164: Want to leave but stay

"I understand! Please rise, Eunuch!" Long Yuan nodded, but internally he sneered. Back then, Prince Fu had shown no hesitation in casting Dragon Snow and her son out of the residence, treating them like a discarded, broken rag. Now, seeing the value he possessed, the Prince had changed his tune, claiming it was all for their own good. Such maneuvers were played to perfection by those in power!

They called it the art of conversation, but in reality, it was more like the shameless 'Thick Black Theory' of officialdom—deceiving, lying, and intimidating whenever possible, as long as it achieved their goals.

However, for Long Yuan, since he had already decided to help Prince Fu to obtain massive resources and full support, it was a matter of mutual benefit and a win-win cooperation. Why bother dwelling on the past? Moreover, Dragon Snow and her son didn't actually harbor much resentment toward Prince Fu. On the contrary, they wholeheartedly hoped to return to the Prince Fus Mansion one day and enjoy the privileged life of Imperial Descendants. By doing this, he was fulfilling their wishes... "Ah? Ninth Young Master, you really understand?!" Zhu Nan hadn't expected Long Yuan to be so easy to talk to. He had prepared several sets of arguments to persuade Long Yuan to let go of his grudge and acknowledge Prince Fu as his father again, but he didn't expect Long Yuan to deviate from his script at all, which left him momentarily stunned.

Long Yuan smiled and said, "Rest assured, Eunuch. I'm not a child; I understand everything you've said. Since the Prince did it for our own good, what more is there to say? If you came today just to say this, then there's no problem. I have things to do, so I'll be going now!"

"Ah?! Wait! Ninth Young Master, please stay!!!" Startled, Zhu Nan saw that Long Yuan had already turned to leave and hurriedly stood up to call out.

"Is there something else, Eunuch?" Long Yuan stopped and asked.

"It's like this, Ninth Young Master. Your Highness has important matters for this old servant to convey. I have already prepared a tea banquet in the hall. Please come inside and take the seat of honor while I explain everything in detail!"

"Can't you just say it simply?"

"Ninth Young Master, this matter is extremely significant. It is truly inappropriate to discuss it outside!"

"This... alright." Long Yuan "hesitated" for a moment before turning back toward the top-floor VIP lounge. Zhu Nan followed respectfully behind him, while Geng Yun and Lei Hao and the others quietly closed the door and consciously stood guard outside... Long Yuan's performance and words were intentional. His goal was, of course, to show that he harbored resentment and dissatisfaction over being abandoned by Prince Fu years ago, making Zhu Nan feel that this opportunity was hard-won and thus more precious. This would give Long Yuan more leverage in the upcoming negotiations. Conversely, if Long Yuan had joyfully acknowledged him and tried to curry favor the moment he saw Zhu Nan, he would surely be looked down upon by him, Geng Yun, and the others. Besides, that certainly wasn't Long Yuan's personality.

Sure enough, after Long Yuan's display of wanting to leave yet staying, Zhu Nan became even more cautious, fearing that one wrong word would make Long Yuan get up and leave again. After seating Long Yuan in the guest of honor's chair, Zhu Nan meticulously brewed a cup of tea and presented it, then said, "Ninth Young Master, Your Highness has seen your recent Genius performance and is delighted in his heart! He originally wanted to come see you in person, but because he has the heavy responsibility of guarding the Nanyue Base, he had to remain there. He sent this old servant to congratulate you. Look at these; these are all gifts he asked me to bring. These are just a small portion; a larger portion is stored in another large warehouse..."

"The Prince is very thoughtful! My life is quite good right now, and I really don't need these gifts. Please take them back, Eunuch!" Long Yuan said.

"Ah? Ninth Young Master, saying that will be the death of me! If Your Highness finds out his sincerity resulted in a failure because of me, what will I do when I go back? To be honest, I wouldn't even have the face to return and report. Please, Ninth Young Master, you must accept them no matter what. Moreover, these gifts were prepared by Your Highness for your Cultivate and daily life. Accepting them will be of great benefit to you!" Zhu Nan said anxiously.

Long Yuan laughed inwardly, but as Zhu Nan grew anxious, his voice became sharper and somewhat piercing to the ear. So he said, "Since you've put it that way, Eunuch, I'll reluctantly accept them. Please thank the Prince on my behalf when you return!"

"This old servant obeys! Thank you for your consideration, Ninth Young Master!"

"You're too polite, Eunuch! What is the major matter you mentioned earlier?" Long Yuan changed the subject.

Seeing Long Yuan agree to accept the gifts, Zhu Nan finally felt at ease. Since Long Yuan had taken the gifts, it meant he had become one of their own, and they could discuss family matters... He cleared his throat and recounted everything he and Prince Fu had discussed from beginning to end. Finally, he said, "Ninth Young Master, you have been away from the residence in Fengyang since you were a child, so you might not realize how much pressure the current situation puts on the residence. In fact, Your Highness is exhausted, losing sleep and appetite. His hair is falling out in clumps, yet he's gaining weight from stress. His only hope now is that you can grow up as quickly as possible, so that at least when disaster strikes the residence, you will have the ability to escape with your life and preserve this branch of the lineage!"

Zhu Nan didn't mention having Long Yuan protect the residence after finishing his studies. On one hand, he considered that time was indeed pressing, and the Prince Fus Mansion might not last until the day Long Yuan grew up. On the other hand, phrasing it this way showed that Prince Fu's attitude toward Long Yuan wasn't one of exploitation, but rather protection, thereby reflecting the deep affection between father and son. The persuasive effect was clearly better... As he spoke, he observed Long Yuan's expression, only to find that Long Yuan seemed extremely calm. He wasn't shaken by these thrilling events that would make countless adults tremble with fear. This left Zhu Nan feeling a bit uncertain; he didn't know if Long Yuan was completely indifferent or if he possessed a broad mind and superior insight... "Are you finished, Eunuch?" Long Yuan asked.

"That... for now, that's all!" Zhu Nan replied, startled.

"Mm, I understand everything you've said. The Prince Fus Mansion is indeed facing significant problems. I'm afraid you won't be able to protect yourselves with your current strength. Perhaps you will soon become someone else's prey!" Long Yuan said.

Zhu Nan's eyes widened upon hearing this, and his whole body trembled slightly. He took a deep breath and sighed, "The Ninth Young Master is absolutely right! The current situation is truly perilous for the residence. I have also been uneasy lately, not knowing when the axe might fall. Therefore, I truly hope the Ninth Young Master can grow up quickly and have the ability to protect himself! If there is any sign of trouble, I will definitely notify the Ninth Young Master immediately to fly far away. Preserving your life is the most important thing; you must not be caught by the subordinates of those Powerful Princes!"

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