Chapter 81: If you want to get things done, first you have to find the right person!

Tang Fei panicked and blurted out, “You can’t accuse me falsely. What did I even do?”

Some things really could not be said carelessly.

If His Majesty the Emperor heard that, he might just have him castrated and made into a eunuch...

“Think about it. You’ve only been on New Star for a few days, and you’ve already sent the father and daughter of the Yan family to prison, had Shen Qingping of the Shen family expelled from school and stripped of his enrollment. Haven’t you done enough?”

Tang Fei could only smile wryly. “How can that be blamed on me? The Yan father and daughter came looking for trouble on their own. I wasn’t provoking anyone; I was just out shopping with you, and they ran over to frame me with little pills. They never expected to kick their foot against an iron plate. I’ve got Her Highness the Princess backing me—how could they possibly move me?”

Phoenix lifted her chest and said with proud confidence, “I can’t back you.”

“How can you not? Is it because the size of the undergarment isn’t quite right?”

“Tang Fei.”

Phoenix grit her teeth.

He was already making bawdy jokes with her now; at this rate, wouldn’t they be holding hands, embracing, even lying in the same bed in the future?

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

“All right, all right, I was joking.” Tang Fei hurriedly begged for mercy. Seeing her teeth grinding together, he was genuinely afraid she would pounce and bite him. “It’s just that the atmosphere was too tense, so I thought we should loosen it up a little. Doesn’t it feel much easier now?”

“What’s tense about it? It’s all because you were spouting nonsense,” Phoenix said.

Tang Fei looked at Phoenix with a grin and asked, “Your father doesn’t like the Shen family?”

“Of course not. The Shen family has produced loyal heroes for generations, and Father holds them in the highest esteem. The Shen family is flourishing now, grand and illustrious—one could say it’s the foremost noble house of the empire. How could my father possibly dislike them?”

Tang Fei gave a cold laugh.

People always said that serving a ruler was like keeping company with a tiger; that even thunder, rain, and dew were all imperial grace.

At first glance, it seemed as if the ruler of a nation had said something friendly and flattering to the Shen family, a sign of closeness and goodwill. But in secret, it was nothing more than raising them up in order to kill them.

He was setting them up as a target and roasting them over the fire.

Phoenix had descended upon West Nest Mountain. Phoenix was an imperial princess—how could the Shen family possibly bear that weight?

Even if they could bear it, would the others allow the Shen family to bear it? Would they allow the Shen family to dominate alone?

I make use of you, and I also beat you down.

And I make countless eyes keep watch on you.

That was the so-called art of imperial rule.

Tang Fei suddenly became a little curious about Phoenix’s father. What kind of terrifying man was he?

Just thinking that he might one day have to deal with him made the hairs on his neck stand up.

That little mangy stray dog of his was no match for him.

Phoenix looked at Tang Fei and solemnly reminded him, “Tang Fei, it’s fine for you to say these things in front of me, but you absolutely must not let them spread.”

Phoenix was smart; of course she understood what Tang Fei meant.

But others could say such things, while she could not.

And from her standpoint, Tang Fei could say them, but others could not.

A man should not meddle beyond the office he holds.

Her father was the ruler of a nation, one of the most powerful people on this entire planet.

And yet he had his own troubles, and the fears hidden in his heart.

He knew how to govern this country, in the way he was best at.

Although she was also studying political economy, the more she learned, the more she felt that the subject was unfathomably deep.

Ruling a state was easy. Governing the human heart was hard.

“I know.” Tang Fei nodded. “I only trust you.”

After a pause, he added, “And Little Fatty.”

Then he added again, “And the old man.”

Before the smile on Phoenix’s face had even fully bloomed, it froze. She stared at Tang Fei and asked, “Who else?”

“For now, that’s it.” Tang Fei said with great ease.

He had already heard that Phoenix sounded displeased.

Phoenix looked at him and said, “The fact that you were able to pretend to be unconscious at the critical moment really exceeded my expectations, but this move worked very well. The school felt you had been wronged, so Dean Shang gave you a whole pile of compensation. Of course, most important of all was the Shen family’s attitude toward this matter.”

“If you had defeated Shen Qingping, who was at the lower level of the Spirit-Opening Realm, while you were only at the middle level of the Vital Energy Realm, and even broken their Ghost-Warding Trouble technique with a handful of dirt, then even if the Shen family knew they were unreasonable first, they still would not be able to swallow that insult.”

“But once you were seriously injured and fainted, the nature of the matter changed. You were only at the middle level of the Vital Energy Realm, and Shen Qingping at the lower level of the Spirit-Opening Realm had intercepted you in the first place, which already violated the rules.”

“Not to mention that you fainted after battling Shen Qingping with all your might. Although in the end it was a mutual downfall, the Shen family will at least feel somewhat better about it.”

