Chapter 54
The spaceship quietly returned to the central star system and landed on the Imperial Star, where the Imperial City was located. The entire Imperial Star is the Imperial City, and it is home not only to the royal family of past generations but also to the royal guard who maintain their posts here. Furthermore, two planets circle around the Imperial Star. One of them is the Royal Academy, where the entire planet is a school similar to the Imperial Star. The other planet is the residential area for the guards and officials.
The Imperial Star is not exceedingly large but it is stunningly beautiful. From a distance, it looks like a gem of alternating blue and green tones, with visible seas, forests, and an enormous, grand building resting in its midst.
The Imperial City is divided into inner and outer divisions. The outer division is where the royal relatives of the empire reside such as princesses, princes who have received the title and the permission to stay in the Imperial City, husbands of princesses, sons of princesses, families of princes, and so on. Generation after generation, even though these princes and princesses each have their exclusive planets, most people still prefer to live in the Imperial City. This is because it's the most prosperous and advanced place, and it's closest to power.
In addition to these royal relatives, there are many officials and their families who, although they have their allocated residences on another planet, prefer to stay on the Imperial Star.
In the era of interstellar travel, apart from the five major legions that must be stationed in star systems, most civilians don't need to personally go to the star systems they are responsible for. After all, SkyNet has intelligence, surveillance throughout the planet, and a secure data network. They only need to inspect biweekly or monthly, mainly to oversee the rebellious star systems, to prevent any riots.
The Central Star System is the most advanced and prosperous star system in the whole empire. It has thirteen planets rated with an S-class living environment alone, whereas the other four star systems have at most five. Moreover, to serve the royal family, all kinds of talents from various industries gather in the Central Star System. Being able to live on the Imperial Star is even more a symbol of status and identity.
There's another group of people, the nobles, who also dwell within the Imperial City. The titles of imperial nobility are hereditary and do not degrade, as a result, over time, the nobility has grown into a powerful force. However, by law, the heirs to nobility cannot hold office, offering an interesting dilemma: if a noble wants power, they cannot administer affairs, if they want to administer affairs, they cannot have power.
This creates a balance of sorts, though not a long-term solution. For families who are plagued by internal strife, this isn’t much of a problem. However, for united and strong families, this becomes an opportunity to solidify their influence — holding control both familial and political spheres, making the power even harder to diminish.
Of course, commoners also live in the outer division. At the time of establishment, the Imperial Star already had indigenous residents. The reigning king of the time did not expel them. After the establishment of the kingdom, they became the first batch of Imperial City residents.
Over the course of a millennium, with people coming and going, the outer division has grown increasingly prosperous.
Meanwhile, the inner division is home only to the reigning royal family and those who serve them. As of now, in the large inner division, there are only two masters. One is the king who lies unconscious, and the other is Crown Prince Qin Huan.
The spacecraft landed at the back mountain of the inner division. With Crown Prince Qin Huan present, no one dared to obstruct, smoothly making their way into the palace.
This was Shen Qi's first encounter with a palace exhibiting a combination of Eastern and Western styles. The front, used for assemblies and banquets, consists of two blocks shaped like the letter 'H' with a skywalk connecting them. Both ends are beautifully trimmed gardens.
The residential area behind is styled Chinese, with various types of gardens that are overwhelming in their beauty. There were mountains, forests, and grasslands, with a man-made sea directly connected to the easternmost side. Shen Qi was astounded by this sight. No wonder people are spellbound by power; for just this palace, it’s worth fighting for.
"Do you like this place?" Qin Huan noticed his admiration and proposed, "If you like it, why not stay here? Live in the palace with me, how does that sound?"
Shen Qi hesitated before asking, "Wouldn't that cause you trouble?"
He had seen his citizen rank, born in the Suzaku star system. Although being an S-class planet, it was, after all, not the central star system.
"Of course not," Qin Huan gently replied. "Don't forget what I've told you. As long as I'm here, no one would dare bully you."
