“Your Majesty, this time we truly have to thank the Admiral’s Consort for turning the tide…”
“Yes, yes. If it weren’t for the Admiral’s Consort, we would have suffered heavy losses this time. The ‘Spatial Lock’ technology absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the Alliance…”
“It really is Admiral Shi who has a good eye, to have bound himself to such an outstanding partner.”
“Your Majesty, the Admiral’s Consort has truly promoted our national prestige…”
Because the progress of deciphering the Ancient Civilization Heritage had fallen so far behind, the Empire had been endlessly mocked by the Alliance over the past two years. Jian Feichen’s mouth, in particular, was truly too detestable; many people had been so infuriated by him that they couldn’t eat or sleep.
Now, with Xi Xiuran’s help, the Empire had made a comeback against the wind and achieved an absolute counter-kill. The Empire’s officials, especially those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Research Institute, all straightened their backs. Their faces were full of joy, sweeping away their previous gloom. Seeing Xi Xiuran resting in Shi Xingzhou’s embrace, they assumed he was exhausted from expending too much mental energy “deciphering” and were too embarrassed to disturb him. Instead, they surrounded the Emperor and blew all sorts of rainbow farts.
This one praised Xi Xiuran for having a pure heart and profound knowledge; that one praised Xi Xiuran for possessing both beauty and wisdom. Still others praised Shi Xingzhou’s good eye and the Matching Center for knowing how to get things done.
The Emperor: “…”
The Emperor had never imagined that his original intention of just putting up a front—having the Matching Center pick a suitable “flower vase” to marry off—would actually end up fulfilling Shi Xingzhou instead.
Now, the more he heard the officials’ praises, the worse the Emperor felt. Yet, he still had to maintain a proper smile and occasionally nod in agreement. In less than a moment, the Emperor couldn’t keep the smile on his face anymore. He found an opportunity and was just about to turn and leave, when he paused—seeing Shi Xingzhou not far away, lifting his eyelids and looking over.
Holding Xi Xiuran, Shi Xingzhou lifted his eyes to look at the Emperor, smiling slowly. “Your Majesty, has my Consort brought glory to the Empire today?”
He spoke plainly, as if it were just casual banter between cousins, but the Emperor knew that Shi Xingzhou was intending to make him bleed heavily.
On matters as major as winning glory for the nation, if a monarch could not clearly distinguish rewards and punishments, how could he convince the masses in the future?
The Emperor forced a smile and said cheerfully, “The Ancient Civilization Heritage concerns the ‘Spatial Lock’ technology. Since the Admiral’s Consort has rendered such a great merit, he has naturally won glory for the Empire. Once we return to the royal palace, I will have the secretary draft the documents and award the Admiral’s Consort the ‘Crystal Oak Medal’.”
At this point, the Emperor changed the subject: “However, the ‘Crystal Oak Medal’ is quite time-consuming and laborious to make. I’m afraid the award ceremony will have to wait for some time.”
The Crystal Oak Medal was the highest honor medal awarded by the royal family to individuals or groups, used to recognize those who had made outstanding contributions to the Empire. Throughout the Empire’s hundreds of years of history, fewer than a thousand Crystal Oak Medals had been awarded. In the past ten years, only three people had received this honor.
Currently, the disputes between the various Interstellar nations mainly revolved around wormhole ownership and resource plundering.
The Empire had been fighting the Zerg for decades purely to fight over a resource planet rich in rare energy ores. Wormholes, on the other hand, were related to spatial jump technology and were the key points for opening new interstellar routes. The Ancient Civilization’s “Spatial Lock” technology was said to be able to open completely new and stable wormholes. Its significance was self-evident.
Therefore, by winning this batch of Ancient Civilization Heritage for the Empire, Xi Xiuran was absolutely qualified to be awarded the Crystal Oak Medal.
Even so, to have the Emperor hand over this medal to Xi Xiuran without any hard feelings—especially since he was Shi Xingzhou’s partner—was something he was a thousand times unwilling to do. Thus, he thought of a stalling tactic.
I agreed to give it, but as for when I give it, we’ll talk about that later.
Of course, the Emperor didn’t just pull this excuse out of thin air. As one of the Empire’s highest honor medals, the Crystal Oak Medal was indeed very difficult to make. Not to mention the extremely rare materials used, just creating the S-rank energy protective shield on the medal was extremely troublesome.