“You’ve already been hurt and punished, and those punishments were brought on by them. They can only blame their own descendant for being useless. They can’t very well come blaming you for not dying even more miserably, can they? If they dare do that, I won’t be polite to them either.”

Tang Fei nodded. “I did consider that. Not just to silence the Shen family, but to silence everyone else too. If I have to choose between the face and the substance, then for now I can only choose the substance.”

“What? Still not satisfied with how much face you have?” Phoenix narrowed her eyes and studied him.

“Who wouldn’t want to defeat an opponent with thunderous force, then stride out openly to receive everyone’s cheers and applause?”

Phoenix shook her head. “A middle-level Vital Energy Realm cultivator challenging a Spirit-Opening Realm cultivator, using a handful of dirt to break the Shen family’s secret art, Ghost-Warding Trouble, and then, with one arm gone and his body covered in wounds, reversing the situation and perishing together with his opponent. Compared with the ending you had imagined, which version of the story do you think is more compelling?”

“Of course the latter,” Tang Fei said.

Who wouldn’t love a story about an underdog rising up, shouting that his fate was his own and not heaven’s, and then brutally crushing a higher-level opponent?

“Yes.” Phoenix nodded. “The former is a victory; the latter is a miracle. So miracles are easier for people to talk about, to remember, and to spread. I think your reputation and Little Fatty’s are already quite high in this school by now.”

“What? We haven’t even enrolled yet, and we’re already school celebrities?” Tang Fei tried to keep his expression under control and rein in the corners of his mouth.

But he failed.

Phoenix shot him a sidelong glance. “Once the combat footage of your duel with Shen Qingping is posted on the official site, your fame will reach a terrifying level. By then, even if you wanted to keep a low profile, I’m afraid you won’t be able to.”

“So that means I’ve got both substance and face?”

Phoenix nodded. “Exactly.”

“Then can I just have the substance and not the face?”

“I’m afraid not.” Phoenix shook her head. “There were so many witnesses on the scene. Do you think their mouths can all be sealed shut? What, are you scared?”

Tang Fei looked at Phoenix and asked, “Will there be trouble?”

Phoenix knew the question carried two meanings. First, Tang Fei was worried that after she had stolen the spotlight, there would be trouble from the outside world.

Second, he was worried that once he had performed too brilliantly, he would draw suspicion from the palace.

After a brief silence, Phoenix said, “I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. After all, you showed the public all of your abilities. You’re only in the middle level of the Vital Energy Realm.”

“The reason you were able to win in the end was your quick reaction under pressure and your ruthless courage. I think that whether outside or in the palace, no one would truly take a Vital Energy Realm cultivator seriously.”

“Then I’m relieved.” Tang Fei smiled.

Phoenix looked at him gently. “You’ve been wronged.”

She understood why he would have such worries, because of her special identity.

If she weren’t a princess...

Then they would never have come to New Star, and the story would have ended.

Thinking of that, the guilt in her heart eased a little.

“Wronged?” Tang Fei laughed. “What wrong is there to speak of? Isn’t the one who’s really wronged now Shen Qingping?”

Phoenix’s gaze sharpened. “The Shen family... they need to be asked for an explanation.”

“Ask them for an explanation too?” Tang Fei asked in surprise.

The Shen family had already been utterly disgraced. If they went knocking on their door to demand an explanation, wouldn’t that only enrage them completely?

Tang Fei was worried about Phoenix’s safety and didn’t want her to provoke powerful enemies on his account.

After all, a princess was still a human being. She could bleed. She could be hurt.

Otherwise, how would she have ended up lost on the old soil? How would she have ended up being taken home by him?

“Of course. You are my person; you are my lifesaver. This assessment was something I carefully prepared so you could enter school. They arranged for their own clan’s junior to sabotage my good deed. Shouldn’t they give me an explanation?”

“And besides...” Phoenix smiled like a little fox as she continued, “in matters like this, the one who strikes first has the advantage. Only the one who takes the initiative and goes to their door has the moral high ground.”

“If I don’t say a word, they’ll instead think this matter is insignificant to me, after all, our side is the one that benefited. But if I go to their door and lose my temper, they’ll understand that they really did do something wrong... and then they’ll start thinking about apology and compensation.”

“How did your minds grow like this?” Tang Fei sighed softly. “When it comes to palace intrigue, people raised in the palace really are better at it.”

“And you?” Phoenix studied him thoughtfully. “How did the old soil produce a monster like you?”

“A monster? Have you ever seen such a handsome monster?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“A panda.”

“...”

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

Tang Fei hurriedly played dead. After Phoenix saw that he had closed his eyes, she went over and opened the room door.

“Director Chen.”

