The two still didn’t want to go out, so they asked the hotel room staff to bring dinner.

Bo Yueming cut the meat from the charcoal-grilled pork ribs bit by bit and sent it to Pei Yi’s bowl. After seeing his lover eating happily, he took the initiative to bring up a topic.

“While you were asleep, I asked Lin Zhong to look into Weiyi and Xunya Technology.”

Pei Yi raised his eyebrows. “Lin Zhong came with you too?”

Bo Yueming poured aired-out red wine for Pei Yi and said lightly, “En, he’s staying in a room downstairs. I’ll ask Qiao Dong to stay there during this time as well.”

Pei Yi took a bite of meat, and a trace of ambiguous intentions filled him.

This was great.

They would be the only ones in this huge suite? No one would bother them?

Bo Yueming noticed Pei Yi’s absent-mindedness and called, “Kitten?”

“Ah?”

Pei Yi quickly focused his gaze and put on a serious expression. “What did you find?”

Focusing on Weiyi, Bo Yueming said, “Do you know the situation with Gu Jianshen and Ning Jing?”

Pei Yi took a sip of red wine and nodded.

Gu Jianshen had been transferred back to Weiyi headquarters from Nebula Fun Tour at the beginning of the year and became the manager of the copyright department.

Ning Jing was the general manager of Weiyi. She was originally in charge of game investment and had a higher say than the former.

Bo Yueming got to the key point, “Weiyi has had a wave of high-level changes this year. The current acting director is named Qu Yi, who was appointed by the board of directors at the beginning of the year to manage Weiyi headquarters.”

“The former executive director was named Guo Guanghong, and he has now returned to a shareholder position.”

Pei Yi frowned slightly. “If it was so good, why did Guo Guanghong quit? Is he old?”

Bo Yueming shook his head. “He’s in his early forties, which can’t be considered old. Weiyi’s internal changes have not been explained in detail to the outside world, but I guess that—”

“It should be related to the decline in the market value of Weiyi’s game stocks in the past two years.”

There was no senior shareholder of any group who would not get along with each other for benefits.

Pei Yi nodded and continued to listen to Bo Yueming’s news.

“Although Qu Yi is the acting director, since he took office, he has replaced almost all the core positions in important departments with his own people.”

For example, Gu Jianshen in the copyright department, and Ning Jing as the general manager.

Pei Yi got to the core of the problem and hit the nail on the head. “What about Gao Pingfeng? Is he on the side of the former director Guo Guanghong?”

Bo Yueming raised his glass and swirled it. “Clever.”

“Seventeen Days” was one of Weiyi’s flagship games. Although the new dungeon series launched in the past two years was controversial and imperfect, the player base was still there.

“As a chief game planner, Gao Pingfeng’s position will basically not change unless he makes a major mistake. What’s more, Guo Guanghong is still in the position of shareholder and has no room to maneuver.”

His lover’s words gently poked him, and Pei Yi began to guess, “Er-ge, do you mean that Guo Guanghong and Qu Yi had a dispute over the position of ‘director?’ Guo Guanghong probably wants to find the right time to get it back.”

Bo Yueming replied, “It’s not impossible.”

Pei Yi remembered something again and frowned. “But isn’t Ning Jing particularly resistant to Gao Pingfeng’s attitude?”

If they were from different camps, then Ning Jing should not have given Gao Pingfeng the slightest chance. But after the script was leaked, the latter’s script was even considered as an alternative.

Bo Yueming chuckled and said, “Kitten, matters of company management are not black and white.”

When Pei Yi heard this, he realized that he was splitting hairs. “That’s right.”

Although they belonged to different camps, the person in charge was now Qu Yi.

A person in a position of power must want the company to prosper and for no investment to go to waste, and must use the most reasonable emergency plan.

What’s more, if the two parties didn’t openly disagree with each other, HR couldn’t do anything.

However, without harming the company’s interests, if Guo Guanghong and Gao Pingfeng could be gotten rid of, he would quietly exercise his rights—

For example, Pei Yi pointed out that he didn’t want Gao Pingfeng’s assistance and insisted that he could change the script within a limited amount of time. Then Gao Pingfeng immediately lost his usefulness. 

Pei Yi thought to himself and changed his question, asking, “Er-ge, what about Xunya Technology?”

Bo Yueming replied, “There are no big changes in Xunya Technology. The two Zhao brothers are still in charge.”

Xunya Technology had made its fortune in internet technology, mainly relying on video platforms to make money, and later acquired several game companies.

The general manager in charge of the game sector was named Lu Yao, who was also one of the well-known strong women in the industry. Under her tough leadership, Xunya Technology’s status in the game industry had risen rapidly in just five years.

It was even on equal footing with Weiyi.

However, due to rumors such as “plagiarism,” “withholding game royalties,” and “squeezing programmers” —-

Reviews over the years had been mixed.

Bo Yueming helped analyze, “The script was exposed and spread some time ago. Although Xunya Technology was behind the scenes, the focus is still within Weiyi.”

Pei Yi’s eyes darkened. “In the end, it’s Gao Pingfeng and Guo Guanghong’s fault.”

“Qu Yi and Ning Jing have probably guessed it, but still chose to turn a blind eye.” Bo Yueming asked, “Do you know why they have this attitude?”

Pei Yi swirled his wine glass. “Why else? YWY is a small startup studio.”

There could be long-term beneficial cooperation, but they were not irreplaceable. If something went wrong, they would show the habitual high profile of a large company.

Bo Yueming asked, “How will you handle this matter?”

Pei Yi thought clearly. “If Gao Pingfeng really leaked the script, causing me and the studio to work in vain, then I will definitely have to compensate for it next.”

He could understand that large companies had their own conflicts of interest and behavior, but he would not forgive villains who infringed on the interests of others for their own selfish gain.

Bo Yueming asked him, “Have you figured out what to do?”

Pei Yi shook his head truthfully. “I need to think about it.”

He had just found his answer, so he naturally couldn’t think of countermeasures immediately.

Bo Yueming set down his knife and fork with a serious look on his face. “Pei Yi, I have something I want to talk to you about.”

Pei Yi was taken aback. “What is it?”

Bo Yueming was silent for a couple of seconds before choosing to speak. “I know you have your own principles in your career and you don’t want to rely on help from outsiders. You want to rely on your own efforts to make the studio bigger and stronger.”

“I respect your wishes, but can I not be excluded as an outsider?”

Pei Yi took an uncertain breath. “Er-ge?”

Bo Yueming asked him in an earnest tone, “Why do you think I had to compete with the main branch before, and why did I agree with Grandma to stay as the chairman temporarily?”

“…….”

“It was in order to have more rights and more say, so that I can protect the people I want to protect. For you.”

Bo Yueming spoke clearly word by word. “Pei Yi, I’m not an outsider. I hope that we can rely on each other in life and in our careers.”

“Not only when you encounter difficulties, where I can help you stabilize the situation, but also when I encounter difficulties. You can also help me.”

Bo Yueming had never thought of interfering with Pei Yi’s career from beginning to end. 

They were not like what was said on the internet, “Pei Yi and YWY are incompetent, so he spends money through a backdoor relationship.”

If he made money and had capital, if he didn’t spend it on his lover, then what was the use?

“The connection between Bo Group’s industry and the gaming industry is indeed very small, but that doesn’t mean I can’t support you, and doesn’t mean that I can’t help you. Understand?”

Pei Yi stared at Bo Yueming in silence for several seconds, and then the corners of his mouth turned up little by little. “Er-ge, do you know what I’m sensing right now?”

“What?”

“I sense that you’re aggrieved.” There was also a smile in Pei Yi’s eyes. “I’m sorry that I didn’t let you come forward to help.”

Bo Yueming didn’t expect that his thoughts would turn in this direction, and was helpless. “Yes, I feel aggrieved. I want to help, and I can’t bear to see you being looked down upon and bullied in your career.”

When their eyes met, Pei Yi saw Bo Yueming’s earnestness and distress. He put down his wine glass and accepted the proposal from the bottom of his heart.

“Okay, I think you’re right.”

The two of them were lovers, and supporting each other was the correct thing to do. Thinking about it for a moment—

If today it was Bo Yueming who was bullied by the main branch and others in his career, if Pei Yi had the ability, he would never be able to watch his lover solve the problem on his own.

Bo Yueming asked, “En?”

Pei Yi walked around and sat next to him. “I’ve been a little tired from writing recently, and my brain is empty. I can’t think of a way to defeat Gao Pingfeng”

He deliberately said this in an aggrieved and troubled way, with a hint of coaxing—

“Er-ge, with your shining title of ‘Chairman of Bo Group,’ can you find a way to support me?”

How could Bo Yueming not see that Pei Yi was deliberately being well-behaved?

But since Pei Yi, who had always been strong in his career, was willing to let him help, he couldn’t ask for more.

“On the evening of the 18th, Haishi will hold an auction and exchange party for a corporate charity. I heard that it will be a fundraiser for orphans and orphanages.”

Bo Yueming told him about the arrangements he had made early that morning. “Weiyi and Xunya Technology will send people there. Lin Zhong has confirmed that both Qu and Guo are on the guest list.”

“…….”

Orphanage? Fundraiser?

Pei Yi’s thoughts condensed for a moment, and then he heard Bo Yueming say, “I will personally donate money in your and Bo Group’s names. After obtaining the admission qualification, I will accompany you to meet them.”

Pei Yi considered for a moment, hiding some of his thoughts. “Er-ge, this fundraiser is a great charity. I don’t want to use it for my own name.”

“I’ll discuss it with Pear Garden later. It just so happens that I still have some money on my card. I want to pay my due share in the name of YWY Studios.”

Bo Yueming didn’t force the matter, and respected his lover’s thoughts. “All right.”

Pei Yi’s lips curved in pleasure.

Since the moment Bo Yueming appeared in Haishi, he had felt extremely calm and stable.

Bo Yueming looked at the large table of food that had barely been touched, and urged in a gentle voice, “We’ve been focusing on talking, come, eat a little more.”

He had to find a way to help make up for the weight his lover had lost during this period.

Pei Yi smiled coquettishly. “I want to eat spicy crab!”

Bo Yueming indulged him. “Okay, I’ll peel it for you, wait a minute.”

. . . . . . . 

Ten p.m.

When Bo Yueming came out of the bathroom, Pei Yi was lying on the bed, playing games on his cell phone.

Their studio’s “The Last Fog” had been online for half a month. The current number of game users had increase nicely, and the game had been well-received on all major social platforms and downloaded software.

Once the in-game transaction channel was opened, profits would continue to grow.

Pei Yi really hadn’t had time to try it out a while ago, so he downloaded the official version now that he was free. He used his own internal beta number and registered a new account—

“Evolution of the Crispy Cat’s Alcohol Capacity.”

Bo Yueming came closer and saw the ID name of his game character. He couldn’t help but laugh, “Where did you come up with such a weird name?”

“Weird?”

Pei Yi pulled up the quilt and raised his head to retort, “Isn’t this name funny? I struggled for a long time before thinking of it.”

For those who were serious about naming, this was something to brag about to a certain extent.

Pei Yi thought of Li Yuan, who was also a naming waste, and decisively betrayed his friend. “You haven’t seen Li Yuan’s ID. He just wrote ‘This Pear Can’t be Picked,’ but I don’t know what it means.”

Bo Yueming had a hard time holding back his laughter. “You two are just the same.”

Pei Yi gave an unconvinced hum and continued to poke at the game screen on his phone.

Bo Yueming hugged him from behind. “Tired? Look at the dark circles under your eyes. Haven’t you been lacking sleep recently?”

Pei Yi leaned into his arms contentedly. “I had enough sleep this afternoon, so I’m not very sleepy now. I want to finish the novice tasks first and then rest.”

Bo Yueming kissed his earlobe. “Won’t the game you designed yourself be unchallenging for you?”

Pei Yi said honestly, “The difficult dungeons still require a lot of effort, but the novice tasks at the moment are pretty unchallenging.”

The novice task was to use the limited props in his backpack to capture three minor zombies. It was nothing more than identifying the zombies’ escape path and then using the props to attack, drop, and subdue them.

The series of fully automatic operations couldn’t be easier.

However, as the original architect, Pei Yi had also come up with a mischievous idea—

If a player really railed to pass this novice mission, he or she would receive a special ‘declaration of honor’ and ‘consolation props.’

Pei Yi finished the introduction and excitedly opened the novice mission.

Bo Yueming’s eyes flickered slightly, and the hands that were originally wrapped around his lover’s waist began to move.

“…….”

Pei Yi’s breathing immediately became uneven. “E-Er-ge.”

Bo Yueming bit his ear lightly, his tone still decent, “You keep doing what you’re doing and I’ll do my own thing too. In the meantime, I’ll make your novice mission a little more difficult.”

As he spoke, his hands became a little heavier.

Pei Yi’s breathing shook, and the props thrown on the screen were misdirected. One of them missed.

Bo Yueming intensified his stimulation. “Little Sir, there are only five props left.”

Pei Yi’s face turned red and he raised a pistol, which was one of the props. “There are five more chances left, what’s the hurry…..wu…..”

Halfway through his words, they were replaced by a soft moan.

The blush climbed from the sides of Pei Yi’s neck to his cheeks. Heat swayed around him, making him lose his mind.

The props on the screen lost their accuracy time and time again until Pei Yi’s palms gave out and he dropped his phone limply beside the bed, unattended.

Three minutes later, the novice mission ended.

The black and gray word “Failure” was displayed on the screen, and two loud message lines immediately appeared:

— Ding! Player [Evolution of the Crispy Cat’s Alcohol Capacity]  won their first defeat in the ‘Novice Mission Dungeon!’

— You have obtained the limited-time prop [Even Minor Zombies Think I’m a Loser], which can avoid three zombie attacks!

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Chapter Ninety-Three <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Ninety-Five

Luo Xingyuan was promoted to commander and transferred to desolate star X55.

X55 was one of the strongholds of the Imperial army. A transfer station was currently being built, and Luo Xingyuan’s mission was to protect it during the construction period.

Luo Xingyuan had a large army, and also had a newly-appointed adjutant.

“Adjutant Rong An, reporting!”

Luo Xingyuan was stunned.

The tall, thin man before him stood upright. He was his former classmate.

After graduating from the military academy, he teamed up with other competitive Alphas and completed the 3S-rated tasks brilliantly. At that time among the students in the same batch, only he and his Alpha team, including Rong An, were capable. The four of them rose straight up.

They came to a new place, and he and Rong An didn’t have much communication after that.

Luo Xingyuan looked at the person in front of him, his expression still distant and indifferent.

Luo Xingyuan smiled, and said in a gentle tone: “Okay, Adjutant Rong, I will need your help in the future.”

. . . . . . . . .

Slam—!

But Rong An ran into trouble the day after he became an adjutant.

When Luo Xingyuan came out of his office, he saw Rong An and two Alphas competing in the ring.

Luo Xingyuan frowned slightly.

Two Alphas against a Beta. It was inevitable……

“Isn’t it amazing?” One of the Alphas laughed and said, “It’s the same as your boss, didn’t you use some kind of back door to get in?!”

Luo Xingyuan was directly promoted after being assessed by Lucas. The adjutant position was a competition between the remaining two Alphas and Rong An, which was divided into a written examination, a one on one fight, and a mission. In the end, it was Rong An who got the best overall score and took the top spot.

The two Alphas were already dissatisfied with Luo Xingyuan, who had “gotten in through a backdoor,” and the dignified Alphas were robbed of their positions by a Beta. Now, they were suppressed by another Beta and couldn’t even take the position of adjutant, so their hearts were naturally unbalanced. The new and old grievances accumulated, and as a matter of course, they wanted to save some face in front of the other soldiers and humiliate Rong An.

Rong An was kneeling on the ground. He clenched his fists tightly and tried to get up, but the spiritual pressure from the two Alphas kept him from doing so.

This was natural.

Rong An’s eyes were red, and his entire body was shaking as he desperately tried to get up.

“Hahahaha……” One of the Alphas held his stomach and laughed. “Betas shouldn’t even think about fighting an Alpha……! They’re inferior creatures without spiritual power!”

“If Alphas are biologically superior,” Luo Xingyuan said coldly, stepping forward, “you would fight one on one if you had the ability. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Pei, what about fairness?” One Alpha spat. “Someone like you who came in through a back door can’t talk about fairness! Since you can rely on your younger brother to get your position, why can’t we have a two-on-one fight?”

“Okay.” Luo Xingyuan nodded and said: “Then it will be two-on-one.”

Luo Xingyuan knew that no matter what he said, no matter how he proved that he hadn’t come in through a back door, it would be useless. Prejudice was prejudice, and contempt was contempt. He was not of noble birth, or even an Alpha.

So he could only prove himself through strength.

Luo Xingyuan stepped into the ring and shook hands.

