The Best Prince

On a rainy day during the Qingming Festival in 2024, Tang Sheng sat before his father's grave in South Feng City's cemetery. He held a cup of wine in his hand and gazed at the black-and-white photo of his father embedded in the gravestone. Tears welled up in his eyes as memories of the past flashed through his mind, each one like a sharp knife cutting into his heart. Tang Sheng kowtowed three times before the gravestone, his face now wet with a mixture of tears and raindrops. He remembered his father's dying words, the admonishment to take care of his mother. That was the mark of a great father—a man who forgave his son's faults and never blamed him for anything, even until the end. "...Dad, maybe it's because I was born into this privileged family. Maybe I was too young and foolish back then. I know, I never made you proud, and you never felt proud to have me as your son. Dad, I regret it so much. I regret not listening to your advice when I had the chance. Dad, do you know how much I miss you? When you were alive, I didn't spend enough time with you. It's only after you're gone that I realize you're forever gone. Dad, my heart aches so much. Dad, this drink is for you." Tang Sheng let his tears flow freely as he raised the full cup of wine and poured it in front of the gravestone. In the gloomy sky, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, illuminating the dark earth in an instant. He looked up, his face a mix of tears and rain, and murmured to himself, "So many mistakes were made, all because of me, Dad, can you forgive me?" Tang Sheng, overwhelmed with regret, grabbed his hair, sometimes pounding his chest, sometimes wiping his tears. He knew he could never repay his father's kindness in this lifetime. If he had to blame himself, it was for being too weak back then. Otherwise, his father wouldn't have been driven to such despair during the peak of his career, suddenly diagnosed with "late-stage lung cancer with brain metastasis" by the hospital, seven months after that fateful diagnosis, his father passed away. "...Dad, rest in peace. I'll take good care of Mom. Don't worry about me in heaven.." The intermittent sound of regret and crying echoed through the continuous rain in the cemetery, making it even more desolate. "Dad, if heaven were to give me a second chance, I wouldn't let you down again... really, Dad!" Tang Sheng poured another drink for his father and drank one himself, emptying nearly half of the two bottles of wine in front of the gravestone. "Dad, I've never been able to prove myself to you. Even to this day, that woman from the Fang family still looks down on me. She tore up the engagement at the engagement banquet all those years ago, which greatly stimulated me. Since then, I've worked hard, earned a higher education, and gained recognition in society through my own efforts. But I've never been able to surpass her. Although she's not a bad person, her bias against me runs deep, and I've never been able to change her impression of me. I'm a failure, Dad, I'm so powerless!" The heart-wrenching memories made Tang Sheng's heart ache, and he felt his breath constricted. The root of all this tragedy lay in that engagement banquet. The Fang family had actually agreed to the engagement to completely sever ties with the Tang family. When Fang Xuan came to attend the engagement banquet, she even carried her luggage and plane ticket to study abroad, completely shattering her delusions of marriage at the so-called "engagement banquet." After leaving the hotel, she went straight to the airport and took an afternoon flight abroad. This woman was ruthless. The engagement that the Fang family had agreed to that day was merely a formality, as they had prepared everything in advance. They only did it to make their stance on the matter even clearer. In fact, when it came to that engagement, it was the result of a bet and some playful banter with a few rich young men. They said that if Tang Sheng could get engaged to the campus belle Fang Xuan, only then would they truly acknowledge him. Tang Sheng had pleaded with his mother before the engagement banquet to make every effort to make this happen. Because his maternal uncle, Liu Yungang, was the "Financial God of the Liu Family" in South Feng City, with both political connections and a high-ranking position in the core management of "Nan Hui Bank." He held enormous financial power, and in the economic and business circles of South Feng City, no one dared to overlook his influence. The Fang family definitely wanted to get in his good graces. Fang Xuan's father was a private entrepreneur who had also invested