Chapter 24

The two were silent for a long time. After this heart-to-heart talk, Auston no longer showed any of his mad, erratic behavior toward Ruan Tang.

Even after they arrived home, he simply watched Ruan Tang go back to his room to rest, without approaching him for a sniff like a cat as he used to.

This almost confirmed to Ruan Tang that Auston was actually perfectly normal and was just pretending to be crazy.

Auston watched Ruan Tang's retreating back, then pushed his wheelchair onto his private elevator and went to the study. His secretary Vincent was already waiting in the study, respectfully pouring him Ceylon black tea.

Half an hour ago, Vincent had received Auston's order, but faced with such an order, he couldn't help but confirm again: “Sir, are we really going to cut out Owen Fedia's tongue and destroy his Spirit Power? Although he is a profligate, he is after all Duke Feidiya's most beloved youngest son…”

He didn't know what Owen had done to provoke Auston, but he still felt that his duke's orders were a bit too much.

When the Emperor had compromised with the Empress Faction and agreed to the "Crown Prince", he was already looking askance at their ducal mansion. Usually, the duke's madness was tolerated, as long as he knew his limits.

At this sensitive time, Vincent really felt that his duke shouldn't be going around making enemies everywhere.

Although he knew he might not be able to persuade his master, as an advisor, Vincent felt he had to try.

Auston recalled Owen's behavior today and intended to firm up his plan, but thinking of what Ruan Tang had just said to him, he changed his mind. Looking at Vincent, he said calmly, “No need. Keep his Spirit Power and tongue for now. Just break his legs.”

Vincent had thought he would never be able to persuade Auston, but unexpectedly, Auston was so easy to talk to today. He looked at him in surprise.

He paused, then with increased confidence, attempted to persuade again: “Sir, must you break them? The situation is sensitive now. Making an enemy of the Fedia Family like this will be detrimental to our position.”

“After all, His Majesty has been watching us closely.”

Although breaking his legs was much milder than cutting out Owen's tongue and destroying his Spirit Power, at most leaving the profligate to recuperate at home for a few months...

But given the current situation, Vincent still felt it was better not to break them at all.

They needed to learn to hide their capabilities and bide their time.

“Just go and do it, don't worry, I know my limits.” Auston glanced at him lightly, clasped his hands, and tapped gently on the desk: “No one in the world understands my good father better than I do. The crazier I act, the more reassured he will be, and the more he will let down his guard against us.”

“If I stopped being mad, became normal, and learned to keep a low profile, then he would truly become anxious and furious, wishing to get rid of me as soon as possible.” Growing up in the cracks and schemes between the Emperor and Empress, Auston had always understood how to maintain the delicate balance.

Vincent immediately understood his meaning and bowed his head. “Yes, sir, I understand.”

“Mm, after you have his legs broken, take a message to Duke Feidiya. Say that since he doesn't know how to teach his son, I'll teach him for him. This time, my wife was soft-hearted and persuaded me, so I spared him, only breaking one leg... If he falls into my hands again, he won't be so lucky.” Auston gently picked up his teacup, then, suddenly thinking of something, gave further orders.

Only then did Vincent realize that Auston's desire to break Owen's leg this time was for the sake of the duchess that the Empress had forced on him.

He had wanted to advise Auston that since he was breaking Owen's leg, he shouldn't provoke Duke Feidiya like that, but thinking that Auston's intuition was usually accurate, since he asked him to do this, he must have his own reasons, so he said no more.

Vincent answered softly, “Yes.”

He obediently withdrew from Auston's study.

Auston took a sip of black tea, his posture elegant and leisurely.

Actually, it would have been fine not to break Owen's leg, but having grown up under the different torments and schemes of his parents, Auston's character had a certain extreme tendency: he would wish for life for those he loved and death for those he hated.

When he liked someone, he wanted to hold them up to the sky; when he hated someone, he wanted to trample them into the mud.

Now that he liked Ruan Tang and wanted to spoil him, he insisted on giving him this show of power, making an example of Owen to warn others, so that everyone would know that Ruan Tang could not be slighted, and that slighting Ruan Tang was the same as slighting him.

No one gave Ruan Tang this respect and regard, so he would.

The next day, news spread throughout the Imperial Star that Duke Feidiya's youngest son, Owen Fedia, had provoked Ruan Tang and refused to apologize, and had had his legs broken by Duke Auston's men.

This caused an uproar throughout the Imperial Star, and even the Emperor and Empress in the palace heard about it.

Although Duke Feidiya knew that his son was in the wrong first, and that the one who stirs first is cheap, his son's legs being broken without warning still made him furious. He directly brought the matter before the Emperor at the next morning's assembly, asking the Emperor to seek justice for his son.

