Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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Given Xiu Lingfei’s current status, he could directly refuse any invitation from anyone if he was unhappy.
However, he simply couldn’t refuse Jing Xuan’s invitation. Not only could he not refuse, but he also insisted that Jing Xuan specify the time and place, and he would definitely go. Xiu Lingfei knew why Jing Xuan had called, but there was nothing to say. Was there any logic in this world of a father being afraid of his son?
Jing Xuan had arranged to meet tonight, so Xiu Lingfei canceled all his plans for the evening and had the driver take him directly to the address Jing Xuan had left.
“Boss, do we need to bring security to meet today’s guests?” As they approached the location, the driver asked, following protocol. Xiu Lingfei’s family was wealthy and powerful; it was normal for him to bring bodyguards when going out to discuss business.
“No need,” Xiu Lingfei said with a gloomy face.
In fact, his relationship with his ninth son was much better than that with Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan was born to a disgraced concubine and was disliked by Xiu Lingfei from birth. If it weren’t for his royal bloodline, Xiu Lingfei would have easily drowned Jing Yuan, given his ruthlessness. From Jing Yuan’s birth until he inherited Xiu Lingfei’s throne, the two were filled with disgust and hatred, with absolutely no familial affection between them.
But Jing Xuan was still different.
Back then, Xiu Lingfei truly loved Jiang Shining. You had to understand that in her previous life, she was just the daughter of a local prefect and could be said to have no background whatsoever—this had both advantages and disadvantages.
On the downside, when Jiang entered the palace, the powerful concubines in the harem were almost all daughters of high-ranking officials. Jiang’s background was not as good as theirs, so her path to promotion was difficult. They would also be more unscrupulous in targeting her, since offending the daughter of a minor prefect was no big deal.
On the bright side, emperors had always been suspicious, and since Jiang had no background, the emperor didn’t need to doubt whether she was fighting for his own interests. Therefore, he would treat her more casually and sincerely.
Therefore, Consort Jiang in that book was definitely a cannon fodder villainous concubine. Her beauty and arrogance were just stepping stones for the innocent female lead.
The original novel described Jiang Shining as possessing a captivating and alluring beauty that could bring ruin to a nation, while her aloof and indifferent nature reflected her personality. Possessing these two qualities in one woman naturally made her a rare beauty. Furthermore, while the other concubines vied for the emperor’s favor to gain Xiu Lingfei’s love and benefit their families, Jiang Shining’s motivation was survival and completing her mission. Therefore, from their very first meeting, she meticulously cultivated a relationship in ways he favored— making it inevitable that the emperor would be moved.
Therefore, despite Jiang Shining’s insistence on adopting the son he hated most, Xiu Lingfei eventually forgave her, and they reconciled after she gave birth to the prince.
It could be said that Xiu Lingfei doted on Jing Xuan the most after he was born.
Xiu Lingfei still couldn’t understand why Jing Xuan didn’t appreciate his apparent dislike and indifference towards Jing Yuan, even though he had been extremely kind to Jing Xuan during his lifetime.
If it was because he poisoned Jiang Shining, his eventual illness was also inextricably linked to her. The two plotted against each other, dying within six months of each other. To Jing Xuan, this was clearly a case of his parents killing each other, so why, in his reincarnation, did Jing Xuan side with Jiang Shining?
How could even a mere entertainer whom Jiang Shining had casually trained for a few months be so devoted to her? How could a man destined to be a powerful emperor attract less devotion than a woman?
Xiu Lingfei’s expression grew increasingly gloomy.
Although Jing Xuan was gentle by nature, he knew that his sons were all ruthless. If Jing Xuan chose Jiang Shining, he might very well kill him. After all, for these ancient royals, without the constraints of modern morality, killing and eliminating enemies was commonplace.
But so what?
Even if it was a trap or a Hongmen banquet, he has to go! Not only that, even if Jing Xuan sends hundreds of men to ambush him, Xiu Lingfei will go alone, so as not to betray his dignity as a father.
