Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 699 - 591: The Young Siblings Quarrel (Third Update)
Compton pursed his lips. "Dad, Lucian was instigated by Celia this time; that’s why he made a mistake..."
William slammed the table heavily. "Even so, he made a mistake, and he must be punished! Severely punished!"
"Dad, Lucian isn’t inherently bad; he just got involved with the wrong people. How about this: the position of Deputy Minister of Education has been vacant for a while. Let him take it up. This role is unrelated to political affairs, which could serve as his punishment. Moreover, the work isn’t too busy, so he can still spend time with you and my mom, as well as take care of his child."
William furrowed his brows lightly. "He can’t take care of the child. To prevent him from leading the child astray, while the child is still young, your mom and I will raise him."
With that statement, William essentially accepted his eldest son’s proposal. Soon after, Lucian was released. Upon his release, he remained despondent and showed no dissatisfaction with the punishment imposed by his father and elder brother.
His only request was to visit Celia. William consistently refused this demand. Eventually, Lucian pleaded with Compton, and only then was he allowed to visit the prison.
The day after Lucian visited the prison, news arrived that Celia had committed suicide out of guilt.
William was stunned. It was evident without asking that Celia’s death had something to do with his son. He was likely afraid Celia might one day retract her statement and implicate him further!
Celia was his wife of many years!
How could he bring himself to do such a thing?
So ruthless! So ruthless! So ruthless!
After writing "So ruthless!" three times on a piece of paper, William issued an order: The southern county of Nanhong has faced long-standing flooding issues. Lucian is ordered to immediately take up his post there and lead the locals in combating the flood.
Nanhong County! When Lucian received the transfer order, he was dumbfounded. It was a remote border town in the south. Sending him there was tantamount to exile in ancient times, ensuring he’d never rise again in this lifetime.
At this critical juncture, he dared not refuse to go. When leaving, he wanted to take his child but was flatly denied by William. He tried calling his mother and sister, hoping they could help, but their phones remained switched off the entire time.
A failed coup left Lucian exiled, Celia dead, and another conspirator, Sijet, also deceased. Several accomplices received corresponding punishments as well.
From this power struggle, Compton managed to gain substantially. His relationship with his father improved significantly, and his father even handed over military authority to him.
When Queen Marian returned, the household affairs had already been settled. By the time she learned of the news, everything was irreversible.
Queen Marian shed many tears over the matter. But upon reflection, she thought: "If you don’t invite trouble, you won’t face destruction. If those two hadn’t caused such chaos, couldn’t our family have enjoyed the harmony that Long Che’s family does?"
Admiration aside, life had to go on.
Now that the second son had left, the true goodness of the eldest and his wife finally shone through. It turned out that the eldest son cared more for his aging parents than the second did. Even the eldest daughter-in-law, who initially seemed unimpressive, turned out to have a kind heart. She treated the second son’s child as if he were her own.
After Queen Marian’s return, Tong Yao frequently called. Gradually, Marian’s heart calmed down. Sometimes, you have to spend time with someone to truly see their good side. This applied both to Tong Yao and Long Che, and Marian felt fortunate her daughter had married into such a good family.
Tong Yao always had a busy life. While Ranman had settled down, trouble arose with Haotian! Her heart once again began tugging painfully toward Haotian.
Danton escaped the palace once more!
Having learned from last time, this escape was exceptionally secretive — not even an image was left behind.
Yi Luowa was so furious that she seemed to lose her mind. Just after hosting Ziheng’s one-month banquet, she took her child and followed her mother back to Haotian.
The Queen of Haotian was even angrier. "The nerve of this child! His audacity is off the charts! I leave for one day to visit Xiamu, and he leaves a note and escapes!"
Tong Airui arrived a day later. By the time he reached Haotian, the Queen’s anger had nearly flipped the entire palace upside down, yet still, no sign of Danton could be found.
Yi Luowa rushed to Airui upon seeing him. "Have you found any news about Danton?"
Tong Airui shook his head helplessly. "I’ve activated agents stationed quietly in various countries. They’re secretly searching for Danton’s whereabouts. Dad hasn’t publicized this, right?"
"No, we’ve considered that. If people find out Danton ran off to play, who knows what kind of bad ideas they might get. That would be disastrous."
"What excuse are you using?"
"We’re saying publicly that something very valuable was stolen from the palace."
Tong Airui furrowed his brows lightly.
Yi Luowa pouted and looked at him. "Is there something wrong with that?"
"Nothing wrong. Who’s looking for him?"
"Dark Souls."
Tong Airui stroked her head. "If Dark Souls is on the case, there’s nothing to worry about. Sweetheart, you need to come back with me."
