TCPUAAV Chapter 130

 

 

In the eighth month of Ruan Shiqing’s coma, the glass jar by his bedside was already filled to the brim with star medals.

 

The B3024 star had quietly become the center of the Alliance. A temporary administrative center had been established in the inner city, while the outer city had been repeatedly expanded, shedding its former poverty and desolation to transform into the central hub of the entire Alliance.

 

Members of the Eastern Alliance continued to grow in number. Planets tormented by the Zerg invasion and the internal strife of the Empire actively sought to join the Eastern Alliance for protection.

 

With more and more planets voluntarily joining, the defensive lines grew increasingly secure. Although the Zerg still ravaged Imperial territory, the destruction within the Alliance’s domain had been reduced to a minimum.

 

The Eastern Alliance’s reputation soared, and there was even a faint trend of it standing on equal footing with Siyan’s government, dividing the map. As the leader of the Alliance, Rong Heng’s true identity was eventually unearthed.

 

Though the main members always wore masks when appearing publicly, accidents inevitably happened on the battlefield. A mature Ymir was highly conspicuous, and as more planets were rescued, increasingly complete footage circulated on the holo-net. Finally, someone pieced together the clues and uncovered the identity of the Empire’s former Crown Prince.

 

As soon as the news broke, the holo-net erupted in unprecedented fervor.

 

For a thousand years, it was common knowledge that only the Ymir race was the rightful royal family. When the Ymirs ruled the Empire, the defensive lines had never collapsed, and no other race dared to provoke wars at will.

 

All the turmoil had begun after the last Ymir—the Crown Prince—was reported dead.

 

Now, with news spreading that the Crown Prince was still alive, war-weary citizens across the galaxy were ecstatic. More and more people began to petition on the holo-net, demanding that Siyan abdicate. After all, if the Crown Prince hadn’t been attacked and “killed,” the throne would never have fallen to Siyan.

 

Rong Heng’s prestige soared to unprecedented heights.

 

Originally, the public had little impression of this Crown Prince, who had spent years stationed in the Yanji District.

 

Ymir cubs were fragile, and Rong Heng had been well protected during his youth, rarely appearing in public. After reaching his growth phase, he had gone straight to the front lines. He disliked political posturing and refused all interviews and public appearances. Aside from occasional mentions in Yanji District battle reports, the people knew almost nothing about him.

 

If not for the Empire’s chaos, they wouldn’t have cared whether the Crown Prince lived or died, or who occupied the throne.

 

But comparisons often bring clarity.

 

After suffering through the hardships of war, the Crown Prince—who founded the Eastern Alliance and led countless planets to victory over the Zerg—appeared all the more brilliant, especially when contrasted with his warmongering father.

 

Supporters of the Crown Prince grew rapidly. Many wavering planets, upon learning Rong Heng’s true identity, shifted their allegiance to the Alliance.

 

The old incident of Rong Heng being attacked in the Baghdad District was dug up as well. Public outrage turned toward Emperor Siyan, with many suspecting that Siyan, then the Regent, had orchestrated the attack to prevent the Crown Prince’s ascension and seize the throne for himself.

 

While Rong Heng’s fame rose steadily, Siyan’s reputation plummeted into the abyss, becoming the target of universal condemnation.

 

In Palka Palace, Empress Thea clutched her smart-brain device tightly. After hesitating for a long time, she finally went to see Siyan.

 

Siyan was working in the study, handling state affairs.

 

When she knocked and entered, Thea’s gaze first fell on the portrait of the former Queen hanging on the wall. The painting was spotless, clearly maintained with great care. Her eyes dimmed slightly, but she quickly gathered herself, gracefully walking up behind Siyan and placing a hand affectionately on his shoulder. “Your Majesty, it’s been two days since you last visited Soma. He’s been fussing, he clearly wants his father.”

 

After ten months of pregnancy, she had given birth to a boy, naming him Soma.

 

According to her plans, Soma should have been named Crown Prince immediately after birth. Yet over the past few months, no matter how directly or indirectly she hinted, Siyan remained unmoved, never once mentioning the matter.

 

Even when she turned to her father for help, it seemed to no avail.

 

Thea keenly sensed that something had changed.

 

Especially after seeing the news that Rong Heng had survived, panic gripped her heart. She had no choice but to come personally, carefully probing for information.

 

However, Siyan was no longer the gentle man he once appeared to be. There was no smile on his face. He coldly brushed her hand away, a flash of disgust passing through his eyes.

 

“You’re just in time,” he said, standing up and deliberately pulling away from her. His gaze lowered casually as he took out a disinfectant wipe and meticulously cleaned the area where she had touched him. “I was about to look for you.”

 

Siyan’s extreme coldness made Thea’s heart sink.

