The Phoenix Reborn Book II

Chapter 34 The Origin of Rong Gui

Rong Gui kowtowed before Wang Chengliu's room door. “Hamba thanks for His Excellency's understanding.” He touched his head three times on the floor before finally standing up and saluted with a half bow. “Hamba resigns. May Your Majesty be blessed by the heavens.”

After saying all the things that needed to be said, Rong Gui turned around and left Wang Chengliu's residence. There was not the slightest doubt in his heart when he left the place. Instead, the man looked so relieved, as if he had just slipped out of a snare.

Shortly after Rong Gui's departure, there was the sound of an object breaking into pieces. The bodyguards outside shuddered in horror, feeling that today was a day filled with passionate emotions.

“Your Highness, relax!” pinta Chenxiao watched Wang Chengliu's bloody hand as he had just smacked his knuckles into a porcelain urn.

A mocking smile filled with anger was painted on Wang Chengliu's face. “Belcome? He broke off the relationship with me, the one who was able to grant his wish for revenge, just because of a debt of gratitude to the girl?! It doesn't make sense! What a folly!”

Seeing the anger of his master, Chenxiao cursed inwardly at Rong Gui's actions just a moment ago. The man who had recently been successfully embraced by Wang Chengliu to become his spy in the Department of Defense abruptly resigned. Not only that, the reason Rong Gui resigned was .. because he owed Huang Miaoling a debt of gratitude!

“So hard I found myself, finding someone who had reason to give full support to me. However ... because Huang Miaoling ..” Wang Chengliu gritted his teeth unwillingly.

Yes, with the help of Shao Yanjun, Wang Chengliu got the information regarding Rong Gui. The man had such a deep grudge against the nobles due to his mother's dark past, Rong Xia, and it was something the Sixth Prince could use.

Rong Xia was a servant who had a relationship with the young master of a small noble family. With the Young Master's love and the promise of marriage, the young girl gave her everything, including her chastity. Because of Rong Xia's willingness to give up her body and heart to the man, it is not surprising that the hidden relationship between the two ended in a pregnancy.

Not wanting to admit, but not letting go. The Young Master made Rong Xia cover that the child in the girl's womb was his, but the man also gave the condition that Rong Xia should not abort his fetus. To cover up her disgrace, Rong Xia was forced to leave the residence to live in a small hut on the outskirts of the city. Either really because of the feeling of love .. or just feel guilty, but the Young Master promised to support himself. One requirement that hung between the two, Rong Xia could not return to the city until the right time arrived.

I don't know when the time ‘tepat’ will actually come.

As promised, the Young Master actually sends money every month to meet the needs of Rong Xia. In fact, the man occasionally visited her.

As the time of delivery approached, the Young Master sent a midwife to supervise and take care of Rong Xia. Then, after the birth of the Son, the Young Master was so happy, he even gave the name ‘Gui’ which means ‘mulia’ for his son. However, fearing that the identity of the Son would complicate him, he allowed the Son to use the Rong Xia clan.

It was the beginning of a Rong Gui, the peak of happiness of Rong Xia.

After Rong Gui was three years old, the Young Master came to visit Rong Xia less and less. The woman had absolutely no idea what was happening in the city, and there was no one she could ask about it. Therefore, what Rong Xia knew was that the Young Master stopped coming completely when Rong Gui reached the age of five. Although worried that the Young Master began to leave him, but the promised money continued to flow, making Rong Xia cling to his trust in his heart.

Rong Gui is six years old.

On that one fateful night, an event that Rong Xia had never expected happened. Were it not for the sky still protecting her and making her wake up in the middle of the night, Rong Xia would definitely not have known the arrival of a man dressed in black who intended to kill herself and her son. Were it not for the blessing of the gods, Rong Xia would have also been unable to accidentally end the man's life, pushing him towards a nail sticking out of the wall, let the head of the unknown man be pierced through it without mercy.

Only when he pulled off the cloth that covered the face of the Intruder did Rong Xia know that the man was the escort of the Young Master. The man was ordered to get rid of Rong Xia.

It was realized that his dream to be with the Heart Tribulation was only a wishful thinking that would never come true, and knew that he was in danger, Rong Xia left the city and decided to move to the capital. He hoped that there would be an opportunity for him to start a new life there, in Qiongpo Di, where those outcasts gathered and protected each other.