in state-owned enterprises during the wave of reforms and had achieved considerable success. But he, too, had to consider the favor of "Financial God Liu" at this time. So when Liu Yungang voluntarily approached him to arrange this marriage, he was more than willing to accept and saw it as a golden opportunity. However, just when both sides had basically reached a verbal agreement, Tang Sheng's father, Tang Tianze, was suddenly transferred to Jiangling City. This sudden and subtle change led to some different thoughts on both sides. But the previously agreed-upon engagement banquet couldn't be canceled casually. Tang Sheng's mother was also worried that the Fang family might have ulterior motives, so she urged them to pick a date for both families to meet and have a meal, which would effectively seal the deal. In her heart, though, she was not thrilled about her son marrying into a business family. But the power of a son's last name, his mother was doting on him too much, and after a few rounds of pestering, she reluctantly agreed. Little did she know that at the engagement banquet, Fang Xuan displayed an extremely arrogant attitude. Despite Tang Sheng's humble and fawning words, where he begged her and promised to treat her well in the future, she showed no appreciation. This made Tang Sheng's mother, Liu Yungang, extremely embarrassed, and they couldn't gracefully back out of the situation. The main reason was that Tang Sheng's father had suddenly lost his power, causing Liu Yungang's status in the "Liu Family" to plummet. His attitude towards the Tang family became unclear, and he seemed to want to distance himself from them. In this situation, the Fang family naturally did not believe that Liu Yungang would still be of any great use. The relationship between the Tang and Fang families was sure to become estranged, and in fact, it worsened over the years. This was mainly because several years later, when Fang Xuan returned to China to take over her father's family business, she actively cooperated with the Tang family's political opponents and repeatedly undermined the Tang family's influence. This deepened the feud between the two families, and Tang Sheng's father was filled with lingering resentment, which ultimately led to... These memories were vivid, still fresh in Tang Sheng's mind as he sat by the gravestone. "Dad, it was my fault from the beginning. Dad, if you can't forgive me, please give me a chance to start over!" Drunk and drowsy, Tang Sheng left the cemetery and drove his car back to the city. Due to his excessive speed and the slippery road in the rain, he had to brake suddenly, resulting in a car accident. Fate had given him a second chance. The next day, the media reported the incident: "Tang Sheng, a senior executive of a state-owned enterprise in South Feng City, passed away tragically in a car accident." ... "Wake up... Xiaosheng, get up quickly! It's already past eleven, were you out partying with those spendthrifts again last night? Look at what a state you're in! Didn't I tell you that there's an engagement banquet today?" Tang Sheng's mother, Yunhui Liu, shook the still groggy Tang Sheng. "Hurry up and wake up! Didn't you beg me to talk to the Fang family about the engagement? I've put in so much effort to get Fang Xuan and her parents here together, and it's happening today at noon. You're not planning to skip it, are you? Fine, I'll call them..." Tang Sheng suddenly shivered, and the drowsiness vanished in an instant. He stared at his "young" mother in disbelief. Engagement? What's going on? Tang Sheng's heart was gripped by a tremendous sense of fear. I, I wasn't at the cemetery visiting my father... it seems like I drank too much... and then had a car accident. Could it be that I... Tang Sheng vigorously rubbed his eyes, glanced at his very real mother sitting by the bed, and then looked at the quartz No, more accurately, it was my father who gave me this opportunity because he never forgave himself. It was my father who brought me back. In an instant, Tang Sheng's eyes welled up with tears... He remembered everything from the "past," and the scenes gradually resurfaced in his mind... On the night before the engagement banquet, he was drinking and carousing with a few young gentlemen. He never expected this miraculous time trip to take him back to this moment—the day when all the "tragedy" began. My God, I almost missed this chance to change the course of my life... The image of the woman named Fang Xuan in his mind became clear—Miss Fang, I'm back. As Tang Sheng was on his way to the five-star hotel "Qingfeng Building," he was still savoring the sudden and