CHAPTER 936: CHAPTER 936: PROTECT HER

The night was thick, and it was already half-past nine in the evening.

The winter in Myanmar is not as piercing as in the South Sea, with not much difference in temperature between day and night.

Su Moshi had already taken away Prince Wu Lv, and outside the courtyard pavilion, Li Qiao was holding a phone call.

In the study, Shang’s father and son sat opposite each other, sipping tea and chatting leisurely.

Shang Zonghai put down his teacup and instinctively began grinding ink, "You heard what Old Wu said just now."

Shang Yu took a sip of tea and looked up at the other side, "What do you want to say?"

The conversation between the father and son was always profound and meaningful.

Shang Zonghai continued to grind the inkstone slowly, his deep eyes filled with light, "Protect her well, the girl is not safe in Myanmar."

Shang Yu pressed his lips together, shadows flickering in his eyes, "Naturally."

"Don’t be careless, Old Wu is reminding you today." Shang Zonghai adjusted the sleeve of his Tang suit, "An honorary title like Tan Sri is something that certain politicians in Myanmar won’t even consider."

The man curved his thin lips meaningfully, leaning back against the chair, "You seem quite knowledgeable about Myanmar?"

Shang Zonghai said mysteriously, "There’s a saying, ’Know yourself and know your enemy.’"

...

On the other side, at Charlman Manor, at eight in the morning.

Xiao Hongdao sat at the head reading a newspaper, Xiao Yehui and Xiao Yeyan were seated on either side of the dining table, in a grand and imposing dining room where almost no sound could be heard.

About five minutes later, Madam Xiao Ming Dailan arrived late.

Her attire was still dignified and elegant, her unsmiling face exuding a sense of unfamiliar distance.

Upon hearing footsteps, Xiao Hongdao glanced over, "Why so late today?"

The servant pulled out a chair, and Ming Dailan took a seat gracefully, "Mrs. Andrew just called me, they’re leaving for Myanmar tomorrow."

Xiao Hongdao relaxed his brows, picking up his knife and fork first, then casually remarked, "I remember... Andrew and Myanmar’s Prince Wu Lv don’t have much of a connection."

Xiao Yehui ignored this remark, sipping his milk, while Xiao Yeyan chuckled and replied, "Maybe it’s Prince Wu Lv’s way of building diplomatic relations, after all, Andrew has the best chance of winning the election early next year."

Xiao Hongdao glanced blandly at Xiao Yeyan, "Until the election results are out, so-called chances of winning are mere speculation."

"Dad is right." Xiao Yeyan nodded sagely, "Since Andrew is going early, should we also go early? Prince Wu Lv’s status in Myanmar is pivotal, and besides... he has a close relationship with Li Qiao."

At the dining table, a deathly silence spread to every corner.

At this moment, Ming Dailan spoke calmly, "Are you overestimating Li Qiao? She’s so young, how could someone like Prince Wu Lv have a close relationship with her? More likely, Prince Wu Lv is being courteous to Li Qiao for his son-in-law’s sake."

Ming Dailan’s words made Xiao Hongdao chuckle lightly, "She’s just a little girl, why hold a grudge against her?"

"I just can’t stand her, didn’t you say you’d settle these troubles once we are in Myanmar? We’re about to leave, and I don’t see you in any hurry."

Ming Dailan, displeased, cut her bread as if she couldn’t wait to get rid of Li Qiao.

Xiao Yehui observed for a few seconds and then slid a butter piece in front of her, "Are you so resentful of her just because she took Ningning away before?"

"Took away?" Ming Dailan frowned, "You sure know how to defend her, that was clearly a kidnapping."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongdao slowly turned to Xiao Yehui; he said nothing but emanated a strong sense of pressure.

Swallowing hard, Xiao Yehui playfully glanced at Ming Dailan, "Telling the truth is defending her?"

"You know what I mean."

Under Ming Dailan’s insidious instigation, Xiao Hongdao’s expression visibly darkened.

He dropped his utensils and, regardless of whether Xiao Yehui had finished eating, said, "Ah Hui, come upstairs with me."

Ming Dailan lowered her head to sip her soup, a trace of vengeful satisfaction in her eyes.

But, it was far from enough.

After Xiao Hongdao and his son left, Xiao Yeyan elegantly ate his toast, chewing while lamenting with a chuckle, "It seems Dad trusts you the most; a few words and you can make big brother suffer, no wonder everyone says there’d be no Ducal Residence without you."

Although it sounded like a pleasant compliment, Ming Dailan knew it was a sugar-coated bomb.

She ignored Xiao Yeyan and instead quietly continued her breakfast.

In the tea room, as Xiao Yehui closed the door behind him, Xiao Hongdao’s somber voice instantly sounded, "Still haven’t found out about her activities in Dian City?"

Xiao Yehui walked forward nonchalantly, "Dian City is a border area, not within our control, it’s not that easy to investigate."

"Ah Hui..." Xiao Hongdao clasped his hands over his abdomen, "Do you really think I’m blind and senile?"

Xiao Yehui shook his head expressionlessly, "No."

Xiao Hongdao closed his eyes deeply, turning his wheelchair toward the window, "The border can certainly become part of our sphere of influence, you and I both know why we lost control.

As Duke Charlman, if you can’t understand your duties and responsibilities, it might be better to relinquish the duchy to someone... more capable."

Xiao Yehui remained emotionally unperturbed, asking coolly, "By ’more capable,’ do you mean Xiaoyan?"

"It could be him, or it could be someone else." Xiao Hongdao slowly said, back to him, "There’s not much time left, if you really don’t want to move against Li Qiao, I won’t force you, but on this trip to Myanmar, I need you to agree to do one thing for me, if you can accomplish it, I’ll overlook everything from the past."

Xiao Yehui’s eyes flickered, "What is it?"

Xiao Hongdao lightly instructed while touching the armrest of his wheelchair, "Get Margaret pregnant and keep her firmly under control."

"And Li Qiao... you’ll handle her?"

Before he could finish his last words, Xiao Hongdao interrupted him, "As long as you can secure Margaret, I can temporarily spare Li Qiao."

Xiao Yehui swallowed hard, remained silent for a long time before speaking softly, "Let me think about it."

Xiao Hongdao did not respond, merely waved his hand, signaling him to retreat.

After Xiao Yehui left, Xiao Hongdao turned back, revealing an expression of disappointment and malevolence in his eyes.

Indecisive, difficult to achieve greatness.

Soon, Xiao Hongdao took out his phone to dial, and the moment the call connected, he murmured with a stern face, "Bai Mingyin, you’re too slow."

...

Dawn broke at the Governor’s Mansion Resort Hotel.

He Chen, wearing a bathrobe, sat on the lakeside balcony smoking leisurely, with the door behind him half open, white curtains swaying in the breeze, adding a sense of serene beauty.

In the room, Yin Mo felt a cool breeze passing over her cheek, carrying a familiar tobacco scent, which jolted her awake.