Moved, Shen Qi thanked him and said, "Thank you, Ah Huan, you are so kind to me." After pausing a moment, he corrected himself, "No, I should not call you Ah Huan; I should refer to you as the Crown Prince. Thank you, Crown Prince."
The corners of Qin Huan's mouth turned down as his expression darkened into melancholy, "Does Xiao Qi also want to keep a distance from me now? Or, are you concerned about what people online say?"
"Of course not!" Shen Qi quickly shook his head in denial, "I've told you before, I don't think like that. I know you, not those people online. I trust what my own eyes have seen."
Qin Huan silently watched him without a word.
"Alright," Shen Qi compromised, "Ah Huan it is. I was worried that calling you by this name would show disrespect, as you are the Crown Prince. How about this, in public, I will call you Crown Prince, and in private, Ah Huan?"
The furrow of Qin Huan's brow deepened as he reluctantly accepted, "Alright."
"Erm..." Shen Qi continued awkwardly, "About my background..."
Shadows passed in Qin Huan's eyes as he reassured, "Don't worry; I'll have someone look into it. It might just take some time."
Truth be told, he could get the information immediately, but chose to delay. After all, what if Shen Qi still had surviving relatives? What if Shen Qi wanted to reach out to them?
Upon entertaining the thought of the youngster leaving him, a cloud of gloom quietly found home in his eyes.
His mind briefly imagined various imperceptible methods of murder. However, he promptly shook his head, dismissing the idea. If discovered one day, he didn't want this to affect his relationship with the young man merely for this reason.
First, investigate. Upon receiving the results, he could then make plans.
"There's no rush," Shen Qi dismissively motioned with his hands, "After so many years, a little while longer won't make a difference. Your business is more important; I can wait."
With his hand gently touching Shen Qi's cheek, Qin Huan's voice was low yet warm, "You don't need to be apprehensive; anything concerning you, I will surely prioritize and resolve it for you."
His pale green eyes deeply gazed at him, as if Shen Qi was the only one in his world.
Those eyes...
Shen Qi was momentarily dazed and seemed to see Zhao Huaiyu, Lu Zhuo, or Jiang Changshen. A familiar sensation swelled in his heart. It seemed he couldn't be wrong about this; they were the same person.
"Thank you." Snapping back to reality, he paused a moment before hesitatingly adding, "Also, there is one more thing..."
Qin Huan softly smiled in anticipation.
"I... I vaguely remember, I have a fiancé. Could you also help me find..." His words trailed off, swallowed by a sudden chilling expression on Qin Huan's face.
"Fiancé?" Qin Huan enunciated each character slowly, as if grinding the words, swallowing them piece by piece. He was visibly smiling, yet it sent chills rippling through one's spine. "Do you like him?"
"No, no, no!" Shen Qi's head shook like a rattle drum. "I don't like him. I merely remember there being such a person, but I can't remember anything else. I don't even know his name. Really!"
"That's good." Qin Huan cradled his face, wearing a gentle smile. "Xiao Qi, remember your words very well. If I found out that you like someone else, I would be very hurt."
Swallowing his saliva, Shen Qi replied, "I don't like him, I swear!"
At this moment, he was more than eager to witness Qin Huan's reaction after discovering the truth.
Qin Huan reined his aura in, his forehead touching Shen Qi's. He let out a soft sigh, "Xiao Qi, I like you. Do you understand?"
Feeling his cheeks suddenly burn, Shen Qi stammered, "I know... you told me that yesterday..."
"No, you're not understanding." Qin Huan's gaze became distant, complex. "It's not platonic. It's the kind of love between lovers..." His pale green eyes glued to Shen Qi's face as his voice deepened, stirring a hypnotic whirlpool within, "Wanting to hold hands, wanting to hug, wanting to kiss, wanting to..."
He never finished the sentence, but his intent was laid bare in his gaze.
Feeling scalded by Qin Huan's sharp gaze, Shen Qi slightly shrank back, his cheeks blushing furiously as he grabbed his own hair, "Actually, I... I can't really explain. I also like Ah Huan, I like being close with you, but it doesn't exactly seem like... what you said..."