inexplicable "time travel." The old-fashioned streets, old buildings, the outdated urban planning and architecture of 2004 all vividly presented themselves. He wasn't dreaming; he had genuinely traveled back in time. Could it be that his repeated pleas at his father's grave had granted him this opportunity? The elegant young lady driving the car was his mother's secretary, Luo Qiangqiang. Although she was unmarried, she was well-versed in the ways of the world. His mother held the position of Director in the Project Approval Division of the Finance Department of Jiang Province. She was a respected figure with a modest amount of prestige. Previously, his father had been transferred to Jiangling City, a city of lesser stature within the province. On the surface, it appeared as a "bright ascension," but in reality, it was a "hidden descent." However, few people truly understood that this was a compromise in a political struggle—a temporary concession didn't mean a permanent one. Many people didn't grasp this. Tang Sheng silently contemplated all of this, replaying the scenes from the "previous life" and the engagement banquet in his mind. "Xiaosheng, what's wrong? You seem unhappy. Your engagement to Fang Xuan, wasn't that something you've always dreamed of?" His mother, Yunhui Liu, turned to look at him. She was touched by his words; in her impression, her son had always been a pampered young master. How could he suddenly express such deep thoughts? "Do you really feel that way?" she asked. "Yes, Mom. I had a dream last night, and my father said some things to me. Suddenly, I understood a lot of things. I have a vague feeling that something unexpected might happen at the wedding today, and the engagement may not go as planned. Of course, this is just a feeling." "My son seems to have grown up overnight. Mom is really comforted to hear you say that," she replied. "Mom, no matter what happens today, let me handle it, okay?" "Alright, I'll just be an observer today." As they arrived at the Qingfeng Building, they entered the elegant room where the Fang family was already waiting. Regardless of the situation, Yunhui Liu was still a Director at the Finance Department of the province. She was not an insignificant person. Even though her husband, Tang Tianze, had been transferred away from South Feng City, he was still a regional figure. A camel may be skinny, but it's still bigger than a horse. People should not underestimate them. After some pleasantries, Luo Qiangqiang, as the secretary, respectfully poured tea for both sides, showcasing her high level of professionalism. During this opportunity, Tang Sheng took a closer look at the four members of the Fang family. Fang Huaiming, Fang Xuan's father, was a well-known entrepreneur in South Feng City, especially in the past year. His reputation had grown even more due to his close relationship with "Financial God Liu." His wife, Li Shuyuan, was a mature beauty with an enchanting charm. Their daughter, Fang Xuan, bore a striking resemblance to her mother and inherited her graceful demeanor. She had a cold expression on her face, paying no attention to Tang Sheng, who was quite different from her younger brother, Fang Zhen. Tang Sheng couldn't help but feel that she looked down on him, seeing him as nothing more than a pampered second-generation heir. What else did he have to offer? Yunhui Liu had a keen eye, and she noticed that something was amiss in the atmosphere. It seemed that her son's guess was correct, which was surprising to her. She hadn't expected the Fang family to be so shallow in their intentions, but now it seemed that she had underestimated them. If Tang Sheng's speculation had caught Yunhui Liu off guard, she might have been really upset about today's "engagement banquet." However, Tang Sheng was afraid that his mother's face couldn't handle it, so he had given her a heads-up in the car, which made Yunhui Liu not take it too seriously. Yunhui Liu thought to herself: Previously, when I took the initiative to discuss the marriage proposal with the Fang family, it did somewhat affect my pride. But if the Fang family turned out to be so shallow, then what I gained by sacrificing a bit of pride might just be worth it. Most importantly, my son suddenly grew up, and that was a pleasant surprise. Li Shuyuan and Yunhui Liu were indeed very familiar, and their interactions had become more frequent in recent years. So, talking about everyday matters at this moment felt entirely natural. As for Fang Zhen, he was the same age as Tang Sheng and was in the same grade, both two years younger than the school's flower, Fang Xuan. The school term