Chapter 97
After returning home, Feng Ran was still thinking about this matter. He asked Xing Tong to check the work documents that Joshua had taken out and asked others to help him process that day. He was shocked to find that they were all proposals for public welfare construction projects. There were even many hidden accounting problems in the payment requests included in the proposals.
This goes beyond just being cunning and manipulative.
Originally, thanks to Feng Ran's assistance, Shirley had already begun to investigate and purge the radical faction in the parliament, namely the supporters of Speaker Klarov and those who advocated for equal rights, starting from the grassroots level. Many people were imprisoned through investigation and trial.
Prior to this, the internal power structure of the council was complex and intertwined. Everyone wore a mask of goodwill but harbored their own ulterior motives and schemes. It was difficult for the department in charge to judge who a person was working for based on their behavior. As a force outside the council, Shirley would face unanimous opposition if she wanted to intervene, which is why she had not taken any action.
But now that she's precisely targeting Bruce, everyone knows that there might be a list recording relationships between people, and that it's been exposed. Amidst the undercurrents, many who felt they weren't heavily involved are distancing themselves and leaving the group.
What Joey Bruce did was try to tie everyone to this ship, so that they would go together and sink together.
Given Orville's previous personality, such problematic accounts would never have appeared on his desk. Even if they did, he would have issued a direct order to the police to carry out the arrest. His image was used to maintain the positive image of Parliament in the hearts of the people. In fact, there were quite a few such honest officials in Parliament, which made it convenient for them to use their popularity to stir up public opinion.
But now these documents have not only surfaced, but also involve a great deal of embezzlement and misappropriation, all of which were deliberately placed on Orville's desk when he was away.
Clearly, because of Orville's departure during this period, he has been used by Bruce as a pawn and a window for spreading harm to more people, because the so-called decisions made by the young masters and ladies are actually made using Orville's power.
Joshua himself certainly wouldn't have dared to touch his brother's documents, but Joey brought it up, and Charles acquiesced, making him naively believe that these were just unimportant design documents, and that they only needed to look at the plans, offer suggestions for modification, and that the rest of the cost calculations would be done by others.
He thought he was just a minor, insignificant link in the chain, unaware that he had indirectly brought everyone into contact with the parliament and made them suspects in ways they couldn't clear their names.
Of course, even without that so-called list, the Ceylonka family was still Sherry's target for elimination, sooner or later. That's why she was so fearless in trying to drag more people down with her. Among the noblemen and ladies invited to the party, many of their families were backed by the emperor and were the core figures in this scheme. After all, even Aphrodite Olivia was among them.
Even though Afu said she was mindful of her position and did not participate in their discussions and decisions, public opinion is powerful. When the investigation is conducted, not only will no one testify for her, but she will also be used as a shield and pushed out first because she is Shirley's cousin.
It can be said that their methods were quite sophisticated.
If it were based on Feng Ran's usual personality, she could have completely ignored their dirty tricks and back-and-forth infighting, letting them develop as long as it didn't bother her. But now she couldn't help but worry.
Because she didn't know what role basil played in all of this.
After all, although Joshua and Joey were the ones who proposed and planned it, they did so under the guise of Basil. Not only that, he also coordinated with everyone to participate, putting himself at the center of the vortex.
Does this mean the Sleica family is siding with Speaker Bruce?
Just thinking about it is puzzling and gives one a headache. After all, that family doesn't look like good people. Basil isn't stupid, so why would she choose to get involved with them?
There's no truth to the claim that Basil was simply used by Joey, because Basil invited everyone he knew, whether he was familiar with them or not, except for Feng Ran.
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Unlike the tense atmosphere within the parliament, the military was under considerable pressure because Shen Shiqian had once again resolved the threat posed by the alien species. His Majesty Geno praised and rewarded him, creating the illusion of harmony between the emperor and his ministers, which put considerable pressure on the parliament.
Although Feng Ran tried her best to avoid paying attention to these things, before going to bed that night, even Shen Shiqian took the initiative to bring up the recent turbulent situation with her.
"The Speaker of the Council may need to be replaced."
Feng Ran nestled in Shen Shiqian's arms, head down, eyes closed, asleep. She was a little annoyed by the topic, her tone full of impatience: "It can't be changed in a short time. If you cut too fast, aren't you afraid of cutting your own carotid artery?"
"Hmm? Why do you say that?"
Feng Ran briefly explained what Joey Bruce had done, then looked at Shen Shiqian, who seemed lost in thought, and said, "In short, just stay away from those guys in the council."
Shen Shiqian: "Are you worried about me, Ranran?"
Feng Ran remained silent, simply stamping his mark all over Shen Shiqian's body until he had dispelled all his sleepiness and pent-up frustration, leaving Shen feeling drowsy and sticky. Only then did he haughtily snort, as if in threat:
"What am I worried about? Am I worried you won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow?"
