Chapter 123: “Is he married? I want to form a marriage alliance with him.”
Chu Baixian requested a long leave of absence.
The leave application was delivered to the Royal Palace by Ji Weishen.
Ever since joining the military, Chu Baixian had bought a house outside and no longer lived at the family estate. Consequently, even Ji Weishen didn’t know exactly what had happened with his brother.
When Du Feng approved the leave, Shen Zhuo was by his side handling state affairs.
Shen Zhuo learned quickly; he was able to get the hang of things in a very short time. However, with the entire Empire’s administration now resting on their shoulders, coupled with military matters, Shen Zhuo and Du Feng were so busy their feet barely touched the ground.
Fortunately, after learning that they were so busy they barely had time to sleep, Feng Muya took over half of the Empire’s administrative duties.
Only then did Shen Zhuo have some free time to continue his classes at Ares.
The minimum time for graduation at Ares was two years. To graduate early, one had to complete all courses and achieve an ‘A’ grade in every assessment.
And so, they busied themselves for two months.
Finally, it was the end of the year.
Just as the New Year approached, Chu Baixian returned.
He seemed no different than before.
He was still laughing and joking every day, acting lazy, yet handling all military matters with dedication and without error.
But Shen Zhuo and Du Feng could tell.
Chu Baixian was forcing himself.
A few days after Chu Baixian had taken his leave, a very small funeral was held.
There were very few people at Meng Xihe’s funeral—only his closest friends.
The young boy lay in the cold coffin, his long hair just as it was before he fell ill, his expression peaceful and stable, wearing a faint smile.
Everyone offered a lotus flower, placing them around the boy.
May you be a beautiful, healthy lotus in your next life.
May there be no more pain.
Chu Baixian wore Meng Xihe’s lotus brooch on his collar. In the end, he placed the boy’s ashes into a small vial and wore it against his chest.
There was no grave. Meng Xihe didn’t want to be locked in a dark little box.
So, let me be Meng Xihe’s tombstone.
Shen Zhuo had not yet learned how to say goodbye.
He was in a daze for a long time, looking at the body that seemed merely asleep, his fingertips trembling slightly.
But then, a large hand enveloped his, wrapping his cold fingers into a warm palm.
Du Feng looked down at him, his gaze firm and gentle.
Shen Zhuo’s heart skipped a beat.
He thought of Du Feng’s previous 199 timelines.
How did Du Feng survive them?
He didn’t dare to think further.
He simply turned his head, held back his tears, and bit down hard on the inside of his lip.
“There is always such a day,” Du Feng’s voice was deep. “Including for you and me.”
It took Shen Zhuo a long time after that day to feel somewhat relieved.
He knew that Chu Baixian had scattered the rest of Meng Xihe’s ashes into the sea.
Perhaps for Meng Xihe, death was a form of liberation.
He had been in too much pain.
It was time for him to rest well.
Two months passed after that event. When Chu Baixian returned to the military, it was as if nothing had happened.
The new Empire had only just been established, and there were still many things left unfinished.
None of them had the time for prolonged grief and remembrance.
During the nationwide New Year celebrations, a major event occurred at the Royal Palace.
A small neighboring country sent an envoy to congratulate the newly crowned Emperor and Empress.
Although this small country did not occupy a large area, it had always been incredibly arrogant. In the past, whenever they came to the Empire to pay respects, they did so with a smug demeanor.
This was because their country possessed over thirty S4-rank individuals.
The Empire’s count of individuals at rank S4 and above had always been a state secret. This was a deployment strategy, treating it as classified battlefield information and central imperial intelligence.
Therefore, aside from the citizens of the Empire, no one in the neighboring countries knew that the Empire possessed the S5 level.
On top of that, the number of S4s revealed to the outside world was only about ten.
Thus, even though the neighboring country was wary of the Empire’s military strength and the advanced level of their mechas and dared not invade Imperial territory, they still dared to act high and mighty within the Royal Court.
