Chapter 113: Is There Any Justice Left? Is There Any Law Left?

"Your Highness, the Second Prince." Sheng Xinhuai bowed slightly, taking the initiative to greet Zhong Tianyi.

"Greetings, Teacher Sheng." Zhong Tianyi looked at Sheng Xinhuai with a wide, beaming smile, once again captivated by the myriad charms radiating from this woman.

Zhong Tianyi was a notorious playboy in Phoenix City. He had seen countless women in his time: the pure, the stubborn, the bewitching, the cold and elegant, those with a cold exterior and a warm heart, those with a warm exterior and a cold heart...

Yet, in terms of sheer grace and poise, this woman was the empire’s finest.

Naturally, she was also the most challenging.

Zhong Tianyi was surrounded by people, standing in the center of attention like the moon among stars. Ignoring them, he spoke his mind directly: "Teacher Sheng, I’ve invited you several times to join me for coffee or a drink... yet each time, you’ve heartlessly refused. Teacher Sheng, isn't that a bit cruel?"

Many onlookers wore expressions of anticipation, eager to watch the drama unfold. Everyone knew Zhong Tianyi was a playboy, and Sheng Xinhuai’s reputation wasn't exactly pristine either. The two of them getting together... it should have been a collision of thunder and fire, a perfect match of a wolf and a leopard.

Sheng Xinhuai covered her mouth and giggled, saying, "Your Highness, I recall explaining to you last time that my teaching workload has been incredibly heavy lately. There is so much material to cover every day... I truly cannot spare the time."

Yet, it sounded as though Sheng Xinhuai was offering him no warmth at all, refusing him time and time again.

"Understood. Completely understood. Your dedication to your work is truly a model for us all," Zhong Tianyi said with a chuckle. He raised his glass and added, "Today is Phoenix's coming-of-age ceremony. As her good friend, surely you can have a few more drinks?"

Sheng Xinhuai nodded, took a glass of champagne from a waiter’s tray, and said, "I will toast Your Highness."

"Teacher Sheng, you are far too formal. Our families are old friends; you can just call me Tianyi or 'Old Zhong'... calling me 'Your Highness' all the time makes it feel so distant."

"Etiquette cannot be abandoned. If I were to actually call you that, and it got back to the old fossil in my family, he would surely lose his temper and smash his cup—don't you believe me?" Sheng Xinhuai said, feigning helplessness.

Thinking of the old man of the Sheng family, Zhong Tianyi felt that such a possibility was indeed very real.

"Hahaha, it’s just a form of address; the Minister of Finance is far too serious." Zhong Tianyi took the exit she provided and said, "Regardless, let’s drink."

"I toast Your Highness." When they clinked glasses, Sheng Xinhuai tilted her rim slightly downward, then raised the glass and downed the champagne in one gulp.

Seeing this subtle movement, Zhong Tianyi felt a slight irritation. He had clearly noticed that when Sheng Xinhuai clinked glasses with Tang Fei, she had been natural and casual, without this downward gesture. She was so harmonious with a young man who had just arrived on New Star, yet so formal and distant with him, a long-time suitor?

Was he less than a refugee from the Old Earth?

Wait, looking at it that way... The tension shifted quite effectively.

Zhong Tianyi looked at Tang Fei and asked, "Are you getting used to life on New Star?"

Although he didn't use a name or call him "Mr.", Tang Fei knew he was the one being addressed.

"Very used to it," Tang Fei said with a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Second Prince."

"Glad to hear it," Zhong Tianyi said cheerfully. He walked over to Tang Fei, introduced him to the guests around him, and said, "I’d like to formally introduce everyone to the heroic young man who saved Phoenix’s life on the Old Earth... Tang Fei."

"What a heroic young man."

"He’s quite handsome, too... I never expected such a fine, jade-like talent to emerge from the Old Earth."

"This kid has a bright future. Having saved the Princess, he’s bound to soar to great heights..."

Tang Fei smiled with a guileless expression, trying hard to mimic the way Little Fatty smiled, aiming for a harmless, friendly charm. Anyone who saw him would have to praise him: what a simple-minded, foolish boy.

Unfortunately, he could never quite pull it off.

Zhong Tianyi draped an arm over Tang Fei’s shoulder and said, "Tang Fei is Phoenix’s savior, and also the savior of our entire Zhong family, the savior of the Imperial family... If not for him, there would be no coming-of-age ceremony today. I propose that all the guests here toast Tang Fei together."

Tang Fei felt the urge to smash Zhong Tianyi's head in. But he didn't dare.

So many high-ranking officials, so many socialites, so many arrogant young masters and ladies...

You propose that everyone toast me? What are you making them think? How could they possibly be comfortable with this? Why don't you just tie me to a high platform and light a fire under my butt? That would be much cleaner.

"Come, a toast to the young hero, Tang Fei." Zhong Tianyi raised his glass first.

"To the young hero, Tang Fei." Everyone in the room raised their glasses, responding to Zhong Tianyi's proposal.