Shen Shiqian trembled as he twisted his waist and pressed closer to her, his eyes filled with a beautiful mist, his breath thick with the scent of mingled pheromones: "Aren't you going to touch other places?"
Feng Ran pondered his enthusiasm for a moment, then smiled slyly: "But I don't want to get the bed dirty."
Under the dim bedside lamp, Shen Shiqian's face was as red as the tomatoes in his egg drop soup for dinner. He stammered out a solution, as if he had made a great decision.
"I'll... hold back, you just... bring it in."
It seems that the emperor's reward did not satisfy the marshal. In fact, due to the two-month separation, withdrawal and anxiety have made Shen Shiqian even more clingy.
Of course, Feng Ran didn't dislike him doing this. She sat up, gently peeled off the skin of the tomato marshal, and little by little, with varying pressure and speed, mashed the thick pulp into juice.
Her naturally juicy constitution was clearly disastrous; she couldn't even keep her promises, leaving juice spilling everywhere, soaking the entire bed in its flavor. Feng Ran clearly believed her mental state was much better than before, and her strength was just right; aside from the still glaringly red bite marks, she hadn't caused any serious abrasions or bruises. Yet, Shen Shiqian seemed to grow increasingly intolerant each time.
She gets immersed in things faster than the wind, and she's prone to crying.
The fact that he wrapped his trembling, unclosed legs around her was also a kind of physical disability with a strong will. Of course, Feng Ran always gave full play to Shen Shiqian's enthusiastic demands, and they explored all the way to the deepest part of the universe.
The deepest places are also extreme environments, with high temperatures, floods accompanied by earthquakes, and thunder like the cries of a baby.
Feng Ran enveloped himself in an unbreakable love, casting everything aside and turning a blind eye.
Feng Ran often felt that Shen Shiqian was a bit too arrogant in this regard. It was hard to say who was crazier between the two of them, but Shen Shiqian was definitely more perverted than her. Because every time they did it, he would clearly lose his mind towards the end, whimpering and calling Feng Ran's name, with only his body's instinctive spasms remaining. Feng Ran was worried that he was going to go into shock, but she never saw him call for a stop. He would insist on holding onto something and wouldn't let go. He had even torn Feng Ran's pajamas to shreds.
He did his best to accept everything that the wind ignited.
Whether or not these were pure expressions of love, he gave Feng Ran all he could.
Feng Ran pulled the exhausted rag doll off the bed, held it close to his chest, and kissed it tenderly: "Shen Shiqian, are you stupid?"
"Huh...hmm?"
He couldn't even speak a complete sentence, only making humming sounds, but Feng Ran felt it was good. A bittersweet, mellow, heavy, and swollen emotion, almost to the point of explosion, swirled in her heart.
She stared at Shen Shiqian's flushed face for a long time, finally realizing that she was deeply loved by him, and having the courage to accept it all.
She rested her head on Shen Shiqian's shoulder, looked at the snowflake earring he always wore and never took off, and whispered, "Shen Shiqian, I love you."
The next day was the weekend. When Shen Shiqian dragged his heavy steps into the laboratory, Feng Ran was organizing the experimental research directions after the design. She had not given up on the research of adaptive agents.
Shen Shiqian placed the breakfast on the counter, hugged Feng Ran from behind, still seemingly basking in the afterglow of his affection, feeling that every morning was sweet.
Feng Ran had become accustomed to his clingy little actions, and continued to classify and integrate the data while carrying the weight of a half-adult male on her shoulders, until Shen Shiqian, dissatisfied with her indifference, bit her.
Feng Ran winced in pain and turned to look at him angrily: "What exactly do you want?"
Shen Shiqian's voice was still hoarse and muffled: "I heard it."
Feng Ran said calmly, "Oh, so what if I heard it?"
Shen Shiqian pressed close to her, somewhat exasperated by her predictions and unpredictable behavior: "Ranran, are we talking about the same thing?"
Feng Ran chuckled lightly in a good mood, "Who knows?"
Shen Shiqian sighed and then smiled: "A wicked scheme."
Feng Ran pushed him aside: "Let's not talk about each other."
Breakfast was a fried egg and bacon sandwich, which looked pretty good. When Feng Ran took a bite, she found that there were also purple cabbage and tomato slices inside, which made her daydream and feel a little uneasy.
Shen Shiqian, who was watching from the side, suddenly blurted out, "When are you getting engaged?"
Feng Ran slowly looked at him, his thoughts wandering: "You can choose the day you like."
Shen Shiqian: "Ah."
Feng Ran: "What's wrong?"
Shen Shiqian: "Suddenly I feel so happy that I can't do anything."
Feng Ran gave him a light kick: "Then go wash the sheets."
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