The envoy was the Kingdom’s most popular Little Prince, Nayin Tute.
Nayin Tute was an S3 Alpha. Although not comparable to an S4, his ability was [Ground Fissure]—which, as the name suggested, could tear the earth apart.
This ability had been very useful when they were resisting the Zerg.
Feng Ling had once planned to expand the borders and annex other countries into the territory. However, the Zerg were flourishing at the borders, leaving no free time to undertake such a task.
Du Feng was different.
In his plan, he wouldn’t just be an Emperor; he would unify the entire continent.
So, after meeting Nayin Tute…
Du Feng, with a calm expression, said to Chu Baixian, who had come to the reception as the Supreme Commander of the Military:
“Be careful not to let him discover anything strange, but if necessary, you may reveal your rank.”
Chu Baixian crossed his arms, his expression different from usual; there was an obvious look of disdain.
He pointed to the pheromone blocker patch on the back of his neck:
“I’ve made all the S4s wear these. The military mechas are under maintenance recently; there won’t be any slip-ups.”
Du Feng nodded before continuing to handle the documents in his hand:
“Take him for a stroll around the Palace. I recall they are all here today.”
Chu Baixian nodded. “The Princess, the Prince, the CEO of Jingyue, and the arms dealer’s son are all in the Palace. We will absolutely entertain him well.”
The words “entertain him well” were spoken with a frivolous and mocking tone.
Carrying a hint of teasing intent.
Du Feng said, “Don’t go overboard, but you don’t need to be too considerate either. I am not like Feng Ling. If he acts presumptuously in my domain…”
The Alpha looked up at Chu Baixian, his voice cold:
“He should pay the price.”
Chu Baixian saluted with two fingers at his forehead. As he stood up, his slightly grown-out hair brushed past his shoulders, and the lotus brooch on his chest reflected a glint of light.
“I will ensure the Prince returns… fully satisfied.”
Receiving a Prince from a small nation did not require the attendance of both the Emperor and Empress.
And recently, with the New Year, Ares was on winter break, and the Jingyue Group was on statutory holiday, so no one had much to do.
Shen Zhuo had invited them all to gather at the Royal Palace.
Thus, when Chu Baixian took Nayin Tute to the Royal Collection Vault, he was almost hit in the face by a flying object.
Ai Li was casually tossing a pigeon-egg-sized emerald out the door.
“Why is this junk still here? If I don’t come, are you just going to let this trash pile up? You guys actually keep things I juggle with in the Royal Palace?”
Nayin Tute was nearly hit in the head. Chu Baixian blocked it for him, catching the emerald in his hand.
He muttered, “The quality is indeed poor.”
Nayin Tute: ?!!
A gemstone like this would be worth at least tens of millions in their country!
And they just threw it away?!
Ai Li saw him and raised an eyebrow as a greeting.
Subsequently, he picked out a blue sapphire from a pile of large and small gems and held it up for the vault manager to see:
“For this kind of thing, you’d be better off finding a glass bottle on the street!”
After speaking, he tossed it out as well.
This time, Nayin Tute didn’t dodge; he caught it with both hands.
Nayin Tute: ?!
A pure, impurity-free blue sapphire, and so huge!
The Empire… is this rich…?
Only then did Ai Li notice someone following Chu Baixian who didn’t look like a local.
He cleared his throat and bowed politely. “I am Ai Li. May I ask who this is?”
Chu Baixian: “The Little Prince of Nayin Kingdom, Nayin Tute.”
Ai Li paused for a moment.
Nayin Kingdom… sounded familiar.
Ah, it seemed to be that countryside micro-nation that ran rampant just because they had thirty-something S4s.
Oh, an impolite little country.
Ai Li’s expression changed; his smile became so fake he didn’t even want to pretend.
“Then let the Prince play with that sapphire.” Ai Li smiled. “Consider it…”
Ai Li forcefully swallowed the phrase “throwing away trash.”
