Chapter 26: Conflict Part 2

“Hahaha, everyone’s got eight hundred ulterior motives. If that’s not an epic legendary scene, what is?”

“Hahaha, makes sense.”

The crew took their positions. Once the lighting, cameras, and actors were all ready, Li Ran signaled, “Alright, we’re rolling! Action!”

The Royal Honor Guard filled the entire Continuous Joy Harbor. In a spot with a wide view, Empress Petra and her ministers gazed out at the sea, chatting occasionally.

The boundless ocean bore the magnificent Azure Waves Vessel. Across the great distance, people on the shore waved and shouted toward the cruise ship.

A horn sounded, the cruise ship came to a halt, and a long wooden gangplank was set up. Guests descended the gangplank, attendants carrying trunks and holding pets following behind. The wind lifted the ribbons on the ladies’ hats, the sky a clear, washed blue.

“Where is Duke Devin?”

“Is it that one, the one at the back?”

“No, that man isn’t nearly as handsome as the Duke.”

“That one? Look quick, is it that one?”

Devin and Celine stood side by side. Their auras were so distinct they seemed isolated from the noisy, chaotic crowd around them.

The surrounding guard troops saluted respectfully and let them through smoothly.

Empress Petra wore a kind smile and raised a hand. “Devin, you are the Guardian of the Central Realm Kingdom. May God bless your safe return.”

“Mother.” Devin exchanged a brief embrace with the Empress.

Logically, Devin should be close to his biological mother, yet this closeness seemed to stay on the surface. As for his true inner thoughts, no one was sure. But he had always been that way, which masked this peculiarity.

While Devin was exchanging pleasantries with Petra, Celine’s gaze shifted from Petra to Franlang, then to the girl standing next to Franlang. A flash of scrutiny passed through his eyes, gone before it could be clearly read.

“Your Majesty, I have completed my mission.” Colonel Ian saluted with clasped arms and bowed to the Empress.

“You have also worked hard, Colonel Ian.” Empress Petra looked deeply gratified. “Was the journey smooth?”

“Speaking of that, first we encountered pirates attacking a cargo ship at sea, then we ran into a storm and nearly got swallowed by the ocean. But a blessing in misfortune, the storm didn’t last long.”

“Heavens, how dreadful. Pirates and a storm.” Princess Wei’er exclaimed.

Echoes came from the surrounding crowd. “Just hearing about it makes one shiver.”

“Thank goodness everyone’s alright.”

The Empress’s expression changed. “Truly a blessing in misfortune.”

After some pleasantries, Petra’s gaze finally landed on the unfamiliar face. Intuition stirred, a sense of the unknown that she couldn’t see through washing over her, making her feel vaguely threatened.

Detecting her stare, Devin spoke leisurely. “Rescued from the pirates. I wish to keep him.”

Celine, as was expected, ignored human etiquette and took a step closer to Devin.

The Second Prince’s eccentric behavior was nothing new. Everyone was accustomed to his inscrutability. Still, they had to admit, the Second Prince had excellent taste. With such a beauty to keep him company in bed, fine wine and power would pale in comparison.

Though, that blue mark on the person’s forehead was a bit eerie.

“Devin, you wish to keep him, but have you asked for his thoughts?” Franlang seemed rather exasperated by Devin’s overbearing nature. “And his origins are unclear. What if he has malicious intentions?”

Before Empress Petra had a chance to agree.

“He is willing.” Devin’s tone was flat but brooked no argument. “As for origins, his parents died under pirate gunfire. There’s nothing much to them.”

Colonel Ian added, “Yes, Your Majesty. His parents were jewelry merchants who intended to do business in North Scale Bay but suffered a pirate attack and tragically passed away. It’s quite pitiful.”

A voice from behind, slightly off to the side, carried a hint of urgency. Devin let out a quiet scoff. What a devoted passion.

“Mother, we’ve lingered long enough. Why not return to the palace now?”

This meant he was growing impatient. Suppressing her thoughts, Petra said with dignified composure, “Very well. I have already arranged a feast to celebrate this pacification. Secondly,” she smiled, “your elder brother and Princess Wei’er have found mutual affection. I wish to announce to all that Princess Wei’er is the fiancée of the Crown Prince of the Central Realm Kingdom.”

Wei’er exchanged a shy and happy glance with Franlang and said, “Thank you, Her Majesty the Empress.”

Watching the two in their lovestruck state, Petra looked satisfied.

For such a change to occur in just over two months… Devin’s gaze swept past Wei’er, almost as if Franlang’s deep affection from half a year ago had been an illusion.

A wisp of faint spiritual power coiled around his fingertips. Hidden within his long sleeve, Celine’s hand twitched slightly.

The camera zoomed in for a close-up. Each mind harbored its separate schemes.

After bidding Wei’er farewell, Franlang went straight back to Lixi Palace and immediately sent for Baron Ge Wei. He waited with his hands clasped behind his back, appearing composed, yet his brow was tightly furrowed.

“Your Highness.” Baron Ge Wei was a man in his forties, not particularly tall or handsome. Most startling was the scar on his face, running from his left temple down across his right jaw, imparting a fierce aura to his otherwise ugly visage.

“The day of the banquet, Mother will announce that Wei’er is my fiancée.”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.” Ge Wei felt happy for Franlang. “Soon, your wish will be fulfilled.”

Franlang was not secretly delighted by Ge Wei’s words. He stared at the man and said, “I find it all too drawn out. I’m already impatient for Wei’er to become my wife. Devin’s return threatens my position.”

Ge Wei soothed him, “Do not be impatient, Your Highness. Princess Wei’er’s heart belongs to you. The wedding is merely a matter of time. As for Duke Devin, once you gain the support of Princess Wei’er’s father’s forces, you will no longer need to fear him. Then, organize an army to set sail, and you will possess endless wealth.”