would start in September, with Tang Sheng advancing to the second year, while Fang Xuan was about to enter college. Even Yunhui Liu didn't know which university she would attend, let alone that she was planning to study abroad. Fang Zhen was also a young master at school, but he couldn't be compared to Tang Sheng. His father might be wealthy, but he was a business executive, which was fundamentally different from Tang Sheng's father, who was a government official. So, the two young masters were fundamentally different, and when compared side by side, Fang Zhen was at a disadvantage. Because he lacked the psychological advantage, Fang Zhen looked at Tang Sheng with jealousy, even a hint of resentment. Ultimately, it was not Fang's father, Fang Huaiming, or Fang's mother, Li Shuyuan, who brought the conversation to the forefront. It was today's "leading lady," Fang Xuan. "...Aunt Liu, I have a flight to catch this afternoon. I'm going to study in Cambridge, England," Fang Xuan announced. Yunhui Liu was momentarily surprised, but then she began to understand. Fang Xuan had been admitted to Cambridge based on her own abilities, which was indeed impressive. If she had reluctantly agreed to help her son establish a connection with Fang Xuan before, it was primarily because of Fang Xuan's outstanding qualities. "Well, congratulations, Xiaoxuan. Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity, and Cambridge is an internationally renowned institution. You've made your parents proud," Yunhui Liu replied. Fang Huaiming and Li Shuyuan humbly accepted the praise. Fang Zhen, however, interjected with a hint of disdain, "Aunt Liu, Tang Sheng isn't bad either. There's hope for him to go to Cambridge in the future." As he spoke, he revealed a mocking smile, clearly taunting Tang Sheng. His parents frowned. Fang Xuan, however, was straightforward in addressing her brother, "What are you trying to say, Zhen? Tang Sheng has a great reputation at school. Going to Cambridge isn't a piece of cake either. What do you mean by 'there's hope'? Also, Aunt Liu, there's something else I need to tell you. Please don't be angry when you hear it." "Sure, go ahead," Yunhui Liu said. She could sense the sarcasm in the siblings' words but chose not to engage in a confrontation. "Well, Aunt Liu, I hope you won't take offense, but..." Fang Xuan turned to Tang Sheng, "Tang Sheng, you have a great reputation at school, but to be honest, I can't reach your mother's level of beauty, grace, education, manners, or elegance. That's just a fact. When it comes to my future spouse, I don't want a little brat with a mother complex..." "Mother complex?" Yunhui Liu found it hard to accept this statement, and her expression changed immediately. Even Luo Qiangqiang couldn't hide her displeasure. Wasn't Fang Xuan going too far? Her gaze toward Fang Xuan became stern. Li Shuyuan quickly gave her daughter a meaningful look, signaling her to criticize Tang Sheng if she must, but not to involve his mother. No matter what, Yunhui Liu was a Director of the Provincial Finance Department and a genuine government official. Offending her would be unwise. On the other hand, Fang Huaiming remained impassive, like a Buddha, showing no emotion in his face. Fang Zhen, though, was cooperating well with his sister's conversation. He wore a mocking smile that was filled with sarcasm. He thought his sister's words were brilliant. "Mother complex, ha, that's a fitting description." Tang Sheng, however, didn't get upset or defensive. He smiled and said, "Fang Xuan, you must admit that you're jealous of my mother's beauty, grace, education, manners, and elegance. It's a fact. I don't have high demands for my future wife, nor do I expect her to surpass my mother. But at the very least, she should be halfway there, right? If she has no knowledge, no manners, no quality, no elegance, no tolerance, nothing at all, how can I introduce her to my dear mother? That would be an insult to my mother." Tang Sheng's response left everyone stunned. His retort was quite powerful! Yunhui Liu couldn't help but want to praise her son on the spot and give him a kiss. Luo Qiangqiang knew this second-generation heir too well. What level was he at? Why was he behaving so differently today? He was so impressive. Fang's parents across the table were starting to look uncomfortable. Tang Sheng was clearly hitting back at them. Who couldn't see that? Fang Xuan was known for her sharp tongue, and her rebuttal to Tang Sheng left her flushed with embarrassment. She bit her lower lip and said, "Tang Sheng, I don't deny that Aunt Liu is exceptional, but you, on the other hand, lack any