The car drove for a while before finally stopping next to a private club.
“Boss, we’ve arrived.”
Xiu Lingfei got out of the car, and a waiter was already waiting to greet him.
“Hello, Mr. Xiu. Our General Manager Wang has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Xiu Lingfei, with a cold expression, straightened his suit and followed after him.
Jing Xuan’s clubhouse and surroundings were unlike those opulent, glittering private clubs. The architecture here was exceptionally elegant and antique. Inside, there was a small open-air courtyard with a pond in the center, where blooming lotus flowers were breathtakingly beautiful under the moonlight. If an ancient sage were to appear, he would probably want to sit in this courtyard and compose a poem.
The waiter led him through the courtyard corridor, and further inside was a two-story building.
“Boss Xiu, please come up to the second floor. Our General Manager Wang is waiting for you there.”
The waiter stopped outside the door.
Xiu Lingfei didn’t say much and went straight into the room and headed for the stairs.
Upon reaching the second floor, the view opened up again. The entire second floor was approximately 200 square meters, and all the objects and their arrangement were based on ancient customs, with great attention paid to feng shui. There wasn’t a single modern product; Xiu Lingfei felt as if he had been transported back to his previous life.
“Boss Xiu.” Just then, that clear and elegant voice rang out from behind the screen. Xiu Lingfei heard him say, “Please come this way.”
Xiu Lingfei’s gaze turned slightly cold as he slowly walked towards the screen.
Behind the screen, he saw a young man in white sitting beside a wooden table. White mist swirled around the table, and the man’s clean and clear appearance was further enhanced by the dissipating white mist, making him appear even more ethereal and elegant.
Chu Jingxuan was brewing tea. When he saw Xiu Lingfei arrive, he looked up and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
“Boss Xiu, please have a seat. The timing is perfect.”
Xiu Lingfei stared intently at Chu Jing Xuan, momentarily lost in thought.
The last time he saw him, he was a teenager; now he had grown up so much.
He looked about the same age as Jing Yuan in his previous life, but the feeling he gave off was completely different. Jing Yuan was like Xiu Lingfei, ruthless and decisive, like a sharp blade cutting through the dark clouds. Jing Xuan was like Jiang Shining, but he had grown up to be so handsome and gentle.
Xiu Lingfei’s feelings were complicated.
He walked over slowly and sat down across from him at the table. Jing Xuan poured him a cup of tea and then poured one for himself.
“You’ve come at just the right time; we can have some tea now.” Jing Xuan picked up his teacup, his eyes smiling. “Try it and see how it is.”
Xiu Lingfei wasn’t afraid of Jing Xuan poisoning him, and took a sip.
Indeed, it’s good tea and the craftsmanship is superb.
Based on this skill alone, Xiu Lingfei could imagine that after his death, with his elder brother, the Emperor, as his backer, Prince Chu Jingxuan must have lived a very carefree and leisurely life. Jing Yuan was ruthless, but he was indeed good to Jing Xuan.
Xiu Lingfei stared at Chu Jingxuan with complicated emotions. Chu Jingxuan did not show any disrespect, but his manner was more like that of someone entertaining guests.
This was the biggest problem. He didn’t believe that Chu Jingxuan would be so polite to Jiang Shining.
Xiu Lingfei’s gaze darkened.
“Chu Jingxuan, what do you call me, Boss Xiu?” he said in a deep voice.
Jing Xuan put down his teacup, looked up at Xiu Lingfei, and said calmly, “Of course, I should call you Boss Xiu. But I’d like to ask you, President Xiu, what do you call me?”
Xiu Lingfei sneered. “Wang Muze?”
Jing Xuan tacitly agreed. Xiu Lingfei flew into a rage.
“You bast**d, I am your father!”
Jing Xuan raised his eyes and chuckled, “Then why don’t I have the surname Xiu?”
“You!”
Xiu Lingfei took a deep breath and calmed down again.