Yes, endless wealth. Endless wealth.

Franlang’s mood settled. He brought up another matter. “Devin rescued someone from the pirates. A strange person. Black hair, blue clothes, exquisite features. Just based on appearance, he looks a bit like… a bit like her companion.”

Ge Wei was silent for a second. “Perhaps he is a merfolk too. It’s no matter, Your Highness. If he obstructs your path, simply eliminate him.”

The ghostly light of the candle made Franlang’s expression chilling. “Mm. We’ll watch a while longer. The most important thing now is to secure Wei’er.”

“Alright, good!”

“Phew.” Zhong Yu’s expression relaxed as he detached from his role. He and the actor playing Ge Wei smiled at each other. Their exchange during that scene had been very in-sync.

“That’s a wrap!” Filming had been relatively smooth today. Li Ran waved a hand, his tone light and cheerful. “Pack up the equipment, time to get off work!”

The word “off work” held immense magic, not just for the crew but especially for the actors. Zhong Yu excitedly said to Lin Qinghe, “Qinghe, wait for me to remove my makeup and we’ll go together.”

Lin Qinghe, who hadn’t gone back to the hotel to rest after his own scenes but stayed on set, nodded. “Mm.”

They took a taxi for the short middle stretch. The ride took less than five minutes. The two walked into the hotel together, only to run into dozens of waitstaff gathered in the lobby. It was a dark mass of people, the scene hinting that some major event was about to happen.

“Tomorrow, we must be sharp. Show 100% cleverness and attention. Absolutely no slip-ups.”

“The attendees are all important figures from Western Capital. We can’t afford to offend anyone. Report any emergencies to the manager immediately.”

“They say we’ll see the eldest son of the Song Family, Song Lianqi.”

“That’s not all. That person from Fengrui Group will be attending too.”

“Which person from Fengrui Group?”

“You don’t know him? He’s very low-key, but very formidable. Young, yet worth hundreds of billions, that’s Cen Han.”

“I saw him in a media report once. Young and wealthy, eloquent and refined, and most importantly, outstandingly handsome. Too perfect. And he doesn’t have a wife.”

“That outstanding and still no wife? Their circle is known for playing around. Maybe his private life is a mess.”

“Quite the opposite. The media can’t catch a single shred of scandal about him.”

“Damn, the absolute high-quality companion.”

“Yeah, a high-quality companion for humanity.”

“Speaking of messy private lives, I’ve heard that Song Lianqi is the truly degenerate one.”

“Why?”

“He…”

Lin Qinghe and Zhong Yu passed through the lobby, catching snippets of the conversation. One of the figures discussed was their boss’s higher-up. Zhong Yu shook his head slightly and lowered his voice. “President Cen’s image in others’ eyes is quite lofty.”

“Mr. Cen is a very good person,” Lin Qinghe responded naturally. He had only heard that Cen Han would be at the hotel tomorrow but not the reason. Given his personal conduct, he ought to meet with Cen Han then. But whether they’d run into each other aside, this wasn’t Tranquil City. Perhaps it wouldn’t be entirely appropriate.

Cen Han had personally brought Lin Qinghe into Starlight Entertainment, setting him apart from other artists. Zhong Yu understood this very well. He smiled. “A friend told me tomorrow is Mr. Xi Yun’s mother’s birthday. Most of Western Capital’s dignitaries will attend.”

Lin Qinghe waited for Zhong Yu to finish.

“You’re new to Starlight Entertainment, so you might not know some things. That Song Lianqi they just mentioned has some conflict with the company.”

“Conflict?” Lin Qinghe asked. “A rivalry?”

“Not a rivalry.” Zhong Yu pressed the elevator button. “That man is morally bankrupt. He tried an unspoken rule on an artist under Starlight Entertainment before, and when that artist refused, he resorted to tricks to force compliance, without success. Later, he escalated, and that artist was severely targeted. The matter nearly cost a life. Brother Chen didn’t want to give up on his company’s artist and stepped in to talk to Song Lianqi.”

A sarcastic note crept into his voice. “As it turned out, at the dinner, Brother Chen had wine thrown in his face, and Song Lianqi cursed him out, asking what he was to even be negotiating with him.”

Lin Qinghe frowned, unable to imagine Brother Chen being humiliated like that.

“No one could do anything about it?”

“With money and power like his, no one could control it.” Zhong Yu sighed. “Thankfully, President Cen was above him. At the time, Starlight Entertainment had just gotten off the ground. Brother Chen didn’t want President Cen to think he was incompetent, and he assumed Song Lianqi wouldn’t cling on relentlessly. So he chose to handle it himself. But the situation spiraled out of his control, and after weighing the options, he finally told President Cen.”

“One phone call from President Cen, and the problem was swiftly resolved. But regrettably, that artist decided to leave the industry. Brother Chen was distressed for a long time, always blaming himself.”

“It’s actually for the best. After all, you’d have to see each other constantly. Better to leave than live in constant fear.”

“Mhm.” The powerless are mere meat on the butcher’s block, and others hold the cleaver. Lin Qinghe felt the helplessness inherent in that.

“People like Song Lianqi are just an extreme minority. Generally speaking, these things still rely on mutual consent. I invest, you accompany me, we part on good terms. Those unwilling might miss a shortcut, but they can still achieve success through hard work. It just takes time.”

Lin Qinghe mused over this. Thinking carefully, he should also be considered as taking a shortcut. But unlike the exchange others made, his with Cen Han was an exchange of interests.

He salvaged Starlight Entertainment’s financial losses, and Cen Han provided him with shelter.