advantage that would make me interested. Even if you come from a good family, it can't hide your ignorance and incompetence. You're just a typical underachiever." Her words created an awkward silence. Even Li Shuyuan found it hard to listen, "What are you saying, young lady?" Yunhui Liu knew her son had a history of underachievement at school, so Fang Xuan's criticism wasn't entirely unfounded. However, hearing her son being berated in front of her was deeply embarrassing. It was akin to public humiliation. Tang Sheng, though, chuckled and said, "Fang Xuan, your understanding of me is only skin-deep. Do you know why I accompanied my mother to today's luncheon? It's because my mother doesn't believe in your shallowness. She always praises your excellence in front of me. Well... Mom, did you hear that? This is the wonderful girl you've been talking about. Why do I find her less impressive?" His calm response effectively praised his mother's broad-mindedness and criticized Fang Xuan's shallowness. It was quite impressive. This time, Fang Huaiming was becoming uneasy. His face darkened, but as an adult, how could he intervene in a child's argument? Li Shuyuan also couldn't believe how articulate and sharp her usually unimpressive son had become all of a sudden. Tang Sheng continued, "Fang Xuan, you think you can see through everything? Or do you arrogantly believe that you can discern the essence of certain things? In reality, you're far from it. Your arrogance comes from your ignorance, and your self-love stems from thinking you're the only woman in the world. Open your beautiful eyes and look at the people here. Let's not talk about Aunt Li and my mom. I don't see how you surpass my sister, Qiangqiang." If Fang Xuan's words had the power to embarrass Yunhui Liu, Tang Sheng's words were enough to make the Fang family feel utterly ashamed. Fang Xuan's face turned pale, and she was completely taken aback by Tang Sheng's eloquence. How did this academically underperforming second-generation heir suddenly become so articulate? Wasn't he the one who once claimed to be so infatuated with her that he wanted to jump off a building? Was he pretending all along? After all, Fang Xuan was just a nineteen-year-old girl, and she couldn't handle Tang Sheng's sharp retort. It was entirely unexpected for her. She had planned to humiliate him in front of everyone, and when he came crawling back, begging her to stay, she would slap him and leave the city in a carefree manner, heading to Cambridge in the UK to study, leaving this scoundrel far out of sight. But everything didn't go as planned, and Fang Xuan was left dumbfounded. How could Tang Sheng let history repeat itself? How could he let his father sow the seeds of illness again for the same reason? "Impudent! Tang Sheng, who are you to berate my sister?" "Zhen, your sister at least has some self-esteem and self-assuredness. You have nothing. You're just full of self-pity and self-loathing..." These words were like a sharp blade piercing Fang Zhen's heart. He began to breathe heavily, and his gaze toward Tang Sheng turned filled with resentment. At this point, Fang Xuan's tears began to flow uncontrollably, Fang Huaiming's face darkened, and Li Shuyuan was extremely embarrassed. On the other hand, Yunhui Liu and Luo Qiangqiang both secretly praised Tang Sheng. Well done, son. Your performance today deserves a perfect score. Luo Qiangqiang, who had always looked down on Tang Sheng, was particularly surprised. This second-generation heir was so impressive. Had he taken the wrong medicine today? "Young man, don't lose your manners in front of Mr. Fang and Aunt Li. What's the point of saying these things? Aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourself?" Yunhui Liu intervened, and the atmosphere began to calm down. Li Shuyuan also gave Fang Xuan and Fang Zhen a helpless look. "Both of you, be quiet. Yunhui, don't take it to heart. These children are young and don't know any better. They're just speaking out of anger." Tang Sheng continued, "Aunt Li, I have to admit that I haven't had a good reputation at school, but I believe I've treated Fang Xuan fairly. She just has a deep prejudice against me, and I don't want to dwell on it. If we can get along, that's great. If not, let's peacefully go our separate ways. Criticizing each other further will only make my mother and Aunt Li lose face. Fang Xuan, in the end, I wish you success in your four years at Cambridge!" Tang Sheng's words reached a level that surprised Fang Huaiming and Li Shuyuan. Even Fang Xuan, who had planned to humiliate him, found herself speechless. Yunhui Liu graciously