He could feel the oppression of the two Alphas’ spiritual power, as if someone was pressing hard on his shoulders and forcing him to kneel down.

Luo Xingyuan gritted his teeth, rushing toward one of the Alphas.

The three wrestled together, and Luo Xingyuan fought like a lunatic.

Rong An sat to the side, watching in amazement.

Luo Xingyuan resisted the spiritual attack with all his strength. Blood flowed from his ears, nose, and mouth. His face was flushed and his whole body was shaking, but he kept pounding his opponents, punch after punch, jumping and biting like a wild dog.

Rong An never knew that the gentle Luo Xingyuan had such a side to him.

His sharp edges and spirit were not hidden at all.

Luo Xingyuan kicked one of the Alphas out of the ring with a sweep of his leg. It was so powerful that he even flew quite a distance. In the end, he gripped the other one with a roar, encircled his neck, and punched him in the stomach.

“I conceded…..ugh…..I concede!”

“Stop fighting!”

The person under the ring was also frightened, and immediately went up to pull the two of them apart.

This was a battle that immediately made Luo Xingyuan famous, and nobody dared to cause trouble anymore.

After all, he was a Beta who could beat two A-level Alphas to the point of begging for mercy.

After everyone settled down, Luo Xingyuan had room to display his ability, so that everyone could see his capability and courage, and thus be convinced.

Once he exited the ring, Rong An took Luo Xingyuan to the medical room to treat him.

“You…..you’re really a lunatic.” Rong An felt helpless.

“I’m not a lunatic, I just held my breath.” Luo Xingyuan gasped and said: “I can’t retreat, I have to move forward.”

Rong An paused, then said: “Why?”

Luo Xingyuan bared his teeth and said: “For my family.”

“You don’t know, right?” Luo Xingyuan said: “My mother and little brother helped to fund my tuition fees. My little brother was so small and cute, just coming of age. My mother suffered for me when she was at the age when she should be enjoying happiness, sacrificing herself for me, this useless thing.”

“So I have to be worth it. As the eldest son, I must become someone who can take care of them in the future.”

Rong An nodded faintly.

. . . . . . .

That night, Rong An had a dream. He dreamt about the past.

Luo Xingyuan had originally had a younger brother and a younger sister.

Soft, delicate little ones who liked to follow behind him, grab his sleeves, and call him Gege.

They were the treasures of their family.

The Empire was developed, too developed, so the disparity between the rich and the poor was very large. Their family happened to belong to the latter.

Although the Empire was now committed to alleviating poverty, it had just ended a war, and this policy had only just begun. Their family happened to be one of those that didn’t receive help.

But no matter how poor they were, Rong An and his parents would work hard to save money to buy Rong Duo her favorite skirts. Even if they were cheap, it didn’t matter. Rong Duo was very sensible, and as long as there was a gift, she would be very happy.

And due to their lack of money, Rong An’s parents did all kinds of work. Whether it was tiring or not, physical work or clerical work, as long as they could make money, they would do it.

Among them was moving goods at the wharf. For some reason, the price was very, very high.

So not only did Rong Duo get her skirts, but she also got her first new dress.

Later, they learned that the high pay was because the goods were being smuggled by the star pirates.

The higher-ups in the Empire tracked them down and demanded a confession.

It happened that at that time, Rong Duo was taken in by the young master of a wealthy family, who had a noble title. He forced Rong Duo to be his child bride, and if she refused, the court would arrest her parents.

But what they thought was that the Imperial court would not wrong a good person, and they would rather die than submit.

Unexpectedly, although they were innocent, the rich and powerful could pour dirty water on them with just a flick of a finger.

They were just insignificant people, and the court would not investigate very far.

The dream finally ended when he saw his parents commit suicide by hanging themselves from the rafters.

. . . . . . . .

Many years later, Rong An met a star pirate.

In a cafe on the frontier, he asked him with a smile: “Don’t you think it’s very unfair?”

The other party had a pair of charming eyes, and his cuffs were embroidered with foxes.

He said: “Doesn’t it seem unreasonable that the Empire has given you nothing, yet you have to toil hard for it?”

“I’ve looked into it. Your parents were forced to commit suicide after transporting things for my people. Tsk, tsk.”

“You and your sister haven’t had it easy these past few years, have you? But you are both very promising.”

The man chuckled, and said in a musical voice: “If you just keep going on like this, you’ll never be a big shot. You see, the position of commanding officer that originally belonged to you was given to another Beta with a backer, so it was useless for you to grind your teeth for so many years.”

“Work for me, and I’ll give you enough money for your sister to live a good life.”

Rong An didn’t respond.

After going back, Rong An stood by the door in a daze, looking at his room unthinkingly.

On the table were the thermos cup sent by Luo Xingyuan and the official documents that Luo Xingyuan had asked him to handle. Hung to the side were the wrist and knee pads sent by Luo Xingyuan, and the clothes at the bedside were also given by Luo Xingyuan…..

His room was full of traces of the other man.

They had been together for years, countless days and months.

Luo Xingyuan treated him very well. A little better than others, it seemed.

Perhaps he was the only one in this life who cared about him, other than his family.

Rong An thought for a while, then threw aside the business card that the star pirate had given him, not intending to pay any attention to it.

. . . . . . . . .

Two days later.

“Rong An is a traitor! An undercover agent!”

Rong An recognized the petty officer who ran to Luo Xingyuan to complain as the gatekeeper who was punished by him for being lazy a few days ago.

“I saw with my own eyes that he met with a person from the star pirates that day! Then I found this in his room!” The petty officer handed the business card to Luo Xingyuan.

Luo Xingyuan looked at it for a moment, then said with a frown: “Did you tell anyone else?”

“No, I……”

“That’s good, you almost ruined the Empire’s plans.” Luo Xingyuan said with a cold expression: “If you want to get promoted, don’t keep focusing on other people’s flaws. Spend more time working on yourself. You almost ruined the Empire’s reconnaissance with your ignorance.”

“…….”

The petty officer was driven out of the barracks.

Holding a grudge when punished was not the quality of a soldier.

“You…..aren’t going to ask?” Rong An said with a frown: “Aren’t you suspicious of me?”

He had never thought that Luo Xingyuan would protect him so unconditionally.

“I believe in you.” Luo Xingyuan grinned, saying softly: “You’re not that kind of person.”

“Of course,” Luo Xingyuan said with a wink, “if you really were an undercover agent, with your intelligence, how could you be discovered by others?”

“…….”

Rong An scoffed coldly.

Luo Xingyuan suddenly stepped forward, stretched out his hand, and squeezed Rong An’s shoulder. He said: “Rong An, the dead are gone, we protect the living. Who I protect are people like Ranran, the people behind me. You can’t live for your parents, but you can live for Xiao Duo. Of course……”

Luo Xingyuan paused for a moment, scratched the back of his head, and said: “You can also do it for me…..ah, I mean, I will take care of you.”

Luo Xingyuan said earnestly: “I will take care of you. If you have any difficulties, just tell me.”

He wouldn’t rashly assist Rong An and hurt his self-esteem.

But he would always be there.

Rong An hesitated for a moment, then looked at Luo Xingyuan and said: “Okay.”

He thought to himself, Luo Xingyuan was the same as him. They didn’t have it easy.

But Luo Xingyuan was still as dazzling as a star.

Shining like a sun, firm in his beliefs.

Rong An said: “I will lay down my life for you.”

Luo Xingyuan was for the Empire, so he would also be for the Empire.

Because his superior and commander was Luo Xingyuan.

Rong An picked up the business card he had thrown away, but instead of disposing of it, he handed it to Luo Xingyuan.

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T/N: And that’s the end of the extras! I hope you all enjoyed them!

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Extra 4 << Table of Contents

Wu……

Zhou Mingjing slowly opened his eyes, and found himself lying in snow.

With a severe expression, he got up at once.

The soldiers around him also stood up one after another.

The Empire and Luobing were presently at war. Mu Yuan and Lucas had confronted each other countless times, but the Empire’s military equipment was truly powerful, and Lucas was still there. This led to Luobing’s retreat, and the royal family had proposed negotiations.

Zhou Mingjing was the one who would negotiate with Luobing on behalf of the royal family this time.

He set off from the capital and went all the way to the common stronghold of Luobing on the frontier of the Empire. However, he encountered an avalanche on the way, and the Luobing team that had come to pick him up fell down with him.

“Your Highness……!”

All of the elites of the royal family and his own private soldiers had come with him, and they reacted quickly, forming a protective circle.

On the opposite side was the Luobing team that had come to meet him.

To Zhou Mingjing’s surprise, Mu Yuan had actually come in person.

Mu Yuan and Zhou Mingjing looked at each other.

Then Zhou Mingjing gestured for the others to disperse, and stepped forward to greet Mu Yuan.

“I have admired you for a long time.”

“Your Highness.” Mu Yuan said: “We must get out of here as soon as possible, lest we get hit by another avalanche.”

The tall man had sword eyebrows and piercing eyes. He looked steady and good-natured, but still had the bearing of an admiral.

“If you want to leave, please do it yourself,” Zhou Mingjing said expressionlessly. “We’ll wait for the Imperial army here.”

They had been washed to the base of the snowy mountain by the avalanche, and if they wanted to leave, they could only choose to go into Luobing territory.

Now that the situation was unclear, Zhou Mingjing was unwilling to rush into enemy territory in such a way. It wasn’t that he was afraid, but rather that he didn’t want to turn himself into a bargaining chip for Luobing and trouble Lucas. He had not come here to hinder him.

“Wait here?” Mu Yuan frowned and said: “That won’t work, there won’t only be one avalanche.”

If Zhou Mingjing died under his nose, the situation between the two countries would be even worse. At that time, don’t even think about reconciliation. It was likely that the Emipre would raise troops regardless to attack the city.

Mu Yuan said: “I am more familiar with the terrain here than Your Highness.”

Zhou Mingjing said: “Are you, a Luobing Admiral, ordering me around?”

“I’m not ordering you, but I hope that you will consider the current situation.”

The two silently used their Alpha pheromones to suppress each other.

The atmosphere tensed, and the others also felt oppressed.

Zhou Minjing and Mu Yuan were both outstanding Alphas. Now, their pheromones were going head-to-head, and while they couldn’t tell the difference, the others were slightly out of breath.

“……Alright.” Mu Yuan sighed and withdrew his aura, saying: “Tell me, Your Highness, how long do you estimate it will be before reinforcements from the Empire arrive?”

“I don’t know, but I believe in Admiral Lucas.”

Mu Yuan’s frown tightened even further.

There was a cold wind blowing around this place. There were piles of snow everywhere, and there wasn’t much space.

Mu Yuan said: “We’ll wait for half a day. If the Imperial reinforcements haven’t arrived in half a day, we simply must leave.”

“Fine.”

Mu Yuan asked someone to make a campfire beside him. Zhou Mingjin took a look at it and sat down opposite Mu Yuan.

He was quite defensive.

After all, Mu Yuan could knock him out and take him to Luobing at any time.

Mu Yuan raised his eyebrows and said: “Your Highness doesn’t seem to have enough confidence in your troops, ah.”

“Isn’t it because I don’t have enough confidence in you?”

Zhou Mingjing looked exquisite. His phoenix eyes were sharp, and he looked noble and proud, even more so when he was being so provocative.

Mu Yuan just smiled.

However, Mu Yuan also miscalculated.

The avalanche didn’t wait for half a day, and the second wave came in the second hour after they settled down to rest.

“Get ready! Everyone get ready!”

“Evacuate to the trail!”

At this moment, Zhou Mingjing could no longer insist on waiting in place. He could only board the aircraft and rush forward, struggling against the planet’s gravity.

Boom—

Baboom—

Snow was falling in front of his eyes. Zhou Mingjing precisely steered his light personal combat aircraft to avoid the snow, but heard a boom, and the tail of the aircraft seemed to have been strafed.

Zhou Mingjing’s eyes turned severe.

What had happened?

A sneak attack from Luobing?

No, a sneak attack would not work in their favor at this time. Luobing needed him alive.

Zhou Mingjing turned on the surveillance and saw a small team chasing after him and firing artillery. They were neither from the Empire nor Luobing.

Looking at the aircraft, they seemed more like mercenaries.

Assassins?

The aircraft’s tail had been destroyed, and it started to become unstable.

Zhou Mingjing had no choice but to leave urgently. Otherwise, if he was hit again, he would be dead.

He sent out a distress signal, and then sat in the ejection pod and launched away.

But the troops rushed forward at full speed under Zhou Mingjing’s orders, and had passed Zhou Mingjing a long while ago. There was snow and smoke all around, and the visibility wasn’t good.

Seeing this, the mercenaries behind immediately fired upon the defenseless ejection pod.

Whoosh—

Then Zhou Mingjing saw Mu Yuan turn his mecha around and open the cockpit.

This was a very risky move. Once the cockpit was opened, it would lose the outer protection of the mecha.

Zhou Mingjing immediately steered the ejection pod and seized the opportunity to fall into the cockpit.

Boom—

The cockpit closed again almost at the same time the artillery fire landed.

Zhou Mingjing just barely reached safety.

However, the mecha was forced to bear the artillery fire head-on, and lost an arm in addition to its navigation system. Mu Yuan managed to leave with difficulty, and took shelter in a nearby cave.

The heavy snow sealed the entrance of the cave, isolating them from the artillery fire and avalanche outside, but also cutting them off from the way out.

Once everything had calmed down, Zhou Mingjing and Mu Yuan exchanged glances.

They……were trapped there.

Just the two of them.

It was very awkward.

What was even more awkward was that this cave was full of water, which meant that they couldn’t get out of the mecha without getting wet. This was a snowy mountain, and not to mention how cold it must be, they didn’t know what was in the water.

However, the mecha’s cockpit was not large, and the two of them were practically stuck together.

The mecha had already been bombed to some extent when they entered, so it was currently not upright and could only lie on its side. This narrowed the distance between the cockpit and the water on the ground, so their calves were soaked in water.

Mu Yuan paused for a moment, looking around to see if there was any other way out.

However, this cave was closed off. More precisely, it was just a depression in the mountain wall. Fortunately, there was a water-eroded hole in the side, through which the sky outside could be seen and air could enter.

Zhou Mingjing said with a frown: “Is your mecha’s communication system still working? If so, contact the reinforcements on both sides and see who gets here first.”

“En.”

Mu Yuan performed these operations, but could keenly smell a sweet, fishy scent.

He saw that the water under the mecha was stained with a patch of red.

Turning his head, he saw Zhou Mingjing lift his foot and roll up the leg of his trousers, exposing a wound on his ankle and calf.

Zhou Mingjing said: “My aircraft’s engine caught fire.”

Mu Yuan quickly found some disinfectant, medicine, and bandages.

“I’ll do it myself.”

“Let me help you.” Mu Yuan frowned. This wound…..could not be considered light, and there was also a wound on the back of the leg.

Fortunately, Zhou Mingjing could bear it.

Mu Yuan patted his knee and said: “Your wound can’t be contaminated with water. Set it here.”

“…….?”

“At such a time, there’s no need to hold onto your image.” Mu Yuan frowned and said: “Quickly.”

Zhou Mingjing: “……..”

He frowned and raised his foot slightly.

Mu Yuan couldn’t get used to Zhou Mingjing dilly-dallying as an Alpha, so he grabbed the uninjured part of his ankle and pulled it up to rest on his leg before giving him medicine.

Zhou Mingjing held his breath and said: “I can do it myself.”

“You won’t do it as well yourself.”

“I……hiss.” Zhou Mingjing didn’t want to lose face. He clenched his teeth and hands tightly.

The wound was large, and blood was still dripping from it, so it was impossible for it not to hurt.

Zhou Mingjing pursed his lips tightly and closed his eyes, not looking.

Mu Yuan said softly: “Hold on.”

The movements of his hands were gentle.

“Okay.”

After bandaging it, the bleeding finally stopped. Mu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

The water beneath the mecha was already completely red. Mu Yuan glanced at Zhou Minjing’s pale face, and dialed the communication channel again a little fretfully.

Zhou Mingjing said coolly: “Don’t worry, I won’t die. And if I do, I won’t blame you. I’ll leave a note with my last words.”

“That isn’t the problem.” Mu Yuan paused, then said: “Luobing and the Empire will not be enemies forever.”

Zhou Mingjing raised his eyebrows.

Mu Yuan said: “Our common enemy is the star pirates, and cooperation between Luobing and the Empire is the long-term solution. We are short of food, and the Empire is short of ore. We should trade with each other rather than plundering what the other has by force.”

Zhou Mingjing smiled and said: “We had originally planned to do this, if not for your royal family getting greedy and starting a war.”

Mu Yuan didn’t speak again.

He was just an admiral. His status was different from Lucas’s in the Empire, and he had no power to influence the royal family.