Yi Luowa frowned. "Mom is sick with worry! And you want me to leave now?"
Tong Airui nodded. "It’s the only way to mislead anyone who’s watching. Once we leave, if people inquire about Danton, Dad and Mom will have a convenient explanation."
Yi Luowa pursed her lips. "So you’re saying it’ll take a while to find Danton?"
Tong Airui nodded again. "Fang Yao Continent is vast. Tracking down someone who wants to avoid us isn’t easy."
"I’m furious! When I find him, just watch how I deal with him!" Yi Luowa stormed out of the room, fuming.
She met the Queen of Haotian, who was leading the two little ones.
"Mom, you should rest properly! Why are you bringing them out? Where are the nannies?" Yi Luowa asked in irritation, glancing behind her mother. Seeing that the two nannies hadn’t followed, her temper flared instantly.
The Queen of Haotian saw her daughter about to lose it and, smiling helplessly, said, "Your temper is so inconsistent! When you’re in a good mood, people could twist you into dough, and you wouldn’t flinch. But in a bad mood, you’ll flip for even a single word. This won’t do!"
"Won’t do!"
"Won’t do!"
Sangyu and Ziyuan echoed their grandmother and then burst into laughter.
Yi Luowa cast the two of them an annoyed glance. "Two little troublemakers! Without you, I could be out looking for your uncle."
Sangyu pouted. "Uncle... fly-fly!"
"Uncle... come back!" Ziyuan clung to his grandmother’s hand and shook it vigorously. "Lan, what say?"
The Queen of Haotian chuckled. "Lan said Danton, that naughty boy, will be back soon."
"Naughty boy!"
"Spank his bottom!"
Tong Airui walked over, chuckling as he pulled his two children into his arms. "No saying silly things."
"Mom, Airui says I should return..." Yi Luowa repeated Airui’s words.
The Queen of Haotian sighed. "Airui is thorough in his plans. You two should leave."
"Mom, will you be alright?"
"Of course! What’s there to worry about? Starting now, I won’t even spare a thought for that naughty boy! Airui just arrived; leave tomorrow. Take Danton’s stand-in with you to avoid raising suspicion."
Yi Luowa pouted. With both her mother and husband saying it was the right thing to do, no matter how much she didn’t want to leave, she had no choice.
The next day, Yi Luowa and Tong Airui left with their two children and Danton’s stand-in, heading back to Xiabu.
Long Che was feeling restless at home. But seeing his granddaughter return, his face instantly lit up.
Sangyu, adept at pleasing others, threw her arms around her grandfather’s neck and smacked a kiss on his cheek.
Long Che laughed. "Grandpa’s love for you wasn’t in vain!"
Sangyu then reached out to hug her grandmother’s neck and planted another big kiss.
Tong Yao laughed as she pinched her little cheek. "You’re finally back! Without you, your grandpa was walking around like a lost soul."
Sangyu giggled, wrapping one arm around her grandpa and the other around her grandma.
Tong Yao laughed. "Sangyu, let grandpa carry you while grandma picks up your brother. Look at how pouty his little mouth is."
Sangyu glanced at her brother and tightly gripped her grandmother’s clothes, refusing to let go.
Tong Yao looked at Yi Luowa suspiciously. "What’s wrong with Sangyu?"
Yi Luowa glared at her daughter grumpily. "On the plane, I don’t know what she was fighting about with her brother. They nearly started a brawl."
Long Che couldn’t help but laugh. "That’s a first in history! Sangyu, tell grandpa what happened between you and your brother?"
"Hmph!" Sangyu huffed and turned her head away, still sulking.
Long Che gently patted her shoulder and turned to his grandson. "Ziyuan, tell grandpa why your sister is mad at you."
Ziyuan pouted and buried his head in his father’s arms.
Tong Airui chuckled. "They were eating desserts on the plane. Sangyu finished hers and tried to grab from Ziyuan’s plate with her hands. Ziyuan said ’Gross,’ and Sangyu got upset, calling her brother names. Then both got mad and didn’t speak for the rest of the flight."
Yi Luowa glanced at her son. "I thought it was something serious! You two are unbelievable! Starting this young, holding grudges and staying silent — what’ll happen when you’re older? Both of you get down now; let’s head to the side hall for a proper conversation..."
"Luowa, any news about Danton?" Long Che interrupted quickly, fearing his daughter-in-law might truly drag the kids off to lecture them.
Tong Airui grinned. "Dad, if there were news, she wouldn’t be this worked up! You haven’t seen her on the plane — if we bothered her even a little, she’d push the three of us away."
Tong Yao pulled Yi Luowa’s hand over. "Luowa, don’t worry. Danton will certainly be fine."
