Chapter 453: Chapter 287, Phoenix City’s Number One Affectionate!

Sheng Xinhua wore a white silk shirt on top and a pair of black straight-leg casual trousers on the bottom.

The hem of the white shirt was tucked into the trousers, highlighting her slender waist while also accentuating her upper body, making it appear fuller and rounder.

She leaned forward, and her soft body had nowhere to lean on, making her unstable on her feet.

It evoked a touch of spring sentiment.

“I didn’t,” Phoenix brushed off Sheng Xinhua’s teasing hand and said with a coquettish rebuke, “Stop causing trouble.”

“When did I cause trouble?” Sheng Xinhua looked at Phoenix and responded, “If you’re not feverish, why would you start talking nonsense? Even speaking ill of your own father?”

Phoenix looked at Sheng Xinhua and asked, “Then, do you think… such a thing could happen?”

“Yes,” Sheng Xinhua stated decisively.

It is often said, the one involved is bewildered, while the bystanders see things clearly.

Her father was the Finance Minister, one of the Empire’s Imperial Three Ministers; she herself had a close relationship with the Empire’s Little Princess and had spent much time drinking and sleeping in the Phoenix Pavilion.

She was halfway an insider, also a close observer.

She understood the Royal Family’s nature too well, as well as their cold-heartedness.

If you were deceived by Zhong Daolong’s spectacled and cultivated appearance, you would be making a grave mistake. In his days, he severed countless heads, turning the rivers of the Underground City red with blood—all their doing.

Brother can betray brother, brother can kill brother.

Father and son turning on each other wouldn’t surprise anyone.

Tang Fei?

A nobody rumored to be involved with the Empire’s Little Princess, disposable without any psychological burden, even somewhat expected.

Who would care about your life or death?

“Then you’re saying I have a fever?” Phoenix, upon hearing Sheng Xinhua’s firm answer, grew even more worried and said irritably.

“I mean you’re acting flirty… ‘flirty’ as in seductive, ‘flirty’ as in romantic.” Sheng Xinhua said playfully, “Otherwise, why would you betray your own father for a lover?”

“If my father were in danger, I would consider his situation too. But now, it’s Tang Fei…” Phoenix looked toward Tang Fei and said, “Believe me, I understand politics better than you, and I know the Royal Family even more.”

“Just go now and submit your resignation to the Monitoring Bureau… no, you don’t even need to go. Just fake an illness, say you are unwell. Pass on all your cases to someone else.”

“Are you not from Section Five? I’ll call Zhong Jiayuan and have him arrange everything. Then, I’ll go to the palace to see my father… I’m sure I can persuade him.”

This girl had arranged everything for Tang Fei.

As soon as Tang Fei agreed, she would act immediately…

All Tang Fei had to do was nod.

But, Tang Fei couldn’t back out.

He wasn’t truly working for the Royal Family, nor was he aiming to earn Zhong Daolong’s favor and trust…

His goal was to use the Royal Family’s dissatisfaction with the nine major families to stir up all the hidden emotions.

Then, sit back and watch them fight among themselves until they were battered and bruised.

That was his real plan.

He couldn’t divulge these plans, and certainly couldn’t tell Phoenix.

“You don’t need to worry; I’m just here to overthrow your Zhong family’s reign.”

Would that be too impolite?

Tang Fei had not expected the greatest resistance to come from Phoenix, from those around him who cared deeply for him yet were unaware of the truth.

Princess Xiu Xue… too honest.

Even revealing the cruel choices her own father might make under pressure, what should an “outsider” like him do then?

Not to appreciate that would truly be ungrateful.

Facing Phoenix’s urgent and expectant gaze, Tang Fei felt a warm current growing inside him.

“Detestable,” he could only disappoint Phoenix.

Tang Fei stared into Phoenix’s eyes and said aloud, “Do you believe me?”

Phoenix, astute and clever, instantly understood Tang Fei’s choice and said, “Why persist? You want to serve, you want to work for the Royal Family, to gain your father’s trust… I can find you a better position, there are countless options for you to choose from.”

To persuade Tang Fei to reconsider, Phoenix openly clarified the matter in front of Sheng Xinhua.

“Why would you choose such a dangerous path with the lowest rate of return?”

“If I back out now, how do you think the world will see me? How will the Royal Family view me? Your father… the King, how will he see me?” Tang Fei asked aloud.

“You don’t have to worry about these, I will plead with my father, and he will surely agree to my request.”

“It’s not that simple.” Tang Fei shook his head, looked at Phoenix, and said, “It is said that the infatuated Jie Wencai calls you ‘Ying Xin Xuan Zhi,’ a beauty of matchless grace and talent, the foremost in the world.”

“…”

Hearing her beloved praise her in person, she felt a bit bashful and pleased.

But they were discussing the matter of life and death for Tang Fei, she really couldn’t feel happy.

Her concerns were too heavy.

“You are quick-witted and perceptive. Before I entered the Monitoring Bureau, the King had personally spoken to me… We both understand why the King has made such arrangements.”

“If I retreat now, how will the King view me? He will think I am cowardly and incompetent, afraid to take responsibility. Even if he agrees to let me withdraw, he would probably be holding a grudge.”

“And how would the outside world view the King? How would they view the Royal Family? The hand that just reached out gets chopped off, and it’s because of fear, afraid to take risk and thus breaking off on its own…”

“This would be a heavy blow to the King’s reputation, and it would also disgrace the dignity of the Royal Family…”

“I fear at that time there will be idle talk. Look, even the Royal Family is afraid of the nine major families. The Royal Family sends their son-in-law to manage affairs, and just as things get started, before the Lu Family even gets a chance to make a move, they run away in a panic…”

Son-in-law?

Phoenix’s face turned slightly red, her ears flushed with redness.

Her eyes widened, staring at Tang Fei in astonishment.

Are such words spoken so casually?

Since when… when did I agree to marry you?

“So, I can’t back down. For the Royal Family, for the King, for myself…” Tang Fei looked straight into Phoenix’s eyes and said solemnly, “And for you, I cannot back down.”

“Not even one step.”

Driven to desperation and because Phoenix was so vehemently opposed, Tang Fei straightforwardly played the ‘deep affection’ card.

Using flirtation to distract her, and while distracting her, then reasoning with her.

In this way, a woman’s mind becomes foggy, not as sharp and clear as before.

Her heart pounding, then she’s unable to make the right judgment, losing the capacity to object…

Tang Fei, you really are a clever little devil.

Truly, the most passionately affectionate man in Phoenix City.

Phoenix felt somewhat dizzy; today’s dose of sweetness was a bit too much, and she needed to digest it properly.

Tang Fei had spoken sweet nothings before, but wasn’t today’s frequency a bit too excessive?

This sweetness… wasn’t it also a bit too sweet?

Because of the uncertainty about the future, he had never spoken about “marriage” or “living together.”

Yet today, he suddenly mentioned himself as her father’s son-in-law…

“But…”

Phoenix still wanted to persuade further when Sheng Xinhua spoke up, “Don’t worry about it.”

Her gaze, still foxy even while looking seriously at you, thoughtfully sizing up Tang Fei, she said, “Xuanyuan Mingjing is his master, right? If it really comes to it, the Great Grandmaster will intervene.”

“…”