 

A strong sense of crisis made her instinctively want to interrupt him, but Siyan didn’t give her the chance. He lifted his eyelids and gave her a fleeting glance, no longer hiding the disdain and contempt in his eyes. “You’ve seen the news that Rong Heng is still alive, haven’t you?”

 

He didn’t even bother to use her title of Empress anymore.

 

“I saw it,” Thea said, clenching her fists, her voice tense.

 

She stared at this man, who now felt utterly unfamiliar, unable to guess his intentions in bringing up the matter. Her heart pounded faster and faster, wrapped tightly in unease.

 

The Siyan before her was no longer the husband she thought she knew.

 

Yet when she met his cold, indifferent gaze, she froze, suddenly remembering—this was who Siyan had always been.

 

Cold, aloof, treating everyone like they were beneath him, like a machine devoid of emotion. Only when he looked at Farah did he seem to come alive, to have any trace of feeling.

 

His façade of warmth had been flawless—and she had foolishly believed it was real.

 

“You’ve been lying to me all along,” she said through gritted teeth.

 

All the tenderness and affection had been a sham. The surface harmony had been torn away, revealing the filth and scheming underneath.

 

Siyan’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t respond to her accusation at all. Stripped of his mask, he was a man whose emotions ran shallow. After wiping his fingers once, he pulled out another disinfectant wipe and began wiping them again.

 

His voice, like his demeanor, carried no emotion, as flat and indifferent as a judge reading a verdict.

 

“On the eve of the coronation ceremony, Crown Prince Rong Heng was attacked in the Baghdad District. The assault fleet involved belonged to the Naxi Group. They had no official service records. Under the pretext of engine verification failure, the entire fleet was slated for destruction. But out of over a hundred assault ships, not all were completely destroyed. Several remained and were stored in Warehouse 7980 at the Naxi Group’s headquarters. I’ve had the destroyed data restored and obtained irrefutable evidence.”

 

“Thea Bart, and her father, plotted against the Crown Prince. Under Imperial law, their crimes are considered treason. All titles and honors will be stripped, and the penalty is death.”

 

Despite saying so much, his tone remained utterly unchanged.

 

The moment Siyan mentioned the warehouse, Thea knew—he knew everything.

 

Her face turned as pale as a ghost, and her voice trembled: “You can’t do this to me. My father won’t allow it. And Soma… Soma is your child too!”

 

Siyan finally lifted his gaze, and for once, a ripple of emotion crossed his face.

 

Thea thought he was softening, unwilling to harm his own child. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Soma is our child! Are you going to make him lose his mother the moment he’s born?”

 

“He’s your child,” Siyan said, withdrawing his gaze, his voice emotionless. He unlocked a drawer behind the desk and pulled out a document. “Not mine. To me, he’s nothing more than an experiment.”

 

Such an experiment was simple for him—the file was only a single thin sheet.

 

Thea picked up the file, staring at him in disbelief, her face full of despair.

 

“Ever since you plotted against my child…” Siyan paused, a cold smile curling at his lips, “No—ever since you conspired with others to kill Farah—you should have known this day would come.”

 

At the mention of his late wife, true emotion finally flickered across his face. It was a look of deep longing and sorrow, so out of place on his otherwise emotionless features.

 

“When did you find out?” Hearing him bring up Farah’s death, Thea’s expression shifted again. She finally abandoned her useless tears, her eyes darkening with hidden malice.

 

She had never been a weak woman. If she liked a man, she would seize him. If she hated someone, she would find a way to kill them. It was only this past year, trapped in a web of false tenderness, that she had hidden away her sharp claws.

 

When did he find out?

 

Siyan didn’t answer her. He had suspected Farah’s death was no accident long ago, and had been investigating quietly ever since. It was only in recent years that he finally confirmed the people involved.

 

Lowering his gaze, his eyes grew darker.

 

There was still time. He would deal with them one by one.

 

Thea, seeing his silence, became even more convinced he had known all along. Perhaps this marriage had been a trap from the very beginning.

 

And all of it—everything—was for someone who was already dead!

 

Jealousy and hatred twisted together inside her. Without a change in expression, Thea slid her hand into the folds of her elaborate gown. In a flash, she pulled out the laser gun hidden at her waist, aimed it squarely at Siyan’s chest, and fired in one smooth motion.

 

The energy beam shot through Siyan’s chest instantly. Her tense expression relaxed slightly, a mix of pain and savage satisfaction flashing across her face. “Since you were willing to kill me over a dead woman, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

 

She was an Evolver, while Siyan was nothing more than a frail Ancient Human. Though she had played the part of the delicate, pitiable noblewoman out of respect for her husband, it had never changed the truth.

 

Dealing with a mere Ancient Human—was more than within her abilities.

 

But the expected death didn’t come.

 

Siyan, despite the energy beam piercing through him, remained standing calmly in place.