Mu Yuan glanced at Zhou Mingjing. This person was different from the Luobing royal family.

Zhou Mingjing looked at his foot on Mu Yuan’s leg and tried to retract it, but Mu Yuan immediately grabbed it.

“Your wound cannot get wet.”

“……..”

The two of them didn’t talk further. Mu Yuan repeatedly tried to connect to the communication channel, and Zhou Mingjing closed his eyes, his consciousness beginning to blur.

So cold……

Zhou Mingjing involuntarily hugged himself and curled to the side.

Sensing Zhou Mingjing’s state, Mu Yuan reached out and touched his forehead. He really had a fever.

With the blood loss and such a cold environment, Zhou Mingjing’s situation was very bad.

Mu Yuan cursed inwardly, and then picked him up.

“What are you doing……!” In a daze, Zhou Mingjing realized that he was being attacked by another Alpha……he was princess-carried, and felt like he was about to rupture.

Holding another Alpha like this, Mu Yuan also felt like he was going to rupture. He said: “Do you have another option?”

Zhou Mingjing’s body temperature was too low, and Mu Yuan needed to embrace him to keep him warm, but Zhou Mingjing’s foot couldn’t touch the water, and the space in the cockpit was limited, so it had to be like this.

Zhou Mingjing gritted his teeth, feeling that he had lost his edge.

But it could not be denied that the other party was really thinking about him.

Zhou Mingjing unknowingly lowered his guard against Mu Yuan. After all, it was really too cold. So he leaned against Mu Yuan’s chest and fell asleep in a daze.

“Wake up.” Mu Yuan knocked on the top of Zhou Mingjing’s head, saying: “Don’t sleep.”

Zhou Mingjing felt a chill all over his body. If he fell asleep, it wouldn’t be for just a moment.

“En……”

“Don’t sleep,” Mu Yuan said. “Sleep again and I’ll tie you up and take you to Luobing.”

“……You wouldn’t dare.”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Mu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

“Anyway, the Imperial army……will save me. You can’t beat the Empire’s Admiral.”

Even halfway conscious, he was still very sharp.

Mu Yuan felt helpless.

Mu Yuan said: “Talk to me, don’t sleep.”

“…….”

What could they talk about, ah? There was nothing to talk about between Alphas.

Zhou Mingjing didn’t want to fall asleep either, so he started searching for topics to keep his mind active.

Zhou Mingjing asked: “Do you have a lover?”

“…….No.”

“Why not?”

“I haven’t met the person I’m fated with yet.”

“What kind of Omega do you like?”

Mu Yuan hesitated, then said: “I don’t feel much toward Omegas.”

Zhou Minjing said: “If you don’t like them, then you’re gay?”

“……I have a pheromone disorder.”

Mu Yuan couldn’t smell other people’s pheromones, so no matter how fragrant an Omega in heat was, he couldn’t react.

“Oh.” Zhou Mingjing said slowly: “You can’t get it up, ah.”

“…….” Mu Yuan lowered his eyes and said: “If I told you I could smell your pheromones, would you believe me?”

Zhou Mingjing sneered: “You can’t smell an Omega, but you can smell me, an Alpha? 

Mu Yuan said nothing.

He thought to himself, it was the scent of green fruit, fragrant and soft, completely different from his own. 

How could an Alpha be so sweet?

In fact, Zhou Mingjing’s pheromones were not very sweet, but these were the first pheromones that Mu Yuan had smelled. It was his first understanding of pheromones, and the first candy he ate would of course be sweet.

Zhou Mingjing raised his eyebrows: “Then tell me, what do I smell like?”

“Green fruit, sweet and sour.” Mu Yuan bowed his head, moved closer to Zhou Mingjing’s neck, and said: “I want to take a bite.”

“…….”

Too close.

Zhou Mingjing didn’t know if Mu Yuan was lying to him, trying to tease him, or had a pheromone disorder. He sniffed and felt that it smelled fresh.

Zhou Mingjing sneered, and pressed the back of Mu Yuan’s head down to sniff him.

After smelling him, Zhou Mingjing said: “You smell like saltwater, very refreshing.”

Mu Yuan raised his head.

“So does it smell good?”

He couldn’t even smell himself.

“Very good.” Zhou Mingjing leaned close to Mu Yuan’s ear and said: “Not only does Admiral Mu not like intimate relations , but he also prefers the same gender?”

His tone was full of provocation.

Warm breath puffed onto Mu Yuan’s ear, and he maintained his severe expression, not speaking.

“Tsk.”

Mu Yuan changed the subject and said: “The target of the mercenaries this time was you? Who wants you dead?”

“I don’t know,” Zhou Mingjing said. “I’ll look into it when I go back.”

“En.”

Zhou Mingjing thought to himself, he was so old, yet this was the first time he was embraced and protected by another person, and also the first time he had talked to someone like this.

It was kind of……amazing.

Not long after the Empire’s reinforcements arrived, led by Lucas himself.

Of course, when Lucas saw Zhou Mingjing in Mu Yan’s arms, his expression nearly cracked.

Once he knew that reinforcements had arrived, Zhou Mingjing  couldn’t hold on, and passed out. Mu Yuan had no choice but to carry the man down and place him on the medical bed.

Lucas hesitated, then said: “Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome.”

---

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Extra 3 << Table of Contents >> Extra 5

When Andika came to the capital of the Empire for the first time, what he thought was…..the capital had too many radiant people.

Secretary Luo, Admiral Lucas, the princes……they were all confident and beautiful people.

But he was different. He was an illegitimate son, an accident that came about when the king slept with a woman after the main wife’s death.

He had many excellent Alpha brothers. And there was only one female in the family — his much-loved older sister.

He was too redundant, and his birth was also very humble.

Since he was a child, he had learned to read people’s faces, and was weak, timid, and calculating.

Andika felt that he was like a rat in the gutter.

“Hu……”

Inside the main hall was a banquet full of people making toasts to each other, while Andika hid in the grass in the back garden, gasping for breath.

What happened……?

“You…..are you okay?” Andika saw a tall man approaching him. His tone was concerned, and he was also radiant.

. . . . . . .

After that, the man, Lu Cheng, the adjutant of the Imperial Admiral, came to look for him at the embassy.

“I, I’m an Omega, I don’t mind. You, don’t, don’t bother with me.” Andika pressed himself to the wall and lowered his head, saying cautiously and with a little nervousness: “Don’t, don’t come looking for me.”

“How can you not mind? I put a temporary mark on you and took advantage of you.” Lu Cheng frowned and said: “I can’t be so irresponsible. You can ask me to pay compensation, and if you still want me…..I’ll marry you. I can do it.”

Marry…..?!

Andika took another few steps back, desperately trying to plaster himself to the wall. “Adjutant Lu! Getting married is not……a trivial matter.”

Just because of the accident Andika caused, he would marry him. Andika was worthless to Lu Cheng.

“I know it’s not a trivial matter.” Lu Cheng scratched his head, saying in an earnest and embarrassed manner: “I know I’m taking advantage of you by saying this…..you’re a prince.”

Ah…..?

“But I want to tell you that I fell in love with you at first sight! I really like you, and won’t take advantage of you. I’ll treat you well in the future! Really, I mean it.”

Ah…..??

Andika couldn’t believe it: “Love at first sight?”

Lu Cheng repeated: “Yes! I really mean it.”

“Why?”

Lu Cheng was taken aback. He paused and scratched his head: “I don’t know, I just like you……maybe because you’re really good-looking and cute. I, I feel that you are very good.”

Ah…..???

Andika’s breathing was rough. “You…..you’re lying to me.”

“No, I’m really not.” Lu Cheng said anxiously: “I’m really sorry I took advantage of you, but I…..ah, just……”

Neither of them spoke anymore.

. . . . . . . .

In the end, the two of them did marry, and in a grand manner befitting a marriage alliance between two countries. Andika was the star of the show for the first time, and was fawned over and flattered by others.

Andika also moved from his small room in Luobing to the Empire.

Lu Cheng’s house was in the suburbs. It was an independent villa, not too big and not too small, and looked very comfortable.

“Sorry, ah…..it’s not as good as a palace.” Lu Cheng helped Andika with his luggage, saying with some embarrassment: “But I cleaned it up very well, and then cleaned it again before you came.”

“It’s all right.” Andika went upstairs with Lu Cheng supporting him by the arm.

He had recently been in detox, using medication and physical restraints, so his spirit was very bad and his feet were weak.

“I’ve also invited a doctor to the manor, who can take care of you at any time.”

Andika grabbed Lu Cheng’s sleeve nervously and said in a low voice: “You’re……you’re not going home?”

“I work in the military department, but I will naturally come back after work.” Lu Cheng rubbed the back of Andika’s head and said: “How could it be possible for me to get married and still sleep at the military department? So miserable.”

Everything was settled. Lu Cheng and Andika hung up all their clothes together, and then Lu Cheng went back to military headquarters to hand in some official documents.

Andika was pleased to hang his clothes with Lu Cheng’s, and soon after began to tour his new home.

His joy was evident to both the doctor and the housekeeper.

Andika was extremely excited.

He had a family now. He had Lu Cheng.

He suddenly had many, many things, so much that it felt unreal, as if it could be gone tomorrow.

Andika visited the bathroom. He pushed open the door, but froze when he stood in front of the full-length mirror.

He saw what he looked like — stick-thin, pale-faced, with dark patches under his eyes. He looked sick and lifeless, with eyes that were a bit cloudy.

Andika was aware of his own condition. Nowadays, he panted even going up and down the stairs. The drug withdrawal had taken away almost all his strength.

What a failure.

Bam—!

Andika slammed the bathroom door shut.

“Your Highness?” The housekeeper stepped forward and said with concern: “Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

The housekeeper was appointed by the Imperial family to take care of the married prince from Luobing, and was responsible and professional.

“N-No, it’s nothing.” Andika returned to the living room and sat down, saying: “I’ll wait for Lu Cheng to come back…..”

The housekeeper then made Andika some soothing tea.

Andika waited until evening when Lu Cheng returned, and his speed was indeed quite fast.

“Lu Cheng……!”

As soon as Lu Cheng opened the door, he was embraced by the fragrant Omega, and was a little flustered for a moment.

Andika grabbed Lu Cheng’s collar and said: “Lu Cheng, shall we make a lifetime mark? Will you mark me permanently?”

……??

Lu Cheng was stunned.

He couldn’t laugh or cry. Hugging Andika, he said: “What’s the matter?”

“You give me a lifetime mark!” Andika was a little anxious.

“This……” Lu Cheng explained gently: “A lifetime mark needs to be prepared for in advance……”

“No need to prepare! I can do it.” Andika hugged Lu Cheng without letting go.

“Even if you can, I can’t. My profession…..”

Before he could finish speaking, Andika burst into tears.

Lu Cheng was startled.

Andika simply cried, sobbing so hard that it seemed like he was venting something.

Lu Cheng hurriedly patted the man on the back, and coaxed him in a panic: “It’s okay, it’s okay. Tell me what’s wrong? Ah? Don’t cry…..”

“You give me…..” Andika choked out, “…..a lifetime mark.”

“Listen to me, you calm down.” Lu Cheng could probably guess what was going on. He said sharply: “Listen to me.”

“The reason I won’t give one to you is because I could die at any moment, understand? On the battlefield, my duty is to protect my superior and charge into battle. My life is of secondary importance to the Empire and the Admiral, which is my duty and honor. You…..”

Then Andika began to cry louder.

“Andika…..” Lu Cheng was completely confused. He hugged this person and kissed him indiscriminately. 

“Don’t cry, don’t cry……”

Andika’s emotions had completely collapsed, and Lu Cheng could do nothing about it. In the end, the doctor had to come to restrain Andika and inject him with a sedative.

Finally, after a long sleep, Lu Cheng coaxed him for a long time after he got up and this matter passed with difficulty.

. . . . . . .

A week later, Lu Cheng took Andika to military headquarters.

Andika held Lu Cheng’s hand tightly and asked: “What are you going to do here? Can I join you?”

Lu Cheng smiled, but didn’t speak, and only took him to an office.

“Hello.”

Andika saw Luo Ran standing by, taking inventory.

He’s radiant, thought Andika.

Luo Ran was not an Alpha. He looked gentle, and had once served Andika food, so Andika wasn’t very afraid of him.

Luo Ran smiled and said: “Adjutant Lu told me that Your Highness doesn’t have much to do at home, so I asked him to have Your Highness come over and help me take inventory. Can you?”

“Yes……!” Andika said, a little flattered: “Can I……?”

“You help Secretary Luo here, and I’ll go and train with the Admiral.” Lu Cheng patted Andika on the shoulder.

“You stay with me…..” Andika was a little nervous.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right next door. Secretary Luo will laugh if you’re like this.”

“…….” Andika pursed his lips.

One afternoon passed in this way.

Looking at the documents Andika handed to him, Luo Ran was a little surprised. He said: “Adjutant Lu was right. You’re good at math and have a keen eye for numbers.”

Andika had even found and sorted out all the mistakes and omissions in the documents very efficiently.

“Really……?” Andika was also surprised.

“Really, thank you so much.” Luo Ran said with a smile: “I’ve also heard that you, as a prince, have very good cooking skills. Adjutant Lu gave us a taste of the cake you made before. It was very delicious.”

Andika was taken aback for a moment, then said happily: “Then I’ll make it again, and bring it for you to eat.”

“Okay, ah.” Luo Ran said: “Adjutant Lu has a lot of documents to go over. You can come to the office and help him in the future, or you can also come and make some small snacks.”

Luo Ran wasn’t worried about information leaking. Under his management, all of the military department’s data had been scattered and concealed. Except for a few key people, those below had no idea what they were calculating and sorting out.

“Okay!” Andika nodded his head as if pounding garlic.

Luo Ran raised his eyebrows and said: “Then in the future, the adjutant will be fortunate.”

Andika couldn’t be happier.

Although it was only a little, he seemed to have gained some value.

After another month, Andika went into heat.

Lu Cheng was reading a document when he suddenly felt someone hug him from behind.

Lu Cheng smelled the strong scent of berries on Andika’s body, and paused, then said: “Your heat…..?”

“En.”

Lu Cheng pulled the man to his side and kissed him.

. . . . . . . . .

“Ah……!”

Andika sat in front of Lu Cheng, and as he pushed hard and actively opened the genital cavity, Lu Cheng entered.

It was Andika who forced Lu Cheng to stuff it in, and the pain caused him to lay against Lu Cheng’s shoulder. His limbs were weak, his eyes were full of gold stars, and he almost passed out.

“Andika…..!” Lu Cheng gritted his teeth. “You……!”

He’d been had!

Andika’s condition had been getting increasingly better this month, and he had almost forgotten about it.

“En.” Andika was trembling all over, and grinned as he said: “You’re the one who’s been had.”

“You can’t escape.”

After saying so, Andika passed out.

“You……” Lu Cheng hugged him, reaching out to gently rub the back of his head.

This was really…..

“I’ll take good care of you in the future,” Lu Cheng said in a whisper.

---

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Extra 2 << Table of Contents >> Extra 4

But no matter how unreasonable it was, no one in this family dared to question the authority of First Young Master Liu. Even His Royal Highness, who was above ten thousand people and below one, was not very good at it. Liu Xian’an took another look into the barracks and saw that there were many military officers sitting in the room, so he asked: “The prince hasn’t finished handling military affairs yet?”

“There are a dozen or so mouths, sticking to their own words and chattering endlessly,” Liang Shu said. “The Baifu Sect has released a lot of news about the Valley of Ten Faces recently.” So much so that all the spies and non-spies had received information. People went to the garrison camp to report the news every day, and once the news spread widely, it immediately became as “worthless” as the ancient characters carved into the cliff. The Baifu Sect was only short of engraving the words “there’s something coming to the Valley of Ten Faces” on their foreheads. At such a time, the Southwest Garrison’s method of dealing with it would be particularly eye-catching.

The military officers all had their own opinions. Some thought it was a feint, some thought it was a provocation, and some thought that there was indeed danger in the forests. But no matter what their opinions were, there was surprisingly one point that they all agreed on unanimously. That is, everyone disapproved of Liang Shu approaching the dense forest.

Liu Xian’an said: “I don’t agree either.”

Such a huge swathe of deep mountains and old forests, only ghosts knew what was hidden in it. Even the most capable general could not attack blindly without a target, and it was even more impossible to search the mountains inch by inch. It was estimated that another fifty thousand people would have to be transferred from outside.

Liang Shu nodded: “All right, if you disapprove, then I won’t fight.”

Liu Xian’an saw through him at a glance: “What do you mean you won’t fight if I disapprove? The prince originally didn’t want to fight.”

