs exclaimed in surprise.
Most of the people present were from noble families and had long heard of the Tang family's peculiar rules.
Opportunities to see the Tang family twins were indeed rare, especially with both the overt and hidden masters appearing simultaneously, which was unheard of!
From the words of Daya and Erya, everyone also understood that the Tang family's previous announcement of the overt master's misfortune and disappearance was definitely not straightforward.
At this moment, their interest was piqued, and their eyes shone.
This auction was worth it!
"Old man, I've heard that medical technology is advanced now," the elder said, knowing he couldn't admit anything at this point. "It's not difficult to change someone's appearance."
"That's right!" Hearing the elder say this, the other Tang family members immediately chimed in, adding with a sigh, "We truly never imagined you would go to such lengths for some benefit!
To undergo plastic surgery to impersonate twins and seize power within the Tang family!
You are truly disgracing the Tang family name!"
"Today! I, on behalf of the new family head, will expel the two of you from the Tang family!" the Tang family elder declared with a raised arm. "Considering your youth, we will not pursue charges for your fraudulent impersonation. Be good to yourselves!"
Though he said this, the elder had already made up his mind: he would absolutely not let these two troublemakers survive the night! As soon as this was over, he would have them both strangled and sent to accompany that old man!
The other Tang family members seemed to share this sentiment, exchanging glances.
"I'm gonna..." Erya, with her fiery temper, couldn't hold back any longer. Just as she was about to erupt, Xia Qingtian stopped her.
"This is the most shameless statement I've ever heard in my life. I can't help but want to applaud you~" Xia Qingtian said, actually clapping her hands. "If you're not nominated for an Oscar this year, I suspect there's some conspiracy! Should I forge a little golden statue and burn it for you later?"
"You!" The elder's expression changed drastically, his brows furrowed. "I've tolerated you for a long time!"
"Then keep tolerating, anyway..." Xia Qingtian appraised the elder from head to toe. "You won't be able to tolerate much longer, will you?"
"You!" Upon hearing this, the elder's face turned completely black. He clenched his fist at his side and muttered, "You're courting death!"
With that, the elder waved his sleeve.
At this moment, Erya directly grabbed Xia Qingtian's wrist and pulled her behind her, sneering, "Poisoning someone in front of so many people? You really have a death wish!"
After sensing the type of poison the elder had used, Erya became even angrier and resorted to curses. "At your age, to use such poison on young girls! In our village, you'd be stoned to death! You old scoundrel!"
"Don't spout nonsense!" The elder naturally denied it, snorting and turning his head away. "This person is wicked and has committed many evils. She's fated to have a short life even without me lifting a finger."
"Don't worry, she certainly won't die before you," Xia Qingtian maintained her infuriatingly smiling demeanor.
"You're still smiling! If this actually touches you, you'll rot from your lungs throughout your body and die. Medical examinations will be unable to detect the illness, and even amputation and blood transfusion will be useless!" Daya also frowned, saying, "My grandfather had already completely banned this kind of terrifying poison, forbidding Tang family members from using it. Tang Yindong! How dare you!"
Upon hearing about the poison's effects, the crowd also gasped in shock.
Before anyone could react, an angry shout followed, "I also want to know, Shorty Dong, how dare you!"
"Professor Tang?" Xia Qingtian immediately recognized the voice. Looking down, she indeed saw a familiar face. Beside Professor Tang was Professor Miao, wearing a round hat?
Why were they here?
"I invited them," Erya whispered, answering Xia Qingtian's unspoken question. "I made the call earlier. Before calling your man, I contacted Old Tang first. You... are you going to scold me?"
"I won't scold you this time," Xia Qingtian said, looking at Professor Tang who was striding up the stairs with imposing momentum, and silently gave Erya a thumbs-up in her heart.
Now that the overt master of the Tang family and two generations of hidden masters of the Tang family were all present, she wanted to see what further trouble this pack of dogs from the Tang family could stir up!
Today, she would vindicate Daya.
She would kill gods who blocked her and smash Buddhas who blocked her!