Chen Bing glanced at Tang Fei on the bed and asked, “Has Student Tang Fei not woken up yet?”

“Not yet,” Phoenix said. “But the doctor said there’s nothing serious. He just needs a good rest for a while.”

“Oh, that’s good then.” Chen Bing let out a breath of relief. “It’s like this: didn’t Dean Shang ask us to use Student Tang Fei’s match in the Primitive Forest region as teaching material? We need to ask Student Tang Fei to sign an authorization contract.”

“What kind of authorization?” Phoenix asked, unwilling to let these people trick Tang Fei.

“It’s like this. As long as Student Tang Fei signs this contract, every time the school uses this video in the future, it will have to pay Student Tang Fei one star coin as a playback fee. Other students who click to watch and study it will also need to pay the same fee.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is...” Phoenix quickly calculated it in her head and agreed to the deal on Tang Fei’s behalf. “Leave the contract here for now. Once Student Tang Fei wakes up, I’ll discuss it with him.”

“Very well.” Chen Bing handed the contract to Phoenix and left.

Phoenix closed the door, waved the contract in front of Tang Fei, and said, “This is quite a substantial income. If the school puts this battle on the public site, then every person who clicks to study it will have to pay one star coin. You’ll receive a very considerable sum.”

“Of course, that’s assuming everyone recognizes your battle as worthwhile and is willing to pay one star coin to watch.”

Tang Fei looked at Phoenix and asked, “Do you think they’ll also go to Shen Qingping for authorization? What if Shen Qingping refuses?”

If the school went to him at a time like this...

Shen Qingping would probably die on the spot to show them. Believe it or not?

“The school will definitely have a way,” Phoenix said. “AI face replacement? Or maybe blur his face?”

“...”

“According to the rules, the ultimate ownership of all competition videos and footage within the school belongs to the school. The fact that Chen Bing was willing to come sign the supplemental contract,” Phoenix looked at Tang Fei and said, “was probably to deliver you a generous gift.”

“No.” Tang Fei shook his head. He could still distinguish dreams from reality. “She was delivering you a generous gift, as an expression of apology.”

They had only chatted for a few sentences when the room door was knocked again.

Phoenix thought it was Chen Bing returning. After Tang Fei finished his performance, she walked over and opened the door, saying, “Director Chen, Teacher Ruan, do you need something?”

The person outside was not Chen Bing, but the curvaceous martial arts instructor Ruan Ran, dressed in a white practice uniform.

“Hello, Xiuxue.” Ruan Ran said with a bright smile. “I just went to see Student Gongshu Lei, and his recovery is going very well. So I thought I’d also come take a look at Student Tang Fei. Has he still not woken up?”

“Not yet,” Phoenix said.

“Oh, I see.” Ruan Ran looked regretful. “Dean Shang said Student Tang Fei should be allowed to choose his class and teacher freely. I wonder if Student Tang Fei has any preferences?”

“He still hasn’t woken up. Once he does, I’ll ask for his opinion.”

“Good, good.” Ruan Ran nodded. “I personally am very optimistic about Student Tang Fei’s potential. If he’s willing to come to our class, I’ll definitely give him the best education and resources. If time permits, I can even give him some extra private tutoring after class.”

Phoenix narrowed her eyes and said with touching emotion, “Oh, that’s wonderful. Thank you, Teacher Ruan. Having a teacher like you is truly a blessing for us students.”

“No need to thank me, no need to thank me. Also, if Student Tang Fei comes to our class, he can be classmates with Gongshu Lei. The two brothers together can look after each other. Don’t you think so?”

“Yes, yes. Once Student Tang Fei wakes up, I’ll speak with him. I’ll be sure to pass on Teacher Ruan’s enthusiasm to him.”

“Thank you, Student Xiuxue.” Ruan Ran was thrilled. With Her Highness the Princess speaking on her behalf, Tang Fei’s entry into her class was now secure.

Whoever else wanted to compete with her? Not a chance.

When she first entered the workforce, her father had taught her: if you want to get something done, first find the right person.

Father really had been right. This move really did work.

“You’re welcome. It’s only what I should do. After all, we’re all doing this for Student Tang Fei’s sake.”

“Yes, yes, all for Student Tang Fei’s sake.” Ruan Ran laughed so hard her whole body trembled, the magnificent fullness of her chest straining against the practice uniform. “Then I won’t disturb Student Tang Fei’s rest. And Student Xiuxue shouldn’t worry too much. Tang Fei will be fine.”

“Thank you, Teacher Ruan. I’ll see you out.”

“No need, no need. I can see myself out.”

Phoenix saw Teacher Ruan off, then looked at Tang Fei, who had just opened his eyes, and said, “Any class is fine except Teacher Ruan’s class.”

“...”