CHAPTER 705: CHAPTER 434, NOT ENOUGH CHIPS!

Phoenix Palace. Wuji Garden.

Tang Fei looked at Sheng Xinhua standing before him but did not speak.

Sheng Xinhua also stared back at Tang Fei, as if she had never known this person at all.

Their gazes met, and though their hearts were filled with a thousand words, for a moment, they didn’t know where to begin.

Knowledgeable of the ways of the world without being worldly, experienced in cunning yet still pure at heart.

Passionate and dazzling, brave and direct.

This was how Tang Fei saw Sheng Xinhua.

Tang Fei enjoyed interacting with Sheng Xinhua. She had an attractive appearance and an interesting soul—who wouldn’t like such a girl?

Moreover, after he and Little Fatty arrived at New Star, Mr. Sheng treated them with warm enthusiasm and care.

First, they contacted each other under the guise of Phoenix confidants, and then they became friends in their own right.

Even to this day, they were still "secret companions living together."

But after this incident, Tang Fei felt a sense of dread at the thought of meeting her.

He had deceived not only the Phoenix but also Sheng Xinhua.

Having done too many things against his conscience, he thought it might be best to avoid meeting her for the time being...

This was especially true for those he considered important.

If Tang Fei were indifferent to her, he could find a million reasons to cast her aside.

Deceived? So what?

The call of the untamed birds broke the tranquility of the garden, and both Tang Fei and Sheng Xinhua couldn’t help but squint their eyes and smile.

Sheng Xinhua clicked her tongue and looked at Tang Fei, "What a situation, indeed. Should I call you Tang Fei, or should I call you General Tang?"

"Whatever you prefer," Tang Fei said with a smile.

Sheng Xinhua had the knack for swiftly diffusing any awkward situation with her smile.

But her smile only made Tang Fei more flustered.

It was challenging to gauge her true feelings.

"Phoenix and I always prided ourselves on being the smartest in Phoenix City, thinking little of all the other ’heroes’ in the world."

"Yet I was so easily fooled by General Tang, worrying for you, fearing on your behalf, restless over you."

"I’m still all right. I kept my bottom line intact. You may have duped my emotions, but not my chastity."

"..."

Tang Fei’s eyes widened in astonishment at Sheng Xinhua’s words.

Could she really say that?

Who was it that suggested they live together?

Who was it rolling around on the sheets?

If I had not been as virtuous as Lu Ji beneath the willows, you would have already ravaged this beautiful body into a wilted flower.

"How unfortunate for the Phoenix, going to great lengths to bring someone back only to be deceived in body and heart, and now even her princess status is being stolen."

"Don’t you think she’s been wronged?"

Tang Fei sighed lightly, looking at Sheng Xinhua, "Go ahead and scold me, I’ll take it."

Playing the cynic now?

Isn’t everyone a bit cynical?

"Why would I scold you? The son of Tang Li returns for vengeance on behalf of his parents and family; no one can say you’ve acted wrongly."

"You’re allowed to kill, but I’m not allowed to kill in return? That’s hardly fair. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t accept it either."

Mr. Sheng was truly exceptional, her way of looking at issues was always so unique and clear.

Never one to disregard "the truth and facts."

"You knew all along?" asked Tang Fei.

"Do you think so little of our intelligence? After all, my father is still the Finance Minister of the Empire, holding the nation’s purse strings... Could he really lack such political acuity when something as big as this happened in the Empire?"

Tang Fei cracked a smile and said, "I was actually planning to visit my uncle sometime soon."

"Why? To grant him a title?"

"If he’s willing..."

Sheng Xinhua waved her hand dismissively, "My father is a staunch traditionalist. If you go to him now, he might very well scold you."

"Regardless, you’ve divided this country in two... it might even be split into several parts... You do realize that, don’t you?"

"I do," Tang Fei nodded.

On this side, they had imprisoned the former emperor, Zhong Daolong, and recommended the Second Prince, Zhong Tianyi, to take up the mantle.

The Shen Family on the other side took the Eldest Prince, Zhong Tianque, as hostage to establish their own faction.

Weren’t all the other forces eager to carve out their own kingdoms?

If they couldn’t come to terms with the Shen side and truly started a war...

The entire Empire would be dragged into the flames of war, sparing no one.

The victor would be the king, the vanquished the outcast.

There was also the saying, "One man’s success builds on the bones of many."

The losers pay with their lives; no one wants to be a casualty.

"How does that saying go? ’When a kingdom prospers, the people suffer. When a kingdom falls, the people suffer.’ As you all fight it out, the common people will have a hard time."