Not wanting the Son to end up like him, Rong Xia fought hard to raise enough money for Rong Gui to be able to get an education, even if only by reading a bunch of books. Luckily, Rong Gui was a talented and obedient son. He tried hard to fulfill his mother's wishes.

But intelligence comes with ambition. For Rong Gui, his ambition is to find out who his real father really is. Because if he finds it, he swears he'll get the man to his knees in front of his mother.

Although their origin stories are different, there is one element that is so similar from Wang Chengliu and Rong Gui. The similarity is none other than ..the oppression of the nobles against the mother figure who gave birth to them into the world.

Wang Chengliu was so lucky to be born as a royal family, but he was also very unfortunate because he never felt the affection of his biological mother. At the same time, Rong Gui had the bad luck of having to grow up in Qiongpo Di and struggled hard to reach his point of success now. However, on the other hand, the man still felt the mother's affection and even still had the chance to avenge the meritorious woman.

Sympathizing? Empathy?

I don't know what he called it, but Wang Chengliu knew that Rong Gui would not be able to hate him. Instead, there is an implied belief between the two.

However, now ... The man changed his mind? Just because of Huang Miaoling?!

“If Your Majesty is not happy, why not immediately clean it up?”

Wang Chengliu glared at Chenxiao. “Are you asking because you really don't know ... or are you trying my patience?” reply tightly made his subordinates bow their heads. “Go! I need time to think!” banish him.

“Good ...”

After Chenxiao left his room, Wang Chengliu pinched his temple. The prince tried to retrace his conversation with Rong Gui a moment ago.

***

“You know Huang Miaoling?” Wang Chengliu was wide-eyed at Rong Gui's statement. “Not …. You owe him a favor? How come?! He wasn't even in the kingdom when you first set foot in the government!” The man felt that he was hearing a shitty joke.

Rong Gui lowered his head. “Your Majesty, I met Junzhu long before that,” he replied with eyes glaring into the memory stored in the corner of his mind, at the time Huang Miaoling saved his mother with the identity of Min An. “I can't tell you the details, but the point is Junzhu saved my mother.” He continued, “If you promise me help to investigate about ... the man, I cannot accept it because it means I have to hurt my helper.” Rong Gui raised his head. “For me, vengeance must be avenged. But so is the mind. Therefore, I will look for another way to avenge me, but it should be apart from hurting Mingwei Junzhu.”

“You want to betray me?!” w.a.n.g Chengliu snapped, in disbelief he would hear the nonsense of Rong Gui's figure.

Rong Gui's right hand clutched his left fist in front of his chest, a gesture to show respect. “Prince, you were wrong,”. “I won't interfere with your problems with the Huang.” family He continued, “However, it is a different thing if the person you are targeting is Mingwei Junzhu.”

Wang Chengliu's eyes darkened. “You want to fight me?” he asked with a threatening tone.

Chief Rong Gui shook his head. “I only protect it as a form of revenge my bud.”

“Rong Gui, do you know that I can kill you now?”

Rong Gui's forehead wrinkled for a moment, revealing a worry within him. “I know.” He closed his eyes while praying in his heart. “Therefore, this is an opportunity I give to Prince.”

***

Thinking of the conversation made Wang Chengliu's heart thump hard, his anger boiling. The man then smacked his hand on the table in annoyance. ‘Ingenious, really ingenious!’

The Sixth Prince was convinced that Rong Gui knew he would not be able to kill inside his residence with the chaos that occurred in the palace that day. The security of the palace was tightened, and it was very difficult for Wang Chengliu to clear up Rong Gui's death if he actually killed the man. In addition, Rong Gui's identity as a member of the investigation department and a confidant of Wei Shulin also made Wang Chengliu have to think twice before taking action.

Huang Yade would definitely sniff something if Wang Chengliu got rid of Rong Gui.

‘Now, I have to rearrange my plan,’ inner Wang Chengliu while closing his eyes.

Suddenly, Wang Chengliu's eyes opened, his hand grabbed one cup of tea and tightly threw it in one direction— towards the corner of his room. For some reason, instead of being smashed into pieces when it hit the wall, the sound of claps resulting from the meeting of the cup with a soft object could be heard.

A hand holding a cup of tea came out of the darkness. Slowly, the moonlight not only landed on one hand, but a pale-skinned figure with red eyes that glowed horribly.

Wang Chengliu's eyes narrowed, trying to look intimidating. However, it was obvious from the tremors in his view that he felt fear and worry. “You, what are you doing here?”