 

Thea’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How… how is this possible?”

 

Siyan looked at her coldly and called out to the guards waiting outside, “Take her away. Lock her up with old Bart.”

 

Two tall cybernetic soldiers entered, roughly twisting Thea’s arms behind her back and dragging her out of the study.

 

Thea struggled and turned her head just in time to see him lift his arm, a flash of silver flickering at his wrist.

 

She instantly understood—and screamed in hatred, “You’re insane! A lunatic!”

 

Siyan showed no reaction to her curses. Once everyone was gone, he slowly unbuttoned his collar.

 

Beneath the slowly opening shirtfront was a body made entirely of gleaming silver metal.

 

*

 

Since his true identity had been exposed, Rong Heng no longer personally led rescue missions.

 

First, because B3024 Star, as the hub of the Alliance, still had many areas that needed organizing—he had to draft new regulations quickly. Second, the tyrannical rule of Siyan had enraged the masses, and as Rong Heng’s support rate skyrocketed, his presence at rescue operations only drew huge crowds of civilians, hindering the rescue teams’ work.

 

It was better to simply stay on B3024 Star to lay low—and spend more time with Ruan Shiqing.

 

Meanwhile, the little cubs still led teams outside to hunt Zerg. With more and more planets joining the Alliance, the safe zones kept expanding. The cubs were no longer content with waiting for Zerg attacks—they had begun actively searching out Zerg nests.

 

The cubs had been out for a week now. Aside from daily communications to check in on them, Rong Heng spent the rest of his time by Ruan Shiqing’s side.

 

He added a low table to the bedroom and moved all his paperwork there.

 

Whenever the tedious affairs of state annoyed him, he would glance at his sleeping beloved to calm himself down. He truly despised dealing with endless bureaucratic matters, but with a shortage of personnel, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and press on.

 

After forcing himself to work for a while, the Crown Prince irritably tossed his smart-brain aside and grumbled to Ruan Shiqing, “What’s so good about being an Emperor? You have to handle all this garbage every day—it probably shaves years off your life.”

 

Naturally, the sleeping Ruan Shiqing couldn’t respond. But after months of talking to himself, Rong Heng had gotten used to it. After complaining for a bit, he leaned over to grab Ruan Shiqing’s hand.

 

Compared to his own, Ruan Shiqing’s hand was smaller, the skin pale as jade, the joints slender and clearly defined. When curled into a fist, it fit perfectly into Rong Heng’s palm—pleasant to the touch.

 

He toyed with the slender fingers one by one, the frown on his brow slowly smoothing out, his golden eyes narrowing contentedly.

 

During the time Ruan Shiqing had been unconscious, Rong Heng had grown bolder and bolder. At first, he would panic and flee after stealing a kiss on the corner of Ruan Shiqing’s lips. Now, he could play with the other’s hand at ease.

 

Anyway, Ruan Shiqing wouldn’t know.

 

Thinking this way, Rong Heng’s gaze drifted again to those soft, rosy lips.

 

He swallowed hard and quickly averted his eyes, face full of inner turmoil. Honestly, he had only secretly kissed him three times so far.

 

But the feeling was too good, so good it lingered in his memory for days. It was addictive, making him crave more after each time.

 

Like now.

 

After much internal struggle, Rong Heng finally persuaded himself again: just one little kiss—it wouldn’t matter. When Ruan Shiqing woke up, he could kiss him back as much as he wanted to make it even.

 

Having convinced himself, he slowly leaned down and pressed his lips against Ruan Shiqing’s.

 

The softness and sweetness instantly overwhelmed him. Rong Heng’s long lashes quivered, and he instinctively closed his eyes.

 

But Ruan Shiqing, just waking up from his coma, immediately felt short of breath.

 

Struggling to open his eyes, he was startled to find a magnified face right in front of him. Reflexively, he almost struck out—but at the last second, he recognized the familiar handsome face.

 

Rong Heng was still completely absorbed in the kiss, utterly unaware that the person beneath him had woken up.

 

Holding his breath, Ruan Shiqing endured it for a while. But when Rong Heng, like an eager little pup, kept rubbing against his lips without any sign of stopping, he finally couldn’t hold it anymore, turned his face away, and spoke:

 

“Are you done yet?”

 

——!!!

 

Caught red-handed, the Crown Prince completely froze on the spot.

 

 

---

 

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH HE WOKE UP!!!! SLEEPING BEAUTY WOKE UP!!!!

 

(So the Bart/Naxi conglomerate had their hands in both Farah’s and Rong Heng’s death… My question remains…did Siyan know Ruan Ruan would save Rong Rong lol??? Also, he didn’t just pretend he went through the experiment to trick the three others, he literally went through it… Maybe he even started on himself years ago… damn)

 

Thanks for reading!

For every three ko-fis, I will upload a bonus chapter~