After Marrying the Officer Chapter 1357 - 1356: Main Story Finale 29

However, Huo Shiqian’s respite at home was short-lived. With Guo Jiumin’s apprehension and Xia Lan’s capture, a multitude of pressing matters demanded Huo Shiqian’s immediate attention.

Mere days later, a shocking revelation emerged from Huo Shiqian’s end: the past kidnapping of Xia Chuyi was, in fact, intricately linked to Guo Jiumin!

It transpired that Guo Jiumin, the youngest son born in his twilight years, harbored ambitions to usurp the Guo Family Patriarch position from Guo Jiacheng’s father, leveraging the deep affection the elder Master Guo held for him.

At that crucial juncture, Guo Jiacheng’s father and the esteemed Mr. and Mrs. Ou Zhen Ting were stationed at the border.

Consequently, Guo Jiumin concocted a scheme to abduct the Ou family’s child, intending to later feign a heroic rescue and thus secure the unwavering support of the Ou couple.

Yet, the plan faltered unexpectedly. While the child vanished, they never fell into Guo Jiumin’s possession.

This unforeseen turn of events rendered Guo Jiumin powerless to execute his manipulative tactics.

Instead, the elder Master Guo caught wind of the clandestine operation and, terrified of the Ou family’s retributive fury, chose to aid Guo Jiumin in concealing the truth.

As a direct consequence of this botched endeavor, Guo Jiumin forfeited any chance of claiming the Guo Family Patriarch title.

This incident alone stands as one of the primary catalysts for Guo Jiumin’s fervent desire to capture Xia Chuyi upon learning of her supposed shared abilities with Xia Lan.

Guo Jiumin harbored an unshakeable conviction that had Xia Chuyi been within his grasp back then, he would have undoubtedly ascended to the patriarchship.

Now, he firmly believed that acquiring Xia Chuyi would pave the way for his triumphant return, utterly convinced she was the prophesied Chosen Daughter.

Upon being apprised of these developments, the entire Ou Family reacted with profound astonishment.

Beyond this startling revelation, Huo Shiqian harbored another critical piece of information he wished to impart to Xia Chuyi privately.

"Chuyi," Huo Shiqian began, his expression grave, "concerning the border skirmish, Guo Jiumin, driven by his selfish agenda, illicitly peddled intelligence to a foreign nation, directly leading to Guo Jiacheng’s perilous situation at the border." He continued, his voice hardening, "This constitutes an act of outright treason."

"Furthermore, Xia Lan, complicit in his scheme, is equally guilty of treason."

"Additionally, the matter of Xia Lan poisoning Cao Cuixia has also been unequivocally brought to light."

Hearing this, Xia Chuyi gasped in shock. "What? Cao Guihua didn't commit suicide? She was poisoned by Xia Lan?"

"Precisely," Huo Shiqian affirmed with a solemn nod. "Even the very poison Lian’er employed not long ago was procured through her."

"Much like yourself, she possessed certain 'secrets'," Huo Shiqian explained, "which enabled her to maintain a significant advantage in numerous dealings."

"However, unlike you, her over-reliance on these 'secrets' and her constant, obsessive comparisons with you ultimately led her astray from the righteous path."

"On the previous occasion, we extended a measure of leniency and chose not to pursue severe repercussions against her.

"This time..." Huo Shiqian’s gaze sharpened, "she shall face justice and cannot be spared."

Previously, Xia Lan’s life was spared due to lingering concerns that Xia Lan and Xia Chuyi shared an intrinsic connection or certain hidden secrets intertwined between them.

In essence, their earlier decision to spare Xia Lan stemmed from a fear that any harm befalling her might inadvertently impact Xia Chuyi as well.

However, it has now been definitively established that Xia Lan betrayed Xia Chuyi’s coveted 'secret' to others, rendering her accountability absolute and precluding any possibility of leniency.

To do otherwise, to spare Xia Lan based merely on a speculative 'connection' or unfounded fears, would be a grave miscarriage of justice.

Most critically, given the current volatile circumstances, harboring Xia Lan any longer would undoubtedly invite endless complications and peril.

"Consequently," Huo Shiqian declared, his eyes darkening with resolve, "Xia Lan, Guo Jiumin, and several of Guo Jiumin’s principal subordinates have all been condemned to the ultimate penalty: death."