Dai Hao spun around, his face filled with shock and disbelief. He stared fixedly at Dai Youheng, as though truly seeing this son of his for the first time.
Such an analysis of the Dai Family's hidden motives, such a penetrating grasp of the situation, could never have come from a concubine's son who knew only how to pine after a princess!
That mind, that insight-
The scrutiny in his eyes finally gave way to a trace of deeply complicated admiration. He slowly settled back into his chair, his voice growing much lower. "So-even though you see everything so clearly, you still intend to accept Xu Jiujiu's offer?"
This was his final confirmation. Dai Youheng's answer would shape every decision he made afterward.
"I told you, why would I turn down such a powerful ally?" Dai Youheng's smile remained unchanged, but an icy, cunning gleam suddenly flashed through his deep eyes. "But why is your thinking always so linear? Why can you only imagine me as Xu Jiujiu's lapdog, destined to be used and toyed with in the palm of her hand?"
He lowered his voice, every word seeming to carry an icy weight. "Why couldn't I turn that lapdog identity to my own advantage, making her and the imperial family behind her believe they can control me, so they willingly provide me with resources and pave my way-"
"While I turn around and use all of it myself?"
Dai Hao's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils contracting sharply as an inexplicable chill shot up his spine! Looking at the cold smile on his son's face, mingling mockery with ambition, he felt a shocking, terrifying thought strike his mind like lightning!
"What do you mean?" His voice even carried a tremor he himself failed to notice.
"Heh." Dai Youheng chuckled, stood