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Dai An was eager to hear the "brilliant insights" of his third son.
Though both Dai Weisi, Dai Mubai, and Dai Chengfeng were his biological sons with his wife Zhu Hongxiu, their mother—
As a father, he shouldn't explicitly favor any one of them.
But…
Dai An didn't deny that he favored his youngest son. In him, he saw a reflection of his younger self—no, even better than his younger self.
The future hope of the Star Luo Empire!
Then came his eldest son, Dai Weisi, and lastly this third son, Dai Mubai.
He had always felt that his third son, Dai Mubai, bore little resemblance to the people of the Star Luo Empire.
From childhood to adulthood, whenever faced with difficulties or seemingly unsolvable problems, instead of trying to resolve them, he immediately thought of ways to escape.
This was not the way of the Star Luo Empire.
Dai An had patiently taught him, after all, he was still his own flesh and blood…
But, to no avail!
This third son seemed completely incapable of understanding that some things could be compromised, but once others were given up, the "backbone" would be broken!
"I hope Mubai will understand these principles when he grows older… sigh!"
Dai An sighed softly in his heart, his eyes flickering with concern for his son.
On the other side, Dai Mubai had no idea what his father was thinking. Instead, his voice carried a hint of pain and indignation. "Father, I believe Chengfeng should never have attacked Wu Ping City."
"Hmm?"
Dai An's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "You're saying Chengfeng shouldn't have attacked Wu Ping City?"
"Yes, Father. Chengfeng absolutely shouldn't have attacked Wu Ping City." Dai Mubai nodded emphatically. "In doing so, he committed two major mistakes!"
"The first mistake…"
As he spoke, a hint of probing flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes as he looked at his father. "Father, if I'm not mistaken, you've already agreed with the Tian Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall not to retaliate for the previous incident, correct?"
Dai An thought of that "humiliating" treaty, and his tone unconsciously grew heavier.
But he still nodded. "That's right."
Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai confirmed his suspicions, and a trace of smugness slipped into his voice. "Then surely, Father, you must not have instructed Chengfeng to attack Wu'an City, right?"
Dai An nodded again.
"If that's the case!"
"Father, you had already reached an agreement with the Tian Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall to cease retaliation for past events."
Dai Mubai's voice grew louder. "Yet, Dai Chengfeng launched an unauthorized attack on Wu Ping City without your permission, causing you to lose face with the Tian Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall. This act has utterly disgraced you!"
Before Dai An or Zhu Hongxiu could respond, he continued, "And the second major mistake!"
"Clearly, our current strength in the Star Luo Empire is still inferior to the Spirit Hall. Though we were indeed attacked by the Tian Dou Empire, now that the Spirit Hall has intervened, we should choose to endure for the greater good."
"But Chengfeng acted impulsively, disregarding the Spirit Hall's stance, seeking vengeance for the lives of mere thousands of soldiers…"
"Enough!"
Before Dai Mubai could finish, Zhu Hongxiu couldn't help but snap angrily.
"Mubai, I've told you countless times not to drink alcohol at such a young age, yet you refuse to listen, and now you're spouting nonsense!"
"Apologize to your father at once!"
"Mother?" Dai Mubai looked at Zhu Hongxiu in confusion. "I haven't been drinking. Everything I've said was for the good of the Star Luo Empire and Father…"
Zhu Hongxiu's eyes were filled with anxiety. "How can you say you haven't been drinking…"
"Enough!"
At this moment, Dai An raised his hand to interrupt, his expression calm as he looked at his empress. "My Lady, I know you mean well for Mubai, but today he has… deeply disappointed me as a father!"
"My Lord…"
Though her husband appeared calm, his expression unchanged, Zhu Hongxiu understood that only extreme anger would make him this composed. "Mubai is still young; he doesn't understand…"
"But he's older than Chengfeng! Why does Chengfeng understand, while he understands nothing?"
As he spoke, Dai An gestured to Dai Mubai, who stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what was happening.
"Father…"
Though Dai Mubai didn't believe he was wrong, he could sense the tension in the air and approached his father timidly.
Slap—!
A resounding slap echoed through the study, leaving a bright red handprint on Dai Mubai's face.
"Do you know why I struck you?"
Dai An's expression remained calm as he looked at his son, who stood there in disbelief, clutching his cheek.
"Is it because I… spoke ill of Chengfeng?"
Dai Mubai looked at his father, his eyes brimming with grievance and confusion.
"Fool!"
Dai An roared at Dai Mubai, who still didn't understand his mistake. "Because of our family's ancestral teachings, you and Chengfeng are destined to be rivals. I fully understand your desire to see Chengfeng dead."
"Even if you truly killed Chengfeng, though I'd be angry, I'd also take pride in your strength and wouldn't lift a hand against you!"
"But what you absolutely should not have done… was to refer to the soldiers of Wu'an City, who sacrificed their lives to protect our nation, as mere 'thousands of miscellaneous soldiers'!"
"Those men are heroes of the Star Luo Empire!"
"Without their selfless sacrifices, where would the Star Luo Empire be today?!"
As he spoke, Dai An's eyes turned crimson, and he grabbed Dai Mubai by the collar. "And another thing!"
"Do you really think I wanted to agree with the Tian Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall not to seek revenge?"
"That was my humiliation! As the Emperor of Star Luo, I failed to protect my people!"
"And now, Chengfeng has done what I wanted to do but couldn't. I feel nothing but pride!"
"As for losing face?"
"Dignity can never be gained through compromise!"
"I can use Chengfeng's youth as an excuse to placate the Spirit Hall and the Tian Dou Empire, forcing them to swallow their grievances without recourse. Is it because I compromised well or quickly? No—it's because the Star Luo Empire is stronger than the Tian Dou Empire!"
"How can you not understand such a simple truth?"
"To compare you to Chengfeng now is an insult to him!"
"I am… deeply disappointed in you!"
With that, Dai An let out a long sigh and released Dai Mubai. "Go. Kneel in the ancestral shrine."
"You may leave when you've reflected and understood your mistakes. Otherwise, don't come out ever again!"
"Remember!"
"I don't oppose you becoming a hero, a tyrant, or even a villain. But as my son, Dai An's son, and the third prince of the Star Luo Empire… you cannot be a coward!!!"
Unable to contain his anger any longer, Dai An roared the final words.
Dai Mubai looked at his father, his lips pressed tightly together in grievance. He didn't understand…
After a war, hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of soldiers inevitably die. As the third prince of the Star Luo Empire, standing high above them, how was it wrong to call them "miscellaneous soldiers"?
Moreover,
It was clear that the Spirit Hall was far more powerful. If a fight broke out, the Star Luo Empire would be no match for the Spirit Hall.
If that was the case, shouldn't the Star Luo Empire behave humbly and avoid provoking the Spirit Hall?
Though he inwardly disagreed and resented it…
Dai Mubai, seeing his obviously enraged father, dared not utter a word. He could only feel deeply aggrieved. "I haven't done anything wrong. What's the point of provoking the Spirit Hall? Father only favors Dai Chengfeng!"
"Just wait and see!"
"One day, I'll prove that all of you are wrong. I, Dai Mubai, will surpass Dai Chengfeng!"
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