Chapter 596 - 593: You Are Biased Against Him
Chapter 596 - 593: You Are Biased Against Him
The three people inside the main hall had diverse expressions on their faces.
Bai Daqing's face was stern, and he didn't utter a word.
Bai Mudan glared with wide eyes, hands on her hips, fervently defending Dongfang Jian.
And Dongfang Jian's face was filled with grievance...
"Father-in-law, I beg you, please believe me! I absolutely wasn't talking in my sleep!" Dongfang Jian wished he could rip out his heart to prove his innocence.
"Dongfang Jian," Bai Daqing asked in an indifferent tone, "what is in your heart?"
"Ah?" Dongfang Jian was startled, "Father-in-law, what do you mean by..."
"Are you pursuing Mudan because you love her, or because of her status?"
"Of course, it's because I love her! I can swear to Heaven..."
"Enough! Stop swearing oaths to Heaven at every turn, if oaths worked, half the people in the world would be struck dead."
"I'm speaking the truth."
"I will investigate this matter," Bai Daqing said. "If you are truly being wronged, I will naturally clear your name."
"No need to investigate, I know who is spreading the rumors," Dongfang Jian said through clenched teeth. "It must be Gao Fei! Only he could do such a despicable and shameless thing!"
"Gao Fei?" Bai Daqing raised an eyebrow, "Without evidence, don't talk nonsense."
"Give me a few days, and I will find proof."
"Fine, you go find the evidence. As long as you can prove it was Gao Fei spreading rumors behind your back, I will punish him harshly."
"I'll go right now." Dongfang Jian hurried off.
"Wait for me!" Bai Mudan was about to follow when Bai Daqing grabbed her. She turned around and said anxiously, "Dad, why are you holding me? Let go quickly, I need to chase after Dongfang Jian."
Bai Daqing's expression darkened, "Apart from Dongfang Jian, is there nobody else in your eyes? You even disregard your own father." With a heavy sigh, he added, "People always say that sons forget their mothers once they take wives, but you, marrying a husband, have forgotten your father, it truly breaks my heart."
"I haven't forgotten you, in my heart, you are as important as Dongfang Jian."
"As important?"
"Yes!"
"My daughter, you must understand one thing, you have only one biological father, but you can find many husbands."
"In my entire life, I have chosen Dongfang Jian, and besides him, I will not love a second man."
"...I'll be infuriated to death by you sooner or later."
"Dad, have you finished speaking? Please let go of me, I need to find Dongfang Jian."
"After hearing the rumors, didn't you harbor the slightest doubt?"
"Doubt what? What do I have to doubt? That Dongfang Jian has ulterior motives towards me? That's impossible! I trust my own judgment, and even more, my own feelings. Dongfang Jian truly loves me; the outside rumors are nothing but nonsense, I don't believe them at all."
"Right now, you are blinded by love. No matter what I say, you won't listen. I'm really worried, worried that one day Dongfang Jian will deceive you. By then, will you be able to accept it? The deeper you fall, the greater the pain you'll suffer!" Bai Daqing said with a bitter smile.
"You've always been prejudiced against Dongfang Jian."
"It's not prejudice, it's an intuitive feeling. Dongfang Jian gives me a very bad vibe..."
"Stop talking, I don't want to hear it!" Bai Mudan shook off her father's hand and dashed out of the main hall, "Don't talk to me about these things in the future! The path I chose, I will bear all the consequences. Don't say that Dongfang Jian couldn't possibly deceive me, even if he truly does, I will accept it."
"You..." Bai Daqing was so angry he was at a loss for words.
He just couldn't understand, why was Bai Mudan so infatuated with Dongfang Jian? Could Dongfang Jian possess some Demon Art that bewitched Bai Mudan's mind?
...
After Dongfang Jian left the Prince's Mansion, he began investigating the source of the rumors. Within a short hour, he had apprehended over a hundred people. These individuals were all discussing rumors in teahouses and taverns... After a rigorous interrogation and torture, there were no leads to be had; those caught were ordinary folks with a clean background and no connections whatsoever.
Later, when Bai Daqing heard of the matter, he immediately ordered Dongfang Jian to release the detained commoners.
With no choice, Dongfang Jian could only let the people go.
After several days of turmoil, no useful clues were found.
...
Were the rumors spread by Gao Fei?
The answer is affirmative!
It was indeed Gao Fei who spread them, and before dispersing these rumors, he made many preparations, sealing all possible loopholes. Even if someone suspected him, they couldn't find any evidence.
As evening approached,
Gao Fei, Chen San, and Liu Qing sat together, chatting and laughing, eating and drinking; the atmosphere was very harmonious.
"My lord, you seem to be in a good mood today," Chen San said with a smile, "Is there some good news?"
"Good news? Yes, there is indeed good news!" Gao Fei said with a nod and a smile.
"What good news?" asked Chen San, curious, "Can you share it?"
"Want to know?"
"Yes."
"Really want to know?"
"Lord, stop beating around the bush and just tell us," Chen San urged.
"Come closer, and I'll tell you," Gao Fei motioned Chen San to come near.
Chen San immediately leaned in, tilting his head and perking up his ears.
"Listen, the good news is... the secrets of Heaven cannot be revealed." Gao Fei whispered this phrase into Chen San's ear, almost driving Chen San mad with frustration.
"My lord, how can you... do this..." Chen San said despondently.
"Just teasing you, are you actually upset?" Gao Fei lifted his cup and took a sip, "Actually, it's nothing major; my cultivation has been going smoothly recently, and if nothing goes wrong, I'll soon be able to reach the Realm of Unity of Heaven and Man."
"Really!" Chen San's eyes lit up, "That's fantastic! Truly fantastic!"
"Congratulations, my lord! My deepest congratulations!" Liu Qing was also brimming with excitement, "After you enter the Realm of Unity of Heaven and Man, my lord, you can compete for the position of city lord."
Chen San, Liu Qing, and Gao Fei were like grasshoppers on a rope; they would share both glory and misfortune. If Gao Fei prospered, Chen San and Liu Qing naturally prospered too, but if Gao Fei met with disaster, Chen San and Liu Qing would be doomed as well. Therefore, both Chen San and Liu Qing dreamt of Gao Fei becoming successful.
"You two must also put in the effort, and strive to catch up with me soon," Gao Fei said with a laugh, "The three of us will advance together and create a bright future."
After eating their fill and drinking to contentment, Chen San and Liu Qing took their leave, leaving Gao Fei alone to sit in a chair and gaze at the stars.
Gao Fei looked up at the stars in the sky, his eyes not blinking... There were countless stars in the sky that appeared very small, yet they were outrageously large in reality. How many of those stars supported life? He was filled with a longing to ascend and have a look...
To see how large the stars really were, to see how much life there was on each star, to see if there really was an end to the heavens...
As he gazed upon them, a surge of boldness welled up in Gao Fei's heart!
"Teng!"
Gao Fei stood up from his chair, stretched out his hand, and pointed to the stars above, proclaiming loudly, "Someday, I will soar into space and set foot on all the stars!"
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