Page 209

Fei Jun was more decayed than I expected...

When Chen Qing saw Fei Jun again, he even doubted whether he had identified the wrong person, recalling the noble young man he had met a year ago!

In terms of temperament, even Wang Ye fell short by more than a little, but it was understandable, as the youth came from a distinguished family background, with top-tier talent himself, having become a Third Rank official at a young age, and inherited the good genes of the Fei Family and the Princess Royale, possessing an incredibly handsome appearance.

All the world’s fortunes seemed to have converged upon him, it would be strange if he weren’t a bit privileged.

But at this moment, he looked like a young addict who had just been released from a rehabilitation center.

Chen Qing glanced at him and didn’t know what to say, to be honest, in terms of relationship, he and Fei Jun weren’t that close.

Wang Ye, at least, owed Chen Qing a life-saving debt, plus the care given by Lord Song of the Liu Family before his death, could be considered true friends through hardship.

This one before him could only be said to have been involved in a life-threatening situation together.

Enduring hardships together? Hardly, given Fei Jun’s status, even if something major had happened, it would be Chen Qing who died, Fei Jun wouldn’t have gotten into trouble from start to finish.

Who would have thought that in just a mere year, such a distinguished young master could have fallen to such a pitiful state... hell no!

Chen Qing rolled his eyes and unceremoniously took a seat, tapping Fei Jun on the head "What’s the matter? Looking like you’re at death’s door? Got dumped by some girl?"

The member of Fei Family stared blankly at Chen Qing for a long time, somewhat confusedly touching the head Chen Qing had knocked, and then his dispirited eyes became serious.

"You’re here?"

"Yeah, your parents said you were half-dead, and I was curious to see if it was an exaggeration."

"What do you think?"

"Trashed..." Chen Qing rolled his eyes, "Completely trashed."

"Is that so?" Fei Jun took a deep breath and closed his eyes, then said, "Back then in the Capital City, when you avoided joining the Crown Prince’s Faction, I thought you didn’t want to get burned, but it turns out I underestimated you. Our Consort Prince Chen Qing didn’t even give a second look to the Crown Prince’s party. "

Chen Qing was speechless; at that time, he knew nothing about the internal forces of the Imperial Court. Only a fool would jump onto the boat of a faction without understanding anything.

And as many historical records show, those who pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince too early generally did not meet with good ends.

"Did you know about my mother’s affair from the beginning?" Fei Jun suddenly asked.

"Do you take me for a fortune teller?" Chen Qing stared at him, "Princess Chang had been plotting for many years, beginning her schemes long before Great Jin had fully unified the nation, I wasn’t even born then, how could I have known about Princess Chang’s schemes?"

"What do you think of my mother’s plotting?"

"Impressive!" Chen Qing said sincerely, "Your mother’s strategy was far-reaching, making full use of the demon’s characteristics, and finding a way to significantly strengthen her own power while she was being closely monitored and restricted in the Capital City by His Majesty. Truly remarkable!"

Chen Qing was genuinely praising. He had heard everything about the Princess from the Shen Family: a former direct heir from the Siao Family whose position was taken by her younger brother, who has remained hidden ever since.

Such a formidable person had naturally raised the Emperor’s vigilance.

Staying in the Capital City, with the Emperor’s steadily solidifying status over twenty years, her original power base was mostly swallowed up, she had almost completely retreated from the public eye, and under these circumstances, she managed to turn the tables with her schemes.

Absolute pinnacle of strategic cunning, not even Empress Wu Zetian could hold a candle to her!

"Yes, impressive indeed... If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe that the Golden Dragon Guard who turned into living corpses, and the Crown Prince who was chopped into a mutilated mess, were done by my mother. I can’t believe that my gentle mother could do such things..."

Chen Qing: "....."

What could he say? He could only think that the ability of the Best Actress was powerful, far beyond those contemporary idols, look how convinced the kid was, doubting his entire life...

"Chen Qing..."

"Hmm?"

"Don’t you think my mother’s methods are cruel?"

"Cruel..." Chen Qing nodded, "Three hundred thousand servant soldiers, she didn’t blink an eye, and turned them all into living corpses. This ruthlessness, not many warlords could match that, but it’s also true, only such a woman could fight her way out under the Emperor’s watchful eye."

"So you approve of her actions?"

"Your mother does not need my approval..." Chen Qing spoke seriously, "The moment she chose this path, she didn’t need acknowledgement from anyone in the world. It is with such a mindset that she has made it to this point. Do you understand?"

At the prow of the boat, listening to Chen Qing and her precious son’s conversation, Princess Royale’s originally icy expression flickered with a trace of emotion.

She hadn’t expected that Chen Qing, this kid, would actually understand her so clearly...

It was rare indeed.

Fei Jun also stared blankly at Chen Qing, suddenly feeling something strange. Having been a son for decades, he realized that not even an outsider understood his mother.

