Yan Wenli looked at Tang Fei with a face full of astonishment.
When Tang Fei had glanced at him with probing eyes just a moment ago, he knew that the young man suspected him of spilling the beans, of revealing in front of everyone the matter of his own admission to liking the Princess.
But honestly, he had not said a word.
He was aware of Zhong Daolong’s attitude towards Tang Fei; he would never entrust his beloved daughter to a rootless young whelp.
Given that, why put himself in such a position to be the villain in the middle?
Offending Tang Fei while making Zhong Daolong uncomfortable in his heart.
Benefiting neither others nor himself.
Such futile efforts were not what he was willing to undertake.
Officials of the Empire called him "Mad Dog," but no one had ever called him a "Foolish Dog."
So why is Tang Fei spilling everything now?
Does he no longer wish to live?
Or does he think that since I’ve already told the King, he might as well throw caution to the wind and struggle desperately at death’s door?
Unbelievably foolish.
Zhong Daolong slammed the Whiskey glass onto the Moon Gold Stone table with a ’clang’, his eyes menacingly fixed on Tang Fei, and he said in a heavy voice, "Do you even realize what you are saying?"
"I do, it is reckless, but it truly reflects my feelings."
Tang Fei knelt down, pressing his forehead to the ground, his voice filled with trepidation, yet conveying an unmistakable sincerity.
"I know the gap between our status is vast; I’m not even qualified to carry the Princess’s shoes. Without the Princess’s assistance, my brother and I would probably still be hunting sheep and battling Mutant Beasts in the Old Land."
"However, I can’t control my own feelings when it comes to matters of affection. Though I come from the Old Land and am of lowly status, with no advantages or strengths other than my reliance on the favor and promotion from the King and the Dean..."
The especially lengthy part, he could not demonstrate in front of the King.
Travelling incognito by night was truly stifling.
Fortunately, he had his Zhi Yin, who played the flute in the darkness.
Hm, he definitely would have one in the future.
"But to like is to like. My fondness for the Princess has no difference from that of Shen Xinglan and Qin Jianyi’s fondness for her..."
"Hm?" Zhong Daolong looked at Tang Fei with a puzzled expression.
You like Phoenix, and it’s no different from how Shen Xinglan and Qin Jianyi like Phoenix...
They have no chance, and neither do you?
Perhaps it’s just a simple affection in the heart of a young man? Tang Fei’s unrequited love with no response from Phoenix’s side?
My daughter is so outstanding; young and promising men who fancy her are beyond counting.
Shen Xinglan may like her, Qin Jianyi may like her, not to mention the countless suitors...
Then, Tang Fei naturally has the right to like her too.
Even if I am not willing to accept Tang Fei as my son-in-law, it is no crime for a man to like my daughter...
Yan Wenli also looked at Tang Fei with a peculiar look, realizing this fellow was equivocating.
The "like" he speaks of now and the "like" he admitted to the Princess face-to-face are two different kinds of liking.
This time’s like is an ideal; that time’s like was tangible.
Zhong Daolong looked at Tang Fei and asked aloud, "The fondness you are talking about..."
"It is a secret deep in my heart," said Tang Fei with a sorrowful face, like a helpless young man with a broken heart, and he spoke with a tinge of sadness, "How could I dare to speak it aloud, knowing full well the gap between myself and the Princess?"
"Even if I could bring myself to speak... it would be difficult for the Princess... wouldn’t it make things hard for her? I fear we might not even remain friends afterward."
Zhong Daolong once again picked up the Whiskey from the table and took a sip, looked at Tang Fei, and asked, "What does all this have to do with your intention to join the Monitoring Bureau?"
"To knowingly undertake an impossibility is both brave and foolish," Tang Fei lifted his head to look at Zhong Daolong and said, "I thought perhaps if I tried harder, could I get a bit closer to the Princess?"
"So when the King found me, I didn’t hesitate at all to agree. I wanted to serve the King, to serve the Monitoring Bureau."
"I have Lu Siyu from the Lu Family as a classmate; the Lu Family has been kind to me, helping me with some very important matters..."
"Yet when I received the Lu Family’s case, I dived in without any hesitation, leading the charge, enforcing the law impartially regardless of who was involved, without showing any favoritism... As you can see, I’ve ended up deeply offending the Lu Family."
"If there’s someone the Lu Family hates most right now, it would definitely be me, wouldn’t it? But I know what I am doing, and I have no regrets in my heart."
"If that is so, then why suddenly resign? To leave a task unfinished is both pitiful and despicable."
"Your Majesty, I am afraid," Tang Fei looked at Zhong Daolong, his face filled with helplessness as he spoke, "I had just finished probing into the Lu Family, and now I face the Yu Family. Although I’m new here in New Star, I understand what kind of distinguished lineage the Yu Family has... I can’t afford to offend them."
Zhong Daolong feigned anger and said, "What? Are you afraid I can’t protect you?"
Tang Fei glanced at Yan Wenli and said, "I asked Dean Yan... Dean Yan said that if Grandmaster Yu comes knocking personally, he wouldn’t be able to stand against it, and neither would you."
I did say that, but not for you to use it at this moment...
You little rascal, getting the teacher slain with a wayward knife.
Zhong Daolong glanced at Yan Wenli and said aloud, "If Grandmaster Yu comes to demand someone, given my relationship with him, I would have to grant that face."