“…a meeting gift.”
Nayin Tute’s attention was entirely on Ai Li’s beautiful face.
There were many beauties in the Nayin Kingdom.
But not many were this beautiful.
“This Mr. Ai Li, is he…”
Chu Baixian turned his head to listen to Nayin Tute, only to hear a bombshell question.
“Is he married?”
Chu Baixian answered truthfully, “No.”
Nayin Tute’s eyes lit up. “I will ask your Emperor for a marriage alliance later.”
Chu Baixian didn’t stop him or object upon hearing this; he simply said a silent “Amen” in his heart.
He knew this sister-in-law’s temper.
He wasn’t as good-tempered as he looked.
On the battlefield, this S1 Omega could probably fight an S3 to a draw.
Ai Li didn’t hear their conversation. After a brief goodbye, Chu Baixian took Nayin Tute to the next location.
The two walked through the long corridor and saw Liang Yeta still working in the Royal Palace.
Liang Yeta had brought a portable computer, with several screens set up in front of him, displaying a sea of red and green.
He could stand up recently, but still couldn’t walk very steadily, so his cane was placed aside.
Nayin Tute saw the man’s back and was just about to mock that an A3 serving as a guard in the palace was pathetic when…
The stock market on the screens in front of Liang Yeta suddenly turned completely red.
All the declining green lines abruptly shot up.
Nayin Tute even recognized a few of them, especially the one named Jingyue Group.
From military equipment to the medical industry, from jewelry to the internet—there was no industry Jingyue couldn’t conquer.
“He, he is…?” Nayin Tute opened his mouth.
Chu Baixian smiled. “He is the Queen’s friend, the CEO of Jingyue Group, Mr. Liang Yeta.”
Nayin Tute: ?!!
Help! He… he was seeing the number one person on the rich list!
And it was a twenty-year-old A3 Alpha!
How could the Empire have such figures as the Queen’s friends?!
“Mr. Liang seems to be working. Why don’t we go to the back?”
Nayin Tute nodded frantically. “Let’s go, let’s go.”
Passing through the long corridor to the back garden, they found the training grounds behind it.
Today, the Royal Guard was training as usual, with Fu Qishang serving as the head instructor.
Fu Qishang had held many coaching jobs at the military academy in the past, so he was very proficient.
“What, it’s only five hundred catties, and you can’t lift it anymore?”
The blond boy hit the ground next to a guard with a stick.
Then he raised his hand. “Give it to me.”
The guard hurriedly and tremblingly handed the huge rock to Fu Qishang.
Fu Qishang activated his ability and lifted the rock with one hand.
“Are you useless? Such little strength and you call yourself an Alpha? Get out of here sooner or later!”
Nayin Tute watched in a daze beside Chu Baixian.
Damn, is this an Omega?!
Someone with such strength… is an Omega!!
“Your… Empire’s Omegas… are all like this?”
Cold sweat trickled down Nayin Tute’s back.
Chu Baixian smiled. “…Not all of them, I suppose.”
Nayin Tute didn’t even have time to say hello; he greased the soles of his feet and ran away quickly.
The last stop was the Royal Back Garden.
Shen Zhuo was wiping a violin in the garden, while Feng Muya sat on a nearby swing holding a flute.
The two were talking and laughing, preparing to attempt a duet.
They weren’t wearing gorgeous clothes, just ordinary attire.
Nayin Tute’s eyes began to light up again.
“Are these court musicians? Your Empire treats servants quite well. I said it before, Omegas are better like this.”
Before Chu Baixian could hold him back, Nayin Tute strode forward quickly and stopped in front of Shen Zhuo.
“Beautiful musician, may I ask to hear you play a song?”
Shen Zhuo stopped and looked up at him.
Chu Baixian sighed.
Alright, the Prince’s day trip ends here.
Recommended Reads
