Chapter 1005 - 1001: The Art of Shifting Blame
However, surprisingly, Mizuno Pengyu didn’t seize this point to launch a big attack, but rather illogically argued with Ozawa Miwa.
"Didn’t the Princess just say she didn’t inform the Hunter?"
Mizuno Pengyu spoke in a tone suggesting "you are still too naive": "Don’t forget, regarding your wedding, it has been reported by TVs, newspapers, major websites, and other media worldwide since a week ago, even without the Princess notifying, do you think the Hunter doesn’t watch TV or go online?"
Given today’s circumstances, Mizuno Pengyu’s retort indeed left people somewhat speechless. Not to mention everyday entertainment, eating, staying in hotels, or even handling important affairs, all require a smartphone. So if someone goes online, it’s impossible not to see the news of Ozawa Miwa’s grand wedding.
Yet Xiao Tian grasped that Mizuno Pengyu’s words were quite suggestive of a concept swap. As a well-above-average master, how could he not know the difficulty of improving skills? Besides, who has seen a well-known master spending all day glued to their phone without progressing?!
Nonetheless, these topics were evidently not something Ozawa Miwa, as an ordinary person, could understand or think of immediately. Upon hearing Mizuno Pengyu’s questioning, she was somewhat left speechless.
But at this point, could she admit defeat?!
Even if she had to insist like a "stubborn duck" till the end!
Thinking of this, Ozawa Miwa countered again, "How could it be impossible for Tian not to watch TV or go online, unless you have someone monitoring him all the time?"
Ozawa Miwa’s forced argument made Mizuno Pengyu feel everything was progressing smoothly while promptly distancing himself from the Hunter: "Princess must be joking, how could I have someone monitor the Hunter?"
For a seasoned old fox like Mizuno Pengyu, he knew no word could slip; sometimes, even a single mistake would lead to endless trouble!
Years of experience and lessons learned had developed a response almost instinctual in him, maybe not enough against someone of his level, but surely sufficient against a still-innocent young princess like Ozawa Miwa!
"Since you didn’t have anyone monitor him, how do you know he definitely knows about my wedding?" Ozawa Miwa asked, seizing the opportunity to pursue further.
However, such a reaction in the eyes of Xiao Tian and the middle-aged man was a sign of immaturity. Given Mizuno Pengyu’s capacity, if he could easily slip in speech, how could he lead the Mizuno Clan to stand side by side with the royal family?!
Sure enough, after hearing Ozawa Miwa’s question, Mizuno Pengyu, unhurried, laughed: "The Princess just mentioned that your favored Hunter also favors you, so if the Hunter truly likes you, how could he be unaware of such a significant event?"
Ozawa Miwa immediately wanted to retort, but after opening her mouth several times, she couldn’t find a reasonable argument, rather feeling a bit sour inside...
Yes! If Brother Tian truly fancied me, how could he not know about such a grand affair?
Although her words earlier were just out of emotional impulse, Xiao Tian had never shown how he felt about her, but still, Ozawa Miwa couldn’t help feeling sad, her eyes slightly reddening.
After a while, she closed her beautiful eyes, took a deep breath, and said: "What exactly do you want to say?"
Mizuno Pengyu was overjoyed, finally waiting for this question.
Then, as if fearing interception and unnecessary complications, he explained: "What I’m saying is simple: Princess is still young and immature in thought. If it’s a one-sided wishful thinking, it might end painfully..."
These words to Ozawa Miwa clearly implied she was infatuated one-sidedly, and Xiao Tian didn’t fancy her as she imagined; the subtext being: I see through your lie, and it’s best you stop acting impulsively.
Ozawa Miwa trembled, already intelligent and now hearing Mizuno Pengyu’s words which weren’t very veiled, how could she not understand the meaning.
For a moment, Ozawa Miwa couldn’t help feeling distressed, and words such as unrequited love, one-sided love flashed in her mind repeatedly, sounding somewhat ironic.
Seeing Ozawa Miwa’s expression, Xiao Tian couldn’t help frowning, not understanding what Mizuno Pengyu had said to make her react this way.
It’s something he couldn’t avoid; although not frightened of Mizuno Pengyu’s strength, he couldn’t eavesdrop openly, but from some fragments heard earlier, the topic seemed to still revolve around him.
At this moment, Xiao Tian really wanted to beat Mizuno Pengyu into a pulp.
As for the middle-aged man listening to every word of Mizuno Pengyu, he didn’t stop him because, deep down, he didn’t want his daughter to get too close to Xiao Tian.
Every mention of "Brother Tian" felt like the greatest sarcasm to him, yet the one speaking was Ozawa Miwa, his own daughter, so even if he felt like erupting, he couldn’t.
Therefore, the middle-aged man thought if Mizuno Pengyu could let his daughter become thoroughly disappointed with the Hunter, to some extent, it might not be a bad thing!
Furthermore, the middle-aged man had a clear understanding of Mizuno Pengyu’s true intent, which was minimizing losses as much as possible, even at the cost of losing some face, as long as that face wasn’t the Mizuno Clan’s.
And the obvious scapegoat was the royal family and Sugai Yasuaki and his son.
This common practice of pushing their own forward as a shield, whether fitting the moral ground or not, was undoubtedly very effective.
After all, from an outsider’s perspective, it was the royal family breaching the agreement first, then Mizuno Pengyu, as the Mizuno leader, personally appearing and advising Ozawa Miwa; if even that failed, then the ones needing favors would just be the royal family and Sugai Yasuaki, leaving Mizuno Clan relatively safe from criticism.
Not unlikely, Mizuno Pengyu might take this opportunity to publicly support Sugai Yasuaki and his son, adding a layer of righteous drama, putting the royal family in an even more embarrassing situation.
However, the middle-aged man still held a degree of confidence that, at present, Mizuno Pengyu wouldn’t dare act so boldly, at least not openly against the royal family!
...
After a prolonged silence, the atmosphere gradually grew oppressive; Ozawa Miwa felt like she was hanging on a cliff edge, a single slip yielding to a shattering downfall.
With a splitting headache, she felt a tremendously heavy pressure as if a boulder pressed against her chest, making her breath grow difficult...
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