Taking advantage of the fact that no one in the barracks was looking this way, Liang Shu kissed his hand: “Who says I don’t want to fight? I want to fight, but I’m afraid that if I don’t listen to my wife, I will suffer.”

His voice was a bit loud and carried with the wind, causing the group of military officers next door to look solemn and lower their heads, silently saying “see no evil” as they pretended they hadn’t heard their prince’s fear of being blamed.

By the time Liang Shu brought Liu Xian’an into the barracks, everyone had basically adjusted their attitudes and expressions, and greeted Second Young Master Liu enthusiastically.

The wall was covered in maps. Liu Xian’an scanned them and asked: “These are the outskirts of the Valley of Ten Faces?”

“Yes,” an adjutant replied. “Further down, the miasma is too heavy. There are all kinds of poisonous snakes and insects, and the white mist is hot from the sun. Going in during the summer is like walking into a huge steamer, and there is really no need to waste the manpower.”

Therein lay the problem. The Southwest Garrison couldn’t get in, and it didn’t make sense for the Baifu Sect followers to get in, which was why everyone suspected that the cult was bluffing. Another asked: “But what is their purpose for doing this?”

The release of this news stirred up the area around the Valley of Ten Faces, causing the garrison to raise their vigilance……the adjutant gave a “tsk” and said: “I still feel that they are targeting the prince.”

“I don’t think so. Although our prince is in the Southwest during this time, there are so many military officers in the Southwest. The cult could not know in advance that he would be drawn to the Valley of Ten Faces. What if the prince just didn’t come? Would they have been so busy in vain?”

The scene fell into silence again. Liu Xian’an agreed with the latter statement. He also felt that the news from the Baifu Sect this time was not necessarily aimed at Liang Shu, or to be more accurate, at least not solely aimed at Liang Shu.

Compared to the high vigilance of the garrison against the dense forest, glaring like a tiger watching its prey, the common people of the Valley of Ten Faces were much more relaxed, and the arrival of Liang Shu especially caused everyone to feel more secure. Not to mention anything else, the number of aunts carrying vegetable baskets to the gates of the camp in the past two days was several times more than before.

In the end, no one was able to see His Royal Highness Xiao Wang, but they twice saw the famous Second Young Master Liu, wrapped in a big black cloak that covered his face against the wind. One time he was walking from south to north with a medicine basket, and the other time he was walking from north to south with a food box. Regardless of anything else, didn’t he look very diligent?

But in fact, he was forced by First Young Master Liu. He arranged a bunch of herbs every day in order to survive, but this made the lazy man miserable. His life creed still hadn’t changed. If it doesn’t have to be done by me, I don’t have to do it…..but no matter how firm this belief was, it couldn’t stand up against his Da-ge, who had a ruler in his heart, and regarded everything as a ruler. In the end, he had no choice but to compromise with a yawn, going in and out all day long like a diligent person, busy from morning to night.

After working, he didn’t even want to eat dinner anymore, and lay in bed refusing to move.

“You really don’t plan to eat?” Liang Shu picked him up. “I specially ordered the kitchen to cook mushroom chicken soup for you.”

Liu Xian’an lay his arms softly on the other’s shoulders. I’ll eat, but I don’t want to move.

A-Ning stood beside him, once again wanting to sigh. Alas, he’s so spoiled by the prince that he doesn’t even want to lift his chopsticks to eat.

Liang Shu smiled and hugged him tightly. But before he had time to step over the threshold, three sharp whistles suddenly sounded above the camp, like arrows piercing through the golden red glow of the sunset. Then, the assembly drum also sounded with a dong dong!

There were five grades of whistles used to convey military information in the camp. The higher it went, the more dangerous the situation was. The Valley of Ten faces had always been at peace. The last time there were three whistles was decades ago, when nearly a hundred lost wild elephants rushed into the village in the middle of the night.

Liu Xian’an was sleepy, and upon hearing the whistles, he didn’t react immediately. He was set back on the bed by Liang Shu in a daze, and the soldiers outside quickly surrounded him, protecting the small courtyard in an airtight manner.

“Your Highness!” Cheng Suyue also rushed over to make a report. “There is something strange in the village below the mountain. It’s like a…..monkey?”

Her words were unsure. The sun had already disappeared below the mountain at this time, and the glow of the sunset had also faded. The entirety of the Valley of Ten Faces was covered in a drowsy light. Even with a looking glass, one could only clearly see shadows jumping up and down in the village below the mountain. Liang Shu took his sword and mounted his horse. He was just leaving camp when Gao Lin galloped toward him on horseback, carrying the black lump of an unknown object in his hand.

Cheng Suyue was still inspecting it carefully with her eyes wide open at first, but after distinguishing it clearly, the food in her stomach that she had just eaten surged up. It was too disgusting. It was…..a person with the stature of a five-year-old child. Its skin was gray all over, with lines of corruption on its face. Gray eyeballs, red pupils, dry palms, sharp, curved nails, and gray hair like weeds. The latter was being held up by Gao Lin, causing the facial features to rise strangely and reveal a smiling face.

A smiling face like that was enough to make everyone who had seen “him” have nightmares for ten days.

Not to mention that there was a bloody black hole at the base of the throat.

“What the hell is this, ah?” Gao Lin was also shocked. “As soon as it entered the village, it went on a rampage, running faster than a cheetah, jumping over walls and demolishing tiles. It knocked over the tables, chairs, and benches of more than a dozen families, and dozens of men failed to catch up. In the end, because it was running too fast, it straightened its neck and ran into my sword.”

Liang Shu asked: “Is this the only one?”

Gao Lin was taken aback. “Ah? When I was there, it was the only—”

Before he finished speaking, whistles rang through the sky one after another, and this time there were as many as four! The garrison had already packed up and rushed down the mountain. Liang Shu flung his whip and said: “Let’s go!”

Gao Lin made a noise of agreement and tossed the thing in his hand forward. Cheng Suyue was forced to catch it, and having close contact with this thing almost caused her to spew again.

“Take it for Second Young Master Liu to look at!”

“…….”

Cheng Suyue hesitated. Can I really take it to him? Second Young Master Liu will be frightened, and the prince will deduct money from us afterwards.

But on second thought, that was someone from Baihe Mountain Village who had been scalping people since he was a child.

So in the end, she dragged the “trophy” back to the camp. Liu Xianche was also in his brother’s room at this time. When he heard the guards outside the gate retching suddenly, he was puzzled, and the two brothers walked outside the door: “What’s wrong……what the hell is this thing?”

“My brother caught it in the village at the foot of the mountain,” Cheng Suyue said. “There should be more than this one. The prince has already rushed over.”

Liu Xian’an ordered people to light all the lanterns in the courtyard, then rolled up his sleeves and put on gloves. Stepping forward to examine carefully, he said: “It’s like a Ghost Boy.”

Liu Xianche had also heard the legends of wizards who would use herbs and lime to dehydrate a child’s body, put it in colorful clothes and nail it to a wooden stake, then walk through the streets with it in hand. He said: “Although a Ghost Boy sounds strange and terrifying, it is in essence just a mummy doll. How can it run and jump?”

“I’m just saying that this creation method is similar to creating Ghost Boys,” Liu Xian’an said. “But it didn’t completely kill the child. They must have used some kind of poisonous Gu to control his brain and meridians, making him incredibly powerful and turning him into a strange beast.”

“Find an empty house,” Liu Xianche said. “I’ll take a look at it.”

Liu Xian’an nodded: “Okay.”

His expression remained unchanged, calm and tranquil.

This was professionalism.

Baihe Mountain Village was amazing.

And His Royal Highness Xiao Wang at the foot of the mountain was also very amazing. Holding a longbow, he shot a flaming arrow with great precision. It drew a crackling shadow in the twilight before penetrating heavily into the soft eye socket of an evil creature, causing a twittering scream!

There were estimated to be seven or eight Ghost Boys in the village, and the garrison outflanked them left and right, taking care of five of them. Another one was bigger, and looked like the leader. It initially curled up in the corner of a wall and didn’t move. When everyone attacked together, there was a sudden “bang,” and it smashed a big hole in the wall with its head.

“Ah!” The peasant woman in the house screamed in terror!

At the village entrance, Gao Lin beheaded a Ghost Boy with a backhand swing of his sword. Before he had time to breathe a sigh of relief, a black streak swished before his eyes, accompanied by the weak cry of a baby and the shouts of officers and soldiers behind: “Lieutenant General Gao! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it, ah! It snatched a child away!”

What ‘stop it,’ quit yelling, can’t you see that the thing has run away without even a shadow left? Gao Lin cursed to himself, mounting his horse to give chase, but Liang Shu had already galloped past him with a gust of wind, his long sword stained with blood.

“You few, follow the prince!” Gao Lin turned his horse’s head. “The rest of you, follow me into the village!”

“Yes!”

The Ghost Boy held the baby’s swaddling clothes in one hand, and used its legs and other hand to move back and forth between the trees and vines. With its hunched figure, its speed was not hindered at all! The baby’s cry was so weak that it was nearly inaudible. Seeing that the edge of the miasma and white fog was approaching, Liang Shu drew his longbow and shot an arrow through the shadows of the trees!

With a puchi, the Ghost Boy’s neck was shot through precisely, and it staggered twice, its pace slowing. The group of soldiers took the opportunity to rush forward, trying to snatch the baby back, but the creature seemed to be enraged, and threw the swaddling clothes in its hand to the other side!

The cliff was not too high nor too short. An adult may be able to survive the fall, but a baby only a few months old would encounter disaster. She slipped out of the blanket crying, and that fragile little life simply fell straight down! At this critical moment when her life was hanging by a thread, a person suddenly jumped from up high and held the baby firmly in his arms, drew his sword out of its sheath with his right hand, and then used all the strength in his body to nail the blade into the cliff!

The metal drew a string of sparks, and the blade finally stuck smoothly into a crack, allowing him to hang on the stone wall.

The baby was still crying, “Wah, wah!”

“Young Head Escort Chang!” The soldiers gathered at the cliff and shouted, “If you hold on for a while, we’ll let the rope down!”

“Okay!” Chang Xiaoqiu held the baby in one hand and the hilt of the sword in another, his face flushed red! The night wind in the mountains was cold. He lowered his head and put his face against the child’s head, trying to pass some warmth to it. At times, the wind got stronger and blew his whole body to and fro. The hand holding the sword had completely frozen, and the blood flowing in his veins was more like needles just plucked out of the snow. He raised his head with difficulty, just in time to see Liang Shu also standing there at the top, his robes blown up by the wind and his face backlit, like a god.

This wind didn’t seem to be so bad at all.

Chang Xiaoqiu thought hard.

In order to leave a good impression on the prince, he even forcibly concocted a calm and breezy smile, striving to maintain it even if Mount Tai collapsed.

The soldiers knotting ropes on top of the mountain saw this and were very anxious, worried that the boy had been frozen stupid and was having hallucinations, why was he still smiling? So they sped up, their fingers flying.

Finally, the moment before the foolishly smiling Young Head Escort Chang was unable to hold on any longer, a soldier slipped down the rope. He first tied his waist tightly, then held the baby in his arms and gestured to the people above.

The rope was pulled up quickly, but only one person was pulled up. As for the other….the person pulling the rope wondered if Young Head Escort Chang was stuck on a branch, as he was so heavy that he couldn’t be pulled up at all.

“When I went down, I didn’t see any trees anywhere, ah.”

The group of people were lying on the edge of the cliff, looking down. Someone shouted: “Hey! Xiao Chang! Try to move yourself!”

From the moment Chang Xiaoqiu had the rope tied around his waist, he completely let go of his strength. Almost paralyzed in mid-air, his brain and body both frozen, he just waited for those at the top to start pulling. Now that he heard everyone shouting, he regained his frozen soul and thought, why aren’t you pulling me, but asking me to climb up by myself?

Just climb, ba!

He gritted his teeth and stretched out his hand to hold the hilt again, trying to climb up, but he couldn’t move an inch.

An ominous premonition surged in Chang Xiaoqiu’s heart. He slowly looked down, and saw a skinny dark hand with sharp nails “growing” abruptly from the stone wall, holding tightly to the hem of his clothes.

He took a gasp of cold air.

“Xiao Chang! Xiao Chang! Say something! Are you all right!” The people above yelled a few more times, and seeing that he didn’t move, they wanted to go down the rope to rescue him, but Chang Xiaoqiu raised his head and shouted: “Don’t move yet!”

He collected himself, held the rope tightly, and slowly slid down a section. As he descended, a cave hidden beneath the stone wall was revealed, and inside the cave, gray-red spots of light were flickering on and off.

Dozens, hundreds, or even more Ghost Boys were squatting there neatly, looking at him silently and uniformly.

Upon seeing the scene in front of him, Chang Xiaoqiu’s pupils constricted, and he almost screamed out in fear at this terrifying scene! He desperately pulled the rope to try to climb up, but the Ghost Boys in the cave screamed and rushed out, hanging on his legs one after another, like a huge beehive!

The rope, swish, slid down by a lot!

Chang Xiaoqiu watched helplessly as he got farther and farther away from the sword stuck in the stone wall, and could only rely on his fists, closing his eyes as he smashed down to break free from the burden! But there were too many Ghost Boys. Even if he was lucky enough to hit one or two, a new batch soon rushed up, and the rope around his waist was about to break. At the moment it broke, an awe-inspiring sword energy suddenly swept across!

The Ghost Boys were caught off guard, and fell in a batch down the cliff, thud, thud. Holding onto the rope with one hand, Liang Shu flew through the air to catch Chang Xiaoqiu, kicked those ghost boys still hanging on his legs to break their skulls, and then flew back to the top of the cliff, tossing Chang Xiaoqiu back to his subordinates.

“Your Highness!” A man threw his sword over.

Liang Shu held the hilt of the sword, and the cold light condensed in his hand. Almost instantly, he turned and fell off the cliff again, returning to the stone cave and penetrating through it with a ruthless wave!

Amidst the screams of “Eee, eee, wah, wah,” more than half the Ghost Boys were killed or injured, and those who survived by chance buzzed and climbed rapidly like a swarm of poisonous bees whose nest had been burst. They scattered toward the white miasma forest in all directions, dark figures bouncing up and down through the trees like huge fleas.

After the group of “fleas” disappeared, the surrounding wilderness regained its silence.

All the soldiers were terrified. They exchanged glances, and after a long time, choked out a sentence: “Damn it, why are there so many?”

“There may be many more in the future.” Liang Shu picked up Chang Xiaoqiu with a grim expression. “Someone carry him on their back and return to camp first.”

---

Chapter Ninety-Four << Table of Contents >> Chapter Ninety-Six

After Rong Shiming crowed this out proudly, he looked to see if Liu Zhenqing was angry and ashamed.

Jiang Zi’er on the side observed this behavior with a cold stare.

But Liu Zhenqing blinked. “Who are you and why are you blocking the road?”

One sentence immediately made the atmosphere of humiliation collapse somewhat.

Rong Shiming sneered, saying: “I forgot that you lost your memory after being kidnapped by fugitives.”

“So I met you before I lost my memory?” Liu Zhenqing said with a good temper. “I’ve been rude. Please excuse me, I’ve forgotten.”

Rong Shiming said proudly: “It’s good to apologize properly when you know you’ve been rude.”

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “Ai, don’t worry, maybe I can remember you. Recently, my memories have come back on occasion. Why don’t the two of you introduce yourselves to me and tell me where we met, and what happened at that time and place?”

“You…..” Rong Shiming was about to speak, when he was suddenly tugged by Jaing Zi’er beside him. When he turned, he saw that the girl’s face was already changing colors.

Rong Shiming suddenly realized that they had never met before. The only ones who had met were Liu Xiaozhu and Jiang Zi’er, and that was at the scene of the tryst.

How could this be said, ah! If something was revealed……

Rong Shiming suddenly looked at Liu Zhenqing, and when he saw his smiling face, he felt very annoyed. This idiot probably……didn’t mean that.

“What? Are you two embarrassed? Since we’re old acquaintances, helping someone with amnesia recover their memories is a good thing. You ought to be kind to others.”

After this was said, Rong Shiming could only grit his teeth and prepare to make up lies, but then he saw Liu Zhenqing ask the person next to him, “Jin Li, who are they, ah? We, master and servant, are inseparable. If I’ve met them, then you must know who they are.”

Jin Li naturally knew who they were, and when he saw Rong Shiming mocking his master like this, he was so angry that he trembled all over. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Rong Shiming call out quickly: “We’ve never met officially, but I have seen you harassing…..”

Before Rong Shiming could finish his words, Liu Zhenqing’s face suddenly darkened and he said sternly: “What! I’ve never met you before, but you came forward and said this was a chance encounter, then asked me to apologize? What is this, another person who knows I am from the Imperial merchant Liu family and wants to take advantage of my amnesia to blackmail me for money? Scram, scram, scram, no money!”

