DTTM 75

Chapter 75: What Should We Do?

“Jiang Man, what exactly are you doing? Why are you suddenly making us leave Penglai? And who are these people?!” Wei Bao’s voice crackled with fury on the other end of the line.

“I’ve transferred some money to your account. You should be able to live comfortably for the next two years,” I said as I looked at the gloomy sky outside the train window.

These words did not calm Wei Bao down; on the contrary, they only fueled his anger and made him even more agitated.

“Who asked for your money? Do you even understand what I’m saying? We were working, eating, and sleeping in Zengcheng yesterday, and this morning a few strangers rushed in, forced us into a car without saying a word, and said they were going to take us away from Penglai, and even said it was your doing. Shouldn’t you explain yourself?”

“The more you know, the more dangerous it is for you, so it’s better not to know.”

“Damn it, you…”

Before Wei Bao could say any more offensive words, Aunt Kou snatched the phone from his hand.

“Calm down first…”

A burst of noise came through the receiver. Aunt Kou whispered a few words to Wei Bao, and after a while, she picked up the phone again and held it to her ear.

“Xiao Man,” her voice was noticeably tense, yet still maintained its usual gentleness, “Don’t worry, we…we will go with these people. We will take good care of Rui Rui. You…take care and don’t overwork yourself.”

I looked out the window at the scenery rushing past, the low-hanging dark clouds intertwined with the piled-up snow. The bad weather seemed to affect my mood as well, making me feel sluggish.

“I’m sorry to have troubled you.”

“No, that’s not true. You…you’re someone who’s destined for great things, Aunt Kou has always known that.” She said, her voice full of emotion, “You must take good care of yourself, you must take good care of yourself…”

Did Aunt Kou hear me talking in my sleep when I was working at the seedling nursery? It felt like she knew everything.

“Yes, I will.”

I chuckled to myself and readily agreed. Even after hanging up, Aunt Kou’s words echoed in my ears.

Take care…

Everyone wants a good life, but what kind of life truly deserves the title of “good”?

“Mr. Jiang, over here!”

As I stepped out of the station, two well-dressed Penglai young men, whose hair and eye colors exuded typical aristocratic features, recognized me immediately. They were staff members specially sent by the Zhongyang District to pick me up.

“Are you alone?” one of them asked curiously, glacing behind me. “Didn’t you bring any bodyguards or anything?”

“I’m not used to it,” I said with a smile.

The two men didn’t say anything more, but politely asked me to go with them to the exit and get into a black luxury hovercar.

It was a custom-made, extended version, with enough space in the back to comfortably seat five or six passengers. The two Penglai people sat in the front, leaving me alone in the back.

The car was equipped with a small refrigerator. I opened the door and glanced inside, and found that apart from white wine, it was all high-proof spirits.

Don’t nobles drink beer?

I took out a bottle of tequila, poured a small glass, and downed it in one gulp.

The spicy liquor burned down my throat and into my stomach, instantly making my tired body feel hot.

The hovercar weaved between buildings, neon billboards flashing on both sides, and several giant electronic screens displayed the latest breaking news.

The Sun God Group announced the establishment of a special charitable fund dedicated to medical assistance for children in Wo Province; the newly appointed governor was not a former subordinate of Bondor, but a civil servant directly transferred from Baiyujing.

Finally, and most surprisingly, the young man from Wo who was violently arrested by the Royal Police in Fantong was actually Mu Ke.

I didn’t find out about this until the other person was rescued by Chu Luo and the media cameras panned to his face.

Yes, Chu Luo.

She did not use her former status as a princess to exert pressure, but instead, as a human rights lawyer, she followed a meticulous legal process to get the person released.

Chu Luo not only graduated from a law school, but also had a lawyer’s license. I knew this before, but I never expected that she would actually use this identity one day.

After being demoted to commoner status, she moved away from the royal estate with Han Zhe and their daughter to Fantong. Instead of shutting off and going into hiding due to the scandal, she began to work as a human rights lawyer.

Rescuing the young people of Wo was her first battle, and she fought it well.

According to Ye Shuer’s investigation, Chu Luo and Wen Fu had a close personal relationship, and her actions this time might have been at the request of Miss Wen.

But I always felt it wasn’t that simple.

Zong Yanlei and Chu Luo launched their operations almost simultaneously. One provided the money, and the other provided the manpower. While salvaging the reputation of the nobility, they also managed to extinguish the “fire” that was painstakingly ignited in Fantong.

This former couple, though physically apart, were still connected. They worked together in perfect harmony.

After rigorous inspections, the hovercar drove into the most mysterious and central area of Baiyujing – Zhongyang District.

This area, where royalty and the pope lived, covered more than a million square meters and featured not only magnificent palaces and splendid churches, but also exquisitely designed gardens.

The vehicle stopped in front of a magnificent palace gate, and the staff gestured for me to get out.

“This is the palace where His Majesty resides. We must proceed on foot,” the other person advised. “The whole journey will take about half an hour. You can ask me any questions if you have any. Please stay close to me.”

The long corridor, the fountain, the statues… every scene was exactly as Yu Xuan described.