The Emperor thought his plan was flawless, but he never expected that the moment his voice fell, Professor Zhou would speak up: “Isn’t the Crystal Oak Medal produced by our First Research Institute? Vice Director Li, can we produce a medal immediately?”
Vice Director Li—the official who had guided Xi Xiuran and the others earlier—immediately nodded upon hearing this. “We can, we can, we can… At most three—no, at most two hours, and we can produce it.”
The slow production schedule for the Crystal Oak Medal was partly due to the time-consuming, multi-layered review process, and partly because the materials used were too scarce. The researchers at the institute were reluctant to use them, wanting to save them for places that needed them more, which led to dragging their feet on production. Now that Xi Xiuran had retained this batch of Ancient Civilization Heritage for the Empire, the people who were most grateful to him were those at the First Research Institute. Let alone making one medal, they’d be willing to supply the materials themselves to make ten!
Earlier, Vice Director Li had found Xi Xiuran displeasing to the eye no matter how he looked at him, feeling he wasn’t worthy of Shi Xingzhou. Now, looking at the two of them, he found them pleasing and lovable in every way.
Oh my, the Admiral and his Consort truly are a match made in heaven.
The Emperor: “…”
With things having reached this point, the Emperor could only hold his nose, draft the documents on the spot, and have people prepare a ceremony to award Xi Xiuran the medal right here.
The Crystal Oak Medal?
Xi Xiuran snapped out of his daze and heard the Emperor say he was going to award him this medal. He was completely stunned.
Wasn’t this the medal of honor that Ying Huachi wanted the most in the original novel? Unfortunately, before he became Emperor, his merits always fell just a little short of receiving it. After he became Emperor, he was the one giving out the awards, and he couldn’t very well be thick-skinned enough to award one to himself.
Instead, the Protagonist Shou, Xi Mengchen, relied on his rebirth advantage to obtain the Crystal Oak Medal midway through the story. Later, on the interstellar battlefield, he relied on the S-rank energy protective shield on the medal to escape an assassination attempt by the Zerg.
But now, the Emperor was going to award the Crystal Oak Medal that Ying Huachi dreamed of to him?
This was just too…
Xi Xiuran glanced at Ying Huachi not far away. Although Ying Huachi’s expression was complex, it faintly revealed unwillingness and envy. Xi Xiuran decisively gave up thinking about it.
Why think so much? If Ying Huachi is unhappy, then I am happy.
Xi Xiuran: OwO
I hold grudges just like that, hehe.
***
Because it would take a little time for the Research Institute to make the medal and prepare the award ceremony, Xi Xiuran took the opportunity to visit the restroom.
Worried he might get lost, Shi Xingzhou called a personal guard to accompany him. Coincidentally, this guard was the exact same one who had brought him the hotpot last night. Xi Xiuran heard Shi Xingzhou call him “Zhou Liu”[1]Zhou Six or Saturday jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2130015_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2130015_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
This name…
After leaving the hall, Xi Xiuran couldn’t resist his curiosity and asked, “I remember Adjutant Zhou is named Zhou Yi[2]Zhou One or Monday jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2130015_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2130015_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, and your name is Zhou Liu. The guard who was with you yesterday wouldn’t happen to be named Zhou Wu[3]Zhou Five jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2130015_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2130015_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); or Zhou Ri[4]Zhou Sunday jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2130015_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2130015_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, would he?”
Zhou Liu was a male Alpha with a buzz cut, black hair, and black eyes, looking somewhat simple and honest.
Hearing this, he smiled and replied, “Consort is joking. The guard who was with me yesterday naturally couldn’t be called either of those two names.”
Xi Xiuran secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Admiral Shi’s personal guards couldn’t possibly have such lazy names. He asked again, “Then what is he called?”
Zhou Liu smiled: “His name is Zhou Qi (Zhou Seven).”
Xi Xiuran: “…”
It was I who was too narrow-minded.
As the best research institute in the Empire, looking out through the transparent windows along the way, Xi Xiuran saw that all the buildings outside were full of a flashy, sci-fi aesthetic. There were also some buildings whose exteriors could only be described as “bizarre” and “dazzlingly colorful.” With Xi Xiuran’s shallow Earthling aesthetics, he truly couldn’t appreciate it. He could only say: Although I don’t understand it, I am greatly shocked.