Having said this, Liu Zhenqing put on an air of guarding against thieves, waving his hands and scolding him as if the other was begging for food. Everyone around was stunned by this turn of events. At least half of them looked at Rong Shiming suspiciously. After all, not everyone knew their identities, and they were just here watching the entertainment. 

Rong Shiming’s blood surged at once, and he clenched his fists: “You…..what are you talking nonsense about? My cousin is the First Princess of the Imperial Court, why would I still need to blackmail you…..”

Jin Li also thought that Liu Zhenqing really didn’t know them and wasn’t aware of the bad intentions they were concealing, so he quickly whispered: “He’s the cousin of the First Princess, Young Master Rong Shiming.”

When Liu Zhenqing heard this, he promptly let out a sigh and said: “Your cousin is the First Princess, but what does that have to do with you? Why not mention your parents? Is it possible that the First Princess is the one who provides your monthly allowance to support you?”

When these words came out, some people couldn’t hold back their laughter. This relationship was normal, but was actually really embarrassing. The entire family of bloodsuckers relied on the First Princess, so if he didn’t mention the First Princess, then there was really nothing to mention.

Rong Shiming was so furious that steam nearly spouted from his seven orifices. He had wanted to put forward his connections, but those were matters behind closed doors and were difficult to explain clearly. He really couldn’t think of a reason to refute, and just wanted to hit this person, but Jiang Zi’er stopped him. She said with a cold expression: “Young Master Liu, please be careful with your words. How can you offend the First Princess?”

Liu Zhenqing finally looked at Jiang Zi’er. Seeing was believing, ah. This was directly transferring the conflict over and trying to trick him.

Although he always had protective tendencies toward the fairer sex, forget about the rotten ones.

“Who are you?”

“Jiang Zi’er, from the household of the Minister of Rites.” Jiang Zi’er looked icy and arrogant.

Liu Zhenqing immediately regarded Jiang Zi’er as if he had just realized something, and said: “So you are Miss Jiang.”

When Liu Zhenqing finished speaking, he looked her up and down in an exaggerated manner. This behavior was somewhat flirtatious. Jiang Zi’er said angrily: “What are you looking at?”

“I’m just lamenting. Breaking off the engagement…..was really the correct thing to do.”

“You!”

Liu Zhenqing’s words were so infuriating that the girl’s face distorted.

Rong Shiming immediately shouted, “What an ill-bred thing, bullying a weak woman. You’re unworthy of being a man, how shameless!”

The people around felt that Liu Zhenqing was a bit rude, and all censured Liu Zhenqing with an overwhelming sense of justice.

“Ah?” Liu Zhenqing suddenly called out innocently, “Why are you so angry all of a sudden? I’ve obviously done a good deed. You see, not long after I broke off the engagement, you two became a couple. Doesn’t this mean that I contributed to the happiness of lovers? What? Have I done something wrong?”

As soon as these words fell, the surroundings gradually grew quiet, and the gazes directed at the two people weren’t right.

When Jiang Zi’er reacted, her face turned red at once and she lost her poise, scolding: “Young Master Liu, you just canceled the engagement. Why are you slandering me like this? Young Master Rong and I only met by chance.”

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, men and women did not keep their distance as much. What she said made sense, but if Liu Zhenqing wanted to punish these people, how could he leave a way out for her? He would dig a hole and wait for her to jump.

“Aiya, did I misunderstand? Apologies, don’t mind me, a person with amnesia. I just heard that we were engaged for several years, that we’ve never met in person in the capital, and every time I tried to court you, you would persuade me to leave with flimsy excuses. I thought you were someone who never stepped out the front door, but now you are able to meet Young Master Rong by chance and go in and out at the same time. It is natural that I would mistakenly think that something was taking place……”

Liu Zhenqing used his yin-yang skills to paint them in a darker and darker light, but on the bright side, he used his appearance to his advantage. His innocent facade seemed extremely sincere and pure. Looking at Jiang Zi’er’s trembling form and her anger-reddened eyes, she was probably moved by his sincere blessing.

As long as the people around weren’t fools, they could probably get the gist of it.

“Liu Xiaozhu! It is obviously you who misbehaved, pestering General Huo even though you were engaged. This is something everyone knows, don’t just use amnesia to try to erase your own misery and attack Miss Jiang!” Rong Shiming wasn’t stupid, and grasped the key points of the conflict at once.

Jiang Zi’er immediately cooperated by crying out tearfully, “Young Master Liu’s behavior of harassing others has already humiliated me. I didn’t make much of a fuss, but now that the engagement is terminated, how can you still humiliate me like this……”

“I said this as a blessing, and definitely didn’t mean to slander you. But you’re cursing and crying, which is making me all confused.” Liu Zhenqing looked rather embarrassed, but suddenly clapped his hands and saluted: “I understand, I did something wrong. I apologize to Miss Jiang.”

When he apologized so decisively, the two of them were a little confused for a moment. The people around were also a little puzzled.

Jiang Zi’er looked at Liu Zhenqing suspiciously, but his next sentence made her breath freeze.

“Miss Jiang doesn’t like Young Master Rong, which is why my blessing just now made you so disgusted that you even burst into tears on the spot. If it was a match made in heaven, how could my conjecture have been an insult to you? I was presumptuous and rude.”

Finished speaking, Liu Zhenqing lowered his head and heard the two people in front of him suck in a breath of cold air.

“You…..you’re talking nonsense…..” Jiang Zi’er’s voice shook.

“Really? Then you like Young Master Rong? So you really fell in love immediately after breaking off your engagement with me? Then what was wrong with what I said before? Why did you cry?”

“I…..I don’t…..” Jiang Zi’er was so anxious that she forgot to cry.

“No? Sure enough, you don’t like him!” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile.

The dumbfounded Jiang Zi’er was completely mute, while Rong Shiming on the side was already entirely flummoxed. At this moment, he didn’t know whether to look at Jiang Zi’er or Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing never lost when it came to talking nonsense. “Actually, it’s true that people seek their way up just as water seeks its way down. It’s natural for you to look down on someone so inferior.”

“What did you say! Where am I…..where am I inferior!” How could a grown man endure being looked down upon in public? He didn’t even notice that the topic had been skewed, let alone the moral high ground he’d originally had.

Liu Zhenqing smiled and beheld the fool he had led astray, saying: “You’re inferior to General Huo.”

Rong Shiming suddenly choked up. “That’s insane, why should I compete with him!”

Liu Zhenqing glanced at Jiang Zi’er and said: “After breaking off the engagement and going our own ways, we will naturally choose better partners. I chose General Huo, and if Miss Jiang chooses you, can you not be compared with General Huo?”

Something didn’t seem right, but didn’t there seem to be such a mentality?

The so-called next partner must not lose to one’s ex-fiance’s next partner? And Liu Zhenqing was a cut-sleeve, so just like Jiang Zi’er, he was looking for a man. This…..

Liu Zhenqing said proudly: “How can you compare to General Huo! Therefore, I think Miss Jiang doesn’t want to choose you and let me witness such ridiculousness.”

If looks could kill, Rong Shiming’s current look would probably have murdered Liu Zhenqing several times over. Perhaps it was a momentary revival before death, having been trampled by Liu Zhenqing to the point of being a bloody smear mark, but he actually had an idea.

“Liu Xiaozhu, you are truly ridiculous. Miss Jiang and I can become a couple! If you choose General Huo, will he choose you? Do you think he notices you? The toad wants to eat swan meat. You have the nerve to bring out this comparison, but your wishful thinking is nonsensical!”

Although he discovered the blind spot, he also jumped into the trap. Didn’t this mean he was indirectly admitting his unclear relationship with Jiang Zi’er? Looking at Miss Jiang, her expression was even worse than before.

But Rong Shiming was blinded by his own cleverness, and felt that Liu Zhenqing would be unable to refute such a statement. After all, the entire capital knew that he was the one unilaterally harassing General Huo. If he hadn’t saved the twins, he probably wouldn’t even have received a glance.

However, at this moment, Liu Zhenqing asked with a smile: “Do you know the difference between a frog and a toad?”

The sudden question not only stunned Rong Shiming, but also stunned the people around them watching. Frogs…..were naturally better than toads.

“The frog sitting in the well and looking at the sky can only see this small place and these few people. All its life will be like this. But the toad is different. It has great ambitions to eat swan meat, ah.”

Rong Shiming’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he wanted to scream that this was nonsense, but Liu Zhenqing didn’t give him a chance to speak. He pointed at the Coiling Dragon Jade Pillar that reached into the sky in the distance and said: “In the Great Zhou Dynasty’s past, only the sons of prominent and noble families could become officials, and at the very least, a noble son from a poor family needed a referrer. At that time, when common people wanted to participate in the Imperial Examinations and win top marks, who wouldn’t say it was wishful thinking and nonsensical, ah? And now? The Imperial Examinations have been reformed, and all children can participate regardless of whether they are high or low, and be selected as talents for the Great Zhou Dynasty. How many toads have worked hard to get a bite of swan meat?”

It was almost spring, and most of the people around were students here for the preliminary round of the Imperial Examinations. Hearing these words, they were suddenly enlightened, and felt that the word “toad” was inspiring.

“So I pursue the best? Is that wrong? I, a toad, just want to eat General Huo’s mouthful of swan meat. No matter whether I can eat it or not, why not try hard and see if I can? What if I’m given a bite!”

Liu Zhenqing looked at these people who were completely stunned, laughing wildly on the inside, but incomparably sincere on the surface.

Suddenly, a round of applause and laughter sounded from inside the restaurant door. A man with a strong build and a hint of unruliness on his handsome features walked out. “Well said!”

Liu Zhenqing regarded the person with raised eyebrows. Jin Li reminded him at once in an excited tone: “It’s the leader of the Jinyiwei, the Imperial Guard’s intelligence division, He Lan. He’s General Huo’s good brother.”

Liu Zhenqing momentarily froze. He hadn’t expected such a chance encounter. Fortunately, it wasn’t Huo Fenglie who had come.

He Lan stepped forward and introduced himself directly. “We have met before, but we aren’t close friends.”

It seemed that he had been listening from beginning to end, and used the youngster’s ironic words.

“He Lan, this person is talking nonsense about the spring Imperial Examinations. As an Imperial Guard, don’t pay attention to him.” Rong Shiming was so angry that he had lost his mind. He felt that He Lan should unite with him. After all, the man in front of him was the one who had harassed his brother, and his surname was Liu. If he ignored him, the other people might be even more disgusted by him.

“What Young Master Liu has said is a great truth. As a human being, if you don’t have ambition, you will not be successful in this life. What if you can achieve the best things as a toad?”

The crowd was still a little hesitant at first, but when they heard that the Jinyiwei completely understood, they gradually followed the trend and agreed.

“Besides, Young Master Liu didn’t say anything wrong. His pursuit of the best is indeed a thousand times superior to Miss Jiang’s,” He Lan said sarcastically.

Jiang Zi’er face turned the color of pig liver. Unexpectedly, everyone thought that she and Rong Shiming were a couple. She was truly speechless now, unable to argue. If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have allowed Rong Shiming to provoke Liu Zhenqing. This was really like dropping the stone on her own foot.

However, Rong Shiming didn’t know how to count his losses in time. He became increasingly angry, and said: “A thousand times? You really know how to boast on your brother’s behalf. Even if Huo Fenglie can ride a horse into battle, he’s still just a common man.”

He Lan’s expression changed, and the people around couldn’t help but hold their breaths.

He Lan was about to speak with a dark expression, but suddenly heard the person next to him, who had just been smiling and joking, change his tone.

“A common man?” Liu Zhenqing regarded Rong Shiming with a half-smile.

Rong Shiming lifted his head, as if unwilling to admit defeat. Liu Zhenqing narrowed his eyes slightly. “A common man held back the barbarians in the north, the great powers in the west, the southern kingdoms, and the millions of troops coveting Great Zhou. If it hadn’t been for this common man, Young Master Rong’s bones would have been crushed into dust by the enemy’s horses.”

Liu Zhenqing spoke softly, but it was as if his voice was filled with poison. “When drinking water, don’t forget the one who dug the well. You enjoy the benefits of this prosperous and peaceful age, but you speak without shame and are rude and ungrateful. Did your parents really raise you well, or was this all taught by your cousin?”

Liu Zhenqing was extremely vindictive. If he hadn’t gotten him back just now, then he did with his next words.

“It should not have been taught by Her Royal Highness. After all, the name of a common man has just been engraved on the Coiling Dragon Jade Pillar with the permission of the Emperor. Will Young Master Rong have the chance to make that list in his lifetime?”

These few words were so lethal that they were like an invisible sledgehammer, smashing Rong Shiming into the ground. He was so disgraced that even Jiang Zi’er beside him was embarrassed and wanted to leave.

The people around watching felt like they had just exhaled the breath that had been stuck in their throats. It was absurd to describe the general who had been named the God of War as a common man. It just so happened that Liu Zhenqing had become their mouthpiece, and it was a pleasure to curse a person without swearing.

But Liu Zhenqing hadn’t said enough. He looked the dumbfounded He Lan, then glanced at the ashen Rong Shiming with a smile: “If you ask me, He-daren has restrained his words a bit. General Huo is not just a thousand times superior to Young Master Rong, ah, but tens of millions of times.”

He Lan’s mouth trembled. This beautiful prose made him worthy of being Zhanyuan’s pursuer, ah. He actually wanted to see what sort of tricks Young Master Liu, who seemed like a completely different person after losing his memory, could come up with. Thus, he took the opportunity to ask: “What should else should be said?”

“Just now, Young Master Rong spoke of a common man who only knows how to ride on horseback. Did he forget the three military books written by General Huo?”

Everyone said that Huo Fenglie’s military strategies were strange and crafty. That was because ancient and modern methods of warfare were different. The Huo family had always felt that they didn’t need to hold with their ancestors’ methods of war. To avoid turning it into armchair tactics, they used actual combat to perfect their own art of war, and then passed it down for future generations to study. Even people who were not warriors who marched and fought wanted to study and learn some of these principles for the battlefield of life.

“Young Master Rong has some ink in his belly, but has he ever published a book, or a collection of poems or paintings?”

“Probably not.” He Lan said: “He only participated in the Imperial Examinations once, and didn’t make it into the top scorers.”

Liu Zhenqing persuaded this person with good intentions: “Why don’t you ask the academics of the Imperial Academy? If he hadn’t inherited the family duties, and just studied and practiced writing, with General Huo’s intelligence and talent, he likely would have passed the Imperial Examinations early on!”

The two sang in harmony and directly turned Rong Shiming into a laughingstock. His eyes became bloodshot.

“General Huo is indeed capable of literary and military skills, and is thousands of times better than someone else,” He Lan said with a smile.

With He Lan’s cooperation, Liu Zhenqing’s operation went more smoothly: “More than that, let’s not just talk about his abilities, but his background. The Huo family have been good and loyal generals for generations. He has a distinguished family background that is praised by everyone. How many families in the capital can compare to him? When it comes to status, he is the General of State, ah! Moreover, he is only twenty-six years old, and no one in his generation can come close to him. When it comes to looks and figure, he is excellent in every aspect. One look at him can make a woman’s heart palpitate, and a man’s legs will grow weak after staring at him for too long. Who wouldn’t want to be protected by a real man such as him? It is natural that he is thousands of times more superior than anyone else.”

The more Liu Zhenqing talked, the more enthusiastic he became, and the more the people around listened, the more they blushed. He Lan’s mouth had already begun to twitch erratically. What kind of braindead fan was this? There was no end to his praise.

As for Liu Zhenqing, he was leaving anyway. He would just say whatever and leave it at that. This was called having no worries at all!

“If you ask me, being able to be liked by a woman is just average excellence. If you can impress and even attract men, that is truly amazing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be obsessed with being a toad. And not to mention women, I am certainly not the only man who likes General Huo.”

After finishing this long paragraph of praise, Liu Zhenqing had really lifted Huo Fenglie to the sky and demoted Rong Shiming to the ground.

Everyone only had one thought now – right, ah, it was just Rong Shiming. In what way could he compare to Huo Fenglie? There were no longer the same species, okay? What was the problem with people pursuing better things? Miss Jiang’s eyesight was indeed not as good as her ex-fiance’s. 

Rong Shiming also didn’t foresee that when he set out to humiliate Liu Zhenqing, it would instead be him who was severely humiliated. His entire body was numb from the embarrassment and he couldn’t react.

And just when Liu Zhenqing felt that he had won a great victory, he heard He Lan, who had been holding back his laughter until now, burst out laughing and call toward the second floor window: “Zhanyuan, did you hear that? For shame, for shame, we brothers don’t understand you as well as Young Master Liu does.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked up at the second floor of the restaurant. They saw a tall, silent figure sitting by the second floor window, looking down heavily.

