Above the Galaxy
Chapter 559 - 345, I make a living off my face, he makes a living off his shamelessness!_2

Chapter 559: Chapter 345, I make a living off my face, he makes a living off his shamelessness!_2

"I heard they’re starting the recall of my uncle, the Mechanical Minister... If my uncle is removed, the Lu Family’s representatives in the Empire’s officialdom would be wiped out..."

"Your Highness is aware that the Lu Family is a mechanical lineage. We have built our family upon mechanical expertise and are naturally unskilled in the bureaucratic arts. Our power base in officialdom is quite weak..."

"At such a time, how will the Lu Family protect itself? Your Highness, there’s widespread anxiety..."

"While I personally sympathize with the Lu Family’s predicament, I also find the injustices faced by the Director and Minister Dongsheng deplorable," Zhong Tianyi immediately expressed his consolation, saying, "Regrettably, Tian Yi’s influence is too minor, his words too light to be of any help."

"Thank you, Your Highness. Your sentiment is much appreciated," Lu Yunhang said with a smile.

Of course, the Lu Family had means of self-preservation. Anyone who sought to take the Lu Family’s interests would pay a heavy price.

However, it was necessary for him to portray the situation as even more dire.

Only then could he elicit sympathy or perhaps even contempt...

Zhong Tianyi’s gaze sparkled as he looked at Lu Yunhang and asked, "Director, have you not considered resisting? Will an ancient clan simply resign itself to doom and let others dictate its fate?"

Lu Yunhang knew this youngster had finally reached the main topic. Shaking his head with a sigh, he said, "Thunder and rain are blessings from the nation. Our Lu Family has been graced by the Royal Family for generations; how can we throw a tantrum and flip the table over a little grievance?"

Seeing a look of disappointment on Zhong Tianyi’s face, he continued, "Moreover, even if we wanted to resist... how can we? The Monitoring Bureau is a formidable law enforcement institution of the Empire, wielding the sword in one hand and the code of law in the other... What chance do we, who deal with techniques and machinery, have against them?"

Zhong Tianyi’s eyes were resolute, his expression grave as he said, "When corrupt officials wield power, it’s a disaster for the nation. As a man of the Zhong Family, I must find a way to prevent such a destabilizing incident."

"Unfortunately... Unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately what?"

"Unfortunately, Your Highness is not the Crown Prince, with no claim to the throne. Otherwise, our days would be easier."

Zhong Tianyi’s heart stirred as he looked at Lu Yunhang and said, "What if we joined forces to resist?"

Lu Yunhang shook his head in refusal, saying, "Just you and I alone, I’m afraid it’s not enough."

"Is it only you and me?" Zhong Tianyi said with a chuckle, "The Monitoring Bureau attacks someone, and that someone becomes our friend. The more people the Bureau targets, the more friends we have. How can we not succeed?"

Lu Yunhang looked at Zhong Tianyi with surprise and asked aloud, "The Yu Family is getting involved?"

"Hahahaha..." Zhong Tianyi laughed but didn’t answer, saying, "Such a dangerous affair... if I didn’t have certain assurances, why would I dare step forward and call to arms?"

After pondering for a moment, Lu Yunhang said, "This is a matter of great importance; I need to go back and discuss it thoroughly with my family. But I promise you, Your Highness, whether successful or not, this will go in my left ear and out my right. It will not reach the ears of outsiders."

"That’s exactly right." Zhong Tianyi was secretly delighted but forced a composed and graceful air of conviction on his face. "Director, please have some tea."

"Please, Your Highness."

------

Basement.

Tang Fei pushed open an iron door where an old man was already brewing tea.

"Come, have some tea," the old man beckoned carelessly to Tang Fei with a grin, saying, "I brought this aged puerh from home, supposedly from trees that survived the Blue Star catastrophe... Want to give it a try?"

Tang Fei looked at the old man with puzzled eyes and asked, "Since when did you take up this hobby? Didn’t you always prefer big tree leaves?"

"Bullshit," the old man cursed loudly, saying, "Do you think I liked that? That was all I could drink... Whenever I asked you to bring me some good tea, you always came back with those big tree leaves. They made my face swell, running to the toilet all night."

"You’re blaming me? Where am I supposed to find good tea for you? All those tea trees have been eaten by other wild trees; finding a few big leaves is already fortunate... You never complained when you drank it before, and you seemed rather pleased."

"Isn’t this an opportunity to drink something better?" the old man’s smile turned lecherous, saying, "Come try it; this tea is rare, and I managed to get it from Prince Zhong Tianyi."

Tang Fei’s eyes shone, asking, "Zhong Tianyi came to you?"

Tang Fei knew about Zhong Tianyi, and he knew Zhong Tianque as well.

With Zhong Tianque’s status, he would never actively offer tea to someone.

Therefore, only the Second Prince, Zhong Tianyi, who now completely lacked a sense of security, would take the initiative.

The old man nodded, saying, "I told you, lad, you’re sharp, inheriting my true essence... He found Lu Yunhang, wanting to join hands with our Lu Family in resistance."

"What’s the Lu Family’s take on this?" Tang Fei asked curiously.

"What else can it be? We can’t readily agree just because someone comes knocking. That would make our Lu Family appear too cheap."

"Besides, who knows if he’s a spy sent by the Royal Family to test us? Without determining their true intentions and a sufficient bargaining chip... the Lu Family will not show its hand."

Tang Fei took a sip of the tea the old man brewed and nodded, "Indeed, it’s good tea, sweet and delightful. Is there more? I’ll take some back for Little Fatty."

Tang Fei knew the old man’s fondness for Little Fatty; otherwise, it was inexplicable how, in the barren Old Land, he could manage to keep Little Fatty so well-nourished.