“Chu Jingxuan, are you going to rebel against me like Jiang Shining did?” he said coldly. “If you suddenly realize your mistake, it’s not impossible for you to join forces with me in business. I treated you well in my previous life, and I’m willing to lend you a hand in this life as well.”
Jing Xuan’s gaze gradually turned cold.
“That’s what I wanted to say, Boss Xiu.” Jing Xuan’s fingers gently caressed the rim of the teacup. “Now that you’ve been given a second chance at life, why hold onto the things from before your reincarnation? Let go. From now on, you go your way, and I’ll go mine. Don’t bother my mother anymore.”
“She’s your mother, so how can I not be your father?” Xiu Lingfei retorted angrily. “Chu Jingxuan, do you have any conscience? In my previous life, I doted on you the most! If your mother and brother hadn’t forced me to make him the crown prince, perhaps you would have been the one to inherit the throne!”
Hearing his words, Chu Jingxuan’s fingers began to grip the teacup tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force. Finally, his fingers slowly loosened their grip.
“You’ve treated me well?” Jing Xuan sneered. “Back then, to appease Consort Wang’s anger, you punished my mother by making her kneel in the rain all night. When I went to beg you, you wouldn’t even let me in the door. Where was your love for me then?”
“In the forty-seventh year of Runhe, during the princes’ competition, the Second Prince deliberately tricked Jing Yuan, causing him serious injury, yet you turned a blind eye. When I went to confront you, you slapped me. Where are you now?”
“After Jing Yuan ascended the throne, you had a palace maid deliberately sow discord between my brother and me. Even in death, you wanted us to kill each other. Did you ever love me?”
“Now that things have come to this, how dare you mention the word ‘favor’ to me? Where is your heart, my dear father?”
Xiu Lingfei stared intently at Chu Jingxuan with fiery eyes, while Chu Jingxuan also stared back coldly at him.
“You love yourself,” Jing Xuan said coldly. “Chu Haoli, you have never truly loved anyone.”
“How dare you speak such outrageous words!” Xiu Lingfei roared. “I truly loved your mother back then! But she chose that wicked son and betrayed me!”
“Then would you be willing to die for her?” Chu Jing Xuan asked.
Xiu Lingfei was taken aback.
Jing Xuan’s gaze remained cold. “I, Chu Jingxuan, and my brother Jing Yuan are willing to give up everything for our mother, whether it be power, status, or even our lives, as long as she is safe and happy. And what about you? You hurt her for her entire life for power and status. That’s not love, Chu Haoli. That’s possessiveness and the desire to conquer, but it’s definitely not love.”
“You–!”
Xiu Lingfei was furious, so angry that he actually laughed.
“You bast**d Chu Jingxuan,” Xiu Lingfei muttered to himself, “How could I have given birth to two such wicked children in my past life?”
Chu Jingxuan put down his teacup, lowered his head, and sighed softly.
“Let’s talk about this life, President Xiu,” Chu Jingxuan said calmly. “Stay away from my mother, and don’t resort to any dirty tricks.”
What do you mean?
Jing Xuan’s gaze was cold.
“You kept pestering her and even held her arm in front of the media,” he said coldly. “Even if you don’t want to retaliate, people will still fabricate stories and make malicious speculations. This world is inherently harsh on women, and I will not allow my mother to suffer any injustice. Remember my words, from now on, never appear in front of her again.”
“Oh?” Xiu Lingfei snorted angrily, “What if I insist on making trouble?”
The coldness in Jing Xuan’s eyes suddenly disappeared.
Looking up, there was once again the elegant Wang Muze. Or rather, sitting here at this moment was the high-ranking, powerful, and renowned Prince Xu.
He leaned back in his chair with a calm and composed air, a slight smile on his face, gentle and warm like a willow branch brushing against spring water.
“Everyone says I am benevolent and kind. It seems you have the opportunity to compare for yourself— in terms of ruthlessness, who is more cunning than my brother?”
The author has something to say:
If I’m not sure, it’ll be time for our eldest brother, Jing Yuan, to make his appearance soon.
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