added, "Well, Auntie also wishes you great achievements, Xiaoxuan. I hope you can return to your homeland and make a name for yourself." "Thank you, Aunt Liu..." Fang Xuan refrained from saying anything too offensive to Yunhui Liu, whose authoritative presence was quite intimidating. "Alright... Huaiming, Shuyuan, I have work to attend to this afternoon. You need to accompany Xiaoxuan to the airport. Let's end it here today." As the people from both the Tang and Fang families left the hotel, they all knew that the once-close relationship between the two families had completely shattered at this moment. Watching the Audi A6 drive away, Fang Huaiming furrowed his brows. He exchanged a glance with his wife, Li Shuyuan, and questioned himself, "Shuyuan, I'm starting to wonder if my decision today was too hasty...?" "Old Fang, it's too late for regrets now. We're definitely on bad terms with the Tang family." Fang Xuan also stared at the departing Audi with a glint of determination in her eyes. "Tang Sheng, just you wait. I'll come back to settle the score with you." ... On the way back, the driver, Luo Qiangqiang, stole glances at Tang Sheng through the rearview mirror at least ten times. She realized for the first time that the second-generation heir's face was genuinely handsome enough to make a woman's heart flutter. Even though he wasn't yet seventeen, he exuded a certain wisdom and charisma. Yunhui Liu remained silent but cast occasional glances at her son. Was he pretending all along? Acting like a fool while being exceptionally clever? He was becoming more like his father, full of schemes. After returning home, Tang Sheng locked himself in the bathroom, telling his mother that he needed a bath. He recalled 'that life' when, after the engagement fiasco, his mother had sent him to Jiangling. Initially, it had been his father's suggestion to send him to live with distant relatives, but his mother had vehemently opposed it, unwilling to see her son suffer. Their arguments had grown increasingly bitter because of it. Now, Tang Sheng needed to bring up this topic again. Most importantly, in 'that life,' he had spent two crucial years in Jiangling. His father had made some mistakes and oversights during those years, driven by his inner frustrations, leading to events that had negatively impacted his career. The most vivid memory was the demolition of 'Old Tang Lane' in the old city area of Jiangling. During that incident, the troublesome relative, acting under his father's name, had forcefully evicted residents from 'Old Tang Lane,' leading to the accidental burial of an elderly couple. All of this had been brewing, and Tang Sheng had to stop it. He couldn't let that tragedy happen again; he couldn't add more burden to his father's heart. In 'Old Tang Lane,' there was also a pure and beautiful girl waiting for him. In that life, he had tormented her relentlessly, even attempting to force her into marriage with the relative's help. She had resisted fiercely, and Tang Sheng remembered the day she had jumped off a building, her seventeenth birthday. Memories of those past events replayed in his mind as he soaked in the bathtub. Tang Sheng held back tears, unable to forget Tang Jin, the girl with a pure and helpless face. All these memories had only deepened his father's guilt and regret. Could he still make everything right in this life? No, it was impossible. He could win her over honestly, without force. The 'scumbag second-generation heir, Tang Sheng,' was already dead. Even though he had never married in his previous life, it was because of his guilt. Tang Jin had lived on in his heart, and she would never die. Tang Jin, wait for me. I'm here again, and I'll spend this lifetime making amends for my past 'mistakes.' During those two years in Jiangling, Tang Sheng had left behind many regrets. All the people he had interacted with, the men and women, slipped through his fingers. They wouldn't experience the tragic fate that awaited them in 'that life,' nor would they lose their precious lives. Tang Sheng had many friends in his previous life, but one by one, they had drifted away from him. It wasn't because of his ignorance; they wouldn't face tragic fates, nor would they lose their precious lives. Many of the events that had occurred in that life were the root cause of his father's terminal illness. It all started with the demolition of 'Old Tang Lane.' Without his intervention, that reckless relative wouldn't have dared to take such a bold step. The young master had returned, determined to overturn everything. He was going to change everything. No matter where he had fallen, he would climb back up!