chapter 13 The Xiao family's plan

Outside the Tang family villa, several dozen jeeps arrived, and fully armed soldiers stormed into the Tang residence.
The Tang family members were immediately alarmed. Fernan Tang, who had already gone to bed, hastily got up and, upon seeing the soldiers, his face turned pale as he anxiously asked, "What's going on, sir?"
"Take him away," came the order, and Fernan Tang was forcibly escorted by two men.
Meanwhile, the other Tang family members who were asleep were also forcibly awakened.
At the same time, at Camellia Tang's house...
Izaic Tang and Fawn He were already asleep.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, there was a loud crash as a group of people burst in and forcefully took them away.
At the Jiang Zhong Grand Hotel, on the top floor, inside a secret room...
Camellia Tang was bound, and soon all the Tang family members, including her grandfather Fernan Tang, her father Izaic Tang, her uncle Jayiay Tang, her second uncle Kayven Tang, and several dozen other Tang family members, were brought to this place.
All of them were bound and utterly bewildered.
They had no idea why they had offended the Xiao family or why they had been brought to the Xiao family villa. Their faces displayed sheer panic.
In the basement, on a chair...
Olav Xiao sat, a cigarette in his mouth.
He was accompanied by several heavily armed soldiers. He appeared cold and indifferent as he asked, "Camellia Tang, do you know why I've bound you?"
Camellia Tang was confused.
She hadn't damaged the painting, so how could she be responsible for what appeared in the video?
Fernan Tang, who was bound, pleaded, "General Xiao, our Tang family has never offended the Xiao family. My son Farad Tang has a good relationship with Trivon Xiao from your family. Why have you brought our entire family here? Please, let us go. If we've made a mistake, I'll make amends and personally visit the Xiao family to apologize."
Olav Xiao raised his hand slightly, interrupting Fernan Tang, and said, "Camellia Tang, at the auction banquet, you damaged a painting worth 1.8 billion yuan. Fernan Tang, I'll let you go back if you sell off the Tang family's assets, gather 1.8 billion yuan, and use that money to redeem your family members. If you can produce the money, we'll release you. If not, you'll all die."
"What?"
"1.8 billion?"
"Camellia Tang, what have you done?"
"How could you damage a painting worth 1.8 billion?"
The bound Tang family members were shocked by the enormous amount and began accusing Camellia Tang.
They scolded her, blaming her for bringing such a massive problem to the Tang family.
Camellia Tang felt like she couldn't explain herself, as if she were a mute who couldn't speak.
Olav Xiao gave the order, "Release Fernan Tang."
Before taking action, he had investigated the Tang family. The total assets of all the Tang family members amounted to approximately 1.5 billion. With this one painting, he could bankrupt the Tang family for good.
After Fernan Tang was freed from his restraints, he approached Camellia Tang and, in frustration, slapped her hard, shouting, "You useless brat! You've brought disaster upon the Tang family!"
Camellia Tang's face turned red from the slap, and tears welled up in her eyes. She cried out, "Grandpa, it wasn't me, I swear."
"You still dare to argue? Would General Xiao wrongly accuse you?" Fernan Tang was furious and delivered several more slaps.
After the beating, he kneeled on the ground, almost like a lifeless dog, pleading desperately, "General Xiao, please spare the Tang family."
Olav Xiao coldly responded, "Spare the Tang family? Who has ever spared my Xiao family? Because of one call from Camellia Tang, Luby Ye from Qian Jun Group targeted my Xiao family and left us bankrupt."
Camellia Tang finally realized and shouted, "It was you who framed me, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Olav Xiao admitted without hesitation. "I framed you. So what? Whether I take the 1.8 billion from the Tang family or not, I will take it. As the Deputy Commander of the Western Frontier, it's easy for me to wipe out dozens of Tang family members."
Fernan Tang seemed to have lost all hope, lying paralyzed on the ground.
In an anguished tone, he lamented, "It's over, the Tang family is finished."
"Throw this old man out."
"Yes."
Two heavily armed men approached, forcefully lifting the weeping Fernan Tang and escorting him away.
The Tang family members present were all in shock.
General Xiao meant business, and it was all because of Camellia Tang.
"Camellia Tang, you jinx, you ruined the Tang family!"
"How could I have a daughter like you!"
"Camellia Tang, this is your fault alone. Why should our entire family be involved?"
"General, I have nothing to do with Camellia Tang. Please release me!"
"We don't want to die! General Xiao, please spare us! There's someone responsible for this injustice, it's all Camellia Tang's fault. Seek revenge on her and let us go!"
The Tang family members begged desperately.
Facing the overwhelming power of Olav Xiao, they were utterly helpless.
Hearing her family's pleas, Camellia Tang even contemplated death. She was overwhelmed with anger, and in an instant, she fainted.
Olav Xiao made a signal, and someone brought a basin of water and splashed it on Camellia Tang's face.
Camellia Tang, who had passed out, regained consciousness once more.
Olav Xiao rose from his seat and approached Camellia Tang. He held a dagger in his hand and lifted her chin, running the blade gently across her fair cheek.
In a cold and demanding tone, he asked, "Camellia Tang, ten years ago, you entered the burning Jiang family residence and suffered burns. Yet now, your face appears quite beautiful. Who was the person you rescued from the fire back then, and where is he?"
"I... I don't know," Camellia Tang replied, her face turning pale, and her body trembling.
"Ssh!"
Olav Xiao's dagger made a sharp cut, leaving a scar on Camellia Tang's face. Blood flowed, instantly staining half of her face red.
"Ah!"
Camellia Tang cried out in pain, struggling desperately. However, her limbs were bound, and no matter how hard she fought, it was in vain.
The other Tang family members who were also bound trembled in fear. Some of the more timid ones even fainted from shock.
"Tell me, who was the person you saved, and did he ever come looking for you? Also, what is your relationship with Luby Ye, and why does he hold you in such high regard?"
"I don't know, I really don't know. I have no idea about it," Camellia Tang sobbed.
"Ssh!"
Olav Xiao made another cut, and a fresh scar appeared on Camellia Tang's face.
She felt the searing pain on her cheek, and she could clearly feel the blood trickling down to her neck.
Olav Xiao shouted, "Who was the person you saved? Did he ever return for you?"
Overwhelmed, Camellia Tang didn't have any answers.
She cried, "I don't know, I truly don't know. At that time, I didn't realize it was the Jiang family's house, and I only learned later. I don't know who the person I saved was. After I pulled him out of the fire, his face was already burnt, and he jumped into the river, swept away by the water. I don't know who he is, and he never came back to find me. General Xiao, I'm telling the truth. Please spare me. Please..."
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