For example, there was a certain building that, no matter how he looked at it, horizontally or vertically, heavily resembled the Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon[5]A hilarious and iconic reference from the anime Gintama for something that looks exactly like male genitalia. The author basically just described a phallic building without outright saying it. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2130015_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2130015_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
After taking care of his physiological needs, Xi Xiuran was washing his hands when he noticed in the mirror that his face was still a bit red, and the tips of his ears were red too. He simply washed his face again—physical cooling.
Sob sob, it’s really not that my skin is too thin; it’s that the dog author is too shameless!
Just as Xi Xiuran finished washing his face and was rummaging for a handkerchief to dry it, the restroom door was suddenly pushed open, and an eighteen-or-nineteen-year-old boy strode in.
The boy wore an expensive shirt and dress pants, but his clothing was unkempt. His collar and tie were loose, his sleeves were rolled up his arms, and a light blue jacket was tied around his waist, making him look casual and unrestrained. He had short silver-gray hair and a pair of phoenix eyes with upward-slanting outer corners. His pupils were a rare smog-blue. With handsome features, his entire being exuded a rebellious, flamboyant youthful energy.
Striding in with a height of nearly 1.9 meters and his chin held high, the boy looked incredibly domineering. He glanced sideways at Xi Xiuran and said arrogantly, “So you’re Xi Xiuran? You don’t look like an—”
The remaining words vanished without a trace.
Hearing the voice, Xi Xiuran turned his head, and their eyes met. Both of them froze.
After seeing Xi Xiuran’s face clearly, the boy couldn’t help but stand rooted to the spot.
The youth’s features were exquisite and handsome. When he turned his head and raised his eyelashes, the water droplets clinging to the tips of his lashes were crystal clear. His emerald cat-eyes were covered in a transparent film of water, making him look obedient, soft, and innocent. A few strands of hair by his ears were wet, and water droplets trailed slowly along his jawline down to his slender, pale neck, carrying a different kind of allure.
This scene was truly too impactful; the boy could barely tear his eyes away.
This is Xi Xiuran? That country bumpkin from a remote planet?
The public photo released by the Matching Center clearly made him look just average; how is he this good-looking in person?
Frozen in place, the words “like anything special” that were on the tip of the boy’s tongue forcefully morphed into: “…also just alright, I guess.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the boy snapped out of it and hastily shook his head a few times.
Wait, no! I came here to pick a fight!
Aside from his face, this country bumpkin is an empty-headed, good-for-nothing idiot! Not only did he shamelessly seduce Mengchen’s fiancé, he even schemed and thick-skinned his way into marrying my idol, Admiral Shi!
So what if a person with such a venomous heart is good-looking? He’s completely unworthy of my idol, Admiral Shi!
Thinking of this, the boy glared angrily at Xi Xiuran, trying hard to adjust his expression and gaze to make himself look fiercer.
I’m going to vent their anger for my idol and Mengchen!
I absolutely must drive this shameless person out of the Capital Star!
The boy’s gaze was very fierce. Although Xi Xiuran’s vision was still a bit blurry, he recognized the boy’s identity from those signature smog-blue eyes. He wasn’t surprised in the slightest as to why this person held such immense hostility toward him.
This was one of the members of the Protagonist Group: the Little Duke, Landon Webster.
Landon’s father was one of the few Grand Dukes of the Empire, a high-ranking noble second only to the Imperial Royal Family. Although the Webster family had gradually distanced themselves from the center of power struggles in recent years, they still possessed incredibly high reputation and status among the nobles. Landon’s mother, Madam Dinah, also came from a renowned and powerful noble family of the Empire; the previous Queen was her close friend, and the current Queen was her direct nephew.
With his noble birth and status as the only son of the family, although the strict family discipline had kept him from becoming a total playboy, his personality was still somewhat overbearing and willful. Other than the words of his idol, Shi Xingzhou, which actually worked on him, he always selectively listened to what others said. He couldn’t quite be considered a little tyrant of his social circle, but he was definitely an existence that everyone else didn’t dare provoke.
In the original novel, when the Protagonist Shou married Shi Xingzhou in his previous life, Landon had also come knocking on his door to cause trouble. However, protected by the “protagonist halo,” Landon hadn’t managed to gain any advantage.