“You've gotten quite capable! You dare to break even Duke Feidiya's youngest son's legs just like that. What do you think the Imperial Star is? Is it the Penal Planet under your control, that you can run wild, act recklessly, defy the law, and act without restraint?” Regardless of what the Emperor truly thought, after Duke Feidiya had made his complaint, he called Auston before him, transforming into a furious father whose son had caused trouble. Right in front of Duke Feidiya, he picked up a teacup from the table and threw it at Auston.

He put on a show for Duke Feidiya, making his stance clear.

The Emperor at present was a very capable Alpha. The fact that he could defeat his several brothers in the brutal struggle for the throne and emerge victorious was enough to prove his ability.

And after his succession, his ability to balance various forces, along with his exceptional ruthlessness and suspicion, was enough to prove how suited he was to this position.

Although he was the least favored son, Auston believed he was the one who understood this father of his the best.

Thus, facing the thrown cup, Auston did not dodge or avoid it. Instead, he stiffened his neck, as if not afraid of the Emperor at all, wanting to defy him: “Father, it was Owen Fedia who went too far. He insulted my wife first! Your son tried to discuss it amicably, but he refused to apologize. I don't think I am wrong! And I will not admit fault!”

“You — for an Omega you dare to break Young Master Feidiya's legs? What kind of behavior is this?” The Emperor roared with anger, scolding coldly.

Auston's voice was cold and stubborn. “Ruan Tang is not just an Omega. He is my wife, the Duchess I married openly and whom I have claimed.”

“Fine, fine, even if he is your wife!” The Emperor laughed in anger. “Young Master Feidiya provoked first, but he didn't actually lay a hand on anyone. Why did you have to have his legs broken?”

“He didn't attack, not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.” Auston said bitterly.

Seeing that he showed no sign of repentance, the Emperor grabbed another object and threw it at Auston, commanding angrily, “Apologize! Apologize immediately to Young Master Feidiya and offer compensation!”

“Fine, Father, I'll apologize right now!” Auston obediently turned his dark gaze to Duke Feidiya, who was present.

Duke Feidiya remained silent, waiting for Auston's apology.

Being stared at by Auston with such a look made him quite frightened in his heart. If not for the Emperor's request, he really wouldn't have wanted to come and make this complaint.

Auston curled his lips, a contemptuous and disgusted smile on his face. “On the fifteenth of March this year, Owen Fedia... and Yinshui Star...”

The moment he spoke, the officials present all looked at him in extreme shock and astonishment.

Because what Auston said was not an apology at all, but rather some evidence of crimes committed by the profligate Owen Fedia, and some dark secrets of the Fedia Family.

Many people knew about these matters, but no one had ever brought them out into the open.

Auston was using the fact that Owen Fedia had provoked Ruan Tang to take down the entire family together.

Truly a mad dog that you shouldn't provoke, that bites anyone it catches...

With this in mind, those who had offended Auston or slighted Ruan Tang all felt a creeping fear and anxiety.

“Your Majesty, I—” Duke Feidiya's face changed dramatically, and he knelt on the ground, pale with fright.

He never imagined that when the Emperor asked him to do something, it would lead to this!

“Alright, Father, that's how I apologize to Duke Feidiya. Do I need to continue?” Auston knew when to stop. He had revealed some secrets of the Fedia Family that, while not fatal, were enough to make them tremble with fear. He then looked at the Emperor as if puzzled.

As if to imply that if the Emperor wasn't satisfied, he could go on.

“Enough, enough!” The Emperor, acting as if he hadn't heard what Auston just said, smoothed things over: “Since you've apologized to Duke Feidiya, remember to send a gift to ease the pain of Young Master Feidiya's broken legs. The matter between you two ends here.”

Today's complaint from Duke Feidiya had been instigated by the Emperor himself, in order to test his son's intentions. The Emperor already knew all the dark secrets of the Fedia family, so naturally he wouldn't convict the Fedia family based on what Auston had said.

Although he had a preferred candidate for the Crown Prince and would never allow Auston's future child to become the Crown Prince, he was still in the prime of his life and had no intention of establishing an heir apparent immediately.

But he was afraid that because of his empty promise of the "Crown Prince" in compromise with the Empress Faction, combined with the seduction of that Omega of the Ruan family, Auston might change his mind, develop treacherous intentions, and covet that position. So he decided to test Auston using this opportunity.

Seeing that Auston was still as mad as before, not afraid to offend anyone over a small matter, biting at anyone he caught, not knowing what it meant to hide his capabilities and bide his time, and daring to bring up anything to make enemies, he was reassured.

After all, he was in the prime of his life, and this mad dog son was still useful because of his abilities... The Emperor didn't plan to let him die so soon.

Duke Feidiya, seeing that the Emperor had no intention of punishing him and had let the matter pass, breathed a sigh of relief.

Auston frowned slightly, seeming displeased, but faced with the Emperor's authority, he still responded, “Yes, Father.”