Chapter 1416 No Mercy
Long Tengfei's expression turned dark at his wife's warning. "What do you mean? You plan to divorce me?"
Yang Jiahui snorted. "I'm not stupid to divorce you because of your first family. As long as you don't personally sin against me, I won't divorce you. But I can always leave an old man like you to live alone in this big, ancient residence. I still have my own house where I used to live with my niece. Meimei and I can live by ourselves. I still have my own savings from when I was still working. It may not be much compared to yours, but it's enough for me to live on. Meimei also has her own successful career. She doesn't need me to financially support her anymore. It's nice to have a husband, but I don't need one to feed myself! Hmph!"
"Jiahui, you." Long Tengfei sighed.
It was very rare for his wife to throw a tantrum, but whenever she did, it meant that her tolerance had reached its limit. She had always been understanding of the issues with his children and exes. But after Long Hui and Mao Qiuyue's wedding, she didn't bother hiding her indignance about how she was treated.
Long Tengfei loved this wife. He didn't want to divorce her. This was why he had been doing his best to make it up to her after Long Hui's wedding. He even took a rare day off today just to spend time with her. Unfortunately, his eldest son just had to ruin it again.
Yang Jiahui reiterated her warning. "I'm telling you, Tengfei. There has to be a limit to how often you help your eldest son. He's an adult, for goodness' sake! Your other children no longer rely on you as your eldest son does! And remember that your first grandson is involved in this matter! I dare you save Mao Qiuyue after what she did to Little Jun!"
He took a deep breath as his eyes turned cold. But, of course, this coldness wasn't directed at his wife but at his new daughter-in-law.
"Don't worry, wife. I know what to do."
"Hmph!"
She left the room and went to her niece's studio. There was no way that she would join her husband in meeting Long Hui. She might really lose it when facing her stepson. So it was better to leave it to her husband. Whether Long Tengfei would make a satisfactory decision or not remained to be seen. Long Tengfei leaned back on his chair and released a heavy sigh. It was at times like this that he felt his age. He was really getting old now.
Before this, he never really had any significant problems with his eldest son. It had always been his youngest daughter who made trouble left and right, causing him headaches almost every day back then. When Iris changed for the better, Long Tengfei thought he could finally sit back and relax. He never imagined that it would be his eldest son's turn to cause trouble left and right like this. He had been doing his best to protect his eldest son despite his increasing disappointment. No matter what, Long Hui was still his child. He couldn't find it in his heart to completely leave his son to suffer. This time, however, was a different matter. It involved his grandchild.
Long Jun was his first-ever grandson. His importance in his heart was different. "Bring my son here," he instructed. The chamberlain obeyed.
A few minutes later, Long Hui arrived. He didn't look as haggard as Long Tengfei expected. Still, all the accumulated stress took a toll on his son's usually handsome face. Long Hui's eyes were dull. He looked like he was more tired of the world than his father. "Father," he greeted.
"You want to ask my help for your wife."
Long Tengfei was direct to the point. His words were not a question but a statement.
"Y-yes. Father—"
"I won't help this time, son."
"—huh, what?"
"I said I won't help your wife."
Long Hui stared at his father for a long time. Long Tengfei met his son's eyes. He was prepared for an argument, but his son only nodded, contrary to expectations. There was a sense of defeat in his son's overall demeanour. His shoulders were slumped as if he was carrying all the weight in the world. "I understand, Father." Long Hui plopped himself on a seat, no longer caring about his image in front of his father. He just didn't have the energy to care anymore.
Long Tengfei frowned. The frown wasn't due to disapproval but concern instead. "What's going on with you, son?"
Long Hui opened his mouth but then closed it again. He struggled with whether to share his worries with his father or not. In the end, he decided to keep it all in.
Having a heart-to-heart talk with his father wasn't something they would normally do anyway.
"I'm…fine."
Long Tengfei's frown deepened. He also opened his mouth but closed it back again. He had a lot of things to say but didn't know how to express them to his son. The father and son sat there in awkward silence. "Sorry for disturbing you, Father." Long Hui stood up and got ready to leave. "Qiuyue…my wife…never mind."
"Son."
"Yes, Father?"
"Who is more important to you—your son or your wife?"
The question enraged Long Hui. "What kind of question is that? Of course, it's my son!"
Long Tengfei remained calm in the face of his son's outburst. "There you have it. That's your answer."
Long Hui was silenced. "I, too, think the same way as you, son. That's why I left a lot of women but kept all my children. I'm not the best father by any means. I know that I have many shortcomings as a parent. But I still care about all four of you, my children, in my own way."
Long Hui stayed silent. "Normally, I would have helped you," Long Tengfei continued. "But it's different this time. My grandson, your son, is involved in this matter."
Long Hui's expression cracked.
Bang!
Tea splashed all over the table when Long Tengfei hit it with his hand. "I can't find any shred of compassion in me to help your wife after what she did to my grandson! If not for you, I would have already helped Jiang Ying Yue in her legal case against Mao Qiuyue instead! Your wife deserves to be punished for what she did to my grandson! I'm already doing you a favour by not interfering in any way because I know that your situation with your in-laws is precarious."
He gave his son a final warning. "This is the last time that I'll listen to you ask me for a favour on behalf of the Maos."
Long Hui ground his teeth so hard that his jaw felt locked. But he still replied, "Yes, Father."
Without waiting for his father's reaction, he left.
Long Hui continued walking. Many servants greeted him, but he ignored all of them. He just wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. The residence had stopped feeling like home a long time ago.
Only when he was sitting inside his own car did he finally release the breath he didn't know that he had been holding. His father's refusal to help wasn't unexpected. As a matter of fact, he already predicted this outcome. He wasn't upset at his father either. Truth be told, he felt somewhat relieved that his father refused to help Mao Qiuyue.
If Long Tengfei did help, Long Hui's now strained relationship with his in-laws would improve. However, he would still feel horrible if that happened.
His son would be wronged on so many levels if Long Hui allowed his father to help his wife.
"What the hell should I do?"
He asked himself while sitting alone in his car, but there was no answer. His mind was a mess.
His life had become a total mess.
So he just stayed there inside his car. All alone and with nobody to turn to for comfort.
###
In the end, no one came forward to help Mao Qiuyue from avoiding the legal case filed against her by Atty. Hong Shaoqiang on behalf of Jiang Ying Yue. However, Mao Qiuyue was still permitted to pay bail. She was released from police detention while waiting for the case against her to proceed in court. Back at Dragon Palace Home #10, Iris and the others were unhappy at Mao Qiuyue's temporary release. However, this was within their expectations in accordance with the law. They decided to play within the legal boundaries and let the law decide Mao Qiuyue's official punishment. After all, their side had substantial evidence and plenty of witnesses to back their claim against the woman. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow the author on Instagram: @arriacross]
Nevertheless, this didn't mean that Iris and Jin Liwei would do nothing after what happened to their godson. Yes, they would leave it to the law to decide Mao Qiuyue's official punishment. Still, there were also other ways to vent their anger. It wasn't only Iris and Jin Liwei who felt like this. There were quite a number of people who doted on Little Jun. What Mao Qiuyue did to the adorable little boy outraged them. Jin Liwei and his brothers held a meeting at home.
Iris also held one with her friends in the girl squad. Even Clover joined via video call all the way from France.
Their topic?
How to sabotage Mao Qiuyue and her Mao family.
There was no need for mercy. Did Mao Qiuyue have mercy on Little Jun? No.
Since that was the case, then they had no reservations in meting out their own judgment to the woman.