"So that's how it is."
Lin Fan was half-convinced, but this was not enough to explain Li Yurou's strangeness.
"Brother!" Li Yurou pinched her brother fiercely.
Li Yusheng felt a searing pain in his back, his face instantly contorted in agony.
Zheng Yue found it amusing. Why did the whole world seem to have gone mad today?
Not a single normal person!
"Do you have paper and a pen in your car?"
"Yes, yes."
Soon, paper and a pen were brought. Li Yurou quickly wrote a few sentences.
"Huh?" Zheng Yue was puzzled. Why would her brother have his sister write for him?
Meanwhile, Lin Fan had also finished writing.
Zheng Yue picked up the note Lin Fan had written and read aloud, "The King's reign is drawing to a close. Pasfan and the foolish Crown Prince lack the presence of an emperor. Only Princess Narui carries the aura of a sovereign, and may ascend the throne in the future."
As her voice fell, the scene fell into a husp silence.
The Li siblings stared blankly at Lin Fan, marveling internally. These heterochromatic eyes were indeed formidable!
The siblings, who considered themselves omniscient, had not only discerned the King's fate but had also assessed all three royal heirs.
Therefore, they had confidently believed they could outperform Lin Fan. To their surprise, Lin Fan had seen everything they had, and faster.
Li Yusheng was greatly disappointed. Faced with such a formidable opponent, he had no choice but to concede.
Li Yurou pouted, her face a picture of unhappiness.
"What were your observational results?" Lin Fan asked calmly.
"What are you so smug about? We called it a draw," Li Yurou retorted rebelliously.
At this moment, Zheng Yue slowly lowered her head. She knew Lin Fan had kept the matter of her dragon aura a secret to protect her.
It wasn't a draw at all; Lin Fan had clearly outperformed them!
"Brother Lin, what are your plans now?" Li Yusheng asked.
"We'll react as things unfold. Don't worry, I'll protect you," Lin Fan sighed.
Long Pu was a cunning schemer. Until he knew what methods Lin Fan would employ, Lin Fan believed it was best not to act rashly, lest they alert the enemy.
"Are you hiding something from us?" Li Yurou, sharp as ever, sensed that Lin Fan had something concealed.
Lin Fan gave an awkward smile. "I'll tell you when the time is right."
"Can't you tell us now?" Li Yurou's eyebrows were furrowed.
Li Yusheng tugged at his sister's arm. "Don't ask. I trust Brother Lin's character. He wouldn't harm us."
"See you at the rendezvous point," Zheng Yue said, getting into the car with Lin Fan.
"What are you planning to do?" Zheng Yue asked eagerly as soon as they were in the car.
"We'll take it as it comes. Don't worry, I'll protect you," Lin Fan smiled.
He didn't care who became king, but he couldn't stand idly by while Long Pu endangered Zheng Yue's life for his own selfish gain.
...
Half an hour later, the three groups arrived at the rendezvous point in succession.
It was a secluded and hidden manor.
"..."
Zheng Xingchao lavished praise upon Long Pu, his words overflowing with admiration.
"Amitabha..." Long Pu remained unperturbed, repeating Buddhist mantras.
Lin Fan watched, openly amused.
"Yusheng, Yurou, you're back too." Zheng Xingchao, having spoken until his mouth was dry, finally noticed the others.
"Uncle Zheng," Li Yusheng nodded, his expression grim.
"Master Lin, you've returned as well." Upon seeing Lin Fan, Zheng Xingchao merely offered a faint smile. Once he ascended the throne, what kind of remarkable individuals wouldn't he be able to find?
"Mmm," Lin Fan replied curtly.
"Everyone, come inside and let's talk," Zheng Xingchao gestured them in.
The group, like a swirling vortex, surrounded Long Pu and moved towards the manor's main house.
Zheng Yue followed behind, her gaze fixed on Long Pu.
She worried inwardly about what kind of stratagems this old man might employ.
In the living room.
