Above the Galaxy
Chapter 558 - 345: I Live Off My Looks, He Lives Off Being Shameless!

Chapter 558: Chapter 345: I Live Off My Looks, He Lives Off Being Shameless!

In the Emperor House, favored or wise offspring could ascend the throne, displacing the legitimate heir, a practice known as usurping the throne.

Zhong Tianque and Zhong Tianyi were brothers born of the same parents.

However, should Zhong Tianyi desire power, he would have no choice but to eliminate his elder brother, Zhong Tianque.

After all, Zhong Tianque was the eldest son and the Crown Prince, holding the moral high ground.

Hearing Zhong Tianyi ask if he could become that "person of destiny," Lu Yunhang’s first thought was that he intended to usurp the throne.

Only if he occupied a high position, becoming the supreme ruler, would he have the chance to polish the dust off the pearls and elevate their status.

Otherwise, why?

Zhong Tianyi smiled without speaking but gestured an invitation, saying, "Dean Lu, please sit down for tea. I have set up a small clubhouse by the sea; when idle, I come here to drink tea and listen to the sea—it’s quite a peaceful and quiet place."

Lu Yunhang paused and looked around before agreeing, "Listening to the tide by the sea is indeed a good place."

"Try some of the Blue Star aged pu’erh tea from my collection. This is a hundred-year-old tea, sweet to taste. I usually can’t bring myself to drink it."

"Then today I am indeed fortunate."

After both were seated, Zhong Tianyi personally boiled water to make tea.

He handed a cup of golden-colored pu’erh tea to Lu Yunhang and said, "Dean Lu, please."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Lu Yunhang sipped the tea and smiled, saying, "Indeed, it’s excellent tea. Such quality Blue Star aged tea is rare; it’s worth its weight in gold."

Zhong Tianyi gave Lu Yunhang a thumbs up, praising, "The dean is quite the connoisseur."

"Hahaha, I dare not claim to be an expert, but having drunk a lot, my taste has become quite discerning."

"No worries, I still have a few cakes left; take them home and enjoy at your leisure."

"That wouldn’t be right, how could a gentleman deprive others of their pleasures?"

"Don’t mind my joke, but I drink tea merely to feign elegance. Everyone in Phoenix City knows I’m a prodigal playboy, fond of beauties and wine..."

"I can tell whether wine is good with a single sip. But whether this tea is good... I really can’t tell."

"It’s wasted on me. Better it return to the hands of someone who truly appreciates its value. Do you agree, Dean?"

Lu Yunhang smiled silently.

Zhong Tianyi was nominally offering tea, but he was actually offering his "ambition."

If he accepted the tea, it would mean he was accepting the offer to collaborate.

Furthermore, by saying he was a learned-less playboy, he was subtly indicating...

that even if he came to power, he would not monopolize it, but discuss things with everyone.

He was promising the Lu Family’s future political status and economic benefits.

But how could such significant decisions be made hastily?

The fisherman had just baited the hook—should you bite so eagerly?

Seeing Lu Yunhang glancing at the sea behind him, savoring the tea, Zhong Tianyi understood his attitude—such matters should not be rushed.

His willingness to sit down for tea marked a successful first step.

Had he been uninterested, he would have turned and left upon hearing the probing.

Usurping the throne is no child’s play.

Zhong Tianyi also lifted his cup, took a sip to moisten his throat, and looked at Lu Yunhang, asking, "Dean Lu, what’s your take on the current situation?"

"The current situation?" Lu Yunhang laughed and said, "I, a carefree soul, spend my days playing chess and drinking tea; how could I clearly see the situation?"

"Dean, I speak to you with sincerity. Why must you use such excuses to brush me off?" Zhong Tianyi earnestly said.

Lu Yunhang scrutinized Zhong Tianyi’s expression, sighed deeply after a long pause, and said, "The Monitoring Bureau targeted the Lu Family first, then the Yu Family; other families are silent, the entire Phoenix City is tense..."

"I don’t know what the Monitoring Bureau is up to, but the situation... is very unstable."

Zhong Tianyi’s lips curled into a faint smile as he asked, "Could the dean try to analyze what exactly the Monitoring Bureau wants?"

Though they were talking about the Monitoring Bureau, they both knew it was merely the sharp sword wielded by someone residing within the Phoenix Palace, a mad dog under his command, the executor of his will.

However, some things could not be stated too explicitly.

After all, that person was Zhong Tianyi’s father, Lu Yunhang’s superior...

the master of this country.

Lu Yunhang put down his tea cup, saying, "I did hear some rumors."

"Oh? What rumors?"

"That the Monitoring Bureau wants to eradicate the so-called nine major families... or at least, several among them," Lu Yunhang replied straightforwardly, carefully observing any changes in Zhong Tianyi’s expression.

Being a Royal Family member, Zhong Tianyi should be one of the first to know about any movements within the Royal Family.

He wanted to glean some hints from him, to see what their ultimate goals were.

"Such rumors exist?" Zhong Tianyi nonchalantly asked, "Do you believe them, Dean?"

"Whether I believe them or not isn’t important; what matters is... what they are doing."

"It seems you do believe."

"Gongsun Wuyu has been imprisoned and sentenced, I am under bail pending trial with a criminal charge... 127 officials and engineers associated with the Lu Family have been arrested or dismissed..."