For an instant, everyone seemed to be frozen by his gaze.

When that voice fell, Liu Zhenqing also looked up, and the instant those cold black eyes locked on him, his brain shut down for a few seconds.

Help, help……help……

Is that all you’ve got?!

When his shame reached its limit, it had just the opposite reaction. At worst, he would leave tomorrow, so what was he afraid of?

Liu Zhenqing, who had let himself off the leash, raised his lips and smiled at the uncertain Huo Fenglie. Like a cat with bad intentions, his amber eyes were filled with tiny rays of sunlight. Such eyes were arrogant and full of calculations, so familiar that Huo Fenglie’s heart felt empty for a moment.

Not afraid of death, Liu Zhenqing pointed at Huo Fenglie and shouted to everyone: “Look! Is it not true that men’s legs feel weak when they stare at him and women’s hearts palpitate when they see him, ah? At first glance, you feel that he is a thousand times better! Aren’t you tempted by such good swan meat?! Don’t you want to take a bite? No matter what, you must also think about the sisters at home!”

“If Young Master Rong cannot accept it, go up and compete. Will Miss Jiang also open her eyes to see clearly? Who among these great men of the Zhou Dynasty is more qualified to be an ideal son-in-law than General Huo? If you want to marry, marry General Huo!”

Liu Zhenqing: Er-gou, I’m sorry.

Huo Fenglie: …….

Qin Yu, who was sitting opposite Huo Fenglie and silently watching the show while drinking: Pfft!

He Lan: Hahaha!

Rong Shiming and Jiang Zi’er: How did this happen?

Everyone: I used to think that General Huo was a little scary and hard to get close to, but when I think about it carefully, damn! Isn’t this swan meat delicious?!

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Chapter Ten << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twelve

T/N: Thank you to Sigh for the Kofi donation! Here’s a double update!

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After Huo Fenglie left the Imperial study, he saw two people waiting for him at the palace gate nearby. One of them was He Lan, who was wearing a blue feiyu uniform, and the other was Qin Yu, who was in the special white uniform of the Dongchang eunuch intelligence bureau. He Lan leaned against the stone wall, nonchalantly holding a leaf in his mouth, arms folded and one foot raised against the wall. Qin Yu, on the other hand, had no expression on his face and stood up straight with his hands folded, behaving in the same manner as the other eunuchs in the palace.

“We just saw the Eighth Princess waiting here, so we’ll send you out,” He Lan teased with a smile.

“What happened?” Huo Fenglie asked, raising his eyes.

“Is something wrong? Are you in a bad mood?” He Lan said, smiling. Although to outsiders, Huo Fenglie had a face like a cold coffin, they had known each other since they were young and had also studied at the Imperial Academy together, so they were naturally more familiar with him.

But if they asked, the other party usually wouldn’t tell them.

Seeing that Huo Fenglie wasn’t answering, Qin Yu said succinctly: “Something happened. There was a conflict with the city guards.”

Huo Fenglie nodded slightly, and just as he was about to depart with the two of them, he saw the First Princess’s contingent walking along another palace path.

“We all heard that you ransacked the gambling house overseen by the First Princess’s cousin. She has sued you several times.” He Lang casually threw an arm over Huo Fenglie’s shoulders as he spoke. Both of them were warriors, and with their statures it wasn’t awkward, but Qin Yu beside them was much slimmer than them.

Huo Fenglie was speechless.

He Lan was unconcerned. This was how they got along. They gossiped while Huo Fenglie kept his silence.

Qin Yu said: “The First Princess’s cousin…..”

“What, is there some gossip?” When it came to collecting information, the Jinyiwei, which was the Imperial Guard’s intelligence division, had to admire the Dongchang’s ability, though they would usually laugh at the Dongchang behind their backs because they just liked to listen to gossip around walls and corners.

Qin Yu turned his head away in disdain and dodged away from He Lan, who had suddenly drawn closer.

“There is indeed a bit of news related to the person who saved Yunci and Yunqian.”

“Liu Xiaozhu?”

. . . . . . .

“Grandpa, say it again. I didn’t hear you clearly just now. Are you talking about……me?”

“You heard correctly. You are engaged to Jiang Zi’er, the eldest daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites’ family. Jiang-daren sent someone to deliver the marriage contract before. He will come to the door later, so I’m here to ask you, do you still want this engagement?”

Lying on the sickbed, Liu Zhenqing had begun to wonder if his injuries were serious enough to affect his hearing. It was no wonder that the outside world had a bad impression of Liu Xiaozhu. He was already engaged, yet he blatantly pursued Huo Fenglie. At first, he only thought he was a bold and wishful thinker, but now he felt that he was a little immoral.

Liu Zhenqing said in disbelief: “Grandpa, aren’t I a cut-sleeve? Or are the rumors outside not dramatic enough? The Jiang family has no objections? You also aren’t concerned about me?”

The Old Master looked a little uncomfortable. He coughed, then roughly explained the situation.

When that matter happened with Liu Zhenqing, the Liu family was afraid of being implicated, so they made a gamble and took the initiative to serve the new emperor. To receive a reward, they must have someone to recommend them, and it was Jiang Hong, the Minister of Rites, who dared to take this risk.

He came from a poor family and had limited financial resources, so it would be difficult for him to rise further. He planned to win the emperor’s heart for his own future, but didn’t expect that it would actually happen. Thus, there was marriage and cooperation between officials and merchants. This happy event occurred under the eyes of the emperor, and although it was not an Imperial marriage, it was not an easy thing to break off the engagement.

Moreover, Jiang Hong had also made a lot of extra money by investing in the Liu family, so he was naturally not willing to give up this big fish. Therefore, they had turned a blind eye to Liu Xiaozhu’s ridiculous behavior in the past two years. In their opinion, Liu Xiaozhu could not shake Huo Fenglie’s resolve, and for reasons of the past, he could not tolerate a man’s admiration for another man. In addition, Liu Xiaozhu was indeed not a pure cut-sleeve, so they had dilly-dallied until now.

The Old Master had originally wanted to take advantage of his amnesia to save the marriage, but now he had other considerations.

Liu Zhenqing was also taken aback by such a sketchy thing for a long moment before shaking his head decisively. 

But when Jin Li on the side learned Liu Zhenqing’s decision, his expression suddenly warped, as if he wanted to interrupt but didn’t know what to say.

The Old Man narrowed his eyes, and suddenly sent the steward to fetch a pile of account books. “It is not impossible to break off the engagement. Please, take a look at these first and tell me if there are any problems?”

The smile in Liu Zhenqing’s heart gradually faded. Sure enough, he had just been thinking it was strange. How could the old man ask his opinion? Was he so kind-hearted?

In fact, the person who least wanted a problem with this engagement was the old man. After all, even if he was an Imperial merchant, his status as one was low. Not to mention that his surname was Liu. The Liu family needed a backer to protect them, and nothing was more reliable than marriage. 

Now he was suddenly given a choice…..as it turned out, he saw that his grandson was useful. Marrying a useless grandson into a wealthy family was equivalent to him becoming part of the wife’s family. Useful grandsons could not be wasted like this.

No, it was not entirely because of his sudden ability. For more than two years, he had not restrained his grandson’s behavior, and had allowed it to develop. This seemed to have no benefits, but it was actually a test. The place in the capital most likely to cause harm to the Liu family was the General’s Manor. There was a feud, after all, and the Old Master used this to figure out the bottom line of the Huo family’s tolerance for the Liu family.

And now that Liu Xiaozhu was their life-saving grace and the other party had come to express his gratitude, this proved that the Liu family no longer had to worry, and they no longer had to rely on the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Combining the two, the Old Master didn’t care so much whether he wanted this engagement or not. After all, being tied too tightly to a single official was not conducive to development. Moreover, it would be rumored that the grandson was the at-fault party, so the dissolution of the engagement would also make the other party look decent, and although there would be no marriage, they would not be enemies either.

There was not much familial affection in wealthy households. To be able to support such a large family, there could be no such good thing.

Liu Zhenqing calmly glanced at the ledgers in front of him. “Grandpa, I’m still injured.”

“It’s okay, take your time reading them.” The old man was extremely stubborn.

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. His calling it quits had failed, but…..it could still be considered a turn for the better. With a roll of his eyes, he magnanimously pulled over the several account books related to port and river transportation. These were also the account books that he had found problems with before.

“There’s no need to test me. Grandpa, look at these books and read them carefully.” Then Liu Zhenqing pointed out a few areas. The old man stared doubtfully at the apparently fine account books for a long time, and then suddenly sucked in a breath.

Because he saw that someone was secretly modifying the content of the transports. He feared that someone was using the Liu family to smuggle something.

“You…..what……”

Liu Zhenqing smiled faintly.

“Were you keeping quiet to hide your skills?” This was the only thing the old man could think of. It was easy to understand, considering this family. After all, this child had two uncles who were eyeing him. “Then why did you expose yourself?”

“Wasn’t it because of my amnesia? I forgot about it, but now I know.” Liu Zhenqing shrugged.

The Old Master had a rare look of guilt on his face. “Child, don’t worry. You don’t have to pretend to be ignorant in the future. Grandpa will…..”

“Grandpa, I have an idea,” Liu Zhenqing interrupted.

“What is it?”

“After the engagement is broken off, and after I recover from my injuries, let me go south to investigate the port and river transportation privately,” Liu Zhenqing said sincerely.

The old man frowned and said: “For what reason?”

Of course, it was to leave the capital in a reasonable way, and then to use a new identity to hide in the south. This would be less risky than disappearing directly from the capital.

“The problem of the port and river transportation is hidden and not easy to detect. You can just let me go down to practice and learn. After all……” Liu Zhenqing was the best at reading people’s hearts. He hesitated to speak, but the casual sentence moved the old man’s heart.

Considering that his eldest grandson had suddenly revealed his capabilities, as well as the situation at home, the poisoning, and the kidnapping incident, going south could not only officially allow him to start familiarizing himself with the affairs of the chamber of commerce, but it could also test how far his eldest grandson’s abilities could extend. It was better than everyone staying together and consuming each other. Leaving the eldest grandson alone to keep a low profile would wrong him.

The Old Master frowned. There was still some conflict between reason and familial affection, but in the end, he still wanted to train someone who could support the Liu family chamber of commerce. At least in the eyes of the old man, the Second and Third Masters were not good enough.

Finally, the Old Master nodded in agreement.

Just at this time, the steward came to report that the Minister for the Ministry of Rites had arrived.

It wasn’t until the Old Master left that Liu Zhenqing glanced at Jin Li, who had been holding his breath since the beginning with his face turning blue.

“What’s the matter?”

“Master, do you really want to break off the engagement?”

Liu Zhenqing was a little displeased to hear this. “Is it possible that your master has the nerve to take advantage of this girl’s engagement when he has made such a fuss over his pursuit of a man? And haven’t you always supported your master’s pursuit of General Huo?”

“That isn’t the case, Master,” Jin Li said anxiously. “Ah, the truth is…..it is actually Miss Jiang who broke off the engagement first.”

Liu Zhenqing made an inquisitive sound.

Jin Li could only quickly explain the ins and outs of this matter.

After getting engaged that year, the shy Liu Xiaozhu was very happy. After all, he’d had no father or mother growing up, so getting married and having his own family was a beautiful dream for him. Even though he had never met her, Liu Xiaozhu would still send people to give gifts to Jiang Zi’er from time to time, showing his full respect and goodwill.

But not long after going out, he inadvertently heard about Jiang Zi’er’s whereabouts. Liu Xiaozhu couldn’t help being curious. He took Jin Li to secretly pay a visit to his future wife, but didn’t expect to directly catch Jiang Zi’er having a secret tryst with another man. The tryst happened to be with the First Princess’s cousin, a little bully with a bad reputation in the capital.

Liu Xiaozhu was terribly upset.

When the two separated, he took the initiative to intercept Jiang Zhi’er. He told her what he had seen and asked what was going on. Was she being humiliated, or…..Upon hearing the other party’s identity, Jiang Zhi’er’s expression became very ugly. The way she hesitated to speak made Liu Xiaozhu understand that it had been voluntary.

Liu Xiaozhu didn’t want to embarrass the girl, so he only asked Jiang Zi’er to take the lead in asking her father to break off the engagement.

In the end, it was unknown whether Jiang Zi’er didn’t dare to do it, or if it was because of something else, but she kept putting it off again and again. Not only did she do nothing, but she even returned to her hometown to observe filial piety, as if she was hiding on purpose.

During this period, Liu Xiaozhu encountered trouble and was rescued by Huo Fenglie, who had returned to the capital. This sense of utmost security caused Liu Xiaozhu to become obsessed. He fell in love at first sight, and the entanglement began. He also brought up breaking off the engagement with the Old Master. At that time, the Old Master simply wanted to find out the limits of the Huo family’s tolerance. He didn’t think this could be done, and naturally would not agree to his grandson’s request. When Jiang Zi’er returned, the Old Master did his utmost to get them married quickly, so as not to let the trouble get worse and make both families lose face. Unexpectedly, the other party’s attitude was somewhat ambiguous, and the Old Master also had an unexpected change of mind.

“So even if the engagement is broken off, we should also think of some grounds that are beneficial to us. After all, it was the other party who broke the contract first. If the Old Master doesn’t know the truth and gives a reason that paints us as being in the wrong, the outside world will definitely say that it’s your fault.”

Jin Li protected his master. In his opinion, the marriage contract between the two was in name only. Why was his master still protecting the other party’s reputation when he would be able to pursue the person he liked afterward?

Hearing this, Liu Zhenqing didn’t care about the issue of whether he would suffer a loss in reputation. He was going to disappear anyway, regardless of these technicalities. He just suddenly had a sense that something wasn’t quite right.

After discovering Jiang Zi’er tryst, Liu Xiaozhu encountered an accident. Jiang Zi’er returned, Grandpa urged them to get married, and Liu Xiaozhu was kidnapped and silenced. Could there be such a coincidence?

But when he considered it carefully, he felt that he was overthinking it. Killing a person just because she didn’t want to marry him was too dramatic. It would be better to just terminate the engagement.

A person who wanted to call it quits naturally wouldn’t go looking for trouble. Two days later, the first news came out that the engagement had been terminated. The reasoning was that Liu Zhenqing was frequently getting into trouble, so they found someone to calculate their horoscopes again, and the two sides decided to terminate the engagement amicably because the horoscopes were incompatible with each other. It was said that the Minister of Rites was quite hesitant, but finally agreed after thinking about it all night.

When Liu Zhenqing heard this reasoning, he nearly broke his wounds open with his laughter. Because he had used the same excuse to break off his engagement to Li Xingruo in his previous life.

It turned out that these people couldn’t find another good reason to break off an engagement?

As soon as this news came out, the previous gambling house incident immediately became the subject of gossip. Listening to Jin Li angrily talking about the situation outside, Liu Zhenqing lay on the bed and played with the various small contraptions he had used to play with before. As he listened, he wondered when the people in the capital had gotten so bored. They weren’t the children of celebrities. Did they deserve so much attention? If it were modern times, this would be like a small hot search for a minor internet celebrity.

Liu Zhenqing disregarded everything that was going on outside and only thought of making good use of Li Xingruo’s medicine to speed up his recovery. He felt that the dawn of happiness was not far away.

On this day, Liu Zhenqing was holding a map to decide which city he would choose to get rid of his accompanying guards, when he saw Jin Li staggering in.

“Master…..Master, it’s not good. Rebels sabotaged the spring plowing ceremony and tried to assassinate the Emperor. People are being arrested everywhere right now!”

Liu Zhenqing dropped what was in his hands and said: “Was the Emperor hurt?”

“He wasn’t. Although the City Guard was escorting the Emperor, General Huo was accompanying him, so the traitors were unable to approach the Emperor at all. A servant from our household went to watch the ceremony and was almost hit by a burning carriage that rushed into the procession. That scene……there were grappling hooks and arrows, and the Emperor was nearly overturned, but General Huo flew up and cut off the iron hooks with his sword. He knocked away all the sharp arrows that flew past him, and stomped the tilting Imperial carriage back to the ground. He was really one man holding the pass against ten thousand…..”

Liu Zhenqing interrupted directly: “Did they catch the assassins on the spot? Do they know who committed the assassination?”

Jin Li said: “Some were caught and some escaped. Rumor has it that the people behind the assassination this time were the remnants of the Three Kings Rebellion. Now, soldiers are still searching house to house, which is causing people to panic. This is the first time an assassination has occurred since the death of that treacherous minister.”

It was clear that the Three Kings Rebellion had been neatly solved. Could it be…..

Liu Zhenqing had just started thinking about it when he forced himself to let it go. He had already decided to give up and mind his own business. It was a pity that the trip would be delayed. After all, since such a big attack had occurred, the investigation would take at least a month or two.