After walking along the corridor for about ten minutes, we finally entered the main building and wandered through the maze-like palace for almost the same amount of time before stopping in front of a reception room.

“Please wait here and patiently await His Majesty’s summons.” Two staff members, one on each side, opened the heavy, carved door for me.

I nodded in acknowledgment and slowly entered.

The moment I entered, even though I knew it was a joint audience, I couldn’t help but be slightly stunned when I saw Zong Yanlei sitting among there.

It had only been a week since we last met, but it felt like an eternity.

Zong Yanlei was dressed in a well-tailored white formal suit, exuding the refined elegance of a top-tier noble in every gesture. This contrasted starkly with my travel-worn appearance and shabby attire in a coat and knitwear.

He sat on the sofa with his eyes closed, arms crossed over his chest, head slightly lowered. From the moment I entered the room and sat down, he didn’t open his eyes or make any attempt to greet me.

Whether it was due to severe neuralgia from the final battle or his excessive busyness, he looked much thinner, with more defined features and deeper facial contours.

I observed him for as long as I waited in the reception room.

I wanted to ask him why he didn’t report me, but I felt he probably wouldn’t pay attention to me. Besides, this place wasn’t suitable.

The burning sensation in my stomach intensified with each passing minute. I pursed my lips, pressed my palm against my stomach, and drank a large cup of tea.

About fifteen minutes later, an attendant with an unfamiliar face opened the door and entered, informing us that we could go and meet the King of Penglai.

Zong Yanlei opened his eyes, glanced at me briefly, and then quickly looked away. He stood up and walked straight to the door, appearing very familiar with the place.

“His Holiness the Pope is here now.” The attendant said to me as he led the way. “The old man has been unwell lately, but when he heard that you were here, he mustered up the strength to see you.”

“Me?” I was a little surprised.

What could be of interest about me, a lowly commoner?

The attendant smiled, and said in a flattering tone, “You are exceptional.”

I frowned almost imperceptibly. I didn’t believe such nonsense.

Would the lofty holder of the scepter think a lowly commoner was outstanding? It was probably just a combination of appeasement tactics.

I stared at the tall, imposing figure ahead, wondering whether the old emperor’s summons was a show to quell public anger, or because Zong Yanlei had said something behind my back.

Regardless of whether WRA was real or fake, or what its purpose was, at least for now, Zong Yanlei didn’t want Penglai to fall into chaos.

I recalled my conversation with him the night I attended Wen Fu’s engagement party, and sighed very softly.

It seemed that he and I were destined to be on opposite sides.

What should I do?

What should I do…?

He had already figured out my identity and purpose, and knew that I wanted to overthrow this country… Should I kill him?

The moment the thought crossed my mind, I felt an intense pain in my stomach.

I could only stop thinking and fight off the wave of pain. By the time it subsided, we had reached a golden door, four or five meters tall, adorned with intricate reliefs.

After the guards conducted a final search, they opened the door and let us in.

The main hall was spacious and dimly lit, with guards lined up on both sides, and the air was filled with a strong incense smell. The smell was so strong that it pierced my nostrils, and after just a few breaths, I felt very uncomfortable in my respiratory tract.

With this level of fragrance, even if a dead person rotted here, no one would notice.

There was a yellowed silk screen in front of the main hall. Two blurry figures could be vaguely seen behind it, one on the left and one on the right, one tall and one short.

Zong Yanlei walked to the screen, bowed respectfully with his right hand on his chest, and greeted the King of Penglai and the Pope behind the screen.

“Supreme King of Penglai, may the stars shine as brightly as you.”

“Your Holiness the Pope, may the stars shine as brightly as you.”

I stood to his side and slightly behind him, and, mimicking his manner, greeted the two old men.

“Wo, step forward.”

I had barely finished greeting them when a frail and weak voice came from behind the screen, as dry as a tree branch that would break at the slightest touch in the dead of winter.

“Yes.”

I straightened up in response and was about to walk around the screen when Zong Yanlei suddenly grabbed my arm.

He stared at me coldly, his eyes conveying a warning.

I thought he would continue to ignore me.

I smiled at him, broke free from his grasp, and whispered in a very low voice, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything reckless.”

To attempt an assassination in this heavily guarded palace was neither heroic nor likely to succeed. There’d be no sympathy for me, no compelling narrative. I’d be shot down as a traitor. It would be a waste of my life. Not worth it.

I walked around the screen, lowered my eyes to stare at the dark marble patterns under my feet, and climbed the steps one by one, finally kneeling on one knee before two dazzling golden thrones.

The closer I got, the stronger the nauseating smoky aroma became.

“Come closer.”

The old man sitting on the high throne spoke.

I crawled forward a few more steps, almost touching the old king’s knees.

“let me see……”

As he spoke, a hand appeared in my field of vision. An extremely eerie hand.

The fingers were long and strong, with firm and smooth skin. They slowly emerged from the heavy black robe with red patterns. It was entirely out of place for the hand of an elderly man in his seventies.

Before I could react, his icy fingertips had already gently lifted my chin.

In an instant, a strong, suffocating stench of decay wafted through the air. It mingled with the heavy incense, assaulting my senses and causing my stomach to churn.