Chapter 12.1: What I Want Is to Slap Your Face

Shen Lang found himself unable to resist his eyes falling over Tian Thirteen's despicable figure. He represented Tian Heng and the Black Warrior Gang.

Just now, while Shen Lang busied himself in the other room, Lin Mo sold him out. Surely he proceeded to send off his many subordinates over to inform Xu Jiazhu and the rest of the Xu Family. Tian Thirteen saw it no doubt and he was well within Lin MO's range to stop his plans, yet he did not. He had no intentions of stopping him let alone remind Shen Lang of Lin Mo's doing.

So, it seems he'd have to confront three big giants: Xu Family, Lin Family, and the Black Warrior Gang.

Of course, the smarted path he could thread upon was quickly admitting, albeit falsely, that he had stolen the recipe and immediately be on his way to grab hold of a soft rice. He would then be able to take revenge after gaining power and prestige from his affluent wife.

And Xu Qianqian readily agreed in front of all the officials that were he to plead guilty, all of his sins from the past would be washed under the bridge. No one would blame him for his past mistakes.

But… he couldn't very well agree to that. He's a man, no, a handsome man who valued his reputation dearly. The same would go for Xu Qianqian. She too valued face. If Sen Lang was to admit his faults, she would not go after him publicly. At best, she'd commission the Black Warrior Gang to take care of Shen Lang in the dark shadows. That would that after this, his death would come no doubt if he isn't careful.

How laughable… to trick this handsome man, you dare?! They wish to pour dirty water on my face and have me, Shen Lang, the pretty boy, bear falsely the responsibility?! Hah! Not in a million years! They'd never see the light of it!

Shen Lang's alluring eyes locked on Xu Qianqian. "You claim that I have stolen your recipe, but where is your proof?"

Xu Jiazhu snorted. "You're nothing but a trash, an ignorant waste! My Xu Family has been involved in the silk manufacturing business for decades! This golden dye recipe which you, Shen Lang, robbed from us was developed by me and Qianqian after painstaking trials and efforts! Do you not know that amount of manpower and materials we used?! It's far too many to count! It had taken us several years of hard effort! We had chosen to hide this secret recipe to surprise the King, but never had I expected that you would dare steal from my Xu Family! Not only so, you actually have the guts to fool around with our female servant!"

Then, Xu Jiazhu turned to his dearest daughter and spoke exasperatedly. "Qianqian, why'd you put such an important thing in your drawer?"

"I apologize, father. I sincerely believed wholeheartedly in Shen Lang…" She bit her lips. "I never expected him to do something like this…"

Xu Qianqian faced Shen Lang. "Shen Lang… a few servants of my family bullied you in our Xu Family house. I whipped them out of ire and anger upon seeing their maltreatments towards you, ordering anyone who dares slander your name be chased out of the house. No one ever befriended nor did they bothered to care for you, however, I didn't mind spending time with you. I don't mind your muteness, your mental r.e.t.a.r.dation, and even your stupidity. I enjoyed coming over to talk to you every day. I was so good… so kind to you so then… why would you do such a thing? Even if it was a revenge for abandoning you, why couldn't you take revenge against me only? But why my Xu Family's livelihood? And… if you hadn't committed those bad things, my father would have never chased you out…"

Soon as the words spoken echoed the air, the faces of the officials present changed slightly.

Half the officials believed the words Xu Jiazhu and Xu Qianqian said earlier.

Indeed, the Xu Family was a silk manufacturing business, otherwise, their silk would never be used exclusively by the King. They also knew fairly well Shen Lang's reputation and state of mind. He was dumb and mentally r.e.t.a.r.ded. It's possible Shen Lang stole the recipe from them.

"You have no evidence and I have no evidence. everyone present here would believe this recipe was created by your family. I'd have a difficult time arguing in my defense."

Xu Jiazhu sneered. "As long as you know."

It's a wonderful occasion. Not only would they grab in their hands a new golden dye recipe, Shen Lang would be sent straight to prison.

Xu Jiazhu laughed coldly. He found joy and happiness within. "The truth has been revealed. Arrest him! I do not believe he would not fess up the truth under torture!"

"Why is the Xu Family so anxious?" Shen Lang beamed. "Though it's hard for me to argue, it's quite easy for me to prove."

It's a shame. He hoped this sort of foreseeable situation would have never occurred. But it did. Fortunately, he reserved another golden dye recipe and other recipes in hand.

Following, Shen Lang turned to Xu Jiazhu. "Easy. The method to prove my innocence is quite simple. I'd only need to formulate a dye better than this recipe. The truth then is as clear as the sun, right?"

Xu Jiazhu bellowed in laughter. "You've already stolen our recipe. What's to say you haven't tinkered with it and turned it to something slightly better?"

Shen Lang smiled softly. "I'm no professional, this you know well, but your family is. You claim I've s.n.a.t.c.hed away your recipe from your house so let's compare. We'll see which dye is n.o.bler in texture and feel. Isn't this fair and impartial?"