After the Protagonist Shou’s rebirth, relying on the logic of, “As long as we are both fans of Admiral Shi, we are good friends,” he maxed out Landon’s favorability, and the two quickly became close friends who talked about everything.
As a member of the protagonist group, aside from his noble status, Landon was also a genius mecha mechanic. At the age of 16, he could design and build an S-rank mecha. He was the darling of the First Imperial Research Institute, spending most of his time in the laboratory and rarely going out.
This die-hard fan must have just come out of the lab, heard that his idol got married, and rushed over to cause trouble regardless of everything else.
Xi Xiuran guessed correctly. Landon had indeed just came out of the lab and was shocked to hear the “terrible news” of his idol’s marriage. Furthermore, the partner was Mengchen’s vicious older brother. His eyes had turned red with anger. Tearing off his white lab coat, he rushed out furiously to find him.
Landon put on what he thought was his fiercest expression and glared viciously at Xi Xiuran. “Xi Xiuran, don’t think that just because you have some good looks, you can—”
“Excuse me, do you have a tissue?” Getting water in his eyes was very uncomfortable, and his handkerchief had fallen to the floor, so Xi Xiuran had no choice but to squint and ask Landon for help.
Although his temper wasn’t very good, his upbringing was excellent. Hearing someone politely ask for help, Landon subconsciously handed over a tissue. “I do, here…”
“Wait… I came here to cause trouble for you, don’t interrupt me!”
Realizing what he had just done, Landon flew into a humiliated rage and shouted, “Xi Xiuran, you are a fickle, loose Omega! You are completely unworthy of Admiral Shi! Although I don’t know what methods you used to marry Admiral Shi, I’m warning you—”
Xi Xiuran wiped his face clean with the tissue, his vision finally clearing. Looking at Landon, who was puffing up with anger like a pufferfish, he smiled slightly and sincerely thanked him: “Thank you, Little Duke.”
“You’re welcome… I said don’t interrupt me!” Landon was incredibly exasperated. Ignoring his noble etiquette, he pointed a finger at Xi Xiuran and scolded, “You country bumpkin, you’re completely unworthy of Admiral Shi! What else do you have besides that face? Empty-headed and good-for-nothing!”
Xi Xiuran had read the whole novel and knew this guy was just an “elementary school chicken”[6]a childish brat jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2130015_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2130015_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. Too lazy to bicker with him, he casually arranged his wet strands of hair in the mirror while perfunctorily agreeing, “Mm-hmm, you’re right.”
“A country bumpkin from a remote planet, with no academic qualifications and no abilities. What a total waste of a good face…”
“Mm-hmm, you’re right.”
“Right about what?! I’m calling you an idiot, a piece of trash. Do you not understand?!”
“Mm-hmm, you’re right.”
Landon’s hands trembled with anger. “You, you… do you know how to say anything else besides that?!”
Xi Xiuran naturally and smoothly changed his tune, nodding frantically: “Right, right, right, you are absolutely right. Makes perfect sense.”
Landon: “You…”
Damn it, he’s even angrier now!
Xi Xiuran practically had the word “perfunctory” written across his face. Landon was about to die of anger, but he wasn’t someone to be trifled with either. He immediately shot back, “Since you, a country bumpkin, admit you’re unworthy of Admiral Shi, then be smart and hurry up and get a divorce! Get out of the Capital Star! Otherwise, I’ll expose all the bad things you’ve done in the past on the Star Network, and let everyone know what a vicious, snake-hearted Omega you are!”
Divorce?
Password accepted.
The salted fish instantly perked up. Xi Xiuran gathered his loose hair, lifted his eyes to look at Landon, and said coldly, “Little Duke, are you trying to be a Little Third[7]小三 (Xiǎosān): “Little Third” / The third party in a relationship / The “other woman/man” or homewrecker jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2130015_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2130015_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });?”
Landon looked completely bewildered: “Huh?”
Xi Xiuran stared at him faintly, delivering a soul-crushing interrogation: “If you’re not a Little Third, then why are you being so proactive about destroying my marriage with Admiral Shi?”
Landon: “…………”
T/n: Please Vote on NU to support the novel. You can support the original author here. Happy Reading 💅
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