"Thank you. Thank you all." Tang Fei expressed his gratitude with a humble face, saying, "I don't deserve this, I really don't. I only did what I could..."

"Actually, when it first started, I wasn't able to offer the Princess much help. I only applied some medicine and cooked some food, that’s all... After all, we didn't know the Princess's true identity at the time."

"It wasn't until those killers appeared that we were stunned... Why would killers come to kill? Why would so many vicious people chase us, wanting to wipe us out..."

"Those people were so terrifying and cruel. They killed so many people... We were almost killed by them, too..."

"Fortunately, the Princess is powerful, and I happen to be familiar with the terrain of the Old Earth... Everyone should know that I’ve lived in the mountains since I was a child, hunting, and I’m intimately familiar with forest terrain... That’s the only reason I was able to defeat Shen Qingping..."

"How lucky I am... to be able to stand here, to participate in the Princess's coming-of-age ceremony... This is truly no small feat."

The room fell into a dead silence.

Everyone stared at Tang Fei, eyes wide. Was this kid crazy? How could he bring this up on an occasion like this?

The fact that Zhong Yuxiuxue was attacked and nearly killed on the Old Earth was already well-known throughout the Phoenix Empire. With the Starlink network so advanced, keeping it a secret was unrealistic. Because of this, the Imperial family had been busy chopping off heads for some time...

The entire Phoenix City had been gripped by fear; everyone was terrified, not daring to make a single move out of line, fearing they would become the next target for Chen Fenglei’s men. The wind had barely died down, and everyone was hoping to use the Princess's ceremony to sweep the incident under the rug, yet this guy Tang Fei had exposed it all right there on the spot.

Beneath the flowers and finery lay rotting meat; peeling back the skin revealed the foul, toxic pus within.

Whose face was he slapping?

Sheng Xinhuai stood to the side, her smile playful. These people wanted to push Tang Fei into the limelight and make him a target, never imagining he would use this method to shift the target, forcing everyone to become trapped in their own unease.

You all love to dance so much, just be careful that the Imperial family doesn't come to settle the score. The Old Earth case hasn't completely concluded yet; it would be best for everyone to restrain themselves...

"Did I say something wrong?" Tang Fei asked, turning to look at Zhong Tianyi after noticing the slight changes in everyone’s expressions and their sudden silence.

"Heh..." Zhong Tianyi sneered. "You are right. As long as the killers are not eradicated, this matter will never be over... No matter what, we must give Phoenix an answer, we must give our Imperial family an answer..."

Tang Fei nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It’s absolutely outrageous. To dare bully even the Princess—is there no justice? Is there no law?"

"Those who dare to challenge the dignity of the Imperial family must pay a heavy price."

"I believe the Second Prince will certainly see to it," Tang Fei said solemnly.

He paused, then added, "However, I would like to ask a favor of the Second Prince."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Though I saved the Princess's life on the Old Earth, please, Your Highness, do not thank me for it anymore, and please don't spread it to the point that everyone knows, as if I’m bragging about it myself... After all, the Princess helping me move from the Old Earth to New Star is already a boundless favor..."

"And the Second Prince gave me a flying car, and the Crown Prince gave me a handgun... These are priceless treasures, endless grace; any merit I had has already been repaid..."

Zhong Tianyi looked at Tang Fei with a chuckle. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten... The flying car I promised you is ready; you can take it when you leave later..."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! How could I really accept the Second Prince's flying car? Besides, I don't even have a pilot's license, how could I fly it away?"

"What? When has Zhong Tianyi ever gone back on his word? If I said I’d give it, I give it..." Zhong Tianyi narrowed his eyes, examining Tang Fei. "Aren't you forcing me to break my word? By refusing, you are damaging the reputation of the Imperial family... do you realize that?"

"Ah!" Tang Fei looked terrified and quickly said, "Your Highness, how about this—you give the flying car to the Princess instead... and when I get my pilot's license, I'll take it from the Princess... What do you think of that?"

Zhong Tianyi nodded. "That works. Regardless of who receives it, the gift has been given..."

"The Second Prince keeps his word; a true gentleman," Tang Fei said, giving a thumbs up.

"Heh... A gentleman is a bit much. I’m just a man who likes reciprocity. Those who help me, I will reward. Those who harm me, I will settle the score. Kindness for kindness, enmity for enmity."

"I am the same," Tang Fei said.

"That is why I feel like we’ve known each other for years." Zhong Tianyi looked at Sheng Xinhuai and asked, "Teacher Sheng, don't you think we are a bit alike?"

"No," Sheng Xinhuai replied.

"The Second Prince is majestic and elegant; how could he possibly compare to you?"

"Hahaha, Teacher Sheng certainly knows how to talk." Zhong Tianyi chuckled. "You’ve made me want to have another drink with you."

Just then, the soothing music stopped, replaced by the grand and enthusiastic "Dawn Movement."

The auspicious hour had arrived. The most dazzling figure of the night, the only heroine of the event, the Princess, was about to make her entrance.