"Chen Qing..." After being stunned for a while, Fei Jun finally came back to his senses, staring blankly at the tabletop: "Do you know? When Mother took me to see the Crown Prince, who had already been mutilated into a human swine, my whole being felt like I was in a dream. I actually don’t like the Crown Prince; he’s someone who behaves very venomously, with strong jealousy and a lack of real ability. Yet my identity dictates that I can only be part of the Crown Prince’s Faction. "

"I’ve been adapting to this identity since I was a child, carefully not angering the Crown Prince, carefully concealing my own light, trying not to arouse the Crown Prince’s jealousy.

No matter how much I suffered at the hands of the Crown Prince when I was young, I never dared to come back and complain to Mother, fearing she would worry.

In my memory, Mother has always been a gentle person, and I always thought that Father and I were protecting her and giving her a carefree life. But, it turns out I thought too much."

"Mother has always known about the grievances I’ve suffered, always known what I’m thinking. She said that torturing the Crown Prince so badly was to avenge me, but I can’t feel happy about it at all."

"Seeing the Crown Prince and the current state of those soldiers... I feel my mother is very unfamiliar, I even... I..."

"Are you afraid of her?" Chen Qing interrupted the other’s hesitation, asking bluntly.

Fei Jun’s eyes lit up as he looked at Chen Qing: "Why would I feel this way?"

"Because you’re weak..." Chen Qing didn’t hesitate to say: "With your good talent, you’re only content to be a foil for the Crown Prince, which proves you’re just a person who seeks stability and is conservative.

Of course, you’ll be afraid when one day you realize that your own mother is someone with ambitions and strengths far beyond what you imagined! "

"The Crown Prince’s so miserable, the three hundred thousand Siao Family Servants are so miserable; you even doubt what your own fate will be, don’t you?"

Fei Jun: "Mother wouldn’t treat me like that..."

"Hmm... How can you be sure about that?" Chen Qing laughed: "Otherwise, what are you afraid of?"

"I... I just feel that..." Fei Jun said somewhat anxiously: "Mother’s methods are... too... too venomous!"

"If you think she wouldn’t do that to you, then it means the venom isn’t reaching you, so what are you afraid of?"

"This..." Fei Jun glared at Chen Qing resentfully: "So many people died. Mother used such cruel methods to kill so many people, don’t you have any reaction?"

"Of course..." Chen Qing nodded: "I marvel at how ruthless some big shots are, how terrifying their schemes are. Then what? Cry? As someone who could be targeted by your mother at any moment, I should eat when I need to eat and sleep when I need to sleep. I don’t know who you’re putting on this helpless act for. "

"What? Are you hoping this pathetic act will make your mother stop or something?"

"I..." Fei Jun was taken aback; he hadn’t expected the other person to say such a thing.

"What are you looking at me for?" Chen Qing said with amusement: "If you can’t stand your mother, and you have the capability, then go ahead and stop her. If you truly think your mother is utterly wicked, then punish her, give those people justice! If you can’t let go of your filial affection for Princess Chang, then try to stop her. If you can’t do anything, can’t even protest, and only know how to act the part of a useless person here, what are you if not weak? "

Fei Jun: "....."

"Isn’t it just a child with no ability and no courage to resist their own mother, throwing a tantrum here?" Chen Qing said, still with a smirk as he looked at Fei Jun: "Do you really think you’re going to make me feel you’ve shouldered a lot this way?"

"Since you were young, you’ve enjoyed the benefits brought to you by your mother, including now as well.

If you can’t accept it, show your strength, show your stance.

If you can’t show anything and still ask me why you’re afraid?

Of course, you’ll be afraid; you’re so weak that any strong elder who wants to do something to you, could do it easily. What else can you do but be afraid?"

Outside the door, Fei Jun’s father frowned upon hearing this and was about to speak out to stop it, but he was intercepted by Princess Chang.

Chen Qing stood up, looking at the confused Fei Jun, he shook his head: "The first time I met you, you weren’t like this.

At that time, when you immediately realized something was wrong with the Crown Prince, you dared to step up and take responsibility because I could feel that you weren’t afraid of trouble with the Crown Prince, you had absolute confidence in yourself.

Even without the Crown Prince, you would still have a footing because your pride matched the characteristics of the Vermilion Bird, which is why you could master the Vermilion Bird Sorcery before thirty! "

Fei Jun looked at Chen Qing for a long time before he said: "What about you, Chen Qing? Did you start with ambitions like you have now?"

"I’m not..." Chen Qing shook his head: "I’m only looking out for myself, but I’m like you used to be. I believe, even if the sky falls, I could still stand in this world. That’s my self-confidence. I actually thought at first that we were on the same path."

"The same path?"

Watching Chen Qing leave the cabin, Fei Jun remained dazed for a long time, unable to snap back to reality.

This man who could make Mother take a step back... from the start thought he was on the same path as himself?

Was he really that formidable before?