Chapter 72: I Belong to Phoenix!
Early morning. Phoenix Palace.
Zhong Daolong sat at his grand, luxurious oval desk, attending to documents. Chen Fenglei stood beside him, diligently pouring tea and offering pastries at intervals. Zhong Daolong had the habit of eating snacks while working, and he insisted on a precise order: after a bite of something sweet, the next mouthful must be something mild or bitter—matcha or chocolate, for instance. Otherwise, he felt overwhelmed. He was a man who craved novelty in every bite.
Once Zhong Daolong had finished reviewing all the documents, he took the black tea Chen Fenglei handed him, drank deeply, and sighed, saying, “You’ve been holding back all morning. Speak, what urgent matter do you have to report?”
“I knew I couldn’t hide it from Your Majesty,” Chen Fenglei replied cheerfully. “It’s not that urgent, really—just a report from the Imperial Guard last night. They say they’ve found the mastermind behind the attack on Her Highness on the Old Land.”
With a bang, Zhong Daolong slammed his teacup onto the desk. The expensive Ru kiln cup shattered instantly, tea splashing and spreading across the mirror-like moon crystal surface. Zhong Daolong glared at Chen Fenglei and shouted angrily, “And this isn’t an urgent matter? Then what is?”
“Who did it? Have they been caught? I want to see who had the audacity to lay a hand on my daughter.”
“Please don’t be angry, Your Majesty.” Chen Fenglei wiped the spilled tea with a towel as he explained, “Let me clarify first. Once I’ve explained, you can judge whether it’s urgent. If it were truly critical, I would have reported immediately.”
Zhong Daolong thought this reasonable. Chen Fenglei was always steady and reliable; it was unlikely he’d make such a mistake. His anger faded, and he asked, “Then tell me, what’s the situation?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Chen Fenglei signaled for fresh tea to be brought, then explained, “This matter is also connected to that Old Land youth, Tang Fei.”
Chen Fenglei laid out everything he knew, then looked at Zhong Daolong and said, “Your Majesty, as you see, Her Highness has already apprehended the culprits and avenged herself.”
Zhong Daolong tilted his head, scrutinizing Chen Fenglei. “So, you mean to say you don’t quite believe the Yan family are truly the masterminds behind the Old Land incident?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Chen Fenglei bowed.
“You wouldn’t dare? Your attitude is obvious enough, yet you say you wouldn’t dare?” Zhong Daolong sneered. “You think the Yan family couldn’t have been so foolish as to strike at Xiu Xue now?”
“Yes,” Chen Fenglei nodded. “Even if they were the masterminds, wouldn’t they be keeping a low profile at this point? Why would they openly declare themselves the culprits?”
Zhong Daolong pondered, then asked, “So, Xiu Xue took over the Yan family’s assets and returned two corpses to them?”
He cared little for the assets, but the method was impressively ruthless.
“Not corpses, exactly,” Chen Fenglei clarified. “According to Dailede, the Yan father and daughter couldn’t withstand interrogation. When their brains underwent information extraction, they reacted so violently—”
“So, vegetative states?” Zhong Daolong snapped. His subordinates always overcomplicated things with jargon.
“Haha, Your Majesty is astute.”
“Was all this handled by Xiu Xue herself?”
“I heard Her Highness put Tang Fei fully in charge.”
“Hmm,” Zhong Daolong mused. “You suspect he orchestrated the case?”
Chen Fenglei quickly denied, “I wouldn’t dare. I think Her Highness led the way, and Tang Fei assisted. He’s new to Nova, unfamiliar with its intricacies—how could he manage such complex relations?”
Zhong Daolong nodded. “It gives certain people an opportunity.”
“And isn’t that an opportunity for Your Majesty as well?” Chen Fenglei smiled.
“Proceed as we previously discussed,” Zhong Daolong instructed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And Xiu Xue—what has she been busy with lately?”
“Looking for a school,” Chen Fenglei replied with a smile. “The Dean of the Imperial First Military Academy, Shang Xiulin, has come to Phoenix Palace several times, complaining that Her Highness follows him everywhere—even to his home for meals, much to his wife’s distress.”
---
“Wow, so many?” Phoenix exclaimed, gazing at the long row of documents on the table. “The Yan family really went all out this time.”
“They want both people and money—such luck doesn’t exist,” Tang Fei said. “We can’t let the Yan family walk away with everything, can we?”
Phoenix brushed her long hair, exuding a captivating charm. She shot Tang Fei a glance, “I heard when the Yan father and daughter were carried out, they were already unconscious.”
“Really?” Tang Fei feigned shock. “The Imperial Guard is so ruthless? I’ll have to be careful not to fall into their hands.”
“You’re playing innocent after profiting,” Phoenix said, annoyed. Given the Imperial Guard’s fearless reputation, it was no surprise they’d use harsh methods on those accused of attacking the princess. Besides, Tang Fei should have anticipated this outcome when she scolded Dailede for incompetence.
“To be honest, they got what they deserved. I don’t pity them at all.” Tang Fei spoke with conviction. “On the Old Land, people accept their fate—sometimes for a rabbit or a goat, even a stray glance, we fight to the death. It’s always either you or me.”
“No prey escapes a predator, so when we meet them, we fight with everything we have. If I kill them all, I survive.”
“To me, the Yan father and daughter are predators—just more civilized and refined. But their deeds are no different. If I hadn’t promised that old man Huo Zhenwei, I wouldn’t have let them walk out alive. Debts must be paid, murder must be avenged. There’s nothing more to say.”
“There’s no choice—one must keep one’s word. If I promised to spare their lives, I have to do it. Otherwise, no one will trust me in business ever again.”
