Mountain Sea Sky Tennis Court.
Azure sea and blue sky, seagulls screeched.
The water lapped the sandy shore, producing a whooshing sound. Fish leapt from the waves, only to be snatched away by the seabirds that had long coveted them.
Zhong Tianyi was swinging his racket with abandon, while two beautiful young women on the opposite side took turns at returning the balls, albeit clumsily. They stumbled and fell, occasionally exposing themselves in embarrassing mishaps.
Each time this happened, Zhong Tianyi would burst into hearty laughter, looking thoroughly pleased.
Just then, a middle-aged man hurried over to the court.
The man stood on the edge, not daring to interrupt Zhong Tianyi’s game.
He knew all too well that, of late, the Second Prince had become more temperamental. On the surface, he seemed more amiable, but underneath, he was increasingly irritable and ferocious.
Zhong Tianyi noticed Zhao Huannong approaching and deliberately hit the ball far away, allowing the two girls to dash after it, he had already turned and walked off the court.
Wiping his sweaty face with a towel passed by a maid, he offhandedly shut down the tennis court’s simulation system. The blue sky, clear waters, seagulls, sand, and palm trees all vanished, replaced by a massive indoor high-tech tennis hall.
"What is it?" Zhong Tianyi asked Zhao Huannong.
"Your Highness, there has been an incident with Yu Huoshui."
Zhong Tianyi’s gaze turned sharp, but his voice was calm as he asked, "What happened?"
"He went to Winding Water Garden and, unexpectedly, the Monitoring Bureau found him there and wants to bring him in for investigation."
"Monitoring Bureau? Tang Fei?"
"Yes, it’s Tang Fei."
Zhong Tianyi forcefully threw his towel into the maid’s arms and said harshly, "I’ve warned him to keep a low profile during this time and stay indoors as much as possible."
"But no, not only does he go out to play, he also goes to a crowded place like Winding Water Garden... How could that not lead to trouble?"
"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Zhao Huannong inquired.
"How did you come to know of this?" Zhong Tianyi asked, looking at Zhao Huannong.
"Huang Long, who’s close to Yu Huoshui, called me. He asked for your Highness’s assistance."
"Assistance? How can I assist?"
"They hope your Highness could speak with the others over there."
Zhong Tianyi frowned slightly and asked, "Old Zhao, what do you think?"
Zhao Huannong was his friend and also played a role like that of a military strategist beside him; Zhong Tianyi habitually discussed matters with him.
"Your Highness, you can’t help with this," Zhao Huannong said firmly.
"As everyone knows, Tang Fei is allied with them. After he visited the Eldest Prince, he started linking the case to Yu Huoshui. Who doesn’t know how close Yu Huoshui is to your Highness?"
"On the surface, they target Yu Huoshui, but in reality, they’re trying to undermine your Highness’s public image... If you step up now, you’ll fall right into their trap. It’s a critical time; if your Highness quickly becomes involved, you might find it hard to extricate yourself."
"But as you said, everyone knows Yu Huoshui is my man... If I can’t even protect him, who would want to work for me in the future?"
"Your Highness, Yu Huoshui is not only your man but also a member of the Yu Family... The Yu Family hasn’t even made a statement, why should we be in such a rush?"
"Besides, if your Highness wishes to save Yu Huoshui, whom should you approach? If you go to the Eldest Prince, he can easily deny any knowledge of the incident. If your Highness approaches Tang Fei... knowing him as you do, do you think he would release Yu Huoshui?"
Zhong Tianyi shook his head decisively, saying, "No. That lad is ruthless and excels at currying favor. He knows well that the Eldest Brother can bring him more benefits, so he clings to that support."
"Given this, we can do nothing," Zhao Huannong stated, "Rather than face rejection and awkwardness, it’s better to act as if this incident never happened."
"Old Zhao, is there truly no other way?"
"Your Highness, the situation being what it is..." Zhao Huannong sighed lightly.
Some things he couldn’t say too plainly, but he knew that Zhong Tianyi understood.
Even though they were all of Royal Family blood, there was an elder brother above you, destined for the throne.
This made the position of the second in line extremely delicate.
Moreover, your elder brother is cautious toward you; one wrong word or deed, and they have the chance to strike back.
With the situation already so dire, why invite more trouble?
The last incident of the feces throwing hadn’t been forgotten, and the other side probably still harbored resentment.
"Sigh," Zhong Tianyi sighed, and then commanded, "Prepare the carriage; I’m going to Qianshan now."
Zhao Huannong’s eyes gleamed brightly, as he said with a smile, "That’s a clever move, to show Yu Huoshui that your Highness still cares for him. It also tells those outsiders, what’s the point of your Highness stepping in when even the Yu Family can’t handle it?"
Zhong Tianyi glanced at Zhao Huannong, saying, "But always being passive ... isn’t a solution either."
"Your Highness, be patient and calm. The more troubled times are, the more we need to keep our composure."
"What good does it do? They’re now brazenly slapping my face in public."