"Just as they’ve begun to live comfortably for a few years, the Empire descends into chaos... With internal strife, there will inevitably be external threats..."

"My father can’t stand to see the people suffer... So, I advise you to wait a bit longer before you see him."

"Besides, you haven’t even got a handle on the current situation yet. Lu Ban Mountain is besieged by an army of over a hundred thousand, and the Shen Family, in collusion with several other large clans, is lying in wait..."

"You don’t really think... that you have control over the Phoenix Empire, do you? You’re in charge of a down-and-out Phoenix, that much is clear."

...

"How come? It seems that I haven’t convinced you?" Sheng Xinhua observed Tang Fei thoughtfully and spoke out.

"Yes." Tang Fei nodded and said, "No matter what, I have to see my uncle. First to show respect, after such a big incident, I need to go over and explain. Besides, I really hope he can lend a hand."

As Sheng Xinhua had said, Sheng Jing was one of the three Finance Ministers, holding the purse strings of the empire.

The phrase "high position and great power" wasn’t enough to describe his irreplaceability.

Because of Sheng Xinhua, Tang Fei had a congenial relationship with Sheng Jing; he hadn’t missed visiting during the holidays, and occasionally he’d even take Little Fatty to the Sheng Family for a meal.

For a long time, he had taken pride in himself as a "son-in-law."

If he didn’t use this significant relationship and instead let it drive him into the camp of the Shen Family, that would be an inexcusably negligent dereliction of duty.

Because Tang Fei knew that if he didn’t try, the Shen Family surely would.

Money was needed for everything.

Everyone knew just how important the position of the Finance Minister was.

"Heh..."

Sheng Xinhua understood Tang Fei’s thoughts and didn’t try to persuade him further.

Let him run headlong into that wall.

Her shining eyes blinked as she looked at Tang Fei and asked, "Have you seen her?"

"I have."

"What did she say?"

"She didn’t say anything," Tang Fei said.

With the relationship he had with Phoenix, saying nothing was the biggest problem.

"What do you plan to do?"

"I haven’t thought it through," Tang Fei admitted honestly.

He felt there was no need to lie to Sheng Xinhua; he truly hadn’t decided.

"If... I mean if..." Her long eyelashes fluttered, as if capturing this moment of Tang Fei’s expression. "Can you not kill Zhong Daolong?"

She had always been this way, directly using Zhong Daolong’s name.

Even though that man was the King of this vast empire, she was still the same.

Tang Fei fell silent.

Could Zhong Daolong be spared?

He had asked himself this question too.

The answer was that he couldn’t decide.

He could force himself to save Zhong Daolong, and even the old man wouldn’t compel him to act.

But if his existence would affect the stability of the situation, or even endanger the lives of the people around him...

Could he still keep him then?

Others are fighting desperately for you, and you still have crooked thoughts?

Being blindly in love is an illness.

A very serious illness.

It needs curing.

Tang Fei couldn’t do such a thing.

The greater good must come first.

Seeing Tang Fei’s resolve, Sheng Xinhua sighed silently.

She knew her request was difficult for Tang Fei, but Zhong Daolong was Phoenix’s father, her biological father...

If Tang Fei killed Zhong Daolong, how could Phoenix continue her relationship with him afterward?

Their feelings for each other would end there.

One strike, and love would dissipate.

As a mutual friend and witness to their feelings, she truly did not wish to see such an outcome.

"Can I go see her?" Sheng Xinhua asked.

"No problem," Tang Fei looked at Sheng Xinhua, his voice firm. "As long as the Shen Family doesn’t intercept, you are free to come and go from the Phoenix Palace."

"Mhm." Sheng Xinhua nodded; she indeed wanted to stay by Phoenix’s side for a while.

This young girl must never have experienced such a huge upheaval or been so wronged from childhood to this day.

And then, the conflict and hatred between Tang Fei and her father and brothers...

With these thoughts, she let out a heavy sigh once more.

"What a mess!"

Phoenix Pavilion.

The courtyard door opened, and Phoenix threw herself into the soft embrace of Sheng Xinhua. "Sister..."

Sheng Xinhua hugged Phoenix’s shoulders tightly, wanting to transfer her strength to her.

She wanted to accompany her through these hardest of days.

-------

Taiji Palace.

Tang Fei looked at the old man and asked, "The Shen Family said they want to negotiate?"

"Yes," Lu Yu nodded and said. "They came over under the name of Zhong Tianque, saying they wanted to talk to us."

"What do you think?" Tang Fei asked.

"The stakes aren’t high enough." The old man shook his head and said, "It’s not time to talk yet."

"So what do we do now?"

"Grab another bargaining chip."