Everyone took their seats. Zheng Xingchao and Xie Wei occupied the main seats. Long Pu, adhering to his monastic status, sat on a cushion on the floor, his hands clasped.
The Li siblings and Lin Fan entered the hall last, finding no seats available and thus having to stand.
Despite Zheng Xingchao's constant addressing them as "Masters," he clearly viewed Lin Fan and the others as mere tools to be exploited.
Believing his ascension to the throne was imminent, his arrogance had already soared, causing him to disregard these "tools."
"Master Long Pu, has the royal family's reign truly reached its end?" Zheng Xingchao asked, feigning ignorance.
The next moment, all eyes focused on Long Pu, holding their breath with anticipation.
"Amitabha, indeed," Long Pu nodded slowly.
"Hahaha..." Zheng Xingchao was ecstatic. He leaped from his chair, slapping his thigh with force.
"Excellent!"
"Excellent!"
Xie Wei was equally thrilled. He cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations, brother-in-law! The Zheng family's century-long aspiration is finally coming to fruition!"
"The King is finally finished!"
"I knew it! With the people suffering and heaven enraged, it's all the fault of the King and the royal family! They deserve death a thousand times over!"
"I say, the throne rightfully belongs to the Zheng family. The Rama family are simply treacherous, backstabbing scoundrels who have usurped the throne for centuries. They should have returned it long ago."
The atmosphere in the hall was incredibly fervent.
Someone rushed forward to Zheng Xingchao and shouted, "Congratulations, Old Master Zheng, on your impending enthronement!"
"..."
Others followed suit, and a torrent of sycophantic praise filled the air.
Zheng Xingchao, full of vigor and beaming with joy, felt as if he was already wearing the imperial robes and receiving the kowtows of his subjects.
"My esteemed ministers... colleagues, there's no need for such formality," Zheng Xingchao said, his smile uncontainable. He tried to suppress his excitement, reminding himself that the road ahead was still arduous.
"Amitabha."
A resonant Buddhist chant brought everyone back to their senses, signaling that Long Pu had something to say.
"Master Long Pu, do you have further guidance?" Zheng Xingchao asked.
"Alas," Long Pu sighed softly. "Although the King's reign is over, one individual within the Rama family possesses the aura of a sovereign and the countenance of an emperor."
Everyone was shocked.
Zheng Xingchao felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, his good mood vanishing instantly.
Lin Fan frowned, thinking to himself, "Here it comes, the old man is about to play his trick."
"Princess Pasfan and His Highness the Crown Prince have only mediocre fortunes, their future achievements limited. Only the Second Princess, Narui, possesses the countenance of an emperor," Long Pu stated truthfully.
What?!
Lin Fan's face fell in astonishment. According to his deductions, Narui was Long Pu's own daughter, and Long Pu would undoubtedly go to great lengths to conceal the fact that she possessed the dragon aura.
At that point, he and the Li siblings could have stepped forward to question Long Pu.
Truth fears no test. Even if Zheng Xingchao invited other masters to observe, the result would be the same. Long Pu would be utterly discredited.
He never expected Long Pu to speak so frankly, not hiding Narui's dragon aura at all. Did this old man not fear his own daughter being assassinated by the Zheng family?
The Li siblings exchanged glances, sharing Lin Fan's bewilderment.
"Master, is this true?" Zheng Xingchao asked with a look of concern.
"A man of faith does not lie," Long Pu affirmed with a firm nod.
Xie Wei supported Zheng Xingchao, signaling him with his eyes to remain calm.
He then looked at Long Pu and said sincerely, "Master, judging by your confident demeanor, do you already have a plan?"
Long Pu closed his eyes, twirling his prayer beads with one hand, remaining silent.
Zheng Xingchao grew anxious. He strode up to Long Pu and declared, "We implore you, Master, to lend your assistance. The Zheng family will forever be indebted for your immense kindness. Anything I possess, anything you require, I will grant without hesitation!"
"The Xie family too. Even if you ask for a billion, ten billion, I will offer it with both hands!" Xie Wei interjected.
Others crowded around, all begging Long Pu to act.