Durin's Diary

Chapter 896 Whom shall I dine with?

The Prime Minister of the Empire stood outside his own gate, watching the carriage of the General's Mansion stop before him, and smiled with a hint of regret.

No one else knew what was wrong with the Beijing Newspaper Group, but some people seemed to know.

The old general, leaning on his cane, stepped out of the carriage and walked up to his old rival. He looked at the old man from the Mo family, dressed in court attire, and smiled: "It seems you understand why I came to find you."

"It's like the dragon-slaying staff in your hand knows what you're thinking." The prime minister of this country said, while stepping aside to invite you in: "Would you like to come in and have some tea? It's tea from the tea mountains of Qiantang, before the rain."

"The fact that you brought out this tea shows that you're prepared to put in a lot of effort to get this done, and you're also determined to push forward what you want to promote." Following his old adversary into his home, the old general sighed and nodded slightly to the young Mo girl who came over to bow: "Why are you home today? Didn't your grandfather say anything to you?"

She shook her head.

“At first, I wanted her to be the bad guy, but then I thought about it. After all, I didn’t watch that child grow up. What if the rumored kindness didn’t work on her? Wouldn’t my granddaughter’s death have been in vain? So I decided to let it go. Anyway, there are still plenty of opportunities and there are always many ways to go.”

After waving his granddaughter away, the old prime minister led his old rival to the pavilion. He sat down at the head of the round table and said, "You came here today because of that matter concerning the child, right? Before you ask me anything, I have a question I'd like to ask you first."

"We've been at odds for years, so just ask me what's on your mind. Don't drag things out like this, it'll only make us a laughingstock." The old general laughed as he sat down on the other side.

"Why choose Xiang Shu?" the Empire's prime minister asked.

“If we don’t choose her, are we really going to let His Majesty’s obese granddaughter take the place? Are you planning to treat this old man like a dead man, or Prime Minister Luo like a blind man, or are you planning to let young Master Du Lin suffer this injustice in silence?” The old general slammed his cane on the ground as he said this: “Old Mo, don’t bring out your little schemes. It’s no secret that your grandson likes Xiang Shu. What, are you planning to help your own grandson bully your grandson-in-law, huh?”

"This time, that child's team was among the first to arrive," the old man he was referring to simply said.

"What do you mean?" Now it was the old general's turn to be confused.

As everyone knows, in battles against the puppet skeletons, almost no one from the vanguard company will survive, so the outcome is often decided by drawing lots.

"In the past, I just thought it was a good thing for young people to have someone they liked, because it gave them the courage to survive on the battlefield. This time, I learned through my channels that you chose Xiang Shu. At first, I wanted to help the young people, so I arranged for various newspapers to push Du Lin, who was letting the child into the spotlight, and then use the Great Defense Controversy to cut off your hopes. After all, there has never been a precedent of a princess from Changtang marrying out."

“Your methods were very secretive. No one but me suspected you were behind it, because even the father of Xiao Hu’s secretary came forward first. He was one of your men, and his involvement greatly reduced suspicion.” The old general frowned. “But I don’t think you can remain uninvolved. You’re as cunning as a fox, and the facts have proven my judgment correct.” “But you still misjudged. Yes, you initially selected Xiang Shu three days ago, right when Du Lin joined the Army’s development department. At that time, my idea was to cut off your hopes.” The old prime minister said as he began to brew tea, picking up the kettle on the stove to scald the teacups.

“In these three days, we have witnessed the child’s abilities. She is far superior to your grandson. His Majesty would never marry her to your grandson.” The old general frowned as he said this: “Stop now. It’s not too late. If you stop, I will pretend this never happened. We have fought all our lives, but it was all for this land beneath our feet.”

“You’re wrong. Why didn’t you consider that even you know my grandson has no chance of winning? Why should I continue with this plan?” The old prime minister smiled and opened a tea canister, the refreshing aroma of tea immediately filling their lungs.

"Speak, I'm listening," the old general said.

"After Dulin helped Prime Minister Lin with his affairs for a day, I already knew this matter was irreversible. So last night, I secretly met with Prime Minister Lin and used some means to get my grandson's company selected for the vanguard. Anyway, people are going to die, and my grandson will die with his company. I'm sure you won't be dissatisfied." Placing tea leaves in his teacup, the Prime Minister of the Empire's eyes drooped. "Next, once he really kills the Great Demon and severs that Mother's twisted influence on the puppet bone, all the newspapers will start praising Dulin's achievements, turning the deed into a fait accompli. Isn't that exactly what you want to achieve?"

"You're really ruthless. They say you're a cunning fox, and they're absolutely right." The old general looked at his old adversary with a complicated expression: "Then what about your grandson?"

“His unrequited love should have ended long ago, but unfortunately he’s deeply trapped in his delusions. If it were before, I would have thought of helping him, but from now on, for the sake of all the people in the world, I can only ask him to die with his dream.” As he said this, the old man picked up another pot of water from the stove: “You know, sacrificing my grandson weighs heavily on my heart, but if it can save some parents in the world from losing their children, then this deal is well worth it.”

"Then what about his father, your son?" the old general asked in a deep voice.

"The Mo family doesn't need children who can't afford to lose. If they can't afford to lose, they can die with their children. Although the Mo family is not what it used to be, there's a saying that goes, 'Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.' A few children and grandchildren aren't something we can't afford to die." After making the tea, the Imperial Prime Minister smiled and pushed the teacup in front of his old rival.

"It's really pitiful to be your child or grandchild." The old general sighed as he said this.

“If you don’t have that kind of awareness, then don’t be a member of the Mo family. It’s only right that useless children are abandoned, just like Du Lin’s grandmother. Later, she transformed into a Zhulong and had a daughter who gave birth to two Zhulong children. That was her destiny, not our Mo family’s. If this old man wants to acknowledge her, then let him. If some people can’t understand, that’s their problem. In my opinion, once a decision is made, one should accept the consequences.” After saying that, he looked at his old rival sitting opposite him: “Now, do you still want to hit me with the stick in your hand?”

The old general gripped the stick in his hand tightly.

"If your grandson appears to me in a dream, I will definitely beat you up."

"If someone dies on the beach after taking the Soul-Burning Potion, and then appears in your dreams, would you believe the sweet talk of a mere puppet bone?" At this point, the Empire's Prime Minister burst into laughter.

(End of this chapter)