But what Liu Zhenqing never expected was that the assassins were caught within ten days. The assassination incident was declared to have been completely solved, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Although Liu Zhenqing felt that something wasn’t right, he couldn’t be bothered to think about it. Also, spring was coming soon and a large number of students were pouring into the capital, so everyone’s thoughts gradually shifted.

After he recovered from his injuries, it was soon time for the agreed meeting with Lao Zhao.

He went out for the first time in a long time and acquired the goods easily. His mood was high, and seeing that Liu Zhenqing was happy, Jin Li asked if he wanted to go to Taibai Restaurant for dinner and said that this was Liu Xiaozhu’s favorite place to eat. Seeing the way Jin Li was trying his best to brainwash him, he just decided to practice being Liu Xiaozhu and got off the carriage. 

He just didn’t foresee being intercepted before he even stepped into the restaurant.

“What a coincidence, ah, isn’t this the Young Master Liu who found an excuse to break off his engagement so that he could pursue General Huo?”

One sentence immediately drew the attention of the people around who were coming and going.

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyebrows. Looking up, he saw a young man and a woman, followed by many servants.

The woman had a beautiful appearance and an indifferent expression, as if she didn’t want to look at Liu Zhenqing.

The man was not the good sort at first glance, but Liu Zhenqing was still moved by the “needs to be taught a lesson” look in his eyes.

Where had he wronged him? He hadn’t bullied anyone in a long time. He was in a good mood today, and with fun delivered to his doorstep, how could he refuse?

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Chapter Nine << Table of Contents >> Chapter Eleven

Liu Zhenqing woke up in pain. When he opened his eyes, he saw the newly arrived doctor from Liu Manor dressing his wounds.

“The First Young Master is awake!” The doctor was somewhat surprised. How could a normal person wake up so early after suffering such a serious injury? It made the doctor think he was having a brief revival before death.

Jin Li beside him immediately rushed to the bed and looked at Liu Zhenqing anxiously with eyes swollen from crying.

“Wa! Master, you’re okay, this is great! I’ll inform the Old Master right away!” Having said this, he rushed out.

Liu Zhenqing didn’t even have time to voice a question before the doctor who was checking his pulse again said from the side: “Don’t worry, First Young Master. Your injuries aren’t critical.”

Liu Zhenqing was already aware of this point, but the wounds hurt a little.

Then he heard the doctor say: “First Young Master, please be patient and wait for the medicine to take its effect. It was sent by someone from the General’s Manor. Their medicines are even better than those in the palace.”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback when he heard this. He raised his eyes and looked at the white medicine bottle in the doctor’s hand. It had a star pattern on it. This was indeed the work of his junior sister, Li Xingruo.

Just as he was thinking, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps. Not only the Old Master came, but also the Second Master and Third Master. They stood beside the bed, earnestly showing their concern.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t be bothered to deal with them. He just pretended that the medicine was taking effect, and that he was tired and wanted to sleep.

The Second and Third Masters wanted to ask for details, as well as inquire about the settling of accounts before, which was what mattered most to them. They were quite shocked at that time, after all. However, now was not a good time to speak of it. Seeing Liu Zhenqing’s sleepy appearance, they couldn’t continue.

The Old Master regarded Liu Zhenqing with a complicated expression: “That’s all right, when you feel better, we can have a good talk.”

After everyone left, Liu Zhenqing had some vague recollections. The two young ones were injured at that time, but not seriously.

Jin Li stood beside the bed, excited yet worried: “Master, you really scared me to death. No matter where you go next time, you must take me with you. Even if I’m useless, I can still block a knife for you.”

Liu Zhenqing had lost too much blood. He had no energy and was extremely listless.

“Master, do you know who it was that saved you?” Jin Li asked, finally unable to hold back his excitement.

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyelids. Huo Fenglie. He had come in handy at the scene, so there was nothing to guess.

“It was General Huo! I saw with my own eyes General Huo fly out of the second floor window with you in his arms and rush to Doctor Li’s house! Many people saw it!”

Huh? Okay, the situation must have been quite serious at that time.

“Then General Huo personally escorted you back with us, and explained to the Old Master what happened. The Old Master and the others were shocked. It was the first time General Huo ever visited the gate of our Liu Manor, ah! He even said thank you!”

The Huo family was upright in behavior and naturally had the necessary education, so this was nothing surprising.

“Then the General’s Manor sent people several times to deliver medicine and supplements. If Madam Huo hadn’t gone out to do a free medical clinic, perhaps she would have treated Master in person! According to the rumors, she has excellent medical skills and is known as the Medical Fairy!”

Liu Zhenqing’s expression was subtle, as this had brought back bad memories. No need. He preferred a doctor with a better temper.

Jin Li talked for a long time and saw that Liu Zhenqing was completely uninterested in General Huo. He lost heart, and couldn’t help but ask, “After this, General Huo will definitely see Master in a new light……if Master hadn’t lost his memory, he would be very happy right now. What a pity! Master, can you still not remember anything about General Huo even now? This is an excellent opportunity!”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s lips twitched, and he teased in amusement: “Stop that, even if I saved the heirs to the Huo family, is it possible for General Huo, whom you so admire, to give me his blessing? What are you dreaming about!”

Jin Li pouted in discontent, thinking that Liu Zhenqing had lost his memory, so he didn’t know the significance of this matter. The father of the siblings was the late Marshal Huo, who died for the country, their mother was a Medical Fairy with excellent medical skills, and their Second Uncle was the general who protected the country. The entire Huo family pitied them for being fatherless and regarded them as jewels and treasures. Even the Emperor regarded them as his nephews. It could be said that their status was not lower than any of the children of nobility.

“Ai, if not for your relationship with that treacherous minister, who knows what could happen! It’s also a good story.”

Liu Zhenqing had no words. It had nothing to do with him, the treacherous minister! There was really no chance of this.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty had become more open in this regard because of the male empress, and marriages between men were recognized, they were still in the minority. What’s more, Huo Fenglie seemed to be quite disgusted by this type of relationship. He recalled that there was once some bastard who tried in vain to ask the Emperor for Liu Zhenqing’s hand in marriage. When he complained about this matter to Huo Feihan and Li Xingruo, the young Huo Fenglie’s expression turned very ugly when he heard it. He was probably terribly disgusted.

It was hard to believe that the current Huo Fenglie had been pursued by Liu Xiaozhu for so long. After he saved the twins this time, it was likely that Huo Fenglie would at most not be nauseated at the sight of him.

“Speaking of which, Master, you’ve somewhat made up for the treacherous minister. I heard that the twins never got to see their father after they were born, as the late marshal died in battle. It was all because of the traitor’s evildoing.” Jin Li couldn’t help but sigh.

Liu Zhenqing’s expression remained unchanged. “Yes, yes, yes, it’s all the traitor’s fault. By the way, are you going to let your master rest?”

Jin Li blinked and said: “I saw that Master wasn’t sleepy, so I talked to you in order to relieve your boredom. Oh, also, I heard that Longxing Gambling House was razed to the ground by General Huo and his men. General Huo is so powerful……”

You had better shut up, ba. Stop trying to brainwash people.

. . . . . . .

In the study, the new emperor Yuan Jue slowly closed the memorial and looked at Huo Fenglie, who was sitting in the first seat. 

As a member of the Yuan family, he was naturally good-looking, a first-class handsome man in both face and figure. At the same age of twenty-six, he was different from Huo Fenglie, in that the other man had a built-in baleful look, while Yuan Jue carried a sacred nobility that could not be looked at directly. Although intimidating, it was not sharp or lofty, giving one the sense of a benevolent monarch.

Especially now, when there were only the two people in the study, Yuan Jue would never refer to himself as “this emperor.” After all, they were brothers who had gone through the trials of life together.

Huo Fenglie’s face was expressionless as he listened to Yuan Jue’s griping.

Yuan Jue also said familiarly: “Just kill the person who hurt them, why wipe out Longxing Gambling House completely, ah? My aunt, the First Princess, has come to me several times to complain that you are lawless.”

“This one did not kill innocent people.”

“Right, you didn’t kill them. You just sent out a hundred people to raze the gambling house to the ground.”

The Huo family protected their own. There was nothing to be done, what if the twins had gotten hurt?

“Fine, just be careful next time. The capital is no better than the frontier. There are many people watching you and tattling to me!”

Huo Fenglie was unconcerned. He flipped through the personnel deployment book meticulously, his eyes without waves.

“I’ll go out of the palace with you today to see the two little ones,” Yuan Jue suggested.

Huo Fenglie said: “Your Majesty, the spring plowing ceremony is coming soon. We should make arrangements first.”

Yuan Jue said with a relaxed expression: “Say no more about what is normally done. With you here this year, I have nothing to worry about. In a few years, when the prince grows up, I won’t need to participate in this ceremony.”

Speaking of this, Yuan Jue teased: “Zhanyuan, my Imperial sister the Eighth Princess has gone to the Empress Dowager and the Empress several times to plead with them, hoping that they will help grant her a marriage. The Eighth Princess is slender and elegant, and likes you wholeheartedly. You…..”

Huo Fenglie stood up and saluted at once. “Your Majesty, I still have something to do, so I’ll leave first.”

Seeing that Huo Fenglie was about to leave, Yuan Jue hurriedly said: “Would I just casually agree to it for you? I’ve also heard that many ministers want to marry their daughters to you. Have you really not thought about it?”

Huo Fenglie said directly: “Your Majesty, this one will retire.”

Yuan Jue said with a smile: “All right. But I heard that the one who saved Yunci and Yunqian this time was the young master of the Liu family who made such a fuss about pursuing you. Before, you even asked me to grant him a reward for helping to catch a spy. But I remember that he seems to be engaged to a member of the Ministry of Rites. You and he…..”

Huo Fenglie thought of Liu Xiaozhu that day and felt something strange in his heart. “I’m not familiar with him. He has nothing to do with me.”

Yuan Jue saw his sullen face and knew that he had clearly lost his patience.

“The Liu family, ah…..” Yuan Jue murmured. As expected, Huo Fenglie froze.

Yuan Jue looked at Huo Fenglie distantly, and his voice suddenly became deeper: “Zhanyuan, do you still hate him?”

Huo Fenglie didn’t answer, but his eyes grew colder.

“Then do you miss him?”

---

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Chapter Eight << Table of Contents >> Chapter Ten

Regulus and Xicui were born three seconds apart, with Regulus a little faster as the older brother.

The two of them looked like Luo Ran had said, the older one favoring Lucas and the younger favoring Luo Ran.

But they were the same kind of bear children.

Because of their powerful 3S spiritual power genes, the children were taken by their two fathers to military headquarters and the office. Only a little over three years old, they had a lot of destructive power, jumping up and down and running around. They became experts at demolishing the house, and terrorized daycares all over.

It was a public holiday, and Luo Ran and Lucas had two days off.

“I’ll leave the children to you first, I’m going to the institute for a meeting.” Luo Ran stood in the foyer, putting on his jacket. “I’ll be back soon.”

“You’re going out while on holiday?” Lucas frowned.

“It’s an urgent matter. There is a document that hasn’t been signed.” Luo Ran put on his shoes and said: “Sorry, ah, I’ll be right back. Leo, Xiao Xi, we’ll go to the amusement park together in the evening. I’m going out, you guys have to listen to what Daddy says, all right?”

Other than going to military headquarters with Lucas, they were rarely in Lucas’s care. This would be the first time.

“Okay!” Little Leo saluted with a straight back. Seeing this, Xiao Xi ran to his older brother on his little radish legs, saluted Luo Ran, and said loudly: “Okay!”

After Luo Ran left, Lucas and the two little ones looked at each other.

Lucas sat on the sofa with a stern expression and said: “Be quiet and play by yourselves.”

Leo and Xiao Xi looked at each other, and then…..

Crash—

“What are you doing……! Lucas almost jumped up when the two little ones hugged his legs one by one from the left and right.

“Daddy, I want to ride horseback!”

“Daddy, I want to ride horseback too!”

Lucas: “…….”

Lucas thought to himself, he was the dignified Admiral of the Empire. It was not a child’s turn to teach him how to do things, even his own.

Lucas scoffed coldly: “No way.”

“Daddy…..Daddy, Daddy!” Leo shook him with all his strength.

“Daddy, Daddy! Daddy, Daddy!” Xiao Xi shook him with all his strength.

“When you are a few years older, I will teach you how to ride a real horse,” Lucas said. “You two are dignified Alphas, what kind of men act like babies?”

……

“Waaaah—” Leo sat down on the floor and began to wail, covering his face.

“Waaaah—” Xiao Xi also sat down on the floor and cried in the same posture.

Cries and howls came one after another, and an uninformed person might have thought that Lucas was abusing the children.

“…….”

“Just one lap!” Lucas said fiercely. “Just one!”

Then the two children immediately removed their palms and grinned.

Lucas: “…….”

Fuck, they were touching porcelain?

Five minutes later.

The Admiral of the Empire, a courageous fighter, became his sons’ pony.

The two little ones rode on Lucas’s broad back with great airs, directing him majestically.

Xiao Xi had also brought their toy water guns, and shot around with his brother, imagining that he was as impressive on the battlefield as his father.

“Hey!” Lucas turned his head and said: “If you get the floor and furniture wet, wait until your Dad gets back and deals with you…..”

Splash—

In the next second, the toy water gun fired into Lucas’s face.

Lucas: “…….”

“Little bastards, you’re still comfortable, huh?!”

Lucas swung the two of them off his back and took a water gun on the side to return fire.

Lucas often took the two of them to play in the arena at military headquarters. The two children had not been afraid of adults since they were young, and were not afraid to fight.

The older and the younger held their “weapons’ and ran from the living room to the kitchen, and from the kitchen to the backyard.

The newly-purchased Marshal’s Manor was spacious, and the backyard was also very convenient for training. The three of them had a great time playing. Lucas was single handedly crushing and bullying the children, but the two little ones were incredibly excited to play. While yelling, they attacked Lucas without fear of death, like they were monkeys on a mountain.

…..

……..

When Luo Ran returned, he instantly froze.

There were puddles of water everywhere in the house, the furniture was wet, and several decorations had been overturned. It was a mess, as if a typhoon had passed through.

In the yard, the three people were playing with water. Lucas, a grown man, was holding the water hose and spraying it at the children. Leo and Xiao Xi were already wet, and their bare feet were covered in mud.

Of course, Lucas wasn’t much better off.

Splash—

Then, Luo Ran became a casualty of Lucas’s water hose and was sprayed all over.

Luo Ran: “…….”

When Lucas saw Luo Ran, he was startled, and also froze.

……

After a moment, Lucas gave a dry smile and said: “You’re back.”

Upon seeing Luo Ran, Leo and Xiao Xi immediately put down their water guns and smiled sweetly, pretending nothing had happened.

“Dad! You’re back!”

Luo Ran’s long hair was dripping wet, and there were drops of water on his eyelashes. He pointed to the sofa with a smile and said: “Lucas, you carry it out to dry.”

“……Oh.”

Then he pointed to the living room: “Move all the furnishings back to their original positions.”

“……Okay.”

“The floor needs to be wiped dry too.”

“En.” The corners of Lucas’s mouth twitched, and he glared fiercely at the two culprits.

Then the Imperial Lion began to clean. Luo Ran stepped forward and picked up one child in each arm, heading to the bathroom.

Looking at the two little ones in front of him, they didn’t look like little lions, but like two dirty little dogs rolling in the mud.

Luo Ran said: “You’re really……”

He had gone out for three hours.

If it had been for one day, the house would be gone when he came back.

Luo Ran washed the two childrens’ feet, then dried their bodies and put them in clean clothes.

“Dad…..!” Xiao Xi hugged Luo Ran and said in a milky voice: “Don’t scold Daddy.”

Leo also jumped into Luo Ran’s arms and buried his head in his neck, acting like a spoiled child. “Don’t get angry, breathe and it will go away!”

Luo Ran couldn’t laugh or cry.

He wasn’t angry, just helpless.

“Okay, okay, okay.” Luo Ran thought to himself, he still didn’t know the extent of their shamelessness.

In front of him, they were little sweethearts, soft and obedient. But in front of Lucas, they immediately became lawless and occupied him at all times, making Lucas’s teeth itch with anger.

“Look at you playing like this, do you still have the energy to go to the amusement park tonight?” Luo Ran said: “Aren’t you tired?”

“Not tired!”

Be that as it may, Luo Ran still took the children to nap and catch up on sleep.

On the big bed, Luo Ran lay on his side with the two little ones nestled in front of his chest, hugging him to sleep.

The surroundings were silent, with only the sound of Leo and Xiao Xi’s even breathing.

Luo Ran softly embraced the two of them, closing his eyes to rest his mind.

Then Luo Ran heard movement. The sheet fell slightly to the side, and Lucas climbed in.

