Chapter Fifteen: Tripartite Reaction

  When Xia Tian and Wang Su Ya were talking in the carriage, elsewhere, others were also discussing what had just happened.

  In a large mansion east of Yongcheng County, in a study within the estate, Hu San Dao and his daughter sat facing each other, engaged in conversation.

  "Mei'er, tell me honestly, what Xia Tian said in the Wang's mansion, was it true?"

  As soon as he returned home, Hu San Dao couldn't help but ask Hu Mei Er immediately.

  Pretending to be puzzled, Hu Mei'er asked back: "What is real or not?"

  "Don't play dumb, you know what I'm talking about."

  With a serious face and piercing eyes, Hu San Dao said in a low voice, staring straight into Hu Mei Er's eyes.

  She locked eyes with Hu San Dao for a moment, and saw that he was really determined this time. Hu Mei Er knew she couldn't fool him anymore, so she nodded and admitted: "Alright, I admit it, they're all true."

  Upon hearing this affirmative answer, Hu San Dao's body relaxed and he heavily slammed into the back of his chair, as if all his strength had been exhausted. His face revealed a mixture of regret, guilt, and pain.

  A complex expression flashed across his face, and then disappeared. Hu San Dao remained silent for a long time before speaking: "Mei Er, how could you be so reckless? Plotting to harm a prince is a calamity of epic proportions. If you get caught, do you know what the consequences will be?"

  Although the tone was still relatively calm, the deep anger hidden beneath could be felt, and as soon as he thought about offending a prince, Hu San Dao felt a chill run down his spine.

  Hu Mei'er smiled and said, "Father, don't worry, Xia Tian can't do anything to us. He's not valued by the Duke of Yongcheng and has no status in the palace, nor does he have any power or influence. So, we don't need to worry at all. Besides, I've already formed an alliance with Xia Yongfang, and with him taking the lead, Xia Tian can't do anything to us."

  "You, you, how can't you figure it out? In the summer, in the Wang Fu, no longer valued, is also the king's biological son, the affection of a parent to a child is something every parent has, and the king should not be an exception. Today's cancellation of the engagement is proof."

  The faintly pointed finger at a few Hu Mei children, Hu San Dao hated iron that was not made of steel.

  Knitting her brows in thought, Hu Mei'er said with a mixture of agreement and surprise: "That's also possible. Today, the Prince of Yongcheng seemed to be biased towards Xia Tian. Not only did our discussion about the divorce not go as planned, but he also reported us later and almost got himself involved. Could it be that the prince still has such deep familial affection for Xia Tian?"

  "This is not necessarily the case, in my opinion, Prince Yongcheng doesn't even put these trivial matters in his eyes, he stands at a higher level, watching your struggles, just like watching a farce. It's just that this farce can't drag his two sons into it, don't believe me? Think about it carefully, hasn't he also protected Xia Yongfang?"

  His eyes narrowed slightly, Hu San Dao was extremely wise.

  She thought back carefully, and a scene that had occurred in the Wang mansion flashed through Hu Mei'er's mind like a movie.

  Suddenly, Hu Mei'er's charming eyes widened instantly, and she said with a surprised expression: "I thought of it, the murder in the free trade market, Xia Tian didn't do anything wrong, Xia Yongfang was falsely accused, but, Prince Yongcheng didn't even mention it, as if he had forgotten, obviously protecting Xia Yongfang."

  "Heh heh, you've finally reacted, not bad. Today's matter, regarding your two sons, the King of Yongcheng has a bias towards them, it's an attitude of making big things small and small things smaller. This time, you should know how difficult it is to deal with a prince, they have the backing of the Great Xia Empire's royal family, a dominant existence."

  Hu San Dao's face showed a hint of relief and satisfaction as he nodded in appreciation towards Hu Mei Er, but his expression soon turned solemn.

  "I understand, I'll be careful in the future. But if Xia Yongfang and Xia Tian were to fight, Father, who do you think the Duke of Yongcheng would help?"

  Hu Mei'er nodded solemnly, indicating that she understood, then asked curiously.

  After some thought, Hu San Dao said uncertainly: "In that case, the King of Yong Cheng will not help either side and let things develop freely. However, he will definitely control the struggle between the two within an acceptable range and will not allow it to expand. Moreover, if the two princes want to fight, he may not care, but once someone dares to plot against his own children, he will absolutely not be polite."

  "Well, Father, what should we do now? I've already made an appointment with Xia Yongfang."

  Hu Mei'er was anxious and hastily asked for advice.

  "Hu San Dao furrowed his brow and replied: 'For now, the best we can do is to keep a low profile on this matter and not get involved in their brothers' struggle.'"

  "It can't be helped."

  There was no better way, so Hu Mei'er had to follow this procedure.

  In Yongcheng County, in another place, inside the national public house, in the flower garden's pavilion, Xia Yongfang was pouring tea for Zhang Huan.

  "Mother, that kid in the summer is really lucky. Not only did he not get knocked down, but also failed to achieve the goal of making him lose face and ruining his reputation. What's wrong with this?"

  Holding the teacup with both hands, he respectfully presented it to Zhang Huan. Xia Yongfang asked in puzzlement.

  "Foolish son, haven't you figured it out yet? It's your father who is covering up for Xia Tian and doesn't want him to get into trouble."

  Taking over the teacup, she slightly sipped the tea water and said faintly.

  He let out a sigh, and Xia Yongfang said somewhat dejectedly and uneasily: "Actually, I also saw some clues, it's just that for the time being, I didn't want to believe it. With Father King's protection, from now on, wanting to deal with Xia Tian will probably be difficult."

  With a "bang", the teacup was thrown onto the stone table, and Zhang Huan's calm demeanor vanished in an instant. In a fit of rage, she exclaimed: "That scoundrel Xia Wutang is indeed ruthless, he can't bear to part with that cheap woman Wang Suyan, and he protects her cheap offspring so tightly, as if he's afraid they'll get hurt. But I won't give up like this, one day, I'll make sure that cheap woman and her cheap brat die."

  Zhang Huan's loud scolding, the elegant and noble posture of a wealthy lady, immediately collapsed and disintegrated. At this moment, she was like a shrew, a street-shouting shrew.

  This sudden outburst even startled Xia Yongfang, who hastily comforted Zhang Huan: "Mother, calm down, calm down, be rational for now. It's not the time to get angry yet. We should think of a solution and figure out how to deal with Xia Tian and her son."

  "This time it didn't work out, your father the king should have seen some of our intentions and plots, next time we need to be more careful."

  After calming down with great difficulty, Zhang Huan said solemnly.

  Xia Yongfang's expression was solemn as he replied: "I know."

  In the castle center of Yongcheng County, inside a massive palace with a large scale, within a purple bamboo forest, the bamboo leaves were swaying in the wind, making a soft "sasa" sound.

  Eternal Sheng, the Duke of Yong, strolled through the purple bamboo forest, his fingers stroking each stalk of purple bamboo, brushing against the leaves, walking leisurely while softly muttering to himself: "Interesting, that elegant son seems to have changed a bit, worth expecting."