“Huo Zhenwei is a formidable man,” Phoenix said. “I’ve dealt with him a few times. He’s a shrewd businessman, his Huo family is powerful, closely tied to the Nine Great Houses. Be wary—he’s not easy to provoke.”
“I understand,” Tang Fei nodded, agreeing. “I’ve underestimated and mocked him time and again, yet he remains unmoved, even treating me, an Old Land refugee, as a brother. How could I not respect him?”
“But didn’t you offend him badly this time?” Phoenix asked with concern. “Everyone knows he spoke for Yan family, negotiated with you, only to lose their assets and end up with two vegetative patients. Won’t his reputation suffer?”
“Perhaps, this is what he wanted,” Tang Fei replied.
“Oh?” Phoenix looked at Tang Fei, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Think about it—why did Huo Zhenwei choose to represent the Yan family now? Why did the Yan family so readily surrender all their assets? With Yan Wangshu and Yan Xinyou dead, the Yan family has others—why would they hand everything over?”
Phoenix’s eyes sharpened, instantly grasping Tang Fei’s implication. “You mean the Yan family was threatened?”
“Yes, threatened not just by us, but by others. Or rather, those others posed an even deadlier threat, forcing them to sacrifice everything for self-preservation.”
“The Old Land case?”
“Exactly,” Tang Fei nodded. “Someone wants to bury it, and we happened to accuse the Yan father and daughter as the masterminds. Doesn’t this suit many interests?”
“So someone seized the opportunity, buried the Yan father and daughter, and shifted all blame onto them. In truth, they’re scapegoats offered by others.”
“Otherwise, why would everything go so smoothly?” Tang Fei pointed at the pile of documents, smiling. “Within these are my vendetta, your authority, Yan’s compensation, and the gifts and push from those behind the scenes. All converge on one goal: to close the Old Land case.”
Phoenix sneered. “Do they think they can close it at will?”
“At least, they gave the royal family some dignity. The princess herself named the culprits—who could doubt it?”
“So I’ve been wrapped up in their scheme?”
“That’s not necessarily bad,” Tang Fei smiled. “The royal family’s public investigation wasn’t likely to yield results. Better to shift to a covert approach—perhaps it will lead to something new.”
“That’s true,” Phoenix nodded. “I’d planned to suggest to my father that we go underground. Time reveals the fox’s tail. But without a catalyst, it seems contrived and risks exposure. With the Yan father and daughter involved, everything flows naturally.”
“So, a mute Yan Wangshu is in everyone’s interest—including Huo Zhenwei. Would he want Yan Wangshu alive and active, after dragging Mandrake Chamber of Commerce into danger? He must hate him deeply now.”
Phoenix regarded Tang Fei thoughtfully. “Tang Fei, how did you develop such a mind? We grew up in intrigue, but our perspective is less sharp and comprehensive than yours. You seem born for this.”
“Born?” Tang Fei smiled bitterly. “Maybe I just fear death more, and want to live well.”
Phoenix patted his shoulder. “Rest assured, you’re under my protection on Nova.”
Tang Fei bowed deeply. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
---
“General Tang, rise,” Phoenix gestured.
Tang Fei stood, and both smiled at each other. The camaraderie of solving problems together was wonderful.
Tang Fei pointed at the documents. “I haven’t signed—I'll leave that to you.”
Phoenix was about to protest, but seeing Tang Fei’s half-smiling eyes, she instantly understood and said, “Alright, I’ll keep them for you. When the time is right, I’ll hand them over.”
She knew Tang Fei couldn’t sign. If he took over Yan’s vast assets so soon after arriving on Nova, it would be too conspicuous—suddenly wealthy overnight? How would the people of Phoenix City view him? What about the Emperor?
Such a calculating figure at the princess’s side—who would trust him?
Phoenix herself, as an imperial princess, could accept such assets without raising suspicion. She was expected to play the game, and gain wealth by maneuvering. Her identity and cunning made this “transaction” unremarkable. The only downside was her reputation: “ruthless,” “vindictive.”
“We don’t need to distinguish between ourselves,” Tang Fei waved his hand nonchalantly. “Without your tiger skin, who would notice me? This was always yours.”
“What’s yours is yours. I won’t compete with you,” Phoenix replied. Tang Fei’s casual words sent her heart racing. He spoke without restraint—was it accidental or deliberate?
No one else ever dared speak to her like this.
On Nova, others always tried to impress her with their manners; only Tang Fei flaunted his roughness and ignorance.
“Alright,” Tang Fei nodded. “Save it for Little Fatty’s wedding.”
“And you?” Phoenix asked.
“With my stunning looks, do I need money for a bride? Whoever marries me must buy the house, car, and ring.”
Phoenix took two transparent cards from her pocket. “These are your and Little Fatty’s identity cards. Your information has been entered into the empire’s database—it’s accessible online.”
Phoenix extended her right hand. “Tang Fei, congratulations. From today, you’re a Nova citizen.”
Tang Fei took her delicate hand. “No, I’m Phoenix’s man.”
“Nonsense.”
“Am I not a citizen of the Phoenix Empire?” Tang Fei feigned alarm. “Where did you register my nationality?”
Watching the princess flustered was a delightful pastime.
Phoenix gave him a glare. “You and Little Fatty, pack up. I’ll take you to the academy for assessment.”
Seeing Tang Fei and Little Fatty’s skeptical looks, Phoenix explained sheepishly, “The school agreed to admit you, but you must pass the transfer student assessment first.”
Phoenix silently grumbled—Shang Xiulin, the old fox, was impervious. She used every trick but couldn’t get him to admit Tang Fei and Little Fatty directly. When this is over, she’ll make him pay—she’ll gossip to his wife every day.
(End of chapter)