Chapter 3298: I Hope You’re Not Fooling Us This Time

Editor: Atlas Studios

Everyone’s eyes were focused on the photo on the table.

Standing behind him, Jacob also stole a glance at the photo.

After all, he was only responsible for delivering the envelope. Before the archbishop opened it, he did not know what was inside.

Looking at the photo displayed on the conference table, he was stunned as if he had been struck by lightning. “This is…?”

The others’ reactions were similar to his.

Lei Ting had taken Leonard’s place among the council.

He was still inexperienced, and the radicals did not respect him much.

Therefore, he was one of the last few people who saw the photo.

When he saw the person in the photo, he blurted out, “This isn’t… Miss Ji, right?”

Elder Xue was more experienced and was one of the three elders of the Privy Council.

After Leonard’s death, he had the upper hand.

He picked up the photo and then silently put it down. Without a word, he handed the photo to Nie Qingru. “Take a look.”

Nie Qingru had already guessed who it was after hearing the discussions.

Her entire body stiffened as she stared at Elder Xue with a sharp gaze.

Elder Xue was unmoved and asked her to take a look at the photo herself.

Nie Qingru’s back was like a bow as she slowly took the thin photo from him and lowered her head to look.

It was a printed version of an old, yellowed photo.

The print was new.

However, if one took a closer look at the yellow marks, they would know it was an old photo.

None of that was the point.

The focus was on the person.

It was actually… her when she was young!

Nie Qingru also saw a line of small words written in a fountain pen at the bottom-left corner. The handwriting was elegant and upright—it was Ji Qing’s handwriting. There was also a time and date.

Nie Qingru’s head buzzed, and her old migraine problem acted up. She looked extremely pale, and the corners of her mouth were tightly pursed.

She held the photo and did not take it to heart. Instead, her eyes were dark and murderous. “Who sent the photo?”

The council hall was silent.

The others had quietened down and did not say anything. However, they all looked at her. Their subtle expressions from before became even more subtler and indescribable.

Nie Qingru could only hear the sound of the wind blowing into her ears, as well as her furious questioning, “I’m asking who sent the photo!”

The entire place was dead silent!

At this moment.

Quentin stood up unhurriedly as if he was not intimidated by her imposing manner. He faced her directly and said indifferently, “Empress, is it important who sent the photo now? What’s important is the thousand-year-old reputation of the reclusive families. As the Empress, what should you do next?”

“What do you mean?” Nie Qingru stared at him as if she wanted to eat him up.

“Pfft.” Quentin’s sleeves brushed across the conference table. He might as well make himself clear. “Do you want the reclusive families’ age-old reputation or Nie Qixing?”

This short sentence blocked all of Nie Qingru’s escape routes.

Everyone looked at her.

This time, it included Elder Xue.

Elder Xue did not want Qiao Nian to destroy the prestige and status of the reclusive families, but before that, he wanted Nie Qingru to make the right ‘choice’.

Their gazes were like steel knives, leaving no room for negotiation.

What was even more unyielding was the neutral party’s attitude this time.

“I hope you can give us a satisfactory explanation this time and not continue to fool us.”