Lucas hugged Luo Ran from behind, as well as the older and younger children.

Luo Ran could sense the strong scent of tobacco, which comforted him as always.

Luo Ran didn’t open his eyes. He just smiled and whispered: “Is everything sorted out?”

“Yes.” Lucas rubbed Luo Ran and said: “Go to sleep.”

“En.”

On a cool autumn day, the whole family nestled together on the bed and fell asleep under a thin blanket.

. . . . . . . .

In two year’s time, Luo Ran and Lucas’s third child was born.

It was a female Omega who also had 3S spiritual power, and the more she grew up, the more beautiful she became. When she was still a little girl, one could see how delicate her features were.

Each of the three children were 3S, which was really against the laws of nature.

And Lucas, who had been tormented for several years by the two house-demolishing little demon kings, finally won a squishy little princess, and was so elated that he punched the delivery room wall on the spot.

The youngest daughter’s name was Wisteria, or Ria.

She was everything beautiful in the world.

Ria had inherited her dad’s good looks and calmness since she was young. She was in her last year of junior high school this year, and had won the title of school belle for the third year in a row.

On this day, Ria was carrying her school bag and preparing to go to school. Lucas saw Leo and Xiao Xi following her on the left and right.

At this sight, Lucas frowned and said: “You’re going in the same car?”

All three were studying in the military academy, but Ria was in logistics, and the junior and senior high schools were also in different teaching buildings.

“We’re going to protect our little sister, Xiao Xi said loftily: “To keep away all those flies that will covet her today.”

“En,” Leo said with a nod.

As he grew older, Leo had become more steady and mature, and his facial features were also growing more robust. He was very dependable, and would take the initiative to learn from Lucas how to manage the military department.

Xaio Xi was still mischievous. He seemed to prefer doing business over the military department, so Luo Ran taught him the business operations of the Aldor family. He had a flexible mine, was likable, and learned quickly.

…..Even in junior high, he started a candy-selling business at school.

Lucas frowned, seeming to not understand.

Xiao Xi scoffed coldly and said: “My little sister is so good-looking and capable. If we don’t go with her, Ria will definitely be entangled with confessions, flowers, and chocolates.”

This was the case the year before, and Ria had gone home early.

To the side, Ria nodded faintly.

Lucas asked: “What day is today?”

“…….”

The three children were stunned for a moment.

Lucas: “…….”

Leo said with a frown: “Today is Valentine’s day.”

Xiao Xi covered his mouth in surprise: “Dad, you didn’t know?! Papa is too miserable, you’re so unromantic!”

Ria nodded faintly once more.

Lucas: “……”

Lucas bared his teeth: “You’re a little kid, and you’re talking about romance? Get out of here and go to class!”

After the children all left, Lucas paced in a circle twice.

Fuck.

Valentine’s Day.

He knew it existed, but he and Luo Ran had never celebrated any superfluous holidays.

And they had been so busy taking care of the kids in recent years that it was impossible to celebrate Valentine’s day.

Lucas pulled out his terminal and searched.

— What to do on Valentine’s Day?

[Valentine’s Day Travel Ideas!]

[Valentine’s Day, prepare a special gift for a special someone!]

Lucas clicked on an article titled “The Valentine’s Day Must-Have List.”

— Chocolate

— Flowers

— Romantic candle-lit dinner date

— Lovemaking

Lucas hastily made a reservation for a restaurant and ordered the special, which included flowers and chocolate.

Perfect.

Lucas strode toward the kitchen.

Luo Ran was washing dishes in his apron and clearing away the cooking utensils from breakfast.

Lucas stepped forward and said with a smile: “Do you want to go out tonight?”

Luo Ran turned his head and said in confusion: “Go where?”

“Let Xia Zhi and the others take the kids out to play tonight, we can go have a meal by ourselves.”

“……Ah?” Luo Ran paused for a moment, and couldn’t laugh or cry. “Okay, ah.”

He wanted it to just be the two of them?

Lucas put his head on Luo Ran’s shoulder and frowned, saying: “Your pheromones are a bit strong.”

“En…..” Luo Ran felt a little embarrassed. He moved Lucas’s head away and said: “It’s almost time for me to go into heat.”

Oh…..?

Lucas gazed at Luo Ran. His nose was filled with the scent of white tea, and his tongue and mouth suddenly felt dry.

“Luo Ran.”

“En…..!”

Luo Ran was directly pushed onto the cold countertop. He said nervously: “What are you doing…..?”

They had been married for many years and logically did everything, but most of it was still on a bed.

This kind of thing was indeed a bit shameful.

“I’m doing what should be done on Valentine’s Day.” Lucas, who had been about to go to work, pulled the tie from around his neck and tied Luo Ran’s hands together.

“Lucas…..! I still have to go to work. So do you…..”

“Shh, it’s Valentine’s Day, what work?”

The water on the countertop dripped onto the floor.

Even though they were married and had children, their two-person world and intimacy were still indispensable.

Of course, the physiques of a 3S Alpha and Omega would not allow them to have less, it was only…..

Luo Ran thought to himself, this guy Lucas seemed to have more and more tricks.

“We have half a day before the kids come back from school in the evening.”

Lucas held Luo Ran and rushed headlong into action.

The Imperial Couple’s Valentine’s Day started like this.

---

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Extra 1 << Table of Contents >> Extra 3

After marriage, everything seemed to be different, yet the same.

Lucas and Luo Ran continued to work and live the same life as before. Lucas spent most of his time at military headquarters, and Luo Ran worked at the desk, cooperating tacitly.

“I’m leaving.”

Just before he left, Lucas would pull Luo Ran over and press a kiss to his face.

The two were practically stuck together, and Lucas seemed to be doing it on purpose, wanting to paste his pheromones all over Luo Ran.

Although after the lifetime mark, even if he didn’t do this, Luo Ran’s still had the scent of white tea mixed with tobacco on his body, and he didn’t use pheromone spray to cover it up, so everyone could smell it.

Especially Rong Duo. She was shown this every day, and wanted to get married.

From covering her mouth and crying at the beginning up to now, her shock had not abated, and seeing the two of them kiss made her numb.

She had successfully risen to a higher level after being sprinkled with CP powder.

Becoming a mother at a young age.

After kissing his husband of less than a year goodbye, Luo Ran sat with his back propped up and continued to go over official documents.

Luo Ran’s stomach had grown slightly, and perhaps it was because he was thin, but it was not too big at six months along.

Rong Duo looked at Luo Ran, who was working hard with a big belly, and thought to herself, it was really hard to imagine that there were twins at this size.

Yes.

Luo Ran and Lucas had done a test, and they were male twins. Although their second genders could not be determined, the machine had detected their pheromones and spiritual power, so they would be Alphas or Omegas.

Moreover, after they got tested, they also agreed to let the hospital announce the good news. Thus, the people of the Empire rejoiced and celebrated the New Year again that day.

And as everyone expected, the combination of Lucas and Luo Ran brought about excellent and perfect heirs to the Empire.

When the pheromones were detected, the machine’s scale nearly cracked. After all, it wasn’t built for such a high upper limit. How could babies be so aggressive?

But the two babies were 3S, even if still in the womb.

It was about the same as when Lucas was born, but more dramatic, especially with two of them.

The entire Empire was with Lucas and Luo Ran, anticipating and hoping.

Luo Ran finished writing a document, clicked his tongue, and took out his terminal to send a message to Lucas.

Luo Ran: “Are you there?”

Lucas: …..

Lucas always responded in seconds, which Luo Ran always felt was miraculous.

Luo Ran: “I want to eat yogurt.”

Lucas: “En.”

Luo Ran: “From the yogurt store across from military headquarters. Thank you, ah ^ v ^”

Lucas: “En.”

After Luo Ran got pregnant, he had all kinds of strange eating habits. Most of it was sour food, so Lucas often ran errands. This was often captured by netizens, who uploaded the photos, inadvertently making soft advertisements for many businesses.

— The Secretary said this fruit yogurt was good after eating it!

—The Secretary likes to eat this dried fruit and nut snack while pregnant! After eating it, you can give birth to 3S babies just like the Secretary! Two in one year! Three in three years!

— The Marshal bought the Secretary these snack buns before dawn!

There was even a “Marshal’s errand bot” checker.

— The Imperial Marshal stirs up trouble, but he is just an affectionate errand dog.

After getting married, although Luo Ran’s work ability and external dedication had not diminished at all, Lucas had become more clingy and spoiled, perhaps because of the pregnancy. He had gradually gotten used to their status as partners, and was not discontent even when being ordered around.

Lucas returned in the evening.

In his hands were two cups of yogurt, two small cake boxes, and a bag of grilled meat.

Lucas was initially a person who only ate white rice, which mostly had to do with being on the battlefield, and then after he experienced defeat in the ravine before, he really couldn’t eat anything.

But these days, it was the comforts of daily life with Luo Ran that dominated Lucas’s world more than the battlefield.

After work, the two ate at the newly-bought heated table next to the desk.

Now that it was almost winter, the two sat on the floor and buried their legs under the quilt, where they could still touch each other’s feet.

Luo Ran took a bite of grilled meat and asked: “The Marshal went to train today?”

“Right.”

“Thanks for your hard work.” Luo Ran smiled and said: “Now that the war is over, the Marshal is training more diligently.”

“Of course.” Lucas ate some meat and said: “Without high-intensity training, my subordinates will relax, and this cannot be allowed. If there is a war after the soldiers turn into wastes, the Empire won’t be able to handle it. With the surrounding countries, planets, and other galaxies, peace may not last forever.”

Luo Ran refilled Lucas’s bowl, nodding approvingly.

After the two finished eating, they snuggled up in bed, each reading their own official documents.

Luo Ran nodded off while reading, and fell into a deep sleep with his head resting on Lucas’s shoulder.

He had also become more lethargic.

Lucas didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He reached out to turn off the lamp, kissed Luo Ran gently on the forehead, and then lay down with the man in his arms.

. . . . . . . .

Late at night.

Lucas was awakened by Luo Ran’s movements.

He opened his eyes to see Luo Ran sitting up, his eyes distant.

Lucas was a little anxious: “Is it leg cramps again? Where is it uncomfortable?”

“It’s not.”

“Do you have to throw up again?”

“No.”

“ ? ”

Luo Ran whispered: “I want to eat ice cream.”

What?

Lucas frowned and said: “Don’t make trouble, go to sleep.”

Luo Ran shut his mouth and didn’t speak.

Lucas: “…….”

Lucas scratched the back of his head and said: “You can’t really want to eat.”

Luo Ran paused, then said: “No.”

“Then sleep. What kind of ice cream do you want to eat in the middle of the night, it’s not good for your health.” Lucas rubbed the back of Luo Ran’s head and said: “Behave.”

Lucas lay back down again.

Then he saw Luo Ran take out his terminal and click on the takeaway service.

Lucas: “……”

Lucas said helplessly: “Silly Ranran, it’s already past three o’clock in the morning. There are only two or three food delivery services still operating, and they only deliver staple foods.”

When the military department stayed up all night for drills before, most of them worked at midnight, and there was naturally no ice cream.

So Luo Ran subconsciously changed the image.

Luo Ran just sat on the corner of the bed, looking at the images silently, planning to console himself by looking at them.

Lucas: “…….”

Lucas was helpless. Knowing that pregnancy was quite a lot, he had to get up and grab his jacket, resigned to his fate.

“Lucas…..!” It was late, after all, and Luo Ran felt a little embarrassed.

“You don’t want me to buy it?” Lucas buttoned up and raised his eyebrows, saying: “If you don’t want to eat, just go to sleep.”

Now that the stores were closed, Lucas planned to go to a vending machine to buy it.

“……” Luo Ran wanted to eat, but felt that this wasn’t good, so he was a little entangled.

“Okay, don’t be like that. If you want to eat, just say so. I’m used to going to the military department in the middle of the night, so it’s not a big deal.” Lucas stepped forward and rubbed the top of Luo Ran’s hair. He took the jacket full of pheromones that he had worn during the day and put it on Luo Ran, saying: “Wait for me to come back.”

“Okay.”

Luo Ran paused, then pressed a kiss to Lucas’s cheek.

“Thank you.”

Lucas froze for a beat.

So happy.

“Then I’ll go.”

The next day, a photo of Lucas going out to buy ice cream at three a.m. was posted again.

XXXX: I’m a security guard in my neighborhood. In the middle of the night, I saw a figure from the back moving in a hurry, and I thought it was a hooligan, so I followed him! I found the other party messing around in front of the vending machine and thought he was trying to steal money from it! But I didn’t expect! To see that it was clearly our Marshal!! As a little security guard, I was lucky enough to help our Marshal use the vending machine to buy ice cream! Oh, what a blessing!

XXXX: Oh my god, this is so pampering! I’m already so detached from worldliness that I don’t even sort out the candies anymore. Every day, I just get up and wait for the candy to be put in my mouth. I just open my mouth and eat it!

It was pitch black all around in the photo, and Lucas’s solitary figure stretched in the darkness of night.

And he was standing in front of the vending machine, thinking about how to use it, his restless hands touching the buttons one by one as if opening a new type of mecha.

Just…..miserable.

XXXX: Hahahaha this photo is too miserable, right? Shocking, the Marshal of the Empire has a tense look on his face and hasn’t returned home at night. Is this the fall of society or the destruction of humanity?

XXXX: Hahahaha the Marshal seems to be trying to overcome a tribulation!

Lucas really did look like he was going through a tribulation.

But he was enjoying it.

. . . . . . .

When work was less busy, Luo Ran and Lucas also went back to the snowy mountain in Pure City.

Together with the people at the research institute, they put the female insect back in the ground. She said goodbye to Luo Ran, touching his palm with her antennae.

She seemed to be giving him blessings.

Soon after, Luo Ran watched the female insect return to her own place.

Once they had sent her away, the two of them went to the cemetery in Pure City to pay their respects.

Luo Ran didn’t know which of the headstones in the graveyard belonged to his birth parents, but…..they were here, in the end.

Luo Ran didn’t mind. With Lucas’s help, he even cleaned up the entire cemetery and set out flowers.

Perhaps it was due to the blessings of Pure City and the mother insect that Luo Ran was in good health. His pregnancy was not uncomfortable, his appetite was good, and his body was also in good shape.

In this fashion, the day of delivery finally arrived.

The hospital had prepared a few days before, and Luo Ran was sent there the moment his stomach started to hurt, in order to begin preparations for labor.

Luo Cheng, Wang Zitong, and Lucas were all waiting outside, and Lucas was so anxious that he was walking around in circles.

When the babies were born and all three were safe, Lucas rushed in swiftly, but was stopped by Xia Zhi.

It wasn’t until Luo Ran was transferred to the general ward that Lucas was able to enter.

Luo Ran was lying in bed. Although he was exhausted, his complexion wasn’t bad.

“Xia Zhi says they’re two male Alphas with 3S spiritual strength.” Luo Ran said with a smile: “Have you gone to see them?”

“N-No.” Lucas held Luo Ran’s hand, stammering a bit: “Not yet.”

He had just gotten a vague glance at them and saw two wrinkled faces. Before he could dislike how different they were from Luo Ran, Xia Zhi told him that he could come and visit his husband.

Lucas was so anxious for Luo Ran that he couldn’t think about anything else for the moment.

Luo Ran said: “The big one is like you, and the small one is like me.”

Lucas said: “Really? I think they both look like monkeys.”

Luo Ran patted the back of Lucas’s hand with a smile, and teased: “The Marshal’s tribulation is finally over today.”

He had also read the online comments.

Of course, Lucas knew that this time was just an introduction to his tribulation, and the real tribulation would be when the children grew up.

“By the way, the children’s names……” Lucas raised his eyebrows and said: “Can we say them now?”

After learning that they had two children, Luo Ran and Lucas decided that each of them would name one.

It just so happened that the Starnet was also suggesting names, and they used it as a reference.

Luo Ran smiled and said: “I’ve thought it over. One will be named Regulus Alton. Regulus is the brightest and most dazzling star in Leo.”

What Luo Ran didn’t say was that after meeting Lucas, he found that his zodiac sign was also Leo.

Lucas said: “I’ll name one Luo Xicui Aldor.”

The two children could not live without the Aldor surname. After all, the Aldor name represented military power and a military family, so Lucas had to add the surname in front.

Lucas wanted the name to be simple and straightforward. Xi, hope, was the hope of the Empire, and his concern for Luo Ran and his family on the battlefield. Cui, pure, was for Pure City, the place where they first met, and also for their pure hope and feelings.

Luo Ran paused. His ears turned red and he said: “It sounds good.”

Lucas bowed his head and kissed Luo Ran with a smile.

In the future, they would have a new family.

---

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Chapter Ninety-Five << Table of Contents >> Extra 2