Chapter 506 - 246: Father and Son Interrogation (Part 1)
Su Jiameng asked with amusement, "Weren’t you quite bold before? How come you’re pretending to be an ostrich now?"
Huaifeng twisted his body, acting coy as he exclaimed, "Mom, how annoying... don’t bring that up again..."
Su Jiameng stifled a laugh, then set Huaifeng down, and gave a relieved look at Huaixi, who was quietly looking up at her. After a long while, she reached out to stroke his hair and said, "Xiao Xi has truly grown up, looking like a good elder brother. Mom is so proud."
Huaixi’s little face turned as red as spilled paint, the blush spreading from his neck all the way to the top of his head, his earlobes almost dripping blood.
When the atmosphere in Su Jiameng’s family of three was warm and harmonious, another "family of three" wasn’t faring so well. Shangguan Ruiqi had been captured again, and this time, his capital crime was undeniable! This man, who dared to lay hands on the children of the Xilena First Affiliated School Primary Department, was truly insane!
The current Clan Leader of the Shangguan Family — Shangguan Hang — looked coldly at that creature, now a puddle of mud... Once, he had placed great hope in his heir, never imagining it was an imposter, a monster with merfish blood!
"Confess honestly, who instructed you to infiltrate the Shangguan Family? Where is my son, the real Shangguan Ruiqi?" Shangguan Hang was currently managing affairs at the main family house and naturally couldn’t teleport instantly to Qiming Star in the Xilena Star System.
However, the technology of the future interstellar era is very advanced, projecting someone’s image to another planet is not difficult.
"No one instructed me, didn’t you always think yourself exceedingly clever? Why not guess for yourself?" The current Shangguan Ruiqi had lost his human-like handsomeness, with half of his body covered in fish scales, emanating a putrid stench, the scales colorful yet unsightly. Besides the scales, his legs were grotesquely entwined, with fins growing from his heels, making him look terrifying.
As for that face, half was covered by azure fish scales, with long, thin whiskers growing, while the other half remained human-like but twisted in pain, a face so nightmarishly striking one might fast for three days after a glance! This scene in Shangguan Hang’s eyes was exceedingly complex!
Since this child was born, he showered immense love, making him enjoy all the glory of the heir of the Shangguan family, unwilling to let him suffer any grievance. Later, when Shangguan Ruolin came along... frankly, upon learning it was a male child, Shangguan Hang’s first reaction wasn’t joy, wasn’t to celebrate fatherhood anew, but worry, concern, and guilt!
Yes, indeed, he felt worry, concern, and guilt because of the younger son’s birth!
By then Shangguan Ruiqi was already in his fifties, performing excellently, demonstrating the qualities of a qualified heir, the acknowledged heir of the Shangguan family—if not for Shangguan Ruolin’s birth, it would likely have remained so.
One might say, Shangguan Ruolin’s birth somewhat invisibly pressured the sensitive and suspicious older son. Because of this, Shangguan Hang felt a baseless guilt towards the older son, fearing he might be slighted, repeatedly affirming that the heirship should belong to the eldest son, with Ruolin as his capable assistant, the brothers striving to strengthen the Shangguan family!
Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to say Shangguan Hang was biased, only considering the older son’s feelings, neglecting the younger. Shangguan Hang tried hard to be a good father, while favoring the older son, he also was indulgent to the younger Shangguan Ruolin’s every request!
Little did he know, as the younger son grew more outstanding, the pressure on the older son increased vastly! Initially, Shangguan Hang thought the pressure was too great, resulting in the older son’s increasingly extreme personality, a cause for recurring worry!
Though both were his sons, speaking candidly, Shangguan Hang loved the older son the most! Ironically, the object of his century-long affection, this son he was so proud of repeatedly, turned out to be an imposter, an imposter trying to overthrow the Shangguan family! If it were only that, Shangguan Hang might not have been so furious, but this son... turned out to be against the Alliance!
Being the most loyal family to the Alliance, whether it’s the Shangguan family or the likes of the Gu family, Qin family, they wouldn’t show mercy to anyone opposing the Alliance or betraying it, whoever they might be! Not to mention Shangguan Ruiqi’s prior attack on the Xilena First Affiliated School Primary Department that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of students and parents—utterly unforgivable!
However, despite such heartbreak, Shangguan Hang still wanted to uncover the truth! Even if an imposter, did the century-long father-son affection not leave a trace in the other’s heart? Did the full cultivation by the Shangguan family not evoke a hint of gratitude? The brotherly bond with Ruolin... forget it, better not mention that... Shangguan Hang’s face grew cold.
"No one instructed you? Hah... I also wish that were true, but unfortunately, even ghosts wouldn’t believe that!" Shangguan Hang wore a cold expression, his eyes harboring millennia-old ice, "If you confess now, perhaps you’ll get a quick, clean death! Otherwise, no one can guarantee what kind of interrogation you’ll face before treading the path to the Yellow Springs!"
Fatigue was evident in Shangguan Hang’s eyes, even his usually well-groomed hair looked unkempt, "I’ve investigated carefully, after Ruiqi was born, he was maliciously swapped with you. Those medical personnel were temporarily reassigned and now can’t be found, but the law’s net is wide and loose yet never misses, however perfect the plan, there are flaws..."
Shangguan Ruiqi’s expression changed subtly, as Shangguan Hang continued, "This flaw, very obvious and fatal, yet no one suspected. The gene sequence in the brain’s database, the clan members’ periodic health checks... who helped you cover it up?"
"Also, the birth of Ling’er, Ling’er’s mother’s death... are all points of suspicion." Shangguan Hang stated calmly, "I deeply regret, if only I hadn’t stubbornly wanted to maintain the false semblance of father-son, brotherly bonds, Ruolin’s tragedy might not have happened..." (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.)