He looked visibly torn.
Suddenly, Qin Huan lowered his head and planted a light kiss on the corner of his lips. "You dislike it?"
Shen Qi paused for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I don't."
"That's good enough." Qin Huan gently caressed his cheek, "It's enough that you don't dislike it. I will be patient and wait for Xiao Qi to understand. Before that happens, could you promise not to fall in love with anyone else?"
Shen Qi was dazzled by his gentleness and nodded as if under a spell.
________________________
However, just a day later, Qin Huan reneged on his words.
Awaking the next morning with his bearings adjusted to the situation, Shen Qi no longer felt shock at the sight of Qin Huan seated at the edge of his bed. Yawning, he greeted, "Ah Huan, good morning."
Qin Huan betrayed a pair of tired, reddened eyes, as though he hadn't slept the whole night, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on Shen Qi with an eerily gentle look.
"…Did something happen?" Shen Qi glanced at himself, finding nothing amiss.
Qin Huan suddenly smiled at him, leaning over to take Shen Qi's hand: "I am so happy. It seems like Xiao Qi was always mine."
Had he already found out? So quickly?
Shen Qi was mentally applauding Qin Huan's efficiency in getting things done, his eyes flickering in surprise, "What?”
Unconcerned with Shen Qi's visual expression, Qin Huan gestured him to open his device, "I've found out about your background. I'll send you the information."
Shen Qi immediately straightened and opened his device. In the mailbox, he indeed saw a dossier containing his detailed information — his parents' background, the incidents that led to their mishaps, including Shen family's circumstance, pictures, and proven truths.
"I'm sorry about what happened to the Shen family," Qin Huan said. "I am partly to blame for trusting people from the Glint family too much, leading to what happened later." Glint was Concubine Tai's surname.
After reading the information, Shen Qi remained silent for a moment before closing his device. "No, you're not to blame. It was the Crown Prince's fault. Besides, you have already avenged me."
Seeing Qin Huan's guilt-ridden face, he continued. "Actually, if I say I'm not particularly heartbroken, won't you think I'm a little too cold-blooded? Maybe it's because I don't have any memories, I don't recall them, nor those emotions. No, it's not right to say I don't have emotions... Well, anyway, I’m not actually very upset..."
"I understand." Qin Huan extended his long arm to hold him close, effortlessly lifted him onto his lap. With a lift of his knee, he parted Shen Qi's legs, transforming his position into one of straddling. "My Xiao Qi is the kindest, how could you be cold-blooded?"
Shen Qi felt uneasy. The previous position on the bed carried a suggestive undertone, now in this suggestive posture—it was inappropriately intimate, feeling each other's pelvis. He could easily sense the other party's change.
He widened his eyes in shock. "You..."
He wanted to push him away but was worried about accidentally hurting him with too much force.
Qin Huan chuckled softly, his breath falling into Shen Qi's ears. "Did you read the last part?" It was the investigation about his fiancé.
"I am so happy, it turns out that Xiao Qi and I were connected a long time ago, even after so many years of being apart, we are still meant to be together."
Nobody knew how delighted he was when he saw the investigation results—this person was supposed to be his, and had always been his!
"Let's get married."
"Huh?" Shen Qi was stunned. The leap in thought was too quick.
Qin Huan stated as if it was the most natural thing, "We were meant to be engaged. We've missed so many years, we cannot afford to miss more."
Shen Qi replied reasonably, "But you said yesterday that you would wait patiently, for me to sort out my thoughts."
This patience seemed too short—it was just one night!
Qin Huan seemed to ignore what was said, going on, "I've already made your identity public, and announced our wedding, one week from now. I know it’s rather sudden, but some things need to be prepared. Please bear with it. I've already instructed all departments to help out. What kind of wedding does Xiao Qi like? Ah, forget it, you’re not familiar with these things. No worries, I'll have several plans tailored for you to choose from. Whatever you like, we'll use that... and more..."
Shen Qi: ...
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